How Much Do You Bench?

Today was a mellow day. We started at 8:00 am and walked up to the laundry room to drop off our dirty clothes. Then walked back down the hill to start our project - cleaning the restaurant, Mi Olla Quiteña which is run by the Working Boys Center. When we arrived, Maria (the manager of the restuarant) told us that she wanted us to wash the windows, inside and out, and wash the walls in the kitchen. Then she gave us the materials that we'd be using - buckets with soapy water, rags, a squeegee, one sponge on a pole and newspaper. We started right in! 

After figuring out that soapy water leaves hugh streaks, we determined a good technique. We'd wash with the soapy water, then wipe immediately with damp newspaper to combat the streaks. We worked in teams and felt accomplished! While, Mark, Ryan, Coby, Maria, Claire, Siena, Laurel and Travis and I were working on that, Maya and Ella began sweeping the floor in the restaurant - they put all the chairs in the tables and sweep underneath. 

Once we were alost done with the windows, Siena, Laurel and I went into the kitchen with bleach and water and a few rags to begin wiping down the walls. 

As soon as we started that, Rodolfo came into the kitchen and asked for the boys to go help him. They left to go move all the tables and benches (about 100 of them) to the back of the dining room so that the TV's and chairs could be set up for the Ecuador v. France game. We were told last night, that the Vice President of Ecuador, Jorge Glas was coming today to watch the game with all the children and families at the Center. They even bused everyone over from La Marín (CMT#1) to watch and be part of the festivities. The air was electric with excitement today - almost everyone we encounted was wearing an Ecuador jersey. Maria in the kitchen joked that she was routing for Francia - when Madre Miguel heard that - you should have seen her face!

Once we were finished with our cleanign projects, Maria served us cake and juice that she had bought to treat us! We dismissed the girls after that - and told them to go play with the kids in the playground and scope out where the game was going to be shown. The weather was beautiful today, warm and sunny so it was perfect. 

Maria and I went to the Muebles y Más store (another of the CMT run businesses on site) they sell the stuff from the carpentary shop, and sewing shop and bought souveniers. Then we went to the Beauty Shop (another CMT run business) and I got my hair done (for $5), and Maria got her toes done (for $6).

Then we went to the restuarant for lunch. The kids found us there and told us what they had been doing. Siena and Carrie played soccer, the other girls watched and played with the children. The boys played basketball with some of the other volunteers. 

After lunch, it was alomst time to go up to the Dining Room (it's really a mulit-purpose room as they have Mass there and all big events) for the game. When we arrived, the equivelant of the Ecuadorian secret service was there - bomb squad and all - to protect Mr. Glas, the Vice President. 

The game itself was nerve-racking! The VP had brought flags for everyone, and most people had jersey's. I'm totally gues-a-mating, but there were probably 500 people there. When he arrived, we walked right through the crowd, stopped, hugged the kids, talked with people. Nothing like that would happen in the United States. There were news cameras, watching him, watch the game. 

The goalie for Ecuadors team, Dominguez, was amazing! France shot over 20 times - at least ten shots would have been good, but he caught or blocked them all! The game ended 0-0 which means Ecuador doesn't move on to the round of 16. Despite that, people were still excited.

After the game, the VP sat on the bleachers outside, surrounded by the children (in his jersey) for photos. He talked to folks more and took more photos with individuals and groups. It was such an exciting day. Maria and I waited until he drove off. A little boy came up to us and wanted to use my camera - I took his photo first, the he took Maria's and mine. 

He was super sweet and wanting hugs and kisses. It was a great ending to an exciting day!