Día á Día, y Fanesca

So I have been trying to avoid this for some time, but upon the request of my parents, I took pictures around my community, flaunting the fact that I am a total ´Gringo´, or foreigner.  Despite the stares from the locals, and the bothersome dogs that followed me everywhere, I secured a couple pictures around my community, and also at my work.  I particularly enjoy the pictures of the students.  They are always so happy to have their picture taken, in fact, often begging me to take another forty pictures of them.  After the picture is taken, each student insists they see it.  Good thing I didn´t bring my film camera, or else they would be devastated that they could not review the photographs.

Here is the main road I walk across toward my school

One of the many ´natural´ walls seen in my town

Here is the basketball collesium

This is where I make calls to Canada, but the connection is really bad, so I think I will change cabinas.  When lent is over, I will be making my way over here to buy a 30 cent ice-cream.

A wall in the main square, painted nicely

The next photos are all my students and the school...

The students compete against other classes in soccer every day.

A beautiful view on my way home from school

Another view on my way home.

And here is my ´casa´.

One of our six dogs, in addition to multiple cats.

Behind my house... not really sure of the funciton of all the buildings, I will work on figuring it all out.

A farm beside my house.

Some interesting foliage on the way to school.  The leaves are at tall as me, for some perspective.

On my way to school this morning, this girl, who is not a student at my school, ran up to me and just starting walking beside me.  Finally she said good morning, so I started making conversation with her.  I suppose gringos are very rare in Yaruqui.

The towns church, which was built over 420 years ago.

As Easter, or Pascua in Spanish, approaches, Ecuador is already getting into the mood of the holiday.  It is one of the most important holidays in Ecuador, as 95% of the population is Roman Catholic.  They take an entire week to commemorate the death of Jesus, calling it ¨Semana Santa¨, or ¨Saint´s Week¨.  There is no school or work during this week, which gives me a week to really explore my community, as well as Quito, with three trips planned to the capital city for the next week.

To celebrate the approaching holiday with my co-teachers, one teacher, Alexita, made a special dish called ´Fanesca´.  Since my arrival in Ecuador, I have heard great comments about this soup, which contains twelve different beans, I am told.  It is topped with empanadas, boiled eggs, fish and cheese.  After much anticipation, my pallette expanded with the most wonderful flavours I have tasted since arriving here.  The soup had become a new personal favourite.  The famous dish was followed by Ecuadorian mashed potatoes, and figs with fresh cheese for dessert.  Overall, a delicious, tummy-stretching meal.

The famous Fanesca.

 Papas Molos, or Ecuadorian mashed potatoes.

 My fellow teachers and I.

 Figs and Queso Fresco for desserts. 

Since Alexita was at home preparing the lunch all day, Erika and I supervised her nursery class for the day.  Handling eighteen three year olds was not simple task, but it was definitely a treat.  I really enjoyed working with the young children, as they are so full of spirit, and just absolutely lovely.  Overall, it was a great day and I look forward to more unique days to come.