Some updates and things

I don't really know how to put these updates into coherent paragraphs so here they are in simpler form:

• Tomorrow is the Liga/Barcelona game and I'm excited about it. I have a jersey and everything.

• I've been trying to download Skype but it just won't work. Will let you know when I figure something out.

• The high school girls didn't show to go to the park last weekend because one of their dads believed they couldn't go out on paseos with volunteers without a permission slip. Funny, because they invited us, but we'll probably try again some other time.

• I had Saag Paneer at an Ecua-Indian food place and it was delicious. So much better than I was expecting.
  

• Tonight we're meeting up with some former volunteers who still live in Quito. Some of them have been here for over ten years. Who knows, maybe that will be me some day.
  

• Just kidding, mom.

• The Unit I'm teaching my second-graders is called "Head to Toes" (it's about the body and how to describe people). We've started singing that repeat-after-me song that goes "Thumbs up, wrists together, elbows in, aroosh-ta-sha aroosh-ta-sha, etc." and they die laughing. They fall to the ground cracking up about it and I melt with love every single time.
  

• If you want to melt with love, go to the link on the right that says "My beautiful nephew" and watch some videos of my beautiful nephew. If you need to laugh, try the one called "The Best Medicine."
  

These are two of my La Marin English class girls. Sometimes they have a lot of attitude and I think they must hate being in class with me. But the other day I was playing a card game with Tatiana (on the left--she is especially moody) and when I told her I'd be here all year she lit up and started clapping. I've written about the challenges I've had with Tatiana before and every day I don't know what to expect from her. Lately things have been going much better than they were at the beginning of the year so I'm thankful for that.


Gissella is on the right. She was also one of my La Marin girls until her family left the center recently. I know that families leave from time to time but she's my first loss. She was a sweet, absolutely lovely girl and I miss her terribly. It's not exactly easy to be a center family if you're not completely committed to it. It takes a lot of time and effort to keep up with the classes and work hours and such. There could be a number of complicated factors that resulted in her family leaving, so I'm just trying to let it go. All the same, it sucks (for lack of a better word).

Well, that's it for now. I'd love some letters if anyone gets the chance to write (my address is on the right). Have a good weekend!

Mare