EIL Intercultural Learning

Well as I mentioned in my last post it was sports week this week in my school here in Puerto Quito. Which as you can imagine is exactly what it says. But of course it just wouldn't be Ecuador with out a bit of a show. On the first day the students had a parade around the town dressed in the uniform of their chosen sports team. I was on the teachers side and we were wearing a not so ligitimate Brazil football kit. But first, as I mentioned in my last post I was asked to be 'El Padrino' or 'El Cabellero' for one of the sports teams. Naturally I said yes without the faintest idea of what this meant. Well in the end it meant I had to accompany the class 'Madrina' or sports queen, around the town in the parade.... hmmmm. As it turned out it was a good laugh! Volunteers are a bit of a novelty here and for this the students thought it was absolutely hilarious a foriegner was not only going to take part, but was willing parade around the town too. As well as all that, all of the teams had mascots. You know, a pet of one of the team members. But again, it just wouldn't be Ecuador if they had dogs and cats. No, our mascot was a parrot. Other teams had monkeys and various tropical birds. I have little recollection of my sports days in school, and it because they were nothing like this! The inaugration ceremony ended in the school when the olympic style torch was used to light the fireworks. Let the games begin!

There were only three events football, basketball and volleyball but seeing as every class had to play every other it was a very busy few days. I have no idea how the organisation system works here but some how people were able to follow who was winning and who has to play who without a scrap of paper in sight. In the meantime I was probably in the shade somewhere drinking gallons of water and trying not to die from the heat :) But everybody took the games quite seriously and I was not going to disappoint! The teachers team won alot of the games with help from the overly stereotypical P.E. teacher! It was definitely a new experience playing sports speaking another language, you have no time to think.

Anyway, the week went on and it was great to have a chance to get to know my students better and to finish my stay here with a good and light-hearted atmosphere. I have no idea who won in the end, I doubt anyone does but the point is it was a refreshing change of pace. For the last day of the week the school administration seem to have decided that everyone can have a day off. I asked why but for the three times I asked I have three different reasons. While this type of thing has been a source of frustration at times for me here, it is also part of Ecuador's charm. Mañana será otro dia.

On an entirely different note, I have now had my first earthquake experience. An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hit Ecuador on the morning of my last day in the school. Luckily, from what I hear there was no major damage. But when your just standing in your room getting ready for school, minding your own business, and the wall moves and hits you in the head... well it isnt a great start to the day now is it :)

So I have come to my last days in Ecuador I leave in three days but I have been told I will not be allowed to leave without having at least one goodbye party. Of course, I will not be told whats going to happen, haha, but these are the sort of surprises I like! I expect there will be alot of Salsa, Bachata and of course Reggaeton. I'll let you know how it goes!

Ciao!