Keeping Busy in Cuenca...

I have a new volunteer job to keep me busy in Cuenca.  Several weeks ago I started to teach English to a class of 6, 7, and 8 year olds at a Cuban School.  I work with a new friend, Bonnie, who was an art teacher back in the states.  The class size is small with only 12 students in this private school...10 boys and 2 girls.

We began by teaching them the English words for the colors, and, we are working on learning the teen numbers...they were already able to count to 10 in English.  We are also learning the names for the different parts of the body.  This past week we did an activity that involved tracing each others body, then labeling the parts.  They really seemed to enjoy this project.

The young woman you see on the chair in the background is the classroom teacher.  She does a good job assisting us with our projects...and helps keep order in the classroom.

All children in public and private schools in Cuenca wear uniforms.  Many of the staff is also required to wear a uniform.  Most of the schools seem to have two types of outfits, a jogging suit...like the ones you see above, and a dressier outfit.  For girls, that often includes a pleated skirt, knee highs, loafers, a blouse, and a pull over sweater.  The fancier outfit for boys often includes dress slacks, a shirt, a pull over sweater, and loafers.  The color of the outfits seems to reflect the school they are attending.

Most schools seem to start early.  The schools located near our neighborhood begin at 7:00 in the morning and end at about 1:00 P.M.  However, I have heard from other people that schools in other neighborhoods have some students attend a morning session, and others attend an afternoon session.  They do not serve lunch at school, but you will see many venders bring their carts to the front of the building so children can buy a treat for the walk or ride home.  Ice cream is a particular favorite among the children and adults. 

It is my understanding that instrumental music is not offered in the schools, but many children take music lessons at the Conservatory of Music, which happens to be housed next door to where we live.  In fact, we can often hear students practicing outside on a nice day.  I've also observed students exercising during the day in Parque de la Madre.  Part of their exercise involves running up the steep set of stairs that lead from the river to El Centro...which is not an easy task.

My friend, David, also does volunteer work at an after school program in a small town outside of Cuenca.  Last week I had the opportunity to travel on the bus with him to help out at the center where he works.  David does a great job with these kids, and they adore him.  He spends an endless amount of time making power points on his computer that he uses to help teach English.  I had fun seeing where he works and what he does with the kids.  The little boy below is making rows of beans that reflect the numbers eleven through twenty.   

Lance continues to stay very busy in his garden.  He walks to El Centro nearly everyday to buy  plants and his garden continues to grow in leaps and bounds.  Currently, he has more than 50 plant containers in the garden, and is adding more every day.  He also purchased an outdoor heater...to help keep us warm and chilly evenings.

Lance will sometimes add cut flowers to his displays outside...just to keep things interesting.

  

As we approach our 6 month anniversary in Cuenca, we think life here is very similar to back home.  However, there are some differences...so we will highlight those at the end of the next couple of posts.  Here are just a few:

    

People will find all kinds of creative ways to make money here.  This couple came into a small cafe where I was sitting to entertain the crowd while they were eating in hopes of collecting some small change.  You will also see people juggling at intersections, or selling homemade treats on the street.  They never beg or make you feel uncomfortable if you choose not to donate or buy their wares.

There are no furnaces or air conditioners in Cuenca.  However, propane tanks are used for some stoves and indoor space heaters.  Venders push carts through El Centro and people can exchange their empty tank for a full one.  The cost for the first empty tank is $54.00...but it is only $2.50 to exchange it for a full one.  In other areas, a truck full of tanks will drive through the neighborhood beeping their horn to let you know they are coming.  If you give them a shout or a whistle, they will stop and deliver the full tank to your door.  

It's rare to see a lawn mower in Cuenca.  Nearly everyone cuts the grass with a weed whacker.  This picture was taken in Parque de la Madre.  The city workers were out in force cutting the grass in this huge park in these colorful orange and brown outfits.

Spring is on the way for all my family and friends back home in Wisconsin.  It looks like you have survived another harsh winter.  Hopefully the worst is behind you.  Here, we have entered the rainy season...at least for the next couple of weeks.  We are learning that the weather is very unpredictable here and it is almost impossible to relate it to any of the four seasons that we are use to back home.  We will be interested to learn what lies ahead for us as we approach the next couple of months.  

Lance and I have finally booked our flight home for August.  We will arrive in Wisconsin on August 11th and will return to Cuenca on September 9th.  We look forward to seeing many of our friends and family during our visit home.