CITTI Project Ecuador Tour 2006

Contributed by Heather Burns and CITTI project members

Now that the trip, the project, the dream is finished for this year. I think each of us know that brought us to Ecuador, but none of us knew what we would bring back. Apart from souvenirs, pictures, fun stories, and cherished memories, each one of us brought back new or deeper friendships. For me, along with the previously mentioned, I have taken with me new and deeper understandings. Understandings of cultures, beliefs, values, definitions, languages, and the many ways to show love. On one of the last days of the trip, I sent around a small notebook of blank pages. I simply titled the top, "What I learned in Ecuador." Each member of the CITTI project took their moment to reflect and place one or two of their own lessons learned. The list I returned with is moving and funny and just makes me love and respect my fellow group members on a whole new level.

What I learned in Ecuador by: CITTI Project Member 2006
No matter where in the world you are, the sun still feels good on your face
All people smile
Bunny ears in pictures is funny to all
Love is universal
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Every child in the family takes care of their siblings
Community is everything
Inclusion is a value
The children are all BEAUTIFUL!!!
Family is everything & always comes first
Lunches are a family/community even and are filling
Everyone pitches in to help
What family means
That language is only a barrier if you want it to be
The language is the way to understand the culture while at another level people are people
One person + one person + families + children + workers = community which is powerful and can move the world
Being gentle and polite is strong ? not weak
That THINGS are not what makes life rich
That generosity can be a cultural norm
That emerging design? can be applied to dwellings as well as actions
That baby steps can be enormous
That you can listen with your eyes
Two pair of socks is a luxury
Roosters have no sense of time in Ecuador!
That there is a place on this earth where life is how I always thought is could be ? filled with unconditional love and acceptance
A chicken has more parts and uses then one ever thought possible
With love and patience everyone wins!
Leaving the United States does not guarantee freedom from Easy Listening music
Bananas are cheap; pancakes are time-consuming; people are priceless; roosters must be destroyed
Remember we don't get to choose where we are born!
Never order the Austrian Crepe Dumpling soup
It's an honor to have an entire pig killed and cooked for you
Vehicles often pass on the left on two lane roads
It's necessary to have small bills
Aguacafe (avocado) ice cream is tasty
The temperature can become quite chilled at the equator
Hugs are free; coffee is extra
Medical care is thorough and inexpensive
Thank you with a smile is understood anywhere
Be observant and help
Determination is a human trait, but how you use it is individual

I am sure there are more lessons out there and more realizations that each of us will come to in future days. Many of these lessons seem like things that you would find on an All I ever needed to know I learned in Kindergarten? poster. I am almost saddened that it took us going to a whole new county and culture to learn things that should be out our front door. Basically, human life and the relationships we form are priceless. There are no regrets, just lessons learned. I was blessed to be picked to go on this trip, and I have been blessed 100 fold for going. I love you all, Ecuador, America, CITTI project, friends, now family.

By Bridgett Perry, Director and Founder

Since my return to the US, I have spent several days quietly reminiscing. This trip to Ecuador is neither my first journey nor my last. But my personal experience this summer merits some reflection. I knew that to lead a group, I must provide purpose and direction. I had been clarifying our purpose for years, raising the funds, planning, and implementing. I had my sight on Ecuador since our visit last summer. Surely, I was prepared to set the pace and guide the way. Yet, as I set out on the road, I couldn’t help but notice a signpost that read “Empowerment, this way!” How could I resist? As assistive technology specialists, our creed is to empower others to live up to ones potential, regardless of the barriers. Then it became clear. Where the road led was on a quest for my own empowerment. The ability to live up to my own potential. With 16 people in tow, I pushed forward.

Expanding from a small team to a tribe in one year did not happen without its growing pains. Granted, they are the kind of aches one gets when working out new muscles. A bit sore, but it feels good. Expanding the team this year meant more. More talent, more insights, more perspectives. It also meant extra accommodations, larger restaurants, and a bigger bus. It meant being personally responsible for 16 fellow travelers. It meant staying present and open to the process that 16 people were each forming and shaping. It meant being accountable for the things that were said and the deeds that were done. It meant exhaling at the relief of assembling a remarkable group of people. Not once did I wince!

There is a great deal that goes into the success of a project like this. It goes beyond the logistics and event planning. For the CITTI Project to be successful, I knew from the beginning, it must be community based, culturally appropriate, and ultimately sustainable. It’s one thing to envision the outcome, another to live up to it. I attribute the success of the CITTI Project to these guiding values, but also to those learned along the way. I learned about the meaning of respect as I was greeted by friends made a year ago. Last year, I was seen as a North American who had good intensions, like all the others. But then I came back! With 16 friends! A lifetime of lessons fulfilled me as I looked evenly into the eyes of the parents acknowledging my return.

Ultimately, the empowerment, success, and respect are for all of us to share. They belong to the families who have taught me how to cope with so little, and yet thrive so graciously. They belong to the teachers and therapists who model enormous commitment, compelled by their own personal desire. They belong to the children whose unconditional love was shared without measure. They also belong to those of us who came to share of ourselves, without knowing exactly how deep that would go.

It’s incredible to imagine the affects of Tungurahua on our friends throughout Ecuador: Banos, Quero, Pelileo, Salasaca, and our dear Huambalo. Since we have come home, the volcano has transformed the land and possibly the lives of our “community.” What is it that I can do from so far away? Short of aide, relief, supplies, we continue to find ourselves at a loss when such natural disasters take place. It is especially so when we were just standing there on the soil, among our friends, only a week ago. Our hearts are still there.

I find myself in transition. This past week feels like a metamorphosis. I am in a cocoon, waiting for what will emerge. I am not the same person as when I started this journey. I am incredibly grateful to be empowered and touched by the world around me. I am thankful to the talented team who joined me in this vision and gave their all to this effort. I welcome the ongoing challenges and pleasures of transforming my dreams to reality. The successes of the CITTI Project are just the beginning. And just as a gloating parent, I couldn’t be more proud.

Un fuerte abrazo,
Bridgett

“…as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” Marianne Williamson

Today the Sitemeter software indicated that over 1,000 people have visited this CITTI Project blog. That's quite a few people who have heard of the project and followed our progress.
Cheers

Contributed by Beth Hoffman

Back in Quito at Papaya.net. Chauncy, the folks here have been asking about you! They must miss you.

Our last day in Ambato was a bit hectic as we visited several copy centers trying to have our book copied with color photos, not an easy task in Ecuador. At last we were successful and made five copies of the book, one for Asoplejicat, Quero, the SPED school in Ambato, Huambalo, Gladys and the original for Bridgett.

We were supposed to meet Bridgett, Chaya and Maggie at 6 in Quito for dinner. Well, we didn´t even leave Ambato until 5. Big surprise, right? The scheduled van didn`t show and we thought we were going to have to take public buses to Quito. It sounded like a hassle due to our luggage. Luckily, a van came through and we had a very bumpy, and at times harrowing, ride home. Our driver seemed intent on passing every vehicle possible. However, Cotopaxi was snow-capped and quite beautiful. We also tried our best to entertain ourselves by making music in the car. If anything, we had reason to laugh at ourselves and each other.

We arrived in Quito only to realize that our hotel rooms had not been reserved. Yikes! Lady luck was still on our side. We ended up at the Sierra Nevada and finally went out to dinner at the Magic Bean with the Citti Project leaders. Our debriefing dinner went well, and the food was quite tasty to boot. We presented our book to the leaders and they seemed quite pleased, especially considering that they weren´t expecting something quite like that.

We parted ways after dinner and many hugs. At Plaza del Quinde, the next block down, an open air opera was in progress so we (Andrea, Sonia, Gladys, Adam and I) went to check it out. It was a nice cap to our evening.

So, that´s all folks. This has been an incredible experience for all of us it seems. I am very fortunate to have met you (all of you) and wish you all well with.

Love to everyone, beth

Hello everyone,

It´s Beth again with the most recent update for the interns.

Yesterday (Wednesday) we made more models of head wands, hand splints, hand sticks and communication boards for the SPED school. Osima bought supplies to make repairs at Asoplejicat and worked there yesterday and today replacing windows, replacing switches and fixing the doors. Go Osima! Adam, who caught whatever Gladys was sick with, helped too despite feeling miserable. Go Adam!

Today we wrote a proposal to assist Norma, the lovely 22 year old from Huambalo who has brain cancer. We´ll give the proposal to the CITTI Project leaders tomorrow when we have our debriefing meeting.

We´ve also been putting together a master book with instructions for each of the models we´ve created. The materials and procedures for each model are being translated and we printed photos of the various steps to accompany the written directions. The completed book will be copied and distributed to the various organizations we have assisted. It feels good, and necessary to include the book of instructions, as this will help ensure our work here is sustainable.

Tomorrow the plan is for us to eat lunch with our host families at noon and then return to Quito. We´re scheduled to meet Bridgett, Chaya and Maggie at 6 for dinner. We´re banking on being late, or simply arriving on Ecuadorian time.

That´s it for now. Although, we did hear that there are new restrictions for flight travel into the US thanks to that most recent bomb scare yesterday. Wish us easy traveling.

Be well, beth

Contributed by Osima

Hi I am taking a mid day break at the internet cafe -called The Cafe....
I finally got back to the independent living center and found out that I measured one window centimeters in one direction and inches in the other SO the glass was too short... Oh well Adam went with me and helped take the broken window out and I put the other 2 windows in, reinforced the doors with plywood and put a switch on those live wires hanging by the door..

Gladys and I will return this afternoon with a piece of glass the right size and put it in. I think I´m done (except for the window I´m replacing at my host family´s house.)

Tomorrow after lunch we go back to Quito, have dinner with Maggie, Chaya and Bridgett, and then I get up at 3:45 to come home.

I just read about the new restrictions about No liquids in carryons.

Yesterday as I was wandering around the town with Andrea and Gladys and I found the wide hoe-dad tools Dennis and I wanted. I bought two. (You can see them in the pictures on the blog) Now my checked baggage is really heavy....

The Word from Osima:

The ramp is done and the rail is done. Monica will tighten the bolts and have the kids sand it . I have the pictures and will get Gayl to forward them to you when I get home

Glad to hear everyone is safe and home

HUGS to all

Osima

Contributed by Beth Hoffman

We`re in Ambato having a slow morning. Don`t worry though, we`ve been working.

Here`s a brief recap of our activities the past few days.

Sunday we split up into two groups and bought supplies to begin making models of head wands, hand splints, mouth sticks and hand wands. There was a bit of trial and error for us but we actually made several models and were even proud of ourselves. Monday was a full day for us. We first went to Asoplejicat (the computer and copy center). Most of the main folks were not there but we were able to meet with two men and an intern. We showed them the models and talked about adapting in different ways depending on the needs of the individuals. Later, a few more people came and we guided two of the men as they made hand splints. It felt good to assist them while they gained the experience of making the necessary models.

After breaking for lunch, we went to the independent living center and observed several people making dog bones out of raw hide. We saw that a few people needed taller chairs or shorter tables because their positions were not ideal. It also seemed they had to work harder at cutting the raw hide because the knives looked dull. We were told they sharpen them about eight times a day. We also looked for ways to streamline the work by separating the tasks. Although we had some ideas, the principal people in charge were absent and it wasn`t our place to make those changes. We will, however, relay the ideas to Adam and Gladys.

Tuesday we visited Quero. We met with the therapists (the same lovely folk who were there before and also a speech therapist). Again, we made models of head wands, hand wands, hand splints and communication boards. Just as at Asoplejicat, we worked side by side with the Quero employees. We had intended to buy foam to place in wheelchairs but didn`t since none of the kids were present. Also, Andrea and Osima`s host mom Laura was kind enough to sew together fabric to make a sensory tunnel of sorts. We`ll give this to Dayan to take back to Quero.

Also on Tuesday, Osima returned to Huambalo with Adam and Alejandro (Gladys`s son). They finished the railing and told us the cement ramp is as complete as they`re able to make it. They took photos of Adam sitting in a wheelchair trying to make his way up the ramp. It was a long day for them and we`re very proud of their accomplishments.

Today we`ll make more models for the SPED school in Ambato. We won`t visit the school again since everyone is on vacation. Tomorrow we intend to return to Huambalo. I know that Andrea wants to visit Norma.

As our time here in Ecuador winds down, we feel satisfied with what we have accomplished. We know that, given the circumstances this week, we`re doing all that we can. Still, we all have the feeling of wanting to accomplish much more. I`m sure many of you can relate to that feeling.

We`ve all enjoyed staying with our host families. As I mentioned previously, Osima and Andrea are living together (per Osima`s request to stay with someone who could translate). Sonia and I are staying a few blocks away with Gladys and Adam (in addition to Washo, Glady`s husband, Alejandro, and occasionally Pico, Alejandro`s cousin). It`s like living with the large family I never had. Gladys is simply amazing. She`s been rather sick (though she`s finally getting well), yet she still cooks every meal and helps to coordinate our tasks. In addition, she`s very accommodating and friendly. The ideal mom away from home.

We`ll return to Quito Friday afternoon to debrief with Bridgett, Chaya and Maggie over dinner. Saturday we intend to go to Otavalo before hopping on our plane (Andrea and me) that night.

Contributed by Sonia Thacher

Greetings from an internet cafe in Ambato, down the street from several barbecue joints which offer the cuy that Dennis so wanted to try. (Osima's going for it sometime this week...)

We four interns have had a producive couple of days. After getting into Ambato late Saturday night, we spent most of Sunday shopping for and making materials. On the menu: head wands, hand splints, hand sticks, and mouth sticks for Asoplejicat, and communication cards/boards/whatevers for Querro. Beth and I showed impressive restraint by walking away from a virtually ready-made mouth stick (plastic knitting needle--my god, it was perfect!) on the grounds that it was too expensive, at $3.25 a pop, to be replicated easily. Instead, we went the meat-skewers and silicon route, with a nice soft toothbrush handle to bite on. Andrea and Osima went right to work, and we had three good models (one of each thing, minus the handstick) ready before dinner; Beth documented everything and wrote up a how-to booklet, while I hit up the papeleria for pictures, plastic, tape, and glue.

Today, we went to Asoplejicat to show them our models and teach them how to replicate. Dion, the PT from Querro, joined us, and was a great help. Unfortunately, Mercedes (the goddess of the organization who showed us around last time) is in the hospital with something I don't understand when it`s said to me in Spanish: she'll be all right, but she's currently indisposed. Several other folks were there, though, and our models were very well received. We set up a workspace and made more materials, side by side with the folks from Asoplejicat; as clients dropped by, many pulled up alongside us and joined in as well. It was a great chance to really share ideas and adaptations: they had many suggestions and alterations they wanted to make. Since the only thing I can do around leather goods and rubber cement is make my fingers stick together, I spent most of that time checking out the accesibility features on their computers: rather than reconfigure each one for maximum accessibility, I typed up and printed out (in Spanish, thanks to Adam) instructions and information about what each feature could do for various users. My rationale: sticky keys blow when you don't really need them.

After lunch (mmm, fresh blackberry juice!), we headed to the sheltered workshop, aka the chew toy factory. One gentleman from the computer center had requested that we look at the work being done there in terms of increasing accessibility; he believes that individuals without the fine motor control necessary to complete the whole task of making the dog toys might still be very interested in doing a part. We did a task analysis with mixed results: most of the steps simply CAN'T be made less motorically complex without major financial outlays (paper-cutter strong enough to slice rawhide, anyone?), and the ones that can be done by someone without a lot of manual dexterity happen for about 2 seconds in the middle of the process. Options, which we will present, include completely changing the current start-to-finish model into an assembly line and delegating one person with less control to pack the chew toys at the end of the process. The challenge for us was to set aside our training in "full inclusion--everyone participates" long enough to ask the hard questions about whether our suggestions would help the business function AS A BUSINESS, not a day program: I know how to make it so everyone can get involved, but I can't guarantee that it streamlines the process. And at two cents a chew toy, there's no room to play around.

We also made some observations about positioning and the height of the tables, and politely but firmly let one gentleman know that, no, we weren't actually there with the express purpose of buying him a new wheelchair. Personally, I left feeling a bit sad at how little I was actually able to help: sometimes, there just aren't the answers people hope you can give them. I consoled myself with the knowledge that Osima was able to make a tangible contribution: looking at the doors for accessibility and fixing a light so you could turn it on and off without first reattaching loose wires. The center is in the poorest, most crime-ridden sectorof Ambato, and fixing a broken window is also on the list so that they can safely house any equipment they might acquire in the future: in this case, there is such a thing as TOO MUCH accessibility.

Tommorrow, 3 of us are heading to Querro while Osima wraps up Huambalo, with help from Adam. And from there...stay tuned! (It is, after all, an emergentdesign...)

Contributed by Gayl Bowser

I've been home for two days now. My little house in the north woods looks so much more elegant than it used to. Huge by comparison to those in Ecuador and there are only two of us who live here.

Yesterday I did my laundry from the trip and thought about socks. For me, socks are coming to represent many things about the CITTI Project trip. When I think of socks, I think of Norma.

Norma is one of the adults we met in Ecuador. She had a brain tumor that caused significant muscle weakness over most of her body. Stacey and Lori and Andrea went to visit her home at Norma's request. She's a beautiful young woman with many skills and abilities. When someone asked her to write something, she wrote in English. She had a list of things that she was having trouble doing and wanted help with them. Stacey referred to the visit as "Classic OT" becasue they were working to help Norma figure out how to do the things she had been used to doing before her illeness and also to discuss possible work opportunities for her future.

During the course of the visit, Norma mentioned that her feet were cold a lot. Poor circulation because of the tumor. It should have been an easy answer. Someone suggested that she wear two or three pairs of socks. But then came the reality. She only had one pair of socks.

As we shared the story among the CITTI project folks, we also shared socks with Norma. At last count, she now has nine pair and on our last day celebration, she was wearing two of them at the same time to keep her feet warm.

I keep thinking of those socks. When I packed to go to Ecuador, I packed enough clothes for a week. But that didn't make a dent in my very full closet and dresser. As I unpacked, I counted the socks. I had taken twelve pair, some for warm days, some for hiking and a couple pair for days when I dressed for more formal events in town. I am wealthy in socks.

I used to think that I live fairly simply. By U.S. standards my house and my wardrobe are small. But Huambalo taught me more about how rich I truly am.

Because of the CITTI Project trip, I have a wealth of new friends. I was gifted with hundreds of hugs. Children met me at the bus and shared their love with me every day in Huambalo. Parents smiled and encouraged me. Teachers tried to help me with my inadequate Spanish and children taught me how to pronounce their words correctly so that I would not sound silly. CITTI project members taught me more than they will ever know about love and caring. I came home a woman wealthy in love and caring.

Today I will count all the pairs of socks in my drawer. I want to know how many pair I have and to remember that number when I feel a lack in any part of my life. I want to always be grateful for the abundance in my life. I am a wealthy woman. I have good friends who love me, children who smile when they see me and many, many pairs of socks!

Contributed by Sonia Thacher

I’m writing from Ambato, where I am spending my last week in Ecuador (sob!) with 3 other people, tying up some loose ends with various organizations.  We are going to be sharing some accessiblity tools (head wands, mouth sticks, and hand sticks to allow for typing without traditional use of the fingers) to a group of computer users with disabilities,  reconfiguring the doors at a sheltered workshop, throwing a whole bunch of communication aids at 2 special education schools, and finishing the wheelchair ramp at the center in Huambalo.
 
Everyone was sad to leave the center (well, actually, we never spent much time IN the center, per se, as it was being used as a volcano shelter so everyone got shifted to the regular ed school down the street): it was a pretty emotional goodbye for all of us. The last day of our time in Huambalo, which coincided with the last day of school, was commemorated with a whole pig and roughly 300 speeches by various officials.
 
Personally, I’m going to remember that week in different ways from the culminating ceremonies.  I’m going to remember Andrea and Lori stumbling back off the van after carrying a grown, non-ambulatory woman for about a mile when a mudslide took away the road to her house: dirty but triumphant, they still did their home visit.   I’ll remember the taste of the llampingoches (oh so tasty fried potato things) served at lunch, and how pleased the women from the community were when we said we loved the comida tipica they made for us. 

I’ll remember how my colleagues  learned to let go of adaptive spoons when they realized that everyone who knew Miguel really WANTED to feed him with their own hands.  Ill remember how excited the kids were when Chaya asked THEM to document the work taking place--and how one non-verbal child absolutely insisted that I also take a picture of him going down the slide.  Coming as I do from a country where the children are so often so very privileged and unkind to one another, it’s going to be hard for me to forget how beautifully the kids in this community cared for each other and made do with tiny things.  And the beautiful faces of all of the chidren: I can’t wait to share those pictures with everyone. 

It's been pointed out that several have contributed to this blog, but that the contributors to the success of the 2006 CITTI Tour to Ecuador include ALL of those listed below:

CORE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Bridgett Perry - California (Founder of the CITTI Project)
Maggie Morales - California
Joy Zabala - Texas
Chaya Spector - California

PROFESSIONALS

Dennis Martin - Maine
Gayl Bowser - Oregon
Heather Burns - Oregon
Linda Wilson - DC
Lori Haldeman - Illinois
Lynn Gitlow - Maine
Mimi Deegan - California
Stacy Springer - South Carolina
Chauncy Rucker - Connecticut

INTERNS

Andrea Del Rosario De Leon - Virginia
Beth Hoffman - California
Osima - Oregon
Sonia Thacher - California

DEFINITIONS

OT Occupational Therapist
PT Physical Therapist
SLP Speech Language Pathologist

Wednesday was a very special day, we experienced a minga of sorts. An entire pig was roasted for the festivities. Officials came from Huambalo and Pelileo. The teachers and therapists of the school soaked it up as they were honored for their committment and talents. The CITTI Project team could see the efforts of our collaboration. The classroom materials were displayed ...communication boards, manipulatives, hand splints, seating supports, adapted lessons plans, and so much more...all created from affordable materials found in the local community.

A personal highlight was watching Miguel use Gayl's walking sticks to walk independently. It was all rather imprompu. His mother happen to catch the moment. The second she saw him making his way across the room, she burst out in tears, hugging Gayl with all her heart. It was one of those moments I will never forget.

There were speeches of appreciation all around. Alfonso, one of the older kids, presented the CITTI Project with a very special gift of beadwork made by the older children. Many of us are already making plans for our return next year!

The goodbye yesterday was one of the hardest I have had for any of our CITTI Project journeys. I think it was because we had been a part of community in such a loving, fullfilling way. There were lots of repeated strong, heartfelt hugs. My comfort was knowing that we will return again to visit and work with our "family" in Huambalo.

A new person,
Bridgett

Chaya is photo journalist for the CITTI Tour to Ecuador. She takes pictures with a huge digital camera with a wide angle lens. A wide angle is so fitting for what she wants to do. She wants to depict the process that is going on between students and the CITTI folks and teachers. So she does not do much in the way of head shots, which I do a lot of.

She is a keen observer and follows whatever the program is doing each day. She floats from room to room watching and photographing. She is particularly interested in following youngsters she saw last summer in Huambalo. So she spends a lot of time with Miguel and Santiego to see the changes from last year. Basically she is interested in the impact of the CITTI Project on their lives and on their families.

She follows the teachers to see what they are doing now in school. She is interested in the collaboration going on between the community and the CITTI Project. She is documenting information on children to compare what is seen next year when the project returns.

She was particularly interested in documenting the gift from the children to the CITTI people. The first day at Humbalo the children gave us the gift of their dancing. It was lots of fun to watch, but in my case, I also enjoyed being invited to dance.

Let me finish by telling you another very exciting project Chaya has taken on. It has already been mentioned here on the blog, but the coolest thing Chaya did was to give the children point and shoot digital cameras to record how they saw this experience. I am sure we will all look forward to seeing Chaya´s pictures and the photos of the children.

Up early to a bright sunny day. Packed for our trip to Quito. Ran for the laundry, but it was not open yet. Ran for café and was more successful. After breakfast, ran for laundry again and was successful. Bus was leaving at nine am, so I was just lucky to get my clothes before the bus left.

More café.

Boarded the bus, no problems on the ride to Huambalo.

Went right to the ramp. Hauled cement and water, and sawed boards for the railing. Victor our Ecuadorian cement friend had two Ecuadorian women with him when we arrived. They were hauling rocks and adding them to the ramp. For the rest of the day these two women mixed the sand, rocks, and cement. They did this from 11 to 2 pm when we finished. None of the rest of us could keep up with these two.

In Ecuadorian culture women may have jobs, but they are still expected to come home and make the meals, take care of the children, clean the house, etc. for their men. When I explained how I helped with laundry and washing dishes to the school physical therapist, she could not believe it. Now she would like to find an American husband.

About 1 pm the director of the school pitched in and helped mix cement. WOW!

By 2 pm we had finished pouring all the cement for the ramp. Later a thin smooth coat of cement will be added to it. We had started the hand rails, but Osima will come back next week to help finish that.

Another very filling lunch prepared by women of the community. Then it was time to say goodbye. Took quite a time to leave this very special group of children and parents and teachers!!

Just before we left Tungurahua, the nearby volcano, rumbled quite loudly. Tungurahua is a female volcano so I do not actually know why she rumbled, but I am assuming that she was simply pleased with our work on the ramp.

The ride home offered some fantastic photo opportunities with the Cotopaxi volcano. Hope to be able to show you.

Bus took a little more than three hours to reach Quito in the dark. We were assigned rooms in the Sierra Nevada Hotel, then dinner at a buffet. Joy and I left early so we could recount the day.

I thought I had solved the picture problem, but the Papaya Net Internet cafe here in Quito does not have the Microsoft photo editor on their computers, so I will try to find another cafe tomorrow.

I was convinced that we could not possibly finish the ramp today, but we did. We did it because of several teams of people working very very hard.

748 visits to the blog as of 10 pm or so Ecuadorian time Thursday.

NOTE: If you follow the link below it will lead to a few photos related to this post. Select My pictures (11). Start with the fourth photo. There are 8 new photos.
MY ERROR: In the celebration photo just after the photo of the completed ramp, I said the boy in the front was a star for us. Unfortunately I could only see the left side of the photo when I wrote that. I could not edit that text, but both boys in front are very special boys to all of the group!!!
Cheers,
Chauncy

Saw the results of a bus - car crash on the road to Humbalo this morning. It was a the very same spot we saw a crash yesterday. Our driver now slows down at this curve.

We went straight to the ramp and began our work. I´ll leave out the details, but we worked from 10 am to 2 pm. In that time we put cement along both sides of the ramp and a line of cement up the middle of the ramp.

At 2 we were told we needed to go up to the school because there were politicians coming to see the results of us working with the students and teachers at the school. It turned out that the meeting lasted until nearly 5 and by then the bus was there to take us back to Baños.

Tomorrow we arrive at 10 am again and work until 12 or so. Hope we can get a LOT of cement poured!

Could not add photos so I´ve put 3 photos on a webpage, hope it works. The text of the third photo has an error. The last person on the back row is Diego, a gentle giant. Size 15 shoes. Both Diego and Jorge turned out to be fantastic helpers. Diego could shovel cement longer than me and Jorge was so enthusiastic he ran with the wheelbarrow full of rocks.

Contributed by Linda Bastiani Wilson
AT Consultant

Agua Santa de Baños is a small tourist town at the bottom of a valley near the Tunguragua volcano. It offers hot baths in the form of swimming pool complexes. The water is heated by the volcano. We have been going to the Baños de la Virgin (many things in Ecuador have religious names. The Virgin was a saint who performed many miracles in the region and the murals at the town church are mostly devoted to those stories).

The hot baths are packed, especially on the weekends. There is a large pool upstairs that is 38 degrees celcius. We usually dont go in that one because it is quite crowded. There is also a regular swimming pool up there where you can swim laps and the water is cool. Downstairs, is a snack bar serving up a variety of unrecognizable foods and some we do recognize, like watermelon and tuna fish. There is a round pool lined with stones that has water at 42 degrees and two smaller round pools that look like jacuzzis, but are really cold plunge pools (brrrr).

You collect a plastic bin from a stack near the wall. Go into the changing room and put your things in the bin. Then you take your bin to the coat check and you receive a rubber bracelet with your number on it. You are supposed to take a shower before entering the pool. It took us two visits before we figured out that you didnt have to use the cold showers in the changing rooms, but could use the warm showers around the corner. Since we are usually pretty cold when we get there as the weather has been chilly, this was an important discovery.

The proper way to bathe is to spend a few minutes in the hot pool, then switch to the cold plunge. The Ecuadorians are able to completely submerge themselves, but I can only sometimes get up to my neck. It is really great to get back into the hot pool after a quick cool-off. Usually, we do this cycle 4 or 5 times before we are ready to leave. It is amazing how refreshing and relaxing an experience it is! We have been in Baños for a week, and a few of us have been able to enjoy the baths almost every night.

We awoke today,Tuesday 8/01 with rain and worried it might have an impact on our cement plans. After breakfast off on the bus. I usually take the side of the bus for good pictures of the volcano, but I wanted to get a few of the mountain roads, so I changed sides. Besides, the clouds covered the tops of all the volcanos.

We we got to the school it was still raining and that was followed by pouring rain. I was assigned as a photographer to get pictures of what was going on at the school and the other building we are using.

The most fun of the day was watching the children take pictures. Chaya had given out several point and shoot digital cameras and let children take pictures from their perspective. Almost every child has had a chance to take pictures by now.

Several asked for my camera, but I wouldn´t risk it. Eventually though one girl was particularly persistent (and strong). So I put the strap around her wrist, showed her how to use the camera, and followed her closely. She would have done it all day, but eventually I did get it back.

Lunch was soup with quinon, potato and other vegtables, with chopped onions on the side. This was followed by avacodo, cucumber, rice with peas, egg, carrots, green peppers, and chicken.

And then?

And then the darn sun came out, so off we (Osima, Dennis, and I) went to the ramp. A wonderful ecuadorian cement man was already workinng there when we arrived. So we spend time adding the side boards and digging one more post hole (my job). Then our ecuadorian friend decided we needed MORE rocks. We put planks up the middle of the rocks and Dennis and I hauled 5 wheelbarrow loads of rock. As luck would have it, when I hauled my third load, the bus arrived to take us back to Baños.

Tomorrow we hope to mix sand, gravel and cement and pour it over the rocks (after we add a lot more rocks). If you happen to be in the neighborhood, please do stop by to help.