Thursday, April 14, 2011 Journal Entry
Thought for the Day: “Life is like a mirror. Smile at it and it smiles back at you.” – Charlie
We are the only ones at the hotel now so we had breakfast served to us. Our morning “jugo” had us all stumped and we were surprised to discover it was tomato juice.
Bob and Charlie went to Center 2 this morning in hopes of more work projects. In their efficiency, they put themselves out of work. They got to play with the children instead. Bob, aka, Richard Simmons, got his exercise dancing with the little ones. Charlie put his germ fetish aside and helped feed the babies.
Barb and I worked in Center #1 in our usual places. I was able to do a few extra activities with the children, like lacing yarn through holes in paper and reading, in an effort to keep them busy. The children behave quite well when they are engaged.
Barb got to exercise her inner artist today by making a poster of the vowels. She was the pawn in an art competition between the teachers! At least she didn’t have to draw any more dead chickens.
Lunch was soup (4 for 4, Chomp), rice, potatoes and meat. I think we’ve got the gist of the Ecuadorian food now. All that’s left is the guinea pig.
Barb and I joined the boys to see their handiwork. We may be some of the select few to ever view this sight. Barb and I were duly impressed. Charlie and Bob stayed at Center 2 and played with the kids and filed papers. Barb and I finished the day at Center 1. I taught the remaining children how to make paper airplanes and Barb engaged the ninos in a photo session.
The sky didn’t cooperate, yet again, so we weren’t able to go up the gondola to Pichincha. I guess we’ll have to come back to Quito on a clear day. Instead, we went back to the hotel for a rest before our celebratory dinner.
Martin picked us up at 6 p.m. He took us to a hoppin’ part of town called Mariscal and a restaurant called Mama Clorinda. I happily had a salad while Charlie got so involved in his dinner of ribs that he needed a bib. We were entertained by musicians while we ate and celebrated a week of work well done.
Written by: Volunteer Mary
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
A Full Day of New Sights, Tastes, Smells & Smiles!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Journal Entry
Thought for the day: “All who wander are not lost.”
We started the day with a quick breakfast meeting and a taxi ride to Center 1 where Charlie and I stayed to work. Barb and Bob headed to Center 2 to prepare and purchase supplies for the tile project. Barb returned to Center 1 to work and Bob accomplished a great deal of trimming and weeding in the garden at Center 2.
I requested that we take the children out to the deck to play with balls. The tia in my group let us and the kids loved it! The boys particularly benefited from some running around. Sadly a few girls didn’t want to try playing and opted on sitting under a table. When the star on my soccer team kicked the ball over the fence, never to be seen again, we returned to our room.
The children are broken into groups by age. They start as young as five months and go until 5 years. Some of the tia’s own children come to work with them so I have a 6-year-old daughter in our group of fours and five.
They are learning about the cycle of life. Since there aren’t photocopiers available, we have been tracing pictures of the life cycle of plants & chickens for the children to work with. Today, they glued quinoa on the egg portion of the picture of a hatching chick.
The children follow lunch with a siesta. Since there is only so much space, they are lined up across the bed in a row. Siesta is our lunch time. We will eat at La Quinta every day and Charlie is laying odds that every meal will start with soup. So far, he’s two for two.
After lunch, we had a little time so we purchased a sweatshirt for Charlie and a new ball to replace the one that went missing in the morning soccer match. For a change of pace, we went to Center 2 and worked in the garden. The sun even made an appearance today so our walk over and back and the gardening was quite pleasant. Charlie had a bit of trouble because he tried coffee for the first, and possibly the last, time.
Walking to Center 2 is about a 10 to 15 minute walk through town. Center 2 feels more rural as it has outdoor space and abuts cornfields. Entering Center 1, however, one feels rather stealthy. It is hidden behind a barred gate in the outdoor food market, between two vegetable stalls. One must watch their step and head to safely arrive.
We finished our workday in Lily’s office with a game of ball with her 2-year-old daughter and met her 14-year-old son. .
Martin gathered us in his gray van in hopes of clear skies to ride the gondola up Pichincha. We were optimistic but the closer we got the darker the sky, until it finally opened up. As a consolation, we stopped at our favorite mall for lattes. With mixed feelings from the group, Martin decided to take us to the Old Town in Quito. Traffic was painfully slow, but we were able to see the beautiful streets lit at night.
As we visited a baroque church, the opulence of the interior, grand architecture, and the clear soprano left little impression for Charlie next to the excitement of detecting a potential pick-pocketer eyeing Bob. The streets were empty and the restaurants packed since Quito’s futbol team was playing on TV. We heard rhythmic banging as we awaited our dinner. I thought it might be Barb locked in the bano, but upon further discovery, there was a folk dance performance outside. We were able to watch a few dances with traditional dress, moves and music. We should have had another diploma for Bob as he tried (and enjoyed) goat!
On the way home, we had a quick stop at the main square for a photo shoot and view of the palace. We were able to see the basilica on our return, as well.
It was a full day – full of new sights, tastes, smells and smiles. I believe we are all enriched as a result and will sleep soundly. In face, everyone else already is so now it’s my turn. Good night!
Written by: Volunteer Mary
Thought for the day: “All who wander are not lost.”
We started the day with a quick breakfast meeting and a taxi ride to Center 1 where Charlie and I stayed to work. Barb and Bob headed to Center 2 to prepare and purchase supplies for the tile project. Barb returned to Center 1 to work and Bob accomplished a great deal of trimming and weeding in the garden at Center 2.
I requested that we take the children out to the deck to play with balls. The tia in my group let us and the kids loved it! The boys particularly benefited from some running around. Sadly a few girls didn’t want to try playing and opted on sitting under a table. When the star on my soccer team kicked the ball over the fence, never to be seen again, we returned to our room.
The children are broken into groups by age. They start as young as five months and go until 5 years. Some of the tia’s own children come to work with them so I have a 6-year-old daughter in our group of fours and five.
They are learning about the cycle of life. Since there aren’t photocopiers available, we have been tracing pictures of the life cycle of plants & chickens for the children to work with. Today, they glued quinoa on the egg portion of the picture of a hatching chick.
The children follow lunch with a siesta. Since there is only so much space, they are lined up across the bed in a row. Siesta is our lunch time. We will eat at La Quinta every day and Charlie is laying odds that every meal will start with soup. So far, he’s two for two.
After lunch, we had a little time so we purchased a sweatshirt for Charlie and a new ball to replace the one that went missing in the morning soccer match. For a change of pace, we went to Center 2 and worked in the garden. The sun even made an appearance today so our walk over and back and the gardening was quite pleasant. Charlie had a bit of trouble because he tried coffee for the first, and possibly the last, time.
Walking to Center 2 is about a 10 to 15 minute walk through town. Center 2 feels more rural as it has outdoor space and abuts cornfields. Entering Center 1, however, one feels rather stealthy. It is hidden behind a barred gate in the outdoor food market, between two vegetable stalls. One must watch their step and head to safely arrive.
We finished our workday in Lily’s office with a game of ball with her 2-year-old daughter and met her 14-year-old son. .
Martin gathered us in his gray van in hopes of clear skies to ride the gondola up Pichincha. We were optimistic but the closer we got the darker the sky, until it finally opened up. As a consolation, we stopped at our favorite mall for lattes. With mixed feelings from the group, Martin decided to take us to the Old Town in Quito. Traffic was painfully slow, but we were able to see the beautiful streets lit at night.
As we visited a baroque church, the opulence of the interior, grand architecture, and the clear soprano left little impression for Charlie next to the excitement of detecting a potential pick-pocketer eyeing Bob. The streets were empty and the restaurants packed since Quito’s futbol team was playing on TV. We heard rhythmic banging as we awaited our dinner. I thought it might be Barb locked in the bano, but upon further discovery, there was a folk dance performance outside. We were able to watch a few dances with traditional dress, moves and music. We should have had another diploma for Bob as he tried (and enjoyed) goat!
On the way home, we had a quick stop at the main square for a photo shoot and view of the palace. We were able to see the basilica on our return, as well.
It was a full day – full of new sights, tastes, smells and smiles. I believe we are all enriched as a result and will sleep soundly. In face, everyone else already is so now it’s my turn. Good night!
Written by: Volunteer Mary
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Day One in Quito
Journal Entry for Sunday, April 10
Team 140 to Ecuador gathered for breakfast at 9-ish in the charming dining room of Hotel Sol de Quito. Fresh fruit, croissants, eggs, blackberry juice – delicious.
Orientation commenced with hellos and a “getting to know you” session. We are a team that’s small in number – 4 – but big in energy, dedication and talent.
* Bob the engineer (my hubby) whose worst-ever job was picking strawberries and whose best job is his current consulting work.
* Charlie, age 13, a sports enthusiast who is discovering a new interest in math and who enjoys phy ed and his involvement in a community service club in his hometown (Woodside) near San Francisco.
* Mary (Charlie’s mom) is a dedicated teacher and homemaker who shared her journey from college to family with four kids with stops along the way in Australia and Switzerland. We later enjoyed hearing about her “horseback” journeys in South Africa and India. Wow! She’s also done the GV Peru program with one of her daughters. It’s a family tradition to take each child on a volunteer experience when he/she turns 13!
* I shared my background with newspaper work, GV, our terrific kid and more!
This was followed by reviews of Global Volunteers' policy – health and safety issues and a pleasant visit with Elvita, Pilar and Marujita, representatives of FUNDAC, our host organization, who described the work projects, the community of Calderon and more.
Then we commenced to team goals and team-building exercises. Our goals include: learning about the culture, land and people; serving the people and making a difference; and improving our Spanish.
We decided on the following Characteristics of a Good Team:
1. Not giving up and always trying hard in what we do.
2. Not complaining - having a positive attitude.
3. Respecting teammates’ needs and wants.
4. Communication.
5. Tolerance and respecting the local culture.
6. Diligence.
7. Working together well with the team and the local people.
8. Sense of humor.
9. Perserverance.
10. Having fun and enjoying ourselves.
11. Engagement – “being present” in the moment.
12. Flexibility.
13. Sharing a common vision and goals.
Martin Miranda visited us after lunch (chicken, rice, salad, soup- good!). He described possible free-time activities for our short week and he also assisted with a basic language session.
We wound up orientation around 3:30 p.m. or so and Martin kindly agreed to take us to Parque Carolina and the Reptile House. There we saw awesome snakes, turtles, frogs and iguanas. Charlie stuck his neck out and wore a “cobra scarf.” Brave guy!
Then we went to the park’s Botanic Garden. Lovely! I was so impressed with the lush foliage, the meandering stream with paddleboats and the gardens and more in this wonderful park!
Later we walked to Jardin Mall, a very sophisticated mall filled to the brim with families. Then back in the hotel, our dinner was delicious – flank steak, chicken cilantro soup and rice and veggies – all finished off with custard for dessert. Good company, good conversation, good night!
Signed – Team Leader Barb
Team 140 to Ecuador gathered for breakfast at 9-ish in the charming dining room of Hotel Sol de Quito. Fresh fruit, croissants, eggs, blackberry juice – delicious.
Orientation commenced with hellos and a “getting to know you” session. We are a team that’s small in number – 4 – but big in energy, dedication and talent.
* Bob the engineer (my hubby) whose worst-ever job was picking strawberries and whose best job is his current consulting work.
* Charlie, age 13, a sports enthusiast who is discovering a new interest in math and who enjoys phy ed and his involvement in a community service club in his hometown (Woodside) near San Francisco.
* Mary (Charlie’s mom) is a dedicated teacher and homemaker who shared her journey from college to family with four kids with stops along the way in Australia and Switzerland. We later enjoyed hearing about her “horseback” journeys in South Africa and India. Wow! She’s also done the GV Peru program with one of her daughters. It’s a family tradition to take each child on a volunteer experience when he/she turns 13!
* I shared my background with newspaper work, GV, our terrific kid and more!
This was followed by reviews of Global Volunteers' policy – health and safety issues and a pleasant visit with Elvita, Pilar and Marujita, representatives of FUNDAC, our host organization, who described the work projects, the community of Calderon and more.
Then we commenced to team goals and team-building exercises. Our goals include: learning about the culture, land and people; serving the people and making a difference; and improving our Spanish.
We decided on the following Characteristics of a Good Team:
1. Not giving up and always trying hard in what we do.
2. Not complaining - having a positive attitude.
3. Respecting teammates’ needs and wants.
4. Communication.
5. Tolerance and respecting the local culture.
6. Diligence.
7. Working together well with the team and the local people.
8. Sense of humor.
9. Perserverance.
10. Having fun and enjoying ourselves.
11. Engagement – “being present” in the moment.
12. Flexibility.
13. Sharing a common vision and goals.
Martin Miranda visited us after lunch (chicken, rice, salad, soup- good!). He described possible free-time activities for our short week and he also assisted with a basic language session.
We wound up orientation around 3:30 p.m. or so and Martin kindly agreed to take us to Parque Carolina and the Reptile House. There we saw awesome snakes, turtles, frogs and iguanas. Charlie stuck his neck out and wore a “cobra scarf.” Brave guy!
Then we went to the park’s Botanic Garden. Lovely! I was so impressed with the lush foliage, the meandering stream with paddleboats and the gardens and more in this wonderful park!
Later we walked to Jardin Mall, a very sophisticated mall filled to the brim with families. Then back in the hotel, our dinner was delicious – flank steak, chicken cilantro soup and rice and veggies – all finished off with custard for dessert. Good company, good conversation, good night!
Signed – Team Leader Barb
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Donors Made My Service Possible
Last year, through the Global Volunteers website, I raised enough money for my trips to both Peru and Ecuador. The only thing I ended up paying for was my flight on both trips. How'd I do it?
I put a letter in my church bulletin and received an overwhelming amount of supplies that I was able to split between both trips for donations. I ended up bringing at least one extra suitcase on both trips filled with supplies for the children. When I signed up for the trips, I wrote a letter explaining what I was doing and why, asking for any sort of donation. I sent the letter to all my family close and extended as well as family friends, neighbors, teachers, distant relatives etc. I received an overwhelming response and received donations up until the week before I was to leave to Peru on my first trip.
I took the semester off from school last fall, and when I found Global Volunteers, it was a perfect fit. I found out about the program through a girl at my school who had done a trip to Brazil with her mother a few years ago. The fact that Global Volunteers provided me with the means to create a fundraising page was very helpful. It was perfect for me to fundraise through. Global Volunteers is the only volunteer program I found that allowed you to fully fundraise all of your costs and helped you in doing so. All other programs were much more expensive and more of a volunteer 'vacation' rather than a strictly volunteer trip.
This has been a wonderful, fulfilling memory for me. I encourage you to do it.
-Meagan Minott
Monday, March 14, 2011
Former Volunteer Posts AMAZING YouTube Videos!!
We at Global Volunteers are privileged to work with so many wonderful volunteers, partners, and supporters each and every day.
Last week, one particular volunteer, Graham, truly knocked our socks off when he shared a 9-part video series he had created about Global Volunteers and posted on YouTube!! These videos feature the travels and experiences of numerous Global Volunteers (particularly one tight-knit group from New Jersey) and we welcome you to take a look at these exceptional videos by using the link below.
Thank you, Graham!! And for the rest of you... ENJOY!!
Global Volunteer Retrospective Video (Ecuador): http://www.youtube.com/user/endlessmug#p/u/43/sufIOhS5a30
Last week, one particular volunteer, Graham, truly knocked our socks off when he shared a 9-part video series he had created about Global Volunteers and posted on YouTube!! These videos feature the travels and experiences of numerous Global Volunteers (particularly one tight-knit group from New Jersey) and we welcome you to take a look at these exceptional videos by using the link below.
Thank you, Graham!! And for the rest of you... ENJOY!!
Global Volunteer Retrospective Video (Ecuador): http://www.youtube.com/user/endlessmug#p/u/43/sufIOhS5a30
Friday, February 25, 2011
UPDATE: Volunteer Opportunity Available April 9-16!
Calling all Global Volunteers!!!
The children of Calderon need you and with the help of a few dedicated volunteers, we have been able to save our April service program dates from APRIL 9 - 16. If you are able to volunteer for one week this spring, please contact our Volunteer Coordinators as soon as possible at 800-487-1074 to discuss joining this team!!
If you're curious what you'll be working on in Calderon, Ecuador (a suburb of Quito) please read on:
The spectacular ancient Andean culture, with its haunting music, expressive dance and vibrant dress, is matched only by the enchanting landscapes and hospitable people. In Ecuador, eleven distinct cultures weave harmoniously together to unite past and present.
As a Global Volunteer, you experience Ecuador through her people...at-risk children, their families and care-givers. Extreme poverty is the reality for the children you'll serve in the Quito area, but you can help improve opportunities in these young lives. Our service program enables you to provide direct, hands-on care for pre-schoolers through an amazing grassroots organization. No matter your background, your personal efforts improve these youngsters' well-being. What's more, through your service program fee, Global Volunteers is able to purchase materials directed to the children's imminent needs.
The daily needs of the economically impoverished children we serve in Calderon, Ecuador are simple, and you represent an important resource for education, recreation and basic social development. The childcare centers built and expanded through the assistance of Global Volunteers teams provides safe and stimulating environments for mothers to leave their children so they can provide a better future for their families.
Our Ecuadorian host partner needs your help in these areas:
Childcare - infants and pre-schoolers.
Construction - a new child care facility.
Physical labor - landscaping, painting and masonry.
English language skills - informal one-on-one teaching
Please call or e-mail us TODAY if you are interested in joining us this April. Your time and skills are needed in Calderon, so why wait?!?
Friday, February 4, 2011
Calling All Prospective Ecuador Volunteers!!!
"I have felt the stress that sat in my chest from my problems with my job and family loosen over the past week, and I have been reminded that I need to count my blessings. Edith (our team leader) told us this morning to recognize the times which we are happy, instead of always feeling that our happiness is in the future or incomplete. And to name those moments by simply saying 'I am happy.' Two weeks ago I would not have been able to say that, but right now, I think I can honestly say - 'I am happy.'” ~ Cara, Ecuador Team Journal August 2009
Come and treat yourself to those moments of happiness on our Global Volunteers service program in Ecuador beginning April 2, 2011 for one or two weeks. If you are looking for a spring getaway that will leave you feeling inspired, this may be for you.
Join our development partnership in the outskirts of Quito, helping a grassroots women's cooperative organization keep their Daycare center running, and make a difference to the children and families in this impoverished area. You will be amazed by the people and the beauty of Ecuador and will have an opportunity to make a real impact on their lives - and your own. Our partners welcome families with children 8 years of age and older. I have attached further information about the work project, accommodations and free time activities. You'll find even more information, video and blogs from previous team members on our Ecuador webpage at : http://www.globalvolunteers.org/ecuador/default.asp
We just need one more volunteer to make this program a "go", so come lend your heart and your hands to this inspiring community - you'll be an important resource regardless of your background and skill level. In the words of the Mothers' Cooperative of Calderon "We send our never-ending gratitude to the many generous volunteers and the Global Volunteers directors and coordinators who work every day to make sure the children's needs are met. It's like a miracle."
Be a part of the miracle in April, or if that time frame doesn't work, we have teams starting on June 11th, July 23rd, or October 15th. Be the difference in 2011!!
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