Arriving in Ecuador Jan 2008

I usually stay with Lupe's family when I arrive in Guayaquil, and I bring them some little presents. This time I brought a puzzle, and I wasn't sure how it would go over. Not everyone finds puzzles as addictive as I do. To my surprise, several family members caught the bug, and we stayed up til almost midnight to finish.

The next morning Lupe and I took off for the communities - a 4 hour bus ride to the main one. I planned to spend a few days in each of the three, providing the weather cooperated and the path to Chacanceo was passable.

I spent 4 days in a new community, Estero Piedras. One of the communities we used to work with is not involved at the moment. They had many people migrate, they lost their teacher, and some of the promotores moved away. So things there are on haitus. Meanwhile, one of the proms from Manta made contact with a nearby community, and 4 new proms have organized there. So I went to meet them and talk about potential projects and goals for this year.

I arrived in Estero Piedras on a Sunday, and the Catholic priest in the region was scheduled to hold first communion. Families from all over area brought their kids to have them participate - the 40-pew church was standing-room-only. Watching the little girls trying to keep their virginal white dresses out of the deep mud all over the place was amusing.

It rained really hard while I was there, which led to breaks in the pipes that bring water to the house where I stayed. The pipe issue is a common occurance. Usually it's fixed the same day, but this outtage lasted several. There is a small river that runs through Estero Piedras, and people go to bathe, wash laundry and dishes there, particularly if the piped water is out. So I too bathed in the river. The river bath was OK, if a little muddy. I was a little less enthusiastic about the fact that the cuy they cooked me for lunch was also gutted and cleaned in the same river, which is also where the dishes were washed. Not to mention the many passing cows, who knows what kind of sewage drainage, etc. No untoward outcomes however.

I stayed with Blanca, one of the new promotoras in Estero Piedras. (pink stiped shirt) Her husband emigrated to the US several years ago, where he spent six months in jail for entering illegally. He was released and not deported, so now he sends regular remittances. Blanca is 28, and she has four daughters, the oldest of whom is 14 (pink shorts). Not only that, the second-oldest just married! Blanca doesn't this this is so great...she'd like her daughters to continue studying. But, opportunities are extremely limited, and many girls start families in their teens.

Ruben, another of the promotores, is married to Blanca's sister (holding the baby). They have 3 kids, the last of whom was born while they were using birth control pills. They don't want more kids, and we had a lively discussion about birth control. They were amazingly knowledgeable about all kinds of methods. Ruben wants to get a vasectomy. He says no one knows anyone who's had one, and if he tries it, he can use his experience to educate others. What a super star!!