Talking with Teachers

I think that you all must know by now, that for several years now, I have been teaching my son and daughter or I should properly say they have taught me. What I have learned so much from my children is to search for the secret in which they can communicate and learn and that you can always learn even though the lessons might be more than just math, it might be accompanied by persistance which is the more important lesson. Never mind that we had to work much harder to find the love and compassion in all sorts of ways it make the family work. What I have also learned is that school teachers are amazing or they are terrible just like any other human being, and they are not gods they are only human but, they are expected by many parents to raise their children as well as teach them. In fact when the teachers in BC went on strike, I was an avid supporter of the teachers. Alot of people were shocked that I would do this, being a homeschooler, but because I have had to teach my own, I have huge respect for those who teach sooooo many, with different personalities or learning issues, etc and then expected by the parents to teach and encourage good morals and to be a good citizen. Yikes. This is an unrealistic demand to ask of any one person when the responsibility primarily should come from the parents and then supported by the community. During this time in BC, I talked with parents of the students about school teachers and their ideas of school and parenting were conflicting. They demanded the teachers to go back to work and do their jobs, but when I said to them if they didn't like the teachers or their work, I suggested homeschooling and the response was always the same: "I could never do it, it would be too hard, I can't control my kids now how could I do it then, I don't want to", so my response was always the same:"Then support your teachers!" It was very difficult to not get into a full battle with some people about their contradictory ideas.
Here in Ecuador I have the great pleasure of actually having the director of the school teaching us spanish. Mario Amung. He is not only a great spanish teacher, but he is also well educated and genuinely concerned about the kids here. He is also a dedicated educator, he could easily get a different job and certainly paid alot better, but as he says,"I am a teacher, it is what I am and what I was meant to do, I love it." We have often talked about the differences in school systems, and approaches. The first kind of differences is now the teachers still have alot of control of the kids, where that is virtually gone in Canada. The sexual preditor stuff that is such a huge concern in Canada, is virtually not known here, or it is either never talked about. Bullying which and unfortunately has affected my son, without a satifactory conclussion is absolutlely not tolerated. However, the main approach to learning is rote, and in Canada some of the approaches of learning can be very creative, or the help available for special needs is abundant in Canada and not here. The gym classes are very active and everyday the kids are to hike up the mountain, go to the virgin monument, to the cross monument and back. about an hour of excerise before classes. Then the kids are ready for schooling. But they don't have services like special needs or certainly funding for it and well medication is just out of the question. They also don't have the money for books or money to buy books for reading for pleasure. So the reading is not always great because to don't see the pleasure in reading. Unfortunately, often the kids only go to school till grade 5 and go to work instead. That is tough but it is a different world here. It is a privilege to go to school, and if the kids are fortunate they can carry on to higher education, and they do work for it, because they know that the family has sacrificed to do it. Of course, there are some families here that are better off than others and those kids may or may not have the same appreciation but overall it is there.
We, Mario and I have had alot of fun comparing notes, and also coming up with plans of action for more intense learning. He and I have challenged each other with good effects, not only can I have discussions with professionals, I can also debate them. The whole experience of learning down here has been more than just interesting, it has been life changing. I am learning more about myself than I thought was there. I have certainly learned more about self assertion and standing up for myself, it is soo much easier to stand up for others, than myself.
Life is good here even when I am learning about myself, "looking the the mirror, can be difficult but ever so enlightening."
Talk with you all soon.
Robin

Realities of life

I am sad again today but there is a happy ending with today's story.
The kids and I decided to play lazy and go out to breakfast. While having breakfast, we were joined by new friends and it was a great time. Great talks of politics and philosophy were had better here than any ever had in ancient greece. Then in walked in a little native fellow selling his wares of these tiny paintings that are so common here. He was really and ancient little fellow and it seemed like he wanted to warm his bones by the fire. After all was said and done, we paid our bill and left. Dane said to me that the little fellow was asking him questions and he thought that the little man just wanted to finish Dane's pancake. I said don't worry let's just go. We went and saw a friend and then Dane and our new friends went to go play pool, (those pool sharks get sharper as they age like fine wine, and they love to teach young ones coming up, Dane) when I realized that Dane had left the backpack at the resturant. I went back and yes I did find the backpack but no cell phone. This was a b---ch because it has all our important phone numbers of contacts that we need here. I wouldn't know where to start looking for the new numbers. So I had this idea to go get Rachelle and her phone and maybe if the stars were in alignment, we could push the call button and the phone would ring and we would hear it. We went to the resturant and no luck. When low and behold there was the little guy with the paintings. I said Ray push the call button and low and behold we hear a phone ring and like dogs we bent over listening only to find out his purse is ringing under the paintings at the bottom. Okey, dokey. Needless to say, he said he found it. (In the backpack) and that he was going to return it,(technically he was re-entering the resturant). He could have been saying to Dane to pick up his pack, as Dane understands very little spanish especially when the people are from the mountains and they have a difficult accent to understand. So stupid me, gave him a dollar hoping that good faith and honesty are alive and well, (it was tested today). I wasn't feeling right about it so, in my infinite wisedom. I told the owner of the resturant, and this was the second incident of a guest at his resturant having things disappear but this time there was no doubt. The hand was in the cookie jar. So I understand that they are no longer allowed in the resturant and that the owner will spread the good news to the other resturants. A very expensive phone for the little guy and a shot to his business. In the mean time though, I did buy another phone, but I don't think it is wasted as Dane can use it, or I can when Rob gets back. So overall, all is well no harm done, I may have learned something and revenge is not something that I had to weld (so my kharma is intact) but I may have also aided the resturant, the resturant owner and perhaps other tourist as well. Detective Rachelle and Robin solve another one, and to date this is the first act of possible theivery.
I still have my faith in humanity still intact and I still like people.
So the day is complete and we will carry on. ....... is this like one of those shows with the stupid criminals carrying the evidence instead of getting rid of it........ oh never mind...... just a thought really.... Is this like someone stealing a pager or phone and them picking up the phone and answering it or return the call...... never mind it all turned out ok.... but really ......
Thinking of you all
Robin

The beauty of Banos

Hi there
Today, I am kind of sad, for this is the day that Rob left for Canada to go to work. This is a neccesary evil of life that is very much a reality in our world. We knew that when we came down here that Rob would have to go back to work, but it doesn't make us, and me, miss him any less. With all the work that is being done on the house, the money doesn't come from out of the trees so back to work he goes and back to school the kids and I go and also the construction and changes of the house continue and so shall I. I think that I will put myself into my painting more and also of course excercise, this always helps to release all that I am feeling.
Consequently, this morning when I was feeling rather melancholy, I wrapped myself up in Rob's "lying" blanket ,(it is amazing how the scent of loved ones stays in clothing or fabric) and went upstairs to the patio for a moment of thought. I thought that I would sink deeper into the gloom but what happened was that the view was soooo lovely that I found the reason why and how important it was for Rob to go to work so that when he comes back, it is for something well worth returning for, other than just family. Rob and I rose at about 5:00, this was when the sky was just lightening up....then slowly the view of Tungurahua became clear. She was as snowcapped as any mountain on any ski slope I have every seen and she was lightly puffing into the air, looking like anyone does, the misting of exhalation on a cool fresh morning. The sky was an amazing light ultramarine blue that was amost electric, a color that I have never ever seen before. Slowly, the sun shone on the peaks of the mountains, making the growth there a brilliant green. The sun in Ecuador, as I probably have mentioned before, is truely yellow, but a lovely soft, clear color that makes all the green just greener and more lively. The beams of light grew longer and brighter intensifying the definition of all the interesting profiles of the mountains, more three dimensional rather than flatter. Growth here of the plant is lush because of the gift of fertility from Tungurahua. This creates happy plants who gratefully give off the most marvelous smells and perfumes, that I would love to be able to paint. Smell is one of the most powerful sences we have. I think the powers that be, made sure that we could never duplicate it for it is meant to inspire the ability of deepening and enriching memories into your soul. Rob and I enjoyed a morning coffee and tea mostly in silence sharing the odd word or two of our last morning together for several months.
I hope Rob carries the sweet morning with him into his soul and memory when he is in the environment of the petroleum sights of Alberta, and remembers his new home here in Ecuador and uses it to inspire him to enjoy the process of being thankful and remember that he can come back when other people are just tourists. I know that I will keep my eye on the ball and focus on what this time will mean for the future. I hope that you all have sweet thoughts and memories to inspire you through through those other times.
Robin

Quirky custom

Hi there I hope all is well in your world.
Now that the formalities are done, I would like to provide a little insight in the Ecuadorian society. If you have invited Ecuadorian people over for supper, or a meal or if you have workers and you are providing lunch or a meal, you notice something that they automaticly do. They think of their loved ones..... and provide for them too. In other words, they like to share and do not like things, food or opportunities to go to waste. Therefore, what I have found is you make alot of food, and then make a little more. I do this naturally, because I think that everyone eats like my growing teenagers and food obsessive me. After they finish, they will start packing food in plastic bags or paper napkins for their family. They may also ask if they can have extra "para llavar", meaning take out. The first time I heard this at my house, it was a kid and he asked for a hamburger for the road, after he ate already. I thought this a little odd but felt awkward enough to say sure, and then he loaded up the burger with everything that he could find, peas, steamed vegies, anything that was left over after the meal. I tried not to really put alot of energy into thinking about it. But this occurred again today. We were to provide lunch for the 8 workers who are putting up the cement roof for the "Casita" in the back of the garden. After lunch, they packed up food for their loved ones and anything they would like for later. No kidding. We even had a really nice fellow worker and he explained that his wife would like some lunch too. Trying to look one the bright side and not just foolishly annoyed, at least they were thinking of others and not just themselves. Besides, what can I say....... It is one of the customy, quirky things that happens here.
We also found that when you have bought a house here, everyone thinks that you are some rich, gringo, with lots of cash to burn, and suddenly you are offered other houses for sale. Right now, we have our house and it is a big project to make it the way we want to and our minds are on this house only at this point. It is interesting and as yet I have not gone to see any of the other houses. I am afraid that I might like them too, and our budget and time has definite borders.
I can only handle one project at a time. It is a much better way to do things, in my mind, I don't get distracted and feel accomplished when I look at the finished products. Therefore I like to complete each project I start. I drive my family crazy when I get carried away completing projects. It is the obsessive compulsive in me. This is why I don't have projects left unfinished. It is how I am hard wired. But once again I digress, I guess my OCD does not apply here.
These people really know how to work hard here. They don't mind taking up wheel barrow after wheel barrow of cement and sand up a shaky Bamboo ramp, one floor up, to get this floor made. I think that they will all sleep well tonight.
I have found that various other people complain about the the quirky Ecuadorian ways, I personally think that they don't think about the future very much and that can cause a great many problems later. However, this is the country that I am choosing to live in and if I am to enjoy my life here that means I have to accept certain things. I don't have to judge people either only judge myself and how I do and think things and judge when something is right or not right for me.
The other day, our spanish teacher asked of me to make some pies for him. He knows that I am a soft hearted fool and have trouble saying "no". I asked him why this was needed. As it turns out, the locals were having a bake sale to help raise money for special needs children. As soon as I found this out, I made 4 cakes. Apparently, the locals and turists alike bought out all the baking by noon, and they raised more than they thought they would. Success.
Mario has a neice who is one year old with down's syndrome and has just had her 3 heart operation (weak hearts are a weak spot for downs kids), the last one they had to go to Brazil for. He doesn't have alot of money only is small teachers salary, but he still makes sure he finds a way to help out the people he loves. He and his family are familiar with down's syndrome and he called kids born with down's "living angels", because of their pure hearts. I have to agree, out of all the special children I have worked with, this syndrome is does create living angels, and many countries in the world consider it a blessing to have a down's child/angel in their family. Apparently, Mario and his family think so too.
If I am allowed to generalize here. I just wish alot more people in other countries, would give volunteer time too. like this too. You don't always have to give with money, but time is often the thing that is really needed. In Canada, I contributed to those in need too, but in ways that they could raise more money than just giving money or found homes for for stuff that I knew other people could benifit from.
Please allow me this moment for me to stand on my soap box. I have often found that there are those very selfish,or uneducated, or uninformed people out there who could learn a great deal if they only volunteered their time, a sharing of themselves not money, with a variety of foundations and peoples, or even hospitals. I think if people did this we would see alot more compassion in the world.
This reminds me of the time when the special olympics was on and the 100 meter race started for (I think) the down's kids, the 2 kids in front were neck and neck and it was very exciting, then second place tripped and fell almost at the finish line and the first place stopped and helped the other up, both loosing the opportunity to win. But the roar of the crowd was wonderful and everyone was astounded that this took place with such lack of concern for winning but rather concern for their fellow being. I love this story and wish that the rest of the world would just learn from this, I can have hope can't I.
Thanks for listening to my rant and I hope that you will carry the thought of the heartfelt race with you throughout the day, and let it inspire you to enjoy your day more.
Talk with you all later
Robin

Rainy day chat

Well we had some lovely warm spring weather for the last week, but nature in her infinite wisdom let us have a blustery Windsday to remind us how rain and wind can feel and supply the ever needed change that would otherwise make us complacent. It is funny really, when you think that we left Canada in the really cold time, winter, to come to Ecuador to enjoy the perpetual spring here in the mountains of Banos. Our bench mark for cold is the f----ing cold of the Shuswap of British Columbia, though thankfully, not the f----ing freezing of Edmonton. We actually started complaining about how cold it was here. I can look in the streets and the people have their warm and woolies on, literally. I still find it startling that these harty, short, little people who will put a farm or green house on an almost vertical slope or who will carry a 100 lb bag of rice up a mountain on a foot path a mouse would get nervous on, but when it comes to warmth they are sissies. The stores are selling light ski jackets, sweaters, gloves which they are happily selling, and we are still wearing our shorts and sandals.
Ok, this is where I say the technology and the understanding of building is light years advanced in Canada and the US and of course Europe, etc. To cope with the inclimental weather of the northern hemisphere, those who live there, have figured out heating and insulation. (By the way one of the bonuses of insulation is sound proofing, this I miss. Especially when one of our dogs snores almost as loud as Rob. But I digress once again......) We have a fireplace here in the house. And early last week, we thought it was damp enough and cold enough to have to fire up the ugly orange horno, and decided give her a test run (Although she has been painted over now in white, grey and black to make her at least lookable, without gagging.) We had been warned by some gringo friends to expect certain things to take place and shockingly they did. We thought what they were saying was the punchline, but....... Yes, you guessed it, the fairly unattractive fireplace/horno smoked up the whole bottom floor, enough to give several hams and a few salmon way to much liquid smoke flavor. It is a good thing that Rob insisted on keeping the new furnature covered in plastic like a 1970's italian house, because the plastic has repletedly saved the furnature from not only concrete dust, volcanic ash, but now also a good smoking too. Not to insult my Italian friends of the past but wink and nod, my girlfriends (the italian daughters) would start the plastic jokes before I even thought of them. We have got alot of miles out of our dearly loved plastic. I can see why it is sooooo prized here. Needless to say out comes the fireplace and beloved chimney, with the tenderness of Rob's (aka Thor, god of the Norse) enthusiastic sledge hammer when he comes back in December. The house has been created with a number of squarish and geometric designs, giving it a modern look, this is ok, however, there in the middle of it, is an orange, painted to look like brick, round and capped rocket out the side-top of the house. Needless to say it doesn't fit, work or whatever and would give some of the architechs in Canada reason to call the interior and exterior design police ,or have NASA starting to ask Ecuador,"What's with you space program?"
I am happy to announce that our son, Dane, has discovered electricity and a soldering iron. This has lead to many a scientific experiment and once again I am glad to live in a cement house that is almost impossible to burn down. He has also used his computer to get onto web-sites that supply answers to his many questions involving creation of further science experiments using (wrecking) house hold items. So far he has not yet, made something explosive but we still have hope. If the neighbors find out he is doing what he is doing, I am sure we will be very popular.
The other day, the kids and I went to go for a walk, and we dropped in on our Spanish teacher, he had hurt his ankle and wasn't doing classes for a while. So, I asked how he was doing and I ended up massaging not only him but the several other family members that miraculously kept appearing. They kept trying to tell me that I should open a clinic to do work here. Not going to happen, anytime soon, but it was good for a laugh.
Anyway enough Windsday babble, I hope that your day is as enlightening as mine....
Robin

update on life here

Hi All
Well the days are great and the people are wonderful.
I finally kept up my courage and walked one of the trails that I can see everyday from my bedroom window. Even from this view it looks steep. And in reality it is. With my family, I put on my sunglasses (blinders) and cranked up the Ipod, and up we went. I have certain favorites, like we all do when it comes to music and I plugged in. We were climbing the steepest part first, I felt if I just got over the steepest part then I could do the rest. Soooo, I focussed on the music and only looked 4 feet in front of me(Famous words from the Secret), and took one step at a time, Focus 4 feet and music, I also used the mantra, "I let my choices choose my path and I will enjoy the choices I make." Rather than say, "I will not let my fears dictate my choices." You know, stay on the positive side on the thoughts. Little did I know that in one of those mantra moments when looking 4 feet in front meant looking straight down, I realized that Billy Idol was playing, "Catch my fall, if I should tumble". I had to laugh and really listen to the words to get further inspiration. Nothing in life happens without reason. Needless to say, I found the humor that nature in her infinite wisdom knew I could make things all better with, and I joyously made the walk without problems.
So now the next, hurdle is the climb to the "Virgin". This is a stair climber, folks, with cement stairs that are very wide, however, on either side of the stairs are steep drops. You get a real, and I mean real, birds eye view of all that is below, an almost 360 degree view, I might add for further discription. I have made it when there was major cloud cover, rain and virtually no visibility, but that is only one step to getting there. I thought that the reward would be seeing a wonderful looking sculpture of the virgin Mary and baby Jesus. But I have to say that she is not that great looking to the point that I could understand why she is still a virgin, but the wonder is in that these very harty people climbing up this steep cliff with bags of rock and cement and creating benches and stopping areas and sculptures meant for reflecting on all Jesus's sufferings and reflecting on the joy of life and God. And here I am whining like a spoiled child about my earthly fear of heights. I am spiritual, though I am not guided by a religion, but even I can value these builders in their desire to create a task/monument to create inspiration. I think that for this next walk to be successful ,I will have to do the same process that I did with the other climb. Focus on what is important and live in that moment.
I think living here is making me address some basic fears that I have had in life that has certainly dictated how I have lived. I do not enjoy letting my fears tell me how to live so here is an opportunity to change some of my thinking and create change. Some of them are: Heights, Beleive me I have worked on this one with furvor and plain desire: I have climbed, repelled, and was a private pilot, etc. And I will create joy when I hurdle this challenge. Next, fear of self reliance. Rob is leaving for Canada and I will be here with 2 kids and still organizing the workers and getting residency for Ecuador. I can do this I just need to breath and relax. I will also be painting and creating more work, because beleive it or not my other fear is a blank canvas, when I finally create a peice of art that I like, I surprise myself in that I can't believe that it was me who painted that. Soooooo, all that said and done, and I have confessed my frailties, it is now time to get cracking and get to work on it. It is in the process that I become who I want to be, it has been in the struggles that I find out what I am capable of and it is in the moments of reflection that I can start to like who I am becoming and try to plan on my next evolutions to help me become all that I can be. And if all else fails, I will have a capicino and a peice of chocolate cake to make me feel better, and call my girlfriend and talk to her about it, or cry over a sad movie.
Talk with you all later, enjoy your personal growth and adventures for they are an opportunity to see and experience the world in a whole different and wonderful way.
Robin