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Aneesh scores!!!
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Jeffie and Alex's studious look!
Lauren and the governor (Gene Simmons?)
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Alex Rosenthal and I (Jeffie) are currently typing in a really stagnant keyboard with Spanish intentions in the Colegio Iberoamericano. So, here goes:
Today, we were fortunate enough to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, seeing as the school starts an hour earlier. Not the best morning in the world. But, school here also ends an hour earlier, so I guess we´re even. Ha! Alex was sick with dysentery (he ate bad fish) and I had an excellent breakfast consisting of steamed mole (corn) covered in eggs and cheese. So, basically, I won the breakfast competition against Alex. We drove to school at 7:00, and reunited with all of the dashing North Carolinians for the first time since we left Quito. Many had visited a nearby city called Cuenca over the weekend (like me). Alex was MIA during the weekend due to the horrible symptoms of his belly.
We congregated in a room that was conveniently situated next to the computer lab; therefore, all of us hopped on the internet. We e-mailed our parents/fed our facebook addiction (Alex and I both say: Hi Mommy!). Anyways, after that, the Colegio Iberoamericano gave us a welcoming ceremony by playing their catchy Ecuador National Anthem and the school anthem (which had a little Latin swing). Dr. Samaniego gave us an oration of sorts where he spoke to the entire school (all of 100 students) and our exchange group. The students are all required to wear a uniform. The girls wear skirts, Alex Rosenthal-style high socks, a button-down shirt, and a yellow tie with the school´s insignia. The only difference with the guys is that they wear slacks instead of skirts. Dr. Samaniego and Mr. Berger share surprising similarities in their method of delivery: long pauses, random emphasis on words, and exaggeratingly drawn-out sentences. For the record: Alex DID NOT fall asleep during Mr. Berger´s graduation speech. Needless to say, all of us exchange students were horribly fidgety in the biting cold drizzle.
After that, we took a bus ride to a small elementary school, Zhucos Primeria, on the top of a mountain. Cary Academy brought every child a highliter orange/neon green back pack filled with school supplies. Some children attending Zhucos Primeria must walk up to two hours from the homes to the school. The majority of the families are living in poverty. The students were very gracious to have us there, and the kindergarteners sang and gave us cake. The children then performed a traditional Ecuadorian dance on a basketball court. They were cuter than the March of the Penguins, and they didn´t even need Morgan Freeman narrating.
After we were torn from the children, we toured downtown Loja and met the governor, who looked like Gene Simmons of KISS. He told our exchange group that if we so desired, a police escort would be provided. But, we would honestly never need a police escort, even the security guard of the school has a shotgun, not to mention the armed soldiers on every corner and every store.
A soccer game was organized at night. We won´t go into much detail because we lost 12-2, even after they gave us one of their guys. But we will say this: whatever you have to say about Mr. Alvelo, the man can play soccer. Mr. Berger wasn´t too shabby either. Even Aneesh scored.
Shout outs:
Hey mom! Give a hug to dad! And Obi-Wan! And a firm salute to H. (Alex Rosenthal)
Hi dad! Hi mom! Hi Murphy! I miss Chinese food. (Jeffie Chang)
Today, we were fortunate enough to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, seeing as the school starts an hour earlier. Not the best morning in the world. But, school here also ends an hour earlier, so I guess we´re even. Ha! Alex was sick with dysentery (he ate bad fish) and I had an excellent breakfast consisting of steamed mole (corn) covered in eggs and cheese. So, basically, I won the breakfast competition against Alex. We drove to school at 7:00, and reunited with all of the dashing North Carolinians for the first time since we left Quito. Many had visited a nearby city called Cuenca over the weekend (like me). Alex was MIA during the weekend due to the horrible symptoms of his belly.
We congregated in a room that was conveniently situated next to the computer lab; therefore, all of us hopped on the internet. We e-mailed our parents/fed our facebook addiction (Alex and I both say: Hi Mommy!). Anyways, after that, the Colegio Iberoamericano gave us a welcoming ceremony by playing their catchy Ecuador National Anthem and the school anthem (which had a little Latin swing). Dr. Samaniego gave us an oration of sorts where he spoke to the entire school (all of 100 students) and our exchange group. The students are all required to wear a uniform. The girls wear skirts, Alex Rosenthal-style high socks, a button-down shirt, and a yellow tie with the school´s insignia. The only difference with the guys is that they wear slacks instead of skirts. Dr. Samaniego and Mr. Berger share surprising similarities in their method of delivery: long pauses, random emphasis on words, and exaggeratingly drawn-out sentences. For the record: Alex DID NOT fall asleep during Mr. Berger´s graduation speech. Needless to say, all of us exchange students were horribly fidgety in the biting cold drizzle.
After that, we took a bus ride to a small elementary school, Zhucos Primeria, on the top of a mountain. Cary Academy brought every child a highliter orange/neon green back pack filled with school supplies. Some children attending Zhucos Primeria must walk up to two hours from the homes to the school. The majority of the families are living in poverty. The students were very gracious to have us there, and the kindergarteners sang and gave us cake. The children then performed a traditional Ecuadorian dance on a basketball court. They were cuter than the March of the Penguins, and they didn´t even need Morgan Freeman narrating.
After we were torn from the children, we toured downtown Loja and met the governor, who looked like Gene Simmons of KISS. He told our exchange group that if we so desired, a police escort would be provided. But, we would honestly never need a police escort, even the security guard of the school has a shotgun, not to mention the armed soldiers on every corner and every store.
A soccer game was organized at night. We won´t go into much detail because we lost 12-2, even after they gave us one of their guys. But we will say this: whatever you have to say about Mr. Alvelo, the man can play soccer. Mr. Berger wasn´t too shabby either. Even Aneesh scored.
Shout outs:
Hey mom! Give a hug to dad! And Obi-Wan! And a firm salute to H. (Alex Rosenthal)
Hi dad! Hi mom! Hi Murphy! I miss Chinese food. (Jeffie Chang)
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1 comment:
hey hey. shouts from back in NC. see you sunday. - Murphy
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