Weather in Quito is variable. It is hard to plan for the day because the weather can change frequently and for apparently no reason at all. I believe it was Thursday this week in which I left my house in the morning with a light fleece on, was taking in the hot sun outside around noon, then observed the first real storm I'd seen around five, with intense rain and even a short hail storm. Afterwards it was quite pleasant. There are many microregions for weather patterns in Ecuador. Even just traveling an hour outside the city and the weather can change dramatically. So cool.

Wednesday I had my first English as a foreign language teaching experience. I am one of the teachers for an intermediate english class of about 15 adults. On Wednesday, three of us taught a 40 minute lesson a piece. For monday I must prepare a 65 minute lesson. What I really appreciate about this lesson planning is that there is time built in for lesson planning, brainstorming and preparing in each days schedule. My teaching team has 6 students and one advisor. We all help each other out with creating innovative lessons, preparing materials, giving feedback and practicing anything we need beforehand. It's nice to have this support when it's my turn to teach, but also to be there for the rest of my team. It's wonderful practice. Though this class of adults is outside my usual target audience, I am already learning a lot and enjoying myself.

During my 25 cent commute each way, I have many opportunities to observe the same stretch of the city. I am learning street names better and have a better grasp on the layout of this long and narrow city. I also see many entertaining things if i'm lucky. For instance:
Q: How many pizza hut employees does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: Apparently it takes one on the ladder and at least 15 surrounding him on the sidewalk.

Since I traverse the same route in the city each day, I am beginning to recognize familiar faces on my buses. This morning when my seatmate disembarked, an eager middle-aged man practically leaped out of his own seat to take this empty seat. At first I thought this was a tad creepy. Then I learned the story. Apparently this man, Kevin, sees me on this bus each morning and has been trying to get up the nerve to talk to me because he wants to practice his English. So we had some pleasant conversation and I helped him pronounce a few words of interest to him, which he had listed in a notebook taken out of his makeshift briefcase. I am sure this will be only one of the many of such encounters.

I am glad it is now the weekend so I can relax a little, catch up on much needed sleep, spend some non-academic time with my friends here, and have some adventures.

Sunday our group has a trip planned to visit Papallacta--a collection of natural thermal pools about 1.5 hours outside of Quito. The vegetation and hiking around there are said to be beautiful, but just taking a moment to relax outside in some of nature's hottest hot tubs will be sure to be a highlight of my weekend. Inshallah.

This is all for now. Hope you are all well. =)

written by  Theresa on September 5, 2008 from Quito, Ecuador
from the travel blog: Adventures in Teaching and Living in Ecuador
Send a Compliment

---

inshallah :)
like that there's a patio for you. wish my midwestern adventures were as fun... sending lots of love from here to you.

written by  bean curd on September 6, 2008

---

I'm going to teach English in Quito in January, so I am very excited to have found your blog!!!
Cathy

written by  cathy walter on September 6, 2008

comment on this...