Otavao day 5

On our last day in Otavalo, we woke up at dawn and piled into the back of a truck and traveled a long distance, standing, to some natural warm springs at the bottom of a beautiful ravine surrounded by farmed mountains. We experienced a cleansing ceremony with an indigenous shaman and were purified both individually and as a group. He played music with natural instruments, burned natural incense and spoke in Kichwa. Then, many students jumped in the water and bathed in the springs with smiles.

And THEN, long & colorful table cloths were laid out on top of long natural grass mats on the flat ground, and a thick row of many kinds of beans were poured out along the 10 foot long cloths and then surrounded by rows of rice & potatoes. We were each given a spoon and we knelt down to eat the delicious food on top of the earth. All of us surrounded those cloths and dove into the food, experiencing a traditional ceremonial way of eating close to the earth, and filled our bellies with the heavy and substantial food.

We left that valley with our tummies full and our souls cleaned. What a unique and amazing experience that will stay with us forever.

That afternoon, we stopped at the “Mitad del Mundo” monument, hence we took pictures of ourselves at the Equator, with one side of our bodies in the Northern hemisphere and the other side of our bodies in the Southern Hemisphere. I flushed toilets on both sides, and it is true, the water swirls counter-clockwise in the North and clockwise in the South.

Otavao day 4

We were all divided up into pairs and then divvied out to different host families that came afar from neighboring communities. I was placed with my particular host family because they were going to attend a traditional indigenous wedding that lasted 2 days.

Hence, I went to a wedding up on top of the mountain at the couple’s newly built house in the middle of rural corn fields that had a spectacular view of the valley and mountains. The first day of the wedding is for celebrating, dancing, eating and drinking. There was a live Andean band and we marched around in a circle in their traditional steps and celebrated with everyone.

Our homestay family´s house was very beautiful and old. Our host father is an extremely important figure in the Indigenous movement. He started the Organization of Kichwa indigenous of Cotacachi in the 70s. He has been the president of not only this Organization, but also the National Bilingual Education Association. He has traveled to almost every country in the Americas, along with France and some Asian countries. Thus, he shared with us his experience as an indigenous leader in Ecuador and how he has represented his country around the world.

The next day we went back to the wedding and we participated in the ceremony that lasted all day. Wow…. It was amazing and it was a privilege to observe their customs and traditions. Wow…. So beautiful. They ate CUI, guinea pig, and drank CHICHA, fermented corn, but I politely said “no gracias “with a smile. Wow…. Wow!

All of the students had unique experiences with their host families and many of us made quick connections. It is amazing how we learn to communicate and form friendships that we will always remember. What a cultural exchange!

Wow.

Otavalo day 2

During our second day in Otavalo, we had a lecture from an extremely important indigenous woman named Carmen about the history of the Indigenous movement in Ecuador. Carmen has played a very significant role in the progress of Indigenous rights, as she was the president of one of the national organizations of Indigenous peoples for many years, plus she is a woman. The lecture outlined the difficult struggles the indigenous peoples in Ecuador have faced, and their future challenges.

That afternoon, we went to some art craft workshops and actually learned through experience from indigenous experts how to spin wool & dye it, and how to make grass mats, wool tapestries, bracelets, etc. Then, we all united in an indigenous family’s house and celebrated a huge party with about 50 other indigenous invites. We watched the children dance group, the adolescent dance group, and we ourselves danced to a traditional indigenous Andean band. Two representatives from an organization/union spoke to us about the problems their community is facing against a Japanese company that is tearing up their land with mines in search of gold. We ate typical food with everyone and drank typical beverages, =). We shared with the indigenous peoples and made friendships.

After the dancing was over, we said our goodbyes and we all piled into the back of a truck and were transported back to our hostel, standing and singing.

Window doors in Quito Viejo

Ecuadorian food in a traditional kitchen

The wedding´s food

My host family parents

The CUI Cleansing

Lily Hanson is being cleansed by an old woman with a guinea pig

Craft demonstration - using the loom

Nina the pet Llama

Watch out Ashley, she spits!

Craft demonstration

Ashley Marccesi

Market pictures

Sarah Kruger and Shelsea Jacobs playing with a baby that had a box as her playpin, while her mother sold food in the market

Otavalo day 3

Yesterday morning we went to Jambi Huasi, which means ouse of medicine in Kichwa. This medical clinic provides both Western doctors and Indigenous doctors, and patients are given the choice as to which treatment they wish to receive. Mixing traditional and occidental methods and services provides all patients the cultural opportunity to heal anything from cancer to a common cold.

After a lecture from two clinic workers, we took a tour of the clinic and learned from the ancient shaman and also observed the modern doctor’s office.

Then, two students were cleansed by an old woman with CUI in front of all of those that desired to watch. What is CUI? It means guinea pig in Kichwa. I personally could only watch the first cleaning, because the guinea pig is killed in the process.

The old woman shakes the cui over all of the person’s body until it dies. The cui absorbs all of the negative, bad and unhealthy energy of the person. Then, the old woman cut open and dissected the cui, giving the person a diagnosis of her body. She diagnosed the student with an accurate description. Wow.

Afterwards, we had the afternoon free to go shopping in one of Latin America’s largest craft markets. The market probably covers a 5 block radius and it is concentrated in a huge plaza. There are little booths that sell too many beautiful and colorful crafts. It was amazing because there are so many stunning THINGS that it was overwhelming.

That night, we all were distributed to our host families.

WHAT AN INTENSE DAY!!!

Michael Wakely and a market girl

Diana and her children in the market

Diana Cummings is a FWP student that is doing her independent study in Ecuador

Group Foto at Street Children's project

Otavalo day 1

Greetings from Otavalo, Ecuador. We arrived to this beautiful mountain town this afternoon and we are awed by the tall and steep mountains that surround this magical settlement.

Last night we went to the Folkloric Ballet and it was so beautiful that I cried. The group is internationally famous and they have won many awards for their indigenous live music band, their colorful costumes, their symbolic dancing and their preservation of culture. They represent peace.

This morning we went to a street children project in the South of Quito, and it was a special visit because a current Friends World Student has been doing her independent study at this non-profit organization since September, so she was an inspiration for the students in the group. Diana Cummings works with children that are forced to work in the market and she also gives art classes to mothers of children that are involved the numerous varieties of programs. We toured the building and felt amazed at the solidarity of the organization and how much help is provided to so many under-privileged people. There are so many programs ranging from a gynecologist that gives out free birth control shots, to a card-making workshop, to tutoring, to psychological counseling, to free dentist services, to a free lunch program, to a colorful library, to sewing classes, to a beauty shop, and much much more. We also walked around one of the markets and I felt shocked at how many children, of all ages, are selling gum, vegetables, fruit, anything. It was an eye-opening experience because we saw an indentified social problem and experiences a successful attempt to help children and their families.

So, now we are in Otavalo and our topics of study will be indigenous movements, holistic healing, craft making and cleansing ceremonies by shamans.

Beautiful.

Quito days 2 and 3

Hello,

We are still here in Quito and we have barely had a free moment.

Yesterday we went to the National Museum and to the Old City to learn about the history of the region, and observe Ecuadorian culture. Old City is an extremely old and colonial part of town, which contrasts with the modernizing parts of Quito. However, globalization is present in both the old and new parts of Quito. We enjoyed the 4 free hours in the Old City as we explored the cobble-stoned streets and took pictures of the majestic buildings. We finished the day by driving to the top of the closest hill to the Panecillo, which is a 100 foot tall statue of the virgin angel, and we watched the sunset over the gigantic city of Quito.

Today was our academic day because we went to the wealthiest private university in Quito called San Francisco and had two intellectual lectures. The first lecture was about Economics and the speaker is The economic advisor to the President of the Republic, hence a super high caliber professional. The second lecture given by a professor from San Francisco University explored Latin American issues and Ecuador’s role within these countries that have recently elected leaders that have leftist mentalities. Even though the day was long and we were overwhelmed with information, we learned so much about history, politics, economics and possible futures for Ecuador. The current president is Rafael Correa and he is looking to align Ecuador with Chavez (Venezuela) and opening the economic markets towards Asia.

Tonight we are going to the folkloric ballet.

Quito, Ecuador day 1

Greetings from Quito, Ecuador!!!! I arrived here on Sunday, Feb 18th, with 26 students and 3 other staff members from the Friends World Program. We have only been here a day, and most of us are still trying to adjust to the intense altitude change. So far, we are enjoying our experience because we had a scenic day with simple observation.

This morning we took a tour of the beautiful botanical gardens in Parque La Carolina and we learned about the various eco-systems that Ecuador hosts. Thus, the garden just had an orchid show, with over 1100 orchids, so we discovered the in-depth beauty of those magnificent flowers.

Afterwards we went to the Teleferico, with is like a gondola aereotram, that took us to the top of the tallest mountain in the Quito area and we had a spectacular 180 degree view. Climbing up to 4000 meters was cold and dizzying, but it was worth it because we could see how gigantic Quito is and enjoy the majesty of those Andean mountains.

Then we went on a bus tour of the Southern neighborhoods of Quito, which are the poorer marginal districts.

We are staying in a centric part of Quito, so there is plenty to do. We are lodging in Saint´s Hotel, which is right by the huge Quicentro Mall and right next to the National soccer stadium.

We will be here until March 6th, and we will learn about a variety of topics and subjects, such as indigenous issues, politics, history, economics, medicinal plants, alternative medicine, the colonization, modernity versus antiquity, development versus conservation, and environmental problems. As always, academics and safety are important objectives on Friends World Trips. Please follow along.

Centered, Susan.