More intestinal adventures!

Intestinal parasites are very common in Ecuador; around 70% of the population has some form. There really is a whole variety to choose from and why just stop with one? Helminthes (worms), amoebas, protozoans, you could have ‘em all!

After my first week’s intestinal nightmare things have been “OK” but definitely not like home. Yesterday Manuel was describing to me the symptoms of an intestinal parasitic infection, pain, gas, intermittent diarrhea… Gosh, sounded just like me!

I told him of my worries and he promptly said we should check! But how you may wonder? Well, first I had to collect my own stool sample (I’ll spare you the details☺). After this Manuel mixed a small amount onto a slide with saline solution (use normal water and bye-bye parasites, they “explode” from the rapid influx of water due to the osmolarity imbalance). We examined it under 10X power for helminth eggs and then at 40X power for protozoans etc. We did see a whole bunch of normal bacteria happily swimming about, some fat droplets, a little vegetative material – but no parasites! Now, this wasn’t the most definitive test, but unless things get really bad it’s reasonably safe to say things are OK.

When I got home from the lab that day I described to Carlos my intestinal testing adventure. He laughed a little before telling me I had it all wrong. There weren’t any “parasites” to be worrying about, sheesh; I just had a simple imbalance in the harmony of my body. New places can do this he said. He prescribed a diet of “hot” foods to combat the “cold” symptoms I was experiencing. Now all I have to do is figure out which foods are okay… I really hope peanut butter makes the list.

Hope your stomachs are all feeling well☺

Family(s) time

Last Friday was great! Theo let me tag along when he made his weekly journey to check in with all his compatriots at HCJB (Hoy Christ Jesus Bendicion - Jesus Christ's Blessing Today). HCJB started as the first radio station in Ecuador and today has grown into an international, Christian-based, non-profit organization that is comprised of a radio station (broadcast worldwide and in numerous languages) as well as hospitals, community development projects and much more. A very exciting conglomeration to be introduced to! Even though Theo is working in our lab he started out at HCJB’s hospital and labs (Hospital Vozandes Quito – literally, voice of the Andes) and still remains in very close contact.

We started out by visiting the Ecuador’s national Onchocerciasis eradication team in the community development building. They used to do the lab work there as well, but no more; we do it now! However, they still have plenty to do such as coordinating the massive Ivermectin dispersal all throughout the Orient and the coastal regions, collecting thousands of flies (for us to test☺), conducting education programs, and more. Ecuador is getting close to eradicating Onchocerciasis and if this were achieved it would the first time a vector born (carried by insect/animal) disease would have been completely eliminated from a country.

Next we headed onto the main compound (the place is huge, reminded me of a college campus really) and toured around, checking out the broadcast studios before heading to visit the German language broadcast/translation section. Theo is Swiss but his native language is German and thus he is has many amigos in this area. We ended up walking in on a birthday party and were invited to join; who can say no to meeting some great people and having a second lunch?

With our bellies stuffed we staggered back to the community development building to look for the Com. Dev. Director, Brad Quist. Luck was with us as he was in and invited us to take a seat. Brad is a US born and educated MD who has been in Ecuador for 15 years now because he truly believes in HCJB’s mission of service. It was enlightening to hear of all the projects HCJB either runs or has a hand in here in Ecuador; I am starting to think they are the premier non-profit helping in Ecuador. Brad also provided me with the contact information for a doctor in their hospital located in the Shell, in the Orient, where I have been dreaming of spending a week or so volunteering come spring time. Theo had been getting me more and more excited about visiting there and all of sudden the connection to make it happen fell into my hands!

After talking with Brad we took a tour of the Hospital and lab, meeting more of Theo’s friends (Theo is one of those guys that you can’t help but be friends with, he is just so genuine and easy going, it seemed like every other person we walked by knew him!).

From HCJB we took a bus to Theo’s house where I joined the Murer family for dinner. I really feel bad as I’ve forgotten most of their names but I blame my natural inability to remember names with the fact that they were all German, and thus very unfamiliar to me. Theo’s wife had such a warm smile and twinkle in her eye that I couldn't help but feel welcome. They have a 7-year-old son, 5-year-old daughter, and 3-month-old baby boy, all blond as can be and quite charming. The fact that they had a child in Ecuador means he has dual citizenship and thus Theo and his wife can stay as long as they want to raise him! A new trick for obtaining permanent residence! For dinner we had Raclet, which was new to me. You have a mini grill/oven at the table and put little trays loaded with cheese, meats, and veggies in to cook/melt before pouring your concoction over boiled potatoes. It tasted great and boy does it make eating fun! After dinner I worked with the two older kids on their English pronunciation before it was time to catch the bus home. Speaking of which, the driver didn’t really stop, rather merely slowed and I had to jump on at a run! Only in Latin America☺ Arguably my most amazing Friday here to date!

Today started out with run in the Parque La Carolina with my fellow FBer/friend Martin. He reminded me of the first time I ran with Dimas, just not enough oxygen! It gets better though, and I was sure to let him know this. Today was the big lunch cook-off day and I made one of my favorite recipes to share with my family. It was a fun and tasteful experience; each day I am more and more grateful to live with the wonderful people that I do. You can find the recipe below:

PEANUT CHICKEN (serves 4-5)

4 chicken breasts
1 can coconut milk
1 bottle peanut sauce (find in Asian food section, or make your own with peanut butter/milk if in EC☺)
1 cup peanuts
half-bag spinach (use more than you think, it cooks down a lot)
rice – however much you want

-Start by cutting the chicken into bite size pieces
-cook the chicken in a sauce pan with some oil until cooked through
-Reduce heat and add coconut milk + peanut sauce + peanuts
-When bubbling again add spinach, cook until spinach is dark and very limp

Serve over rice, can garnish with more peanuts if desired.

Quick, easy, and great tasting, the hallmark of college students!
(thanks to my mom for the original recipe)

I’ve posted a few pictures of all the fun:



(Karla and I, cooking up a storm and yes, I shaved my head. The shorter you go the longer you can wait till next cut!)



(The finished product.)



(All together and ready to eat!)

Wet Concrete? Oh yeah.

I know it’s been a bit longer interval than normal between blogs but I have a good excuse; everything can be explained by a simple cultural misunderstanding. Apparently in Ecuador when the professor says, “read the first four pages for Monday” they actually mean one page counts as front and back… Go figure. This little detail and the fact that I am simultaneously learning new material (immunology) and a whole new vocabulary (Spanish) means I was kind of behind.

Fear not though, the timely reactivation of the previous workers’ strike today means I now have time to catch up on the reading and blog as well! This time around the guards know to let everyone from the Centro Biomedicina in to work, as we have our own keys and thus are relatively unaffected. I say relatively because, for example, things like the toilet being plugged and the Internet being down don’t get addressed… This can be mildly annoying at best and gag inducing at worst.

The strike was reactivated because, from what I can glean, the workers’ demands in salary increases were not met to their expectations and thus they won’t unlock the classrooms. I asked why profs don’t have keys and was told it’s a theft issue, when only one person has the keys then if something goes missing blame is easily assigned. The whole situation is really just bad for everyone. Professor can’t teach, they and workers alike don’t get paid, students don’t learn, and everyone gets pissed off. After learning of the dismal salary Manuel (a MD/PhD I work with) receives I am starting to think maybe the university just doesn’t have the money to increase salaries… It seems to me that the corruption and blame are higher up the totem pole and as a state university this problem should be taken up with government education officials, not university personnel. Ultimately it is the people at the bottom that suffer most, as always.

Today in the lab there were a couple of big changes. First off, we had a new gal, Maria, join us; she is going to help with routine lab work and ultimately hopes to be inspired in her pursuit of a topic for her thesis. In Ecuador one completes their thesis after all undergraduate work is finished, quite different from the US! We also, finally, ran an ELISA test on the serum samples from Arajuno (a pueblo in Pastaza). We were able to run 80 today, with about 120 to go, and the first batch yielded one definitive positive and another possible, both of which we will retest tomorrow. It was a good break from decapitating flies and actually quite exciting. If we can confirm the positives with another test then we will need to inform the patient(s), although Manuel informed me little is likely to be done as chronic Chagas disease can only be treated for the symptoms that manifest (it is not possible at this point to “cure” a person in the chronic stage) and the health care system is spread so thin in the orient. Sadly, the results of our research have far more implications for those that have not been infected; protection, education, and prevention are the ultimate goals. Until the day a cure or vaccine is developed this is the best that can be done.

Last Saturday was the adventure portion of our two-day Fulbright orientation. We were bussed to Cotopaxi (didn’t get a good view due to clouds), walked around a lake, ate a lot, sang Karaoke on the bus, and the highlight, a train top journey from near Cotopaxi to the outskirts of Quito. Also, at the park entrance a man was waving at me and it took me a moment to realize it was Dimas! I’d forgotten he’d told me he and his running group were going to Cotopaxi that morning to do some high altitude training; as if the 10,000 feet of Quito isn’t enough☺ Top pics below:




(A view of our "train")




(Some of the brave souls who made the journey on the top, rain and all! Please note the amazing woven ponchos.)




(Me)




(A cow we almost ran over, it tried to escape by running back over the tracks, cows... where it promptly fell through the bridge. The train workers managed to pull it free but there seemed to be a problem with one of its legs. I hope things improved, a cow is often the most valuable possesion for a rural family.)


Oh, and how could I forget! I ran with Dimas tonight, we met at Parque La Carolina and I somehow couldn’t find a taxi there, so I ran – extra running! But I digress, the interesting part was on my way there I ran through a bunch of wet concrete, yes, very wet. I thought that only happened in movies, apparently in Ecuador as well. I’d like to think it wasn’t completely my fault; it was dark, it looked the same as normal sidewalk, the “barrier” to keep people out was all of 6 inches tall, I was running… I wonder if my footprints will be immortalized in Quito forever.

Culture Shock

Today was the first day of the official Fulbright Orientation. We were at the Fulbright Comission from 8am to 4:30pm listening to various speakers with topics ranging from public health in Ecuador to the current political situation and the history leading up to it. Ecuador has had eight presidents in the last 10 years, a period where it should have had three, but they kept getting thrown out for corruption, failure to deliver promised change, etc.

Right now, politically, is an amazing time to be in Ecuador because the for the first time in decades there is a government that enjoys popular support and actually seems committed to changing the country for the better, for the MAJORITY of Ecuador’s people. Years of failed policies and corruption have lead to a bitter disparity between rich and poor and now, ojala, is a chance to change the status quo.

The final talk of the day came from our director Susana and concerned culture shock. I think it is well worth sharing and have rewritten some of my notes below.


CULTURE SHOCK – Susana Cabeza de Vaca

“All of your cultural values do not apply here.”

Weeks 1-4 “Excited” : During this first time one is excited, exploring, one feels the people are super welcoming, maybe a few intestinal problems but overall health is good.
Sample quote: “This is awesome!”

Weeks 5-8 “Impatient” : One starts to become fed up: with drivers constantly honking, people touching you all the time, different food, etc. Language difficulties may be frustrating, losing enthusiasm. Colds are common.
Sample quote: “Why can’t they (Ecuadorians) just…”

Weeks 9-12 “La Crisis” : Disillusionment sets in, missing home tops out, lonely, edgy, depressed, quick to make negative stereotypes, struggling in ones project or classes, sick often.
Sample quote: “God I hate Ecuador, why did I ever come here…”

Weeks 13-20+ “Adaptation” : You finally feel at home, things come naturally, project going well, one can tell and understand jokes, good physical state.
Sample quote: “I’m glad I stuck it out, things are really going well.”

Return “Reverse Culture-Shock” : A rough transition, don’t want to leave, no one REALLY cares about what the grantee has experienced and how it changed them except maybe their mothers. This causes much frustration and alienation. Returnees are often very politically orientated and not afraid to share their new view of the world; exposure to the abundances of wealth, goods, etc. in the US can come as a hard shock.
Sample quote: “Why don’t they care? Why can’t they see what really matters?"

So how do I match on this spectrum so far? Actually, as of week 6, it’s been pretty accurate for me so far. I was super pumped when I first arrived, after dealing with my stomach issues of course☺ Lately I have been yearning for a home cooked meal and sometimes I do wish Ecuadorians would stop honking at me while I'm on my bike or maybe, just maybe, we could eat something other than rice… I haven’t really felt lonely or depressed and I think living with a caring family that really includes me goes a long way to combat such maladies. I hope to avoid the whole “La Crisis” deal, that doesn’t sound too fun and would be the opposite of how I hope to conduct myself.

Completely switching topics, I finally managed to capture a picture of the ever-elusive Dr. Angel Guevara, my boss so to speak, and the man whose support was a great boon to my application.




(The man himself)


Hope you’re all well.

My first day in medical school.

Today I had my first taste of university level education here in Ecuador (immunology) and I must share a few things that happened. Note: I am not actually in medical school here, just taking one of their courses.

- The professor arrived 30 minutes late on the first day.
- When the prof entered the room everyone stood until instructed to sit.
- There are over 70 students in the class… and they take role for everyone.
- A good number of the students didn’t even take out paper or a notebook… maybe they are too smart for note taking?
- I understood maybe 70% of the lecture, better than I was thinking.
- Lots of the students are paired off and one couple was making out before class…
- I met a cool guy named Marco.
- The professor is actually quite good, once she got started☺
- No one buys books here; they just get a single copy of the next chapter from the prof and make copies for everyone after class (This was so foreign to me that I spent about an hour and asked four people for clarification before finally obtaining the readings).
- I think this is going to be a great experience!

Over my head?

So I had my first day of immunology, or inmunologia, today. The 300-400 medical students and me (there wasn't a single additional caucasian in the bunch and I was acutely aware of my non-conformity) crowded into the anatomy dissection-observation hall to hear the basics of the schedule, etc. We were in the dissection area because the normal lecture hall was taken and this was the next largest available space. Normal classes will will contain 1/10 of the total class size and my schedule runs M, T, W 12:30-2:00pm.

I was able to follow the prof’s introductions well enough but during a lecture, when every bit of information could be on the test (and sometimes not in the book!), I am not sure if my Spanish will be up to the task. Sink or swim come tomorrow I guess!

I was talking with Manuel (Dr. Calvopina) today as we decapitated flies (only about 20,000 to go!) and found out that even though he is a MD/PhD specializing in tropical medicine with substantial research experience in various tropical diseases he only receives $300/month from the university! He informed me most other profs take second jobs, as the public university salary just doesn’t pay the bills. The cost of living is most certainly lower here but for a grown man with a family $300/month just doesn’t add up. Manuel explained to me it’s really too bad the pay is so low as this often leads to apathy on the part of prof’s and to most of the better ones jumping ship to the higher paying private universities. I’m really not sure why Manuel hasn’t left, I am certain he could, but I am grateful for the opportunity to work with him; he really is both an amazing researcher and human being.

Feriado

This weekend was an extended three-day affair due to “Feriado.” Essentially, Friday was the day Guayaquil obtained its independence (a long time ago, forgive me as I do not have the date) and so everybody* takes the day off (*this more or less means the more affluent of society). Many people use this extra time to visit family in other parts if Ecuador or just to relax. I didn’t have a trip lined up but looking back I wouldn’t trade my experiences of the past few days.

Friday I hit the local mountain bike trails in the Parque Metropolitano for the first time in a couple weeks. Dennis and I got out there at 8am and went hard for over an hour, it was great, although quite muddy due to the recent seasonal switch.

Saturday I found out some very sad news (see previous post) and then went for a 7-mile run with Dimas. When things really hit me I’ve found engaging in some form of strenuous exercise both takes my mind off the issue at hand and subconsciously allows me to process it. Needless to say the run was a good thing for me.

That night Dimas and I went to the first world cup qualifier game for Ecuador’s national team. They were supposed to dominate Venezuela but ended up losing, 0-1. It was a rain-soaked extravaganza and I had as much fun watching the people as the game! The next morning I saw Carlos (a guard friend):

Me: Como va? (how’s it going?)

Carlos: Mal. (bad.)

Oops, right, I’d forgotten the nation was in mourning over the loss. Professional sports have ceased to hold any really value for me except mild entertainment for some time now but I tried to sympathize with the grieving man as best I could. Ecuador being a smaller country it’s much easier to cultivate a huge national pride in things such as sports teams.



(Me an hour before kickoff, get there early or stand in the back where the drunks go to piss.)


Today, Sunday, I took the Teleferiqo with my friends Larkin and Anyel up to a point high above the city. This though, was only the beginning of our adventure. We’d been told there was a further hike available, about an hour to an hour-and-a-half to the top. There were off and on clouds so the views weren’t what they could be but it was still incredibly beautiful. Just after cresting the top (at around 16,000 ft after 2.5 hours going strong, the hour estimate was way off) it started hailing, hard. We had to scramble down a sketchy enough when dry rock face in a hailstorm; I guess the upside was we didn’t get wet? After the brutal hail it cleared a bit and we were rewarded with some breathtaking vistas. Upon returning home I planned to take a small nap before hitting up some reading and ended waking over two hours later, guess the weekend’s activities had caught up with me:)




(A view of Quito from on high)




(Me at the top, in a cloud more or less)




(Coming down... one way or another:)




(A view once the clouds backed off some)


Tomorrow I’m back at the lab where we will have two new ELISA Chagas test kits to help us screen serum samples for T. cruzi antibodies from the town of Arajuno in Pastaza province. This should give us an initial idea of what we’re facing in at least one area of Pastaza (it’s a huge province though, the largest in Ecuador). We will also continue with the Onchocerciasis project. We just last week finished sorting the approximately 25,000 flies into aliquots of 50 (the optimal number for the decapitization process) and will proceed with the head separations soon. Also on the radar, for Tuesday, (Ojala!) I will be starting an immunology class with Dra. Bertha Estrella. More on all this as it develops.

Take care.

Tell someone

This morning I found out the wife of a good friend had passed away recently, quite suddenly. Even though I never knew this individual I was moved to tears, I'm not even sure exactly why. Events such as this really help me see what is most important, not time, not money, but the relationships with those we love. So today, if you haven't told those you care about most how much they mean to you, I'd recommend it. You never know when you won't have another chance.

Sick

No, not me, I've done that already remember! I'm referring to my thoughts concerning HMOs after watching Michael Moore's latest documentary SiCKO. I strongly encourage everyone to watch this film. Now, I know he is a controversial figure for many but I think his latest work brings up some very good points that anyone calling them self an American really needs to hear. So if you haven’t seen it you should watch it, and then let me know what you think.

Ubre. You know you want it

Today, finally, the lab was open. The strike isn’t completely worked out and classes have yet to resume but we are able to continue our work. The whole experience has been eye opening to say the least. Public universities in the US don’t just randomly shutdown for over a week but then again university employees in the US don’t have rock bottom salaries that often get disbursed up to two weeks late. I’ve had several people question me as to why I didn’t go to a private university to carry out my project (lots of money and no strikes). The real reason is I tried and they didn’t show interest but now that I’m down here I have a better reason. I firmly believe everyone should have access to education and without the Central University thousands of students who can’t afford the pricier private institutions wouldn’t be able to continue in their studies. UCE is the underdog of the large Quito Universities and yet the more I get to know the people there, individuals who truly live for others, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

In the lab we continue to work on the Onchocerciasis project (for more information see the post entitled “A meeting with Dr. G”).

For lunch Theo and I headed to his second favorite restaurant where I’ve joined him twice previously and been impressed both times. I usually eat with Theo as all native Ecuadorians eat around 2pm, while the two of us are usually famished by 12:30. At the restaurant we were offered chicken or ubre. Now, I’ve never heard of ubre in my life but Theo went for it and I was tired of chicken so I did too. It was served in a rich peanut sauce so the visual inspection was worthless. It had a very… odd texture, to say the least. Kind of like the whole thing was halfway between meat and gristle. However, the sauce was good, I was hungry, and so I ate it all (clean plate club all the way). Upon returning to the lab we asked Tatty what ubre was, her answer: “cow udder.” Oh baby, I think that may be the only ubre I’ll ever eat. Ignorance really can be bliss.



(Tatiana, or Taty as everyone at the lab calls her)




(Theo, a Swiss national, is in Ecuador for two years with his family as a missionary of sorts, one who just happens to work in a lab!)


Hope you’re all well and don’t be afraid to write:)

Rain

It’s officially the rainy season here and for the next few months the weather will continue to repeat the exact pattern it has shown the last few days. Sunrise is at 6am or so and by 9am it is powerful enough to cook any gringo spending more than 20 unprotected minutes in it. The sun is out until 1pmish when everything starts to clouds over. By 3:30pm, like clockwork, it proceeds to pour, with lightening and thunder often added to the mix. The rain stops around 6pm and the lights go out about 20 minutes later, every day. I’ve never encountered such predictable weather in my life; it’s amazing really.

I’ve decided to share a few more details on my biking adventures. As I’ve stated before there is absolutely no respect for cyclists and thus I ride almost exclusively on the sidewalks. These sidewalks however were apparently not designed to be compatible with the wheel and thus sometimes I feel more like I’m on a technical off-road trail than a sidewalk. The picture below is a nice representation but I’ve encountered much worse and when said sidewalks become crowded with pedestrians things get really crazy.



(sidewalk...)


Today I joined Dimas and the other Cuban-Ecuadorians for baseball. I had a great time and hopefully won’t turn out too burned (I used lots of sunscreen mom, I promise!). Baseball is great but I’m more a fan of sports with increased action and movement; I wonder if I could teach them flag football… hmm… I’ll have to think more on that one. After the game we headed over to my “grandparents” house for a big lunch of churrascos. This is the definitive hearty-man (or woman) meal of Ecuador, a heaping plate of flat-cut steak, rice, veggies, and two sunny-side up eggs on top. It can be found in almost any restaurant and hasn’t failed me yet. Costs are up from the more normal portioned $1.50 lunches, but only a whopping $2.50 or $3.00 and worth every penny. Also at the lunch were two of Karla’s brother’s and sister’s families, I think we had 14 people there in total! I really like how family is so important here, they make time to be together (often weekly) and I see this as big contrast to the states.

Something that occurred to me today is the recent lack of those “wow, I am actually in another country thousands of miles from home” moments. I guess I’m getting used to Quito as my new home. Here are a few more random pics of people and places in mi hogar nuevo.




(Douglas, the third guard friend I've made in the neighborhood)




(Shirley a few days back, being too cute)




(City shot from the middle of a street)

Cravings

I eat rice everyday. Now don’t get me wrong, I love rice, but I’m starting to crave a big ‘ol baked potato, maybe with some flank steak on the grill, or perhaps pesto pasta or… No, this isn’t productive, must stop craving what cannot be.

Having a week off from the lab has given me lots of time to read, think, and reflect. I’m not quite ready to distill these thoughts down into blog form yet but in the future I hope to; until then you’ll just have to wait☺

About an hour ago I was going stir crazy and decided to go for a run. Right out the front gate I ran into Douglas (one of my guard buddies) we chatted a bit until duty called him away; I took off with no real direction in mind. My calves felt like overstretched rubber bands, still not recovered from a 4.5-mile run on Monday with Dimas. He, Dimas that is, has convinced me that I should join him for a 10K race in the Parque La Carolina in November. I guess my first “training run” (read, sufferfest) was a bit overambitious, as although I’ve been biking a fair bit I haven’t run 4.5 miles continuously in probably a decade. Thus, three days later, I still feel as if someone has soundly beaten my legs with a baseball bat. Ok, back to the run.

I found myself heading for Gringolandia and decided to stop by the Fulbright office, I had a question but more just to say hi. Karen was able to help me with the pregunta (my monthly update reports can be in Spanish or English – I’ll stick with English, at least for the first few) and then I dropped by Susana’s office. She seemed to have some time to chat and I sure did so we did just that; and it was great.

My run back was rather uneventful until I hit our street and ran into Carlos (another guard). I hadn’t seen him in a few days and it was nice to catch up. I know this is a long way off, but already I can see that I’m going to miss a lot of people when I leave. It’s amazing what a quick run and a few conversations can do to improve ones day.

Strike

Recently I’ve been able to witness a new part of the educational system here in Ecuador, one I couldn’t ever imagine occurring in the states. Since the end of last week the state university (Universidad Central Del Ecuador), housing the lab I work at, has been shutdown due to a general workers strike (not involving the professors). When all the people with the keys decide things are coming to a halt, well, they do. From what I can gather the workers want more money/to be paid on time which doesn’t seem too unreasonable to me given the prior state of affairs. With elections for the new congress held last weekend their timing was really impeccable in terms of maximizing their political impact. An interesting note about elections is the sale of alcohol is forbidden from the Friday-Sunday of election weekend and every voting age Ecuadorian is required by law to vote.

The tricky part with this strike is how no one seems to know when things will be starting back up again; I was told everything would be fine today but things were definitely still locked down when I went by this morning. I’ve been using the extra time to run errands, talk with Ecuadorians, and catch up on reading but if things don’t resume soon I’ll have to come up with something. All is supposed to be well tomorrow but that’s what they said about today☺

These past few weeks I’ve been getting to know Katy, our empleada (the woman who does most of the cooking, cleaning, washing, etc.). Here in Ecuador virtually anyone of the middle class or above has one or more individuals who work in their homes. Some argue the work is tough and often conducted under demeaning conditions with the counter-point being it provides a huge number of jobs in a country where unemployment is already extremely high. I’ve noticed that there is strong racial undercurrent to the breakdown of social status here in Ecuador; namely the fairer one’s skin the more well off they are. Worldwide trend? And why?

Katy is 21 years old and lives about an hour outside of Quito with her husband Edison (a carpenter) and their two-year-old daughter Shirley. She is an amazing cook and I hope to have her teach me some of her secrets when I get the chance. Katy is here M-F 9-5 and a half day on Saturday and every once in awhile she brings Shirley along for the day; like today! Shirley is a huge fan of getting swung around in the air and I’m happy to oblige. Her Spanish isn’t too hot yet but her happy sounds aren’t too hard to discern☺



(Katy - who has a great smile when she wants! - and Shirley)




(Me with Shirley and Julian in the backyard)