Tulabug (Too-la-boog)

Tulabug, if I haven't mentioned it before in my blog, is one of the big hills surrounding Licto. The people in Licto all say it is an extinct volcano...I had to climb it to see what I thought for myself. My conclusion is that it is certainly possible, yet not fully convincing. The two thinks that would lead me to believe that conclusion are the fact that the hill's top dips in quite a bit like a crater and the fact that there is black (volcanic) sand along the river right outside Licto. Whether you believe it or not, it's still a really beautiful hill with a nice view over Licto, Pungalá, Chambo, and Riobamba.

Killu playing in some disgusting water in a pond on top of the crater

Another Killu picture

My two good neighbor-friends, Huge and Cristian

Killu and a view over Licto and Pungalá

The view over all of Riobamba. I'd really like to hike up there sometime at night...

Hugo and I with Riobamba as a background

Killu, Riobamba, and I

Cristian, Riobamba, and I.

Some shy indigenous kids that laughed their heads off watching Killu play in the pond.

New Entry Below

Hey, because of blogger being annoying, my newest entry is below the 'More Walden' entry (unless you're reading this on facebook or some other site other than my actual blog page). Thanks!

Sorry for the inconvenience,
- The Management...me

More Walden

So, I finally finished Walden and while there was a huge middle chunk that was rather mundane, the conclusion to the book was a bit more interesting. Here are a few more quotes from the book:

I left the woods for as good a reason as I went there. Perhaps it seemed to me that I had several more lives to live, and could not spare any more time for that one. -p.214

I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. - p.215

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. -p. 216

However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poorhouse. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man's abode. -p.217-218

Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitable board. -p219



I share these quotes with you not because I want to seem cultured or wise, but merely because I found my experience living in an ghost town in the mountains of Ecuador to be really similar to Toreau's experience. And despite the boring secions on the colors of the water of Walden pond and the dates of its freezing and thawing, I'm sure if I were to write a book about Licto, my descriptions of the mountains around my house would get equally as inane after a few pages.

Speaking of my experience, if anyt of you would like a window on the Peace Corps experience in Ecuador read this book by a PC-Ecuador volunteer in the 60's: Living Poor, by Moritz Thomsen

Cuenca, San Pedro, Father's Day

As I've mentioned before, I'm way behind on the blog entries that I'm posting and this one is going to be from over a month ago, but it'll be news to you all.

Some Inca or pre-Incan ruins, the birthplace of the big cheese 400 or so years ago...

At the river in Cuenca with Killu

Down at the river with my friend Belén

Another picture of the river

The buildings which gave Cuenca it's name after Cuenca in Spain with it's houses hanging on cliffs.

Killu looking to play

Yet another bridge/river picture

The banner of the school where I was working this past year during the parade for San Pedro festivities

The ever present flags...side-note, being one of these flag bearers is a big deal here.

A pretty sunset over the 'bull ring' during San Pedro

Son of one of my 'neighbors'...in other words, some kid.

Another picture of the 'bull ring'

A picture of the indigenous community where I work one day a week on a (typically) rainy day

An arm wrestling match, as part of the father's day party's festivities in Pompeya (comunity from the above picture). Notice how these kids were holding their hands for the arm wrestle...weird.

Three women participated in a speed-eating contest...somehow the same women who refuse to talk in public got up the gumption to eat a huge piece of corn in 30 seconds

Another picture in Pompeya...sheep and pigs, typical scenery.

Me, playing soccer with some of my kids. The kid who's about to kick has a heck of a leg...

The cake I baked and frosted for Father's Day. It's so strange here for a man to cook that I was getting cake orders after bringing this cake up for the Father's Day party in Pompeya.

Killu playing with my neighbor's dog, Kuka.

As you can tell, he's more excited to play than she is.

The school up in Pompeya where I work one day a week

Well, the pictures in the blog (other than the Cuenca ones) are a good insight into my daily life, which is probably one part of this blog that has been lacking. Hope you enjoy.

Also, for another book which helps get a good perspective on life in Ecuador (and even though it's not specifically Peace Corps like the book I suggested last week, it's more modern, written in the 80's), buy this book: The Panama Hat Trail

Chimborazo

So, I've been really behind on getting blog posts out to you guys, but I guess that's a good thing because it means I've been doing a lot more 'doing' instead of just spending time writing about about the few things I've been doing. Anyways, over a month ago, I got the chance to go up to the Refuge on Chimborazo (need I remind you, the top of it is the farthest point from the center of the earth and the closest point to the sun during certain dates of the calendar.) The refuge is at something like 4300 meters or something like that, and the view of Chimborazo from the refuge is majestic. Here are some samples.

The group of young people I went with. Most of them are now college students who have been receiving Compassion International scholarships since they were little kids (the kids you probably have a picture of on your fridge.) In the orange jacket is my good friend Franklin.

Anoter view of Chimborazo

Me, teaching the Ecuadorians what a snow angel is. The response I got from one of them was 'But that's not actually an angel.' Seriously?

On the way up to the refuge

Another view

With my friend Suzi

Overall, we had a great time, but because I found out about the trip the day before I went up, I didn't have any sunblock and my face got extremely burned...it's all better now, no worries.