What we’re doing now
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So, it’s been a while since our last post and even in our previous one we didn’t mention much about our day to day life here in Cuenca. So….what exactly are we doing in here? Of course the main purpose is to learn Spanish and experience a different culture. But while we’re here we are up to other things as well. Emily is teaching English at CEDEI and I, well I am basically sitting around doing a whole lot of nothing. That’s not entirely true, it was a stroke of luck that my ex-boss emailed me while we were in Argentina and asked if I could work remotely. The travel funds were running a little low so, I took the job. Shout out to all you people at ISI that are reading this instead of working! And for those of you who were wondering why you were seeing my emails but never my face, mystery solved. I’m just a ghost in the shell. It is a part time position but it pays the Ecuadorian bills and leaves me free to take up my studies on line……
Yeah….about those studies. Unfortunately that isn’t happening as planned. I ordered a book that I need for the course over a month ago and……I’m still waiting. So that part of our expected plans isn’t going so well. But in general, life is good here. I have some free time to work on a programming project of mine, I have been cooking a lot, which is a lot of fun, and in general I just have time to just waste. A luxury that I rarely had in the states. It always felt like I was enjoying myself on borrowed time. Here, sometimes it feels like I actually have some free time on my hands. So, for me things have been pretty relaxing. I am starting to get a bit itchy for the book to arrive because this is kinda of throwing a wrench into how we planned out our year.
Emily
CEDEI is one of the largest language institutes in Cuenca. They have a variety of programs there. It is nice because local teachers teach Spanish to foreigners and foreign teachers teach English to locals, so there are all kinds of people both teaching and learning at the school. I teach 3 different classes a day. Each group is different. One is a mixture of people from the ages of 14-28. The next is the silliest class filled with a couple of very goofy early teenagers (3 of them are VERY involved in their high school drama team, so they like everything to be lively and interactive.) The last class is the highest level the school offers. It is similar to an introductory college course on culture. There is a strange mixture of students in that class. There are 4 women in their early 20’s – early 30’s and one 16 year old boy. He keeps us constantly amused and on our toes. Each group of classes lasts for 10 weeks then we get a little break. So, not a bad way to make a living – except that I don’t think many Americans could afford to live on what they pay for very long without a savings or a second income, so it is a good thing that Chris is able to still work for Intuitive.
One disadvantage to teaching in English and working with so many other great English teachers is that I am probably not learning Spanish as quickly as I would if I had to function totally in Spanish. I am taking classes twice a week. That really helps me because I don’t just absorb other languages like some people are able to do.
Chris
So that’s basically it. We’re working. I’m waiting to be able to do school. In the meantime, the teachers at CEDEI always are doing something on the weekends and evenings so there are constantly things going on. A couple weekends ago we went up to Chunchi for a birthday party of one of the Ecuadorians we know. It was well, interesting, cold, wet and in the middle of a cow farm. Good Spanish practice though. For the return trip to Cuenca, Em and I had the option of riding in the back of a truck the whole way, but we decided for the bus which was a little slower, a little safer, reasonably comfortable and a LOT drier. It poured down ran on those who opted for the back of the truck. Pobrecitos.
Carnival is approaching, so water balloons, water guns, water bottles are showing up around town Apparently Cuencanans thing the best way to celebrate before lent is by getting everyone wet. Several of the CEDEI teachers have been water bombed, including Emily, though they have yet to score a direct hit on her. I have yet to be targeted though so who knows what the deal is. I have a feeling they might target extranjeros more often, but that’s just a theory. We’re not sure exactly what we’re going to do for Carnival yet. Some of our friends are going to Peru, others to various places on the Ecuadorian coast. We’ll see what looks the most appealing.
Well, we hope everything is going well back home. Until our next update, que pasen bien!