It's That Time Again...

... time for PD Interviews! Wooohooooooo!

For those of you who have not been religiously following the blog since this time last year, let me explain. Last year's PDs had the great idea of interviewing each PD individually and posting the interviews on the blog. It gave a better look into Manna life in Ecuador, as well as allowed people to get to know the PDs "face-to-face"... because well, there's only so much one can convey through a blog post. Now that we've been here long enough to (kind of?) know what we're talking about, and to expound on what we've learned and all of that fun self-reflective stuff, we're ready to get on with the interviews.

So how is this going to work? I'm hoping to conduct, edit, and post an interview once every 3 weeks (give or take). About 5 days before the actual interview, I'll write a post on the blog requesting questions for whomever is being interviewed that week. Then, I'll use your questions during the interview, edit the thing down to about 5-8 minutes, and post it. Rinse and repeat. Nine times.

Who's up first? None other than the mysterious MIKE GABRYS! Work-wise, Mike is known around these parts for his involvement in the library, Teen Center, and for teaching the newest Adult English class in Ruminahui with Chet. Non-work-wise, Mike is known for being the last candidate training for the full Quito marathon in June (the other candidate is wussing out and opting for the half marathon...), baking explosive (literally) brownies with Sonia at least once every two weeks, and being the extreme organizer of the laundry room.

Mike poses for his official Manna website photo...

I will be interviewing Mike THIS FRIDAY (2/26) at NOON... so please, send questions to sarah.scott@mannaproject.org or post them in the comments section of this post BEFORE noon on Friday!

Thanks in advance!

Sarah

A Taste of Heaven

This week's guest blog comes from Erik Swanson, my apartment-mate until next week when we migrate to the house for spring break - something tells me we might have a little adjusting to do after months of seclusion. After spending Carnaval on the coast, Erik has a lot to say about the beautiful beaches and people he encountered!

"Forty-five years ago, as the story is told, a group of surfers set out to travel the Ecuadorian coast in search of the perfect wave. When they found their ideal wave, they brought their families to a place that is now known as Ayampe to live in tranquility. Never straying from its roots of relaxation and moderate isolation, it is currently a town of no more than 400 easy-going inhabitants. The marriage of its climate, landscape, and culture make it nothing short of breathtaking. When one takes into account the addition of its surf, this small town may, perhaps, appear to be an outpost of heaven on Earth.

The town is small and charming, with its only paved road being the highway that runs from North to South along the coast. There are many small restaurants in the area that serve incredible seafood brought in fresh from the sea and even a small pool hall along the main road of town. Travelers can expect to be greeted with smiles and welcoming locals during the day and to be lulled to sleep by the soft chirping of insects accompanied by the constantly rolling waves at night.

Upon examining the beach itself, one can expect to be struck by all of the magnificent features that contributed to a group of surfers deciding to make it their private paradise. Surrounded by the last tropical forest in Ecuador, not to be confused with the rain forests of the east, and dissected by a river, this small strip of coast is a testament to Ecuador’s natural beauty. Adding to the ambiance of picturesque isolation, the beach’s northern and southern extremities are clearly marked by enormous, impassable rock faces. Completing the scenery, there is a small island formed by two pillars rising almost 100 feet above the waves located due west of the center of the beach. Once a year, the forces that be bless the locals with a stunning sunset that falls directly between the two pillars.

Erik takes a shot of friends at a beach-side bonfire

I had the pleasure of spending the four days of the Carnaval weekend in Ayampe. During a weekend that, at least in Latin America, is typically marked by the over-consumption of alcohol and onsets of temporary madness, I had the pleasure of a weekend filled with sun, surfing, and the company of good friends. My main suggestion for anyone with interest in visiting Ayampe is to bring multiple good books. I’d like to thank Kurt Vonnegut and Jean-Paul Sartre for fulfilling my every literary want and need. "

Water Balloons, Silly String and Espuma: Carnaval 2k10

Last weekend all 9 PDs got out of Conocoto to celebrate the 4-day Carnaval weekend. Carnaval is a pretty big deal in Ecuador... especially to the kids who don't have school, and thus spend their time hitting innocent bystanders with water balloons, silly string, and espuma (essentially stinky spray foam in a can). Carnaval is related to Mardi Gras and is celebrated in the last 4 days leading up to Lent.

We spent our Carnavals spread throughout the country traveling, exploring, sleeping, tanning, playing rugby, and getting (semi) lost in the jungle. Here is a peek into the adventures of last weekend...

Sonia and her boyfriend, Ricky, spent their weekend in Cuenca - here they are hiking in Parque Nacional Cajas near Cuenca

Cuenca is known for its colonial architecture and heavy European influence. Sonia and Ricky will remember it mostly for the people who threw water balloons at them from roofs, balconies, and the back of pick-up trucks.

Shawn went to Casablanca, just outside of Esmeraldas with a crew of Ecuadorian friends - here they are maxing and relaxing in the sun

Shawn and friends walking along the beach in Casablanca

Erik went to a town outside of Montanita with some rugby teammates - here they are throwing the ball around on the beach

Erik's view of the sunset from the coast

Chet flew down to Coca and stayed at the Yachana lodge on the Rio Napo - he spent the weekend in the primary rainforest hiking and birdwatching

The sunset as seen from Chet's lodge on the Napo

Mike spent the weekend in Tena, a town on the edge of the rain forest with his best friend, Kyle - here is a view from their lodge

Krysta, Jackie, Haley and I also spent the weekend in Tena - here we are (slightly lost) in the forest in an attempt to find our jungle lodge

Our weekend highlights also include a particularly exciting camioneta ride over the Rio Napo...

Until next time,

Sarah

One Step Closer to Airing on the Food Network

It's official - the 3rd floor kitchen has finally been installed! After months of fundraising, budgeting, purchasing, and installing, the far side of the third floor finally looks like a kitchen (instead of a haphazard storage space - see below). Big shout outs to Sonia, who took the reins on this project from the first budget draft, and to Krysta who spent the better part of last week cleaning out the space and getting everything put in its place. Our task now is to spend the next month promoting and planning classes to be ready to begin in early April.

A gigantic thank you to all of our unbelievable donors:

• The Peterson Family
• The Booe Family
• Dana Conway
  
• The Zhou Family

Literally none of this picturesque spread below would be possible without you. We'll think of you every time we flip an egg or sauté fresh vegetables!

the sink/painted window/slight storage area before...


... and after! hey look, there are mountains back there!

beautiful spankin' new cookware

expertly matched cutlery (I bet you can guess who picked those out)

a spread of utensils, stove, knives, pots and pans, and so much more

Culinary-ly yours,
Jackie

We like to move it...

... it being 10 book shelves, 8 tables, a dozen chairs, and close to 2,000 library books.

After observing that many parents are intimidated by the hoards of small children running around for coloring pages and markers as they walk in the door, we decided that some changes needed to be made to the library layout. We did this with two of our goals in mind: increasing readership and catering to adults. Although this is just the first step of many to work towards these goals - we plan to organize a reading competition & book clubs for the spring - we're proud of the new layout and increased ability to control game playing and encourage reading.

Check it out for yourself!

photos courtesy of Miss Krysta Peterson


book shelves serve as a barrier between rowdy games and quieter reading


the new rincon de leer, complete with a rincon of bean bags and circled shelves

This 4-day weekend we're all headed to different parts of the country for none other than carnaval, the South American equivalent of Mardi Gras. Don't worry, we're fully equipped to defend ourselves with water balloons and shaving cream!

Saludos,
Jackie