Dancing Through Life

By: Megan Lo, Program Director

My first Saturday Night in Ecuador I was thrown into an incredibly fun new experience that was way out of my normal comfort zone. A fellow Program Director had a local friend who introduced us to Lavoe, the most famous Salsoteca in Quito. Though we had only practiced basic steps for about an hour in the living room, courtesy of some Spanish youtube videos, we threw on our dancing shoes and headed out for a night on the town. We definitely stuck out as the Americans that couldn't dance, but surprisingly the locals were patient and enthusiastic to show us the basic steps of dancing Salsa and Bachata. We saw some professional level dancers that night and were inspired to improve our moves. 

We got almost all seven of the current PDs to try out a free salsa class at a dance studio called Cinnamon Escuela de Baile the following week. We were quickly convinced into signing up for private lessons every Tuesday night and have learned the basics of Salsa, Bachata, Reggatone, Merengue, and Salsa Choke. We love practicing the routines we learn on the roof of the Manna House after dinner and have returned to Quito to go dancing several times. It has been a great way to learn more about traditional Latin American dance and to meet new friends.

Our playlists are now full of salsa and bachata music and we pride ourselves on how much we've been able to learn in the first month. It is something I hope to continue over my next six months in Ecuador and hopefully I'll be able to find a Salsoteca back in the States to try to bring home some of this fantastic culture. 

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

By: Mikayla Bowen, Program Director

Though most of our current program directors only arrived in Ecuador a few weeks ago, we dove headfirst into experiencing the incredible Andean hiking that Ecuador has to offer. During the past few weekends, together we have hiked two popular hikes near Sangolqui—Rucu Pichincha and Ilaló—both of which can actually be seen from the roof of the Manna House.

The first hike, Rucu Pichincha, was a 5-hour hike to the first summit of one of the major volcanoes that surrounds Quito. We began by taking the TelefériQo, a cable car which brings you from the city of Quito up to the start of the hike at around 4100 meters. The elevation here was no joke—even the starting point of the hike was higher than those of us new to Ecuador had ever experienced. Slowly and steadily, we hiked and climbed through rocky terrain and steep sandy slopes up to el cumbre, the summit, at an elevation of 4696 meters! There were incredible views of Quito along with very happy dogs throughout the hike.

After our descent back to the base of the hike, we rewarded ourselves with photos with llamas along with the most incredible view I’ve ever had on a swing.

Our second hike this past weekend was Ilaló, a shorter but quite vertical 2-hour hike on the mountain which separates the two valleys outside of Quito. Throughout the hike, we had incredible views of the Chillos Valley, especially on the way down as the sun was setting. We passed 14 crosses on our way up to the 15th and largest cross.

Overall, we are super excited to have access to some of the most awe-inspiring hikes in the world throughout our service here with Manna! We can’t wait to literally reach new heights and see more of the beautiful landscapes Ecuador has to offer.

A Musical Fundraiser

By: Emily Churchill, Community Development Fellow

At Manna Project Ecuador, we often run fundraisers and events for our own community center, but it’s a real treat when we get to help out with events for our partner organizations! 

In December, I was fortunate enough to attend a fundraiser for Antorcha de Vida, one of our partner organizations that serves local youth with a range of physical and learning disabilities. Antorcha is one of our most important partner organizations for its long history with Manna Project and the deep bond that our volunteers form with their community. 

I was able to help out with a fundraiser they held in congruence with a larger fundraiser for several nonprofits in the  region. The event entailed a contest of guagas de pan and colada morada (traditional Ecuadorian treats for All Saint’s Day) held in a shopping mall in downtown Sangolquí. The contest was judged by local beauty queens and well-known musicians. 

I got to help some of Antorcha’s volunteers sell guagas & colada morada to the attendees of the event. And we were able to sell a ton! It was so inspiring to see the earnings that Antorcha was able to take home from the event to support their efforts. 

At the event, I got to know one of Antorcha’s volunteers, who like me, also sings and plays the guitar. As we were chatting, the MC of the event announced that anyone who could come up on stage to sing a song would win tickets to a concert held in the local stadium the following weekend. Before I knew it, I was being dragged up on stage with my new friend in front of an audience of a hundred people to sing in front of them. 

My heart was pounding. I’m used to performing in the U.S., but now I would have to choose a song to sing for an Ecuadorian audience. I chose a small Mexican tune that I know and sang a few bars of it. Everyone smiled and clapped and I ran off the stage in shock by what had just happened. 

The following weekend, I was able to attend the concert with my new friend from Antorcha. It was one of the silliest but most memorable experiences I’ve had over my first few months with Manna! 

A Few of My Favorite (Ecuadorian) Things

By: Emily Churchill, Community Development Fellow

It’s been almost a month since I returned to Ecuador after a year away. Last summer, I interned in the southern city of Cuenca for two months over which time Ecuador earned a big place in my heart. As I reflect on my first month with Manna Projects Ecuador, I thought I’d share some of my favorite Ecuadorian things, both new and familiar, that make this place so special.  

1. The markets 

There’s a farmer’s market just a block away from Manna’s centro in downtown Sangolquí where you can pretty much buy any fruit or vegetable imaginable, plus some varieties that you’ve never heard of. Ecuador is home to some unique fruits including ‘tomate de arbol’ (which literally translates to ‘tree tomato’) and ‘taxo’ (which is a blend between bananas and passion fruit). I can leave the market with two full bags of produce for around $3. I also always buy from the same women and this week she recognized me and gave me a free orange! (side note - it was a little moldy, but hey, maybe next week it will be a not-moldy orange!)

2. Cotopaxi 

Manna’s Ecuador site just happens to be at the foothills of one of the world’s highest and most active volcanoes. At just over 19,000ft, the summit of Cotopaxi towers over the town of Sangolquí. On a clear day, the rooftop patio of the Manna house offers a nearly perfect view of its snow-capped peaks. I am in constant awe of this mountain and stop several times a day to admire it. And although the prospect of its eruption is quite daunting (it has erupted 50 times since 1738!), I feel humbled by its magnificent presence. It’s our goal to summit Cotopaxi by the end of the year. We’re just hoping that the daily hike up the small hill outside our center is enough training! 

3. My roommates 

I just happen to live with some awesome women who inspire me to be a better version of myself everyday. They are some of the most capable, hardworking, and passionate people I’ve ever met and I could not be more excited to work with them this year to accomplish all of our ambitious goals. We just enjoyed a weekend at Cotopaxi National Park that was full of great hikes, yummy food, and lots of laughs. I have so much to learn from them and feel so grateful that our paths have crossed through Manna. 

4. Public transportation 

Some Ecuadorians might call me crazy for praising the country’s public transit system, but in comparison to the U.S., Ecuador is an incredibly well connected country. In just thirty short minutes, I can hop on any virtually any bus that passes through our neighborhood and arrive in the center of Quito, the nation’s capital. Beyond that, buses that connect the towns in the valley of Los Chillos are frequent and plentiful, and fare costs just around $.30 a trip. Of course, there are always improvements that can be made to improve access and sustainability, but new investments are being made all the time to further connect Ecuador’s more remote towns to its larger cities. 

5. Random acts of kindness 

Ecuadorians are some of the warmest and most generous people around. Whether it’s an offer from one of our Adult Conversation Club participants to take us on a hike, or a free ice cream cone from the mom of one of my guitar students, people are always willing to go out of their way to make your day just a little brighter. Just like many other cultures, what you get out relies a lot on what you put in. But I guarantee that if you show kindness and gratitude to Ecuadorians, they will pay it back tenfold. 

That’s just a short list of some things that make me happy to be back in Ecuador. Here’s to eleven more months in this amazing country!

Appreciation Post: Why Our Community Members Rock!

We’re serious when we say you make lifelong friends as a Manna Project volunteer. This statement isn’t just in reference to the relationships you build with your fellow volunteers--we’re talking about the community members too. We’ve been blown away by the kindness that the community has extended to us. Of course, the serious need in Ecuador is the primary motivation behind our services, however, the warmth that the community reciprocates is a bonus that we cherish. This kindness comes in the form of both continuous trends and particular acts. Such continuous trends include how, everyday at the Community Center, our volunteers are greeted by at least 7 or more parents with a warm hug and kiss on the cheek! Additionally, nearly every day of class, at least one Program Director receives a snack or a flower from one of their students. With regard to the more isolated acts of kindness by community members, below is just a sampling of the generosity we’ve been fortunate to experience in the last couple months.

1. During their second week working at the Centro, two young girls made Abigale and Kate cards with the words “Te amo”.

2. When Kate casually mentioned that she couldn’t get her Claro phone plan to work, without any hesitation, her host father Christian stepped in to call Claro and sort things out.

3. Alexandra took Abigale out to the scenic Panecillo in celebration of her birthday.

4. Laurita and Christian took Kate out for dinner at the only authentic ramen restaurant in Quito for her birthday.

5. Community member Melida gave the Program Directors an impromptu ride home and stopped at her home along the way to feed them a delicious lunch.

6. Community Member Carmen invited the Program Directors to her house for Dia de Amistad and also later hosted a barbecue at her house for the Program Directors just for fun!

7. Community members Renee, Andres, Ricardo, Karina, and Carla took the Program Directors on a scenic hike up Ilaló.

8. The parents of a young girl who takes our English classes give Kelly and Kate a ride every Tuesday.

9. Community members Andres and Mateo volunteered their Saturday mornings to help cover the front desk during Adult English classes when we were short-handed.

10. Abigale’s Adult Nutrition and Cooking class surprised her with a cake for her birthday and Kate’s Adult English class also surprised her with a cake for her birthday.

11. Not only do the members of the Adult Nutrition and Cooking class help brainstorm recipes for classes but they offer to bring the ingredients!

12. For International Women’s Day, community member Christian gave every female volunteer a rose to honor their womanhood!

13. Community member Alexandra volunteered her time to host an embroidery class at our Community Center so that parents waiting for their kids to finish with their English classes have a way to entertain themselves.

14. Community member Laurita volunteered to drive Pechta to and from the doctor’s office because she is still learning how to speak Spanish. She even helped translate so that Pechta could communicate with the doctors!

15. Laurita and Christian volunteered their personal greenhouse to allow us to host nutrition classes.

16. For nearly each holiday, every Program Director receives at least 6+ Facebook messages and texts from community members sending them holiday greetings and wishes.

I’d like to emphasize that this list is in no way exhaustive. These are just a few of the acts of kindness that immediately came to mind. There are many wonderful perks of being a volunteer for Manna Project, but the Program Directors--Abigale, Gaby, Kelly, Pechta, Simba, and myself-- unanimously agree that the people we serve are by far the best aspect of what we do. The next time you think about donating or getting involved, think about how special these people are.  The kindness that our community members regularly demonstrate is active rather than passive. For these people, a kind “hello” or a warm smile is not sufficient; kindness requires one to step outside of one’s comfort zone and go out of one’s way to make another person’s day. Us Program Directors came here with the intention to serve the community but, to be perfectly honest, the community serves us in ways that go beyond English or nutrition classes. They’re teaching us to be better people. For that, I will forever be grateful to this community.