The massacre – The local politician invited me to check out the community of Ger so I could get acquainted with the schools and people over there, “Claro que si, quiero ir!” I arrived at the office of the junta parroquial the next morning and couldn’t help but notice very large, armed policemen also there as well. Odd, I thought. The entire parroquia has three police men, and these men are not them. Whatever. Hopped in the truck with the politician and the police also filed in. I sat crammed in the back squished against a policeman in body armor and a machine gun on the 30 minute or so drive to the community. Amongst the chit chat I put together that the only survivor of the 72 people massacred in San Fernando, Mexico is from this small town. The police were there to guard the lives of his family. I wasn’t the only gringo on this excursion though. Turns out a reporter from the BBC arrived slightly after me and was harassing anyone and everyone that would give a comment as a good reporter should. I got to meet the family members of the survivor and also the alcalde of Cañar, not a bad little trip.
The Subcentro – My new headquarters. I was scared at first getting along so great with my counterpart and finding out that he was leaving at the end of two weeks. Dammit, I hope that I get a decent replacement. Turns out I did, I spent all day helping him out so he wouldn’t be alone on his first real day of work. Really nice and promising young guy, same age as me as well. Helped his parents arrange his room and they invited me to come to Cuenca and stay with them whenever I want. Awesome. Cuenca is an amazing little city full of foreigners and diversion.
What else about the subcentro? I am moving in soon and this place needs a TON of work. It is running low on meds, the bathroom doesn’t have water running to it, there is a nice rat that scurried by me earlier and jumped in a kitchen drawer, it has an airshow of flies daily and there are chickens and garbage out front. I happen to love it though because it is quaint and I get along great with the subcentro staff. My room is coming along little by little and I have a spare bed in my room in case anyone ventures to come visit. Yes, that is an open invitation.
Oh Bubble Guts – Why do I insist on eating everything that is put in front of me? Partly because I love food and partly because I refuse to be a fancy boy, a dandy if you will. I have never had so much diarreah in my life. I might as well have broken a world record for most gas passed within twenty four hours. Every twenty minutes last night, I kid you not, I had the most atrocious gas. It woke me up throughout the night. I still have it as I type. I would like to thank the power of incense to make my room smell like a room again.
Geez, I almost forgot to mention about the 4 days of festivities in Gualleturo. I take everything that happens for granted lately. Nothing really surprises me anymore; I just find it all to be normal. Wild horse riding in a field! Normal. A four storie tower of fireworks! Normal. Dressing up in Ecuadorian traditional clothing and participating in a dance contest amongst real indigenous people! Normal. All I have to say is that these Ecuadorians don’t mess around with their parties, I think this is why I get along so great with them. I also gained much street cred in the folkloric dance contest, very glad I did it.
Well, I just posted quite a bit. Hope that you enjoy some of these little stories, I definitely can’t depict what life is really like here in words. Therefore, I encourage you to visit and see for yourself.
Until next time,
