Where Did October Go?

10/2

Today was my 23rd birthday! The day got off to a solid start with pizza for breakfast. I appreciated all the birthday wishes I received throughout the day and felt cared for and celebrated despite being far from loved ones. In the evening my Venezuelan family and I had cake and ice cream (and jello, because that is what they typically eat with cake). If you sent me a physical birthday card, I unfortunately am starting to doubt that mail reaches me here :/

10/3

We finished weeding 33 beds to plant sunflowers!

10/4

We started to plant the sunflower seeds, which have since sprouted and are doing well.

10/5

As on most days, Gerardo and Gilber asked me what time it was at some point in the morning since I’m the only one who wears a watch. Normally, I respond in English so they can practice telling time. Today, I came back with “time for you to get a watch,” but unfortunately the joke doesn’t go over as well when you have to translate and explain it. In the evening I made chocolate chip cookies, and they were a hit. I really miss having a mixer, and butter flavored Crisco. (And for some reason, it’s almost impossible to find real butter in the nearby town.) I also miss baking sheets that enable you to fit more than 6 cookies in the oven at a time!

10/6

In the evening, Susanne and I ventured out to town to get ingredients to make burgers and fries for dinner. Evidently in Venezuela you can get some spectacular burgers with multiple meats, sauces, and even a fried egg on top for $5. And here I thought America had a corner on the burger market. We made it back to the farm just before a downpour and dark!

10/7

After work, Gilber and I headed to southern Quito to stay with two pastors we met when the group from Ebenezer COB was visiting.

10/8

In the morning we attended church in Boliche where the Ebenezer group held VBS when they were here. One attendee gifted us a live chicken after the service that traveled back to Quito with us! I headed back to the farm before it could be slaughtered and eaten! My taxi driver on the way to the bus station shared his heartbreaking story of being deported from the US twice after making the dangerous journey, including crossing the jungle of the Darien Gap. He wants to try again in the summer because he wants his children to have the opportunity to get a better education.

I spent about 3 hours on the bus and buses that make longer trips always play movies, which are often inexplicably violent or sexually explicit. I was relieved that this time it was an entertaining Ghost Busters remake. I made it back to FBU after dark, and Gerardo kindly walked me to the farm from the highway.

10/9

I made French toast and Gerardo and Susanne tried maple syrup for first time! For supper, Susanne made me a new food--bollitos, which are boiled corn flour dough stuffed with cheese. Very yummy, like everything she makes.

10/11

Today we planted multiple types of corn and beans. After, we partook of the indigenous tradition of pambamesa, which is sharing a celebratory post planting meal.

10/12

This afternoon we weeded and put fertilizer around the tree tomatoes, a fruit I had never heard of or tried before coming here, but that is very common in Ecuador. The male employees played soccer after the workday and Susanne and I cheered them on.

10/13

This morning I woke up at 5am to go to the immigration office in Quito because I realized I didn’t receive a stamp on my passport when I entered the country and read online that this was necessary to get a visa extension. I was stressed, but when I got to the office I didn’t have to wait at all and they said it’s not a problem because I’m registered in the system. So, I took advantage of already being in the city to explore Carolina Park, where there is a track, sports courts, reptile and natural history museum, and beautiful botanical garden. In the afternoon, I ordered a pumpkin spice frappe at a cat themed café! They have cats up for adoption that customers can play with, and a little cat therapy did my heart good.

10/14

This morning, I took a bus to a shopping mall in downtown Quito, which was my first time not taking a taxi or DiDi (it’s like Uber) into the city--$0.35 sure beats $4-8! I met up with two friends I met online, Neha from England and Marco from Quito. I had assumed we would take public transportation to get around and explore, but it turned out that Marco brought his car. So, I decided to get in a car with virtual strangers in a foreign country and it turned out great! We went to an arts center and the Santa Clara Market, where I tried alfalfa juice and a dessert called pristiños, which is fried dough dipped in a molassesy honey. Then we went to the Panecillo, a giant statue of the Virgin Mary vanquishing a dragon (based on imagery from Revelation 12) located on top of a hill overlooking the city. We enjoyed a beautiful view of Quito, complete with a rainbow. We ended the day at another scenic overlook.

10/15

My friend Sarah from Messiah who is studying abroad in Quito went to the Quito Mennonite Church with me and then we grabbed lunch at a Colombian restaurant. After that, I took a Sunday afternoon stroll through the Bicentennial Park. Today, Ecuador elected 35-year-old banana tycoon Daniel Noboa as their new president in a special election. He will have less than two years in office, but Ecuadorians are desperate for a leader who will do something to address the country’s security situation.

10/16

Today we sorted and weeded tree saplings. In the evening I made chai and enjoyed Nutella I bought in Quito with rosquillas, my pretzel substitute of choice. In the evening, I hopped on a BVS support zoom call, which put a smile on my face.

10/17

I forgot to journal today, but I do remember that I burned chickpeas I was cooking because I left the kitchen to call a friend. Half of them were salvageable for my chickpea quinoa salad and the other half I used to make some hummus—I’ve been learning to get creative and not waste anything during my time here.

10/18

I woke up with a cold and tried a local remedy recommended to me-- eucalyptus ginger tea with cane sugar.

10/19

Around 11am all the farm employees gathered for the Ecuadorian construction worker custom of having cheese sandwiches and fruit soda to refuel partway through the morning :) They found it amusing for the gringa to take part in the tradition. After work, I hand washed some clothes because the washing machine has been broken for going on 2 weeks :/

10/20

We started painting rooms in one of the buildings on the farm to get ready for a group of 30 students who will be visiting for a couple days at the beginning of November. There is quite a lot of work to do to get the building in shape for visitors! Since there were beds in the rooms already, I had to squeeze into some pretty tight spaces to paint, but I enjoyed the change in activity and being out of the sun! Gerardo had the smart idea to wear his pants inside out to protect them from paint drippage. I think I’m officially accepted into the FBU community because people have started calling me by the nickname Mari. In the afternoon, I met two folks who collect local folk tales and illustrate them to create kids’ books. One of them is related to a former director of FBU and they might start offering some children’s literacy programming here. I made a batch of snickerdoodles in the evening, and the next morning there were only 6 left!

10/21

Susanne and I visited our friend and coworker Veronica, and she taught us to make a typical Ecuadorian food called quimbolitos, which are similar to tamales but sweet instead of savory. Basically, they’re cake steamed in banana leaves. They’re really good! It was special to get a tour of Veronica’s property and meet her family.

10/22

I made quiche for Sunday brunch and soaked up the moments of my final weekend with my Venezuelan friends before they head home this Thursday.