A night out on the town with mi mama and mi papa

First of all we didn't leave the house till 9:30. My dad would have been in bed by then but in Ecuador that is when the city is waking up! We went into old town. it was beautiful at night.

We saw the historic Quito opera house.... gorgeous!

Then we walked the old streets. Lars (mi papa) told great stories from when he was a boy and what these shops used to be. And of course we had to go to his favorite sweet shop to buy his favorite candies. 

We ran into a starving actor that was willing to shoot me for a picture with him!

The tower and bells of Quito.

We drove by the San Francisco church. it used to be a convent but is not longer but still a ginormous church. It is 6 block long! and breathtaking from the outside. 

Found an empanada bigger than my head!!!!

Then we went to a little place and had a drink. You take a very yummy juice and add moonshine.

Random pictures from my classroom.

We just finished the human body. We talked about all the different organs and how they help us live. We also talked about how to keep our organs healthy by heating right, exercising and not smoking. 

We also finished our family unit. Learning the words of our family members in English.

I have been giving the Woodcock Johnson. It is an assessment that looks at cognitive abilities and achievement. 

When taking the 6th graders for reading groups i like to read with them outside in the grass. I cant read outside in Michigan in November so I try to do it often!

We are getting ready for Christmas. I know before Thanksgiving.. But they Don't celebrate thanksgiving so here comes Christmas!

Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world)

 Mitad del Mundo The 30-meter-tall monument, built between 1979 and 1982, was constructed to mark the point where the equator passes through the country in the geodetic datum in use in Ecuador at that time.

 A line down the center of the east-facing staircase, and across the plaza, was meant to mark the equator.

Now we have great mapping systems like GPS and Google maps. This lead us to now know that the equator is placed about 240 meters north of the marked line. This discrepancy is partially due to increased accuracy but primarily due to a different choice of mapping datum.

Random concert going on. About Peru we think!

 Similarly, the line marking the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in England is roughly 100 meters from the exact zero of longitude as indicated by GPS receivers.

Straddling the equator. In both the North and South Hemisphere

My Classroom!

It is a typical Kindergarten classroom. Brightly colored, students work displayed and of course a reading rug!

The school has an open campus. The hallways are outside and everything is disconnected. 

Biggest difference is that i only have 12 students and that is considered a lot!

Completely nuts!

Si Se Puede Ecuador!!!!!

Went to the world cup qualifier for South America. Ecuador Vs. Peru. 

Of course Ecuador Won 2-0

This means Ecuador is in 6th place right now!

Soo much fun! I learned some great cheers, great profanity, and left covered with beer!

Getting Ready for the Game!

So I needed to go to the ATM to get some cash out. Then I realized I only had big bills and I needed change for the taxi. So i needed to buy something. So I bought a beer. But not just any beer but a collectors beer with the Ecuador team on it. 

And I couldn't Let beer go to waste by letting it get warm.....

Who said that you cant drink on a Monday night.

And anyways we needed to get in the mood for the big game tomorrow!

Mountains!!!!

Kyle and I went to teleferico. It is a cable cart that takes you up the side of Pichincha Volcano. It is located 4050 meters above sea level.

Quito Beautiful Behind me!

This is how Ecuadorians tell Americans not to go pass the trail.

Many colors of green and beautiful white clouds. 

Quito at every direction. 

Other side of  the mountain. With Fluffy clouds rolling in. 

We Found Lamas!!!