After a huge workload it's finally end of term and and holidays for 3 weeks. Except for my one remaining private student that is! Still I could do with the money. My other private, the one I found hopeless for weeks, has suddenly become a top student, got about 90% in his tests and is ready to sit his final next week. Unfortunately, after that he has to return to the extremely small town of Carriamanga to work 7 days a week in a pharmacy. no wonder he wants to join his brother in London. Shame he can't seem to find a job in Loja as he thinks it's the perfect town.
Most of my students did really well, but one of my level two's needs a suppletoria, a last ditch attempt to get through the level. Should have turned up for class more often! Some of them really take the p**s, arranging for me to meet them at some totally awkward time to do their oral test then not turning up and expecting me to come back when it suits them. That's the result of being spoiled and privileged in some cases! Only so many chances you can give before you get fed up.
My level 5 class are a bit more mature, not always in age, but in attitude. Also there are only 9 of them, as opposed to 20, which makes it much easier to bond. They took me out to dinner on the last day. Of course they turned up late, leaving me moaning about 'bloody Ecuadorian attitude to time keeping'! (see Kallen's post of the other week if you think I'm alone there!) This lead me to feel extremely guilty when they turned up with a present on which they'd written 'to the best teacher from Ely Erika and Bryan'! Then they wouldn't let me pay for my dinner. How sweet is that?
We had a little earthquake on Wednesday morning. I was in bed, it was about 6.30. It wasn't strong but the whole building shook for a minute. I got up and stood in the doorway of my balcony. (apparently the strongest part of a building is the doorways so stand there if you can't get outside). Then it started again after a minute, it was so weird, like a big hand had got hold of the building and shaken it around for about 30 seconds, then it was over. I didn't feel scared, not like I did by the tarantulas at my dad's house, but thats a phobia. When I got to school I found that some people, like me, had found it quite exciting (call me stupid and ignorant if you want, but it really wasn't strong), and some people had been really freaked. My friend and colleague, Lainey, said she'd been in a much stronger one once in Asia and it was very scary, as I can imagine it was. Apparently this is very rare here, so dont be put off!
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jealous, earthquakes and all! i will come there and teach you some busted spanish!
3 weeks vacation! amazing! at my academy, 7 days total and not in conjunction with one another..
so excited to go back to latin america after this contract is up!
Hi Alix, so glad to hear that the earthquake wasn't too bad in Loja. I was a tiny bit freaked out when I heard about it the other day, but then I figured that it probably means Ecuador won't be due for another one for a while then! (hmmm....should I even tempt the fates by writing that?) Anyway, see you in a few weeks!
Being in japan we get earth quakes a lot..but just like you they are usually weak and last no more then a minute...at first i would feel a little giddy inside because in England we rarely got them...but now i just find a door way, wait and then get on with things...
Normally though they always happen around 6am...granted this is around the time i get up for school but sometimes i dont have to be up until 630 or 7am so an early earth quake can be annoying because that extra 30mins is precious...
We had one that seem to have gone on forever - that was a bit worrying...especially when the local town my announcements on the big speakers we have and i cant understand a word they say...
As for your students...i am glad they are doing well...but again like you i dont know how much i could tolerate agreeing on a time and place then waiting around for awhile before giving up just for them to call me and arrange another time...
I decided to live in Guayaquil for a few months to see if I like it. It is definitely better than Quevedo. There are lots of things to do but it is not so fun doing them by yourself. I do not have much of a nightlife here because my friends are always working. I do plan on coming to Loja to visit in the next month or so. And if I like it (from the pics and videos that I saw.......I think I probably will), I will live there for 5-6 months or maybe even for a school year.
You should come to Guayaquil. Try staying here for at least a weekend. You wouldn't be able to see all of the great places in one day. I never have been to Banos but my friends have said good things about the place. And a night on the coast would be great for you. Try Salinas, Manta, or Montanita. Manta is like a combination of the beach life and the city life (it is similar to Miami). If you want a pure coastal getaway, then Montanita and Salinas are probably your best bets.
Term starts in the second week of September and my dad's widow is no longer able to meet me here, so I' gona take a week off probably 23-28 Aug and do some shoestring travelling... maybe we could meet up in Guayquil or somewhere? Was thinkin of Banos, maybe a night in Quito, a night on the coast somewhere and then head south again. What are you up to?
Correct me if I'm wrong. But are you saying that you are off for 3 weeks for holidays? Wow....that is a hell of a vacation. Despite the last student that you have with classes, what are you going to do for the next 3 weeks? So, when does the next term starts?
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