Saturdays at School

I feel like I haven't written a lot about school this year, but as they say: 'No news is good news!' And 'they' are right.  Javier and I are both really enjoying our classes this year.  He has my kids from last year (that were tough) but is getting along with them pretty well.  I think they're really responding to his goofy nerdy immature personality.  And my kiddos are wonderful.  Being a second year teacher is waaaaay more fun than being a first year teacher!  Javier and I have also taken on additional roles at school.  He is working as the ombudsman for the 10th grade, acting as the liaison between the 10th grade students and their team of teachers.  And I offered to establish a blog for 9th grade parents to keep up with the comings and goings of the 9th grade team (which is in part why I have so many pictures!).  It's a bit bitter sweet, because we really seem to have come into our own at school only to know we'll be leaving this place we really love at the end of the year.

Javier has been impressing the math department with his creativity.  I wish I had a picture of the boards in his room, but he has one of the most colorful and fun math classrooms at school!  This was the board he did for the entire school on using math to calculate trash usage.  It was even interactive; students could flip up the bottom questions to reveal the answers to his proposed math problems.

Coincidentally, I was responsible for the social studies board the same month that Javier created his.  Mine presents the Global Goals for Sustainable Development that the UN established for the next 15 years.  My students did some research on the goals and came up with super heroes that could help accomplish them (like Equality Pair, and Water Conserving Man).

The list of stuff that Javier and I didn't know when we applied and took this job could fill a small book....but our brief experience has taught us a boatload (I'm starting to document my list of questions to ask future employers...).  A question that we did not think to ask (and should have) was the length of our school year at Colegio Menor.  Because when we arrived we were shocked to find out that Ecuador's Ministry of Education requires 200 student-facing days (compared to the USA's 180 days).  While 20 days may not sound like a lot, it equates to 4 extra weeks with students (an entire month!) not counting our pre- and post-days at school.  Regardless, Menor helps fill these days by requiring students and teachers to attend school for THREE Saturdays in the fall.  They are usually fun days, but working 6 days in a week makes for two rough weeks (the one before, when you know you have to work on Saturday and the one after, cause you're tired after only one day off).    Needless to say, we are happy to have gotten these days out of the way in the beginning of the year.  Here are some pics from them...

Our first Saturday was for Jura  a la Bandera.  I posted about this event last year; it is a tradition where seniors make a pledge to Ecuador and the flag.  If I was better with words I could articulate how interesting and worthwhile the experience of another culture has been for us, but I'm not ,so simply take this as one of many examples that fascinate me.

It is a formal event so the Cabezas dressed up for the occasion.

Next on our Saturday school day list was Family Day.  This day is really meant for our lower school students, but each upper school grade is responsible for a booth.  My 9th graders were in charge of the Crazy Hair booth.  Here are some of them with my ombudsman (and wonderful mentor) Susanita!

It's a really fun day that includes all sorts of activities and entertainment.  These are some of my girls in the gymnastic team performing for the crowd.

In addition to activities, the day is full of good food! (Like a whole roasted pig!)

More of my kiddos and some examples of their Crazy Hair creations.

They really are a wonderful group!

In preparation for our last Saturday and Juegos Internos school hosted a spirit week.  Javier and I won the hearts of our students by being active participants all week.  Here we are on PJ Day (yes, I wore my eye mask all day!).

aaaaaand on movie character day.  Yes, my face is blue.  Also I had to sub for a 7th grade class on this day and they now call me 'Sadness' whenever they pass me in the hallway = WIN!

Here we are on the way to school....ready to face our last Saturday!

And my kiddos, lined up for the parade and pumped to compete in Juegos Internos!

Cheering their classmates on in Goofy Games!

Chubby Bunny and a mouth full of grapes.

A highly competitive obstacle course.

Here I am with one of my students.  Her sister is currently attending UVA and she was sporting her UVA hat with me for the day.

Did I mention that some teachers were asked to participate in the goofy games?  It's hard to tell, but that's my husband belly up and hanging from the bar crossing the pool.  They said he might get a little wet....yeah....just a little.  But the 10th grade won this game so it was totally worth it! (right?)

For Christmas, students from a school for the blind and deaf came to spend the day with my 9th graders.  I have really enjoyed my students this year, but it is something special to see how they really care for and embrace the smaller kiddos for the day.

We plan some activities and crafts but the day turns into my kids chasing around the other kids...doing and playing whatever they want.

Aren't my boys adorable with this little girl and her hat?

The hula hoops were a hit this year.

One of the big differences we've seen in Ecuador instead of the US is how physical our kids are.  They hug and kiss each other on the cheek.  When we see them in public they always offer me the traditional Ecuakiss.  Their comfort with physical touch showed on this day as well as they quickly grabbed hands and picked up kids to carry them around campus.

My sweet girls making Christmas ornaments with the kids. 

Two of my students were assigned one kid to look out for throughout the day.

We finished our play outside with this epic hula off between one of the deaf students (right) and my student, Paula (left).  It was a close match, but he ended up crushing her in the end...showing off a bit by hula-ing the whole way back inside.

I post mostly about our travel in and out of Ecuador, but Javier and I are definitely going to miss this school.  It will always be the place where we started our teaching career.  It's as beautiful on the outside as the students and teachers on the inside and it'll be hard to match when we get to the USA (fingers crossed).

World Cup Qualifier Take Two

Our last trip to Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa was a bit of a wet one.  While we had a blast (in part because it was our anniversary), we both were really hoping our second World Cup Qualifier game would be a sunny one!  When we arrived at the stadium...

we were greeted with beautiful sun and more people in the crowd than last time!!

Bright sunshine and lots of smiles

This second game was against Uruguay.  Ecuador won 2-1 and has (temporarily) secured the number one spot in South America!

This is our friend Esperanza and Dani's nephew.  He had never been to a national game and was so excited the entire time.  It was fun to have him with our group.

Here is our little group.  We had to fight the crowds a bit more, but watching the game in the sun was sooooo much more enjoyable!!  And Ecuador's victory didn't hurt either!  And now we can boast attendance at 2 World Cup Qualifier games!

Classick keeping Quito Classy (Part II of Classick's Visit)

Oops.  As you may have noticed...there has been a brief hiatus in the Heads Over Heels blog.  Oops.  Instead of regaling you with excuse after excuse, I'll just say SORRY.  And that after our AMAZEBALLS trip to Chile I knew I just HAD to get back on the blogging train 1) so that you people can see what we're up to and 2) to finish the documenting of our little adventure that is swiftly coming to an end...so without further ado, let's travel back to November when our dear, dear friend Classick visited.  His visit wasn't all owl monkeys and anacondas...we also showed him the sites of plain ol' Quito...

Now that you're filled in on our jungle adventure, I should tell you about the rest of Classick's visit.  First off, it is just the most fun to have people visit us here.  We relish the time with familiar faces and love showing off Ecuador to friends and family.  Classick arrived Thursday so that he could spend Friday adjusting and recovering before we left for the jungle.  Javier and I had to work Friday, so Classick was on his own.  He felt good and was able to walk around Quito quite a bit!

Classick made it to Quito!!

Friday night we went to Ananke for dinner.  They serve delicious spiced wine and have a gorgeous view of the valley down below.  (Also our friend Tiffany came with us!)

After the jungle I was quite tired. (Photo credit: one Matthew Classick) and Javier and I had to return to work.  

So Classick took a trip midweek to Cuenca where he spent one day hiking in Cajas National Park.  He shared some of his pictures with me so that I could share them with you!

Cajas is just breathtaking.  Javier and I went to the park last year when we visited Cuenca and hope to make it one more time before we head back to the USA!

When Classick got back to Quito on Friday night, we took him to the local food market (same one Anthony Bourdain visited!).  He was super adventurous and tried many of the local options.  (Some look more appetizing than others...)

Like the fried dough with honey....yes, please.

After our traditional dinner we headed to Abysmo for a less traditional beer.  The cervezas in Ecuador leave something to be desired, but we had heard Absysmo served artisanal options and were looking forward to trying some.  

Javier and I were impressed, but Classick thought that they didn't hold up to his options in the USA.  We struggled through them regardless.  After some beers we took Classick to old town to watch some salsa.  (We watched...no dancing.)

Saturday was rainy, but our only real day to tour the city, so we set out to see the sights.  We started in Iglesia de la Compañia.  Visitors are not supposed to take pictures, but rebel Classick snapped this one to show you readers that magnificent gold that covers the ceiling and walls.

Visiting the churches in old town presents an interesting paradox.  They're brimming with tourists (like us) but also frequented by devote parishioners who light candles and say their prayers.

 I usually straddle the line and light a candle.  As usual, the pictures don't really give you the feel of the scene or sound of the creaking wooden floor or smell of the incense that encompasses the space.

Classick wanted to try a traditional almuerzo.  In Ecuador you can get lunch for $3 that includes soup, a plate with a protein (usually pork or chicken), rice and a juice.  We walked just a few blocks and found a spot. Don't our soups look yum-o?

After our big day out we stopped by Hotel Quito for some cocktails.  The views on both sides of their 9th floor bar were beautiful.  Clouds had moved into the valley creating a misty and beautiful scene.

I'm not sure that we really improve the view, but it is at least a good picture of us!

On the other side was one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen in Quito.

It wasn't centered over the volcano like I wanted...but the colors were truly beautiful.

It was our last night so we headed to the Mariscal where many of the young folk in Quito go to hang out.  We found another spot that brewed their own beer.  (Javier and I were once again super impressed with Classick being less so....)

And then the boys found a foosball table....and I lost them....

No trip to Quito could be complete without a visit to Gonzalez Suarez Hot Dogs (especially late night!) and Classick was brave enough to try the traditional crumbled potato chips on his dog!  

A bit tired after the foosball marathon...we had a simple breakfast in the park before Classick's flight.  We had just a blast sharing our jungle adventure and his visit to Quito with Classick.  But it was also nice to chat with our friend and catch up in a way that we struggle to do over email and quick FacetTime calls.