Even if, like me, your Spanish has not advanced far beyond “Buenos dias,” when a young child runs at you with arms upraised, it is pretty obvious what you are supposed to do. So I picked up, spun around, chased, and played with kids until I was exhausted. Playing with the children of the Working Boy’s Center was a microcosm of my entire trip to Ecuador. It was tiring and sometimes a bit frustrating, but ultimately it was fun and deeply rewarding. Much of the trip focused on learning: learning about the Center, learning about the people, learning about the country. All this learning necessitated traveling all over the city and the surrounding area, frequently on crowded public buses. I found that sitting on the rocking buses, wedged tightly next to several other people in the hot air, was just as exhausting as any of the actual labor we did. Yet the our guides from the center rode these buses for up to four hours a day just to get to and from their homes.
We saw poverty while in Ecuador: people living in cramped houses, children gleaning scraps of meat off of chicken bones that I would have considered already picked clean, kids wearing shoes held together by tape. Seeing this, I naturally wanted to do something to help. Yet our main task in Ecuador was to see rather than to do. So while we spent a couple days painting and building, we spent far more time seeing the operations of the center, meeting Ecuadoreans, and experiencing all aspects of the country. It was difficult at times to tour cathedrals and take day trips to go zip-lining while I knew how desperate the situation was for so many people just a short bus ride away. But all our people watching, tourist tripping, and bus riding was absolutely necessary. It is fairly easy for me as a young man to share sweat with the people of Ecuador. Doing so might assuage my immediate pangs of guilt and my labor might even be useful to the people I pity. However, the people at the Center, in showing us all of Ecuador, both the brilliant and the dirty, were trying to get me to take the next step and share my heart with those I was visiting. They were trying to show me the path from hating poverty to loving the poor. What was built in my heart in one week was so much larger than anything I could have built in Ecuador in a year. I feel new meaning in the term “cura personalis.” Helping others is less a single-minded march to achieve milestones than it is opening up my arms and letting them fill with flying children.
-Sam Kernan
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Ecuador Reflection
As I took my first steps onto the plane out of Rochester, I really had no idea what to expect. Not only was this my first time taking a trip with McQuaid, but it was also my first time out of the country. This departure from my comfort zone was a little stressful. However, as I spent the first day as a volunteer, I realized how amazing the people and culture were. The center was filled with phenomenal people who loved the work they did.
During the week, we had the chance to visit the homes of the people who lived two hours away from the center. I was immediately taken back by how little the people had. Most of the mothers had five or ten children living in small huts, that did not even have drinkable water. Their children would wake up before six to take the long ride to the center. However, this was not what impacted me. I was impacted by the tremendous amount of hope they had. They were happy, and they had each other. Their hope was invigorating.
Each day was an opportunity for discovery. By helping paint, teach, and build with the children I not only helped them; but they helped me in return. I realized that no matter what happens in life, we can just smile and pick ourselves back up. I did not just leave with a sense of poverty. I left with something more. I left with a sense of determination and unity with the people. Although we had to leave, I will forever remember the great gift that I shared with the people of Quito. The people at the middle of the world.
-Alexander Caraballo '10
During the week, we had the chance to visit the homes of the people who lived two hours away from the center. I was immediately taken back by how little the people had. Most of the mothers had five or ten children living in small huts, that did not even have drinkable water. Their children would wake up before six to take the long ride to the center. However, this was not what impacted me. I was impacted by the tremendous amount of hope they had. They were happy, and they had each other. Their hope was invigorating.
Each day was an opportunity for discovery. By helping paint, teach, and build with the children I not only helped them; but they helped me in return. I realized that no matter what happens in life, we can just smile and pick ourselves back up. I did not just leave with a sense of poverty. I left with something more. I left with a sense of determination and unity with the people. Although we had to leave, I will forever remember the great gift that I shared with the people of Quito. The people at the middle of the world.
-Alexander Caraballo '10
Ecuador Reflection
6:05 AM: The first of many planes takes off out of the Quito airport. While this was a staple of every early morning at the Working Boys Center, every day of our trip brought something new, exciting and challenging. Throughout my experience, there was no “normal” day. I got to experience all that Quito and the Working Boys Center had to offer me, and I enjoyed being surprised day by day.
Working at the Center gave me a unique perspective on the lives of the people of Ecuador. I got to experience how families learned together and worked together in order to make a living. From working in the carpentry shop with a seventy year old carpenter, to being taught by a five year old girl how to make the bracelets she was selling, I came to learn that both the young and old worked tirelessly to contribute to their family's well being. Whether I was teaching English to young children or teaching a mother of six to read Spanish for the first time, I gained a true appreciation for what these families went through on a daily basis to try and further their lives.
When we visited the homes of the families, a two and a half hour bus ride from the Center, it truly put things into perspective. Children would get up around 4:30 in the morning and not get home until around ten at night, just so that they could learn at the Center. They live in conditions with little running water and extremely cramped living space. The situations in which these people live gave me a true understanding of the sacrifices families make, and the importance of the work the Center is doing. By offering services for the entire family, the Center works to bring families out of poverty now, rather than educating the children and leaving the parents and elderly to inevitable poverty. I found this to be an amazing endeavor that I truly admire.
The Working Boys Center gave me new ideas, new experiences, and most of all an understanding of how hard families in Ecuador work to further themselves in life. Furthermore, my experiences in the city of Quito and the surrounding area showed me the beauty that the city, and the country as a whole, has to offer anyone who is willing to take the time to look. I sincerely recommend to anyone to take a visit to the Working Boys Center. No matter if you stay for a week or a year, you will be greeted with warm hospitality, smiling faces, and I guarantee you will walk away with more than you could have ever imagined.
God Bless,
Conner Boillat
McQuaid Jesuit Class of 2010
Working at the Center gave me a unique perspective on the lives of the people of Ecuador. I got to experience how families learned together and worked together in order to make a living. From working in the carpentry shop with a seventy year old carpenter, to being taught by a five year old girl how to make the bracelets she was selling, I came to learn that both the young and old worked tirelessly to contribute to their family's well being. Whether I was teaching English to young children or teaching a mother of six to read Spanish for the first time, I gained a true appreciation for what these families went through on a daily basis to try and further their lives.
When we visited the homes of the families, a two and a half hour bus ride from the Center, it truly put things into perspective. Children would get up around 4:30 in the morning and not get home until around ten at night, just so that they could learn at the Center. They live in conditions with little running water and extremely cramped living space. The situations in which these people live gave me a true understanding of the sacrifices families make, and the importance of the work the Center is doing. By offering services for the entire family, the Center works to bring families out of poverty now, rather than educating the children and leaving the parents and elderly to inevitable poverty. I found this to be an amazing endeavor that I truly admire.
The Working Boys Center gave me new ideas, new experiences, and most of all an understanding of how hard families in Ecuador work to further themselves in life. Furthermore, my experiences in the city of Quito and the surrounding area showed me the beauty that the city, and the country as a whole, has to offer anyone who is willing to take the time to look. I sincerely recommend to anyone to take a visit to the Working Boys Center. No matter if you stay for a week or a year, you will be greeted with warm hospitality, smiling faces, and I guarantee you will walk away with more than you could have ever imagined.
God Bless,
Conner Boillat
McQuaid Jesuit Class of 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Ecuador Trip Reflection
The trip to Ecuador was a very enlightening experience. Everyone is aware that there is poverty in the world. What I learned in Ecuador is that there are solutions to this problem not by the means of financial support but through education. Lao Tzu once said “Give a man a fish you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a life time.” The Working Boys Center and all of its members follow this motto as they strive to lessen the effects of poverty and hunger in Quito. Instead of simply giving meals or money, the Center educates the people so that they can get out of their difficult situations.
As the first couple days had gone by I found myself having a lot of fun during my time spent with the kids, wither it was engaging in a competitive game of soccer or swinging them around in the air. It was incredible to see these people with so much joy even though they were living in poverty. This was all good and fun but I struggled to find meaning with this and I questioned the impact I was having on the people. After all, I was down there to help no to play. As the trip progressed it was more of the same, I enjoyed myself the entire time touring the city along with playing and teaching the kids, but still did not know what I was to take from this experience.
One night as we were reflecting it finally dawned on me. As Mr. Mullen explained that we are a part of a process and that we are not here to solve the problems of the people or change their live in ten days, but to simply give them hope. As these families see us making an effort to help them, they realize that there are many people willing to do the same. This made me understand that all of the time I spent in the center actually did have meaning to the kids and their families. I did not have to break my back doing manual labor, I simply needed to comfort them and show them that there is hope and that someday they will be out of poverty. Besides taking back home with me a great experience, I take back home with me a great challenge; the challenge to come home and spread the message of the Working Boys Center that there is a solution to poverty through education.
-P.J. Abelein
As the first couple days had gone by I found myself having a lot of fun during my time spent with the kids, wither it was engaging in a competitive game of soccer or swinging them around in the air. It was incredible to see these people with so much joy even though they were living in poverty. This was all good and fun but I struggled to find meaning with this and I questioned the impact I was having on the people. After all, I was down there to help no to play. As the trip progressed it was more of the same, I enjoyed myself the entire time touring the city along with playing and teaching the kids, but still did not know what I was to take from this experience.
One night as we were reflecting it finally dawned on me. As Mr. Mullen explained that we are a part of a process and that we are not here to solve the problems of the people or change their live in ten days, but to simply give them hope. As these families see us making an effort to help them, they realize that there are many people willing to do the same. This made me understand that all of the time I spent in the center actually did have meaning to the kids and their families. I did not have to break my back doing manual labor, I simply needed to comfort them and show them that there is hope and that someday they will be out of poverty. Besides taking back home with me a great experience, I take back home with me a great challenge; the challenge to come home and spread the message of the Working Boys Center that there is a solution to poverty through education.
-P.J. Abelein
Capstone Reflection - Michael Holvey
When I was interviewed by Channel 8, I told them that I would go into this trip without any assumptions. Looking back on that statement, I realized it really paid off. I feel that many people have incorrect assumptions about the poor in other countries, and that could hinder an immersion trip such as this one. I decided to describe one experience, one sampling, of my trip to Ecuador that would adequately summarize and inform students from the class of 2011 about Ecuador.
The experience I decided to summarize is the minga, on Sunday. It is the first time we left a real, physical impact on Ecuador. Not only were we served a glass of beer, but it was instantly gratifying. We were making the dirt floor of the house we were working on, so it wasn’t a very nice one. Our hosts were poor but they were not “spirirtually poor”, as Madre Miguel put it. They acted just like any of us, despite their poverty. I even had the opportunity to talk to one of the boys about the girls in Ecuador (he started it). As I reflected on the trip, the idea that physical poverty didn’t matter at all resonated with me. As I worked alongside parents and kids, their determination was inspiring.
The trip was truly an unforgettable experience. I have never been outside the country before and I am extremely happy that Ecuador was the first. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone in the upcoming senior class. It was the trip of a lifetime.
The experience I decided to summarize is the minga, on Sunday. It is the first time we left a real, physical impact on Ecuador. Not only were we served a glass of beer, but it was instantly gratifying. We were making the dirt floor of the house we were working on, so it wasn’t a very nice one. Our hosts were poor but they were not “spirirtually poor”, as Madre Miguel put it. They acted just like any of us, despite their poverty. I even had the opportunity to talk to one of the boys about the girls in Ecuador (he started it). As I reflected on the trip, the idea that physical poverty didn’t matter at all resonated with me. As I worked alongside parents and kids, their determination was inspiring.
The trip was truly an unforgettable experience. I have never been outside the country before and I am extremely happy that Ecuador was the first. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone in the upcoming senior class. It was the trip of a lifetime.
Trip Reflection
After going on the Dominican Republic trip last year I had high expectations for this trip. It didn't take me long to realize how different this trip was going to be from last year's. When we went to Dominican Republic we had a set goal (build 10 latrines) and we were expected to complete that while we were down there. While in Ecuador, we didn't have a set goal. It was more of a "do as much or as little as you want" trip. This made it very hard for me to feel like I was actually doing something to help out.
For the first couple of days I especially didn't feel like I was doing much. Monday we helped out with an English class where the students asked us memorized english phrases to which I responded something that they seemed to not understand. Tuesday was the day when I especially felt useless when we helped out in the talleres. I chose the auto shop along with PJ and Sam. That consisted of us sitting in on a theory class for about a half an hour followed by the practical application of what they learned. We did absolutely nothing for this besides watch the boys attempt to start various motors. Needless to say, I had a rough start to my experience in Ecuador.
The combination of Wednesday and Thursday was the turning point for me. After seeing the houses these people live in on Wednesday and then helping some of the kids of these families with their crafts on Thursday, I realized that by just being there we were helping these people out.
Friday and Sunday were definitely my favorite days of the trip. On Friday I got to help teach 12 year old girls in an English class. They were learning about the 5 senses and they really enjoyed being able to speak English with us. Sunday was the best day: the minga. I love manual labor and I took full advantage of the opportunity to leave a physical symbol of my service in Ecuador. We built part of the foundation for a house. A 15 year old Ecuadorian boy and myself were in charge of mixing the cement for the foundation. This was a great experience because in the beginning I was taking all the directions from him, waiting for his approval to do anything but by the end of our work there, he and I were working on the same level and I didn't feel the need to ask his permission before doing something. Learning and working with him was the best experience I had on this trip.
Although I did appreciate all of the free days we had and the various activities we did on these days, they posed a certain challenge for me. I felt that we could have done a lot more service during the hours we spent on the zip-line and at the market. As much as I enjoyed myself on the free days, looking back on those activities, they were much less fulfilling than teaching a class or building a house.
This trip helped me to understand that not all service leaves a physical mark. Sometimes the service we do leaves a mark in the hearts of the people we serve, as well as our own.
Scott Levy
One of my experiences
One of my most interesting experiences within Ecuador occurred while visiting the houses in the countryside. Even before the trip, I had imagined what the living conditions must be like. When I actually got to see the natives in their homes I was surprised by what I found. I had prepared myself for realities of poverty, but I had not expected the attitudes of those living in poverty to be as positive as they were. A family with nine children lived in a small hut with a tin roof and dirt floor; they lived well below the poverty line for sure, but one could not tell this by the way the mother acted. This family made the best out of their situation and they were not embarrassed in any way. In fact, it seemed that the only people who felt embarrassed were the students from my group, including myself. The disparity between my own home and the home which this family sleeps in every night hit me hard and left me feeling uncomfortable. This family was eager to point out every part of their house from the outhouse made out of plastic wrap to the homemade electrical box that siphoned electricity from the city. It did not matter to them whether they had the latest or greatest in technology, but just the fact that they had someplace to call home. They are content with the way they live and have more self-confidence than I have seen anywhere else in the world. This experience has changed the way I view poverty and those who live in it. You don’t have to be wealthy or have many possessions to be confident in yourself.
Anthony Odorisi
Anthony Odorisi
Ecuador 2010
As the plane touched down in Quito and the twelve of us carried our bags toward the Working Center bus, predictions of the experiences that we would ensue preoccupied our minds. We had all seen the introductory video letting us know that we would be working with kids and performing some physical labor, but there were no real details. Questions such as: "Would the kids like us? What exactly are we doing? Is not having knowledge of Spanish going to be a problem?" flirted across my mind. Father Juan and Madre gave us a great welcome and answered one of those questions by explaining what we would be doing for the week.
The first few days were very interesting as we "lived the life" of an Ecuadorian in Quito. Small groups split among the varying professions to shadow and work. My group went to carpentry and made small benches out of a seemingly large slab of wood. We also took tours of the various centers where we finally met some of the kids for the first time. When we toured some of the houses of the people at the center, the whole group and I overcame a change in ourselves. Realizing what the people there live in everyday compared to all of the luxuries we have is a startling experience. Their "electrical boxes" are open and pose a threat everyday if one of the wires would just have happened to fall or get rain in them.
On the 2 hour ride home from these houses, our bus was silent. Everyone was trying to feel for what they had just gone through. These people were great people with no shame for how they are living. They are proud even and are joyous with more smiles than I have had this past week. Why do people this great have to be in this situation. They deserve better and, yet, are content. I wish I had their strength. It is not up to us who "wins the lottery." There is a reason why we were placed in a position to help, someone said. The whole goal of this trip was to realize this and act on it.
The rest of the trip was much different. The once shy, cautious, and tentative New Yorkers were now very outgoing and bold. Visiting the houses invigorated all of us with new life it felt like. I didn't know any Spanish and was very isolated as a minority. After the fifth day, this was no more. Interacting with the kids, asking their name, and just having a great time was not hard to do. They want to understand you as much as you want to communicate with them. The most rewarding part of the trip to me was meeting, teaching, and playing with the kids. I would have rather been doing that than the "touristy" parts of the trip to be honest. The Minga and painting were rewarding as well because our group left a lasting impression on Quito, even after we left.
Overall, the trip was an extremely rewarding experience. When I applied for this trip, I wrote that, "I do not know what I will get out of this experience. I do not know what I will learn or how it will affect me." Even as the trip was occurring, I did not realize how much of an effect the Ecuadorian hospitality would have on me. To be honest, I struggle to find the words to describe how the trip has made me feel still. The only way to understand is to partake on this type of trip too.
-Michael Tripp '10
The first few days were very interesting as we "lived the life" of an Ecuadorian in Quito. Small groups split among the varying professions to shadow and work. My group went to carpentry and made small benches out of a seemingly large slab of wood. We also took tours of the various centers where we finally met some of the kids for the first time. When we toured some of the houses of the people at the center, the whole group and I overcame a change in ourselves. Realizing what the people there live in everyday compared to all of the luxuries we have is a startling experience. Their "electrical boxes" are open and pose a threat everyday if one of the wires would just have happened to fall or get rain in them.
On the 2 hour ride home from these houses, our bus was silent. Everyone was trying to feel for what they had just gone through. These people were great people with no shame for how they are living. They are proud even and are joyous with more smiles than I have had this past week. Why do people this great have to be in this situation. They deserve better and, yet, are content. I wish I had their strength. It is not up to us who "wins the lottery." There is a reason why we were placed in a position to help, someone said. The whole goal of this trip was to realize this and act on it.
The rest of the trip was much different. The once shy, cautious, and tentative New Yorkers were now very outgoing and bold. Visiting the houses invigorated all of us with new life it felt like. I didn't know any Spanish and was very isolated as a minority. After the fifth day, this was no more. Interacting with the kids, asking their name, and just having a great time was not hard to do. They want to understand you as much as you want to communicate with them. The most rewarding part of the trip to me was meeting, teaching, and playing with the kids. I would have rather been doing that than the "touristy" parts of the trip to be honest. The Minga and painting were rewarding as well because our group left a lasting impression on Quito, even after we left.
Overall, the trip was an extremely rewarding experience. When I applied for this trip, I wrote that, "I do not know what I will get out of this experience. I do not know what I will learn or how it will affect me." Even as the trip was occurring, I did not realize how much of an effect the Ecuadorian hospitality would have on me. To be honest, I struggle to find the words to describe how the trip has made me feel still. The only way to understand is to partake on this type of trip too.
-Michael Tripp '10
When I was accepted for this service trip, I had no idea what to expect. I knew that everything in Quito would be different from that of Rochester, but I did not know to what extent. I knew the trip would be fun because I knew that spending time with all the guys would be nice, especially before we all graduate. What I did not know was how much I would be affected by the experience.
The Working Boys' Center was wonderful. Our rooms were comfortable and clean, and the living conditions were much better then anything else in the city. After our tour of the center, we all realized how differently these children lived and studied. Unlike our education, these children were taught specific trades, so that at a young age they could go out into the world and be qualified enough to start their own business or profession. This is much different then our American education, because in many cases for these young children, they have to begin to work at a young age because their income can potentially constitute up to 80% of the family's income. These kids live their lives very differently then you or I, and their education system is very unique.
The biggest challenge for me was realizing why I was there. In ten days, it was nearly impossible for me to truly change all the crime, poverty, and injustice in the city. It was difficult for me to know that I was there in Quito for myself, not exactly for the kids. Yes, in the ten days that I was there, I could see the joy and excitement that I brought to those children, and maybe some of them will remember me, maybe not. At the same time, I cannot change the fact that every day those children wake up at the crack of dawn and take a 2 hour bus ride into town to go to school, and that every night those same kids fall asleep in a small bed with 3 of their brothers or sisters lying next to them, in a cement shack on the side of a mountain.
I was there, with those children, to learn how they live in Quito, and in most of South America. I was there to experience the city and the people. The question that remains to be asked, is that now that I am home safe, what I am going to do with what I experienced? This is the question the trip was meant to ask. After everything i have seen, experienced, and lived with for ten days, I know that it is not only my choice, but my obligation to help out my fellow brothers and sisters in every part of the world. The trip taught me about foreign cultures, the wrath of poverty, but more importantly, about myself. I look at my life in a new light, a better light. I realize now everything that I have been given, and how lucky I am. I realize everything that I have to give to the people around me, and just how much a can help. Even though I am just a man, I can still make an impact, no matter how small.
The trip was generally sensational. I learned so much, and had more fun than I ever expected. I have only to thank Mr. Hobbs, and Sean Mullen, our chaperons, for making the experience that much better. We saw all walks of life in Quito, from the rich to the poor, and were able to make an impact on the lives of those kids. I recommend this opportunity to any Junior next year, and I hope the next group of students to go on this service trip can learn everything that I did through my experiences.
The Working Boys' Center was wonderful. Our rooms were comfortable and clean, and the living conditions were much better then anything else in the city. After our tour of the center, we all realized how differently these children lived and studied. Unlike our education, these children were taught specific trades, so that at a young age they could go out into the world and be qualified enough to start their own business or profession. This is much different then our American education, because in many cases for these young children, they have to begin to work at a young age because their income can potentially constitute up to 80% of the family's income. These kids live their lives very differently then you or I, and their education system is very unique.
The biggest challenge for me was realizing why I was there. In ten days, it was nearly impossible for me to truly change all the crime, poverty, and injustice in the city. It was difficult for me to know that I was there in Quito for myself, not exactly for the kids. Yes, in the ten days that I was there, I could see the joy and excitement that I brought to those children, and maybe some of them will remember me, maybe not. At the same time, I cannot change the fact that every day those children wake up at the crack of dawn and take a 2 hour bus ride into town to go to school, and that every night those same kids fall asleep in a small bed with 3 of their brothers or sisters lying next to them, in a cement shack on the side of a mountain.
I was there, with those children, to learn how they live in Quito, and in most of South America. I was there to experience the city and the people. The question that remains to be asked, is that now that I am home safe, what I am going to do with what I experienced? This is the question the trip was meant to ask. After everything i have seen, experienced, and lived with for ten days, I know that it is not only my choice, but my obligation to help out my fellow brothers and sisters in every part of the world. The trip taught me about foreign cultures, the wrath of poverty, but more importantly, about myself. I look at my life in a new light, a better light. I realize now everything that I have been given, and how lucky I am. I realize everything that I have to give to the people around me, and just how much a can help. Even though I am just a man, I can still make an impact, no matter how small.
The trip was generally sensational. I learned so much, and had more fun than I ever expected. I have only to thank Mr. Hobbs, and Sean Mullen, our chaperons, for making the experience that much better. We saw all walks of life in Quito, from the rich to the poor, and were able to make an impact on the lives of those kids. I recommend this opportunity to any Junior next year, and I hope the next group of students to go on this service trip can learn everything that I did through my experiences.
Joe Feeney
Monday, May 31, 2010
My Experience
I had no idea what to expect for the trip to Ecuador. I had never that far away from home and never been thrown into an environment so different from what I have at home. I looked forward to spending time with all the guys who I would soon be graduating with and looked forward to helping the people of Ecuador; even though I had no idea what sort of environment they lived in.
Our first few days were quite a shock. The conditions we lived in were very nice and we were taken care of very well. However, everything outside our living quarters was not so pleasant. We were given a tour of the center and learned alot about their very different education system. Instead of getting the kids ready for college like at McQuaid, the children are taught how to survive on the street as low class businessmen. From the ages of 3 or 4 they are given a basic education then once they get older they begin training to become skilled laborers in mechanics and automechanics, carpentry, cosmetics, and food preparation. At first I thought this system was incredibly flawed. I though why not educate these kids to be like us. Why not give them the same sort of education we are getting? By the end of the trip though, I realized that the kids do not have the same options for college that we have much less money to pay for it. Their education would be much better served learning to be skilled workers and that will give them much better chances of succeeding after they graduate.
An experience I considered a great challenge was during my second visit to the "Gota de Leche" center. I was shadowing a volunteer who had to leave shortly after introducing me to her 3 special education students. I was supposed to help them with their multiplication and division skills and also develop some of their English skills. They were very difficult to control and were very easily distracted. And with my limited Spanish, it was difficult to talk to them. However, we all ended up getting along by the end of our 1 hour session and during the last ten minutes i let them listen to my ipod which they loved. This was a challenge I was able to overcome and was very proud of myself afterwards.
A highlight of the trip was definitely the "Minga" or manual labor session we had on sunday. Our entire group went out into the hills surrounding Quito and helped a family build a house. We split up into three teams. One team was helping to build supports for the eventual walls and corners of the houses. Another team mixed cement and laid it down in holes dug for the base of walls. My team was digging dirt up and moving it into a corner to level out into the floor of a house. Even though some of us were savagely bitten by nats, we all felt very happy that we were able to make so much progress on a house that the family could not have done without us. Filled with the delicious lunch they served us, we were able to look out at the work we did and see a physical change we had made to help someone. This was a very rewarding experience.
Overall, the trip was very successful and I am glad I chose it as my Capstone. Just as Padre Juan said, we walked away with an experience of all of Quito. We saw the malls of the wealthy, schools of the children, and houses of the poor. We were able to lend a hand to those in need and able to play with the kids. I would definitely recommend it to a Junior for their capstone and hope to do something similar in the future.
Levi Bowen
Friday, May 28, 2010
Student Reflections...
Over the next several days, the members of the Somos Amigos Service Trip will share their own experiences of the trip.
Wednesday
It is hard to believe that our time at the Working Boys' Center and in Quito is drawing to a close. Today we are traveling to what is arguably Ecuador's biggest tourist attraction (after the Galapagos Islands) - La Mitad del Mundo - the Equator. Located about 15 miles north of the city, there are actually two markers for the equator. The first and the official government museum, marks the location from the 18th century. The monument is surrounded by shops and restaurants. Being a Wednesday, there were very few tourists around, but there were quite a few school groups. It seems to be the Ecuadorian version of visiting the Liberty Bell. After a quick lunch, we walked a few hundred yards to a new "museum" which marks the actual site of the Equator, as determined by GPS satellites. Here a few members of our group were able to balance an egg on a nail, we witness the ways water drains in different hemispheres and learned a little bit more about the importance and significance of the equator.
Returning to CMT, the guys packed up their bags and cleaned out their rooms. The Center is a busy place and our rooms will be used by a group from Fairfield University that arrives on Thursday. Already, a group from St. Peter's College in NJ arrived today.
We have one last act of service today as we will cover the adult English classes at the Center. The volunteers who usually teach these classes have a meeting and asked us to help them out. While the Center was founded to assist the working children of Ecuador, it was quickly realized that you had to help out their entire families. So each evening, after work, parents come to take classes in English, reading, math and other areas, to improve their own lives and those of their families. It was a great way to end our time in Quito.
Dinner was moved to 8 pm tonight (from the usual 8:40 pm) because of our departure (and that of Avila University's group). It was one last time to socialize together, to enjoy the hospitality of the center - and to buy last minute souvenirs (crafts made by the Girls' program). Then, it was off to the airport for an 11:30 pm departure to begin our trip home to Rochester.
It has been a phenomenal ten days, a chance to be of service, but more importantly to experience and learn about the people, the culture and the history of Ecuador. It has been a life changing experience for all of us.
Tuesday
Today is a free day, an opportunity for us to explore the city and country that has been our home for the last week. Our student leaders decided on a trip to the rain forest town of Mindo, about two hours northwest of Quito.
After an early morning departure and a bus ride through the mountains, we arrived in Mindo. A short taxi ride brought us to Mindo Ropes and Canopy. The group spent the morning zip-lining through the beauty of the Ecuadorian rainforest. We then headed to the Mindo Gardens restaurant, where after a short wait for our food, we enjoyed a delicious lunch.
Returning back to Quito by bus, the group was very aware that our time in Ecuador was quickly coming to an end. After a short rest, we headed downtown to a neighborhood known as Mariscal for a dinner at Quito's most famous pizza restaurant for some good food and bonding in preparation for out last day in Ecuador.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Monday
Today is a national holiday in Ecuador, so there are no classes at the Center. Instead, there is fiesta or celebration put on by the community leaders at CMT. It was a chance for the guys to catch up on some sleep (9 am!) and to spend a more relaxing day - our last with the families at the Center. Basketball, volleyball, soccer, tops and bingo were the main activities of the day. Prior to lunch the gringos overcame the Ecuadorans in a surprising 9 - 8 victory. The McQ guys (with a few additions) had been up 9 - 5, but a very long second half allowed the locals to catch up.
Tonight, Madre Miguel is showing a slide show to all the groups in the house about the early days of the Center. We have to figure out how we will spend Tuesday, our free day in the city or local area. We are saving our visit to the equator until Wednesday morning, our last day in Ecuador.
Tonight, Madre Miguel is showing a slide show to all the groups in the house about the early days of the Center. We have to figure out how we will spend Tuesday, our free day in the city or local area. We are saving our visit to the equator until Wednesday morning, our last day in Ecuador.
Sunday
Minga! Today was our day to work side by side with the people in a group self help project known locally as a Minga. In order to get out to the country side, the young men were awoken at 6:00 am - needless to say, they were so happy to get up that early. Luck for us, rather than public bus, Vincente, one of the bus drivers at the Center joined us. We first made a stop downtown to pick up some folks from La Marin before heading out to Tacumba.
Each of the families involved in the center msust participate in mingas, somewhat like Habitat for Humanity. Today, we were out working to finish the foundation of a new home being built with a family. The McQ guys worked hard, moving rocks, mixing and pouring cement, making the steel framework that serves as posts in the wall, and leveling the ground. The additional help was much appreciated by the family even though the guys were not as used to the hard work as the Ecuadors; the women in the family certainly worked as hard as our guys. The family celebrated the work we did with a local custom - a SMALL glass of local beer, mixed with cola. They also provided a delicious lunch for us before we headed back to the Center. When we left after lunch, the family prepared to spend several more hours on the project - since this is their day off and the only chance they have to spend time on this project.
We headed back to the center, somewhat sunburned and with "picas" or insect bites on arms and legs. Upon returning to the center, it was showers and naps as everyone was wiped out from the work. There is no dinner at the Center on Sundays, so we took the short walk down to the Centro Commercial, basically an American mall in the midst of our neighborhood. The guys chowed down on McDonalds and KFC, a little taste of home.
Each of the families involved in the center msust participate in mingas, somewhat like Habitat for Humanity. Today, we were out working to finish the foundation of a new home being built with a family. The McQ guys worked hard, moving rocks, mixing and pouring cement, making the steel framework that serves as posts in the wall, and leveling the ground. The additional help was much appreciated by the family even though the guys were not as used to the hard work as the Ecuadors; the women in the family certainly worked as hard as our guys. The family celebrated the work we did with a local custom - a SMALL glass of local beer, mixed with cola. They also provided a delicious lunch for us before we headed back to the Center. When we left after lunch, the family prepared to spend several more hours on the project - since this is their day off and the only chance they have to spend time on this project.
We headed back to the center, somewhat sunburned and with "picas" or insect bites on arms and legs. Upon returning to the center, it was showers and naps as everyone was wiped out from the work. There is no dinner at the Center on Sundays, so we took the short walk down to the Centro Commercial, basically an American mall in the midst of our neighborhood. The guys chowed down on McDonalds and KFC, a little taste of home.
Saturday
Today, the two groups (Avila and McQ) are heading out to the town of Otavala, which is known as the market town of Ecuador. It is about 2 - 3 hours away with rest stops.
First, we drove north of Otavala to San Antonio de Ibarra. This small town is well known for its wood-working. A short stop here allowed the guys to wander around the main plaza and see the local handiwork. One of Ecuador´s famous artists, Louis Potosi, has his gallery and shop on the main plaza.
Then we travelled back to Otavalla to wander around Poncho Plaza, the main square which was full with venders, overflowing into the sides streets. This town and the local indigenous tribe are especially known for their weavings. Blankets, scarves, bags and much more are for sale and haggling over price is expected. There was a noticeable number of other "gringos" shopping in the town, as this is a must for those visiting the country. For those who only get a t-shirt from Ecuador as a souvenir, lo siento.
First, we drove north of Otavala to San Antonio de Ibarra. This small town is well known for its wood-working. A short stop here allowed the guys to wander around the main plaza and see the local handiwork. One of Ecuador´s famous artists, Louis Potosi, has his gallery and shop on the main plaza.
Then we travelled back to Otavalla to wander around Poncho Plaza, the main square which was full with venders, overflowing into the sides streets. This town and the local indigenous tribe are especially known for their weavings. Blankets, scarves, bags and much more are for sale and haggling over price is expected. There was a noticeable number of other "gringos" shopping in the town, as this is a must for those visiting the country. For those who only get a t-shirt from Ecuador as a souvenir, lo siento.
Friday
Today was our "shadow day" spent in the two centers with the year-long volunteers. Half of the group rose early to catch a 7 am bus downtown. They spent the morning working in the classes at Gota de Leche. They then headed over to La Marin for lunch, recess and to join with the kids in the "girls program". This meant an hour of English classes and then off to crafts. Today the girls were once again making crafts such as jewelry and picture frames to sell in the center. In the kitchen, they made cheese empenadas, which once again were bought up quickly by the hungry American high school students. After a long day of work, the group returned back to CMT 2 via the metro bus.
The other half of the group was able to sleep in a little later, but their day was similar. The morning was spent helping out in classes and playing with the kids. Since it was Friday, mass was held here today, followed by lunch. Several of the guys in this group got to serve as volunteers for the girls who are learning to be stylists, so there were some manicures and shaves given to los gringos.
This evening, we were joined by students and chaperones from Avila University in Kansas City. They arrived the day after us but have been participating in an intensive immersion course in the countryside. The dining room is pretty full but many of the year long volunteers are headed out as this is a three day weekend.
The guys have spent their evenings playing dominoes, cards and trivila pursuit. Everyone has remeained healthy to date and we are looking forward to a shopping day tomorrow.
The other half of the group was able to sleep in a little later, but their day was similar. The morning was spent helping out in classes and playing with the kids. Since it was Friday, mass was held here today, followed by lunch. Several of the guys in this group got to serve as volunteers for the girls who are learning to be stylists, so there were some manicures and shaves given to los gringos.
This evening, we were joined by students and chaperones from Avila University in Kansas City. They arrived the day after us but have been participating in an intensive immersion course in the countryside. The dining room is pretty full but many of the year long volunteers are headed out as this is a three day weekend.
The guys have spent their evenings playing dominoes, cards and trivila pursuit. Everyone has remeained healthy to date and we are looking forward to a shopping day tomorrow.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thursday
The planes certainly did not wake up the guys today and it a little more difficult to get them out of bed. This morning, we had a tour of central Quito, but first we went to a third part of the Center called Gota de Leche (or drop of milk). This center is where mothers can bring their infant children for medical exams and to obtain milk. It is also where the basic classes for Center 1 are held, so we had the chance to visit several classes.
After our short visit, we headed to the basilica which is an amazing church. The most amazing part was that we were able to climb up into the towers (not all of us were enthralled with the height). Let´s just say it was not an experience that could be repeated in the United States. The photos will tell the story when we return to the U.S. as no words can really do it justice!
From the basilica, we walked through the historic center of Quito, considered one of the best examples of colonial architecture remaining in Latin America. We visited the Jesuit´s church downtown. The walls and ceiling are covered with gold leaf (120 pounds worth). Unfortuately, we could not take pictures inside the church. The attic is where Padre John founded the Working Boys Center in 1964. After the tour, we then walked to Center 1 where we had lunch and then began our work for the day. Several of the guys "volunteered" to continue painting in the bathroom, while the rest spent the afternoon shadowing the volunteers im their classes. This afternoon, the boys were out in the streets working, whether shining shoes or selling their wares. It was the girl´s turn to make crafts such as cord bracelets and rosaries, sewing, crocheting, picture frames and cookies (we seemingly bought almost of the cookies which brought many smiles to the faces of the girls). The guys also tried their hands at making the rope bracelets, some with more success than others. The girls, for their own safety, are not permitted to go into the streets to sell their crafts, so they count on the volunteers, workers at the Center and visitors such as us to buys from them. The money they make goes into the accounts that each of the families keeps at the Center.
Everything at the Center is free for the 2000 families who participate in its programs - and the whole family must be involved. It costs $2.50 (yes that´s two dollars and fifty cents) per person for three meals, classes, medical services, etc... that is provided for them. We have quickly learned that the Center is not about charity - it is about economic and educational development for these families to help them help themselves out of poverty.
After our short visit, we headed to the basilica which is an amazing church. The most amazing part was that we were able to climb up into the towers (not all of us were enthralled with the height). Let´s just say it was not an experience that could be repeated in the United States. The photos will tell the story when we return to the U.S. as no words can really do it justice!
From the basilica, we walked through the historic center of Quito, considered one of the best examples of colonial architecture remaining in Latin America. We visited the Jesuit´s church downtown. The walls and ceiling are covered with gold leaf (120 pounds worth). Unfortuately, we could not take pictures inside the church. The attic is where Padre John founded the Working Boys Center in 1964. After the tour, we then walked to Center 1 where we had lunch and then began our work for the day. Several of the guys "volunteered" to continue painting in the bathroom, while the rest spent the afternoon shadowing the volunteers im their classes. This afternoon, the boys were out in the streets working, whether shining shoes or selling their wares. It was the girl´s turn to make crafts such as cord bracelets and rosaries, sewing, crocheting, picture frames and cookies (we seemingly bought almost of the cookies which brought many smiles to the faces of the girls). The guys also tried their hands at making the rope bracelets, some with more success than others. The girls, for their own safety, are not permitted to go into the streets to sell their crafts, so they count on the volunteers, workers at the Center and visitors such as us to buys from them. The money they make goes into the accounts that each of the families keeps at the Center.
Everything at the Center is free for the 2000 families who participate in its programs - and the whole family must be involved. It costs $2.50 (yes that´s two dollars and fifty cents) per person for three meals, classes, medical services, etc... that is provided for them. We have quickly learned that the Center is not about charity - it is about economic and educational development for these families to help them help themselves out of poverty.
Wednesday
Today was our first experience of public transportation in Quito (so far we have used the Center´s bus). Two bus rides taking almost three and one half hours brought us to the southern section of the city. There we visited the casas of several of the Center´s families. This is where the extreme poverty of Quito is found and it is home to many of the children and families of Center 1. This area is filled with a lot of single mothers who have been abandoned by the fathers of their children. While not as extreme as some of the poverty we witnessed in the Dominican Republic, it was a reality check for our guys. The families in this area of the city will walk and take the bus to get to "El Centro", leaving around 4:30 - 5:00 am in the morning; many will not return until 10:00 pm in the dark. Limited electricity and lights and the running water that does exist is not drinkable. It is an existence on the edge for many and the primary reason that the Working Boys´Center was founded.
After a return bus trip to the Center and lunch, we began some work at Center 1 - painting the stairwells and the ceiling ironwork in the boys´ bathroom. Our guys should be glad that they are heading off to college as seemingly more paint wound up on the floor and on their clothes than on the walls and ceiling.
Returning to the Center after a long day, several of us walked about a mile to the American style mall. The guys did work up an appetite and were hungry for some American food. Half went to KFC and half to McDonalds. The mall was a little overwhelming and quite a contrast from what we saw in the morning. It exemplifies the great economic divide to be found in countries in Latin America. Of course, the guys were still hungry enough to eat another dinner at the Center!
Once again, we spent the remainder of the evening together enjoying each other´s company with a little friendly competition built in.
After a return bus trip to the Center and lunch, we began some work at Center 1 - painting the stairwells and the ceiling ironwork in the boys´ bathroom. Our guys should be glad that they are heading off to college as seemingly more paint wound up on the floor and on their clothes than on the walls and ceiling.
Returning to the Center after a long day, several of us walked about a mile to the American style mall. The guys did work up an appetite and were hungry for some American food. Half went to KFC and half to McDonalds. The mall was a little overwhelming and quite a contrast from what we saw in the morning. It exemplifies the great economic divide to be found in countries in Latin America. Of course, the guys were still hungry enough to eat another dinner at the Center!
Once again, we spent the remainder of the evening together enjoying each other´s company with a little friendly competition built in.
Tuesday
We have our own built in alarm clock at the Center, as we are directly in the flight path of the planes leaving the airport (about ten minutes from the Center). The first planes depart at 6 am. So far, it doesn´t seem to be effecting the sleep of our guys.
In the morning, some of us head to the panderia next door, which is run by graduates of the Center. It is an opportunity to get some fresh pan dulce or donuts along with a cafe con leche - at prices much cheaper than Starbucks.
Today, we will spend our time in the talleres, or workshops, where the students learn vocational skills such as baking, auto repair, carpentry, hairdressing and sewing. We are primarily divided up between carpentry and baking. The baking crew learned how to make empenadas in the morning, which were sold in the center. The carpentry guys spent the morning building their muscles by sanding wood.
After mass and lunch at the center (they feed about 1500 children and adults daily between the two centers), it was back to work. The bakers produced galletos (cookies) to be sold in the panderia, while the carpenters made small benches; hopefully we can bring them back with us.
The evening soccer game was cut short by a tremendous downpour that included lighting and hail. We did make it to help with English class again. Despite the downpour the weather has been great and it was sunny through much of the first two days.
After dinner, guys are hanging out in the family room, playing cards, dominoes or trivial pursuit. Everyone seems to be acclimating well so far and enjoying the experience.
In the morning, some of us head to the panderia next door, which is run by graduates of the Center. It is an opportunity to get some fresh pan dulce or donuts along with a cafe con leche - at prices much cheaper than Starbucks.
Today, we will spend our time in the talleres, or workshops, where the students learn vocational skills such as baking, auto repair, carpentry, hairdressing and sewing. We are primarily divided up between carpentry and baking. The baking crew learned how to make empenadas in the morning, which were sold in the center. The carpentry guys spent the morning building their muscles by sanding wood.
After mass and lunch at the center (they feed about 1500 children and adults daily between the two centers), it was back to work. The bakers produced galletos (cookies) to be sold in the panderia, while the carpenters made small benches; hopefully we can bring them back with us.
The evening soccer game was cut short by a tremendous downpour that included lighting and hail. We did make it to help with English class again. Despite the downpour the weather has been great and it was sunny through much of the first two days.
After dinner, guys are hanging out in the family room, playing cards, dominoes or trivial pursuit. Everyone seems to be acclimating well so far and enjoying the experience.
Monday
Our first day was primarly an orientation to the work of the Center. In the morning, we travelled to Center 1 which is located downtown in a neighborhood named La Marin. After a tour of the center, we stayed for mass and then headed back to Center 2, which is where we are staying.
After lunch and a brief rest, we had a tour of this center as well. It is incredible the work that is done here. A day care center for infants, an elementary school up to grade five, vocational training for those in grades six through nine, with regular classes as well. In the evening, there are additional classes for parents and secondary students. It is a beehive of activity from early morning until late at night. After our tour, the guys joined in a game of soccer on la cancha and then went to help out with an English conversation class.
Dinner is at 8:40 pm, because of how late the volunteers and workers finish. Our accommodations are very nice, the rooms are like those in a dormitory with three or four beds in each room. Each room has its own bathroom, including a shower with hot water!
Everyone seems to be doing well right now and we are looking forward to our second day.
After lunch and a brief rest, we had a tour of this center as well. It is incredible the work that is done here. A day care center for infants, an elementary school up to grade five, vocational training for those in grades six through nine, with regular classes as well. In the evening, there are additional classes for parents and secondary students. It is a beehive of activity from early morning until late at night. After our tour, the guys joined in a game of soccer on la cancha and then went to help out with an English conversation class.
Dinner is at 8:40 pm, because of how late the volunteers and workers finish. Our accommodations are very nice, the rooms are like those in a dormitory with three or four beds in each room. Each room has its own bathroom, including a shower with hot water!
Everyone seems to be doing well right now and we are looking forward to our second day.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The weather for us in Ecuador will be similar to that off Rochester at this time of year - lows around 50 at night and into the upper 60's or low 70's during the day. The end of May/beginning of June marks the end of the rainy season, so we will still have some rain showers most days during our ten day sojourn.
One difference for our group will be the altitude. At 9,000 feet, Quito is the second highest capital city in the world.
One difference for our group will be the altitude. At 9,000 feet, Quito is the second highest capital city in the world.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
This time next week, our group of twelve will be on our way to Ecuador. On Sunday, May 16th, we begin at 9 am with a Missioning Mass for family and friends in McQuaid Jesuit's student chapel. After a light breakfast of donuts and juice, it's off to the airport. We are traveling by Delta Airlines, connecting through Atlanta. Arrival time in Quito is around 10:30 pm - it will be a long day!
To find out more about the Working Boys' Center, follow the links:
This is a story that appeared in the Jesuit magazine, Company, in 2006: http://www.companymagazine.org/v241/families.pdf
This is the website for the Center:
http://www.workingboyscenter.org/
This is the Center's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7924732898&ref=ts
Friday, April 16, 2010
Countdown...
Just one month from today, our intrepid group of travelers from McQuaid Jesuit will travel to Quito, Ecuador. There, our group of ten members of the Class of 2010 and two chaperones (including yours truly) will spend two weeks service at the Working Boys' Center.
Founded in 1964 by Fr. John Halligan, SJ, a Jesuit from New York, the center was originally set-up to serve the educational and nutritional needs of the young boys who shined shoes in downtown Quito. Today, the Center assists hundred of boys and girls and their families annually at two campus locations. From primary education to vocational training to courses for the parents the center, "a family of families" has truly been a "home" for thousands of families over the last four decades.
During our two weeks in Ecuador, the members of the McQuaid Jesuit group will teach and tutor, play games with the kids, do maintenance around the center, assist serving meals, and live the call to be "men for and with others." Most importantly, we will travel hundreds of miles to learn what it is Christian in the 21st century - our world is bigger than Rochester, New York or the United States.
Through this blog, we will share a little bit of our experience with friends, families and others interested in this story.
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