Thirty-Three

33.

Since February 20^th, we have only had 33 days of school in a period in which were 55 weekdays. We have,  therefore, enjoyed 22 days off as well and very few of these vacation days correspond with national and provincial holidays. Rather, classes have been cancelled for nearly every reason imaginable ranging from intra-school soccer and basketball tournaments to “Día del Maestro” or Teacher's Day.

Although I've enjoyed lounging in my hammock with a book, I'm becoming increasingly concerned about the lack of classes. By cancelling school constantly, the administration inherently devalues the education it provides to students. It often appears as if soccer is more important than mathematics. Moreover, the quality of the education suffers as teachers struggle to introduce new material as the students constantly need to review after long breaks. We seemingly need to restart each unit six times before we can string together enough classes to accomplish anything.

Yet, in spite of my reservations about the lack of school, the past few months have proved quite enjoyable. At the beginning of April, we enjoyed a week-long break for Semana Santa. Even though—given that 95% of Ecuadorians identify as Roman Catholic—this is clearly a very important holy week for most, the vast majority of public institutions and schools in Ecuador only had two days of vacation (Thursday and Friday). Even fisco-misional schools, which are religious institutions funded by the state, had classes for most of the week. Yet, students attending colegio “12 de febrero” enjoyed five days off.

Although I considered travelling over the extended break, I ultimately decided to remain in Zamora for various reasons. In addition to relaxing in my hammock and devouring the first two books of the Millenium trilogy, I continued volunteering in APNELE (a center for disabled individuals), which remained open in spite of the holiday. Not only did we continue with our normal activities—training for the special Olympics, occupational therapy, etc.,--but we also cooked fonesca, a traditional Ecuadorian soup consumed during holy week. It consists of various grains as well as cheese and vegetables but no meat. Quite delicious.

Stomachs overflowing after our gourmet lunch of fried tilapia, a local specialty, and fonesca, the other staff members and I began the clean-up. As I was collecting stray soccer balls in the dirt lot behind the center, I was approached by a shy little girl hanging clothing on the line. Given that APNELE shares a building with a state-run foster home, I immediately assumed that the petite ten-year-old lived in the institution and after briefly talking with the girl discovered that I was indeed correct. Although not technically an orphan, the young lady had always lived deep in the campo in extreme poverty. She was ten-years-old and had never even been to school. Soon, I was playing soccer and tutoring the girl as well as her pseudo-siblings also living in the house and an afternoon of laughing was transformed into a semi-project in which I “mentor” the youngsters living in the home. Although I enjoy spending time with the children, my already overflowing schedule is making it difficult to make a regular commitment to them but I am hoping to have more free time come summer vacation.

Following the prolonged vacation for semana santa, I expected several full weeks of school. After all—apart from Marathon Monday—there arn't any major holidays in April. Somehow, I managed to forget Teacher's Day; after only three days of classes, students once again enjoyed two days of vacation. Meanwhile, teachers spent Thursday playing soccer and frolicking under the sun at a school-sponsored party. Good times. Bad sunburn. And no worries about exhaustion on Friday because the following day was also declared feriado and students did not go to school.

Completely rested after the long weekend, I returned to school ready for five days of classes. Students only had two days of work; due to juntas del curso, students enjoyed vacation on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Teachers—not including Peace Corps volunteers-- on the other hand, had to attend sessions in which they submitted students grades for the past quimester and discuss their behavior. As I did not attend juntas, I will not comment on the utility of such meetings but three days of classes cancelled once again? Do Zamoran students EVER go to school?

Miraculously, we had a full week of school following the juntas del curso. This week also marked the beginning of the annual sports tournament between the staff of  all public institutions in Zamora ranging from the hospital to the high schools. Given the emphasis on appearance in Ecuadorian culture, all teams had to march in a parade through town in their full uniforms prior to the tournament. This was the fifth parade in which I have marched since arriving in Zamora less than a year ago. Insane. The tournament has been quite enjoyable though; I'm playing soccer and basketball which has been a completely different experience than in the US of A given that I tower over almost every other Ecuadorian in this Amazonian town.

And so life rolls on in my jungle paradise. Even with all the vacation from school, there is little time fo boredom. Other projects, dirt roads open for running, rainforest hikes, and my hammock call my attention. Eleven months have gone by since I arrived in the southern hemisphere, but it's passing in a blink.