Toni in Ecuador

June 14, 2017

Actually, today I should write about the children again, because I experienced the most during their care today. But since I already wrote about it yesterday, I will refrain from doing so. I will keep the insights from today in mind and present them later when I have gained more experience.

Every Tuesday, Alba, Marco's wife and also the project leader, goes to the market to buy fruits and vegetables. Milton, a teenager from the neighborhood who works at the foundation, drives the car. I had already met him on Saturday when we unloaded the tiles.
The market visit was yesterday. On Wednesday, they also go shopping for the things that cannot or should not be bought at the market. For this, Milton and Alba go to Supermaxi. This is the largest supermarket chain in Ecuador. The quality is good here and that is important to the foundation, even if it is a bit more expensive. But the eggs are guaranteed to be fresh, as well as the meat.

For the shopping, a volunteer can accompany them to buy materials and food for the volunteers. So yesterday we sat together and wrote our list. But since there were two empty seats in the car today, I was also able to join. It's a little change and offers inspiration for what you could eat. The supermarket is huge and offers a lot. What you won't find: pre-made sandwiches, only a few good cheeses, no flavored chips, but a thousand other varieties. Those are the things I came across. Many food products are from Nestle, of course, but there are also many dairy products from the Toni brand. These are not imported goods, but products made under license. But in general, it can be said that things are expensive here. It is probably only possible for middle-class people to shop at Supermaxi. The poorer ones have to stock up at the market, where it is cheap, but then they still have to pluck the chicken.

We were back in time for lunch. By the way, it is excellent. It has been good every time. Today, chicken broth with celery stalks, celery, carrots, and beans. Then rice with a chicken piece and cabbage salad. Very good and very nutritious. That's what you need here to survive this weather!

Oh, by the way, speaking of weather. Today I did the laundry with the foundation's washing machine. I couldn't hang up the laundry, but had to pack it in a plastic bag and now it is hanging on the diaper rack in the apartment. Of course, it can't dry here. As soon as the weather gets nice, I will hang the laundry on the roof line. It goes quickly when the sun shines, because once it does, it gets hot right away. That's how it was in the first four weeks since I've been back here.

Now I'm sitting in the semi-cozy living room, freshly showered, and writing (not for much longer, hang in there!!). I just miss the heater, or the fireplace, or an electric heater would be incredibly valuable. Finally, it's just a walk to bed, where after ten minutes, the body has heated up the core of the bed. This warm zone must then be defended against incoming fresh air with two wool blankets and a bedspread, by me in an undershirt, t-shirt, and Norway sweater. Yes people, I have never spent fresher vacations than here on the equator.

So, I'll finish just before eight. It's already June 15th in Switzerland.

June 15th? Something is happening!

Oh yeah, so I'll grab my phone and write a WhatsApp message.