Culture cont

Yet another installment on culture but this one is going to be short...
-Transport....I haven't yet mentioned the motorbikes, it is rare to see a helmet, it is rare to see just one person on one, and it would be more common to see a family - mum, dad and kids - all on one motorbike. I even saw one baby being bottle fed while riding over speedbumps on a motorbike.
Theres also the bicycles, they are the same, but usually this is a younger people thing and the guy will be riding and the girl perched on the bar just in front of the seat.
-Greetings...Of course theres the kiss on the cheek, sometimes 2 depending on the person. And they will shake hands if they think your a gringo not accustomed to Latin American ways.
-Rudeness...Blowing you nose in public or in the company of others is frowned upon. Burping is the ultimate no no! Farting is not common place but not a big no no. But spitting, although most people don't like it, they all do it, even my host grandma spits out the door of the car! And it doesn't matter who you are with or who else is around.
-Fiestas...I think I may have mentioned, but they are always important, and there is always cake, dancing and karaoke, even if there is only 6 people at the house as there was for my leaving party last night, and ron (rum) if adults are there.

School Refelction-Part 2

OK...So I have mentioned how we dont have a lot of equipment, this is what the kids who would otherwise need a wheelchair sit in at school and are carried to and from. I am not quite sure at what age someone can get a wheelchair, but Im sure its after you have stopped growing.
Actually, while Im on the topic of wheelchairs, I have been really annoyed by a kid whos begging on the street sitting in a wheelchair when he doesn't need one so people give him money. And the issue is that he either stole that wheelchair or bought it so he doesn't need the money people are giving him. Pity tactics for begging annoy me so much!

Anyway...

Yesterday was my last day at this school, and it was also childrens day in Ecuador so very interesting. In true Ecuador style the whole day was a party, the children are given gifts by parents and teachers, eat lots of cake and lollies and dance all morning, to Latin American music. It was great fun

We had 2 pinyatas but we didn't get to hit them down, it was run more like a lollie scramble....

This is the staff at the school and one of the students. Pick me out...I am the "gringo!" Heres a few pictures of school....
This is the biggest classroom for 6 year olds with the preschool next door.

This is the classroom for 6 of the students with disabilities.

I am glad I switched from the clinic to the school. The biggest thing I learnt here was...I definately think it is necessary to work alongside others when in a workplace of another culture because first I had to learn about the culture and what was an appropriate therapy activity and also it is a lot harder to build rapport as an outsider.

Initially the families of the children would not say a word to me and would look at me walking up the street as if they were thinking what on earth is she doing here, but by the end the kids and their parents would walk with me or always greet me walking down the street. I was walking the kids home from school and in the mornings they would wait for me to come past and walk with me to school.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at the school and I have learnt so much about the culture from doing it. The staff were super friendly and helped me learn both spanish and the culture.