2008 Woodie Awards
Leidy M. Hurtado's Journal of Her Trip to Ecuador--Part Two
Leidy M. Hurtado
Issue date: 4/14/06 Section: Holt News
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Thursday the teacher from sixth and seventh grade gave me her ring for appreciation and to remember them forever. And I promised her that I would never forget her and the students. Friday was the big day. We had new chalkboard for first grade, which was a gift to the kids. They were very excited and there were many thanks to us from the principal and the teachers. Emotions were very high.
Teachers bought purses for all of us and brought us sodas to show appreciation. The principal's speech was amazing and the best part, guess who translated? ME!!! All the kids got together in the playground after we worked with them with picture frames so they could remember us while they sang all the songs we taught them that week. I did not want to cry because I was in charge of the big speech for the good bye "Ahhhhhhhh"…. I wanted to dieL. I thanked them for hosting us and also announced all the things they were keeping. Afterwards we said our goodbyes. All the kids started crying, and I could not help it but to cry also. It was a very sad afternoon. The kids were standing in the fence waving at us and screaming "thank you," "we would miss you," "I love you," so many more. It was great, and I don't have enough words to describe the experience.
At night was our reward for such a great work. Dr. Les Lloyd really surprised us by giving roses to all the girls. Then we went to La Mansion Del Belalcazar-what a great place? It is beautiful and perfect. That night we had great fun and also great sleep. We were tired. Cuenca was really the best city for me in all the three big cities that we went to. It is such a great place with great people.
Our next city was Quito. It was very cold. Our hotel had the worst service but at least our beds were very comfortable. A phone call there was $1.80 a minute, while in Cuenca it was $0.10. I don't even want to remember how much I paid there in phone calls. We did a lot of touring and shopping, especially in Octavalo market. One of the things that I most like in the tours was the bike-ride. When we ride the bikes, it was very scary. I really thought I was going to fall. I went very slowly and I was the last one to arrive to the park, but hey… I did not fall like others. When we went to la Mitad del Mundo, I was really excited because my parents visited it before but so mad at myself because I did not bring the camera. I was furious. Thank God my instructor took at least one picture in that place for memories.
Teachers bought purses for all of us and brought us sodas to show appreciation. The principal's speech was amazing and the best part, guess who translated? ME!!! All the kids got together in the playground after we worked with them with picture frames so they could remember us while they sang all the songs we taught them that week. I did not want to cry because I was in charge of the big speech for the good bye "Ahhhhhhhh"…. I wanted to dieL. I thanked them for hosting us and also announced all the things they were keeping. Afterwards we said our goodbyes. All the kids started crying, and I could not help it but to cry also. It was a very sad afternoon. The kids were standing in the fence waving at us and screaming "thank you," "we would miss you," "I love you," so many more. It was great, and I don't have enough words to describe the experience.
At night was our reward for such a great work. Dr. Les Lloyd really surprised us by giving roses to all the girls. Then we went to La Mansion Del Belalcazar-what a great place? It is beautiful and perfect. That night we had great fun and also great sleep. We were tired. Cuenca was really the best city for me in all the three big cities that we went to. It is such a great place with great people.
Our next city was Quito. It was very cold. Our hotel had the worst service but at least our beds were very comfortable. A phone call there was $1.80 a minute, while in Cuenca it was $0.10. I don't even want to remember how much I paid there in phone calls. We did a lot of touring and shopping, especially in Octavalo market. One of the things that I most like in the tours was the bike-ride. When we ride the bikes, it was very scary. I really thought I was going to fall. I went very slowly and I was the last one to arrive to the park, but hey… I did not fall like others. When we went to la Mitad del Mundo, I was really excited because my parents visited it before but so mad at myself because I did not bring the camera. I was furious. Thank God my instructor took at least one picture in that place for memories.