Goodmorning all you peoples in New Zealand - how is 2009 treating you so far. Of course we are living in the past here in Ecuador - it is still 2008!
Have a good day!

We have a winner

The makings of:

One thing I have noticed - they seem to be new clothes
on the dummies - what a waste!

I think these may be the more expensive variety -
a lot of work has gone into them just to burn!
(By the way - which one is the real dummy?)

I saw a lady comparing a photo with the masks trying to get one
that resembled the man - not sure what that was about!

Yep Alice was first on the ball with her very in depth answer (I think there was some internet searching going on): Ecuador has a very unique tradition on December 31, Ecuadorians celebrate New Year's eve with the "años viejos"("old years"). These, are stuffed dummies constructed with paper, sawdust, wood and firecrackers shown through the whole country before they are burnt. Other local, international politicians and famous personalities are also characterized representing the old year. Children and women (or men dressed as women) in black play the old year's "widow" role, crying and asking for some money or candies in the streets, or from house to house for the old year's (dummy) funeral. When the year that has gone by has been a very bad year, most people and the dummy's widow kick or wipe it out before it is burned, to have a better year.

It seems that the whole place goes crazy and of course the celebrations have very spiritistic origins. These things are stuffed with the fireworks they have here which do not make much of a show however they make a heck of a bang so we may not be getting much sleep on Wednesday night!
Thunder Rockets is right - they can make you really jump!

Can you Guess?

Question for you - What are these things and why are they on every street corner in Cuenca at the moment? Chocolate fish to the first correct answer.
(All Cuecan Residents excluded from this competition)

Another Gringos Day Out

TALKING LUNCH

We were treated on Friday to another Gringos Day Out with G and CC. At about 8.30 am Mark got a call from G saying he would pick us up at 10 - Mark originally thought he must have had an arrangement to help sort literature or something - which would have really annoyed me cause we had planned a day off. Anyway it was all good and off we went on our little adventure. We went south this time about 40 or 50 kms I guess (can't really tell as the road twisted and turned quite a few times). Eventually G had to park the van cause we could go no further - the road was being worked on and was in a very bad state. Not the best news when you have been walking up hills all week but the view was worth it when we finally arrived. None of us were particularly dressed right for the occasion(all of us had heard G wrong about our detination)and it was a little cold but we survived. It was nice to get out of town and to stop thinking for awhile about all the whanau (family) in NZ being together and having fun. For those not in the know - this time of year is summer in Kiwiland and everyone goes on vacation. We always get together with family or friends and enjoy barbeques, picnics and generally good times so being alone this year is a little strange.

New Zealand accent explained

We are always getting remarks about our accent so I thought I would post this video to help explain it. Also it will show all our American friends the difference between our accent and the Australian one!

A quick interview with one of the kids in the Congo

I hope to interview a few other amazing characters here that we have met - so hopefully this is the first of a few.
While Aliceli is an impressive 12 year old - she kind of annoyed me the other day while I was out with her! I had just placed a book with a lady who was very interested and I was asking her when would be a good time to come back next week. Before a time could be arranged Aliceli jumped in and organized for 4 p.m Saturday - which is impossible for me to get to as we have a meeting at 6.30pm and there is no way I could get all the way over to the call and back in time. So of course Aliceli is going to get the RV. That is if I can trust her to go back - they do seem to have a problem here with doing their RV's - something we are trying to show is important to do - nobody I know of has learned the truth on one visit only.
Back to Aliceli jumping in - this is a problem I have when working with the local people - they don't give me time to formulate the next sentence. Of course the other gringos do because they know what it is like to learn a new language and know if you are given enough time you will eventually find the word you need. I believe if the householder is willing and patent enough to let me get through a presentation, then they will still be patient the next time I call, so I was a bit pipped Aliceli took this nice lady from me!

Anniversary Card For ... well you know who you are!