Bupa Community Connections » Australia

Ahhh Ecuador!

Liz Still — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:41:01 +0000

Wow last night and day tomorrow! It feels like I have been away forever but also that I just left at the same time. As I am flying out at the end of the day I will not have time to blog again. So sadly this will have to be my last top 5 with my reflections on the Challenge and Ecuador over the last 2 weeks.

5. Ecuadorians have to be the kindest, happiest people I have almost ever encountered. From the Martha Estrella Foundation, Bupa Ecuador’s MD Freddy Galarza, the friendly and helpful staff at the hotel Finlandia and of course our lovely driver Juan, it is always a ‘no problem’ kind of attitude.

4. Meeting people from around the Bupa world has been a real highlight. Not only have I been learning about parts of the business I knew little of but also seeing how different each operation can be. My week 9’s and 10’s really have been great groups and although each week has had completely different dynamics, they both worked brilliantly.

3. The community of Miraflores is unreal. I have so enjoyed interacting with the children, which for those that know me is a huge statement! Their morning ‘holas’ are so sweet and their cheeky demeanor have been priceless. Also it has been wonderful having a banter with all the construction workers. Although they may not speak English nor I Spanish it is amazing how pranks can work its way into the mix regardless of language. I will thoroughly miss stealing their equipment, tripping and doing other silly games that I should have well grown out of by now!

2. This gorgeous country. Ecuador really is a beautiful place. From the old town of Quito with its many churches to the beauty of the countryside with its lush green rolling hills and snow capped volcanoes, it really is precious…and I have not even touched the coast, the Amazon or the Galapagos Islands! Ecuador is a place I will have to return to for sure!

…and my top reflection of this trip has been…

1. The amazing personal journey it has been for me. I am so lucky to be involved in this project and to been given the opportunity to lead it from here for the last 2 weeks. I have learned so much, and no not just that cows are hard to milk and guinea pig can be found on the menu, but life altering ideals on just how lucky we really are. It is funny how the people that have less seem to have so much more at times.

So I will leave you on that note…I am handing over to the coordinator of this whole Challenge so I could not be leaving the last 2 weeks to anyone more capable than Claire Atkinson. I know groups 11 and 12 will have the time of their lives.

Thank you Bupa and adios!

Liz

Ecuador by night!

Liz Still — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:20:35 +0000

Well day 2 on the site and I can not believe how much it is coming along. There are actually tiles being laid and doors being hung! Very exciting! Well as tonight is my second last night we thought Week 10 should have a little celebration. The restaurant on Wednesday is called Lo Boca del Lobo, something to do with the mouth of a wolf, don’t ask but it is really funky! The restaurant is also in a great part of town so a few of us brave souls ventured out for a little Ecuadorian nightlife.

So tonight my top 5 has to be comments on Ecuador bars.

5. The Corona’s have the most insane amount of foam I have ever seen. Someone told me it is because they put salt on the lime so it foams more which causes you to finish your beer faster and you buy more. Hmmmm fact or fiction? Either way, really annoying!

4. I love watching the Gringo hunters at work. Translation – anyone non Ecuadorian or tourists are called Gringos. So watching the locals trying to pick up the Gringos is really quite a sight to see! I can almost compare it to the male pigeon swelling up and doing circles around the female while making strange noises.

3. I have never seen 8 macho looking guys drinking simultaneously with straws from a large bright blue punch bowl. It really makes you think twice about your drink of choice!

2. I felt like I was in the nineties…the music, the dancing, the décor (the dance floor ceiling looked like it was covered in Mistletoe and no I do not think they were just ahead for Christmas!), and the constant adults sucking face as if they were on some teen dance floor was well worth the excursion.

…and my number one comment on Ecuadorian bars is…

1. I will go to bed with the sweet sounds of the Cult and Depeche Mode in my head and also with the foul smell of tobacco in my hair. There really is a good reason for smoke free environments!

Last day for me working on the site tomorrow, how very sad!

The Ecuadorians

Liz Still — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:55:01 +0000

The site is really coming along and more and more odd jobs are coming up as the building moves closer to completion. Today we were involved in the following activities…painting, varnishing, moving dirt, grouting, cleaning and pointing, yes week 9…the saga continues. As my two weeks are drawing to a close it has made me understand the Ecuadorian people better so today’s top 5 is on the local Ecuadorians.

5. Trying to change a $50 is like approaching a man with a running chainsaw, the look of terror is really quite amusing.

4. They celebrate holidays which I am still trying to get my head around. If anyone can give me more information on their Day of the Dead and the Day of the Black Mama I would be eternally grateful!

3. When I am asking my translater to get a simple yes or no answer, there always seems to be at least a minute of discussion before I get that yes or no. What they are speaking about in between I have no idea!

2. Ecuadorians are short. Many of the volunteers to date have been leaving their work shoes for the construction workers and I was confused as 2/3 of the volunteers seem to be female and almost all the construction workers are male. However it has since been clarified that due to their short stature our female shoes are a perfect fit!

…and my number one take on the Ecuadorians is…

1. They are lovely and proud people. Proud not only in their culture, their environment but also their history and traditions. Even though 40% of them live below the poverty line they are the most gorgeous and happy people. We really have been welcomed into their country and their community with open arms!

Another full on day tomorrow, bring it on!

We came we conquered!

Liz Still — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:54:34 +0000

Saturday was an excursion day so Week 9 had the option of going to a market and spending a leisurely day roaming the town of Otovalo or climbing the highest active volcano in the world. Typical me – I chose the stupid hard one! Well I can not complain as it was a fantastic experience for myself and the 5 other brave souls that completed the trek.

So obviously my top 5 today has to be why I do not want to become a mountain climber.

5. Spending the day on a dirt road to get to the volcano has given me permanent teeth chattering syndrome

4. Picture it – arid desert, above the tree line and having to go to the bathroom, what a dilemma!

3. Drinking cocoa tea to try and combat the altitude sickness is sickly sweet and quite disgusting but the euphoric effect it gives after is not half bad!

2. Generally altitude sickness is not a pleasant experience. It begins with a headache, then dizziness and then nausea. All that while climbing a rocky dusty steep incline is generally not my idea of a fun Saturday out.

…but the only reason maybe I would become a mountain climber is…

1. Getting to the base camp at 4800 meters or 15,744 feet is quite an amazing experience and one that I am proud our whole group achieved! Believe it or not but I scarily would not have traded it for anything!

…and with 58 volcanoes in Ecuador, it looks like I could make this a fun past time!

Sadly have had to say goodbye to my great group of week 9’s but am excited about getting stuck in again with my week 10’s!

It’s all about the kids!

Liz Still — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:30:24 +0000

Today we had the closing ceremonies for week 9. We started by handing out gifts to the children in the classrooms. The formal proceedings followed with gorgeous dances from the kids and our contribution to the ceremony, the Macarena, which was quite hysterical…and here I vowed I would never be caught dead doing it and now I have video to prove it…yikes! Bupa presented the centre with 2 fooze ball tables and then we had a nice lunch presented to us by the Martha Estrella Foundation. All and all a great day!

After spending so much time with children today and over the past week I have decided to focus on kids for my top 5.

5. Kids on sugar become seriously hyper and I mean seriously.

4. Children are tricky and the comment ‘I never got one’ when I can see it behind their backs is a classic.

3. Kids are so innocent. A little girl just came up to our group and looked down our tops just to see what was there.

2. Why do children never seem to want to clean their noses no matter what is coming out of it?

…and my number one comment on kids is….

1. They always want more no matter what, a universal trait I think!

Off to climb Cotopaxi tomorrow, the world’s largest active volcano, will write again tomorrow if I can walk!

Ciao,

Liz

The power of football

Liz Still — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:13:19 +0000

Final day on the site today for week 9 which was sad as we felt like we were just getting stuck in. We carried parts of the roof up in the morning which makes the building seem that much closer to completion.

Also one of our team members, Steve, writes for the Arsenal magazine and is an avid supporter. He arranged for Arsenal to give tshirts to the Miraflores football team. We captured pictures and videos which will be posted in the Arsenal magazine and also on the official website.

This made me reflect on the game of football, or soccer for the North Americans out there, and why it has such universal appeal. Today my top 5 is the funny nuances of football.

5. An open space, a few people and a ball and you have got a game. The beautiful thing about football is it has no class or wealth boundaries.

4. No matter where you are, whenever kids play they trail the ball like a pack of wolves. I guess it just takes that much longer for the strategic side of the game to surface.

3. These kids may have no idea who Obama or U2 is yet mention Beckham, Rinaldo or Kaka and they are right on board.

2. The construction workers have painstakingly long manual days with very few tools to make their lives easier yet they have the energy on their lunch hour for a break out game.

…and my number one comment on football is…

1. Seventeen of the Miraflores football team in their new jersey’s looking as proud as pie is pretty darn cute!

Tomorrow is the closing ceremony so will fill you in.

Night!

Bupa spelled out

Liz Still — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:16:28 +0000

Today we had another fantastic day on the site with the sun shining, tunes pumping and really seeing results after another day of pointing, see have the lingo down now! I have to say the food has been better than I expected here and we have been enjoying some delicious home cooked meals on the site and going for some fabulous dinners in Quito. However I need to point out some nuances with the Ecuadorian food for my top 5.

5. Portions – they love to pile it on the plate, you would never go hungry in this country…and you thought the Americans super sized, think again!

4. Starch – it is nothing to have potatoes and rice and bread on one plate. It does not sit well with my theory of ‘a moment on the lips…an eternity on the hips’. I just have to figure out what is their secret on staying so tiny?

3. One word,,,corn! They love it! Popcorn on the table when you sit down instead of bread, gigantic mutant corn kernals spread over half your plate and fried corn. What is going on?

2. Keep your pets away as they love fried guinea pig. No this is not a hoax, it is called ‘cuy’ and actually comes to the table exactly like a whole stunned fried guinea pig – hmmm dig in!

…and my number one comment on Ecuadorian food is…

1. Fried – plantains (bananas), cheese, vegetables, anything you can think of…fried…and yes of course corn once again.

Last day working on the site tomorrow, wow time flies when you are working hard and having fun!

Ciao for now

Hail to the construction workers of the world!

Liz Still — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:30:21 +0000

First day on the job, most of us filling cement between the bricks which someone told me was called pointing but I have no idea if he was just taking the mic. We also had some sanding going on with Claire and Steph and good ol Steve up on the roof with the rest of the boys! OK now construction work is way harder than I thought so todays top 5 is why I do not want to follow a career in construction.

5. Muscles I never knew existed have found new and interesting ways of generating pain.

4. Cement dust seems to have a knack of getting into everything, I won’t go into any more detail than that!

3. The full piece blue overalls are the not the height of fashion in terms of sexiness.

2. Music you never even thought of suddenly sounds amazing – Wham’s Greatest Hits, eat your heart out!

…and the number one reason I do not want to go into construction is…

1. I just don’t think the plumber’s crack is going to be my thing!

Day 2 on the worksite tomorrow, can’t wait!

Welcome Week 9 volunteers!

Liz Still — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:52:30 +0000

Today was the opening ceremony and Week 9′s first day to visit the Miraflores community. We took a tour around the building site to see what we had in store for us over the next few days, then took a tractor ride around the community and finally had afternoon tea at an Ecuadorian farm. My top 5 today is learnings from my first day on the job.

5. There is nothing cuter then seeing 75 children hands on heart singing their national anthem so proudly!

4. Take the toilet paper from the roll prior to going in the stall. Everyone learned that rule the hard way today I think!

3. A leisurely tractor ride around the community turning into the whole shaft of the wagon falling off is generally, ‘not good’!

2. Dogs can be your best friend especially if there is food around or a free leg.

….and the number one learning from my first day on the job today was…

1. Milking cows is not easy, full stop!

Liz’s Top 5 – Volunteer Airport Pick up

Liz Still — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:57:07 +0000

Today was pick up my volunteers from the airport day. They all arrived at various times from different countries and times zone including Australia, England, Denmark, US and Mexico. Despite one Aussie being delayed 24 hours, sorry for the nightmare journey Brenda!, and one no show from London, we are all now a go!

Spending so much time in an airport offers you the chance to really view the local airport behaviours. So today’s Liz’s top 5 are what to expect in an Ecuadorian airport.

5. Not only does one or two family members arrive but the whole family including, aunts, grandfathers, cousins and nieces. You name it, they are there. It does not matter if it is well past the children’s bedtime – it is important that they are there to witness that magical moment of those sliding doors open.

4. This is the first time in my life I have seen the airport check your luggage tag against that little bar sticker that normally gets lost along your travels. It is quite humorous to see tourists coming out on their Galapagos Island tours desperately searching for their little sticker.

3. Balloons, not flowers, and the bigger the better! Maybe the more extravagant the more welcomed you are. I am talking about balloons in balloons, balloon accessories, balloons designed to look like characters I didn’t even know existed!

2. Despite all the security that is around people just wander in and out of the sliding doors as if they are going for a leisurely stroll on the beach.

…and my number one Ecuadorian airport experience is…

1. Despite the long journey’s each of our volunteers have taken, seeing them immerse through the complete and utter chaos with a smile on their face and ready to go is music to my ears!

Week 8 volunteers – it was lovely to have met you all and I am sorry I did not get the chance to say goodbye to most of you. Don’t worry we will continue to care for all the good work you and the other 7 weeks have accomplished!

Buenos noches!

Liz