thanksgiving day

Happy Day of Thanks!
My thanksgiving started early- I met my friend at 5:30am to run the length of the beach which takes about 40 minutes. We ended up at the end near barrio esteros where we walked around the inlet where the mangrave begins and watched the boats begin to come in to shore with the catch of the day. We walked further and climbed the huge moss-covered rocks---we looked for treasures--little sponges, shells, crabs, starfish and I held one creature in my hand that closes itself up with tiny tentacles. About this time with sun was nearly risen and the light had changed. Sun on skin. We climbed the highest rock and sat there beside three pelicans, humming bob marley songs and waving at the fisherman as they continued to arrive in rickety wooden boats with pealing paint and names like Santa Rita, Santa Carmen ( the patron saint of fishing), margarita etc....Climbing down the rock is always the tough part but i made it.

We walked back to the beach and got caught up in the chaos of every morning in palmar: the fishermen climbing out of their boats balancing red plastic boxes full of shinning, silver fish and the sea gulls and pelicans come in mass swooping down claws stretched to steal what they can. They dogs run wild torn fish dangle from their jaws as they pick fights with eachother for their breakfast. We drink morocho from plastic cups sold by a man and his bicycle wooden cart-- the warm milk with raisons, cinnamon and morocho warms my body and tastes like heaven. Alex goes out to the boats and returns with a plastic bag full of trumpet fish-- Meanwhile I have waded into the sea and realized that I was surrounded by hundreds of bright orange starfish- as though for a moment the sea had claimed the evening sky and I was walking through a strange galaxy.

We returned to my house to clean the fish and then I had a game of beach soccer. The whole town was out on the beach with big speakers blasting the sounds of don omar, aventura and of course, daddy yankee. We played hard in the blazing mid-morning sun and I SCORED THE ONLY GOAL! It was a huge moment for me. I was playing defense and kicked it as hard as i could from mid-field and it went right in the goal. I´m pretty proud of this... a thanksgiving milagro. And the other girls invited me to play with them again next sunday...Now here i am running a few errands in Libertad and soon to return to palmar where I am going to cook up some trumpet fish to celebrate my thankgiving.

It´s been a beautiful day and I am grateful for a great many things: my family, my friends and my home... and I am grateful for my new town, friends and my strange new life here. Everyday is full of newness and beauty. I wish I could be with my family on thanksgiving but since I cannot, I am very thankful to be here in ecuador living life the best that i can. Much love from ecua-land!

Malchinqui--a poem

Malchinqui

Merciless the wind whips sheets
of dust, stings my eyes.
The sun narrows it´s heat, bares
down upon my pale shoulders.

Low, among the withered cornstalks, she
crouches, peering out from her hiding place
she waits. Quiet as the absence of rain.

Three gringas, standing
a half moon around her front door.
We are speaking with her mother.

Nearby her baby sister gnaws on an apple,
barefeet crusted in dry earth, the dust
sticks to the tiny corners of her mouth, sucking
at the sweet meat of fruit.
Her brother surveys the scene, he keeps a close
distance.
Old man draped in a worn, wool poncho
hovers in the doorway, his eyes
nearly hidden below folds of wrinkled skin.

She shyly observes our movements,
our jeans, fleece coats, sunglasses and
artisan hand-bags, our shiny hair
How we shift our backs to break the force of wind.

When she rises
from the cornstalks, she moves slowly.
Her legs are no more
than bones and skin.

Her eyes, set deep, send
dark shadows down her face,
She does not meet my eyes. She knows
we´ve been talking about her, how her body
is crumbling. Disapearing--like the cornstalks
in the heat and wind and dust.

When I look at her again, her eyes
She wears the sun like diamonds.

Here are some random photos!
First we have the Jesus graffiti-- vota pensanda-- which translates more or less-- vote thinking. Love it.


The next one is of some volunteers and i enjoying Cuenca the best city ever. Next is of a woman selling flowers.

To the left we have me with my fist in the air, "¡viva la revolucion!"

Here is just a random picture of Cuenca...did i mention it´s the greatest city every.

This is the lovely ocean where i am lucky enough to live. Palmar is a beautiful town (so come on and visit me!!!)

Hanging out in Palmar with pedro and miguel. We work a lot here but we still manage to have a fiesta or two.

And here is Palmar. I know i have written before that it is small... so this is the main square.



Okay----so that is it for this entry. Just some photos from Ecuador!