Hola from the Andes in Ecuador!

Fashion at 14,000ft!

We just finished week two living at 14,000ft altitude in Chilcapamba (starting to feel acclimatized now!) and are taking the weekend off in Ibarra, a beautiful small city just a short bus ride away from our worksite. This week´s activities took the form of clearing a canal used for irrigation of farmland, constructing a fence around the local church, building a ¨parba¨ (a structure built of dried corn stalks used to feed cattle), sorting beans for the community to eat, another round of collecting and peeling uvillas, and starting work on the local playground. This coming week will focus on cutting new wood to repair rotted sections of the playground, constructing a roof over one section, and trying to repair and implement a slide. Phew!

During work and in the off-hours, the team has enjoyed getting to know each other over card games, chess, and delicious meals provided by the ever-wonderful Morales family. I´m happy to report that everyone is in good health and excited to continue our travels in just less than a week when we return to Quito for a weekend before heading into the rainforest.

Hasta la proxima semana! – Rebecca (The Leap project Leader in Ecuador)