Introducing: My daughter, Yesica

Despite the warnings of midnight bus heists on the way from Colombia to Ecuador, we arrived safely in Quito at around 10am.

After a few hours of navigating the public transportation system, we managed (not without the help of a local) to find our way from the bus terminal to our hotel: Casa Bambu. The tour book boasted that it was "worth the hike up the steep hill", so as we slowly trudged up, we thought about the glories that must await us. With each step, the hostel becoming more and more glamorous in our minds.

Lucky for us, the book did not lie. It was chalked full of young, like-minded backpackers. It's location gave it an awesome view of the city from the rooftop, which was furnished with sunchairs and hammocks.

The view out our window

As we have continued south down the continent we have noticed a disturbing trend. While the days have remained hot, the nights have turned fridged. At an altitutde of 2800 meters (the second highest capital city in the world), Quito was especially cold. Fortunately, our bed was equiped with 4 thick wool blankets.

The bathroom

We decided to go the budget route and do some home cooking. For breakfasts we stuck to granola and yogurt, and for dinner we made, what came out to be, an enormous portion of pasta which lasted us 2 days.

The kitchen

Our first day in Quito got off to a late start, as we spent the morning outling the remaining 4 weeks of our trip. We spent the first two days in the old part of town, and visited the Panecillo Hill, south of town to overlook the city. The town had a very European feel to it, with narrow, winding streets lined with balconied, two storied buildings.

 

A portion of the expansive view from the top of Panecillo Hill.

 

 

 

Shopping for gifts... (explained later).

This guy was selling shoestrings, and had about 1000 of them around his neck

You would think being weighed would take place in the privacy of your home, but here you have to pay for it on the street

I found a leather shop and had 2 belts fitted for me, for $5 each! I used the scrap leather to make a leather bracelet.

One of Quito's beautiful city squares

We also took a day trip to the equator. It was quite the tourist attraction, but since it was only an hour north of the city we had to do it.

Southern hemisphere vs. Northern hemisphere

Abra surfing the equator

We were told, however, that the real equator (measured by GPS) was actually about 250 meters north of where the monument was. So, we went in search for it, and found a small sign indicating the actual line.

Hans at Latitude: 0* - 0" - 0". Sad

On Monday, we had arranged to meet Yesica. Yesica is 10 years old, and lives in a poorer barrio of southern Quito. She lives in a small, windowless 4-room house with her two brothers, two sisters, and mother. Her father left the family 4 years ago.

I started sponsoring Yesica over a year ago with monthly donations through Children International. She is one of 23,000 children sponsored through Children Internatnional in Quito alone. Sponsorship gives a child access to local Community Centers which provide medical services, and offers a library and computer lab. It also provides 4 gifts per year for your child, with things like school uniforms and supplies.

Considered her "Padrito," I have visitation rights, so we decided to meet my 10-year old daugher.
The first few moments of the exchange were a bit awkward, which is to be expected. Yesica was very shy, and was unsure of what to think of this tall white guy who wanted to meet her. She had been pulled out of school for the day, and was still wearing her adorable plaid uniform with knee-high socks. As we drove from the Children International Office to her home, her mother forcefully made Yesica sit next to me in the van, which she did obediantly. For the next 20 minutes I barraged her with questions about who her best friend is, and what subjects she likes in school, and by the end of the ride she was pretty much warmed up.

When we arrived at her house, we met her 8-year old brother Santiago, who is also sponsored. We got a quick tour of the home: a living room, which also serves as 17-year old Carlos Javiers bedroom. A bedroom, with 2 double beds, one for Yesica, Melissa (15 years old) and Vanessa (13 years old), and one for their mother and Santiago. Then there was a dining room, which was so small it containted nothing more than a folding table with 2 chairs. And finally the kitchen, with an adjoining (and tiny) bathroom.

They had electricity and water, though no refridgerator, yard, heat or privacy.

 

While inroute, Yesica had admitted she liked to sing and dance in her free time. Her favorite music was reggaeton, and she promised to let us listen to it when we arrived. To continue our icebreaker, Abra pulled Yesica out on the dance floor, though we couldn't get her to sing.

She also loves to draw, and showed me some of her art and school work. Her mom also showed me her report card, and like every good parent, I'm quite proud of my daughter getting awesome grades! AND she's in the honors program.

The day before we had done some shopping (hence the photo above), and bought Yesica a new backpack for school, a jump rope, some art supplies and a stuffed animal. After touring their house we realized they had little to play with, and before long, Yesica was out showing off her skills.

Melissa (15), Vanessa (13), Mom, Santiago (8), Me, Yesica (10), and Abra

Santiago, and Andres (from Children International).

We also made a visit to her school. It was a 10-minute drive away, though she walks it every day, up and down the big hill. The kids were excited to have visitors, though we felt a little bad barging in.

But the teacher was nice enough to let Yesica show off her math skills by squaring/square-rooting some numbers on the board. (So smart!)

Yesica with her best-friend Stephanie

After school, we went down to the park for a few hallmark moments...

And then some afternoon ice cream... (which turned out to be horrible!)

 

As we drove back to her house at the end of the visit, Yesica was holding my hand, and squeezing up next to me on the van's bench. It was an awesome visit, and very fulfilling to see such a bright little girl get opportunities she would otherwise not have been afforded.

After the visit, we made our way down to the bus terminal. Next stop: Latacunga.


Posted by Hans, photos by Abra

p.s. Remember you can enlarge the smaller photos if you just click on them!