I know now for sure that the number of readers of this blog is proportional to the number to posts that I make. In the past two weeks I have spent very little time in front of this machine as I was laid low by a bout with pneumonia which was my first experience with the realities of this common ailment. I am happy to say that I am feeling great and hope to return to the classroom on Monday.
It is amazing how things work out...My problem started two weeks ago when I met up with our new volunteer, Ian Chambers, from Austin, Texas, for the walk up the hill to the school. We had met the previous Saturday in Salasaca where I gave him a tour of the school and showed him his quarters. I did not appreciate then just what a great find we had made.
It was a rainy morning and we thought about taking the truck with the kids, but the rain stopped suddenly so we started on foot. It is a beautiful walk and a great way to start the day. I introduced Ian to the first class as my helper for the next month. Two hours later I had the chills and had to leave. He took over at that point and I headed for Ambato, where a hour and a half later I crashed and slept for four or five hours. Four days later, after x-rays and lab tests I was told that I had pneumonia. I am glad to say that after what seems like a thousand hours of sleep I feel great. I saw the doctor this morning and he confirms what I feel.... I am fine.
Ian stopped by a week ago Thursday and we talked a little about how things were going and he said everything was fine and he loved the job. I had planned a trip to the zoo in Baños for the next day and I commented that, "I guess the trip to the zoo was cancelled", because I had made a deal with the director that I would pick-up the difference in the cost of the trip and what the kids could pay. He responded.."don't worry, everything is taken care of." Thank you Ian. I don't know if anyone had a camera that day, but I hope so.
One lesson that this little adventure has taught me is that we humans are pretty fragile individuals. One minute we are fine and the next ....Who knows. Rosa Maria, the director of the school and I, had a conversation a few weeks ago and she was concerned what would happen to the school if she was not there. I did not pay much attention because she is a healthy women. and those problems were years away. Now I am taking a different look at that possibility and am working on some ideas that could insure for the future that what we have started here in Salasaca will continue with or without Rosa Maria or myself.
If anyone who reads this blog has had experience in this type of program I would appreciate your input. More on the subject later.
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