La Navidad del Colegio

Christmas (Navidad) is not just celebrated here with the familia but at school as well.

Paul Valery getting ready for their annual Christmas presentation.

          Each class (from kindergarten to senior year) has to create some sort of presentation for this event.  I was a part of the junior class; we presented Christmas poems in English.

It was school....but we celebrated Christmas the whole day. Nice. :)

Emi and I; she has become one of my buddies at school.  She is a very talented dancer in fact.

Some senior guy friends and I hanging out (Paul, Cris, y Stephano)

"The Christmas brings memories,

And kindest thoughts untold,

Of friends we might not often see

But hope to always hold..."

My good girlfriends from quinto curso (junior year)--(from left to right): Majo, Andrea, y Briggitte with Pancho in the background.

"So may the greeting be a relation,

In friendship's valuable chain,

& may there be a Christmas,

when we shall meet again."

       The principal actually asked me if I wanted to play something on the guitar (as the Christmas presentation was actually going on) and so I decided, "hey, why not." My buddy, Tj from Canada, and I ran up to a classroom to rework the common song "I'm Yours" by: Jason Miraz Christmas style to present. Sadly, when we walked back out, everybody was dispersing because it started to rain.  Dang it.  Hopefully we will have the opportunity another time...

My First Cello Recital (December 2012)

(From left to right): my cello teacher, Santiago, myself, another supporting teacher, Jessica

Click on the link to see a short clip of my recital:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9xMS8KFYYs&feature=youtu.be

My wonderful teacher, Santiago, and I.

                    If you're wondering why I even started taking cello lessons, I truly was inspired by this group called "The Piano Guys."  They prove that any song--from classical to the #1 on the pop-culture lists--can be played on the piano and the cello; and you know what, it's powerful. 

"Las Fiestas de Quito"

Date: November 15th-December 6th

Location: Quito, Ecuador

History: December 6th, 1534--the day in which Quito became an independent city from Spanish control
           
          The facts...

• Every city in Ecuador has its own specific founding/independence day because Spanish control was not struck down in just one strike; instead, city by city.
• "Las Fiestas de Quito" are a way in which the city of Quito celebrates this Independence in 1534




• free concerts in the parks/free performances in general
• a ginormous parade is put on in which most large high schools are represented with a drumline and students who dance traditional dances
• "la chiva"--the party bus that is popular to ride during "las fiestas de Quito"
• "cuarenta"--the national card game (I will teach it to you when I get back :)); this game is literally played everywhere. We even had a "cuarenta" competition at school (learned how to play in five minutes ahh yeah!)

          My school (Paul Valery), particularly, was not represented because our school is too small (300 students) but most public schools were represented in the parade.  I've never seen so many drumlines and teenagers dancing in traditional outfits.  

    Thanksgiving in Ecuador...

Our whole Xplorer group as well as a few AFS exchange students got together to celebrate Thanksgiving.  It was a wonderful feast!

                  My lovely, older sister, Hilary Johnson, came and visited me late November so of course, we made a pumpkin pie for our host family.  They technically don't have pumpkins here so we used a fruit that is similar--it was delicious!
                  Also, at my colegio, the English department came together and organized a Thanksgiving feast for the whole school; they even put on a little play.  I had a special time describing to some little kids what Thanksgiving was all about---making peace between cultures and building relationships. I had a very blessed Thanksgiving here in Quito, Ecuador even though they technically do not celebrate the holiday.


Did you know? Canada's Thanksgiving is on the second Monday of October. I didn't know that until I talked to my buddy, TJ (an exchange student from Canada).