Have you become aware of the dozens of Rotarians who open up their homes and their hearts to provice us with this wonderful experience in Ecuador? In every city we visit, we are welcomed with open arms. In Cuenca, Cesar & Patricia Ugalde, Fernando & Janet Ramirez, Marco & Alicia Avila, and Alfonso, Clarice, and daughter Maria Christina represented their Rotary Clubs. I was personally hosted in the home of former District Governor Jorge Maldonado and his grandaughter Rebeca Harris and I enjoyed a great political discussion at morning breakfast. Everyone I have been in contact here asks about President Obama and have very positive comments about him.
Our short stay--only two days--in Loja was packed full of activity and hosted by Galo & Maria Aguirre as well as brothers Diego & Nelson Rodriguez and Alvaro Rodriguez. Jorge Bailon has been the Mayor for four years and was just reelected to a new term. Undoubtedly, the efforts of his wife Cecilia de Bailon have had a significant impact on his popularity. She has coined the term--Loja Para Todos--Loja for all. In a very short period of time she has been involved in health care, education for children of parents who work in the market, alcohol/drug abuse treatment, unwed mother care, hipotherapia--just to name a bit of what we observed.
Our drive to Zaruma was about 5 hours--including two hours on rock and dirt windy road. But it was well worth it as we arrived in a movie-set type of city with wooden structures and narrow streets. The Zaruma Rotary Club does not receive many outside visitors and extended such a warm welcome. Laura Astudillo, President of the Pinas Rotary Club in the nearby town, hosted an evening reception and she and Jenny Romero accompanied us the next morning. Rene and Pilar Romero and Ruby Harfau touched my heart with their kindness.
On our way to the District Conference in Manta, we had an evening with the GSE team here from Austria. Having spent a year there as an exchange student--many, many years ago--it was fun to hear and speak a wee bit of German. What a great group they are!
The Manta Rotary Club was very involved in the work of the conference but I spent a very nice time in the home of Gonzalo and Narcisa Escobar and accompanied them to a pool-side fiesta one night and a formal dinner/dance the next. That is one huge cultural difference here--when the music starts up, EVERYONE is on the dance floor. The Ecuadorian men are fantastic dancers.
We are now back at the Marcelius Hotel in Guayaquil where we started our adventure four weeks ago. So much has happened and we have met so many wonderful people--it is hard to take it all in. I would like to end with part of the message I delivered at the District Conference which was accompanied by many pictures of the people we have met. Some were not able to attend so this is for them--
Estamos muy felices por estar aqui en Ecuador con ustedes. Durante nuestro tiempo en Ecuador, hemos sido muy afortunados al poder observar como se ejercen nuestras profesiones en las diferentes ciudades de su hermoso pais. Hemos visitado muchos lugares turisticos, conocido gente muy amable y distrutado de su comida. Ademas, hemos tenido la oportunidad de visitar varios proyectos rotarios, estoy muy impresionada del gran trabajo que estan realizando. FELICITACIONES! Muchas gracias por darnos la oportunidad de visitar su pais, por recibirnos en sus hogares y por ofrecernos su amistad.
Muchisimas Gracias Amigos y Amigas!
Beverly
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