English Classes Have Started at Margarita Ville

Although I have not had any luck recruiting an English teacher, I could not put off the classes any longer. I had committed myself so when my first two students showed up yesterday, I became the teacher. This is not exactly what I had envisioned, but I do have a basic understanding of the language so I thought, what the heck.

Let me tell you the story of how I became acquainted my first students, Richard and his brother Wilfredo.

It started on a rainy day about four months ago, when a young women of about 25 years of age, with a 12 month old baby strapped to her back, stopped by the entrance to Margarita Ville selling papers. I bought a copy of “Extra” for $0.50 and she continued on up the road to the center of town. The paper turned out to be Ecuador’s version of the “Star”. Although the paper was a rag I continued to buy it each day when she made her rounds. On weekends she would have a young boy with her whom she introduced as her brother. Soon she felt comfortable enough to take time to chat, change the diapers, have a water and since we almost always have a bunch of bananas hanging in the patio, we would give her some for the road. I told her I did not really like the “Extra” so she started to bring the El Comercio, which is a respectable newspaper out of Quito. Little by little I got to know her story and found she was one of a family of 12 and a single mother of two as well. She lived with her family in the small town of Fatima, on the highway to Tena. She would go to Puyo each day, pick up her papers and take the bus to San Francisco, walk to the next town of Rio Negro, bus to Mera and when she had finished her rounds there, head back home. Not an easy life but there was no complaints either.

When school was out her young brother of nine, and his seven year old brother took over the route. Each day they would pass and the papers started to stack up. Since we had talked briefly when he made the rounds with his sister about English he started to ask when I was going to start the classes. I kept putting him off and finally we agreed on a date.

Yesterday Richard and seven year old Wilfredo got off the bus in front of Margarita Ville at 15 minutes to eight. Since the trip from home is more then an hour on the road they had to leave home no later than 6:30AM. Two young boys, with, I am sure, no pressure from their parents, skipped the paper route for a day and came for their first lesson.

The lesson went well and I included our cook and housekeeper in the group. After the lesson, I went to Baños for a couple of hours and when I returned they were still their watching cartoons on Direct TV. I invited them to stay for lunch and then sent them on their way back to Fatima.

Today as I was sitting here in front of the computer I saw the two arrive with big smiles on their faces and the morning paper.

I am still looking for a teacher or two, so if there is anyone out there in never, never land who would like to make those golden years really golden, why not catch the next plane out and give me a hand. Room and board for $150.00 per month, and all the wonderful times are thrown in for free. Think about it.