so we have about two and a half months left. which makes me really sad and really happy all at the same time. sometimes when I look at my kids here and think about leaving them it feels like my heart is going to be ripped out of my chest.
anyway, we made a list of things to do before leaving the country and have slowly been chipping away at it. it includes things like visiting Nobol (scheduled 31/5) getting a salsa dance lesson (done) and climbing to the cristo rey statue (TBA).
Sunday night, we rode the gusanito. The gusanito is this little car train thing that drives around Durán at night, the driver´s in the front car and then there´s about ten cars behind him all linked, big enough for six adults each (or 12 ecuadorian children, whichever). there´s neon lights and reggaeton and it´s kind of ridiculous. he drives all swervy and goes in circles really fast and I´ve wanted to do it all year.
so we got out of church sunday night and the gusanito was driving around and was packed! all the kids from Valdivia were on it, or in the park watching it. we decided it was the perfect night to hop a ride. unfortunately, it cost .75 a person, which we didn´t have so tracy and lauren had to run back to the house for money. Jeremy and Christian, two of our kids, were hanging out with us and telling us how much they wanted to ride it but they didn´t have money which is completely true. Jeremy was so sad, it was awful. but if we gave him a ride, we´d have to give everyone a ride, and we definitely couldn´t afford that. who charges .50 for a tiny child to ride the gusanito?
so we got on, as soon as there was space. Christian hopped in a car further back even though he had no money. it was super fun, driving around Durán in this ridiculous car. When we got to the gusanito home base, the guy came around to collect the money and Christian got off and said that he was just going to stay there (over a mile from home). Melissa wouldn´t let him and told him to sit under their feet. so he stole a ride from the gusanito and we helped him. of course, two other kids also stole a ride from the gusanito but he noticed them and a block after we started moving he stopped and chased them off. he´s a big guy, but he could run soooo fast. it was actually exceedingly scary. probably because he was running off to beat the crap out of kids until they paid him (which we think they did) and because we deserved the same. so not only did we get the adrenaline rush of the ride, but also the fear of discovery!
when we got back, the Romero family was hailing the gusanito. mom, dad, and four youngest kids (Anthony, Nicol, Adamaris, and Paucholo). Their dad put them in the car, gave them each a kiss, bought them popcorn, and bargined with the driver for the best price. it was cute, especially since we´ve never seen him have any involvement in their lives. Jeremy was still bummed out on the side of the road, but being as Mom Romero is his aunt, she saw him sitting there and had him get in with all her kids. so it was a perfect evening, everyone ended up happy and with a ride on the worm.
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