With mountains everywhere, the scenery is absolutely beautiful here. It's literally blue sky and green plantation/farming land.
I'm thankful that the kids at FHC-Latacunga have warmed up to me in no time – asking my name, how long I am staying for, how old I am, etc.
Alejandra (5 yrs-old) is the oldest, and wasted no time in giving us a quick tour and telling us the names of all the children. Carlos (also 5) is probably the most outspoken one...and I've discovered one of the most needy too!
It must be difficult growing up without a dad. I can't imagine what that is like, being abandoned when you were a baby, and being an orphan your whole life. I guess when a male enters the compound, you feel the need to make up for lost time...
There are 19 kids here – during the day there are 4 tias, and this drops off to two tias in the evening. Each tia I've met has a heart of gold I tell you. Tia Martha (one of the older, more experienced hands) immediately prepared a lemonade mixed with orange juice drink (served hot) to go with cough tablets when I told her that I had been sick for 5 days. She also prepared a simple (yet delicious) meal for me for dinner after all the kids had gone to sleep.
Latacunga is much smaller than Quito, and it certainly whets my appetite for the simple life.
A lot of shops are still being built around the neighbourhood, and I'm told that it is unsafe to venture out at night after 6. Having been told (more than once) that there are robbers at night, I think I better heed their warning...
Alejandra, Antonio, and Angel.
Tia Christina is keeping a watchful eye over them in this photo...
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