San Gerardo Teaching Experience

For three days, I worked with students in the village of San Gerardo in Riobamba. Our group taught in Bolivar Chiriboga Paquibug school for two days. We were welcomed with open arms and in such a wonderful way. As soon as we entered the village, an announcement was made for the village people to gather near the school to start our welcoming parade. The parade took us around the village so we could see where our students lived and familiarize ourselves with the area.

The men, women, and children of San Gerardo were so sweet and generous. They made us fresh food right after the parade using fruits, vegetables, and meat grown on their land. We were all given tokens of appreciation on the day of our arrival, which were hand-made scarves and bags.

During our second day at San Gerardo, the students of Bolivar Chiriboga welcomed us with wonderful performances of songs and dance. They sang “Old McDonald Had a Farm” in English, Spanish, and Quichua. The day before, some of the students taught us how to sing it in Quichua. I was able to pick it up pretty fast, so my director made me sing it alone in front of the school! It was actually pretty fun, and I was able to record it on video!

After the performances, we were sent to our classrooms to begin teaching! Alex and I read “The Shoemaker and the Elves” in Spanish and in English to 4^th graders. I ended up teaching the entire class in Spanish and asked the students comprehension questions to see their understanding of the book. I was surprised at how I was able to get through to the students without using any English. They were all really responsive and very intelligent with their answers. At the end of class, Alex and I gave each of our students a little goodie bag that we packed prior to leaving for San Gerardo. The students were so excited for their notebooks, pens, and puzzles!

Once classes were over, our director took us to meet some ladies who make Shigras. Shigras are items made from the specific type of Aloe Vera plant that only grows in that area. Shigra-making is a dying art that our director helped to revive from the years she has been coming to San Gerardo. The ladies take the Aloe leaves, dry them, and weave the fibers together to make the beautiful artwork. I was able to purchase two Shigras from the two ladies who still make them. It takes them two months to make one Shigra!

The next day, we only had two hours with the students of Bolivar Chiriboga because the teachers of the school planned an all-day excursion to the town of Colta. Alex and I read “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” to our 4^th graders and also taught them the song “John Jacob Jingle Heimer Schmidt.” The students loved both our activities and were definitely not ready for us to go.

We spent the rest of our day touring Colta and seeing the ruins of churches and buildings created by various earthquakes in the 1900s. We were also able to see the first church ever built in Ecuador! The teachers of Bolivar Chiriboga went out of their way for us to experience this side of Ecuador. They even took us to the Lago de Colta - Lake of Colta - so we could take pictures and relax for a little bit.

Overall, my experience at San Gerardo was definitely a life-changing one. It was amazing to see how the students thrive in their learning environment with what little they have. The village people were so generous and so loving and wanted to ensure that all of us felt welcome in their homes. I am so grateful for this experience and it is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I can’t wait to share pictures with my family and friends back home and to tell them my stories in detail!

This weekend, we’re off to the beach in Esmeraldas! Time to relax and soak up some sun before heading back to the States!