Dreams of pumpkin spice lattes

...corn mazes, brilliantly changing leaves, and other bits of autumnal beauty. Fall is on my mind. (Every person on Facebook posted a status about fall recently, I swear.) But alas, here on the equator, those things don't exist. Though, goodness knows, we have enough corn here that the entire population of the country could be lost in corn mazes simultaneously, or rather, maize mazes. (Punny, I know.) I believe there are at least nine varieties of corn. I've probably tried two or three of them.

This longing for crisp breezes and apple cider weather brought me to a Gerard Manley Hopkins poem. I didn't cover any Shakespeare in class this week, but I got my own, personal dose of poetry anyway:

Spring and Fall:
                to a Young Child
   Margaret, are you grieving
   Over Goldengrove unleaving?
   Leaves, like the things of man, you
   With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
   Ah! as the heart grows older
   It will come to such sights colder
   By and by, nor spare a sigh
   Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
   And yet you will weep and know why.
   Now no matter, child, the name:
   Sorrow's springs are the same.
   Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
   What héart héard of, ghóst guéssed:
   It is the blight man was born for,
   It is Margaret you mourn for. 

Except, I'm grieving over Quito not unleaving. And, my name's not Margaret. Otherwise, ol' Gerry is spot on. Our mortality, brought about by the Fall, is sorrow's spring, no matter the way it's ultimately expressed. Yet, I want to keep my heart in a springtime cheer, practicing the virtue of hope, no matter the fallen, fall-less world I'm currently living in. I am missing pumpkin spice lattes, hay rides, and comfort with the infinite: our once-perfect union with the Creator.

The solution? Hope.

It's such a joy to be able to use the word "hopefully" correctly! I walked down the street hopefully today, hopefully listening to great music. I gave exams hopefully (and gleefully...mostly kidding). I forgot to be hopeful sometimes and got bogged down with frustrations. Then I was hopefully plodding along again, happy to have realized my error and to have corrected it. Another reason to be hopeful and happy: we can recognize when we're not at peace as we should be! Hopeful for peace, joy, yummy pumpkin spice lattes, and salvation.

So, besides such things as hope, dreams of large orange vegetables, and a good life soundtrack (walking down a city street listening to cool jams is epic and a lot less annoying than hearing all the nonsense going on, beeping, shouting etc.), there is rain. Lots and lots of rain. I'm glad I brought rain boots and a great rain jacket (purchases inspired by friends in Portland, OR). Now, I finally get to use them!

Friday was the first time I saw an Ecuadorian rain fall! I snapped these photos during my 2:00-4:00 PM class. We all crowded around the window and I taught them the words "pouring," and then "hail!"

It probably would have really hurt to have been outside in that weather, pelted by chunks of ice. It's definitely time to invest in a sturdy umbrella. My kids started throwing them at each other, and one poor boy got about three down his shirt. I swiftly resumed teaching..



My vacations start in two weeks. I finish up this week and the next, then an exam, and then---FREEEEEEEDOM! For fifteen days, at least. I haven't a clue as to what I shall do. The jungle? The beach? Explore the city like a tourist? I really haven't been much of a tourist here yet, so it's probably about time. I haven't seen the literal site of the equator, I haven't been to the Cathedral or the Basilica..those will be phenomenal visits. And I'm thrilled that I will be able to buy Christmas gifts and things for people too--hooray! During the teaching cycle, free time is scarce.

I want to write some letters too, and I'll have time to mail them! And, to go shopping! I pride myself on having very few articles in my wardrobe and not needing much. But wow, it's about time to help myself out. And now that I'm a working woman (...ha) I feel justified in spending just a fraction of my paycheck to clothe myself.

I would like to WWOOF a bit, too. And most definitely, visit the best park in the city--la Metropolitana. I hear it's a forest, and there are places to go without seeing anything man-made! I'm dying to go. It will refresh my soul. Speaking of souls, a newly-made friend (from CL) is getting married and I'll be attending the wedding. What a joyous event that will be!

So those are my hopes, dreams, and schemes for my short break. While I do not want to get caught up in them and waste the next fourteen days thinking about the future, it is lovely to pause during the workday and think on such pleasant things.

 Leaves, like the things of man, you
   With your fresh thoughts care for, can you? 

Leaves end up in compost heaps, riches eaten by moths, adventures fade into dull memories...but each in its time is a wonder!

Might I add that I am ecstatic this poem includes a tag question: "can you?" This week's grammar includes tag questions, thus I will be introducing the poem in my Advanced II classes without a doubt. I'm excited!