Drug Lord Lions

The circus is in town. It has been here for nearly a month now. I haven’t seen any carneys, mimes, or freakish clowns. But what I have seen, lets just say, it saddens me deep into my core. Lions people. Real, large, beautiful lions. Trapped in a tiny cage. I realized I have never actually seen a lion up close. At the zoo, at least they have a somewhat large habitat to run around in. And they are usually sleeping anyway. Once I got over the initial shock of how large and stunning lions truly are, I became sad and very very angry! First of all, some of the lions are very clearly drugged. I get that cats sleep like 16 hours a day, but these cats were straight up knocked out. Then, in the other cage, one of the males was obviously having some kind of a claustrophobic fit as it walked from one side of its tiny cage to the other over and over again. One day a few weeks ago, I was walking through downtown Ibarra, and suddenly driving by was a car towing the lion cages behind it. As it passed me, one of the lions lifted its tail and squirted urine straight at me and my friend. I wasn’t angry, I was actually pleased that these lions were acting out! Not like it makes a difference, though. Today, I went to take some pictures, and the lions were feasting on some lovely cows heads. I´m sorry but does it occur to anyone else that the heads of cows don´t really have any meat on them!? For the love of god at least give these poor trapped lions a leg or something fulfilling! I have this strange desire to set them free. Sneak over to the circus late at night and smash the lock on their cages. I think this newfound passion I feel for animal freedom comes from watching Gorillas in the Mist the other day, when poor Sigourney gets macheted to death for trying to save the gorillas! Which is probably why my conscience tells me that setting Lions free in the city of Ibarra might not be the most productive use of my time. If I could write a letter I would. Not that it would make any difference either. But seriously. Look at these pictures and tell me it doesn’t break your heart, just a little...






I see you. I feel your pain.





Longing to be free!


Hang on guys!



Humans are the real peligro.


UPDATE:
Refer to this article if you´re curious how lions made it all the way to Ecuador:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/world/americas/31colombia.html

After my visit home, the transition back into Ecuadorian life has been a difficult one. I´ve spent many hours on my bed, staring at the ceiling, contemplating what exactly I am doing with my life. But far more time watching 90210 (by far the best thing I could have brought back with me). Slowly but surely I am working my way out of this phase of depression. In addition to 90210, a vomit free trip to Quito was very helpful. Although, I would not recommend eating Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell, Sushi and Fridays all in one day. But hey, you do crazy things when you´re feeling low.

It´s been a challenge getting motivated at work as well. I love the girls, but day after day of just helping with English homework doesn´t exactly make you feel like you´re making the most of your experience. Yesterday was International Women’s Day…so I had planned to do a workshop last Sunday on gender roles and stereotypes. I let the director know, gave her a plan, baked brownies. I show up yesterday and she has taken the majority of the girls on a trip for the day. So my charla for 40 ended up being a charla for 10. I made it work. But part of my can´t help but take it personally…even though I know she probably just forgot.

But on a brighter note, besides the KFC in town, on Saturday I found another little getaway that makes me feel like I´m back in the states. Reluctantly, I decided to go to ¨the pool¨ with Javier. Don´t worry Dad….I made sure to ask him if they used chlorine. But I got there and was more than pleasantly surprised to see how nice it was. It was so clean they even made me wear a little swimming cap because I have long hair. Not only was there a pool, but a special section with a sauna, steam room cold tub and hot tub!! We spend about an hour in the steam room, where I sweated out all of the bad energy I had been accumulating. The only down side is all the men in speedos. Quite frankly I don´t really need to know a complete stranger that intimately. But you learn to avert your glance, even though they do not.

And I also have this weekend to look forward too. This Friday is a bbq for the new group of volunteers that came in February. I have a hermanito (little brother) in the group, so I am looking forward to meeting him and the rest of the new blood. Can you believe it´s already been almost 9 months!? I now have better understanding of the pregnancy timeline. Then we are having a girls reunion / sleepover in Jenn´s flea infested apartment. It´s gonna be a party, that´s for sure.