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14 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 9, 1990 Nanegalito, Port by Derek Dobos Group Leader Canada World Youth It's difficult to think about Port Perry in winter, as I look out my window in Nanegalito, Ecuador. Isee banana and papaya trees, children playing in muddy streets, chickens pecking at anything that moves, kindergarten children at recess, decked out in their white uniforms. In the distance, the clouds are moving in to obscure far-away mountain peaks and lush, green, tropical rainforested mountains and valleys. I am here for three months, along with 15 other Canadians and Ecuadorians from the Canada World Youth Exchange; you may remember seeing us in Port Perry from August to October. The Canada World Youth Pro- gram brings together Canadians aged 17 to 21 years and young peo- ple from 35 developing nations in Latin America, Asia and Africa. It is a private, non-profit organization, funded mainly by CIDA, the Canadian International Development Agency. It is an educational program, involving culture sharing & development in small com- munities in Canada and abroad. Our particular exchange is agricultural in nature this year, so one Canadian and one Ecuadorian lived with a farm family near Port Perry for 3 months, and 3 months on an Ecuadorian farm. We arrived in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, on November 1. The first shock was the shortness of breath that we experienced, as Quito's elevation is 2850 metres above sea level. We spent five days getting acclimatized, learn- ing a new language (Spanish), and learning a bit about Ecuador's people and its customs. We then took a 22% hour bus ride through the mountains to Nanegalito, passing the Equator en route. Nanegalito's economic base is agriculture. Most farms have a few cattle for personal use (pro- ductivity of dairy cows is approx- imately 6 liters per day), and other crops such as sugar cane, bananas, avocados, papayas, beans, naranjillas, etc. Tractors are not very common, for 2 reasons: they are very ex- pensive (a whole farm can cost as much as a tractor), and the hills and valleys are very steep. The most popular all-purpose tool is the machete, a 2-foot long, very sharp, knife, and hoes are common. There are approximately 2,000 people in Nanegalito, and there is quite a bit of unemployment. Peo- pleseem very happy with life, and there are many festivals and social gatherings. Sports are very popular here, especially soccer, and a sport called Ecua-volley, similar to volleyball but with a 9-foot net, a soccer ball, and 3 players per side. Basketball is also played; the men in the com- munity play '"'cocos," throwing marbles or ball bearings into a circle (I still haven't figured out the object of the game yet), and there is also a cock-fight ring. "The food has been quite dif- ferent -- most meals start with soup, and include rice, often with meat and a fried egg on top. Let me re-phrase that -- meals always include rice! Fried plan- tains (a type of banana) are com- mon, as are potatoes. Fresh fruit is available, such as bananas, papayas, pineapples, mandarins and avocados. The climate is sub-tropical, with highs of 24°C during the day and lows of 14°C at night. It ap- parently rains a lot in December and January, but we've been lucky so far! The group will stay in Ecuador until Feb. 8th, and the Canadians in the group will return to Port Perry for four days to report on their experiences in Ecuador. The exchange program will also take place in Port Perry from August to October, 1990, so if you would like more information about the program, contact Philip White at the following address: Canada World Youth, 386 Bloor Street West, 2nd Floor, Toronto, Ontario. M5S 1X4. Telephone: (416) 922-0776. worlds apart Canada World Youth participants and their Ecuadorian counterparts pose for a group photo in Nanegalito. A scenic view of Nanegalito. The beauty of the countryside Is breathtaking, but the alti- tude of Ecuador Is another reason the Canadian participants are so out of breath. SPRING WORKSHOPS at Daisy's FOR Dressmaking -- Coatmaking -- Tailoring Dolls -- Basketry -- Quilting -- Smocking -- REGISTER NOW -- UR NEW WORKSHOPS! OPEN HOUSES -- JANUARY 16th & 18th from 7 to 9 PM to register and view samples for classes. Located in Luke'd Country Store 201 Queen St., Port Perry PHONE 985-3221 7 _ Daisy's He Fabrics Si SLE GUARANTEED INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES Annual Rates Monthly Rates Rates Subject to Change Without Notice. SCUGOG FINANCIAL SERVICES A DIVISION OF CRESSBROOK FINANCIAL PLANNING LTD. 250 QUEEN STREET -- PORT PERRY "Serving Scu for Over 15 Years" PHONE 985-3832 All Members of Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation ; 3 <8 3 N\ ir 7 4 i GIR] TY gp RT ARAN Hortop heads Island UCW by Mrs. Earl Reader After a few years lull in New Year's Eve dances at the Island Hall, Theresa Wood and Debbie Davis decided to organize one. In spite of dubious road condi- tions their efforts were well rewarded by having a sell out crowd. Ed Hobbs, manager of the Hudson Bay Store donated some prize tickets from the store as promotion. Six donated poinset- tias added to the spirit of the even- ing. A buffet lunch prepared by the Meating Place completed a very enjoyable evening. Many thanks to the organizers and all who attended. Any profit after expenses was given to the trailer family who lost all in a pre- Christmas fire. John and Debbie Davis are making preparations for a move to a farm at Walkerton on March 1 almost directly west of Scugog, near Lake Huron. They will cer- tainly be missed from the community. Sunday, January 14 is Baptism Sunday at the Island United Church. In preparation for this oc- casion the Jan. 7 service was bas- ed on the study and meaning of Baptism even with the children studying the use and meaning of the Baptismal Font. Mrs. Madeline Cawker has been very happy to have her sister and husband visiting from Regina. They in turn were pleas- ed to meet the Cawker's friends at church. The "Head" U.C.W. met last Wed. evening with 11 members present at the home of Mrs. Jan. Gerrow. The new president Mrs. Helen Hortop, who had been a previous president, conducted the meeting, ~ where Epiphany was the subject for study. This was also called Twelfth Day. At the suggestion of Resolu- tions, members were asked to name a Resolution they would like someone else to make. Several thank you notes were received for donations or kind acts. In the future there is the pro- spect of catering to four weddings. It was noted that the Island United Church will host the "World Day of Prayer" in March. The Women's Institute will hold its meeting on Wed., Jan. 17 at the hall with Mrs. Harriet Hunt in charge. The theme will be "Inter- national Affairs' with a speaker on "travelling." Bridge results Jan. 3/90 - afternoon 5 Table Howell - Avg. 54 1st - Gwen Rennie/Marie Carnegie tied with Dorothy Jacob & Thea Wenham 61. 2nd - Doris Beare & Georgia Brock 58. 3rd - Illene Wilton and Joan McNab 57. 4th - Doris Phinney & Kath Burley 56%. Evening - 6 Table Howell Avg. 671% 1st - Audrey & Peter Francis 80%. 2nd - Doris Phinney & Georgia Brock 77%. 3rd - Ginny Clifford & Kath Burley 77. 4th - Brenda & Jim Gilmour 73.