The Beat Goes On...and On...and On...
As of today, the lockdown has been extended for two more weeks. This is for the entire country of Ecuador. This is because not everyone has been staying home and following other rules like masks and social distancing. When is the Ecuadorian government going to realize that there will never be 100% compliance? This is insanity. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.
Even if there was no lockdown I would still be learning how to code online so I can become a Data Analyst. A Data Analyst translates numbers into plain English to help businesses improve their sales. I am learning with the book Coding For Dummies by Nikhil Abraham (2017) and the Code Academy website. I started about two weeks ago and it is going very well. I will keep everyone informed of my progress every week.
Kobe still plans on living in Kobe, Japan later this year. He will receive his GED in Osaka, Japan after he takes the test for the GED. He will then enter a Japanese language school so he can pass the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). The levels are from 5 (lowest) to 1 (highest). Kobe has to pass level 2 or 1 to enter a trade school to train to be a Computer Hardware Engineer. It is great that at age 18 he is already goal-oriented.
Randy is doing his best to wait out this lockdown just like myself and Kobe. He does spend a lot of time on our balcony and five-acre yard. I spend a lot of time outside with him. It is a real stress reliever. We also encourage Kobe to spend time outside, too. Kobe is the ultimate computer guy.
We have discovered fresh aloe vera. Now we use it on our bodies. I am the one that purchases the fresh aloe vera from Supermaxi (less than $1.00 for one large leaf) and prepares it so we can use it on our bodies. Fresh aloe vera (sabila) is great for the hair, skin, nails, and scalp. We are much healthier and we save a lot of money. Aloe vera can also be eaten and used in drinks but we haven't tried that yet.
I went to Supermaxi Miraflores in Cuenca on Thursday, April 29th. Rodrigo Saca (friend and taxi driver) went with me to help me with shopping. Going to Cuenca was not difficult since the policemen and military did not stop us. We arrived at 7:00 am when the store first opened. The line was already very long. As usual, everyone was six feet apart and wearing masks and gloves. It took us around one hour to enter the store. Before we could enter our temperatures were taken (thank goodness we had no fever) and we were sprayed with industrial-strength rubbing alcohol. Everyone enters the store one at a time. Around thirty people in the store at a time. Every aisle is one way. The store was well-stocked which made shopping easier. I gave Rodrigo everything he needed to pay for my groceries for my family. The ride home was not a problem. I had my original US Passport but it was not needed this time. My original US Passport will be with me every time I go to Cuenca until this lockdown is over. Going to and from Paute (we live in the Paute Canton) is easier than going to and from Cuenca.
Even if there was no lockdown I would still be learning how to code online so I can become a Data Analyst. A Data Analyst translates numbers into plain English to help businesses improve their sales. I am learning with the book Coding For Dummies by Nikhil Abraham (2017) and the Code Academy website. I started about two weeks ago and it is going very well. I will keep everyone informed of my progress every week.
Kobe still plans on living in Kobe, Japan later this year. He will receive his GED in Osaka, Japan after he takes the test for the GED. He will then enter a Japanese language school so he can pass the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). The levels are from 5 (lowest) to 1 (highest). Kobe has to pass level 2 or 1 to enter a trade school to train to be a Computer Hardware Engineer. It is great that at age 18 he is already goal-oriented.
Randy is doing his best to wait out this lockdown just like myself and Kobe. He does spend a lot of time on our balcony and five-acre yard. I spend a lot of time outside with him. It is a real stress reliever. We also encourage Kobe to spend time outside, too. Kobe is the ultimate computer guy.
We have discovered fresh aloe vera. Now we use it on our bodies. I am the one that purchases the fresh aloe vera from Supermaxi (less than $1.00 for one large leaf) and prepares it so we can use it on our bodies. Fresh aloe vera (sabila) is great for the hair, skin, nails, and scalp. We are much healthier and we save a lot of money. Aloe vera can also be eaten and used in drinks but we haven't tried that yet.
I went to Supermaxi Miraflores in Cuenca on Thursday, April 29th. Rodrigo Saca (friend and taxi driver) went with me to help me with shopping. Going to Cuenca was not difficult since the policemen and military did not stop us. We arrived at 7:00 am when the store first opened. The line was already very long. As usual, everyone was six feet apart and wearing masks and gloves. It took us around one hour to enter the store. Before we could enter our temperatures were taken (thank goodness we had no fever) and we were sprayed with industrial-strength rubbing alcohol. Everyone enters the store one at a time. Around thirty people in the store at a time. Every aisle is one way. The store was well-stocked which made shopping easier. I gave Rodrigo everything he needed to pay for my groceries for my family. The ride home was not a problem. I had my original US Passport but it was not needed this time. My original US Passport will be with me every time I go to Cuenca until this lockdown is over. Going to and from Paute (we live in the Paute Canton) is easier than going to and from Cuenca.
Update from Paute by Randy (Wednesday, April 28th): I do the easier chores; banking and buying fresh produce. Lots of fresh produce at good prices. The peak fear was about three weeks ago. People were blocking the streets to protect themselves from cars driving by. All of the blockages had been removed. There were lots of people on the streets. Most wore masks and gloves. There have been no fatalities that have been COVID-19 related. The hospital is empty. So far the bank is open and everything is running smoothly.
This is the video of the Paute River. There was major flooding by no one was injured. No fatalities.
We had a lot of rain lately. The Paute river overflowed and flooded the properties of our neighbors.
This is a close up of the properties that were flooded by the Paute River. The flooding lasted for only one day.
These are our neighbors in the town of Gualaceo side of the Paute River. We live in the town of Paute side of the Paute River. Our neighbors our observing the flooding of the land.
The Paute River was so flooded that the trees were in the river. Luckily, the river did not reach any homes.
This is the Paute River one day after the flooding (Sunday, May 3rd). The Paute River was flooded on Saturday, May 2nd.
I always enjoy being in the yard. We have five acres of land that we enjoy. Our plan is to harvest aloe vera plants. We have one aloe vera plant now but we plan on planting many more.
This is the aloe vera leaf (sabila) that I bought at Supermaxi Miraflores in Cuenca. Good stuff!
This is Randy and me near the Paute River. Our house is above the river so we were not in danger. Also, the road our house is on was no in danger.
Fresh produce from Paute. All of this for $10.00 US. Broccoli, lemons, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, carrots, and avocados.
Kobe is alive and well. I will post a more current picture of him next week. As if this picture isn't already current. He enjoys playing Minecraft on his computer. Future Computer Hardware Technician.
This is a close-up of the cascade (small waterfall) that is in the Paute River. We love living near a large natural river.
A telephoto shot of the hills across the Paute River. Very few people live this high on the hill. This hill is in the Gualaceo side of the Paute River.
The long line at Supermaxi Miraflores in Cuenca. Supermaxi just opened at 7:00 am (closes at 12:30 pm). Most people enter Supermaxi from the underground parking garage. Supermaxi is closed on Sundays.
This is what Pirincay looked like on Wednesday, April 28th. Pirincay is a neighborhood in Paute. All vehicles are disinfected.
This is Paperleria Monsalve. It is a very good office supply store chain. It is open for business inside of the Mall where Supermaxi Miraflores is located. No one can enter and customers have to tell the employees what they want.
Everyone has to have their temperature taken before entering Supermaxi Miraflores. A digital thermometer is used (temporal) and swiped across the forehead.
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