Our teaching contract at CEDEI lasts from September 24, 2012 to June 14, 2013. The typical work week looks like M-F (and possibly Saturday), and teaching about half the day (either mornings or evenings). That means that we'll be able to hang out with potential visitors even during a teaching week! Below you'll see a list of the extra days off along with some of the cultural celebrations that correspond. Please understand that "nos casa es su casa" when it comes to our Cuenca casa.
J & L's days off: October 9th (Guayaquil Independence Day) November 2nd & 3rd (All Soul's Day & Cuenca Independence Day) December 7th - January 6th (our holiday break) February 9th - 12th (Carnival) March 27th - April 1st (our fall/spring break) April 12th (not sure why we're off yet...) May 1st (Labor Day) May 24th (Battle of Pichincha Day) | Happenings in Cuenca: October 9 - Guayaquil Independence Day Guayaquil combines holidays (Independence Day and Columbus Day) enjoying a multi-day festival. November 2 - All Soul's Day (a.k.a. "Day of the Dead") On All Soul's Day, families visit cemeteries to dance, drink, eat, and leave flowers and other offerings for deceased friends and relatives in a convivial ceremony designed to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on. November 3 - Cuenca Independence Day The culmination of three days of festivities, this is the final day of Cuenca's biggest annual celebration. December 28-31 - Year's End Celebrations Staring with the Day of the Innocents, the entire nation symbolically prepares to enter a new year by burning human figurines in the streets as Quiteños end a nearly month-long party. February 9-12 - Carnival Celebrated just before Lent, Carnival is the ultimate party in the Catholic nations of Latin American. While not as extravagant in Ecuador as in other Latin American countries, celebrations here include water-fights and lavish parades. Ambato is a good destination with its famous fruit and flower parade takes place. Although the dates change annually according to the religious calendar, Carnival is always celebrated as an extended weekend prior to Ash Wednesday. May 1 - Labor Day Typical parades and processions fill the streets of Ecuador, honoring workers worldwide... May 24 - Battle of Pichincha Military and civilian parades mark the day in 1822 when the country's most important battle in the war for independence from Spain was fought. |