La Mitad del Mundo (The Middle of the World)

North meets South on the Equator.

Walking the Line -- with my eyes closed.

The guide and my profesora were impressed

by how very well balanced I am!

Water draining (without a whirlpool) over the equator.



Who can balance a raw egg on its end? I can!
On the Equator, anyway.




The newer, "Scientific" site of the Ecuatorial line.
This picture is taken from outside the park´s security boundry.

Today my profesora and I went to La Mitad del Mundo, or the Middle of the World, the place just north of Quito where the equator is marked clearly -- in two different places! The round-trip took the 4 hours of class time, and of that, it was a little more than one hour by two buses in each direction to travel to the sites.

First, we went to the "Historic Site", the Iti-Ñan Museo, the Museum of the Way of the Sun. The guide books call this place hand-made and a little hokey, and I´d have to agree with them. The exhibits ranged from jars and jars of poorly preserved, bleached-white snakes, a model of the Galapogos Islands (sin agua), a reputedly ancient dwelling repleate with medicinal guinnie pigs (how do you spell that?) an "authentic," ancient grave site and artisans weaving wall hangings and rugs. Of particular interest, of course, were the experiments related to the equator.

One exercise was to close your eyes, hold your arms out (I hadn´t caught the part about putting your thumbs up in the air) and trying to walk the line. I followed it pretty well. Though the picture shows one foot straying slightly, when I opened my eyes, I was right on target. When repeating the same exercise to the north or south, the result wasn´t the same.

Another experiement had to do with water draining from a sink. On the equatorial line, the water drained directly from the bucket without a whirlpool. To the south, the water swirled in a clockwise direction. To the north, the water swirled in a counter-clockwise direction. Cool! I have little videos of all of that. Of course, the question is, was it just a trick, or not? The guy turned the sink one quarter turn as he moved it south, and a quarter turn in the other direction as he moved it to the north. Now, I´ve got to say that I had done my own experiment with this on my sabbatical. I had previously noticed that the water down south swirled backwards from what happens back home in the states.

The final experiement was just too cool. It was a test to balance a raw egg on its end. Of course, you can´t do that. Many of us have tried, or we have perhaps seen it on "The West Wing." Well, I was one of three people who was able to get the egg to balance on the head of a nail. I did it pretty quickly (of course!), while the others took a while. My profesora just didn´t have the balance to pull it off! But I was awarded a certificate for my outstanding talents, and will cherish it always, or until I lose it, whichever comes first!

Afterward we went to the "Scientific" site, which was selected by satelite a few years ago -- by the French, I think. I don´t quite understand that part, but the profesora and our tour guide did go on a bit about the French. Anyway, we walked over to the site but didn´t pay to go in. My profesora insisted that I should come back on a Sunday when there is lots of folk dancing and the like. Also, I recognized that we had only an hour until class ended, and no doubt she was aware of that fact, too. Nothing like the end of your shift coming to encourage you to move along! So we caught the bus back to the city, changing near an old hospital just west of the old city.

On the way back my profesora wanted us to work, but I would have none of it. I wanted to see the sights out the windows of the bus! So I politely dug-in my heels and refused to do the multiplication tables exercise. (Truly, I need the practice with numbers! But we can do that in the classroom....) Then she fell asleep, and I enjoyed the vistas. Later, she tried to get a theological discussion started, but I politely declined that one, too. I´ve already told her that Christianity is a community-based faith, that she needs to go to church and read the Bible, and then we can talk theology. "Don´t tell me what you THINK the Bible says," I´ve told her, "Or what somebody has TOLD you it says. Read it yourself! Then you can tell me what it actually says!"

In truth, I´m trying to avoid theological discussions when I can. I´ve grown weary of the well-worn path of The God of Justice who punishes sinners, rapists, murders, Hitler and homosexuals. The idea of Divine boundless, radical love and grace is actually disturbing to many of the folks with whom I´ve spoken here in Ecuador.

The one exception is my homestay "mother," Cecilia. She is VERY religious -- Catholic. She faithfully prays regularly, letting down her hair and kneeling beside her bed. She is an environmentalist at heart, has great passion for peace and harmony among the nations and the races, constantly speaks of the blessings of God, and with her, I have not minded the theological conversations. She quickly agreed with me that God loves the whole world, no exception. I believe she is a pediatritian by training, though she only volunteers 2 hours daily at a children´s hospital now. She is gifted with house plants and in gardening. She is also a good cook!

Well, friends, it is time for me to head out into the city and find something interesting (and safe!) to pass this Friday afternoon. Tomorrow I plan to climb to the top of a volcano with friends from the school. That should be fun -- if my stomach will allow it! The journey begins with a ride up a teleferico and we hike/walk from there. I figure if I´m not feeling well, I´ll join the group for the beginning of the journey and then head back down on my own.

Thank you for your prayers. Keep them coming! Believe it or not, there is only one month of sabbatical left now. And I have only two weeks left in South America. I must admit, my heart is glad for time´s progress. It will be good to return to the states, and to get back to the Great Lakes.

Take care. Much love to you all!

From the well balanced... (or Good Egg?)

... Bill