Dia Quatro en Quito, Ecuador

Had a bit of extra sleep last night. Leslie brought me breakfast in bed. Showered and sat out near the front desk waiting for our ride to the convention center. Myriam came in but instead of taking us at the agreed upon time she told us another, older Jorge would pick us up and take us to lunch. By the time he arrived we had less than an hour until Leslie's session was to begin. Our driver seemed to have specific directions to take us out to lunch. Leslie was equally insistent that she needed to get to the capilla no later than 20 minutes before her session in order to have time to prepare. This didn't seem to sit well with the driver who couldn't find the restaurant he was supposed to take us to anyway. The Jorge from Mexico talked him into stopping at the Fruiteria we had eaten at yesterday.

We quickly gobbled down another bowl of fruit salad and added an empanada verde which turned out to be very different from the one we had on Sunday with Myriam and Matteo.

Leslie and I hustled up the hill to the capilla with the feeling of our rushed lunch still sitting heavily on our tummies.

"Should I go ahead and start?" was Leslie's question to me when at 2:00 there were only 4 people in the room. "It depends on what statement you are trying to make," was my reply. So she began and slowly, a few at a time, students wandered in. It is 2:20 still only about half the class had arrived.
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This might be a good time for me to talk about my theory of time as it pertains to different parts of the planet. I have long held the opinion, and it is thoroughly based on anecdotal experiences I have had over 30+ years of traveling the world, that the closer you are to the equator, the less important time becomes. In Italy trains never run on time, museums are closed even when the sign on the door clearly states it should be. I have found the same to be true in Guinea, West Africa and Morocco. Now go to Germany, Scandinavia, the United States, Japan, all countries whose borders are a good distance from our equator.

I know, it is a generalization, but again, like I said, it seems more often true than not.

Is there something wrong with these other country's time "impaired" sensibilities? Well, it depends on your personal perspective doesn't it? No one in those slower paced countries seems to mind their "problem." They are generally as happy as anyone I've met in any other country I have visited whose "fortunate" geography has placed it furthest from the equator and as a result (if you buy my theory) operate on time nearly to the minute.

All of this, of course, drives us folks from the northern climes crazy. We feel guilty if we haven't started on time, as if we have not lived up to a promise. In fact we expect to be fired if we are negligent in our duty to time.

So what's the right answer? Hell if I know. I guess you go by the adage, when in Rome…!
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I spent a bit of time writing to friends on the wi-fi network this morning. Otherwise, I am sitting in my little corner here in the capilla writing and reading and being Leslie's gopher, mostly fetching water and taking photos for her office door back home.
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A personal observation of the choral situation here in Ecuador. There are a lot of talented singers in this country. But, like anyone, anywhere, they will only get as far as they are willing to work at their art. The apparent general disregard for pitch, learning to listen to each other, having directors who establish a higher standard of performance will all be necessary before any choir we’ve heard thus far will receive the respect they have the capacity to achieve. Walking into rehearsals a half hour, even over an hour late with total disregard to the director or the other members of the team, never bodes well for the future.

Our day was topped off with dinner at a lovely tapas and wine bar near our hotel called the Orquidea Restaurant. Eugenio hosted Jorge Cordoba who we have discovered is a world renowned composer. He is also a great story teller and a really down to earth guy. Also joining us was Zulyamir Lopezrios who is a voice teacher from Mexico City. She had passport issues that kept her from arriving until today. We enjoyed a lovely dinner that started with an incredible spinach soup topped with potato chips. The main was a delicious sea bass topped with a creamy remoulade sauce and accompanied by a spinach infused rice, fresh tomatoes and sliced hearts of palm. A postre or dessert of chocolate layers in a creamy pie finished the meal. We sat around sharing stories until about 8 when Eugenio drove us all back to the hotel.

Buenos noches to dia quatro of our adventure!