Wednesday, January 19, 2011


Community Banking Workshop


Future Soccer Star
The rainy season has come



Trainning


Blog 1-18-11

…so there has been quite a lapse in my writing, and since we dutifully make our new years resolutions, I figured it would be fitting that mine would be an updated blog. So here we go…

I am back in Ecuador after a lovely extended vacation in the states. It was so great to see my family and friends, and be home. Pablo was fortunate enough to get to visit with me. It was great to show him my home and my country, and it was interesting to see his point of view on things, since it had been his first time out of Ecuador. And yes I was a true tourist in my own home, taking pictures of the airplane, Starbucks, Walmart, all the D.C. sights, and Pablo took a lot of squirrel pictures (which pegged us as tourists instantaneously) :P Within my trip I went out to New York, D.C. and saw Miami for the first time. It was great rediscovering all the wonderful things the area has to offer and actually going out and enjoying museums and different places I have not yet been.

Favorite things about home:

Hot, clean, running water

Comfy clean beds

Flushable, available toilet paper

Crisp winter chill

Water fountains

Recycling

Food variety

City public transportation

Washer and dryer

Libraries and amazon.com

So now I am back, partly sad, but on the other hand rejuvenated and ready to really get things going this year and be a much better volunteer than during the last. I am starting to feel comfortable enough with the community and my language skills to really get going on some projects. I just finished a community banking seminar in Quito, and am putting all my efforts into implementing it here in the community. I think the P.C. model is really great and simple, and I have been spreading the word about making a bank for the past week. I hope to have a meeting or two to explain the concept to the community members, and we can move forward from there.

So now we are back into rainy season. I do love the sound of rain pounding on the tin roof; the force of nature is both humbling and soothing. This always seems to be the crazier time of the year. Just yesterday we saw a poisonous black and white snake on the road, a puppy chasing a large iguana around the school house, and at night a pond formed in front of my house within an hour and all night I was scared the pond would soon engulf my house and creep inside. Luckily the water hasn’t made it inside…yet. Though don’t worry, if it does everything that could get damaged is raised and I am ready.

Other than that I am keeping myself busy during down time by studying for the GRE. It’s crazy to think that I still have a year and three month left of PC but I already need to start planning for my return. Time really is flying, even though there are moments that seem to dragggg on. I am definitely getting more accustomed to the slow way of life out here in the country. At first I had a problem just sitting around the porch passing time, but now it can be rather enjoyable, and even the 5 hour bus rides to Quito seem to pass by in no time. I have been spending a ton of time with the kids, playing cards, coloring, making jewelry, cooking and other things. Though sometimes I can get a little frustrated by their persistent visits, I love them and they and we are learning a lot from each other.

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