Looking back at the past year, and foward to Part II

On August 19th, I officially celebrated my 1 year anniversary in Guaranda, Ecuador. It's been an amazing experience, filled with laughter, new friends, challenges, new memories and of course, lots of food and dancing! (PHOTO: My Ecuadorian Host Family and my Grandparents; PHOTO:Guaranda with Chimborazo in the background "X" marks where I live)

Over the past year, I've learned more about myself than I ever imagined, I've been able to experience every holiday in a foreign country and have held my longest job-to-date. I've learned to speak Spanish; make spaghetti sauce, brownies, pancakes, banana bread, pizza and tortillas from scratch; to bargain for my fruits and veggies; to make a jar of PB last a month; to plant potatoes; to make recycled paper; to clean my dishes by hand; to not be afraid to try something new; to laugh at myself (and everyone around me); to be committed; to not be afraid to let go. (PHOTO: my bday, getting my face smashed into a cake; PHOTO: Christmas celebration at a school in the campo; PHOTO: dinner party with my friends)

I'm living on my own in Ecuador. I have a fantastic host family here, Ecuadorian friends, PCV friends, lots (sometimes too much) work, a studio apartment and people who trust in me. The mail-boy knows me by name and finds me on his scooter whenever I get mail (WHICH MAKES ME SOOOO HAPPY!) I have a credit account with my local grocer, and the fruit lady on the corner gives me my favorite YAPPAS (no more cuello for me). My host mother has opened a restaurant - where she often serves brownies, zucchini lasagna, carrot cake (some of my favorites that we cook at her house). (PHOTO: trip to the sub-tropic with Monica and Raul, playing in the pool)

A lot of my time goes into work. My primary work is with Fundacion Promocion Humana Diocesana de Guaranda - their mission is to assist organized groups in sustainable development and to help facilitate access to resources; their two main focuses are on Micro-Credit (community banks), organic agriculture and commercialization of products. (PHOTO: Kids in Santo Domingo planting a garden)

Since I'm a Peace Corps Youth and Families volunteer, and wanted to improve my language before diving into business development (which, as many of you know, is my passion) ... I started my service working in local schools (20minutes - 1 hour trip into the campo). I did lots of group building, self-esteem games and agriculture (yes, I learned to start composts and small gardens). It was a great opportunity to understand how my Foundation works, what the schools are like and who I could/ couldn't work with. Working in local schools led to working in schools all over the Provence and soon I was running around like crazy really not helping anyone (spending one day a month in a school, hitting 5-6 different schools a week). I was having a hard time building lasting relationships, let alone remember anyone's name. My Foundation was pretty stuck on the idea that I should help out all the schools, and I was pretty sure I didn't want to spend the next year and a half doing that ... so I decided to switch gears a little... (PHOTO: co-workers and I)

So, I changed gears and started looking for secondary projects - CEMOPLAF, Soluciones Comunitarios, Gustavo Lemos Elementary School, setting-up a toy room in Santo Domingo, Teaching English classes for World Teach ... if you've ever had a hard time keeping track of my "work", this is why. (PHOTO: cooking classes at Santo Domingo; PHOTO: students of Gustavo Lemos)

So, NOW WHAT you ask?? Well, over the past 12 months, there have been some things that have stuck, and some that haven't. Some that were great short-term projects that taught me about the culture, a certain group of people or how to manage/ develop an event. However, there have also been some projects that are just taking form, ready to launch-off, that I think just might stick for the next year. With each of these project, I've found a local I can work with - a single person that is willing, able, and wanting to participate in change. And this, with a little bit of encouragement, has created the momentum for my second year. (PHOTO: Don Hernan - agriculture promoter at Fundacion Promocion Humana)

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP - recycled paper. A group of 10-15 youth who are interested in making money (youth from low-income families that need the money to stay in school), while learning business skills, leadership and about the environment. Basically, this group will make recycled paper into cards, bags, boxes and decorate them with local pressed flowers etc. We'll utilize a beginner, intermediary, advanced ranking to encourage participation, savings and paper-making quality - their incentive, a larger percentage of each product sold awarded to the individual as they improve their personal ranking. Additionally, each youth will have the opportunity to take over leadership roles in the business – for example, marketing, production or sales. I have found a great counterpart to work with me on this project – we even took a 12 hour bus ride down South to visit a PCV and see how her woman’s group makes and sales their recycled paper (their product is AMAZING). Now, all we have to do is form the group. Laugh ... but I'm serious. Forming this group of youth has been one of the most challenging things I've tried to do in Ecuador - timing, participation, respect, interest, incentives, they all have to line-up perfectly. (PHOTO: visit to San Pedro to see recycled paper process with Teresa)

SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS Last year, my Foundation had a budget for scholarships; however, because of lack of organization, the money didn't go to children in need, it went to purchase candy bags for each child at each school for Christmas. This year (to start) 18 elementary aged students will receive scholarship for the year. We are currently evaluating each student, their needs and resources and coming up with a solution for how we can best help them (purchase of medicine, mattresses, clothes, food).

AEROBICS At work, I've started teaching aerobics classes! I know, I've never done it before in my life - but that's the point, when else will I have 6 women who are excited to go to my aerobics classes each day? haha, probably never :) We're doing kick-boxing, aerobics moves, weight lifting and some yoga. New moves, suggestions, and music are ALWAYS appreciated!

CEMOPLAF At the local “planned parenthood”, I’m helping start a youth group, a sort of peer-education methodology for the students to teach their friends at school. Last month, my counterpart, Maricela, and I attended a HIV/AIDS conference ¿Cuantos Sabes? in Guayaqui, where we learned a fantastic, new methodology for incorporating HIV/AIDS knowledge with youth groups (youth promoters, very similar to the peer-education model CEMOPLAF currently uses). We have plans to replicate the program with our youth group starting in November. (PHOTO: "This is how you put on a condom" demonstrations)

SOLUCIONES COMUNITARIOS Four women in my local community have decided to become acesoras for SC, an organization that sells health products to people in the campo through the micro-consignment model. (See my previous post in August for some photos and a video! PHOTO: Teresa helping a woman find glasses to let her read)

JUAN PABLO Last summer, when Social Entrepreneur Corps (a group of 14 University students here for a summer internership) and SC came to Guaranda to help the women acesoras, they also spent a day with the Foundation Juan Pablo. The women at this foundation make and sell turron and have been asking for help with their business. For the past 20 years they have been making turron and selling it under the name Deli Turron - a brand started by Fundacion Promocion Humana which sells turron from 5 woman’s group under the same packaging to help create market and brand for the entrepreneurs. After all these years and experience, the women of Juan Pablo want to expand their business and have their own brand. The visit and day long consultations from SC helped organize the women and get them focused on their business goals. Additionally, last month, we were awarded a grant from the Social Entrepreneur Corps and have started meetings to design a development plan. Right now, we're looking at new packaging (with a new logo, and brand for their turron), promotion, and product diversification (different sizes and the turron filled with different nuts). YUMM! (PHOTO: Women of Juan Pablo making turron at a food fair in Guaranda)

LIBRARIES and READING PROGRAMS Through the Peace Corps, there is a program called WWS (World Wide Schools). Basically it pairs up a PCV with a teacher in the U.S. From here, the project and outcomes are up to the teacher and PCV. I was paired up with a very responsive teacher and during our first letters back and forth to each other, Mr. Kennedy (my 2nd grade class, in Colorado!) told me he's very interested in altruism and creating a real-life project for his class. I brought up the idea of starting some libraries at two of the schools in the campo in Ecuador and implementing reading programs at them. Both of the schools in the campo are under 30 children, have great motivated and involved directors who often talk with me about the importance however huge lack of reading at their schools (and Ecuador in general). So, Mr. Kennedy and his 2^nd grade class have agreed to help me collect books and monetary donations to create a library at each campo school. While at home, I visited and met Mr. Kennedy's 2nd grade class. The kids were filled with endless questions and stories :) Want to help out?? More information to come… (PHOTO: Kids reading in Herapamba)

Apart from work, I’ve also been able to travel a little in the country (haven’t made it out of country yet) – the beach (Salinas, Palmar, M….), the jungle (MACAS!!!), the sierra (Ibarra, San Pablo, Cuenca, Loja, San Pedro). Along the way, I’ve met some very colorful individuals, friends for life and people who either love or are scared of me simply because I’m American. I was blessed with a visit from my Grandparents where I got to share my site, my friends and my family with loved ones from home. We were able to explore Ecuador together and I’m happy to see I’ll age well!! And, I even traveled home for a short, wonderful catch-up with my friends, family and the sweet CO air! (PHOTO: Whale watching off Palmar with PCVs; PHOTO: downhill biking Chimborazo with friends)

So, as I start the countdown (not that I’m actually counting days, but that I have less left then I’ve been here already), I look back and smile at my time in Ecuador. To Part II of my adventure! Salud!! (PHOTO: Riobamba at sunset)

Vacation to CO and my bday

I had the best surprise for my birthday this year! I got to come home for my birthday - my first bday at home in Colorado since I turned 21. I got to see old friends :) Hang out with my entire family, go trail running, make sushi, do yoga, play with my dog, drink coffee and have great conversations, visit old College stomping grounds, have sleep-overs, go to our cabin, play tennis, see the first signs of fall, watch the Rockies and eat a Rockie dog, drink micro-brews, ride my bike, go shopping at Target at 9pm, hug my mom, eat large amounts of Mexican, sandwiches, sushi, visit Mr. Bobby's class, drive ...

A few questions everyone was asking:
"Is it weird to be home?" NO. Honestly, not at all, well - I guess everything was sparklingly clean and I had to be reminded to flush my TP and that I could drink tap water, but other than that Colorado was awesome in a familiar "that's exactly what I missed" kind of way. I'm guessing my sub-two week trip didn't qualify me to go through reverse culture shock, so I'll let you know about that after my PC service. Oh, and there are ENDLESS options in the US ... going to the grocery store or ordering from a menu took at least double the BPC (Before Peace Corps) time.

"What do you DO down there?" LOTS and LOTS of different stuff everyday is the simple answer ... the long answer, read my next blog entry, I've included some projects I hope to continue for the next year.

"Do you have friends down there?" Honestly, I spend a lot of time with my host family - my best friends are a 37 year old woman and her 12 year old daughter. I spend a lot of time during the day at work, and there are a great group of women who I'm learning how to gossip with. Every once in a while, I break out the dancing shoes and hit up a graduation party or disco with some local friends - and yes, we ALWAYS party till 4 or 5 in the morning :) Some of the coolest people I've met are PCVs ... while the closest one lives 35 + minutes away from me, It's always a blast when I get to visit or be visited by PCVs - life long friends.

"Have you tried Guinea Pig" Yes, and, it DOES taste like chicken. If you want a try, we'll make you some, just come visit!!

"Do you like it there?" Ecuador has been an amazing experience and continues to be different and challenging everyday. I love my work and my host family. Some days are better than others, and I'm learning how to ride the successes with the failures. Living in a different culture and being committed to the same job for two years has pushed me outside of my box countless times. Ecuador is an amazing country filled with fantastic people who are always ready to laugh or dance.

"What did you miss the most from the US?" The people and being able to sit and have a good conversation; good beer and wine; my family, trail running; pet dogs; dating; yoga and endless saldo ...

"What are you doing after?" I've considered doing a 3rd year as a PCVL in Quito (you work at the PC office). I want to backpack up through Central America on my way back to CO, and then have a seasonal job waiting for me at a ski resort and then stick around for summer and probably live there forever (open a yoga studio). I've considered going back to graduate school - Environmental Economics, Social Business, Non-Profit Management. I've also wanted to get an apartment somewhere, get a job (not a 9-5, but one of those work-from-home jobs). Obviously, I have no idea. I should sit down and think about that.

"How's your Spanish?" It's getting there. I mean, I can have conversations in Spanish, but it's still not to the level I want. I often find myself frustrated because I can't find the right words or phrases to express my feelings/ situation. I hope it will come with time, but for now, it will just makes me respect words and people's ability to communicate successfully through them. My Uncle asked me "so, if you were to hit your hand with a hammer, would you shout in Spanish or English?" A close friend told me ... you need to find an Ecuadorian boyfriend. haha, both good pieces of advice.

My vacation to Colorado went way too fast, but it was great. It helped me realize people are people - we are the same all over the world (well, in Ecuador and the U.S.). Yes, we do have different cultures, histories, opportunities and personalities - but that's what makes us human. We all want friends and someone to love us ("some one to tell the pains of our lives to" - my driver at work during a heart-to-heart yesterday), we all like to have fun and don't like it when people around us are upset. There are also "good" and "bad" people everywhere - usually defined by local norms and customs. Some people you don't get along with, and some you do (and when you do, oh man, what an amazing feeling). People love to learn and be encouraged, hate to be told they are stupid, need to express themselves, often have self-esteem issues and want to be part of something. My trip to Colorado helped me tie my two lives together, things don't feel quite so odd or unfamiliar anymore.

Unfortunately, I have no photos ... I had to order a new camera charger and got it right before I came back to Ecuador. See ya in February!!

Soluciones Comunitarios

Micro-Consignment: so, think Mary Kay - women selling make-up to their friends and neighbors ... now think of this functioning in Ecuador. Now, have the women sell products like reading glasses, solar lights, water purification systems and organic seeds. The business model provides sustainable jobs for entrepreneurial women (a job that will also teach them about health and how to care for themselves and their customers). Additionally, the distribution system is designed to access hard-to-reach people that live hours from the closest small tienda, people who have never been able to drive to their local Wal-Mart and pick up a pair of reading glasses

COOL VIDEO

COOL PICS

CALUMA

Ecuador amazes me everyday. I fall more and more in love with the land and the people.

This past week I got to travel to the sub-tropic for a week to work and play. My past travel to the sub-tropic in Bolivar was always daily - get up and leave the sierra ridiculously early @ 5am, and return after the sun had set. This past week I went to Caluma with a promoter in my Foundation, Melina, stayed in her house, met her family and her friends, saw her life and where she works and plays.

Monday morning I caught the 5:30 bus to Caluma. The drive is amazing, within 2 hours of Guaranda, you start an amazing descent from 2700m to 260m. First off, it's terrifying. The bus driver whips around tight corners as you look off the edge into what appears to be an endless cliff. But, after the initial fear, it's one of my favorite drives - a cloud topped forest awaits your descent, the flowers, greenery, small sugar cane houses, horses and local people on the side of the road create a rich feeling of peace, tranquility and warmth. Of course, the bus is also heating up - and those 3 layers that were necessary in Guaranda are quickly removed.

Melina met me at the bus stop, and we jumped on another bus to get to her house about 30 minutes outside of town. She lives in a bono (government built) house with her sister and two daughters. Her mother and younger sister live in a sugar-cane house right next door. Their front yard is filled with flowers of every color and size - her mother is an obsessive gardener and plant collector. In the back-yard roam ducks, chickens, a roaster, their faithful dog Luis, and of course guinea pigs (well, the don't roam, they are in a cage).

The house is simple - originally built with only walls dividing the kitchen from two bedrooms. They have since added on two larger rooms (one with a bed, the other used for ... stuff). None of the rooms have doors - the two original rooms off of the kitchen have sheets, but the new, back rooms have nothing - only an open space for people to pass in and out. The bathroom is attached to the back of the house (also with a sheet-door), equipped with a small sink, a toilet and an open space for the shower-head (no mirror).

At her house, her sister cooked breakfast for me - a HUGE plate of fried fish and fried plantain. After, painfully, finishing off the last of the fried plantains, we set off to our first school.

Our mission for the week: to look for and evaluate children who were in the most need for school scholarships. My Foundation has a large fund for helping schools all over Bolivar - we currently work in 22 schools with over 1400 students. However a great base to start development work in the schools, most of the money and programs for students have little organization (lack of personal), creativity, and sustainability. Last year, the scholarship money was used to purchase candies for children during Christmas. This year, we're changing things. We've had our first "official meetings" for the Lorini Project (the project for working with schools and children in Bolivar, run by Promocion Humana); we're developing campo-days to do large projects with the schools (planting local trees and flowers, trash and compost, life-skills, and cooking/ nutrition); and we're looking for 30+ students to give scholarships to this school year. Right now, the sierra is on vacation, and the coastal schools (Caluma, the sub-tropic) is considered a coastal school, are in session. So, we're starting the scholarship program in the coastal schools.

Over our three days, we visited 5 schools and found 5 excellent students to receive the scholarships. We decided to start 10 in the sub-tropic and 10 in the sierra, see how they work for a month and then build on the program. During our school visits, we played games with the kids and colored butterflies.

The sub-tropic is amazing. People work hard, play hard. We spent the days in the campo, visiting schools, families and planting gardens. The afternoons included a swim in a local waterfall. Nighttime brought out the dancing shoes. Salsa. Merengue. Cha Cha. Mambo. Reggaeton. Whatever the dancer's heart desires. Melina's friends were friendly, outgoing, charming, and patient with my Spanish (I don't know if it's getting worse, or if they really do speak different in the sub-tropic, but the phrases and speaking speed threw me off all week). The bars we went to were open aired; equally filled with older men, young men and women and the occasional child.

Visiting the sub-tropic was AMAZING and, yet again, eye-opening to the diversity found in Ecuador (both people and geography). It showed me I need to work more and more on my Spanish -- however able to communicate with people, I'm still unable to relate to people on the verbal level I would like to. I'm sure that with a little more dancing and daring revueltas, I'll be able to mejorar mi español y comunicacion con los demás.

More photos up!!

My PC Vignette

As a Youth and Families Volunteer in Ecuador, my time has been filled with adventure, passion, challenges and opportunities. When arriving at my site, the world was at my finger-tips, there were limitless possibilities to what lay ahead. My community included a network of people, organizations and ideas waiting to take form. Starting out, my work proved to have its good days and it’s not so good days. However, through perseverance, dedication and a handful of great, motivated people, I’ve found my place in my community. The people I have met along the way, including my co-workers, youth, my Ecuadorian family, and the local tienda owners have made my Peace Corps Service take form. Within my work as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I’ve been honored to work with youth entrepreneurship, life skills, HIV/AIDS, and nutrition.

My work with youth entrepreneurship and life skills activities has allowed me to combine my background and my passions with the needs of my community. Starting out, we worked with local youth in self-esteem, nutrition, leadership, the environment, and team building. We worked with local schools in sports and with campo schools in self-esteem and literature. Additionally, we have started a youth-room at my Foundation, a place for youth to come, do homework, read, play, or participate in weekly activities. From there, we are forming a small business, run and operated by the youth themselves. We are making recycled paper into gift cards, bags, book-marks with an endless list of potential products. Within the group, we are building skills in leadership, business knowledge and environmental responsibility. It has been an amazing, unique opportunity for me and for the youth of Guaranda, Ecuador. For the future, my Foundation liked the ideas of youth entrepreneurship so much, we're looking for new youth-run businesses to assist!

Teresa's Restaurant

My Ecuadorian mother Teresa just opened her very own restaurant!!!

She serves breakfast starting at 9am and starts serving almuerzos at 12:00pm.

Almuerzos from the first week include:
Lentil Soup
Chicken in wine sauce with mushrooms
Spinach, apple and carrot salad
Rice
Melon Juice
Strawberries and chocolate

Mexican Soup (spicy bean soup - MY FAVORITE!!)
Trout in orange sauce
Broccoli salad
Rice
Orange Juice
Brownies

If you're in the area, come have lunch!! She's an amazing cook and the service is fabulous!

So, this is my life...

I was talking to a dear friend of mine from home the other day, and was asked "do you miss the USA? Do you want to come home?"

Quickly, before I could think, out spat "Are you crazy? I love it here, I don't want to go home!!"

*GASP* Is this really how I feel??

After 11.5 months in country, I've adjusted to all the things that "shook my world" when I first got here.

- I've adjusted to the $1.75 lunches (almuerzos) ... my saving pennies how includes my daily walk uphill from work to avoid paying $0.18 for the bus.
- I always bring a baggie to the campo ... there's NO way I'm eating three meals of rice on one plate.
- When I first got to Guaranda, I thought ¨how funny¨and tried (descreately) to take pictures of the old man on Calle Sucre who sat outside all day with his scale, offering to weigh people. Now, after all that rice, I´m thinking of paying for his useful services.
- Half the time loud hisses or cat calls come my way I ignore them, the other half I go confront the problem (and once made a friend out of it! haha... that's like .05%).
- Having a hard day, just take Peyton's advice ... "I just did yoga and saved my legs, I feel like a new person."
- I don't look twice, or even take photos of the cows and chickens that roam the streets.
- I sleep pleasantly with ear plugs ... the 30minute songs till 2am OR the constantly crowing rooster outside my window no longer bother me.
- PANDORA DOESN'T WORK IN ECUADOR!!!!! :( .... it's okay, I found a replacement ... thesixtyone.com :)
- When someone says "we'll start the meeting at 8AM" ... I bring a book
- I've learned how to stand on a bus while eating habas and whipping around small roads, psch - "no pasa nada"
- NEVER turn down a free tortilla or carrot juice from the host family!
- I've learned that "Gringas always get the last laugh" --- words from fabulous Eik!!
- Even though I still need to learn all the rules, I joined a soccer team :)
- Pilsner is okay (when it's really really cold and you think of it like water)
- There are 3 year olds AND 90 year olds who will always move their hips better than me.
- I'm not sure I quite have the Ecuadorian fashion down, but I'm okay doing the "Gringa Swagger" all over town (Ms. Molly, WONDERFUL phrase!)
- Downing soda (grape, orange, pepsi...) is second to sipping water -- gotta pass the cup for the next person!
- If someone borrows a text message .... you can always regalo one from them come end of the month
- Instant coffee tastes good with sugar, milk and chocolate
- Black rain boots ARE fashion!
- Funny faces at the meat market can (almost) be kept to myself ... or at least out of direct visual line of the woman with the knife.
- 10 hour bus rides... haha, bring them ON!!!
- Yes, I speak English ... if you ask me to speak it, I'm going to make you sing a song with me!
- Just because you're a pedestrian in the CROSS-WALK doesn't mean the cars will stop for you .... okay, I might NEVER adapt to this...

I think what I wanted to tell my friend is that, I'm comfortable here. Right now, life has kind of leveled out. Going back to the USA would be more culture shock for me than ... well than waking up tomorrow and going through my day (I know more about the El Capo drama than what's happening on LOST)

Normality is relevant though. Each day is still amazingly diverse for me - brings lots of changes and unexpected events ... which is why I love it.

This month is bringing lots of leaps forward (after months of planning)... and of course, more planning...
- The grupo de jovenes in CEMOPLAF is meeting regularly and were planning/ starting some money generating projects... photos to come
- Organizing a tech trip to visit a Volunteer in the South of Ecuador who works with a group of women who do recycle paper ... and talking to my Foundation about starting a youth-run business :)
- Xi is getting married ... end of summer 2011 :)
- ALL OF THE TOYS are in Santo Domingo (de los Frios) and were starting to incorporate creative games, alternative learning styles and group work into their daily classes :) We started painting the room. PHOTOS.
- I'm teaching English classes.... the local WorldTeach program lost two of their volunteers (due to security reasons) with only one month left to go in the 9month program. So, they asked the gringa in town to teach. I love it!! Although, I did have to kick out two kids for cheating on their make-up test (they didn't pass the first one) ...
- My amazing sister and I are organizing book drives, libraries and reading programs ... OH MY!!
- Working with Soluciones Comunitarios, they provide products to people in the campo that solve a specific health problem (glasses, stoves, water purification, solar lamps). Their business model consists of training local women to be asesores (sellers/ promoters ... think Mary Kay, but in rural Ecuador, with different products). So, were currently training 4 women in the program - when finished they will have some health, business and self-esteem knowledge. Soluciones Comunitarios is also helping me out with a small business (women making Turron) I've been working with. End of the month they are bringing some inters to country who will work with the women in market understanding and market expansion. sweet.
- Profesora Judith's kids want a summer program ...

"All you are is what you have thought" - someone wiser than me