Whoa, it has been a long time since I have updated this blog. Sorry life, work, procrastinating got in the way. So I just had my Close of service (COS) conference. Can you believe it has been 2 years since I left the States for Ecuador? 2 years have gone by and it still feels like I just began.
COS
It was nice and sad to see everyone at the training center. Lots of hugs and long talks. We lost about 12 (out of 62) people along the 2 years of our service. Some are missed dearly and some have faded away. Our COS conference was a success, Bibi has done an amazing job in making each session /training event amazing. Peace corps took us out for dinner. We had all you can pizza at a fancy restaurant in Tumbaco. We dressed fancy and all! We ended our COS conference on a good and sad note. Many of us probably will not see each other after COS.
I have 2 months left in country. I have decided to COS early, which means I get to go home on July 19th instead of August 19th. Super excited to go home, terrified of what is next, anxious for a job, and dreading readjusting once again. I've been told it takes 3 months to a year to get back to the pace of American life. Anyway, I am almost done. I have a ton of paperwork that needs to be done before the month is over and with luck I will finish it this week. Katie, Benjamin and I decided to leave together so hopefully we get to fly together to Miami.
Since I last blogged I have gone back to the states, visited Machu Picchu/Cusco with Sara and Katie, killed my computer (technically Machala´s weather killed my laptop) so I bought an iPod, did a little beach hoping on the coast of Ecuador - Santa Elena, Ayangue, Los Friles, Atacames, Monpiche, and Playa Estera, did the iron runner 5k race with 15 obstacles on the beach, learned to make bags from candy wrappers/chip bags, and applied for jobs in the states.
I worked with one library doing summer classes- giving story time and English classes. I did some teacher training this past month. But now it is time to pass on our projects and close the ones that are finished.
Next month my parents will be visiting me and hopefully we get to travel to some pretty awesome places.
Here are pictures to give you a better understanding of my adventures so far:
Like my title. I do too. Its a quote from the rapper Mos Def. I like his music as well.
I think this quote made me realize that I was not living in the present. I tended to focus on my future, my future plans, never giving my present situation any thought whatsoever. Now I live more in the now. I feel like I am now enjoying my life and giving myself a little breathing room. I still think of what I am going to do after my Peace Corps service but without panicking and overwhelming myself. I also enjoy our wonderful world, the people around me, and the adventures that the universe throws at us. I think everyone should watch the movie "Life in one day" and think about their daily life. Life is beautiful no matter where you are and with who you are spending it with. I am truly grateful for all the people that have appeared in my life and mostly for those that have played a major role in my present life. I wouldn't be who I am today without you.
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Anyway, this month has been fun and exciting.
We got new projects on the way. Library projects being formulated this week. And the last two weekends have been enlightening! We went on a hike looking for some Inca ruins in Paccha and I also ran a 7k crossfit race obstacle course.
Last weekend we headed down to Paccha which is a 3 hour bus ride from our city in Machala. A group of about 5 of us headed to up the mountain to hike and camp at the Incan ruins also known as Yacuvinay ruins. We walked 3 hours in the evening/night heading up a beautiful moonlight path. We had the harvest moon on our backs giving us a little bit of light. We got to the ruins made haste to set up camp and had peanut butter sandwiches and chifles for dinner. We ended up going to bed early. It was very cold and no one wanted to stay up late.
The next morning we hiked around the ruins. Checked out the beautiful breathtaking scenery. After a few minutes enjoying the view and wondering around we were ready to hike back down and head home.
As we made our way back onto the hiking trail some how we took a wrong turn and hiked down the wrong trail. This wrong trail ended up costing us 5-6 hours of hiking. We made it back 6 hours after we left camp and we were ALL oh so very exhausted. At the time we were all tired, hungry, thirsty, and grumpy. But in retrospect we had a fantastic time hiking in a beautiful place and we got to enjoy nature. We got home safe and sound.
Pictures time!
From this hike I learned that;
I am still afraid of heights.
I can face my fear of heights and not give up even when climbing and walking along steep hills for 5 hours.
I can do anything I set my mind to.
and I am stronger than I give myself credit for.
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This week I trained for a 7k obstacle course called Adventure Race which was sponsored by my crossfit gym. We had 50 people participate including myself and 3 other volunteers. All from different age groups. I joined my morning group (8am crossfitters). We called ourselves "Asi somos" which roughly translates to "This is who we are". The race was not in my city but in another city, 40 minutes away. It was in a bananera farm (?). lots of land. There were LOTS of hills and lots of little streams feeding the rows of banana trees and cacao trees. We had 14 obstacles to pass and had military men watching us complete these obstacles before letting us head to the next one. Regardless of how much I suck at running I still completed it in 1hr 30/40 minutes. I am proud of myself. I did what I said I would do and I am satisfied with the results. Now I know what I need to work on for next year. My goal is to complete the Iron Runner race. Before I COS I will be doing most definitely doing this!
Now until June I will be training for this. I can't wait.
Anyway, pictures of my group Asi Somos!
Random pictures
Ben took this foto of me at the training center. See I do smile, sometimes.
TEFL volunteers sometimes have to be judges for English contests.
Last week we judged a singing contest. It was pretty fun.
Well that is all for now! I will traveling next week. I tend to travel a lot which I love doing!
Give this a listen, I like them a whole lot. - little talks by Of monsters and men
