Reality Check

OMG, reality just set in about how much time I actually have here. Here I am worried about the crazy rules we have to abide by and how every second of our day is scheduled that I didn´t even realize we have dos semanas mas of training!! Since we are leaving for our (different) tech trips this weekend we only have on week together. That means saying good bye to my family, by to my friends that I´ve come accostumed to being around every day, by to Cayambe the city I have come to know and love and good bye to a packed schedule. Hello, fear of guns and taxi´s rollin solo, not understanding a word, loving caring staff that will talk slow when you need and assist with the language, arrrgh goodbye everything I have come to KNOW!!! I am SO sad about leaving my family. I just sit and watch my mom cook now trying to swallow tears. We´ve gotten so close I do not want to leave! Or playing with my sister makes my heart ache now. Or just when we are all together I´m thinking man only a week more and then we leave. Sigh. It´s going to be a tough transistion and it came out of no where... All this time we talk about how time is dragging and that´s clearly not the case at all. I also only have two weeks to get myself to Intermedio Medio or I don´t graduate! lol. Gotta get on the grind. Well I have some posts that are going to post duing my tech trip and I´ll write when I get back on the 8th I think.... I know that next week I´m going to be full of emotion so bear with me and wish me luck on my week long tech trip!!!! It´s going to be a busy one!

Este Fin De Semana

I wanted to blog and tell stories all about this weekend cause it was full and fun but I’m so tired…probably from this crazy weekend.

As always our weeks are packed and I just long to sleep in juuuust a little bit (I’m doing well if I sleep till 9!) on Saturday and maybe even Sunday…Well this weekend was not typical at.all. Maybe I’ll bullet point…

Friday:
Jammed my fingers had to tape them together
Classes all day
Needed to prep for our presentation in front of all of our families
Went out for a night on the town (when we maybe should have been practicing Spanish…) I think singing Como la Flor @ Karaoke is sufficient enough

Saturday:
Should have napped/studied and skipped Karaoke lol
Had classes at 8 AM!! For the 6th day in a row!
Blur, fog, yawn, huh?
Got a chance to work and prep our pres
Have our charla at 3:00 not only do our families come but so do a lot of the staff!! Yikes!
We all actually get great reviews and really helpful feedback on our first charla
Chase my dog that doesn’t have a leash (or sense) through the streets of Cayambe with 7 other people and finally catch her.
Want to nap but instead go play “basket” with my group
Finally get the tacos we’ve been wanting since day one
Hang with the fam until I can’t stay up anymore (I think that’s how my Sat ended…)

Sunday:
*REEEAALLLLY wanna sleep and rest….
*But get up bright and early to accordian music blasting for today is mi hermana, Jenny and mi abuela Mama Ines’ birthday celebration extravaganza
*Finish some work that is due Monday muyrapido
*Think I’m getting out of hand washing my clothes a) cause my fingers still hurt b) because there are 20 people at the crib and it’s only 9 something c) feel there is no point in hanging my clothes up outside when it’s going to just smell like the smoke from the chicken mi tias are cooking outside on the front steps…sigh
*The family makes fun of me as I scrub my life away as they cook up a storm
*My mom gives me 10 minute count down to be ready and I’m soaking wet and covered in mud (it’s too long of a story only I get more dirty and some of my clothes when I WASH…can’t explain it…)
*Viva Fiesta…well I’m in the shower…but the party begins
*Dani is also invited over since there is also a request for a repeat performance of the pizza making from early in the month (I certainly can’t do it alone…)
*We eat…..We dance in a circle for about 3 hours…and eat some more…
*As if we need more food, we go and buy cosas for the pizza
*Once the majority of the fam gets wind pizza is being made...most people don’t leave and a pizza making party commences
*The eating doesn’t stop, neither does the laughter and good times
*Finalimente, candy, cake, pizza, carne, arroz, lechuga etc are all consumed and mi tias, tios, abuelas y sobrinas return to their homes and I call it a night!
*I go downstairs one last time to say good night and my fam is actually eating AGAIN and offers me some soup, but I clearly need to get rest for class bright and early Monday!

Guayaquil

I´m back from my site visit and don´t know really what to report. I was going to try to have Wikipedia do everything for me but here Wiki was in Español. Okay do you want the good news or bad news first? Okay I´ll just get the bad news stats about Guayaquil out of the way. It´s kinda way dangerous. You have to your pilas about yourself. Robberies are really big...so I had money in my bra, in my little satchel thing, I had my bank card in my right shoe under the my insole thing, and an extra ten in my left. So even if my satchel got stolen I wouldn´t be down an out. My friend Jen wrote emergency numbers inside of the tongue of her tennis shoe. Yeah we were getting down like that. Take that G-quil robos. All of the volunteers that I talked to while there have most definitely been either held at gun point or knife (point?). So that´s uber scary. But they have techniques of getting out of the situation without getting shot or harmed. Peace Corps goes through GREAT lenghts to make sure that we are beyond prepared to live in these cities and if you estar pilas then they support you all the way. Like if I got held and gunpoint and have to give up my decory money and cellphone, Peace Corps will reimburse me because my life is more important than those things. I don´t know how other people make it but, as a PCV I feel well protected and support. On the flipside, we are responsible for our own safetly. I´m going to be so street savvy in dos años! I grew up in a place where we don´t even lock our doors...so it´s an adjustment. I´m up for the challenge. The public transportation right now to me is INSANE I´m sure if I lived in NYC I would be more accustomed, but since everything is in Spanish and my big city experience is LA where we drive everywhere. I am muy overwhelmed with it all. Que mas? My host family is 180 degrees different than my family here in Cayambe. Which I am happy about. I was not going to be able to fall in love with another family. In G-quil, my host landlandy is just that, I rent a room from her, she works all day long, she has a son who is so sweet and helpful and they don´t cook any meals. They saved me a shelf in the fridge and they are like fend for yourself. I prefer that. No pressure to eat heaping plates of food. Since the ladies I work with cook such huge lunches I think that´s going to serve as lunch and dinner.

Que mas, que mas, I wish I had organized this but I didn´t. So G-quil is peligroso but I´m in good hands. My living sitch is nice. No pressure and the accomadations are nice. I have a shower, a flushing toilet, a soft grande cama, I have a TV but I´m not going to watch it, I have a fan which is really great in the hot city. It´s like normal room. I have bats outside of my window and there is a liiiitttlle bit of a roach sitch in the kitchen, but I didn´t really go in there for the 4 days I was there. All in all it´s a sweet deal and no one can replace my Cayambe family. I´ll be in touch with them for ever and really think of them as my second fam.

Let´s get to the best part of my trip. The Good News. Mujeres De Lucha. That is the organization of Afroecuadorian Women I will be working with. The name translates to Women of Struggle. I absolutely love love love them already. It´s a task and a challege. I don´t even understand what they are saying but they do great work and are muy amable. Maybe actually I will do a post just about them, because they are that special. The whole point is that there are some challenges about living in Guayaquil but I´m so up for it because I´m SO excited for my project. I think even when I return to the states I will want to be involved somehow, but that´s in two years. I need to just figure out what they are saying lol. They are just like my family, my aunts, cousins, sisters and mothers all talking at once and cracking up. It´s great fun.

The barrio I work in is also supposed to be kind of dangerous, but the women I work with are well known and after I¨ve been seen with them a lot around the neighborhood I will be fine. I feel safer in my barrio than the mean streets of G-quil already. While a lot of people will work and live in their same community my set up is a bit different. My barrio isn´t safe enough for Peace Corps standards especially after dark, so I can come and work and then leave and go to my house in G-quil. When I pictured my time in the peace corps I imagined myself on a dirt road sitting on the porch of my grass house waving to my neighbors that I work with. It´s a bit different than that romantic vision. I actually report to work everyday and then leave at night. I have so much to say but I can´t free style on this blog anymore.

Coming attractions:
Mujeres De Lucha
Otra Cosas Part III
Maybe some pictures....(all old)

Chacos and Tevas and Crocs OH MY!

The Topic Today Shoes.

Shoes something you don't think about. You put 'em on everyday, maybe hope they match and keep it movin. However, for us almost thirty's shoes are signifying the apparent change in our lives. For example, on of my BFFs and I are having major shoe woe's. Nik who is going into nursing school has been served up a healthy heaping helping of WHITE, yes white Crocs... Yeeps yes, this fashionista that wears a size 9 says that her shoes weigh approx 20lbs and she could set sail on a voyage across the Earth because those boats are not playin lol. However they are super comfy...and for her job..those are the shoes she needs. Stilettos or Crocs...that's tough one. Ugh, I too had to make the executive decision to not even PACK heels... None of my heels made the final cut. Instead I spent more on my sensible steppers than I do on shoes I actually like. Who has heard of Chacos? They are super beefy, super supportive, super expensive sandals. I had to get a pair because apparently my gold and silver flip flops from downtown LA ($5 bucks I think) just aren't going to make it in the jungles of Ecuador :( Fine. I DID however cheat where Nik couldn't. That super thick rubber round toe jam on the front I just couldn't do. I opted for the opened toed Chacos, and I got the most fashion foward pair I could find lol...sigh, I still haven't worn them. I am already rocking Peace Corps chick every day (khaki's, short sleeved shirts with long sleeves underneath or worse a frumpy button down ugh...). I even had to bust out my silver flats (oh yeah, they made the trip)...just cause I had to break the mold for a second. First step sensible shoes...what's next!?

What does this change really mean? Are we maturing? Growing up? Is this what it's about? Just a month ago I was on my mama's futon watching marathons of Who's Wedding Is It Anyway and Clean House, now I'm studying Spanish around the clock. I never have ME time anymore, but I will be proficient in Spanish most likely in three months. That's a pretty great trade off right? I'm mad busy around the clock, I live under someone else's roof and can't even come and go as I please, but at the same time I am actually feeling like I'm walking in the right direction. So while I am strongly discouraged to go to the park on the weekend and mi madre will come looking for me if I'm not home by 7:30 PM (trust and believe!) I feel as though I'm walking on the right path and I'm right on time (even mi madre doesn't think so tee hee). Same with Nik and nursing. Her shoes are the.worst. but clearly when she is finished with her program she will have job security in any economy, will have achieved yet another hurdle on her Life To Do List and will be helping others and THAT never goes out of style. I think that feeling of validation and achievement, while not always so glamourous, is worth hanging up our heels and all metalic footwear for awhile.

Site Assignment!

Just got my site assignment! I'm going to Guayaquil the city and I'm going to be working with an amazing AfroEcuadorian woman's group! I cannot be happier!!!!! My group is actually visiting thier sites today I just wanted to send an update. Send positive vibes and prayers as Guayaquil being a major city definitely has it's risks. When I safely return on Wed/Thurs I will update again on how the site visit went. Besos y abrazos!

From Sour To Sweet Continued...

Sunday...

Alright I can make this fast.

So I had my attitude in check, but I told mi madre I STILL wasn't to sleep in Sunday too, cause we will get up soo early if not. She was like, "claro, we sleep on Sundays" um, okay if you say so. Well I again woke up mad early, but coasted along for a few hours in the bed, it was so great. Around 10 mi amigo Dani called cause we were cooking dinner for my fam that night. I got up to see what the plan for the day was. No one was up...everyone was in the bed watching TV or just chillin. I loved it. I climbed in bed with my little sister Shona and was on the phone getting details for the day. Breakfast, Laundry (snap! I thought I was gonna get out of hand washing my stuff this weekend..silly me), Buy Ingredients for the pizza my sister requested we make, go watch Dario play futbol, regrasa a la casa to make the pizza. Sweet. I cleaned my room and my clothes. I'm getting really good at hand washing and actually had fun this time. It also didn't take half a day because I only had 7 days worth of items to wash. Met up with Dani and tried to figure out what we needed using mi madres cook book. Again, I don't cook in the Estados Unidos so following a cook book in Espanol was a challenge. We finished in time to make it to the game, that was so much fun, because mi hermano is the best futbol player and the weather was nice, but they didn't win. Despues we had to go back to the store because we bought the wrong flour, then we were ready for the pizza adventure. I thought it was just going to be Dani y yo making the pizza, but oh.no. mi madre was already stewing tomatoes for the homemade pizza sauce and slicing veggies. She and Shonita helped and boy did we need. We made the dough or masa from scratched and had the.best.time making that pizza it took all night, but we had a blast. I'm glad Dani came up with the idea to do that. It turned out great and mi familia realllly appreciated the gesture. I was surprised actually how thankful they were. So I had gone into the weekend thinking I was going to spend the majority of it up in my room sleeping and studying, but I got out, opened the lines of communication con mi madre, enjoyed the country side, enjoyed my friends, got some studying in, cooked some food for the fam and got in some all around good vibrations. It was a sweet weekend indeed :)

Desde Agrio a Dulce (From Sour to Sweet):

I had a sweet weekend. I wish I felt like writing to go into details but I will report the events. By the end of last week (which is really the week of July 6-10) I was soooo exhausted mentally and physically. I couldn't take no mo. We always have our weekends PACKED with events and I was in a sour mood and was not going to be able to go go go like we do. I started telling me mi madre wednesday "I want to rest this weekend por favor". I was worried my lack of language was going to play me and I was going to find myself at a desfile at a las ocho like always. I didn't want to have to set my alarm to get up mad early I didn't want to watch parades all day, no trips nada. Stank, I know. I have fun on the weekends don't get me wrong, but I could tell that if I didn't recharge my batteries in a serious way this weekend I wasn't going to make it through the next week.

The end of the week proved to have some challenges with freedom and being out past 7:00 pm again...sooo by Friday night things on that front we're way out of order. So Saturday morning, I a) wanted to sleep in b) wanted to have a talk with mi madre to make sure she knew were I was coming from on the reglas about being out.

Well I woke up at 7 AM to all the hustle and bustle that mi casa provides, but I put a pillow on my head and drowned it out hoping that I wouldn't get that knock on my door....around 9ish mi amiga Jen called wanted to get together arond 11ish for some study time as we planned. I dragged myself out of bed around 10 sooooo happy that I got to sleep in like that, but dreading having to talk with mi madre....

When I finally got enough nerve to go downstairs, and looked up words like "disrespect" and "used to" to be able to explain that I don't want to disrespect her house but I'm used to living on me own, I was ready for our talk.

No one was even home when I went downstairs, but when I was ready to actually leave for our study date they crew appeared. She was cool and happy as always. I told her that I wanted to make sure we didn't have any miscommunications about when I am expected to be in the house. She was like it's all good, but the streets or Cayambe are muy peligroso and that people get jacked all day everyday. Which don't I know it we get presentations over that all the time. ANyone who knows me knows I don't want noooo problems. I explained to her that I totally agree first of all but that in the US first of all it's not always dark by 6 PM and that I am just used to being on my own and that being out of the house at 8 PM is not that late on a Friday (and she knew where I was)... we had more dialog and I thought it went well, but when you have a language barrier I wanted to make sure she felt good about it. Later when I was just washing my dishes she gave me a big hug, so I was like awwww okay cool we def cleared the air, and instead of letting it go due to it being a difficult situation I think she appreciated the talk. The bottom line is though...when it's dark my behind betta be in the house and if I have friend with me, they betta be in they house too lol! They think of us as their kids and we are their responsibility and I know I would be just like mi madre if I were her. We compromised though on some things. So I was happy for that.

I'm so tired writing this and ready for bed lol... and that was just Saturday 11 AM...okay I'm going to make this quick. I went and studied a bit with the girls in my group then I returned and tried to study a bit more. Mi madre made me eat some lunch even though I wasn't all that hungry. Durning the meal she was like "sigh, I was going to go visit my brother but you have to study" I was still in my stank I dont wanna do NOTHIN mood and was happy so far I was doing just that. Just sleep and studying. However, the reason I am here and with a family is to get the cultural experience. I have met her brother (mi tio) on a couple of occasions and I really like everyone in the fam so I was like ...ooookay I will go visit your hermano. I'm thinkin he lives down the street like my tia's on mi padres side. Ummm, a bus ride into the middle of nowhere proved otherwise. Her brother lives on this farm with guinea pigs (yikes I didn't have to eat them...this time...), dogs, cows, lambs, pigs...muchas cosas and lots of plants and land. Her hermano wasn't even there when we arrived...I was like well there goes my day of studying (still stank :op) Then the boys roll up on a tractor followed by the dad and the mom. They hooked up with suspicion plank of wood to the back of the tractor and motioned for us to jump on.

Wha? I'm not getting on that thing, and its so close to that huge wheel that is as taller than me and wider than me and would crush me in an instant. Good thing I DON'T know how to say of that ins Spanish. All I know is "Si" so we hopped on that shady piece of wood and off we went.

So.Glad.We.Went. It was the Most beautiful ride ever. We were so close to the mountains, there was nothing but fresh air, mountain views, wide open spaces, cows and caballos and the sun peeking through the clouds. It was so much fun and so relaxing. The completely altered my mood. I definitely felt content and satisfied, like there is no other place I should be but right there, right then. I had JUST gotten my camera back from my fam and so we have NO pics of this awesome time and it's all my fault. Hopefully we can go back, but who knew we weren't going down the street! sheesh lol. We went all around the campo. Milking cows...well the fam, not me I gathered grass and hay for the guinea pigs to eat...and all that grass served as our seat cushion on the way back so that was nice. The two little boys (mi primos) came along eventually, they like ran till they caught us...and they were hilarous and so fun. The tiny one was singing the chorus to "Smooth Criminal" in spanglish and it was our entertainment as we rode along.

I'm sleepy, but all in all it was sooo nice, I can't even remember what happened that night, I know mi madre got some milk from the cows to go that day. That whole semana pasado I told her I didn't really like that whole milk that got a skin over it in two seconds if you didn't stir it...yick...and I just don't drink milk like that. She would turn up her face and say I'm on a diet... Whateve! I eat at least 4 potatoes and my weight in rice everyday! Enserio?! Well...that night she poured everyone milk and I was sitting at the table. My little sister was about to put the milk in front of me and mi madre was like. No, no, no, Jennifer doesn't drink that milk. Sweet Victory! :) More on my weekend mas tarde, yo estoy cansado. Buenas Noches....

I had a sweet weekend. I wish I felt like writing to go into details but I will report the events. By the end of last week (which is really the week of July 6-10) I was soooo exhausted mentally and physically. I couldn't take no mo. We always have our weekends PACKED with events and I was in a sour mood and was not going to be able to go go go like we do. I started telling me mi madre wednesday "I want to rest this weekend por favor". I was worried my lack of language was going to play me and I was going to find myself at a desfile at a las ocho like always. I didn't want to have to set my alarm to get up mad early I didn't want to watch parades all day, no trips nada. Stank, I know. I have fun on the weekends don't get me wrong, but I could tell that if I didn't recharge my batteries in a serious way this weekend I wasn't going to make it through the next week.

The end of the week proved to have some challenges with freedom and being out past 7:00 pm again...sooo by Friday night things on that front we're way out of order. So Saturday morning, I a) wanted to sleep in b) wanted to have a talk with mi madre to make sure she knew were I was coming from on the reglas about being out.

Well I woke up at 7 AM to all the hustle and bustle that mi casa provides, but I put a pillow on my head and drowned it out hoping that I wouldn't get that knock on my door....around 9ish mi amiga Jen called wanted to get together arond 11ish for some study time as we planned. I dragged myself out of bed around 10 sooooo happy that I got to sleep in like that, but dreading having to talk with mi madre....

When I finally got enough nerve to go downstairs, and looked up words like "disrespect" and "used to" to be able to explain that I don't want to disrespect her house but I'm used to living on me own, I was ready for our talk.

No one was even home when I went downstairs, but when I was ready to actually leave for our study date they crew appeared. She was cool and happy as always. I told her that I wanted to make sure we didn't have any miscommunications about when I am expected to be in the house. She was like it's all good, but the streets or Cayambe are muy peligroso and that people get jacked all day everyday. Which don't I know it we get presentations over that all the time. ANyone who knows me knows I don't want noooo problems. I explained to her that I totally agree first of all but that in the US first of all it's not always dark by 6 PM and that I am just used to being on my own and that being out of the house at 8 PM is not that late on a Friday (and she knew where I was)... we had more dialog and I thought it went well, but when you have a language barrier I wanted to make sure she felt good about it. Later when I was just washing my dishes she gave me a big hug, so I was like awwww okay cool we def cleared the air, and instead of letting it go due to it being a difficult situation I think she appreciated the talk. The bottom line is though...when it's dark my behind betta be in the house and if I have friend with me, they betta be in they house too lol! They think of us as their kids and we are their responsibility and I know I would be just like mi madre if I were her. We compromised though on some things. So I was happy for that.

I'm so tired writing this and ready for bed lol... and that was just Saturday 11 AM...okay I'm going to make this quick. I went and studied a bit with the girls in my group then I returned and tried to study a bit more. Mi madre made me eat some lunch even though I wasn't all that hungry. Durning the meal she was like "sigh, I was going to go visit my brother but you have to study" I was still in my stank I dont wanna do NOTHIN mood and was happy so far I was doing just that. Just sleep and studying. However, the reason I am here and with a family is to get the cultural experience. I have met her brother (mi tio) on a couple of occasions and I really like everyone in the fam so I was like ...ooookay I will go visit your hermano. I'm thinkin he lives down the street like my tia's on mi padres side. Ummm, a bus ride into the middle of nowhere proved otherwise. Her brother lives on this farm with guinea pigs (yikes I didn't have to eat them...this time...), dogs, cows, lambs, pigs...muchas cosas and lots of plants and land. Her hermano wasn't even there when we arrived...I was like well there goes my day of studying (still stank :op) Then the boys roll up on a tractor followed by the dad and the mom. They hooked up with suspicion plank of wood to the back of the tractor and motioned for us to jump on.

Wha? I'm not getting on that thing, and its so close to that huge wheel that is as taller than me and wider than me and would crush me in an instant. Good thing I DON'T know how to say of that ins Spanish. All I know is "Si" so we hopped on that shady piece of wood and off we went.

So.Glad.We.Went. It was the Most beautiful ride ever. We were so close to the mountains, there was nothing but fresh air, mountain views, wide open spaces, cows and caballos and the sun peeking through the clouds. It was so much fun and so relaxing. The completely altered my mood. I definitely felt content and satisfied, like there is no other place I should be but right there, right then. I had JUST gotten my camera back from my fam and so we have NO pics of this awesome time and it's all my fault. Hopefully we can go back, but who knew we weren't going down the street! sheesh lol. We went all around the campo. Milking cows...well the fam, not me I gathered grass and hay for the guinea pigs to eat...and all that grass served as our seat cushion on the way back so that was nice. The two little boys (mi primos) came along eventually, they like ran till they caught us...and they were hilarous and so fun. The tiny one was singing the chorus to "Smooth Criminal" in spanglish and it was our entertainment as we rode along.

I'm sleepy, but all in all it was sooo nice, I can't even remember what happened that night, I know mi madre got some milk from the cows to go that day. That whole semana pasado I told her I didn't really like that whole milk that got a skin over it in two seconds if you didn't stir it...yick...and I just don't drink milk like that. She would turn up her face and say I'm on a diet... Whateve! I eat at least 4 potatoes and my weight in rice everyday! Enserio?! Well...that night she poured everyone milk and I was sitting at the table. My little sister was about to put the milk in front of me and mi madre was like. No, no, no, Jennifer doesn't drink that milk. Sweet Victory! :) More on my weekend mas tarde, yo estoy cansado. Buenas Noches....

Otra Cosas July Part II

more random things and some importante dates

Mi made me a handmade necklace. So sweet!

Even though I am in this high altitude and never ran in the Estados Unidos I get up every other day (roughly) and run for 20 mintues. It's SO hard, but since I eat like an Olympiad (rice, potatoes, hearty soup, carne) I gotta burn off that energy. Also, my girl needs someone to run with....

Fechas Importantes
SITE ASSIGMENT: July 9th!!! We actually find out where we are going to be for the next 2 years!!

Site Visit! July 19-23!! We are actually going to visit our sites and see meet the people we are working with!! It seems like this has taken forever, but now it feels really soon. This is the time that people start dippin out straight up. People go to their sites and see that they won't have running water for 2 years or will be milking cows everyday and straight peace out. I wonder what my sentiments will be after the 23rd....stay tuned....

August 19th I believe is our swearing in date. This is the day it all happens. The day I either go home or stay in Ecuador for two years. I hope they swear me in!! :) j/k I think things are going well for me. They Peace Corps staff has to recommend you to be a volunteer. If they don't recommend you, then no swear in. It's a big deal. Fingers crossed!

Me being here still feels good and right...

My fam has had my digital camera for about two weeks so hopefully I have some pictures...stay tuned....

Otra Cosas July

Otra Cosas-

I locked myself out of my house by ripping the key to my door...It's a tricky door...I have sinced figured it out and force isn't always the way.... It's cool, I now know our local locksmith and I met the local store owner that I met when I had to wait for my family to wake up since I definitely broke it when I had gone on a 6 AM run with some of my fellow trainees. Ugh... that was a rough day...

Def experienced my first mood swing, little things like being stuck outside at the crack of dawn, I was feeling a little enferma, and was having feminine hormonal swings as well... I think it lasted a day or two. It was ugh, but in that I was able to see who some of my real friends where. I def wanted to lock myself in my room and cry all night but my homies did not let that happen. My people came over unannounced just to check on me in the ride or die fashion that I am accustomed to so that was a positive outcome. Oh, part of the reason the visits were unannounced was because my phone was broken. It just didn't turn on one day.And wouldn't. days before my texts had stopped working. We already feel out of touch with our loved ones and that was hard not even being able to talk to my peoples here either.

My phone is semi fixed, my texts are still iffy. Why do I ALWAYS have phone issues lol. I have talked to my mom and dad not sure if I've mentioned that. So that has made me happy.

I still haven't changed my voicemail to say that it's me because the instructions to do so are in spanish and it just hasn't happened....I gots to get on that. Just some random things I had written down...

Independence Day? (?)

Happy Independence Day. Of course there is a definite delay in my posts but hey it is what is. No worries. My independence day had little to do with Independence. My day was filled with washing clothes by hand. WHOO WEE what task. Yep mi madre finally cornered me and got me to do it. She also made me sweep and dust my room...under supervision. She even "you missed a spot"ted me lol. I learned how to make a bed like they do at a hotel and as I type this all of my personal intimate apparel is hanging up outside in the front yard over the dog house for everyone person who comes over to see. Sweet. Also, this weekend it was QUITE the task getting out of the house Friday and Saturday. All of our new padres are really protective of us trainees. They feel we are their responsibility and they are not messing around. They want to make sure we don't get jacked in the park, that we have enough money to get a taxi if we need it, but not too much in case we get robbed/pick pocketed, oh and we always are sent out of the door with something to eat...if we don't sit and eat something which is preferred. I was starting to feel a bit claustrophobic as I'm approaching 30 and yet can't be out past 7:30. In reality I appreciate someone taking me into their home and loving me as if I were their own. It's just me and my attitude trying to get out of line. Tonight I (4th of July) I really didn't want to go out and party like a lot of people wanted to do. My super protective family served as the perfect excuse to stay home and test our my new blogging technique with my thumb drive. I sure hope this works. I was able to go out and meet up with friends.... I just had to be home before dinner :)

Friday our Co Trainers, Current Peace Corps Volunteers, Facilitators and Staff had a Futbol Tournament and BBQ for us. It was SO MUCH fun. After my week I needed to just be outside and running around. In Ecuadorian Tradition we had an Madrina/Reina competition. The Reina represents the futbol team and it's basically a pageant before the tournament. There are maybe 9 language groups so we each had to elect a Madrina. For my group..that we call the short bus since we are the lowest Spanish class lol...picked me. Well it was more I agreed to do it cause NO one wanted to. No one wants to parade in front of people AND have to answer a competition question IN Spanish! Our group is the one group that doesn't even speak Spanish so you know we can't even wing it if we wanted to!! Man we at first were like, no man, no way...but then our competitive spirit took over and the Short Bus banded together for real! We came up with a chant in Spanish, we got T-shirts made (pictures coming hopefully) and my whole team had my back helping me come up with my speech. I had one night to memorize it....I thought I could never do it. I could barely READ it correctly let alone memorize it! We were being judged on team spirit, team outfits, chant and the madrina. I was soooo nervous the next day for the competition. Mi Madre was so on top of it, she ironed the one dress I brought with me, and made me wear some make up lol and she even came to the event even though it was just for Peace Corps people. She's so supportive. My lil sis came too and took pictures. My team looked great in our outfits, we had great team spirit, I actually made it through my speech and while the competition was steep guess won !? Yep ME! lol. I am the Reaina of Omnibus 102 2009 and have the sash to prove it. For real it means so much because my group REALLY came together as a team. The Director said the reason Cayambe (my group) won was because our team spirit was so obvious. We were all up late at night writing my speech and while I was saying my speech my girls were mouthing the words in case I forgot lol. It was fun. It's a good memory for when I think I can't do something, I can remember that a) si se puede b) I have a support system.

Despues we got to playing some futbol. My team didn't have any apparent great players like some teams, but we really held our own out there on the field. I think we were pumped from our victory. We won our first game (I made our one and only winning goal, maybe I'll be a futbol player for real!) and we lost our next game in a kick off...and that team was the Facilitators and they were really good, so I feel like we one that one too...lol. Then we met volunteers who have been serving for about a year and had the best food I've had in weeks. It's always great talking to people IN service cause they tell you how it is. We all hung out after the even too...and it was hard getting out of the house lol....but I did and all and all it was a great day.

I got out of going to a parade today early in the AM but tomorrow there is one that I gotta be ready to leave that house at 9 AM sharp. I have written about 5 posts on this thumb drive tonight, I hope that it works. I will have much more fun detailed blog posts if it does! Happy Fourth even though I"ll probably post this on the 14th lol :)

Otavalo

I was in Mascarilla Friday and Saturday. Sunday I was looking to just put on some anti itch gel from my med kit and lay low on the day of rest. Ha, think again. If I hadn't mentioned it, my family likes to keep me on the go. So Of course when I saw mi madre Saturday night she already had some plans. First thing in the morning 8 AM my brother Dario was playing futbol. She actually asked like do you wanna go that early. I love soccer and had fun the last time we went so I of course agreed...we decided to go around 8:30 and just figure out the score when we got there :) The original plan was to then return and wash clothes (mi madre is SO sincere about me washing clothes..by hand..but I don't wanna!!) and clean my room and essentially the whole house.... Well as always we did nothing according to plan... I tried to write out what we did in spanish with mi madre. I'm not sure if it's correcto, but it's an attempt...

A las ocho a futbol a ver mi hermano Dario. This time they didn't win but it was still an exciting game. Despues fuemos a Otavalo tha's right we took a road trip to a semi near by city! Who knew, we drove home after Dario's game they turn around a say wanna go to Otavalo... I didn't know if I needed to pack an overnight bag or what... I was just like...okay....mi madre said I needed more ropa, but I think she just meant a coat. She always thinks I don't dress right for the weather :). Otavalo es trenta minutos de Cayambe. A concer el mercado de Ponchos, which is apparently a popular market for gringos in Ecuador to go to. I couldn't get a lot of things a)cause I didn't have a lot of money b) I don't know what region I will be in I could be on the caliente coast or the frio sierra. No se. Yo compro una blousa however y mi madre compro una chompa. Luego fuemos a Ibarra y almenzar. Segimos despues compramos helada y nos sentramos in al parque. Que Bonita. Segimos a la leguna de Yahuarcocha. Mi hermana cogio un pescado muy pequenos en una botella. El la tarde regesamos a Cayambe. Needless to say no laundry was done...Yeah mi madre got me back this weekend though...but that's another story....

Mascarilla

I try to keep the events I do updated, but by the time I get to the internet cafe, the stuff is just old news. I'm trying to remember last weekend.... We took our first cultural trip to Mascarilla and I took a day trip con mi familia....

The 45 of us were separated into dos groupos. I cannot remember for the life of me where the other group went (it started with a C) but I know that we went to Mascarilla and I was sooo excited when my Facilitator told us about it. There are so many cultures in Ecuador it is actually more diverse than I thought it would be. The majority of the people who live in Mascarilla are Afro-Ecudorians and happens to be the home of one of our Staff members. Mascarilla was a great change of pace for our group is was really warm..well down right hot actually which we have not experienced since being here. When I got off the bus I was looking at people that looked just like me, it was pretty interesting. This lady was telling me that the moniker "Afro-Ecudarians" just like saying African- Americans. People came to talk and share with us their culture Afro Ecuadorians face the same kind of challenges and discrimination as African Americans. I definitely felt a close bond with the people there. Actually, I think everyone did no matter what race. The people there received us with open arms and showed us a great time.

The first day we learned how to make mud/clay masks which is part of their tradition. Hence the name of the town Mascarilla. They have these beautiful unique masks you can only get there. They would make a great gift for someone, I just have to figure out how to ship things without them breaking. We them met with our host families. Well sort of. A lot of us report the same thing. A nice woman and maybe a child came and picked us up, showed us our room and went about their business. I never saw our lady again. My room was up a super scary staircase that you could lose your life on at any minute. The door, while rickety enough to rip off of the hinges...was impossible to lock and unlock...it was nuts. There were five of us staying in a room with three beds. That's it. Just beds, and walls. That's all we needed. We had a blast...and clearly had some bonding time as well. We had no running water, and DEF not a bathroom. All I know is my wet wipes were a big hit with the group. For all you roughing it travelers...bring your wipes they will save your life!

We excitedly changed into shorts and flip flops only to go on a two hour trek into the deep forests of Mascarilla...while beautiful are full of prickly pears and flesh feasting bugs... we are still wishing we had stayed in jeans...but who knew? We had nature talks about then natural medicines found in the forests, we hiked through bamboo...it was pretty cool and hung out at the river. Beautiful scenery, but WHOOO those bugs! Anytime we had down time we just hung out with the local people.

If you wanna have kids have them in Mascarilla. Every child was ADORABLE I don't understand it...the cutest kids you have ever seen and so much fun. People were playing soccer in the streets, the guys were having piggy back ride races, we were dancing in the street (favorite!), we had a really great time. Some of us played futbol with the local teams. There was girl team, man they were good, we had a good time and I actually scored one of the two goals we got, so that was cool. I wish wish wish I had busted out my camera to catch all the sights. A lot of people took pics so I hope they come up on Facebook. When I get my hands on some I will try to include them somehow... I have not figured out my camera sitch.

The next day were more talks about music and culture. It was all sooo interesting and I actually got really frustrated because the topics were music, dance, race relations and culture. Topics I am really interested in and I wanted to hear every word and it's SO frustrating. I can get the gist on a good day, but that day I was scratching bug bites and baking in that intense sun (I have never been under a sun like that!!!) so a lot was lost on me. I was sad about it but it is what it is. I will be be back Mascarilla!!

Oh I didn't even mention the party they had for us! the Bomba is a dance they do where a woman dances with a bottle on her head. Not just dances, does on legged push ups, limbos whatever! We were all dancing around adults, kids, trainees, facilitators...everyone it was pure magic. I loved it. It was definitely a ...This is why I'm here moment.

I know they have one volunteer that lives there at the moment. I'm not sure what program. Either way I would definitely not be mad if I got placed there. I know I know one thing at a time, let's just get me sworn in first right!?

Let Cornelius Tell It

Here is how Cornelius Grove broke down the phenomenon of "culture shock" on a scientific level:

 "Stress by no means has undesirable consequences every time it occurs. Stress does become a problem however, when the neurological and endocrine systems are compelled to respond to environmental novelty constantly and over a long period of time. When this happens, the neurological system, and especially the endocrine system, can become debilitated through overstimulation. Repeated activation of the endocrine system over an extended duration distrubs the normal patter of hormone secretion, which, in turn, has several undesirable physiological consequences such as a sharp reduction in the production of white blood cells (the central components of the body's immune system).....Further more the body becomes more and more exhausted as energy is used to constantly to keep the two systems operating, to keep the brain and sensory organs in a high state of alertness and to keep the body ready for fight, flight or adaptation. " - Orientation Handbook for Youth Exchange Programs

Wheeeew! Can't.Wait. :op