Donde Estas?

Everyone is asking where will I be.

Well it's complicated...at least as I write this it is. Everyday I get more and more clear on how this is all going to pan out. We received some packing guidelines with our staging information and we need to pack 3 separate bags for 3 separate stages. The 4 day arrival in Ecuador, 3 month training and the remaining 2 years (if I under stand that correctly) I have already sent out an email to the Country Desk for clarification.

So first stop...the Sierra highlands for four days. I'm guessing that's the Andes region, but I could be wrong. This area is approx 45-70 degrees, chilly at night and can get some rainy days even in the dry season (which is now). The best way to dress is layers. So that means two shirts on one days which equals, more things in the bag to pack. However, I can count these clothes towards the clothes I have during training....

Training, three months in Cayambe (finally city!) Our staging packet states that we need all kinds of clothing, t-shirts, long-sleeved, short sleeved, boots, different pants etc. This is where I need to pack smart. The letter puts a strong emphasis on not packing excessively. So that is the goal.

Our third bag is everything else we will need for our 2 years of service but can live without for 3 months. So right now I'm thinking that is mainly supplies and other various items. We are told to label this luggage "Quito" because that is where the are storing it. As of right now, where I'll be for the next 2 years is still a mystery..... 

Small Recap

I never look back at my old posts so I may not have outlined my experience from going from nominee to invitee (that reminds me I should update my timeline...)

While I'm not going to go through the whole story, I will say that I was continuously being told that no matter where I went I would Have to know 6 weeks before, because that's how long it takes to get a new passport. Well I was given the minimum amount of time. 6.Weeks. One of those weeks I was out of town. I officially accepted on May 11th  (which mind you was the day I had marked in my calendar to completely start stalking the lovely people in D.C. about my assigment) crazy right? 

   So that gave me about 5 weeks to completely rap up my life. I had trips planned, people to see, jobs to apply for even all out of the window. Plus I hadn't wrapped my mind around all that needs to be in order for one to just up and leave for two years and not come home to a complete mess upon ones return! 

  I have been so swamped with so much to do. I think though this experience is likened to the old proverbial band-aid rippage... It's all going soooo super fast, but at any slower of a speed and the pain/saddness of leaving would have way more time to sink and stunt my progress. I have episodes of being really sad when I let the feeling of me actually leaving really sink in... but then I realize there is no time for that because I have to write and aspiration statement, contact the DMV, make sure my finances are in order etc... 

   This whole having to learn Spanish is more than just a notion. The Peace Corps ask would I be dedicated to learning the language, and I said yes. They asked if they sent me Rosetta Stone would I dedicate my time before leaving (what time?) to leaning as much of the language as possible. I agreed. So on May 15th (four weeks before I leave) I was sent the Rosetta Stone program along with a charge to dedicate a minimum of 40 hours to the program! Yikes. So that's 10 hours a week. While last month dedicating 10 hours to anything would have been a piece of cake, that is no longer that case! Plus I knew I was still in weddings, still had social obligations, still had sleep to get, shopping to do yikes! Did I mention that they track how long you are on the program? Now I fully intended on using Rosetta Stone. I was/am SO excited, that the Peace Corps has enough faith in me to learn the language I just get nervous with the thought of a meter running. 

    I am going to email the nice folks at the Country Desk and see how many hours I have done. I hope I am half way to my goal. I have also been reading my Spanish books, having conversations with native speakers and watching Univision (which I have since given up until I get my skills up!).  Some days I feel confident. Other days I just hope I don't get played at the end of training lol. 

   I hope I am able to be as diligent in LA as I have been in the Lou. I also found out I leave yet another day earlier. I am leaving on the 15th to  go to Miami, stay over night, have training on the 16th and then we leave on the 17th! I can't believe I'll be in Ecuador for good in a few weeks!