Details of where I'll be

Snippet from one of our Staging Letters:

Orientation

Accommodations

We have a very full and intense schedule planned during the first few days of the “Arrival Event”. Activities include administrative matters, safety and security, specific program information, an orientation to Community Based Training (CBT) and the area of Cayambe where CBT will take place, a medical orientation (including vaccinations!), information on aspects of culture, and “Survival Spanish” classes.  PLEASE PACK A SEPARATE BAG FOR THESE FIRST FEW DAYS.  Trainees will spend the first four nights in the Hostal San Javier, with the first day’s activities taking place in the Peace Corps Office in Quito.  Accommodations in this hostel, located 15 minutes from the PC Office, include shared rooms to which there will be assigned 2–5 Trainees, private bathrooms in each room, hot water, and breakfast served in the morning during the Arrival Event.  Couples will have private rooms.  Trainees will be provided with bottled drinking water as it is not recommended to drink the tap water.  

There will be phones available at the hour of Trainee arrival, with international access.  All phone calls must be paid for individually by Trainees, in cash, before leaving the hostel.  Sunday morning, after the programmed activities for the Arrival Event, Trainees will travel by public bus to Cayambe, a town north of Quito (1 ½ hours), accompanied by their Language Facilitators, to their host family sites. These sites are within 30 minutes of Cayambe.  Trainees will meet and have lunch with their host families with whom they will live throughout approximately eight of the 9 weeks of Pre-Service Training.

Pretty exciting stuff!

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..... 

The Quickening: Staging Full Throttle

May 18, 2009

My whining and complaining is over. My head is more clear and I'm back to my old positive self appreciating the love and support I have around. For real I couldn't do anything of this without my "village" backing me up. Well it's a good think I'm back in the swing of things because I JUST got my staging information.

All this time everything I have states that I start staging June 17th. I was thinking that I would be going to DC or some other city for about 2 week, then you go train in your host country for approx 3 month. NO.WAY. I was wrong (again!). First of all it says my staging is in Miami (coulda just stayed there! jk) and it's on the 16th. One whole day early. That may not seem like a big deal to most, but my days are numbered and that shaved off even more time. We are in Miami from the 16th-17th and then we fly to ECUADOR!!! I cannot belive that this time next month I'll be flying to Ecuador. I.am.flippin.out. On the inside of course. I haven't even finished reading the email.

Holy toledo!