It’s funny if you were to ask me in person, “So
what have you and Emily been doing?” My reflex response would be “Nothing in
the house, bored.” However, as I try to write this blog I realize that a lot
has happened. Don’t get me wrong we have spent many days being bored but this
blog post is meant to capture what has happened between the bored and when it was
compiled it really surprised me how much we have been living.
We have not written a blog since November and I
have not actively contributed since July to our devoted 13 followers (we are
sorry for that). This is because of many reasons/excuses which I won’t waste
time list (as I had planned to). Ok so let’s move right into it. The important thing
is that I am back and ready to update, celebrate, rant and highlight our
experience thus far.
Updates
For those of you following my personal goal
challenges, I am only one goal behind and I have had to modify others. I am
currently trying to read more over the next three months and thanks to friends
and family I am loaded with good things to read. After losing 30 something pounds
in 3 months, the medical office here asked me to cut back working out to 2-3
times a week instead of everyday. I have cut it back a lot, but I hope to be on
track to start P90X in July. As of January 3rd I finished my first
mural and am looking for other projects. The only personal goal that I started and
not completed is writing a novel in 3 months. I started with a too big of a
goal and too many ideas, so I am reassessing how to go about it.
For those interested in our Peace Corps projects.
We have had a lot of success with one or two individuals but over struggle to
see the progress we have made. We are currently reassessing what we need to do
to make our last year the most fruitful. We are still learning the education
system here and constantly searching for a way to put into practice our methodology
while keeping it in line with the culture that exists.
For those interested in our travel, we have done a
lot of short weekend trips. We have made the most of the southern highlights
including but not limited to Loja, Cuenca, Vilcabamba, and Podacarpus National
Park. We are always traveling by bus so that usually takes two days of our
trip. That being said I love the constancy and multitude of the public transportation
in this country. We can get anywhere by bus with a little planning and patience.
We have had many failed attempts to go to the Galapagos but we currently have a
more secure plan for February and we are making plans to see Machu Picchu in
April.
If you would like to know more about of house see
our video Posted in November. We celebrated our one year in country last week
with a small group of volunteers. Everyone had a great time. We also had our
first Ecuadorian visitor two weeks ago which made us feel more integrated.
Highlights
July
Ø Em’s Birthday- We had
dinner with our Ecuadorian friends the Morales’
Ø
2nd Anniversary
Ø
Worked hard to find our
space in the schools, community, and host family
August
Ø
Spanish started to feel
good
Ø
Tried to find a balance
between work and personal time
Ø
Had a reconnect conference
with the people in our group and the counterparts we work with
Ø
Had Cuy for the first time
(Pssst cuy is guinea pig)
September
Ø
1st failed
attempt to go to the Galapagos. Spent the a long weekend in Cuenca with great
friends
Ø
More Training in Tumbaco
Ø
We completed a successful
weekly training on the TOEFL Test, but...
Ø
Balance was thrown off,
other side projects start failing because of inconsistent meeting times or lack
or interest
October
Ø
Moved into a new apartment
Ø
Felt the kindness of the
people of Pinas: everyone was willing to help us move in and get things we
needed
Ø
Lots of eating out because
we had no fridge or stove
Ø
The start of two weeks of festivals
in our town including the 50th anniversary of my school
November
Ø
2nd failed
attempt at the Galapagos
Ø
We got internet in our
apartment
Ø
Em’s Sister and
brother-in-law came to visit for two weeks. It was a good time.
Ø
Had Thanksgiving with other
Volunteers
December
Ø
Went to rested in Loja,
swam in a Podacarpus National Park, and Hiked in Vilcabamba
Ø
Good month for catching up
with friends and family
Ø
Christmas with Morales
Family
Ø
Spent New Year’s in Vilcabamba
with volunteer friends
Always
Eric Aiken
Always
Eric Aiken
"Blogs are whatever we make them. Defining ‘Blog’ is a fool’s errand.”
-Michael Conniff
“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.”
-Brian Clark
“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.”
-Brian Clark
Christmas
Christmas fireworks
Christmas fireworks
Christmas fireworks in the park
Pretty sunset in Vilcabamba
Vilcabamba for New Year's
Ecuadorian dolls to be burned in the New Year. It symbolizes letting go of all the bad things that happened in the last year.
