Not All Who Wander Are Lost: Breaking News...

“Language is the class you never graduate from, you’re always a student” –Bibi PC Training Manager

Before we start on what is sure to be a very nice and complex view of how language is shaping my experience in Ecuador. I would like to give a quick update for friends, family, and people reading at work.

The S.H.H. report (safety, health, and happiness report):

On the topic of safety I feel more safe and relaxed in site than I have the whole time I have been in Ecuador. It has a lot to do with the host family we have and the community support that we are receiving. There is a lot of machismo culture in Ecuador but in our site it is tame and mild. I don’t worry about Em walking around alone and we do not worry about getting pick pocketed or robbed. On the topic of health, it is a running joke between Peace Corps Volunteers that you only get sick once and stay in this limbo of 40-80% health. For the lucky ones it higher and for the unlucky ones well if they stay they are true champions. On the topic of happiness, we are pretty happy here. As with any move there are lags in the integrate cycle. (What’s that, you want to know how you can help us through a lag period, thanks for asking.) What would increase our happiness is a visit for someone or even more economical a care package. SEND US SOMETHING, lol.

The highs and lows forecast:

Highs: Host family is awesome; there is a good balance of support and space. I am making movement on my PC goals and Em as set some of her own. Our site community and school community is good; they have really welcomed us with open arms. We have started to travel around our Province a little and visit other volunteers. I am in love with the seafood here and I’m trying to learn how to cook some of it.

Lows: Number one; there is always a battle to find something to eat. Often during the week we cook for ourselves and finding the time to cook the local meals is an uphill battle. Also our knowledge of how to cook with the local ingredients is a competence that we have not yet mastered. Number two, Boredom is a really killer. When we are bored it is hard not to think about home so we try to stay busy. Number three, Teaching English, like teaching anything, is a time consuming process. That means we spend a great deal of time think about the English language, speaking in the English language, and discussing the English language. As you can imagine, our Spanish takes a backseat some days this is the saddest part of being a TEFL volunteer.

The Big Story:

Even with all the English, Em and I are still making progress in our Spanish. I was told by an Ecuadorian that my Spanish had improved greatly. This was after having a 45 minute conversation about varies topics that didn’t include the basic: where are you from? How long are you here? What’s your favorite color? Etc. Along the same note Em was told by an Ecuadorian that hear accent and pronunciation was really good. This is big because I know it is something she works hard at.

>>> Ok so this post went long then I thought so I am going to add some pictures and continue my Language story, later.