It is quite difficult to recount all that has happened since my last post a month or so ago. Try my best I will…
The goodbye – I went on one last epic horseback ride to the top of a nearby mountain with my host family to search for a lost toro bravo. The search was of course futile, but the views were great even though volcan cayambe was covered by clouds. Took some great fotos with the host family and had one last bonding experience before I rode out of their life in the back of a pickup, the same as I arrived two months prior. In retrospect, I really miss the times I had in training and my family. I hope to see them again in the near future.
Graduation – yep. Survived the Peace Corps training and received a certificate. Yay! Only comment I have here is that the Ambassador’s hot tub is incredible and I was finally able to unleash the dancing machine that evening. 7pm-4am. Oh how I miss you Austin dance parties, especially the infamous Blue House parties.
The big move – what a mess. Traveling with a my backcountry pack on the back, regular size school pack on the front, a suitcase and a large speedo bag in each hand. Took the night bus. Overslept. Ended up just one city too far. Time to backtrack. Made it to the hub city just fine. Time to take a rental truck to site. $50!? Piss off truck driver man. I shall wait in the street until 2pm when the bus to my town arrives, thanks (it is currently 8am). Caught a good spell of luck and one of my friends was driving the bus to my site that day. He really helped me out greatly… stored my luggage under the bus under lock, took me to eat breakfast and let me know where to find things in the city. Didn’t even charge me for the trip. Made it to my site with everything but my sunglasses and a pair of pants that one of my buddies mistook for his own in quito.
First week excursions in Gualleturo – Dental checkups in a couple of surrounding communities of the Subcentro. Gulag Bajo was a nice hour hike away. Nestled above a never-ending sea of clouds. Absolutely beautiful, my favorite view in Ecuador thus far. The school children were great and receptive after a few awkward, silent, staring moments. They opened up and wanted me to teach them a little English which I did to kill time until their respective checkups. Very intelligent. Community number two to visit was Campo Alegre. This was a three hour hike all uphill. Did I mention that the dentist and I got lost at least three times? This is what happens when you trek through mountain jungles following paths in which you have to crawl. We arrived at the school after it was let out, but we managed to rustle up a handful of nearby kiddos. I brought some fotos of the USofA to entertain them while they waited to get their checkups. Great kids as well, but my goodness were they filthy. Definitely will be giving some charlas on hygiene there in the near future.
Yeah, too long and boring. Got it. Time to post another blog.
