So as my service comes to an end I've been really busy these last couple days. I was able to get all my stuff out of my apartment. Just have to go pick up the gas tank. They gave me almost all the deposit back and still owe me $30.00 but I'm not going to hold my breath..
All my stuff is now in a room upstairs at Chino's house. In the meantime I've been putting things together for Mike to take, stuff that I'm going to give away and other stuff that I'll throw out. Sadly there isn't a Good Will here so I'll need to find somewhere to give it away. Chino's cousin works at an orphanage, so maybe Ill take the majority of the stuff there.
Had my birthday on Saturday. Chino prepared a surprise party for me on friday night. I had no idea! It was nice to see people. Then on saturday I went out to eat with Chloe, Shannon and Kerry. Crazy to think that I've already completed 24 years of my life and now starting the 25th!!
Went to Sandy's last night with Paige and Kim. It was kinda like a going away party/chat session. Got to see Sandy's daughter who is a couple months old and she's so adorable!!! Paige will be leaving for the States on August 1st and wont come back till the end of August, so I said goodbye to her last night. Kim will be leaving at the end of August, so I'll be able say goodbye in August.
I've packed up what I will take to Argentina. Alvaro's parents sent some stuff with me to give to Pancho, there son that lives there that I will be staying with. So that means that there will be plenty of space for me to buy some stuff :) Im hoping I can find some nice clothes that are cheap! And of course load up on alfajoresssss!!!!!!
Will be coming back with only 10 days left in Ecuador. Can not believe how fast the time hast flown by!!! Excited about starting a new job, integrating back into U.S. life and figuring out future plans :)
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
less than a month!
Alright so the big news first of course! I have a job back in the states!!!!! I will be a HIV-Aids case manager working for the Aids Network in Madison. I had two interviews with them and really a great connection with the people that I talked to in the interviews. I think this job will help me grow professionally and personally as I learn new things about being a case manager. This position will really feed my passion for working with and helping people living with HIV-Aids.
I will be moving back to Madison and staying with the lovely rents for as long as I need to adjust and find a place, probably a couple months. Im excited to get back into madison and really explore the city more. I def thought that it would be close to impossible to find a job from here in Ecuador, but it worked! After all that time applying, doing interviews and waiting, I've found something that I think I will not only be great at, but enjoy!!
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Yesterday I went on a paseo (trip) with our DIBESAU office to a place called Nariz del Diablo (Devil's nose) We drove about 2.5 hours to Alausi where the train station was, and then took a train down about 500 meters to the valley of one of the mountains. There we saw a mountain that supposedly looks like the devil's nose (using a LOT of imagination). Apparently the railway was one of the most dangerous train tracks in the world to make because of how it needed to be carved out of the mountain. Over 2500 people died in the 2 year span of making 12 km of tracks. This area also used to be the home of many condors. Sadly after all the explosions and pollution from making the train tracks the condors died or left and there are no longer these birds in the area. The indigenous called this mountain the condor's place. Quite honestly the mountain looks more like a condor head than it does a devil.
After the train ride we had a lovely lunch in the town of Alausi and drove up to the San Pedro monument and took photos of the city etc. On our way back to Ambato we passed the laguna de Colte, which apparently is one of the largest, deepest lagoons in Ecuador. We also went into one of the first churches built in Ecuador (1534)! We arrived back around 7 p.m.
All in all it was a great time to spend together. It was interesting though to see how Ecuadorian adult paseos have some things in common with Ecuadorian college paseos. Alcohol. We left the University at 7 A.M and by 9 A. M people were serving "puro" (moonshine). Then on the way back several people wanted to stop in Riobamba to go out drinking! When we decided to head back straight to Ambato, we had to make a stop so that they could buy beers to drink on the way back to Ambato. It just amazes me that even as adults there always has to be alcohol involved. Now Im not saying that people got completely drunk or anything, but this was a short day trip, is it really necessary that alcohol was involved???
Im starting the process of moving out of my apartment. Trying to see if I can paint my apartment with my own money instead of the landlords taking out an unreasonable amount of my deposit for them to have it painted. It will be the last stresser on my mind. On wednesday I leave for Argentina. I still don't believe that Im going but Im sure once I'm on the plane it will kick in, lol
After Argentina I will have about 10 days left in Ecuador!!! So amazing how fast the time has flown here. Never would have thought a month into site that time would go by this fast.....
I will be moving back to Madison and staying with the lovely rents for as long as I need to adjust and find a place, probably a couple months. Im excited to get back into madison and really explore the city more. I def thought that it would be close to impossible to find a job from here in Ecuador, but it worked! After all that time applying, doing interviews and waiting, I've found something that I think I will not only be great at, but enjoy!!
***********************************
Yesterday I went on a paseo (trip) with our DIBESAU office to a place called Nariz del Diablo (Devil's nose) We drove about 2.5 hours to Alausi where the train station was, and then took a train down about 500 meters to the valley of one of the mountains. There we saw a mountain that supposedly looks like the devil's nose (using a LOT of imagination). Apparently the railway was one of the most dangerous train tracks in the world to make because of how it needed to be carved out of the mountain. Over 2500 people died in the 2 year span of making 12 km of tracks. This area also used to be the home of many condors. Sadly after all the explosions and pollution from making the train tracks the condors died or left and there are no longer these birds in the area. The indigenous called this mountain the condor's place. Quite honestly the mountain looks more like a condor head than it does a devil.
After the train ride we had a lovely lunch in the town of Alausi and drove up to the San Pedro monument and took photos of the city etc. On our way back to Ambato we passed the laguna de Colte, which apparently is one of the largest, deepest lagoons in Ecuador. We also went into one of the first churches built in Ecuador (1534)! We arrived back around 7 p.m.
All in all it was a great time to spend together. It was interesting though to see how Ecuadorian adult paseos have some things in common with Ecuadorian college paseos. Alcohol. We left the University at 7 A.M and by 9 A. M people were serving "puro" (moonshine). Then on the way back several people wanted to stop in Riobamba to go out drinking! When we decided to head back straight to Ambato, we had to make a stop so that they could buy beers to drink on the way back to Ambato. It just amazes me that even as adults there always has to be alcohol involved. Now Im not saying that people got completely drunk or anything, but this was a short day trip, is it really necessary that alcohol was involved???
Im starting the process of moving out of my apartment. Trying to see if I can paint my apartment with my own money instead of the landlords taking out an unreasonable amount of my deposit for them to have it painted. It will be the last stresser on my mind. On wednesday I leave for Argentina. I still don't believe that Im going but Im sure once I'm on the plane it will kick in, lol
After Argentina I will have about 10 days left in Ecuador!!! So amazing how fast the time has flown here. Never would have thought a month into site that time would go by this fast.....
Thursday, July 4, 2013
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY...I will be eating sushi :)
And it is July. Time is winding down and I am realizing all the things that I still have to do!!!
Next week I travel to Quito to do my medical clearance stuff. Three days of pure fun...not...
Said goodbye to Natalie on tuesday. Had an absolutely great visit with her. So excited to see how her transition to Texas is. The job sounds fascinating and I really think it will help her grow professionally.
The day after she arrived (or rather the day she arrived-bc the flight was delayed until 2 A.M) I had the privilege to receive a group of new volunteers. About 8 of them came to my site for a "tech trip". Each person had to practice giving different charlas in different health areas. I was finally able to meet Courtney, one of the trainees was the person who donated money to our girls group several months ago. It was really nice to meet her and thank her personally.
Two PCT's did cooking charlas. After getting things settled (because oficios were messed up and we didn't have rooms to work in) everything ended up going pretty smoothly.
I have had two interviews, one for a job in D.C and another for Madison. Interesting jobs and great experience for interviewing. As I probably mentioned before I am skeptical in actually getting offers just because I am not available until September, but nonetheless the interviews are great practice. I'll keep at it and probably have to do more job searching after I get home. My lovely parents have offered to give me posada until I can get "integrated", such great parents I have :)
Had a nice going away dinner with Sarah and Shannon as Sarah went back to the states on sunday. We planned that they were going to come and make dinner. 10 minutes into cooking my gas goes out. It was around 7:30 at night and at this time apparently there is not one place that has gas tanks...so I spend an hour running around the neighborhood trying to find one. Finally found a place open by chino's house. Once we got the tank all hooked up I realized that the keys that I grabbed don't work, so had to get the copies from the dueños...ahhh what a night. We turned out having a great homemade italian meal and some good conversations.
Paid my last full month of rent and internet. Planning a trip to Argentina at the end of the month and just trying to enjoy the last bit that I have here in Ecuador. At times terrifying to imagine going back to the states, but then I remember how terrifying it seemed at times to come here. I'm sure I can transition back into the country that I was born and raised, right? lol
Excited to have family time when I get back in August. Also trying to plan on how Chino will factor into U.S.A life.
ah and yes today is fourth of july. Chino and I will be getting sushi to celebrate! yummmm
Next week I travel to Quito to do my medical clearance stuff. Three days of pure fun...not...
Said goodbye to Natalie on tuesday. Had an absolutely great visit with her. So excited to see how her transition to Texas is. The job sounds fascinating and I really think it will help her grow professionally.
The day after she arrived (or rather the day she arrived-bc the flight was delayed until 2 A.M) I had the privilege to receive a group of new volunteers. About 8 of them came to my site for a "tech trip". Each person had to practice giving different charlas in different health areas. I was finally able to meet Courtney, one of the trainees was the person who donated money to our girls group several months ago. It was really nice to meet her and thank her personally.
Two PCT's did cooking charlas. After getting things settled (because oficios were messed up and we didn't have rooms to work in) everything ended up going pretty smoothly.
I have had two interviews, one for a job in D.C and another for Madison. Interesting jobs and great experience for interviewing. As I probably mentioned before I am skeptical in actually getting offers just because I am not available until September, but nonetheless the interviews are great practice. I'll keep at it and probably have to do more job searching after I get home. My lovely parents have offered to give me posada until I can get "integrated", such great parents I have :)
Had a nice going away dinner with Sarah and Shannon as Sarah went back to the states on sunday. We planned that they were going to come and make dinner. 10 minutes into cooking my gas goes out. It was around 7:30 at night and at this time apparently there is not one place that has gas tanks...so I spend an hour running around the neighborhood trying to find one. Finally found a place open by chino's house. Once we got the tank all hooked up I realized that the keys that I grabbed don't work, so had to get the copies from the dueños...ahhh what a night. We turned out having a great homemade italian meal and some good conversations.
Paid my last full month of rent and internet. Planning a trip to Argentina at the end of the month and just trying to enjoy the last bit that I have here in Ecuador. At times terrifying to imagine going back to the states, but then I remember how terrifying it seemed at times to come here. I'm sure I can transition back into the country that I was born and raised, right? lol
Excited to have family time when I get back in August. Also trying to plan on how Chino will factor into U.S.A life.
ah and yes today is fourth of july. Chino and I will be getting sushi to celebrate! yummmm
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