#peacecorpsecuador

[rghglobal]

The definition of diversity is Ecuador

Ecuador is one diverse country! In writing this post my intention is to leave you with a greater sense of how diverse this small multi-regional South American nation really is. By the end of reading this, I would like for you to feel enlightened, perhaps a bit surprised and maybe considering taking a trip to this magnificent place I had the chance to spend two years of my life in as a Peace Corps Volunteer. 

Around two weeks ago I took the opportunity to travel Ecuador and visit sites throughout the southern and coastal areas of the country. The places I visited include cities such as Loja, Zamora, Cuenca, Guayaquil and the quiet beach town of Puerto Lopez. It was truly an experience I’ll never forget. When one looks at Ecuador perhaps never having visited, you see a small Latin country on the equator. The capital city Quito, its national language Spanish, and maybe a few touristic sites are known or not to the average tourist. However, there are three regions on the mainland of Ecuador and the Galapagos islands which are each as diverse as you can imagine. 

I serve in the city of Santo Domingo which is considered to be in the transitional region between the high sierra mountains and the low-lying coastal region. Immediately to the east of the Sierra mountains lie the Amazon region where you can encounter various indigenous tribes, regional food, languages and exotic animals but it is nonetheless under the same national territory. Since being here, I have traveled to each region on the mainland and have experienced how mind-blowingly diverse Ecuador truly is. A simple 3 to 4-hour bus ride between cities and provinces here will most likely result in a change of climate, food, culture, physical appearances, accents, infrastructure and economic development to name a few. 

Earlier this month, I was inspired to write this post when I took a trip from the humid coastal city of Guayaquil to the moderately cold sierra city of Cuenca. I have never experienced a difference of such magnitude between two cities than what I saw that day in a matter of four hours. That Thursday, I left Guayaquil sweating in my t-shirt as taxis, buses, and people were all bustling to get to their destinations in front of the terminal. People were wearing tank tops and shorts, there was a lot of pollution and you can say the scene resembled a market because of how disorganized things were. From there I boarded a bus to Cuenca and was greeted on arrival by what in my opinion could have passed for a completely different country. 

In Cuenca, people’s physical features were of the sierra region, the weather was cold, winter apparel seemed to be the norm, there was almost no trash on the ground, the Spanish was easier understood and the city was well developed by any standards. In the little time I spent there, I felt like I was in another country on another continent, maybe Europe or something. 

On the second day, I and a fellow volunteer then took a road trip to Loja, a city at the southern end of Ecuador near Peru. Again, I was struck by more difference on arrival in what could have been another country because of how unique everything felt. From what I was told, considering that Loja is the farthest main city south in Ecuador, it’s not as influenced by other cities as the rest are. Loja’s people are also very proud to be Lojano and while on the way there we stopped in an indigenous town called Saraguro which was another breathtaking moment because of how the people there wore the culture proudly as their own. 

I’m now convinced it will never be as easy for me to see Ecuadorians as just that. In Ecuador, each of its provinces, cities, and regions are made up of characteristics that are only found there in some way or another. If you're reading this and have yet to visit here before I would encourage you to do so. The diversity of Ecuador is truly rich and speaks for itself once you begin to travel around the country. In my last two months, I plan to do some more exploring and will keep this blog and all of my social networks updated to pass along the inspiration. 

Thanks for reading!

Feel free to reblog and share this post with anyone who may benefit from its content.

Ecuador’s amazon region (Puerto Misahualli)

Mountains surrounding the city of Loja

The town of Zamora in the distance (Southern Amazon)

One of Ecuador’s best beaches - Playa de los frailes

Quick look at the city of Cuenca

[rghglobal]

The story told about Peace Corps isn’t true for all volunteers

We need to change the way we discuss Peace Corps. Before becoming a volunteer, I remember the look people would give me when I told them I was to become a Peace Corps Volunteer serving abroad. The look was often one of shock and amazement because of the perceived sacrifice required by the applicant. Though I wouldn’t take credit from any volunteer, living in a developing country isn’t as bad as people assume.

The two years that preceded my departure for Ecuador found me in front of the computer like an addict every other day on peacecorps.gov, the official website of Peace Corps. While there, I remember being bombarded with pictures and videos of what a typical Peace Corps job should look like. The images were stereotypical, usually an early to mid-twenties Caucasian female walking with a bucket of water on her head through an African village. I would also see pictures of volunteers playing soccer with their students or doing agricultural work in the middle of a field somewhere in Asia. Before leaving the US, while at work one day I told a coworker that my departure with Peace Corps Ecuador was forthcoming; she paused and replied, “No thank you, I need my running water.”

Sadly, what comes to mind when we think of Peace Corps is a volunteer serving in a rural village with little or no access to amenities such as Wi-Fi, electricity, public transportation, and running water. We have been sold on this false pretense so well that even volunteers such as myself and others arrive in our country of service expecting situations that resemble what we’ve been fed as applicants for so long. One can then understand the disappointment of some volunteers when they find out that “the village life” is not going to be their reality for the next two years.

In Peace Corps, the training programs are diverse and so are the countries. Every program is not a rural one and every country in the developing world, simply put, is not dirt poor. I have served in Ecuador since January 2015 and since then I have enjoyed most of the amenities I did in the US. My primary assignment was as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Volunteer, as such, I have had a thoroughly urban experience living in one of the main cities of the country.

All the brochures, posters, social media posts, presentations and other forms of advertisement for Peace Corps seem to paint a single picture that is contrary to the reality of many volunteers’ experiences. Yes, we are in countries where the average income is low and where life functions at a much slower pace than what are accustomed to, but, I would advise you to not immediately think of grinding poverty at the mention of Peace Corps, it is simply not true. The world has developed substantially over the past few decades and being in Ecuador has revealed to me just how far things have progressed.

I think it is our responsibility as the next generation of Peace Corps Volunteers to embrace this change in the reality of the Peace Corps experience because our host countries still need the help we offer. It is also important we work within this new reality to fulfill the organization’s three goals which have not changed and remain at the heart of what we do.

Thanks for reading!

[rghglobal]

Finishing the world mapping project in Ecuador: Experiences and lessons learned

Why dedicate the time and effort to painting a map of the world at a high school in the middle of Ecuador? Though we weren't asked about Ecuador, people would inquire about the meaning behind the mapping project as we stood painting in the boiling sun many days. I would often respond by explaining my purpose as a Peace Corps Volunteer in promoting cultural understanding and then explain to them that the project is an educational initiative for the students of the school that helps them to learn and engage more with the world in which they live.

On a personal note, this mapping project has been something I have always wanted to do because of the communal work it involves between the volunteer and his or her community which in my case is the school where I work. It’s also a project that helps students to understand the scope of how big our world really is and look beyond their country’s borders or where they are located geographically which is something I've been passionate about since being in Ecuador.

The actual process of doing this project has been a journey in itself. Earlier this year I presented the idea to an art teacher in my school and she thought it would be an interesting undertaking for the both of us to work on. We didn't actually get started however until around September after me and one of my best students went class to class for two or three days collecting donations and pitching the world map project to the rest of the school. After we collected enough money to buy the materials we needed, we made our purchase of the necessary colors and then painting began the following weekend.

At first, when we began this project it was slow to get off the ground. Me and about four other students (who I call el equipo) would work only on Saturdays but after about a month we started to work during the week which is when things picked up. Materials such as the projector we used to trace the continents and countries on the wall and extension cords to do so during the night were all borrowed from my coworkers in the school.

The sense of urgency between myself and my students honestly couldn't have been any more different. After all this time in Ecuador I admit I still like to get things done a bit quicker than at the pace things operate here. Some days I would have plans drawn out in advance for where I would like to be with the project though doing so didn't yield results and as such has been yet another eye opener. I've humbly learned to not think of this initiative on selfish terms but rather to coordinate with everybody involved on their own time, a true learning experience!

Completing the mapping project has meant a lot to me. In my previous post, I spoke about the need to find fulfillment in what we do and I think this has helped with that. There have been countless days in which I thought I would never contribute anything meaningful to my service or anyone here. It feels great to know that I can leave something with the school that is going to be of benefit to them and serve as a reminder of the Hip Hop American who came and served for two years.

With only three months left in Ecuador, my mind has now begun to think of life back home and the road that lays ahead after service. Doing the mapping project, however, has been an absolute blast and I think it might take some time to grasp a full concept of what I did here. From the students and teachers, I work with to fellow volunteers and everyone else, my train of thought since last January has been opened in ways that would not have been possible if I didn't become a PCV. As always I'd like to end on an optimistic note and say that I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had while doing this project and even more so grateful to those who gave their time and effort to see this through to completion.

 Thanks for reading!

A few pictures that were taken during the process of doing the mapping project 

[rghglobal]

Is being a Peace Corps Volunteer really that fulfilling?

Finding fulfillment in what we do as work I'm sure you can agree is important. We dedicate the majority of our time to doing something we find satisfaction in to provide for our families and loved ones. We want to know that we are making a difference in some way or another and yearn to be acknowledged for our effort in doing so. I can relate with the above and have tried to do all of this on my job as a Peace Corps Volunteer which has been demanding in a not so usual sense. Accordingly, I thought it would be relevant to do a post on lacking fulfillment as a PCV which is intended to briefly share with you how unfulfilling our work can be at times and some of the factors involved in that.

There is no one setting that applies to each of us as Peace Corps Volunteers. Each volunteer is in a different situation and every site and host country offer us a different experience, however, there are a few aspects we can relate to across the board and I think one is being fulfilled by the work we do as PCVs. Working in another culture and language is difficult. Though you may speak the local language near fluently, there are still cultural customs that may not have anything to do with the language where you live and as a result communicating what you would like to your counterparts, students and peers can be challenging. You may have a firm understanding of certain cultural feats but let’s face it, it's impossible to figure it all out in two years which can be frustrating when you want to get things done and accomplish more in the limited time you have here.

Whatever change you bring about during these two years (or however long you happen to be at a site) is a result of working through the nonsense. From my experience in Ecuador, I have found most people to be a bit untrusting until they’re comfortable with you which requires time. If things are not going according to plan it’s up to you to find something that fulfills you personally. I've done so by starting an American culture club, doing a world map project in the school and being more open with students I work with regularly. The truth is that fulfillment will not always be found in your program or what you do formally as a PCV. Sometimes you have to take things into your own hands and I’m proud to say that the Peace Corps actually does allow you to do that, what matters then is what you bring to the table.

I was told by a fellow PCV at the beginning of my service last year to find something to look forward to each month as a way of successfully coping with being here. His words couldn’t have been any more in tune with reality. Traveling is a coping mechanism utilized by most volunteers. Whatever beautiful and exotic country you find yourself assigned to, relaxing on its beaches or hiking up its mountains can certainly take your mind off the lack of fulfillment you experience during service. This is not a typical job that shows results at the end of the day, week, month or possibly even year and I think that’s something we struggle with a lot while abroad.

Coming from a culture of instant gratification in the United States, we’re accustomed to seeing changes rapidly and things moving forward in a progressive manner but that’s not what the Peace Corps is about. With only 3 to 4 months left in service, I must admit here that fulfillment is not easily achieved on this job. From traveling to starting side projects and building closer relationships with your community, these incremental actions I think are what make the experience worth it among others. The best recommendations I can give to a current or prospective volunteer is to find what you are passionate about, incorporate it into your service, get rid of the fear of doing so and don’t look back! Things will definitely begin to change for the better when you do.

Thanks for reading!

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[rghglobal]

The cold hard truth about being a Peace Corps Volunteer

Hello again friendly readers, it’s great to have you for a quick moment while I get into the topic of post 41 which is all about the downsides of life in the peace corps. I wanted to give a more in-depth look at what things are like as a PCV from the perspective of a currently serving volunteer. I’ve recently realized most of my posts on here entail the personal highs and accomplishments that come with doing this service, however, this time around I would like to give you the other side of the coin. I thought it would be interesting to share with you some of the negative aspects, setbacks, losses and frequent feelings of being unfulfilled that I and others encounter as peace corps volunteers during the duration of our time abroad.

Without further due here goes a brief look into our reality!

Isolation

I think this is a huge stumbling block many volunteers deal with. Being sent away from the place you call home for a whole two years is anything but easy. You voluntarily sign up to do this job and beforehand are warned by the recruiting agent and others about the mental toll of being separated from your family, friends and everything you know for such a long period. From my experience, this has caused unexpected depression and even affected my work ethic and sense of optimism causing my confidence to do the job to wane on those days and weeks when things are not going as you had previously planned. Working in a different education system can seem sometimes unorganized in a culture that operates almost opposite from what you’re accustomed to but nonetheless, you have to roll with the punches and move on, it is part of what being a volunteer is all about.

Relationships with counterparts

The nature of our work as volunteers requires you to up your game on people skills and how well you relate to others. Your service is reasonably affected by the people you work with and though I wouldn’t say the experience is determined by them, they nonetheless play a major role in what you are able to accomplish during the course of these two years. As volunteers, we occasionally encounter differences with our counterparts such as ideas on how we can most effectively work together, methods for teaching material, scheduling, communication, and differences in work ethic to name a few. As you can imagine, this can be quite stressing at times depending on where you are in your service. You are forced to adapt your personality to those with whom you work which is a skill in itself. As a person, I love recently told me, while you’re down there it’s not about you!

You adapt to the culture, not the other way around

I’ve been here since last January and still find things that are hard if not impossible to get used to. For instance, in the high school where I work, the students and teachers alike have just recently begun to come around to the idea of me being a constant presence in the classroom. I thought before, why are they not opening up to me? Why do they not trust me enough to involve me in the lessons or even simpler things like a casual conversation between each other? What Ecuador is teaching me, is in cultures outside the US, trust and confidence are both earned through effort and not given. You have to make an honest attempt with the people as an outsider coming into and living in their world which is a wonderful thing in concept but darn challenging and uncomfortable in reality.

Students get on your nerves with the mocking of English words, people look at you strangely and you can’t understand what they might be thinking because it’s not your country. You are completely out of your comfort zone and forced to create a new one but somehow some way you make it all happen and I feel as if I have done just that.

Thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed this post please feel free to reblog, share, like and comment below and stay tuned for more posts from Ecuador!

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A very few of the people that have made this experience here in Ecuador an amazing one!

[robertxjamieson]

Hoy en nuestro glorioso Colegio Ancon celebramos el día de la bandera. En cada colegio todos de los terceros dicen "SI JURO!" para mostrar su lealtad a su patria. #peacecorps #peacecorpsecuador #vsco #vscocam #eldiadelabandera #sijuro

[robertxjamieson]

I might need another vacation after that vacation but truly nothing like having friends like these guys making a trip to see my home for these two years. Can't wait for our next adventure, hermanos. #amigosabroad #peacecorps #peacecorpsecuador #vsco #vscocam (en Carondelet Palace)

[robertxjamieson]

Nice day for a ballgame. #peacecorps #peacecorpsecuador #vsco #vscocam (en Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa)