Update

Ok, this first photo takes a bit of explaining. The United States, like most “developed” nations, sends a giant national team to the Olympics. In contrast, Ecuador’s entire Olympic team is composed of something like nine people, most of whom have very little hope of winning any medals. Less developed nations simply aren't able to devote all those resources to training Olympians. Nonetheless, Ecuadorians have a lot of pride in their Olympic team, especially in one member in particular: Jefferson Perez.

Heading into Beijing, he was already a two-time gold medalist, looking for a third victory. It's no small exaggeration to say that he is the pride of Ecuador; posters all over advertise that "la gloria tiene un nombre: Jefferson Perez" (glory has a name: Jefferson Perez). Ah, you ask, but in what sport has he so daringly catapulted himself to fame and fortune? Swimming? Sprinting? Oh no. Speedwalking.

My friend Catherine (squatting) from Berkeley came to visit for a week in August, and we went to Cuenca for a few days. (The other people in the picture are friends and fellow Volunteers who live in Cuenca.) Little did we know, we had arrived in Cuenca, Jefferson Perez's birthplace, just in time for his big moment: the men's 20K speedwalk. Here we are the day of the race in a park in Cuenca, with a giant makeshift Ecuadorian woman bearing images of Jefferson aloft, and showing our own Ecua-pride with t-shirts with his face. Like most everyone in Cuenca, we spent that evening at the Coliseum, watching a live broadcast of Jefferson speedwalking his way to a silver medal. It was fairly indescribable.

Here I am with three of the women I work with, at a going-away party for our short-term volunteers. As usual, I am not wearing heels.

This is me at the GAD leadership conference, with the ten girls I facilitated for throughout the weekend. Sixty teenage girls attended the conference; each of them has a scholarship from either GAD or Ecuador’s Kiwanis Club that makes it possible for them to finish high school. With funds raised through an annual raffle, GAD gives out these scholarships to girls who are nominated by Volunteers from all around the country. The recipients are chosen based on a combination of merit and demonstrated financial need, and if they maintain their grades, the girls are assured of the scholarship for up to three years. At the conference, we focused on small business management, HIV/AIDS awareness, and general sex education. For many of these girls, it was their first time away from home and interacting with teens from other regions of Ecuador. The experience was entirely awesome and I'm looking forward to next year's conference, which I'll be co-planning.

A few photos

Here's a few images from my first three months in Ecuador, in roughly chronological order. Someday, when I figure out how to make this uploading process faster, I will post some more.


First, here I am at a lake with the women of my old host family in Cayambe (and a random little boy ruining the picture; sorry). Please note the height differential, which is standard for me here. And you can't see it, but they're all wearing heels.

Next, me at the equator! I can't remember having ever been so excited in my life. I'm embarrassed to realize that I'm not entirely sure which foot is in which hemisphere. I think my right foot is in the north.

This is Lago Cuicocha, a beautiful lake near Cayambe that our group hiked all the way around.

There's really nothing I can say about this next shot, except that I felt culturally obligated to do it.

Here I am on our technical trip, hacking away at bamboo with a machete. This photo was not staged! I spent two days doing this, and never in my life have I felt more rugged or like a real live Peace Corps Volunteer.

This is my entire omnibus (training group) right after our swearing-in ceremony, outside the ambassador's house.

And finally, a view from a trail in Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, the dry tropical forest reserve that's going to be my home away from home (away from home).