Monday June 28, 2010
Today was spent working on our PACA project, a four part presentation. First, was a map of our community noting all the important places. Second, we had to talk about the 24 hour life of an Ecuadorian man, woman and child. The third part was FREESOP, an acronym for Family, Religion, Education, Economy, Salud (health), organizations and politics. The last part was similar to the previous, but also went into internal funds and external funds. This project was to help us get a better understanding of the resources around our communities that we can utilize. This project was an example of what we will have to do once we are finished with our training and in our sites (where we will be working for the next two years).
I finally (last volunteer to do so) called home. I felt like a bad son because all the other trainees have called home several times, and some are in almost daily contact with their parental units.
My response for when I was asked why I have not called my parents was simple, “I don’t want to get yelled at for wasting time.” For those of you who know my loving parents, this is not a surprising response. They love me and are very supportive of my adventure. However, they want me to live it up and not waste money calling them all the time. They say it’s because they want me to be out having fun, but the real reason is because now that I am gone they are going to go on all these fun and elegant vacations with Catherine to faraway lands (hopefully to a safer places this time!).
Anyways, when I got home I somehow ended up teaching my host brother guitar. He is a great student who listens to all my instructions and is very patient while I look up every other word in my dictionary to explain his errors or what that part of the guitar is.
After killing an hour of time, I was expecting to learn a new trade myself, hand washing clothes. However, Carlota came running into the house explaining that she had to whip up a quick dinner and then we had to go to the fireworks! These people love fireworks, a lot. Fine with me, what guy doesn’t enjoy watching stuff go up in flames while risking his own life (over exaggeration… sort of)?
Washing clothes will have to wait for yet, another day.
We went to a different park than the rodeo for the fireworks show, one that I had only driven by, and we took our place atop a cement structure five feet tall with very steep sides. Why go into all the detail about the structure you might be asking? Because not long after we arrived, all the boys 13 and under began a very unsafe yet entertaining game of “King of the hill.” Globally, boys are the same. I must admit, after almost being knocked over several times I almost wanted to join in and show them whose boss.
Finally the announcer came on and introduced the pre-show band. A few minutes into their first song, lights out. Darkness swept over the crowd of excited people like a blanket. However the panic that I expected, never occurred and neither did the “boo’s.” Everyone just stood around waiting for the show to get back on track. After about 20 minutes or so, the mortar rounds started up and the show began.
Fast forwarding to the good stuff about an hour later after the first firework show…
VACA LOCA!
Recipe time folks! Take one person (usually a guy, probably borracho) and have him carry over his head the frame of a cow for about 10-15 minutes. Wait, I am forgetting something… Oh yeah! Attach a crap load of fireworks, bottle rockets, whizzers, bangers and every other kind of pyrotechnics available, light it up and stand back, and enjoy!
“If no one perishes during the month long festival, it wasn’t that good.”- Local saying
Another boring day in the Peace Corps. time for bed.
June 29th, 2010
Presented our projects, hooray! Got more of your tax dollars to buy food, pay rent and buy cheap beer, hooray!
Hopefully learning to wash clothes, boring.
Scratch that.
Literally as I was writing that sentence my host brother informed me that there is a bull riding event tonight. Guess I will have to smell for another day.
Chao!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Ever wonder where did all the Sacajawea dollars go?... Ecuador
June 25th, 2010
It was hard to sit still in class today, not because of my self-diagnosed restless leg syndrome but because tonight was part of the fiesta de san pedro.
At the parade with my host family and there previous volunteer (Connor) another volunteer Bob met up with us to join in on the festivities. There were people doing all sorts of crazy styles of dancing followed closely by cars with huge speakers on top blasting traditional music. Boxed wine was readily available for all dancers, and of course a float carrying the candidates for Ms. Cayambe was present too. This was followed by a very non-traditional Ecuadorian dinner of pizza and beer.
This was followed by even more beer in the square (were the rodeo would be held tomorrow) while standing around grooving to the sound of horns, pan flutes, guitars and singing.
Then it was time for fireworks. The best description of it takes the form of a recipe… Take the fourth of July, build a huge tower with fireworks attached (some not very well), remove government safety standards of distance required between fireworks and spectators (who are intoxicated) and to top it off, put it in a square surrounded completely by buildings. Now you have yourself a real show.
On the tower built of wood… (oh by the way, it spins around) for one reason or another it also had a life-sized fake car on the top. For the grand finally (or so I thought, Once again, don’t assume) the wheels lit up and spun around spitting sparks and from the top of the car shot wimpy bottle rockets.
We were about a hundred yards away and I still felt too close. Every once and awhile one of the fireworks, instead of shooting up, shot right into the crowd (my personal favorite). The whole while this was happening the band played a song the built up along with the firework show, pretty neat.
About an hour or so later after more dancing, the lit the tower up again. I wasn’t very impressed until I heard what I thought were mortar rounds exploding on top of a nearby building. This was what I was waiting for, the big bad boy fireworks we see in the states! However instead of looking at them from a safe distance, we were looking straight up at them as the ash fell on us!
The night continued with more dancing and we left 1am but it was still in full swing. These people love to dance!
At the parade with my host family and there previous volunteer (Connor) another volunteer Bob met up with us to join in on the festivities. There were people doing all sorts of crazy styles of dancing followed closely by cars with huge speakers on top blasting traditional music. Boxed wine was readily available for all dancers, and of course a float carrying the candidates for Ms. Cayambe was present too. This was followed by a very non-traditional Ecuadorian dinner of pizza and beer.
This was followed by even more beer in the square (were the rodeo would be held tomorrow) while standing around grooving to the sound of horns, pan flutes, guitars and singing.
Then it was time for fireworks. The best description of it takes the form of a recipe… Take the fourth of July, build a huge tower with fireworks attached (some not very well), remove government safety standards of distance required between fireworks and spectators (who are intoxicated) and to top it off, put it in a square surrounded completely by buildings. Now you have yourself a real show.
On the tower built of wood… (oh by the way, it spins around) for one reason or another it also had a life-sized fake car on the top. For the grand finally (or so I thought, Once again, don’t assume) the wheels lit up and spun around spitting sparks and from the top of the car shot wimpy bottle rockets.
We were about a hundred yards away and I still felt too close. Every once and awhile one of the fireworks, instead of shooting up, shot right into the crowd (my personal favorite). The whole while this was happening the band played a song the built up along with the firework show, pretty neat.
About an hour or so later after more dancing, the lit the tower up again. I wasn’t very impressed until I heard what I thought were mortar rounds exploding on top of a nearby building. This was what I was waiting for, the big bad boy fireworks we see in the states! However instead of looking at them from a safe distance, we were looking straight up at them as the ash fell on us!
The night continued with more dancing and we left 1am but it was still in full swing. These people love to dance!
June 26th, 2010
Chuchaky, the Quechua word for hung-over.
After a slow start my host brother and I made it out to the parade by about 9am. There were policemen doing gymnastic flips and what not as well as doing tricks on their motorcycles. Pretty neat, but I was anxiously awaiting the start of the lazo del torros.
This is where three men on horseback and one man on foot (loco) try to rope a bull and hog tie it. The lasso throwing guys on horse backs receive points for roping the bull around the horns to subdue it (only two tries though) and less if they just rope the neck. If they successfully rope the bull, they then have three minutes to tie it up (not an easy task).
Now these bulls do not just stand idly by and let this happen. They often chased the horses, the men on foot and the one dumb stray dog that wondered into the ring. One of the bulls was particularly intent on goring the horses, and eventually succeeded in plunging one of his horns into the stomach of one unfortunate horse. The rider quickly rode the horse of through a gate, but we could see intestines spilling out through the horn sized hole. This did not receive cheers; it was a point of sadness. The people here do not want to see this happen, however if you play with bulls it is an expected thing at some point.
This is where three men on horseback and one man on foot (loco) try to rope a bull and hog tie it. The lasso throwing guys on horse backs receive points for roping the bull around the horns to subdue it (only two tries though) and less if they just rope the neck. If they successfully rope the bull, they then have three minutes to tie it up (not an easy task).
Now these bulls do not just stand idly by and let this happen. They often chased the horses, the men on foot and the one dumb stray dog that wondered into the ring. One of the bulls was particularly intent on goring the horses, and eventually succeeded in plunging one of his horns into the stomach of one unfortunate horse. The rider quickly rode the horse of through a gate, but we could see intestines spilling out through the horn sized hole. This did not receive cheers; it was a point of sadness. The people here do not want to see this happen, however if you play with bulls it is an expected thing at some point.
I was informed by the woman next to me that it is an easy fix. Simply shove the intestines back in and sew up the wound. I am no vet but I feel like it is a tad more complicated than that.
This proved to be too much for most of the group I was with (other Peace Corps. people) so we headed out to a bar to watch the USA play Ghana.
This proved to be too much for most of the group I was with (other Peace Corps. people) so we headed out to a bar to watch the USA play Ghana.
There is no need to recap the game, we all knows what happened.
I called it an early night and studied some Spanish before going to bed.
Chao!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Don´t drink the tap water
June 21st, 2010. First day of school
Arrived 8am sharp at the house of one of the other Peace Corps. (Cuerpo del Paz) trainee’s casa for our first day of class (hence the title of the entry, duh Tristan). There are six of us total, including our Ecuadorian teacher, Diana. 8 hours later, when class was finally finished, I wish I had learned Spanish years ago (it was fun, be mentally brutal).
Key take a-ways today were:
1. The weather in Cayambe is “like a woman” because it is always changing. It can be torrential down pour one minute then white-people skin melting hot the next
2. Good internet connection can be found in Cayambe
3. Return the glass bottle of Coca-cola to the store post consumption
June 22nd, 2010
Yes, you can get sunburned on a cloudy day.
On a quick visit back to my casa to retrieve my camera during class time, I found my host Madre standing next to the house by the fenced in compound that I did not think they owned (never assume anything in this country). She beckoned me inside and I was very surprised with what I found.
Chained to the wall, surrounded by a wide variety of farm animals that I did not know they owned, was the god damn rooster with the 3 hour early internal alarm clock. This rooster thinks dawn breaks at 330am, and it does not because I checked. I was up again at 6am for run (still not adjusted to altitude) and the sun had just come up.
As I was about to go tell the time challenged creature (with the heel of my shoe) I was given valuable information from Jose. This was a fighting rooster, he showed me by sticking his foot within the radius of the rooster and the thing went Jackie Chan on it. So I let bygones be bygones and moved on to the more cuddly creatures such as guinea pigs (food), rabbits (food), pigs (food), the dog named lion (food in other areas of the country) and a young cat (probably dog food later in its life).
I inquired to when the next cock fight was and apparently it is this Sunday. I might have to miss church again for yet another, “cultural experience.” I also learned that Saturday afternoon is a bullfight in the ring only 4 blocks from my house. Get to check that off the list soon!
In other news, I get to learn to wash clothes by hand later this week and maybe, hopefully, get to see a world cup game live.
June 23rd, 2010
Arrived 8am sharp at the house of one of the other Peace Corps. (Cuerpo del Paz) trainee’s casa for our first day of class (hence the title of the entry, duh Tristan). There are six of us total, including our Ecuadorian teacher, Diana. 8 hours later, when class was finally finished, I wish I had learned Spanish years ago (it was fun, be mentally brutal).
Key take a-ways today were:
1. The weather in Cayambe is “like a woman” because it is always changing. It can be torrential down pour one minute then white-people skin melting hot the next
2. Good internet connection can be found in Cayambe
3. Return the glass bottle of Coca-cola to the store post consumption
June 22nd, 2010
Yes, you can get sunburned on a cloudy day.
On a quick visit back to my casa to retrieve my camera during class time, I found my host Madre standing next to the house by the fenced in compound that I did not think they owned (never assume anything in this country). She beckoned me inside and I was very surprised with what I found.
Chained to the wall, surrounded by a wide variety of farm animals that I did not know they owned, was the god damn rooster with the 3 hour early internal alarm clock. This rooster thinks dawn breaks at 330am, and it does not because I checked. I was up again at 6am for run (still not adjusted to altitude) and the sun had just come up.
As I was about to go tell the time challenged creature (with the heel of my shoe) I was given valuable information from Jose. This was a fighting rooster, he showed me by sticking his foot within the radius of the rooster and the thing went Jackie Chan on it. So I let bygones be bygones and moved on to the more cuddly creatures such as guinea pigs (food), rabbits (food), pigs (food), the dog named lion (food in other areas of the country) and a young cat (probably dog food later in its life).
I inquired to when the next cock fight was and apparently it is this Sunday. I might have to miss church again for yet another, “cultural experience.” I also learned that Saturday afternoon is a bullfight in the ring only 4 blocks from my house. Get to check that off the list soon!
In other news, I get to learn to wash clothes by hand later this week and maybe, hopefully, get to see a world cup game live.
June 23rd, 2010
Today was filled with group activities and more information that needs to be crammed into our heads. The information consisted of personal safety, what to eat, what to say (more importantly what not to say) and other stuff I still need to learn.
After a long day of learning it was nice to come to my host family and kick the soccer ball around the street with my host brother Walter. It was also nice to hear and see the highlights of the USA world cup game. USA!!!
After a long day of learning it was nice to come to my host family and kick the soccer ball around the street with my host brother Walter. It was also nice to hear and see the highlights of the USA world cup game. USA!!!
June 24th, 2010
Another day of group activities… However today we were also spoiled with a lively presentation about tape worms, hook worms, round worms, mosquitoes, diarrhea and other such fun things. The medical officer made the presentation entertainingly gross and requested that if any of us get a round worm, to take a picture and send it to her so she can add it to her photo album. I don’t think she was kidding. Then it was time for lunch. Awesome.
After class, 20 or so of the now 67 (previously 68 volunteers) stuck around to play some futbol. We played for about 40 min on a small field at half speed, but my heart was racing like we were sprinting for miles, as was everyone else’s. For the locals watching, it probably only furthered the stereotype that Americans are fat and lazy. Stupid altitude. Hopefully by the end of next week we will all be adjusted, and marginally better futbol players.
(My room)
After class, 20 or so of the now 67 (previously 68 volunteers) stuck around to play some futbol. We played for about 40 min on a small field at half speed, but my heart was racing like we were sprinting for miles, as was everyone else’s. For the locals watching, it probably only furthered the stereotype that Americans are fat and lazy. Stupid altitude. Hopefully by the end of next week we will all be adjusted, and marginally better futbol players.
(My room)Monday, June 21, 2010
Finally!
Ecuador blog 6/17/10
We arrived last night in Quito, Ecuador. Stepping off the plane on to the tarmac for that anticipated first deep breath of new world, I was surprised by the lack of satisfaction. Quito rests some 9,000 feet above sea level and needless to say my 75 lbs of checked luggage, carry on, and guitar left me short of breath. Plowing through security with the greatest of ease, facilitated by the in-country staff, all sixty eight of us were split onto two separate charter buses. One designated for the Youth and Family program and the other for the Community Health volunteers.
Upon arriving at our hostel we were split into rooms with four people in each. Though it has the title of Hostel, it far surpasses the average expectation. With a spacious dining room, game room (the pool table only has six balls though, can’t have everything I suppose), beautiful tile flooring complimented nicely by the open air courtyard separating all the rooms.
We were fed a traditional dish before calling it an early night.
We arrived last night in Quito, Ecuador. Stepping off the plane on to the tarmac for that anticipated first deep breath of new world, I was surprised by the lack of satisfaction. Quito rests some 9,000 feet above sea level and needless to say my 75 lbs of checked luggage, carry on, and guitar left me short of breath. Plowing through security with the greatest of ease, facilitated by the in-country staff, all sixty eight of us were split onto two separate charter buses. One designated for the Youth and Family program and the other for the Community Health volunteers.
Upon arriving at our hostel we were split into rooms with four people in each. Though it has the title of Hostel, it far surpasses the average expectation. With a spacious dining room, game room (the pool table only has six balls though, can’t have everything I suppose), beautiful tile flooring complimented nicely by the open air courtyard separating all the rooms.We were fed a traditional dish before calling it an early night.
6/18/10
7am breakfast consisting of toast, scrambled eggs, jam and fresh cheese whose animal origins remain unknown, but speculatively delicious.
We boarded the buses full of good food and excitement. Our destination was the Peace Corps headquarters for a full day of information, immunization shots (I only needed a rabies boosters, others suffered a worse fait of up to five shots), program information, mug shots (so the staff could identify us). Oh, and how could I forget our surprise Spanish oral placement test! ( I think I did well!)
The local and foreign staff are some of the most kind and welcoming people I have had the pleasure of meeting! I am really excited to begin our work here and get done with the next few days filled paper work and information sessions!
Ciao for now!
Tristan
7am breakfast consisting of toast, scrambled eggs, jam and fresh cheese whose animal origins remain unknown, but speculatively delicious.
We boarded the buses full of good food and excitement. Our destination was the Peace Corps headquarters for a full day of information, immunization shots (I only needed a rabies boosters, others suffered a worse fait of up to five shots), program information, mug shots (so the staff could identify us). Oh, and how could I forget our surprise Spanish oral placement test! ( I think I did well!)
The local and foreign staff are some of the most kind and welcoming people I have had the pleasure of meeting! I am really excited to begin our work here and get done with the next few days filled paper work and information sessions!
Ciao for now!
Tristan
Saturday June 19th, 2010
We departed Quito to head to our separate host families located in Cayambe ( a smaller city about an hour and a half north by bus). The scenery outside the bus was breathtaking; cliffs and valleys and colorful homes. The previous night we were placed into groups of 4-5 based on language skills and scattered about the area to live host families (one trainee per host family). I have a decent grasp of the Spanish language and was still very nervous to be thrown off of bus into a culture where English isn’t spoken and told, “see you Monday for class” which of course, was said in Spanish.
My host parents however, put my mind at ease. Jose and Carlota could not be nicer people and have been hosting Peace Corps. (Cuerpo de paz) trainees for years. Their house is connected to the back of the shop where the kitchen and living room reside. The living quarters are up a spiral staircase.
I do not consider myself a tall person by any means. However here, I worry about hitting my head on low ceilings and my feet stick off the end of the bed (Alex would be in real trouble!)
My host brother who is 21 was very enthusiastic about my arrival (as was the rest of the family). After a very filling lunch of soup, rice, papas fritas (Freedom fries), chicken and some veggies we headed out the Fiesta de Rosas. One of the town’s main exports is, and has been flowers. So every year they have a big festival which includes parades of people dancing and a few on horseback. Some of these cabelleros had vodka bottles in hand and made it apparent that it was not the first of the day and it was only 1pm. The atmosphere was fun, loud and full of Cayambe pride.
Rain is a frequent thing in Cayambe and it does not seem to bother people, merely inconvenience them. After the parade we headed to a “rally” with “carros.” So I thought maybe they mean rally cars, but no I had to be mistaken, how could that redneck stuff make it down here?
It has, and it is awesome! We watched ATVs, trucks, motorcycles and at one point a lose cow speed around the muddy dirt track for a few hours. Then it was back home for another filling meal and bed time. İ Buenas noches!
We departed Quito to head to our separate host families located in Cayambe ( a smaller city about an hour and a half north by bus). The scenery outside the bus was breathtaking; cliffs and valleys and colorful homes. The previous night we were placed into groups of 4-5 based on language skills and scattered about the area to live host families (one trainee per host family). I have a decent grasp of the Spanish language and was still very nervous to be thrown off of bus into a culture where English isn’t spoken and told, “see you Monday for class” which of course, was said in Spanish.
My host parents however, put my mind at ease. Jose and Carlota could not be nicer people and have been hosting Peace Corps. (Cuerpo de paz) trainees for years. Their house is connected to the back of the shop where the kitchen and living room reside. The living quarters are up a spiral staircase.
I do not consider myself a tall person by any means. However here, I worry about hitting my head on low ceilings and my feet stick off the end of the bed (Alex would be in real trouble!)
My host brother who is 21 was very enthusiastic about my arrival (as was the rest of the family). After a very filling lunch of soup, rice, papas fritas (Freedom fries), chicken and some veggies we headed out the Fiesta de Rosas. One of the town’s main exports is, and has been flowers. So every year they have a big festival which includes parades of people dancing and a few on horseback. Some of these cabelleros had vodka bottles in hand and made it apparent that it was not the first of the day and it was only 1pm. The atmosphere was fun, loud and full of Cayambe pride.
Rain is a frequent thing in Cayambe and it does not seem to bother people, merely inconvenience them. After the parade we headed to a “rally” with “carros.” So I thought maybe they mean rally cars, but no I had to be mistaken, how could that redneck stuff make it down here?
It has, and it is awesome! We watched ATVs, trucks, motorcycles and at one point a lose cow speed around the muddy dirt track for a few hours. Then it was back home for another filling meal and bed time. İ Buenas noches!
Sunday June 20th, 2010
We to start, today royally kicked ass. I set my alarm for 7am thinking that would be sufficient, it wasn’t. At 6:37 am I awoke the sounds of Spanish rock blasting from below and it was time to start the day. Grabbed my camera and a quick swig of what I hoped was boiled water in the jug on the table and we were off.
Myself, my two host brothers and Jose climbed into his truck and headed off into the hills to a secluded, fenced in dirt futbol field. The field was up a long winding hill about a mile and half. At the bottom a bunch of guys just hopped in the truck (much like in Africa) and up we went. I later found out that they were some of the rival team’s players, but no animosity was shown.
The game was very entertaining and taken very seriously. However, I had trouble holding back laughs when the occasional dog would take a nap on the field or chase a stray candy wrapper around. Some of the dogs were so revved up about the game they felt the need to procreate on the sidelines. The game ended in a tie, which I thought was good since it started off with them losing 2-0, but they wanted the win.
When we got home around 11am we ate breakfast. Then suddenly Carlota grabs here jacket and says “vamos!” So naturally I say “un momento,” run and grab my camera. I find out in the packed car, seat belts available and unused, we were heading to the races.
Yesterday’s races were fun, but I did not want to watch dune buggies again for another four hours with 30 other personas. But today was Sunday, which in Cayambe means “race day.” It was like being at a Nascar™ tailgate. We backed the two pickups right against the barbed wire fence intended to hold back spectators. And the next thing I know I see three beefed up off road trucks barreling down the track at full throttle through thick mud and flinging it everywhere, including my pants and jacket. Heaven. Apparently Cayambe is Spanish for “middle of Tennesse.”
During the race we all shared a couple of beers. It is tradition to have only one cup amongst friends. One person pours the drink, passes it to someone who drinks the small glass of beer and then flings the foam left in the cup on the ground and passes it back. (screw grammar it’s a blog)
Some of the trucks got stuck in the gargantuan mud pits and relied on the ingenuity of the fans to set them free (all attempts failed). What proved most effective and entertaining was the back-ho. I felt bad for the driver as he tried to drag the stuck racers our, he was receiving contradicting instructions from about fifty different fans and drivers who were convinced they knew better.
They say pictures are worth a thousand words. I just wrote 223 on the subject and barely scratched the awesomeness that is Ecuadorian off road racing.
Tomorrow is the first day of our intense Spanish tutoring. I am excited to see my fellow group members and hear their stories of their first few days.
We to start, today royally kicked ass. I set my alarm for 7am thinking that would be sufficient, it wasn’t. At 6:37 am I awoke the sounds of Spanish rock blasting from below and it was time to start the day. Grabbed my camera and a quick swig of what I hoped was boiled water in the jug on the table and we were off.
Myself, my two host brothers and Jose climbed into his truck and headed off into the hills to a secluded, fenced in dirt futbol field. The field was up a long winding hill about a mile and half. At the bottom a bunch of guys just hopped in the truck (much like in Africa) and up we went. I later found out that they were some of the rival team’s players, but no animosity was shown.
The game was very entertaining and taken very seriously. However, I had trouble holding back laughs when the occasional dog would take a nap on the field or chase a stray candy wrapper around. Some of the dogs were so revved up about the game they felt the need to procreate on the sidelines. The game ended in a tie, which I thought was good since it started off with them losing 2-0, but they wanted the win.
When we got home around 11am we ate breakfast. Then suddenly Carlota grabs here jacket and says “vamos!” So naturally I say “un momento,” run and grab my camera. I find out in the packed car, seat belts available and unused, we were heading to the races.
Yesterday’s races were fun, but I did not want to watch dune buggies again for another four hours with 30 other personas. But today was Sunday, which in Cayambe means “race day.” It was like being at a Nascar™ tailgate. We backed the two pickups right against the barbed wire fence intended to hold back spectators. And the next thing I know I see three beefed up off road trucks barreling down the track at full throttle through thick mud and flinging it everywhere, including my pants and jacket. Heaven. Apparently Cayambe is Spanish for “middle of Tennesse.”
During the race we all shared a couple of beers. It is tradition to have only one cup amongst friends. One person pours the drink, passes it to someone who drinks the small glass of beer and then flings the foam left in the cup on the ground and passes it back. (screw grammar it’s a blog)
Some of the trucks got stuck in the gargantuan mud pits and relied on the ingenuity of the fans to set them free (all attempts failed). What proved most effective and entertaining was the back-ho. I felt bad for the driver as he tried to drag the stuck racers our, he was receiving contradicting instructions from about fifty different fans and drivers who were convinced they knew better.
They say pictures are worth a thousand words. I just wrote 223 on the subject and barely scratched the awesomeness that is Ecuadorian off road racing.
Tomorrow is the first day of our intense Spanish tutoring. I am excited to see my fellow group members and hear their stories of their first few days.
Monday, June 14, 2010
The time has come
I leave tomorrow, June 15th 2010, to start my life as a Peace Corps. volunteer in Ecuador.
I am very glad that I got to see most of my family and friends in the past few weeks. Thank you for everything, and I will be sure to frequently post updates and pictures to keep you informed (or amused)!
Peace out!
Tristan John Schreck
I am very glad that I got to see most of my family and friends in the past few weeks. Thank you for everything, and I will be sure to frequently post updates and pictures to keep you informed (or amused)!
Peace out!
Tristan John Schreck
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