"Every planet has its own weird customs. About a year before we met, I spent six weeks on a moon where the principal form of recreation was juggling geese. My hand to God. Baby geese - goslings! They were juggled."

Friday, January 1, 2010

ECUADOR

This entry is a brief overview of my host country and what I'll be doing there as a member of Omnibus 105, the 105th group to arrive in Ecuador.

From Volunteer Work in Ecuador

Ecuador! Bordered by Peru and Colombia and situated on the Pacific Ocean, Ecuador is about the size of Colorado. For its size, the country is an ecologically diverse wonderland divided into four main zones: 1) the Galapagos Islands, 2) the coast (light yellow/tan), 3) the sierra (goldenrod), and 4) jungle/Amazon. Running north to south down the center of Ecuador is the Andes mountain chain spotted with some very active volcanoes.

What I'll be doing in Ecuador:
I'm in Environmental Education and Awareness which is part of the Natural Resources Conservation program. Major tasks will be:
  • Assess existing community knowledge of the local environment and socio-economic situation.
  • Identify and select local organizations, leaders, park guards, teachers, youth, and children that may be interested in participating in non-formal environmental education activities.
  • Identify and promote the formation of groups for non-formal environmental education activities.
  • Develop a plan and implement non-formal environmental education activities, including goals, objectives, activities, teaching materials, and evaluation tools.
Where we'll be during pre-service training:
Tumbaco, about 40 minutes east of Quito (red dot on the map above). During this time, each of us will be living with a host family.

What will pre-service training be like:
11 weeks of intensive language and technical training. I have a feeling I'll be posting a lot on that.

My job location:
Unknown until after pre-service training. While many Natural Resources Conservation volunteers are placed in rural communities, it could be in the Andean highlands, the Amazon Basin, the coastal lowlands, a city - who knows? Not me! Most sites have basic infrastructure (water, electricity) and bus transportation. Peace Corps has changed our baggage allowance from 80 pounds to 100 because some of us will be living in the cooler sierra. Like pre-service training, we have to live with a family in our community for at least three months.

Swearing in:
If we make it through training, we will swear in as official Peace Corps Volunteers at the Ambassador's Residence on 20 April 2011.

Other members of Omnibus 105:
Better than Middle Earth
Ecuador: La Sierra, Cuy, y Quichua
Ecuador: My Moveable Feast...
Heather's Life in a Different America!
Hokie Hokie Hokie... Hola!
Peace Corps Adventure
Peace Corps Strix
Sometimes in This Country
The Peace Corps Extravaganza

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