Well, the time has almost come! I can't believe I have been thinking about leaving for so long now, and it is finally upon me. This time, two days from now, I will be hanging out in the Miami airport with other WT volunteers! Unbelievable. It's hard to even describe how I'm feeling right now...it's sort of just a feeling of submission to the passing time. I know Sunday will come before I know it, so I just need to enjoy my last hours at home. I hate goodbyes as well, but I know that this is the right thing for me to be doing, so I just have to put a smile on and have faith that everything will turn out for the best. I think the excitement will really kick in on Sunday when I've met with the other volunteers and the adventure will really feel like it's beginning.
I am really looking forward to my grandma's 90th birthday tomorrow! That will be a wonderful way to say farewell to the family. I still have to pack, but I have everything on my list and it's just a matter or sticking it all in my bags- I'm taking a rolling suitcase, a huge duffel bag, and a hiking backpack. Hopefully I will be able to fit my year's worth of stuff in them! We shall see. I will probably pack tonight so that I don't have to worry about it tomorrow.
I also have recently received my two host family assignments! I will be rooming with another one of the volunteers, Shelby, in Quito, with two older women and a 34-year-old man. The main host mother, Juana Livia, is reported to be a wonderful cook and she sounds really sweet, so it should be nice! It will be great to have Shelby as company, and to walk to and from home with her as well. Last night I finally received my province host family...I will be living with a married couple and their 3 sons, though the sons only visit on the weekends since two study/work in Quito and the other is married. They are 22, 24, and 26 years old, so it should be really fun to get to know them! My host parents are both high school teachers in Ambato...and here is the best thing, their downstairs is an internet cafe!! Coffee and high speed internet within a few steps of my bedroom, what could be better?! And Eden, one of the other volunteers, will be living 6 blocks from me and our families are good friends, so I'm sure we'll all be getting together from time to time.
I know I will be running around like a crazy woman over the next few days, so this will be my last post before I get to Ecuador. Here is my schedule for the next few days: I will be staying in a hotel in Quito on Sunday night after arrival, training begins Monday, and I stay with my Quito host family for the first time on Monday night. I will post an update on Tuesday or Wednesday when I have interesting things to report. So until Ecuador, adios!
Is this really happening? Crazy.
Love,
Katie
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Ambato It Is!
So it's official...I will be living in Ambato next year!!! I am very excited, to say the least. Two other girls from my program will be going to Ecuador with me, but they will both be teaching at the University. I will be teaching at SECAP, a quasi-government sponsored adult community center. I am thrilled that I will be teaching working Ecuadorians who hopefully will continue on to use their English skills in their daily lives! My classes will be Monday-Thursday (three-day weekends!) for 5 hours each day in the afternoon/evening. So I will have the mornings to get to know Ambato and to get involved in other activities! I know my eyes are already bigger than my stomach because I hope to frequent the gym, take salsa lessons, maybe volunteer with kids, and join a hiking club. Maybe I should worry about getting teaching down first!
I am excited about the city of Ambato as well. Though it wasn't my very first choice, it was definitely up there...and I am up for anything! Ambato is 2 1/2 hours south of Quito and is smack-dab in the middle of the country- so it will be relatively easy to get anywhere around Ecuador. It is known throughout Ecuador as the "City of Fruits and Flowers," which sounds pretty good to me! I can't wait to try all the wonderful fruits. Unfortunately because of an earthquake in 1949, much of the Colonial architecture of Ambato was destroyed, so Ambato has a more modern feel. It's nice that I can just hop on a bus to some local towns, though, if I feel like I want to go back in time a bit one afternoon! The nearby town of Baños is a well-known gem...so much exploring to be done! Also, the Tungurahua Volcano is close by to Ambato and shoots ash all around the city, which might take some getting used to, but when am I going to live next to a volcano again in my life?! And it's been active sort of recently, haha...so that should be interesting! But Ambato offers restaurants, bars, internet cafes, parks, a river...and apparently really fun and engaging people, and really, what could be better? So I am thrilled! I will get to visit Ambato within my first week of being in Ecuador...so I will definitely have more to report then.
Other than that, I am finishing up my two summer jobs and trying to get ready for the move. I can't believe it is only 2 1/2 weeks away! I remember when I first applied in January and September seemed years away...but not so much any more! It's really starting to hit me that I am leaving, and I am definitely not looking forward to all my goodbyes. But thank goodness for all the technology of today, it shouldn't be hard at all to stay in touch at all. More contact info to come soon.
It's also been great hearing from some of the other volunteers! They all seem like such fun, adventurous, and exciting people...so I know I will benefit a lot from getting to know them all. And hopefully I will make many lasting friendships! I am also looking forward to getting my host family information soon, so I will post again when I do.
I am just going to try to enjoy the next few weeks as much as I can before departure because I know September 2nd will be here all too soon. 17 days to go...
Love,
Katie
I am excited about the city of Ambato as well. Though it wasn't my very first choice, it was definitely up there...and I am up for anything! Ambato is 2 1/2 hours south of Quito and is smack-dab in the middle of the country- so it will be relatively easy to get anywhere around Ecuador. It is known throughout Ecuador as the "City of Fruits and Flowers," which sounds pretty good to me! I can't wait to try all the wonderful fruits. Unfortunately because of an earthquake in 1949, much of the Colonial architecture of Ambato was destroyed, so Ambato has a more modern feel. It's nice that I can just hop on a bus to some local towns, though, if I feel like I want to go back in time a bit one afternoon! The nearby town of Baños is a well-known gem...so much exploring to be done! Also, the Tungurahua Volcano is close by to Ambato and shoots ash all around the city, which might take some getting used to, but when am I going to live next to a volcano again in my life?! And it's been active sort of recently, haha...so that should be interesting! But Ambato offers restaurants, bars, internet cafes, parks, a river...and apparently really fun and engaging people, and really, what could be better? So I am thrilled! I will get to visit Ambato within my first week of being in Ecuador...so I will definitely have more to report then.
Other than that, I am finishing up my two summer jobs and trying to get ready for the move. I can't believe it is only 2 1/2 weeks away! I remember when I first applied in January and September seemed years away...but not so much any more! It's really starting to hit me that I am leaving, and I am definitely not looking forward to all my goodbyes. But thank goodness for all the technology of today, it shouldn't be hard at all to stay in touch at all. More contact info to come soon.
It's also been great hearing from some of the other volunteers! They all seem like such fun, adventurous, and exciting people...so I know I will benefit a lot from getting to know them all. And hopefully I will make many lasting friendships! I am also looking forward to getting my host family information soon, so I will post again when I do.
I am just going to try to enjoy the next few weeks as much as I can before departure because I know September 2nd will be here all too soon. 17 days to go...
Love,
Katie
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