Site Assignment- Day of Destiny!

Hands down- the most intense day of training thus far! All 40 something of us attempting calmness, hanging on until recieving the decision that would dictate our location, work and life for the next 2 years. I mean it´s crazy. It´s like christmas morning as a kid times a million because rather than presents waiting for you it might be a tiny mountain town in the sierra, the jungle or the beach. Each site is great in it´s own way but let´s face it.... we each have our own personal hopes and fears.



I am scared to be out in a tiny town without
another volunteer/english speaker for hours.
I quite honestly was hoping not to be placed in
the Sierra because the weather sort of brings me
down.... so yea, back to the Day of Destiny........
You don´t pick your site. You are placed there based on your skill, site interviews etc... site interviews meaning all the counterparts from each site make the journey to Cayambe to meet, present their site and they get to have a small say as to whom they think might mesh well with their organization.
The lack of control was tough and this whole process was, well scary. But then again, I applied to Peace Corps prepared to be sent anywhere in the world. So......where did they put me..................
A small town of 8,000 people called El Palmar in the province of Guayas! I am very excited and terrified and everything inbetween! I´ll be working with an organization called, Dispensario Nuestro Senora de Fatima and NeoJuventud. My principal jobs will be working with young people in sexual education/ HIV/AIDs prevention, leadership training, abuse prevention, environmental education (reforestation and conservation of Palmar´s Mangroves), small buisness (bakery, artisan works and quail egg sales) and community banks.

It is a small town without another volunteer nearby..... two huge fears to overcome but I know that I can overcome those! I will intergrate into my community! The work is very exciting to me! Also... Palmar happens to be directly on the beach..... um, pretty excited about that.
The Nun actually requested me... so I feel extra good about going there. I leave to visit for a week on Saturday! I think it is like 13 hours away...crazy.
So that is another update from Peace Corps training in Tabacundo. Still focused on August 31...when I swear'in and really get to begin this adventure!
Thanks for reading and for all your support and prayers... these past weeks have been really overwhelming. Paz, Hannah P

Notes from the Jungles

Here are a couple photos from my tech/

cultural trip to Santo Domingo and Mindo.

We spent the night with an Indigenous

group called the Tsatchilas. The men are known for their bright red hair: they dye their hair with a plant called Achote. It is done in remembrance of the the many who died during the yellow fever pandemic in the early 1900´s. And mind you, this is what I understood... my Spanish is pretty good.. but if this info is not 100% don´t hold me to it. The photo with the little hut is of my friend Jen and I where we slept in the jungle with the Tsachilas. It was great= Wooden slate bed, candles and mosquito net. Seriously, it was really, really cool. The Shaman demonstrated a spiritual cleansing ceremony and we were all given native names, my name is Lu-Li which is the word for flower.

The next day we learned more about the Tsachila culture- they danced, played the marimba, we ate purple potatoes and bought some beautiful necklaces and bracelets. We gave a short talk on AIDs as this is becoming an issue in this particular community and it went really well. It felt really open and the community was really receptive. We traveled to the beautiful town of Mindo... and wow, it is beautiful. We got to rest a little as traveling took most of the day. The next day we went to a school in town and worked with groups of students and discussed communication and played a bunch of games. Later we returned and worked with a group of young people ages 13-25 discussing sexuality and safe sex options. We visited several volunteers and saw their projects--- one who started a cafe/theater and one who is working on a cool farm. It was a great trip overall and now back in Tabacundo I am recovering from being rather sick... but that comes with the territory, right? Water is pretty much my best friend right now. Hope this finds you well! Much love!

Feliz 4th of July!

Somehow I always seem to develop an animated sense of patriotism when I am out of my home country and so am inclined to truly celebrate national holidays such as the 4th of July. This 4th of July was no exception! Several volunteers that are training in the same city of Tabacundo where I am living organized quite the festive party! We invited all of our host-families and pretty much any and everyone who wanted to come and made hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, potato salad, fruit salad and a lovely American flag cake! We had a bon-fire and roasted marshmallows and lit off bottle rockets and everyone enjoyed the Sparklers! We blasted Creedence, Janis Joplin, LEd Zepplin etc.
Later on we switched to salsa and danced.. there were at least 70 people. Everyone enjoyed the food and music and of course the fireworks! It felt wonderful to share a little piece of life back home with our new friends here in Ecuador. It was an evening to dance, laugh and combine the worlds of home (the states) and my new life (Ecuador) and allow it all to settle in over hamburgers and fireworks. Last night dancing below the brightest starts with an adorable little girl and laughing with her I began to feel more at home. Somewhere between spanish and english, between salsa and janis joplin, between home and Ecuador- I began to sense that I can find my place here. That though this training is hard and yes, I am always screwing up my spanish or I struggle with this or that... I am on my way and am excited for what lies ahead!
Happy Fourth of July! I Hope this finds you well!