And My New Hometown is...

And my new hometown is...

ZAMORA.

After weeks of anticipation and speculation, the site assignment ceremony had finally arrived on July 13. 60 PCTs and I stood alongside a map of Ecuador and fidgeted nervously as PC staff read off names and locations. Would I sweat as I read in my hammock in a coastal banana grove? Would I learn Kichwa while riding a horse through the Andean highlands? Would I try to sleep beneath a mosquito net as raindrops thudded against my roof?

Abruptly, my thoughts were interrupted as a loud voice announced my name. After what seemed like a eternal pause, it then announced my new home...Zamora.

Zamora is a small city of roughly 20,000 located in the transistion zone between the Amazon and the Andes. Affectionately known Known as the city of birds and waterfalls, it is absolutely stunning. Lush green vegetation covers the hills and red dirt paths meander past rivers and waterfalls.

The city itself lies alongside the intersection of two such rivers. It is orientated around an inordinately large clock, reputed to be the largest in the world, and consists of colorful concrete buildings often with partially constructed top floors. Near Rio Zamora, a river with a brownish hue due to local mining activity, the city has constructed a promenade or Malecon in an effort to attract tourists. It remains a work in progress, but definitely has the potential to be a great place to relax with friends.

With only this limited knowledge about my new home and my host mother's phone number, I climbed aboard a bus to trek to Zamora early Thursday morning. Luckily, several other PCTs had been posted to sites somewhat near mine so we could embark on the 18 hour journey together and enjoy stunning views of various volcanos, mountain hamlets, and colonial churches as the bus chugged through the Andes mountains.

Given Peace Corps policy prohibiting night travel for PCTs, we had a small pit stop in Cuenca on Thursday night. Although eager to arrive at our sites, Cuenca is stunning with dozens of historic churches, cobblestone roads, and great eats. I only wish we had more time to explore before embarking on the final leg our our journey.

About 7 hours later, the bus pulled into the terminal in Zamora. Within moments, I was swarmed by
my host nieces and nephews who wanted to give me a tour of the house, play soccer, and practice English with me simultaneously. My host mother finally calmed the niñitos before introducing me to the family. I have five host sisters between the ages of 16-30 as well as 6 nieces and nephews between 2-10, although only two sisters and two children live en casa.

After I settled in and gorged myself on a ridiculously delicious lunch, I journey to Colegio 12 de Febrero, where I will be teaching to meet with the rector and vice-rector (essentially the principal and assistant principal). Unfortunately, as it is summer vacation, I did not have the opportunity to meet with my teachers nor many students.

The majority of the weekend was, therefore, spent bonding with my host family. Whether frolicking in the rapids in a local river, journeying to my grandfather's farm outside Yantzaza (future home of two other PCTs), celebrating my host mother's Saint Day with a surprise shindig, or boating in Loja, so much laughter. The house was constantly in a state of (good) mayhem with so many children racing around by the energy was infectious and I had a phenomenal time. And whenever the chaos became slightly overwhelming, I could escape and go for a run along red-dirt roads surrounded by the rainforest. Too bad we had lost electricity (again) by the time I returned home and had to enjoy a freezing shower (we don't have hot water) in the pitch-black windowless bathroom upon my return. Regardless, the Peace Corps could not have found me a more perfect site.

Monday did, unfortunately, signify the end of the weekend and my return to work. After briefly meeting with the rector to discuss potential secondary projects (still TBD, but a girl's sports program seems likely), I spent hours meandering through the streets and constructing my community map. Not only do I now know where to find important resources, but I also found some of the most delicious bread I have eaten in Ecuador. Perfecto. Too soon, the workday rolled to a close and I had a brief meeting with the Provincial Minister of Education. My day wasn't completely over, however, as my host mom took me to the market and began introducing me to local vendors as her daughter. No gringo prices for me thank you very much.

Although I most certainly was not ready to leave, I climbed aboard a bus returning to Tumbaco early Tuesday morning full of excitement about my new home. At least I spent the next 18 or so hours comparing stories with other PCTs who joined us throughout the trek home.

Although Zamora remained tranquilo, the entire country passed through a brief crisis beginning Saturday. Throughout Ecuador, although primarily within the Province of Los Rios, dozens of individuals became deathly ill and many died after consuming punta, basically Ecuadorian moonshine. A devious entrepreneur, it appears, decided to spike his punta with industrial alcohol to increase its strength while simultaneously diminishing the costs of production. As fear spread regarding the quality of all punta in Ecuador, the government declared a “ley seca” banning alcohol for three days throughout the country. Surprising. And, like prohibition, almost impossible to enforce.