Oh man, how I've missed this blog. If I'm typing on here it means that I'm in (or on my way to) another country, and there's no better feeling than the start of a brand new adventure. This time my destination is a bit closer to home (no more 23 hour treks across the globe) and has been at the top of my Places I Need to Go As Soon As I Have the Time and Money list since I graduated from college. And even better, it takes me one step closer towards my goal of visiting every continent (this will make my fourth). So I'm off to...South America!
Ecuador, to be more specific. Thanks to the lovely folks at WorldTeach, I've been given the amazing opportunity to spend a school year there living and teaching English. The journey technically began back in May when I submitted my application and from there it's been a whirlwind of fundraising, researching, and preparation. I've been (somewhat) faithful in posting that information on the Facebook page I created for this trip, so just click here if you'd like to catch up.
So why South America? Well, why not, right? :) I'd have to say that one of the biggest draws for me is the culture. There's a certain warmth and vibrancy to South America and its people that doesn't seem to be replicated anywhere else. I have yet to meet anyone who has spent time there who hasn't had anything but wonderful things to say about the experiences they had and the people they met.
The language is a huge factor for me as well. Spanish has always held a special interest for me, but in spite of four years of it in high school and a semester in college, I never really progressed to a point where I could use it well. My hope in going to Ecuador is to refresh the knowledge I already have and finally reach a conversational level. I feel that in our increasingly bilingual country, it's an excellent skill to have and will certainly give my resume a needed boost.
Of course, we mustn't forget the incredible natural beauty and diversity of the continent. That alone would have won me. Take Ecuador, for example. You can travel from beaches to mountaintops to the heart of the jungle without ever leaving its borders. And compared to other South American countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, it's not even that large!
So where I will be located amidst all of this natural wonder? After much thoughtful deliberation and careful consideration, WorldTeach has placed me in Ibarra. Since they clearly know more about this city than I do, I'll simply paste here what they sent me in my introductory email:
Ibarra, the capital of Imbabura Province, is about three hours north of Quito in the northern highlands of the Sierra region. The architecture in Ibarra is well-preserved from the colonial era, the city has all of the modern conveniences, including phones and internet, and is very tranquilo overall. The weather in Ibarra is infinitely nicer than the weather in Quito, as the sun shines during the day and a cool breeze passes through the city at night. Ibarra is located in the gorgeous northern lake region of Ecuador, and the province of Imbabura is filled with exciting activities ranging from hiking to hang gliding, so you will have tons of amazing opportunities to enjoy yourself during your free time.
Sounds pretty great, huh? I definitely couldn't be happier with my placement as I was looking for milder weather (than the hot and humid coast) and a city with plenty to do but not overwhelmingly touristy or crowded (like Quito). I feel like it has a pleasant balance that will allow me to fully immerse myself in the Ecuadorian culture while still being able to do things like Skype home whenever I'd like.
As far as my school goes, I will be teaching at CECAMI (which is short for Centro de Capacitación Municipal de Ibarra). It is a small English school that offers open classes to anyone in the community. Because it is a small school that is run by the Municipo of Ibarra and is not affiliated with a university, I have complete control over the content of my classes and, even better, I will be given my very own classroom for the year that I can decorate and set up however I wish! While the amount of freedom I have is slightly overwhelming, I'm excited at all of the opportunities it presents (there will definitely be a lot of theater going on in my classroom!).
Even though this isn't my first time leaving the country (and, by golly, I hope it's not the last!), I still find myself having some pre-departure jitters. In spite of all the researching and planning and packing, there really is only so much you can prepare for. All the rest is just one frighteningly large unknown. I'd have to say this trip is even more intimidating than my stay in Australia since I have new challenges to consider. Like preparing to teach for the first time. And adjusting to living with a host family that I know nothing about. And learning how to get around in a non-English speaking country. And figuring out how to politely decline the offer of a generous portion of cuy (guinea pig!).
But, hey, I would expect no less from a proper adventure!
Stay tuned...
