The Precarious Adventures of a Peace Corps Volunteer: September 2013

Sorry this post is a little belated, but I had to hit the ground running as soon as I got back, while sick.

No less than 7 days ago, I was on another continent, in the arms of my family and friends, and on cloud 9. I decided to go home and surprise my family so that I could welcome my beautiful new niece into the world on Friday, September 6th.

Before I spill all the juicy details of my awesome trip, I'll explain how and why I was able to come home when I previously thought it an impossibility.

Vacation time: When I joined the Peace Corps, I was aware that we would get vacation days, but only 2 per month and part of our job is to travel and see our host country, so I was under the impression that I would only really be able to use that vacation time to go home once during my service and my mom had promised me a flight home for Christmas. So when my sister announced she was pregnant before I left, I cried tears of joy and tears of preemptive regret knowing I would be in another country with less than dependable internet access. Then, I found out once I got here that we get 3 "personal days" per month, in which we are allowed to travel and see the country, visit other volunteers, and just take time for ourselves, on top of the allotted vacation days! Score! So the logisitics of vacation time was all squared away.

Money in the bank: On a Peace Corps volunteer's salary, it is absolutely impossible to buy airfare to another country. However, before leaving for service, I sold my car. The money from my little baby Yaris was sitting in my US bank account so that I can buy a car when I return to the states after my Peace Corps experience is finished. Young, silly, somewhat irresponsible Chelsea says "Savings shmavings! I can get a job when I get back to the States and then figure out the car situation. I don't have to worry about that until April 2015."

And all that really matters- Family: I was having a bad day at some point here (not the first, nor the last, I'm sure) and I realized that oftentimes, when I need cheering up, I think about little, seemingly insignificant memories with each of my family members. When I'm on the verge of tears, I picture my mom saying "aint no thing but a chicken wing!" and I picture my sister sticking out her belly and dancing when she was pregnant with Colton, and I think about the first time someone broke my heart and I had to move in with my dad as a result and I thought there wasn't anything more embarrassing than crying to my dad about a boy, but it turned out he was a really good listener and didn't judge me in the least. And the things I miss the most about home are Mom's wheezy laugh, Carly claiming whatever she is eating is the best thing she ever tasted!, watching TV with Dad and talking about places we've never been, and jumping on the bed with Colton.

So logistics, vacation time, money, and the long journey melt away and pale in comparison to the significance of being there for an important moment for my family as they have always been there for my most important moments.

During my short trip home...

I ate: donuts, chilaquiles, Cocoa Pebbles, frozen yogurt, cabernet, Thai pad see ew, Avery White Rascal, Los Panchos quesadilla, peanut butter cup pancake, bacon wrapped chicken taco, and so. many. cheeses.

I watched: a few episodes of the final season of The Office (but still not the finale!), Colton climb up and slide down his new bat cave bed (about 73 times), A Goofy Movie (4 times), the best reactions EVER to "Surprise! Chelsea!"

I drove: many glorious hours.

I received: the most awesome birthday care package from my Club 3770 crew, a Nook! from my bfff, and a surprise visit from his lovely momma, no weird looks from strangers (because I actually blended in)

I saw: a few amazing friends, my wonderful family, and America's finest city, San Diego!

I met: the most beautiful baby girl ever born.

I caught: a terrible cold.

So on the journey back to Ecuador, I had a miserable 11 hour layover in Atlanta and when I arrived I spent a couple days with Sonia and family so she could take care of my sickliness and then I had to head back to the training center for a week-long conference. I'm here now and today the Peace Corps doctor told me I have bronchitis. I could have guessed that because I haven't slept in 5 days due to my lungs trying to kill me. But you know what? Absolutely, totally, 100% worth it.

1 de septiembre, 2013

A covered truck pulled up to my house at 7 in the morning and the driver told me to hop in the back. All it was missing were the words “caramelitos gratuitos!” painted on the side (free candy). It was my co-worker’s brother and his family. One of the English teachers at my school has parents who live out in the campo in a place called Rumikincha and he invited me to spend a Sunday playing Ecuadorian farmer with his family and it turned out to be one of my best days here. I rode a horse for the first time in my adult life. I milked a cow and then drank that cow’s milk seconds later, warm, frothy, fresh, and nasty. I used some chochos (beans) as a musical instrument. I put my feet in the most natural hot springs I’ve ever seen. I was fed a big lunch of tilapia and rice by an indigenous family and I shared with them some lemon bars I made (I don’t think they liked them). And I learned a few short phrases in Kichwa: Nyuca Chelsea mikani (My name is Chelsea) is all I can remember now. There were a few nieces and nephews along for the trip and of the 4 children, only 1 had ever seen a white person before. And yet, they welcomed us with open arms.

Yet another happy day spent in gratitude of the kind spirit of Ecuadorian people.

P.S. guess what guys?! By the end of this week, I’ll have a niece!!!