Rhianna Banana

S.O.S.

Before joining the Peace Corps, I had been told by returned Peace Corps volunteers that the highs and lows were extreme. Now I know what they were talking about, as I've been on an emotional rollar coaster the past three weeks. Or maybe I'm always that way. Hard to tell. Anyway, after Pierre left, I was feeling down for a bit. I had to get used to not having him around and being by myself again. Then I went to Quito last weekend with a bunch of my friends to party with the new volunteers after their swearing-in ceremony. The newbies had rented out a club, and the music there was awesome! Lots of 80s (woohoo!), plus pop, hip hop, and Latin music. We danced until they kicked us out. Most of my favorite people were there, and it was the most fun I've had going out in Ecuador since I've been here. I felt euphoric, which maybe was why I felt light-headed. I think I gave myself a headache, I was so happy. My friends are such fun dancers! My best memories of that night are acting out Erasure's "A Little Respect" with Miguel, Stephanie doing the moves from the Dirty Dancing song with Maggie (Maggie is too young perhaps to remember all the moves from that final dance number, but my siblings and I know it well!), and dancing on the stage with Maggie and Calvin. I am really looking forward to hanging out with my whole training group next month for the reconnect conference. I haven't seen some people since our swear-in ceremony in April!

I agreed this week to teach English classes in the elementary school in La Asuncion. I am going to teach in three different classes, one hour each week. If anyone has any suggestions on fun games, songs, or other activities, let me know! Also, if anyone wants to send me anything, I'd really appreciate some coloring books, crayons and stickers for the kids. Maybe some simple children's books too. I'm pretty nervous about teaching, because I am still not that confident abuot my Spanish, but I figure the little kids can't be as scary as the undergrads and grad students I taught at the University of Michigan. I think my English classes and botanical and herpetological research at La Perla will keep me busy. And working with the kids should be fun.

Eventually I will get around to writing captions for all the photos on this blog. My dilemma is always whether I should catch up on email, or work on the blog. And then I end up doing nothing and feeling behind on everything. But I will be all caught up some day!

posted by Unknown @ Friday, September 01, 2006