Many volunteers go back home several times during their service. It’s a normal thing to do and the best way to get back in touch with family and friends. Eventhough most of my family had visited me once here in Ecuador, I felt it was time for me to show up at this traditional family get together during christmas and new years. My sister couldn’t make it as she was was working during those key days but I still got a cha nce to talk to her and catch up on the latest events in her life. I hadn’t seen my brother for quite a while and I was glad to see how healthy and outgoing he had become. My dad lives in New York and it was identified as the most convenient location to get together. The weather was certainly cold but not nearly as bad as I was expecting with only one really harsh day. I love walking around the city and I had quite a few errands to take care of for friends in Ecuador.
We can only bring in one new laptop across customs so I had to disappoint many people who asked bring them one. In fact only one family benefited from my trip to the US and I’m a bit upset that I couldn’t help much closer friends who are more in need. After going to their wedding in Riobamba, this family just showed up at my place one evening with $1000 in cash and a christmas shopping list including a laptop. I simply followed the first come first served policy and it was a bit tricky to turn them down. Anyways I delivered everything they asked for and hope they will be satisfied with the products I brought them. Apart from doing their shopping I enjoyed my time with my family, had great food and wine and went to a few shows/events. The most significant one was a knicks vs. spurs game at the MSG. I’ve always been a spurs fan ever since David Robinson joined the team in 1989, they now happen to have the best French player of all time with Tony Parker who had a great game and helped the spurs win.
I wasn’t hit too hard by the reversed culture shock that often happens after living in a developing country for some time. What amazed me the most were all these fancy new electronic gadgets everybody seems to have. I love the ethnic diversity of the city, it certainly feels like an immigrant land. I went downtown one day to check out the progress on the new towers they are building at ground zero and was surprised at how little has been done some 8 years after the attack. I have never been a huge fan of NY and don’t think I’ll ever live there but it’s nice place to visit every once in a while just for the cultural life it holds. It might be my transitional ground depending on how fast I manage to get a job after my service. I am planning on starting applying for positions this month at international NGOs operating in developing countries particularly in Africa.
After new years
day I returned to Ecuador and was picked up by Edwin and Monica. I spent my first night on the farm and they took me to natural thermal baths in Oyacachi in the Napo province just an hour away from Cayambe. It was a really nice and relaxing start to 2010, helping the girls build confidence swimming across the hot pools and getting some hot sun after a freezing NY holiday. Now I’m back at work with Awá Federation for my last four months of service. Right before going on vacation I squeezed in one last proposal that was submitted to the Ministry of Culture that aims at training youth in traditional Awá music and produce a CD and several concerts in Awá communities in order to revive this important cultural trait.
