Site Assignment

Today was a rollercoaster of emotions. I woke up excited to learn about my home for the next two years. My entire Omnibus collected at our usual meeting spot for the news. We entered the room to see a large map of Ecuador outlined in roses on the floor. One of the trainers pulled our names out of a hat and read off our site assignments. Once read, the person ran through a line of people throwing roses and slapping our hands.

The suspense was more intense than my skydiving experience last Spring. Sitting in the plane before the jump, at least I knew I would land safely on the ground within a few minutes. I had no idea where I would be placed, and the suspense was almost unbearable.

Towards the end of the names, I was finally called. I´m not sure why I gave myself expectations, but my site was exactly the opposite of what I had hoped. I had asked for the Coast or Amazon region, and I was led to the top of the map. The Northern Sierra mountainous region. The more I learned about it, the more upset I got. Beyond regional preference, I had asked for a small community, Spanish speaking, rural, very low level of services (no running water, electricity, etc), and to be the first volunteer in the site. My site is in the mountains, has way over a few hundred people, is indigenous (the majority of the inhabitants speak Quichua), is very close to a larger city, has running water and electricity, and is only about an hour by bus from my training site. I was devastated.

In going through my paperwork, I noticed a few strange things on my housing form. Most of boxes explaining required aspects of my host family house were checked. However, when I got to 1) personal room, 2) locked room, and 3) ability to change locks, only the word PENDING. Upon further scrutiny, the section entitled ¨Required Improvements to Living Quarters¨ read ¨WALLS ON BEDROOM¨. I couldn´t exactly figure out what that meant, but for my $40-per-month rent, I should hope I have walls on my bedroom.

Meanwhile, I had friends in my same program assigned to a site on the beach in a town of fisherman and cacao farmers. Others were given sites deep in the jungle surrounded by Amazon rainforest. I couldn´t believe how insensitive the placement staff was of my preferences. I still can´t believe it.

However, as the day wore on, my attitude began to change. I reminded myself that I joined Peace Corps because I was willing to go anywhere and do anything. Even though I had hoped for a more exotic experience, I have to admit that I love mountains. Maybe I would have gone crazy on the coast dreaming of huge volcanos towering overhead. I called the volunteer whom I will replace, and she made me feel a lot better. She had the same doubts about the site for her first few months, but now loves it. I don´t need to learn Quichua (everyone speaks Spanish as well), she claims my house is amazing, and there is plenty of meaningful work to be done.

I had hoped for a site as far outside of my comfort zone as possible. At first glance, this site did not seem to fit that mold. Por otro mano, when else will I get to live at 2,500 meters and still have summer weather all year round? When else will I have two volcanos in my backyard? When else will I have the opportunity to learn an indigenous language?

Rest assured that the end of my day was a lot better than the beginning and middle. I can´t judge this place before I even set foot there. I can´t set myself up for failure like that. I´m still trying to process that I landed such a place, but I am keeping an open mind. No one ever said Peace Corps would be easy.