So the other day Adam and I walk out of the apartment, on our way to Ambato to wash alllll of my dirty laundry, and he stops, cocks his head, looks around, and asks: “Where’s my motorcycle?”
To which I very intelligently said: “Huh?”
“My motorcycle.”
“Are you sure you parked it here?”“Yes.”
“Well….shit.”
We both did long, sweeping evaluations of the street, as if it were going to magically pop up a few doors down from when it was parked. We would have panicked, but it was long gone, and seeing as how Adam hadn’t even locked it or anything, it seemed rather stupid to panic.
Actually, he took it rather well, besides a few scathing remarks about Ecuadorians. I was hurt, because my town is touted on being so safe, the people so nice, and I felt incredibly secure here, and that feeling was now ruined. Plus, I was sure, absolutely positive, that this wouldn’t have happened it he wasn’t a gringo. Shitty Ecuador, I thought. Stupid for me to believe that there would be any decency in this place, or that in the place I call my home people wouldn’t want to rob me blind.
A few days go by. Adam makes a few flyers, advertising a reward for the bike. I tell him, in nicer words, that he can do whatever he wants, but he is being stupid. Really stupid. The bike is long gone, probably sold for parts by now. Making flyers is stupid waste of time. In fact, the Ecuadorians will probably snicker at him behind his back for doing such a thing. Let it go.
He makes the flyers and pastes them around town.
Two days later, I get the call. Someone has the bike.
The story goes: This young guy was going to his work as an ayudante (driver’s helper) on the buses at about 5 am last Monday when he saw a motorcycle in the middle of a back street, bent up and with the shit kicked out of it, but still functioning, only a few things broken. Never one to miss an opportunity, he loads it into the back of a truck and takes it home. A few days later, he spots the flyers and gives me a call. I go and see it: he’s telling the truth. There, in all of its banged up glory, is Adam’s motorcycle.
Well, holy shit.
I’m just…awestruck. Blown away. This is incredible. That anyone, but especially a young man with a crappy job and a wife and kid in this country where it is so, so easy to take a bike to a shop and strip it for parts, no questions asked, would return a motorcycle is unbelievable. Now of course there’s the odd chance that he took it hoping there would be a reward, but that’s kind of silly. Most people wouldn’t have put up a flyer. And honestly, if he was going to be dishonest, he could have made a lot more money stripping it for parts than the reward we’re giving him, which is $200. Adam guestimates that he could have made at least $400 by selling. So this young guy just took a $200 pay cut to do the right thing.
Faith in Humanity = restored.
This whole story just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
In other news, I’m going whitewater rafting with other PC volunteers this Halloween, costume include. (I’m a pirate....arrrrr). I’ve been spending a lot of time in my hammock; during the day it’s a great nap or book revision spot, as long as I have lots of sunblock, and at night there is enough light to read by, so I can snuggle in a blanket with a pillow and a good book.
I am so incredibly content right now, doing my work and having plenty of time to myself as well. My first charlas went fantastically and I have more scheduled for the upcoming weeks. And Christmas….don’t get me started! I’m so excited I can’t even express it. Seven weeks!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Did I fall asleep? For a little while; or, it seems my titles are descending into incomprehensible tv show quotes
Hello all.
It’s been far too long since I updated my blog, but life has been crazy and busy and crazy and busy and fantastic.
I moved out of my previous town and into Patate, which has changed things so completely that I can’t even express it in words. My apartment is amazing, I have work flooding in from all sides, and have been having adventures like it’s nobody’s business. I met a guy, but that’s a whole other story that I won’t be getting into here (he’s leaving soon, anyway.) I’ve been in a cloud forest and traveled around and done so many, many things that I’ll have to tell you all about when I see you.
Memorable moments:
-The grad school fair in Quito was amazing, and totally changed my outlook on what I want to go to graduate school for. My choice now: a dual degree in international relations and journalism. There are several great schools that offer dual degrees like this, including the University of Syracruse, U of Denver, and American.
-I got into the Anti-TIPS task force, a Peace Corps group that fights human trafficking in Ecuador. We meet for the first time next month in Guayaquil!
- I was in my very first earthquake! The whole room shook and things fell off the shelf. I had to run under a doorway to be safe, but it wasn’t that bad so there was no danger. Actually it was all very exciting.
- I have work in several communities, one of which is in a cloud forest. I have almost too much work to do at the moment, and I might have to start turning people down soon. I’m also working with a conservation group, which has taken the place in my life that the Red Cross was supposed to take. They help me and take me to communities and work with me every step along the way. They are my saving grace.
-Reconnect was a long week of lectures, but we had some good times, and at the end of it almost everyone from our Omnibus came to Rio Bamba for the weekend.
-I went to my first Ecuadorian wedding last night, for the daughter of the family that I am very close to in Patate. It was beautiful and very western with the bride in a white dress and a solemn ceremony.
-I AM GETTING INTERNET IN MY APARTMENT. I am officially in Posh Corps. I live in the center of a lovely town, several blocks from a pool, and I’m getting cheap internet in my apartment. So everyone, take note: get a skype account. I will be available to speak almost every day.
-Many things happened that I can’t talk about here, but were all unique and fun and crazy and life changing.
Of course, there are always down sides. I’m nervous with all of this work, facing my first real classes, and worried that everyone is going to find out that I don’t really know what I am talking about. The boy situation has turned sad, as he is leaving soon and I will miss his presence in my life. I am missing my best friend’s wedding in two weeks. I miss home like crazy, which is weird because I am so happy here, but it has just been a long time and I feel the pull of homesickness every day.
This is a beautiful place that I live in. I am happy in Ecuador.
Nine weeks until December 15th!
It’s been far too long since I updated my blog, but life has been crazy and busy and crazy and busy and fantastic.
I moved out of my previous town and into Patate, which has changed things so completely that I can’t even express it in words. My apartment is amazing, I have work flooding in from all sides, and have been having adventures like it’s nobody’s business. I met a guy, but that’s a whole other story that I won’t be getting into here (he’s leaving soon, anyway.) I’ve been in a cloud forest and traveled around and done so many, many things that I’ll have to tell you all about when I see you.
Memorable moments:
-The grad school fair in Quito was amazing, and totally changed my outlook on what I want to go to graduate school for. My choice now: a dual degree in international relations and journalism. There are several great schools that offer dual degrees like this, including the University of Syracruse, U of Denver, and American.
-I got into the Anti-TIPS task force, a Peace Corps group that fights human trafficking in Ecuador. We meet for the first time next month in Guayaquil!
- I was in my very first earthquake! The whole room shook and things fell off the shelf. I had to run under a doorway to be safe, but it wasn’t that bad so there was no danger. Actually it was all very exciting.
- I have work in several communities, one of which is in a cloud forest. I have almost too much work to do at the moment, and I might have to start turning people down soon. I’m also working with a conservation group, which has taken the place in my life that the Red Cross was supposed to take. They help me and take me to communities and work with me every step along the way. They are my saving grace.
-Reconnect was a long week of lectures, but we had some good times, and at the end of it almost everyone from our Omnibus came to Rio Bamba for the weekend.
-I went to my first Ecuadorian wedding last night, for the daughter of the family that I am very close to in Patate. It was beautiful and very western with the bride in a white dress and a solemn ceremony.
-I AM GETTING INTERNET IN MY APARTMENT. I am officially in Posh Corps. I live in the center of a lovely town, several blocks from a pool, and I’m getting cheap internet in my apartment. So everyone, take note: get a skype account. I will be available to speak almost every day.
-Many things happened that I can’t talk about here, but were all unique and fun and crazy and life changing.
Of course, there are always down sides. I’m nervous with all of this work, facing my first real classes, and worried that everyone is going to find out that I don’t really know what I am talking about. The boy situation has turned sad, as he is leaving soon and I will miss his presence in my life. I am missing my best friend’s wedding in two weeks. I miss home like crazy, which is weird because I am so happy here, but it has just been a long time and I feel the pull of homesickness every day.
This is a beautiful place that I live in. I am happy in Ecuador.
Nine weeks until December 15th!
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