Things To Look Forward To

Today was a really productive day!   TGIF!!!

I spent my morning in the Municipio’s Library working on tabulating my patient encuestas and then did about 2 hours of GRE test prep. …..Yep thats right, I’ve begun studying for the ever so famous GRE!! I’m registered to take the test in February at the Fulbright Society in Quito. Which means I have about 3.5 months of intense GRE studying ahead of me. Mom sent me the Idiots Guide to the GRE via Amazon and so far I’m really enjoying the book. It has great math review, practical advice on how to study for the test, and the authors have a witty writing style — all very helpful in motivating me to get ready for this test!

Yesterday, I took the bus to the Guayaquil Convention Center to pick up my gear for the “Las Mujeres Corremos” 5k race which I will be running this Sunday. I’ve been training everyday in Entre Rios and on the waterfront downtown. Surprisingly, Guayaquil has some really beautiful places to take a run. I’ve had a great time running with my soon-to-be roommate Michelle and motivating both of us to run together on the weekends. On Sunday I will be running with Michelle, Caitlin, Rebecca (my program manager) and a lot of other female Peace Corps volunteers here in Guayaquil (since it’s a 5k for women). All proceeds from the race will be going to Ecuador’s Ronald McDonald House Charities. Yesterday I picked up my official race shirt, dry-fit cap, water bottle, and a cute pink tote bag.

And this weekend Caitlin, Michelle and I are going shopping for our new apartment!! Saturday we plan to go shopping for our beds on Rumichaca St. which is known as the  ”mattress street” in Guayaquil. I’m not sure how we are going to get all our beds and mattresses up ten floors to our apt. but I guess it will be a good workout? Ha!  Wish us luck with that one….

I move all my belongings from my host family’s home to the new apt. this next Thursday…so 6 days. Super close!! I have really enjoyed living with my two host families these past 5 months in Paquiestancia and Guayaquil but I look forward to living in the new apt with a little more independence. I plan to keep in good touch with the Albán family and I’m sure I will be seeing Doctora Albán a lot since she works with the Municipio.

Everything at the hospital is going well….still doing encuestas and mini-charlas with patients, which I have to admit, I pretty much have down to a science. I do about 10 to 15 encuestas each day at Hospital Jacobo (apx. 20+ mins per patient). The hospital gets a majority of its patients early in the morning and the last few patients leave around 2ish. Services are available all day long but I’ve been told by nurses that patients only come in the mornings since they prefer to return in the afternoon to work/ their family duties  ie: most children only have half days of school so stay-at-home mom’s return home in the afternoon to take care of their kids.

Some exciting news…..The US Ambassador to Ecuador will be visiting our HIV/AIDS program at the Guayaquil PC office this next Thursday!! We will be doing an open house with stations where the ambassador will learn more about all of our project assignments. This weekend I’m going to put together a poster board of pictures of the Municipio’s hospitals/ clinics and write up a summary of my CAT tools /encuesta results. I’m excited to have the opportunity to meet her again and to speak with her about the work that I’ve been up to in my site.

In my spare time I have been doing a LOT of reading for pleasure… the most I think I have ever done in my whole life. During high school and all throughout college I never had the free time to read for pleasure….I was always busy with homework, sports and more reading for homework. Here in Guayaquil, you can find me in my spare time at the local coffee shop or panadería reading a book and sipping on an iced coffee.  This week I was so happy to get a huge care package from Mom with 4 new books!! I really love getting mail ( Thanks Mom!! you are the best!! )

Heres a list of some of the books I’ve read in the last month.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Born To Run by Christopher McDougall

The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

My Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I’m kinda bummed that I wont be home to celebrate with the May/ Nápoles family. It will be my first Thanksgiving away from home, and I will be spending it with some of my fellow Peace Corps volunteers in Guayaquil. Molly (another PCV in Guayaquil) is hosting some of us at her apartment for a potluck dinner. I have offered to bring a sweet potato dish, which I’m very excited to make. By then, I will be in my new apt. and have a real kitchen to cook!!

Officially, I have been her in site for 9 whole weeks, which is about the same amount of time that I spent in training and living in Paquiestancia. Boy do I miss the rest of the people from my training class. I can’t tell you how excited I am to see my other PC friends this next weekend in Cuenca and at Reconnect from the 14-19th of Nov. in Quito. Between celebrating Halloween in Cuenca, to moving into my new apt, to traveling to Quito for Reconnect, I have a lot to look forward to in these coming weeks!  I’ve decided that one of the best ways to stay focused and to stay motivated is to have things to look forward to each month…for instance…

October – Halloween in Cuenca, November – move into new apartment & PC Reconnect Conference, December – Christmas, January – Tessa is here from the 8th – 24th  

WEEKS I’VE BEEN IN ECUADOR :  18

WEEKS SPENT IN MY SITE (GUAYAQUIL):   9

WEEKS LEFT IN THE PEACE CORPS:   95

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Sending lots of love to everyone at home!!  I would love to hear from all of you and what you are up to back home!   Write me!!!      leana.napoles@gmail.com or  write me by snail mail !

Leana Nápoles - Peace Corps / Cuerpo de Paz

Casilla No. 09-01-1263
Guayaquil – Ecuador