JLV - PCV

(Note: this is the first of two new posts)

Quito, Ecuador - Second highest Capital in the World. A city with 400 year old churches and overpriced dress shirts. They put the Omnibus into two hostels close to the PC office and from the time we got there to swearing-in we were busy with meetings.

We had meetings with almost every US Government agency that works in Ecuador from the Army to US AID. W also had final meetings on health, security, and lesson on self defense tactics ("Hit ´em in the balls!!"). It was actually a pretty fun week especially since after the meetings we got to go out to some nice places for dinner and I got to drink my first Budweisers in a while.

One problem did happen when a girl apparently had to much fun the night before and showed up late for some meetings. This wasn´t her first offense, so they sent her home, bringing the Omnibus number to 39 from the original 46.

We also did have the chance to explore Quito a bit. We went to a couple old churches, a casino (I won $2.50), a mall ($100.00 for a shirt that would cost $50 in the States), and the Quito snake museum. I think a story describes someone in the Peace Corps pretty well. A friend and I went in to look at the poisonus snakes of Ecuador. There was a room where you could hold a "Horse Killer Boa", a very deadly snake from the jungle. We both were totally into getting a picture with it. Then they said that it cost $3 so we turned and left. We had no problem letting a lethal 5 foot snake wrap itself aound our necks, but three bucks, I´m not crazy.

In Quito we also had a meeting about mail and phones. For the next two years my address will be...

Jay Verhoff - PCV (PCV from PCT is the only change)
Cassilla 17-08-8624
Quito, Ecuador
South America

(Note: Do not send packages over 4.4 pounds and DO NOT declare a value)

My new cell number is...

011-593-9-191-6891

I can send a recieve texts from the US, but can only recieve calls. Also, I have unlimited incoming minutes so feel free to call anytime. It maybe a bit pricey, so a good option is to use an internet VOIP service or check your phone company for country specific plans.

On the tech side, in Quito I was able to get over 1,200 more songs for my iPod form two other Trainees (Thanks Crystal and Andrew) now I´m really set with over 6,200 songs. To all the guys who chipped in to get me that, thanks again. I´ve been using it almost evey day.

After all the meetings, all the work, all the Spanish conversations that I was competely lost during, it was finally time to swear-in. The ceremony was held at the US Ambasador´s house. The Ambasador, Linda Jewell, was there to administer the oath. First we had a couple of speaches telling us how great we were and then the Ambasador said a few words. During her speach she teared up. We think she must have had her kids on her mind. Then we raised our right hand and swore to, "Protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic" Pretty much the same oath as the President. We also sang the National Anthem. As we were singing, "...and the home of the brave.", a jet flew over us on its way to the airport. Just like Opening Day.

After that we had a picnic at the PC Country Director´s house and then a late night party at a Quito club. The next day we goofed around in Quito and ate at a really nice Greek restaurant that overlooked the Historic Center of Quito. The next day (Sunday, April 22nd) we got up early, packed our junk, and started jumping into cabs to catch busses. It was sad to say bye to people who you´d been with almost constantly for the last ten weeks. More tears were shed by some of the girls.

I was the last top go. I got into a cab and two busses later I was unpacking my stuff in my room in La Libertad.

So here I am. A Professianal Developement Extensionist with experience in Engineering and a little Agriculture, a basic ability in Spanish and two years to get God knows what accomplished. Wish me luck!