See you later Puerto Lopez

  Two years ago, Puerto Lopez was so unfamiliar and unknown. Nothing more than a town on a map and I remember being so unsure I would ever really be able to call… Continue reading →

What got me to stay another year in Ecuador?

Remember when you went to summer camp when you were younger and you came back home with the “summer camp high”? It lasted about two weeks; you kept in touch with all your… Continue reading →

Dear Liliana & Rafaela

  Dear Liliana and Rafaela, You probably don’t remember the first time we met but I remember it like it was yesterday. I had just moved out of my host family’s house in… Continue reading →

La Playita & Tortuguitas

I never thought I would be one to live on a beach. Funny what happens when others make decisions for you (cough cough, Peace Corps) where you end up. So here I am,… Continue reading →

Michigan and Monigotes

  You know that feeling you get when you return to something familiar, where it seems you can just fall right back into place and nothing seems to have changed. If I could… Continue reading →

A day in the life of a PCV-Thursday

September and October have been the most difficult months of my Peace Corps service thus far. One day, I will find the words to write about them. Today is not that day. But, it was… Continue reading →

The Quito High

I just got back to Puerto Lopez from a week and a half long conference in Quito. We had a conference about substance abuse prevention and our mid-service conference (I still cannot believe… Continue reading →

Work Work Work Work Work

“Do you even work?” or “what do you do for work” are probably the most frequent questions I get from friends and family back home. Yes, it’s hard to believe but I actually… Continue reading →

The Gym

A couple of you who are reading this probably went to the gym last night and it maybe looked a little something like this (and for those who didn’t, I get it, but… Continue reading →

Things I Relearned this week 3.0

As many of you know, I took a trip back to the states to visit with family and friends. Even though it was only a week vacation, it was the perfect dose of… Continue reading →

Comida Costeña

When I begin a conversation with Ecuadorians whom I have just met, it usually goes a little something like this. “How do you like Ecuador, Devin” “I love it, everything about it” “And… Continue reading →

When May 26 Became Important

For many people the Gregorian calendar (hint that is the name of the calendar you all use every day) is the way you count years.  But something happens when you become a Peace… Continue reading →

Living Poor-2016 Edition

For those who don’t know, there is a memoir titled “Living Poor” about one of the first Peace Corps volunteers in Ecuador, Moritz Thomsen. If you have time, you should consider picking it… Continue reading →

While I was in the shower…

It has taken me 15 days to be able to process my thoughts and have the courage to put them into words, so bear with me. On April 16, 2016 at 6:30pm I… Continue reading →

Satisfaction

  I am writing this blog post after an extremely satisfying day.  My day was not extremely eventful nor extraordinary but you know that feeling when you are craving the perfect slice of… Continue reading →

Friends…not the TV show

  If I could boil it down, there are two different kind of friendships for me in Peace Corps. 1.) friendships with other peace corps volunteers  and 2.) friendships with Ecuadorians at site.… Continue reading →

GLOW

“What’s the greatest lesson a woman should learn? That since day one, she’s already had everything she needed within herself. It’s the world that convinced her she did not”- Rupi Kaur I know… Continue reading →

Baile de San Valentín

Valentine’s day is one of my least favorite holidays.  Personally, I prefer the day after Valentine’s day when all the chocolate is 75 percent off and my facebook newsfeed is not clogged with… Continue reading →

A Tribute to Host Families

“Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you… Continue reading →

Things I learned this week 2.0

“Everyone you meet will know something you don’t”- Bill Nye Like I said in my last “things I learned this week” post, I am always learning here. And it continuously surprises me.  I… Continue reading →

Home is not a place, it is a feeling.

Before starting Peace Corps service, I was scared for what emotions the month of December would bring and terrified of not being home for that time of year. The holidays are a special… Continue reading →

Different abilities instead of disability

  Last Thursday was the International day of disabilities. My counterpart organization, Fundación Jóse Rivera, organized a couple of different events around Puerto López to raise the awareness of disabilities in the cantón… Continue reading →

Education is the Most Powerful Weapon

      “Education is the most powerful weapon used to change the world”- Nelson Mandela   I thought the quote was appropriate for not only this blog article but for what is… Continue reading →

Pachamama

Pachamama—-Quecha for Mother Earth, the universe, and all space and time. Quecha is the indigenous language in Ecuador Now that Puerto López is my new home, I don’t see very many green things. Here,… Continue reading →

Little Victories and Little Moments

When you leave for the Peace Corps a lot of people say “you are going to change the world”.  As a PCV quickly realize that is not going to happen.  Instead, you settle… Continue reading →

The Rodeo

Yes, you saw correctly…an Ecuadorean Rodeo.  That is what my weekend consisted of.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would go to a rodeo in Ecuador.  And when I heard… Continue reading →

Things I Learned This Week 1.0

I have just passed the fourth month mark in Ecuador and realized one day this past week that I am still learning. Every day I experience something new, I see something I have… Continue reading →

Garbage

The past couple weeks in Puerto López have been all about garbage.  I have talked, thought, and taught more about garbage in the past two weeks than I have combined in all my… Continue reading →

Running Water

Today, how many times did you— Wash your hands? Wash your plates? Turn on the dishwasher? Take a shower or a bath? Use a washing machine? Drink a glass of water from the… Continue reading →

Feria, Fiesta, & Fish

Feria, Fiesta, and Fish encompasses the past week and a half of my PCV life in Puerto Lopez. This past Saturday, my counterpart organization had a fair for inclusion.  The idea of the… Continue reading →

Survive First Week at Site – Check

My first week at site is complete and I am, honestly, surprised I survived.  There were so many moments I was so incredibly overwhelmed. Think about when you start a new job in… Continue reading →

PCT to PCV

“Your true calling is where your deepest passion meets the worlds needs”— Frederick Buechner PCT- peace corps trainee PCV- peace corps volunteer Since the day I arrived in Ecuador I have essentially been… Continue reading →

Chicken Feet & Other Ecua Eats

I only have two more days living here in Nayón and I couldn’t leave without giving a cheers to Ecuadorean food from the sierra. A lot of times my family and friends ask what… Continue reading →

Imagine

Imagine a town where…. The sun sets over the Pacific Ocean every single evening at 6:30pm casting a warm orange, red, pink glow over the main street. The air is always warm and… Continue reading →

Chulla Vida

“Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory” – Dr. Seuss Happy Anniversary Ecuador!!! We’ve been going strong for two months now and I honestly… Continue reading →

Homesickness is a reminder of love

Before starting this blog, I made a vow to myself to share with you all the raw and real parts of being a Peace Corps Volunteer.  It is hard for anyone to be… Continue reading →

PUERTO LOPEZ

It has been a bit of time since I last wrote and A LOT has happened, so gonna keep it short and sweet with bullet points and of course pictures for you all!… Continue reading →

When the Pope comes to town…

You get out of Quito and explore.  Well for me anyway. There were too many people and we had a whole day off from training. But first, to brighten your day a little… Continue reading →

Breathe in, Breathe out

So many things happened this past week both in my life and around the world (shout out to the United States, this past week was pretty epic).  It seems like my life motto… Continue reading →

The House of Health

Happy Monday y’all! Sorry it has been a bit since I posted…Having a lot of internet problems here. I have to start this post with a strong disclaimer—This post is to share cultural… Continue reading →

Are You Ready for Marriage?

Before you get your panties in a bunch—this is not one of those psychological articles that try to resolve in fifteen paragraphs if you are ready for marriage or not.  But what I… Continue reading →

Celebrating Dads Everywhere

Think about all the groups humans have created to divide and segregate us into a group defined by a single name; Mother, Jewish, Asian, Old, Female, Gay, Intersex, Republican, Lawyer…the list is endless.  A… Continue reading →

La Mitad del Mundo

Sunday Mornings are the most beautiful when they start off with this view… This weekend, my family took me to the Pululahua Crater and La Mitad del Mundo.  The picture above is from… Continue reading →

Que Chupe!

This week went by in the blink of an eye just like my first week in Ecuador. Most important update…the puppies are still doing great!! As you can see by the picture of… Continue reading →

Mi nueva casa

I have an infinite amount of words to describe my first five days in Ecuador, but I have a new family to love on so I am going to keep it short and… Continue reading →

How to Prepare for Peace Corps Service-The 3 F’s

How does one prepare to leave the country for 27 months?  By overindulging in family, friends, and food (what I have named the 3 F’s).  Over the past couple weeks, I have been… Continue reading →