As my departure to my next Peace Corps assignment draws near
– just 6 weeks away – I’ve started scouting the Tarapoto area online. Much will
be familiar : the tropical rainforest, living at or near sea-level and proximity
to the equator. My last sites have been at latitudes of -13, -11, +9 and now
+6, as I inch my way ever closer to the center-line. The big difference will be
that for the first time, I’ll be far away from the ocean - trading rivers,
waterfalls and lakes for beaches and seafood.
As usual, I’ll be doing water and sanitation work, helping
folks get access to more and better water and improving sanitation conditions
wherever possible. And promoting renewable energy where I can. But, this time,
I’ll be working through the Ministry of Health, rather than directly with small
villages. And I’ll have the company of at least 2 other PCRVs living in the
same city, which should make for a nice local ex-pat community and some
inter-program synergy.
The online images of Tarapoto look spectacular. But then
folks tend to post just the pretty face of an area. Be assured that I’ll be
showing the complete picture of the area, warts and all.
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