Hey! My name is Madeleine. I am from Saint Paul, Minnesota, but I grew up for the most part on an island in Asia called Sri Lanka. I graduated from an international school where my friends were from all over the world. This meant that I learned a lot about different countries, cultures, and food through my friends. Learning through my friend and getting to travel with my family made me appreciate the importance of experiencing different cultures and exploring that great big world out there!
I returned to Minnesota for college, where I studied Political Science and International Relations at Carleton College. When I wasn't in school, I guided canoeing and backpacking trips in the wilderness with kids like you all! I love spending time under impossibly big skies and giggling with friends beside a campfire or snuggled in sleeping bags.
Right now, I live in Ecuador as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Ecuador is a small country in South America that is known for its volcanoes, rainforests, and beaches. One thing that is really cool about Ecuador is that it has three very distinct regions - la costa (the coast), la Sierra (the Andean mountains), and el Oriente (the Amazon rainforest). I live in the rainforest region of Ecuador, which means I am surrounded by jungle, rushing rivers, and gorgeous waterfalls.
I am here in Ecuador to help teach English. Ecuadorians speak Spanish and learn English in school, so I work in a public school in my town where I assist the English teachers with their classes. While I help kids in my town learn English, they help me learn Spanish!
When I am not at school, I love to spend time outside doing things like hiking, running, or swimming in waterfalls. I also like to try lots of new food, like pig foot soup and interesting fruit. I am really excited to take you along on my journey and share what it's like to be a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador!
Spoiler alert - it's pretty great.
Peace Corps Volunteers like me live and work side by side with community members around the world, collaborating on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives for generations. Learn more by clicking here.
