My wife and I served together in Ecuador from 2012 - 2014. While we faced many challenges, perhaps the biggest test for me was getting through Pre-Service Training! From learning the language to living with a host family to adapting to a new culture, PST tested my limits. In the photo I am hiking Mount Ilalo in Ecuador where we participated in the 3-month training. I found the strength to get through PST from my wife (who took the picture) and from the friends I made along the way. Coming from a very different pre-service life in NYC, I learned a lot about myself from my Peace Corps journey including how to slow down and enjoy the scenery, how to walk with others, and how to persevere in order to reach my goals. Hiking Ilalo was just the start of this life-changing experience for me.