Cloud 9

I will now be including my 24th birthday on my list of favorite birthdays. Yesterday was absolutely amazing and I couldn't have asked for anything better.

I'll start the story with the eve of my birthday when a fellow Lambayeque volunteer, poured me a glass a wine (which she neglected to remember a cork screw so we spent a good half hour or so trying to open it with a knife) and asked me two questions ..First...'What was your favorite memory of being 23 years old?' After a long pause, she said 'You can have more than one.' This made the question easier to answer because when I think over the time since my last birthday it is split into two parts...the time before I left Peace Corps and the life I've led since being in Peru. They are completely separate...4 months of being 23 in the United States while the last 7, almost 8 months have been here in Peru. Since January 26th, 2012 I have had many swell memories, a few stick out.
1) My going away party in Cedar Falls. While I was a sloppapotamus at the end I have fond memories  of that night.... hugs, kisses, bloody marys, beer garden flip cup, and dear dear friends.
2) Peru 16 despidida in Lambayeque. So much fun! Rocking the flash mob gangnam style and yummy pizza!
3) mudbaths! I really don't think that needs explaining.

The second question was, 'What are you most looking forward to for being 24?'
Answers:
1) creating health promoters in Pimentel. I feel that I will have been successful as a volunteer (and as a 24 year old woman) if I can improve the self esteem of a group of teens who then can educate their peers about their sexual health.
2) traveling to the Peruvian jungle. I need to get to the Amazonas before January 26th, 2014.

The rest of my birthday eve was spent drinking wine and chatting about life.

Yesterday morning, I woke up excited. I was expecting it to be a good day: I had invited the Lambayeque volunteers to come visit my host family house for tacos, planned beach time, visit another volunteer event, and had proposed we go dancing at the end of the night.

My day started with my host mother stopping me on my way to the bathroom telling me that she wanted to give me an abrazo fuerte; she exclaimed that even though I was far away from my real mother that she wanted to wish me a happy birthday because she considered herself my mother and I her hija. This woman has a beautiful soul and I'm so lucky to be living with her.

To continue the day I made my way to the market to buy ingredients for tacos...I anticipated to feed between 15-20 people so I loaded my market bag with avocados, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, etc. I spent about 50 soles for all the ingredients I needed minus the rice that was provided by my host family. That is less than 20 US dollars!!! This would be impossible to do in the states, even though I've been in Peru for almost 8 months it still blows my mind how cheap fruits and veggies are here. I returned from the market and my wonderful friend Betty and I started work on making the tacos. Here is when I start to ascend to cloud 9 and  I really haven't come down since then. I was so happy to be preparing food...not just any food either, TACOS-which come my favorite category of food. Betty, Erin, Amanda and I sliced, peeled, chopped, shredded, boiled, stirred, seasoned and I was in heaven.

here is Betty slaving away

I absolutely love preparing food, it pleases me to bite into something yummy and know that I helped create those flavors and at the same time I get to please the taste buds of others. I do have to admit there were moments when I felt a little overwhelmed because guests starting to arrive at the house and I'd have to pause what I was doing to hug, kiss, greet friends and family. We had planned to eat around 1...we started about 2ish probably closer to 2:30, lawd help me, I've started following hora peruana. Finally, I was able to eat and drink some much loved Inka Kola and was able to relax a bit while everyone enjoyed the tacos.

I didn't get to sit down for too long before my host family called me to the back of the house where they were all sitting and we took pictures...

apparently my family was fascinated by Casey because they wanted a picture with just him...probably the tattoos 

Shortly after, we all gathered in the kitchen to do a toast with a copa de vino. Next thing I know I am face to face with two delicious chocolate cakes that say "Feliz Cumpleaños Ali" ...so there I am, thousands of miles from my parents and close friends but at the same time I am surrounded by family and close friends. I can feel the tears well up in my eyes as I'm looking at the two beautiful cakes, at least 15 members of my host family, 10+ volunteers all there to celebrate my birthday...the birthday plans had barely begun and I was already having one of the best birthdays of my life and had nothing to do with getting presents or chocolate cake. I was with people who cared about me and who went out of their way to make this day special. As a PC volunteer it's easy to get caught up in judging your service by the work you do... but personally for me, the best part of my service so far has just having the privilege to be a part of my host family. I probably could have bawled my eyes right at that moment but I just took a deep breath, wiped the tears away and thanked everyone for being there. 

cloud 9

wiping away my tears of utter joy

It is tradition to push the birthday person's face into the cake...I'm glad I've been here long enough to know so I was expecting it

Next we made our way to the beach. Let me tell you how excited I was to going to the beach on my birthday...there have been times when Iowa's freaky weather would grant me with a warm day and no snow, but I can safely say that it was never more than 70 degrees outside and that I had never swam in the ocean on my birthday. After gracing the sea with my presence for a bit, I sat on the beach with my friends, played a little volley, and drank some beer. 

Hallie, one of the business volunteers in Lambayeque had invited us all to the grand opening of a business she helped open in Reque last night.  A woman in her site had dreamed of opening a cafe... she ended up winning a regional competition and finally a national competition to receive funds to begin the business. It was inspiring to be there...you hear so many stories of volunteers trying to get projects started that don't work out, we also tend to bitch and complain about our frustrations when we are together so it was so beautiful to see a success story in person. They provided entertainment (dancers from another volunteer's site) and free samples of yummy treats.

Grand opening of Cafeteria Dulce

Finally we went back to Chiclayo...Thankfully one of the volunteers had made delicious hummus so I had something other than pringles and a hershey's cookie and cream bar for my birthday dinner....Around midnight we took a taxi to the discoteca and danced the night away. I had such a great time, didn't sit down at all...well, except to pee.

Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes and to all those who celebrated with me yesterday. I love you all so much. First Peruvian Birthday- NAILED IT!

this was from last week, doing a vuelta around the plaza with my host nieces who are more like sisters

SQUIDWARD!

isn't she adorable!