end of July

I’m trying something new a la Erin, to make my blog post seem” less intimidating to read” (her words) I am posting a couple posts at the same time rather than one big, long post. Here it goes, my first post for life happenings for the end of July.

It’s pretty true. Sometimes the day seems to drag on and then it’s the end of August and I’m like, where’d the time go!? I can’t believe I’m in my second year of service… Thankfully I’m not in the mid service slump that many of my fellow volunteers are in, sure I miss home but it’s not the heart splitting, ache in my stomach kind of longing that it was in my first few months; I think it helps that I have so much to look forward to in the coming months: Amazon Raft Race in a few weeks, Honor’s coming in October and going home to visit in December!

21ers are here! 17ers are gone! 19er gone. To clarify, the volunteers groups are numbered, the first group to arrive in 2001 was Peru 1 and in 2012 when my group arrived we were named Peru 19. Anyways, there was a lot of coming and going in August… the last of the 17ers had their despididas in their own communities; I had the honor of attending two of these and it was incredible how impacted each community was by the volunteers’ departures. I went to Amanda’s despidida in the town of Mocupe; her municipality had a get together with some of the town’s authorities, they presented her with nice plaque and provided a dinner and cake. Us gringos were asked to sing and believe it or not I stood up with 4 other volunteers and sang “Stand by Me”, “Lean on Me”, “Star Spangled Banner” and “Lejos de Ti”…I’ve actually been doing a lot of singing in public, apparently no one cares how terrible your voice is, if it’s in English they consider your voice wonderful…I’ll take it. I teared up when Amanda was giving her palabras; when you become a Peace Corps volunteer your first expectation is to give your community so much but in reality your community ends up giving you so much more…short story…it was touching to see the impact Amanda and her community had on each other. I also had the privilege to attend Philip’s despidida in the tiny pueblo of Illimo, his town absolutely adores him and it was lovely to see his town show their appreciation for him and his work.  Sadly one of my favorite fellow volunteers had to be sent home due to medical issues and we are one 19er short here in Lambayeque….he was an incredible volunteer and we miss him a lot!

it's only been a month or less than a month and I already miss all of them A LOT!

Volunteers are given the choice to take free vacation days either the 4th of July weekend or the Fiestas Patrias (Peruvian Independence day) weekend…since I went to the 10k during the 4^th of July weekend, I was without a vacation the last weekend of July and so my mother invited me to go to a birthday party with her to her hometown in Illimo about 2 hours north of where we live. It was the 80^th birthday of her sister in law. We got to the party around noon and the party went on until 2 in the morning…I may have gotten a little cranky around 9:30pm but I am very glad I went but also don’t think I will ever attend a birthday party in which I cannot escape. Peruvian parties are a culture shock all on their own, people are content sitting around not talking, then the all-day drinking begins and the men don’t take no for an answer when they ask a lady to dance even though they can’t hold themselves up…people just don’t say the word “no” here, well no one except me… and taxi drivers when you ask them if they have change. But all in all I did enjoy myself it’s just when I was ready for bed around midnight and the music was so loud that the walls shook that I wanted to scream into my pillow…

this is part of what I like to call the "Peruvian Party Square"

Julia dancing with her husband

I was seriously the tallest woman there

my host mom dancing with her brother

isn's she the cutest?

Peruvian party spread

me and my adorable host nephew Fabian

I went with my host nieces and my friend Erin to Festicum, an artisanal festival in the town of Monsefú.

 

breaaad

Mochican bread man

Peruvian game- if you toss a heavy round coin thing and it lands on a brick you win a caja of beer...she doesn't drink but she thought she'd try it out anyway

Well that wraps up July, look at more pics on my “August” post.

accomplishments

I have now been in Peru longer than months I have left and it feels incredible. In the past few months I have fallen more in love with being here, I almost can’t remember how miserable I was the first few months. I wanted to write a post at least once a month, estoy fallando un poco, when everything was so new and different it was easier to write a post frequently, but as a time goes on and things that were at first strange become more normal, it gets harder to know what to write about,  for example: when I first got here I always forgot to throw the tp in the trash and would automatically try flushing the toilet when I was done even though I knew there was no running water-“If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down” is actually a true mantra in my daily life-but now if I go into a bathroom that I know has running water, I will walk out of there after doing # 1 without having flushed the toilet! other example: I’m more open talking about my bathroom habits…sorry non volunteers.  Thankfully I’ve been busy and absurdly happy the past few months and have a few other updates (non bathroom related).

Camps: It wasn’t until the end of April when I really began to really appreciate how much Peace Corps has given me so far and how much I still have left to achieve.  We had our all-girls camp ALMA (Actividades de Liderazgo para Mujeres Adolescentes-Leadership Activities for Young Wome) and it was amazing. The young women learned about self-esteem, influential Peruvian in history, sexual health/condom use, participated in a mini career fair, played volleyball and overall had a great time. The two girls I brought were extremely happy to have participated. 

condomn race Camp ALMA in Reque, Lambayeque

I feel incredibly lucky to work with the volunteers in my department of Lambayeque. They are extremely dedicated volunteers…but don’t worry we also know how to have a good time.  

In May we had our VALOR camp (Varones Adolescentes Lideres Organizadores y Responsables-Young Men Leaders Organizers and Responsible….I’m sure there is a better English translation but I don’t know it.) As we were washing our dishes at VALOR, a fellow volunteer, Kimberly, brought up a good point, a year ago, had we been told that a year into our future we’d be at a 3 day camp, sharing a bathroom with 42 teenage boys, it would have seemed a little ludicrous but we loved it! I’d honestly be completely content with Peace Corps service consisting of planning and executing leadership camps all year round.

posing Peruvian style

two young men I brought from Pimentel

Site project: Pasos Adelante (Steps Forward) is a Peace Corps initiative for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, and STIs. The last week of May, two community counterparts, a teacher from the high school and an obstetrician, and I began this program in our community of Pimentel with high school students.  My two counterparts have been mind –blowingly awesome, they have worked exceedingly hard alongside me to get this project up and running from the word go. After many many many hours of sitting in front of a computer (wanting to chuck it at the wall...only a few times) we got our PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan For AIDs Relief) grant approved. We’ve had 4 classes so far and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the students continue to come. We will soon begin to training the teachers in non formal techniques to teach their students on topics of sexual health and will also have a program to help parents communicate with their children better about sexual and reproductive health. The project is scheduled until the end of the school year in December-I’ll continue posting updates!

here I am explaining the project to the high schools for our first session

Pasos students doing a self-esteem dinamica

decision making dinamica

Birthdays: At the end of June, I had the pleasure of visiting my friend Betty in the town of Olmos, Lambayeque. This bodacious babe put together a career fair in her community on her birthday! I helped out at the registration table.

Kyle and I signing in students at the registration table

That same evening we went to eat pollo a la brasa which is a delicious way to eat chicken, you should probably come visit to check it out.  The last weekend of June I was invited to the 15th birthday (otherwise known as a Quinceañera) of my counterpart's daughter, . It was actually a lot more enjoyable than I imagined. I think the longer I am here the more accustomed I have become to the awkwardness of Peruvian parties but thankfully this one wasn't too awkward; I ate good food, cake and thoroughly enjoyed la hora loca. Hora loca is a magical time of a party when they blast music, hand out glow sticks, and balloons and dance, dance, dance! Hora loca will definitely be an ingredient of any major party I put on in the states, you guys just wait...or you could come visit.

birthday girl entering her party

her uncle daring palabras

her adorable little seester

dando palabras

Olenka, my counterpart

getting emotional talking about her little girl growing up

she wanted to dar palabras too

cheers to the birthday girl

the youth dancing

mmmm cake

hora loca

hora loca

self-fashioned hora loca hat and noise maker

birthday cake is always at the end in Peru...it's about 2am...ready to eat some cake and sleep

10k: I am officially hooked on participating in marathons, my heart is now set on the full thing; I know it will be hard and I can’t imagine myself turning into Dave, a dude we met the night before the marathon who told us he has participated in about 160 (he lost count) full marathons across the world, but I can’t imagine ever not wanting to at least do a 10k once a year until my body won’t permit any longer, which I hope to be a long time. I had a lot of older folk pass by me during the race-while part of me was disappointed that I was being passed up by the older folk I also just thought, “GOOD FOR YOU OLD TIMER!” and hope to be that old timer passing up 24 year olds someday. When I crossed that finish line my heart felt so full of happiness, I just thought, do people addicted to drugs no about this? After finishing (1 hour 16 minutes 01 second…no walking…more like slow trotting with full fuerza at the end) the other volunteers and I waited for the ½ and full marathon runners to finish. There was so much positive energy at the finish line; we pretty much clapped for every person crossing the finish line, it was pretty empowering to see women get 2^nd and 3^rd place in the full marathon. After everyone finished, we headed for the hostel for rest and good food, thanks to Sue Song we ate delicious wings with honey siracha sauce and sweet potato fries-food of champions! Then we listened to the musical talent of Zach (check out Zach David on facebook-he  rocks!  https://www.facebook.com/zackdavidmusic) and finished the night off right singing songs together (Beatles and Tenacious D included). I really love these people. 

we got em all 5k, 10k, 21k and 42 k...giving our "thumbs up"
 before the race

Lambaysexy representin at the race

Lambayeque crew with Sue Song (La Libertad)

I'm going to miss this girl mucho!

19er runners with our supporter Brad

starting line

first 5k running to/from highway

runnin'

last 5k running to/from light house

half-way there

finish line!!!!

my "medal"

cheer section of PCVs

champs

The third week of august will be my mid service mark and I am planning on going in a day or two early to meet up with the business volunteers and fill up on delicious food. After our med checks and in service training I’ll be headed to Ica- there will be a race (11k) through the Nazca Lines- which will be amahzing.

In two short days we will be having the despidida for group 17, and I am very hjhdjfahdfj about it…I am so excited for the volunteers to continue on with their lives; I’m stoked for the 21ers to begin their journey as volunteers but also nervous to be the “seniors” of the Youth Development;  and of course I’m extremely woeful for their departures-these people are some of most hardest working, intelligent, enjoyable humans I have had the pleasure to be around and I will be missing them all terribly- plus, it reiterates the fact of how I need to appreciate the time I have left in Peru.

News from home: A good friend from high school, Courtney will be married in a few months!!! I am so excited for her and it reminded me that life does go on in the states, people move on, get married, have children…. sometimes I’m so caught up in my life here that I forget that life isn’t just on pause back home, it’s good to be reminded. So excited to hopefully get a visitor in the next few months, hoping it all works out. 

Sending so much love, hugs, and kisses

One year

Flashback to exactly one year ago: I’m sobbing on the airplane completely overwhelmed by the feeling of loss after having said goodbye to my family and Conner.  On one hand I was devastated but on the other hand, I was embarking on a dream. To decide to leave for Peace Corps was one of the easier decisions I have made, I was bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to change the world but actually leaving my family and boyfriend at the airport and the 6-8 months that followed were the hardest times I’ve gone through and what I’ve heard from other volunteers more hardships are ahead but I am so completely happy that I’m here.

When I heard the phrases, “Peace Corps is the hardest job you’ll ever love” or “You’ll experience your highest highs and lowest lows” I just thought  guh, how cheesy! But in all honestly I don’t think there is a better way to describe Peace Corps in a more concise phrase. I have been humbled by the poverty in Peru but also by the incredible kindness shown by the people who live here. I have gawked at the beautiful landscape of Peru but have also rolled my eyes at how much garbage contaminates the beauty of this country.  I was taken in by two incredibly loving Peruvian families who treat me as one of their own and one I have to thank especially for giving me the best birthday I’ve ever had.  I’ve also had a few brief moments of “I could go home right now” or “What the hell am I doing here?” Right now all I can think is, “wow there is no way I could come home right now, but I would sure love a bloody mary.”  Before arriving in Peru, I had this idea of “big changes” and “saving people” but honestly the most change I have seen in the past year is in myself.  A year ago if you would have told me that I would be training for a ½ marathon I would have laughed in your face, nor would I have believed you if you said that I was teaching 9 classes in my high school and also had two other projects going on… I’m still quite awkward and sometimes a little shy but I have grown out of my timid-ness little by little. I have learned that Peace Corps isn’t about saving an entire community but it’s about celebrating the small successes-  I do hope that for the next 14 months I can that little bit of difference in the lives of the Peruvians I encounter but if not, I know I have been changed for the better at that will be enough.

I don’t think I could be here one year later without the unwavering support from my friends and family back home, from the time I made the decision to leave and to now. Thank you to all who have sent me care packages, letters, advice, or just simply staying in touch through Skype/facebook.  I am even grateful to all those who have not stayed in touch but nonetheless supported me before leaving. 
It would also be hard to be here if it weren't for all the amazing volunteers who I have had the privilege to serve with...they are among the most inspiring and wonderful people I've ever met.

Love you all, abrazos.

Here’s to the next 14-15 months.

p.s. Follow up post about CAMP ALMA to follow shortly