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 

Goodbyes,hearts,horcruxes, and second chances

I knew goodbyes were a part of joining the Peace Corps. The goodbyes to my friends and family back home when I left Iowa and the goodbyes I’ll have to do in 15 months with my new friends and family when I leave this place that has also become my home. Something that didn’t occur to me when I embarked on this journey were the goodbyes I’d being doing during service. Already said goodbye to the 16ers who left in November, while I wasn’t close to any of them, they were all fun, bright spirited people who I wished I had more time with. Then there are the people in my training group (19ers) who I’ve had to say goodbye to many times over; after saying swearing in we all parted ways into different parts of the country, while I have seen some of the group on various vacations or trainings there are some I have not seen since November and also have had to say goodbye to one wonderful 19er, Samuel, who left the Peace Corps a couple months ago. There are also the silent goodbyes on the occasional mornings when I open my eyes and realize it was just a dream- this realization can be just as painful as the original goodbye. In 3 months the 17ers will be leaving the country and I cannot imagine what Peru will be like without them. One 17er, Kim, said something as a joke a few weeks ago…as it was a Harry Potter reference it of course resonated with me….we were discussing the lifestyle of living abroad, my instant thought was that it’s something I would like to continue doing after service, then Kim said, “I think living abroad has taught me that I need to be grounded, when you live abroad it’s like leaving horcruxes all around the world.”  For the less fortunate who do not know what a horcrux is, I will not dive into a long drawn out explanation even though I am inclined to do so, in short- it is an object in which you conceal a part of your soul, while dangerous, your heart can be split into many different objects, the more often you split your soul the more it unstable it becomes. I have a lot of time to think things over and have turned it over in my mind many times…when you live in many places it does feel like leaving a part of your heart behind however not in objects, but in the people you meet and places discovered. It is a double edged sword in that, when you are live in such a way where you are always meeting new people, sometimes making a wonderful instant connection with them, a piece of you is left behind and if you are to part ways there may be a part of your heart that feels split forever. I am certain of the fact that I want to travel and see more of the world but I think what Kim said holds true, Harry Potter reference aside, you leave a bit of your heart behind in every new place explored, whether it is tucked away in the mountains in a beautiful lagoon or in someone met just in passing but inspired you to dance, to sing, to take action, or simply changed you even if only for a second. Home is where the heart is... home is when I’m with you... while I do feel lucky to be able to call so many places and people home, it leaves one feeling homesick more so than a person who stays in one spot. 

DRAMATIC TOPIC CHANGE >>>

From the facebook status of my fellow 19er Casey Lubbert:

As I was riding the overcrowded minivan back to Pátapo, the old man next to me caught me staring at his wrist. His long sleeves snuck up his arm just enough to reveal massive scars perpendicular to his arm. I felt his gaze fall upon mine, so I jerked my head upward in a failed attempt to act inconspicuous. His dark, sad eyes looked right through me “isn’t that horrible?” he said “I used to be very depressed as a kid and I cut myself.” I looked him in the eyes and told him “it’s not horrible at all. it would be horrible if one of those cuts had taken your life. It would be horrible if you didn’t have a second chance to learn from the mistakes of your adolescence. I made countless mistakes in my youth. I was so consumed by alcohol that I would drink until I blacked out almost every night. Although I don’t have scars on my wrist, my behavior was just as suicidal. I was throwing up blood and had unbelievably terrible nightmares for weeks when I finally made the decision to quit. I don’t look at those mistakes as horrible. They inspire me to learn from my past and they unremittingly motivate me to be a better person. Too many people die young and don’t get that second chance to learn from their past. We, on the other hand, are so lucky. In honor of the good people who have lost their lives to depression, addiction, or drug/alcohol abuse, let’s be thankful that we had this opportunity to meet each other. Be thankful for everything and everyone, every single day.” The old man never broke eye contact with me. After a few moments he gave a genuine smile and a tear fell down his cheek. He gave me a hug and we rode the next half hour side by side without saying another word.

Second chances. It’s the best gift that life has to give. I am so lucky to know such a great person like Casey and to know so many great volunteers here in Peru. I have told Casey countless times that he needs to be a motivational speaker; I am always so awe-inspired not just by what he says but it’s the way he says things, he is so positive and so open hearted and I hope you take a moment to consider his words: “Be thankful for everything and everyone, every single day.”

The USB charger for my camera has stopped working but my dear friend Erin brought me back a wall charger and will now be posting more pictures now that I can finally charge my camera!

Here are some pictures from my  last trip – photo credits to Erin Chapman 

Llanganuco, Ancash

Huaraz, Ancash at sunset

Huascaran

Jesus Statue-Yungay, Ancash

This homes here are relatively new, in the 1970s there was an earthquake that caused an avalanche that covered the entire city,
Yungay, Ancash

memorial of Yungay

Horcrux left here, Llanganuco

I'm on a boat- YAH!

yes, the water really looked like that

Poem "Some People" by Flavia Weedn which I think is very revelant to my blog post today. 

Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.

Some people come into our lives
and quickly go...Some stay for a while
and embrace our silent dreams.

They help us become aware
of the delicate winds of hope...
and we discover within every human spirit
there are wings yearning to fly.

They help our hearts to see that
the only stairway to the stars
is woven with dreams...
and we find ourselves
unafraid to reach high.

They celebrate the true essence
of who we are...
and have faith in all
that we may become.

Some people awaken us
to new and deeper realizations...
for we gain insight
from the passing whisper of their wisdom.

Throughout our lives we are sent
precious souls...
meant to share our journey
however brief or lasting their stay
they remind us why we are here.

To learn...to teach...to nurture...to love.

Some people come into our lives
to cast a steady light
upon our path and guide our every step
their shining belief in us
helps us to believe in ourselves.

Some people come into our
lives to teach us about love...

The love that rests within ourselves.

Let us reach out to others
and feel the bliss of giving
for love is far richer in action
than it ever is in words.

Some people come into our lives
and they move our souls to sing
and make our spirits dance.

They help us to see that everything on earth
is part of the incredibility of life...
and that it is always there
for us to take of its joy.

Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.

Love you all, peace, hugs, and kisses.