11 months in Peru!

August 11 we celebrated 11 months of living in Peru! Last month, July 22nd to be exact, marked 8 months of official service as a Peace Corps volunteer... which means that I am 1/3 of the way through! I realized that it’s been a while since I’ve really updated my blog, so I figured now was a good time to do so. It’s been a bit of a rough go here in Peru and I honestly just wasn’t feeling up to writing about it. I’ve been through some unusual trials that have made all the typical challenges of adjusting to this different and more difficult lifestyle that much harder.

The typical adjustments of surviving 6 months of rain, ankle deep mud, mold growing on everything (shoes, clothes, etc), and gloomy days with little to do, acceptance of the food (boiled green bananas, anyone?), the dirt, the lack of running water after 5pm, the chickens in the house and on the bus, and everything that a parallel universe can throw at you, in a foreign language is tough.

Then starting it all off with several traumatic experiences made this adjustment process especially hard. I’m sure most of you know by now of my getting robbed at gunpoint by a taxi driver in October (meaning that I didn’t just get my camera pickpocketed as I wrote on my blog when it happened), a battle with giardia, and the attack of the pack of dogs in March. So I guess I survived more than just the rain. It was almost enough to make me give up. In March and April I was struggling with making a decision of whether or not to leave. But after a brief trip to the good old USA (sorry to everyone I didn’t get to see), and if I may speak candidly (which I can because it is my blog), I also stopped taking my Yasmin (birth control pills) in April. I believe it was making me depressed. I share this personal info because I think anyone, stranger or friend or future PCV, who reads this, should be aware that a person’s hormones, especially when affected by medicine, can really distort their perspective and make coping with already difficult things twice as hard.

This combination of changes allowed me to reevaluate and see things in a new light. I realized that I am proud to be a PCV, as I got to share my experience with people back home. When I came back and saw friends in Lima I realized that I have a community here, too. I have friends who love me, a community of people who are going through exactly what I am going through, and people who “get” me in a unique way. It felt pretty special to be part of a group like that. And a community with the Peruvians I live and work with. I realized I am doing what I wanted to do and will look back be able to live without regrets or wondering what if.

Poco a poco is a common phrase used for just about everything here in Peru, especially when talking about getting accustomed. It means “little by little”, which is exactly how it goes here.

Alright, now on to the latest goings on...

We got the KIDS to KIDS GRANT!!!

Part of what makes adjusting difficult is the inability to start real projects right away. This leads to a lack of sense of purpose the first few months. However, thanks to all of you who voted for our Kids to Kids project, we received a grant to do a water project in the schools. This grant will allow us to provide 5 gallon buckets, fitted with taps, in each classroom as well as a water testing kit and household bleach. The students will learn how to measure the chlorine content of the water with the tester and then add the required amount of bleach per liter to purify the water. This will provide them with at least one safe drinking water source throughout the day. The students will also be educated on other treatment techniques, such as UV (sun) treatment and boiling, as well as hygiene and hand washing.

We are really excited to get this going and help reduce the hundreds of cases of parasites, diarrhea and malnutrition in our community!

Thanks everyone for supporting us!!!

Travel Party!

A secondary project we are excited about is our computer class with the elementary students. Every Wedsnesday, they are so excited to come to the computer lab and work with us. I adore the kids and they always give me hugs when they see me. As an incentive to behave in class, I came up with a reward system that is fun and educational, too. If they maintain 20 points every class for 3 weeks, we will have a travel party on the 4th week.

Many children here have little to no knowledge of geography or other cultures. Many don’t even know where Peru is on a map. So, I made little passports, took their photos and drew a map on a big piece of paper. The kids are so excited about it. They will get their passport stamped by us, will show them pictures and videos of the country of their choice, including music, sports and foods to expand their horizons a little, and have snacks/treats. We started with South America. Each class chose a country: Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Should be fun!

Next step will be to paint a world map on a wall in the community for everyone to see! This large-scale map is a Peace Corps project that volunteers all over the world do. We recently asked for help with supplies from the mayor and he said yes! Little by little we are moving forward!

ANOTHER SMALL SUCCESS

You have to celebrate the progress you make, no matter how small it is.

For months now, there has been a large cement-lined hole in front of my house that is supposedly part of the sewer/ drainage system. However, it never seemed to drain very well. It fills with rain, trash and even animals when they fall in! Not to mention the sudden mosquito infestation due to standing water.

Recently, Chris and I were invited to a spontaneous meeting with the mayor and other important community members. I don’t think we were supposed to be there, but we got to say our piece. I mentioned the health hazard (possible malaria and dengue from mosquitos). He got slightly defensive and told us the tops were coming from the city. Well, we’ve heard that before about other things, and I didn’t take his word for it.. However, 2 weeks later they were topped! Like I said, it’s the little things.

TRIP TO AMAZONAS

I recently went on a trip to a town called Chachapoys to visitthe ruins of Kuelap. This is an ancient fortress where the nobility of Chachapoyas people would hide during times of invasion or other threats. However, the Incas were able to draw them out by cutting off their water and food supply and conquer them. It was a gorgeous location.

GOCTA: 3rd tallest in the world!!

Drinking pure water!

On this trip we also hiked to the 3rd largest waterfall in the world! Incredible! Imagine being able to dip your hands into the clear, cold pool of liquid in all of its natural splendor, sip the crisp clean nectar falling from the heights above as you slowly comprehend and appreciate the awesomeness of taking in the most pure substance of your life; one without chemicals, man-made treatments or the fear of parasites and illness. It was beautiful!

Lord Sipan

There is so much history to be seen in Peru. The museum of Lord Sipan, King of the Mochica people, was another great stop on this trip. Gold plated copper jewelry covered in turquoise, and thousands of artifacts were found at the site of these ruins.

This is a huge earring he wore with his image on it. What Lord Sipan would have looked like in all his jewels.

MOVING UP TO SOPHOMORE STATUS

Now that we have come this far in our service, it is time for those who have come before us to move on. The group that I came in with is called Peru 14, because we are the 14th group of PCVs to come to Peru since 2001. This August the group of Peru 11 will complete their service. Seeing them come to the close of their service was bitter sweet and exciting. Knowing that they had accomplished their goal, wit successes and failures gave me encouragement and inspiration, knowing that I will be there one day, too.

Not to mention we had a sweet going-away party for them, too.

And we got to meet some of the trainees from Peru 15.

Woo-hoo! We’re not the rookies anymore!!