Saturday, May 29, 2004

May 29, 2004
Back home by 10:30 am and cleaning up a little. Hand-washing all your clothes is not fun. I definitely have appreciation for my old washer and dryer. I can’t believe we swear in as volunteers in less than a week. It is crazy that training is almost over. I am excited to get started with the next step in my adventure. Santa Eulalia has a new internet cafe. Yeah, I won’t have to head to Chosica every time I want to use the internet. You would know internet would make it here a week before I move!

May 28, 2004
We went back to the school. The director was there, but he didn’t think we should do a presentation. We’re not really sure what to make of our last visit to Callahuanca. I think in a lot of ways our novelty of being Gringas has worn off. On to plan B, we are going to plan a playtime for the kids at 3:00 and hopefully sneak in a couple of words about leadership (our homework for our last visit). We had an announcement made on the loud speaker, inviting the whole town the Peace Corps activity and it worked. We had several kids and adults showed for our activity. We played ‘Leader of the Band’ then ‘Trust Walk’ and had a discussion afterwards. The kids brought up some great ideas about what they would do if they were president of Peru. We continued to play with the kids and took another walk. Another early night for me, I am in bed at 9:00 pm.

May 27, 2004
We’re back in Callahuanca for our final visit. I am staying with the elderly couple again. It is definitely a little uncomfortable, we just don’t have much in common and there are several ‘silent’ moments. They are sweet and their home is comfortable. We visited the school to set up a time to do a presentation, but the director wasn’t there, so we have to try again tomorrow. Ate lunch, boy was it yummy! Speaking of my eating habits, you might as well call me a vegetarian, cause I am not getting meat. All I eat is pasta, rice, potatoes, and bread. I buy my own fruit to supplement my diet, but I can really tell my body needs more protein. After lunch, we had Spanish classes, and then we took a walk with the kids of the community. I pulled out my Uno cards and had fun teaching the kids to play. In bed by 8:00 pm, I guess it’s lot of rest for me!

May 26, 2004
Language class this morning was better, not quite as boring. Maybe I just had more energy. The PCMO came today. I always like the days she comes, her sessions are always fun. We talked about security again. PC really takes that part of their job seriously. She also took our blood, since we are on malaria medication. After classes, we talked about who should speak at our ceremony and would you know, they picked me. Needless to say, I am already nervous and I have no idea what to say; but what an honor, to speak on behalf of our group and to such important world leaders. After class, we watched Shrek II; it was good to just enjoy a movie in English. Pirated movies/dvds/cds are the craze here and you can get them for cheap. I taught my family to play Uno. They liked it. I also showed them my gadget box that has my locks, binoculars, flashlight, and Gerber knife. They were so intrigued by it all.

May 25, 2004
The Country Director visited today for lunch. She cleared up some questions about our swearing in ceremony. Looks like it is going to be a pretty big deal! The Peace Corps Director from DC will be there and so will the Peruvian President, Toledo. It is going to be at the Presidential Palace, think Peruvian White House. We have to pick someone to speak on behalf of our group during the ceremony.

May 24, 2004
Today was definitely nothing to write home about, but I will record my thoughts for future reference. We started out the day with an alcohol workshop that we can do with youth. We had 2 volunteers present to help out. It is always good to get to know other volunteers and hear about their experiences. After lunch, I had language training. Our professor took us to Chosica for class which added an air of excitement to the afternoon. Then I went to internet and home. This is a really challenging time for me. I feel so ready to get to Trujillo, to get things started and organized. I don’t want to rush things, but I can’t seem to help my feelings of impatience. We have about a week left of training.

May 23, 2004
I headed to Lima with a friend. We went to Jockey Plaza again for some shopping and “Americanism”. We had Starbuck’s and Burger King. It was great! I made it home by 5:00 because my sister said that she wanted to go to her school’s party, but we didn’t end up going. That is a thing about this culture that really gets on my nerves. They may or may not follow through with their plans. They always just say what they think you want to hear. So I headed back to Chosica for some internet. When I got home, my sister helped me with my homework and the family hung out in my room, eating my fruit, and generally having a good time. It was cool.

May 22, 2004
We had classes this morning. Not fun to get up on a Saturday for school, believe me. After lunch, we headed to Surco for an environmental session. This included local girls leading us on a hike to the waterfalls of Surco, a small town about an hour from Santa Eulalia. On our way there, we were pulled over for illegally passing someone. Our driver had to pay the cop off -- $4. And the ticket would have cost him over $150. We made it there and made our way up the trail to the waterfalls. Because there hasn’t been much rain, the river was a bit dry and the waterfall not as impressive. But I did get to see some really cute sheep up close. In fact, I picked up a little white lamb and I thought its mom was going to ram me! We had a scary experience—one of our trainers, fell on the slippery rocks and cut his nose. There was blood everywhere. We had to escort him off the mountain and then to the hospital. He had to have 3 stitches. I made it home before dark and decided to stay in for the night.
May 29, 2004
Back home by 10:30 am and cleaning up a little. Hand-washing all your clothes is not fun. I definitely have appreciation for my old washer and dryer. I can’t believe we swear in as volunteers in less than a week. It is crazy that training is almost over. I am excited to get started with the next step in my adventure. Santa Eulalia has a new internet cafe. Yeah, I won’t have to head to Chosica every time I want to use the internet. You would know internet would make it here a week before I move!

May 28, 2004
We went back to the school. The director was there, but he didn’t think we should do a presentation. We’re not really sure what to make of our last visit to Callahuanca. I think in a lot of ways our novelty of being Gringas has worn off. On to plan B, we are going to plan a playtime for the kids at 3:00 and hopefully sneak in a couple of words about leadership (our homework for our last visit). We had an announcement made on the loud speaker, inviting the whole town the Peace Corps activity and it worked. We had several kids and adults showed for our activity. We played ‘Leader of the Band’ then ‘Trust Walk’ and had a discussion afterwards. The kids brought up some great ideas about what they would do if they were president of Peru. We continued to play with the kids and took another walk. Another early night for me, I am in bed at 9:00 pm.

May 27, 2004
We’re back in Callahuanca for our final visit. I am staying with the elderly couple again. It is definitely a little uncomfortable, we just don’t have much in common and there are several ‘silent’ moments. They are sweet and their home is comfortable. We visited the school to set up a time to do a presentation, but the director wasn’t there, so we have to try again tomorrow. Ate lunch, boy was it yummy! Speaking of my eating habits, you might as well call me a vegetarian, cause I am not getting meat. All I eat is pasta, rice, potatoes, and bread. I buy my own fruit to supplement my diet, but I can really tell my body needs more protein. After lunch, we had Spanish classes, and then we took a walk with the kids of the community. I pulled out my Uno cards and had fun teaching the kids to play. In bed by 8:00 pm, I guess it’s lot of rest for me!

May 26, 2004
Language class this morning was better, not quite as boring. Maybe I just had more energy. The PCMO came today. I always like the days she comes, her sessions are always fun. We talked about security again. PC really takes that part of their job seriously. She also took our blood, since we are on malaria medication. After classes, we talked about who should speak at our ceremony and would you know, they picked me. Needless to say, I am already nervous and I have no idea what to say; but what an honor, to speak on behalf of our group and to such important world leaders. After class, we watched Shrek II; it was good to just enjoy a movie in English. Pirated movies/dvds/cds are the craze here and you can get them for cheap. I taught my family to play Uno. They liked it. I also showed them my gadget box that has my locks, binoculars, flashlight, and Gerber knife. They were so intrigued by it all.

May 25, 2004
The Country Director visited today for lunch. She cleared up some questions about our swearing in ceremony. Looks like it is going to be a pretty big deal! The Peace Corps Director from DC will be there and so will the Peruvian President, Toledo. It is going to be at the Presidential Palace, think Peruvian White House. We have to pick someone to speak on behalf of our group during the ceremony.

May 24, 2004
Today was definitely nothing to write home about, but I will record my thoughts for future reference. We started out the day with an alcohol workshop that we can do with youth. We had 2 volunteers present to help out. It is always good to get to know other volunteers and hear about their experiences. After lunch, I had language training. Our professor took us to Chosica for class which added an air of excitement to the afternoon. Then I went to internet and home. This is a really challenging time for me. I feel so ready to get to Trujillo, to get things started and organized. I don’t want to rush things, but I can’t seem to help my feelings of impatience. We have about a week left of training.

May 23, 2004
I headed to Lima with a friend. We went to Jockey Plaza again for some shopping and “Americanism”. We had Starbuck’s and Burger King. It was great! I made it home by 5:00 because my sister said that she wanted to go to her school’s party, but we didn’t end up going. That is a thing about this culture that really gets on my nerves. They may or may not follow through with their plans. They always just say what they think you want to hear. So I headed back to Chosica for some internet. When I got home, my sister helped me with my homework and the family hung out in my room, eating my fruit, and generally having a good time. It was cool.

May 22, 2004
We had classes this morning. Not fun to get up on a Saturday for school, believe me. After lunch, we headed to Surco for an environmental session. This included local girls leading us on a hike to the waterfalls of Surco, a small town about an hour from Santa Eulalia. On our way there, we were pulled over for illegally passing someone. Our driver had to pay the cop off -- $4. And the ticket would have cost him over $150. We made it there and made our way up the trail to the waterfalls. Because there hasn’t been much rain, the river was a bit dry and the waterfall not as impressive. But I did get to see some really cute sheep up close. In fact, I picked up a little white lamb and I thought its mom was going to ram me! We had a scary experience—one of our trainers, fell on the slippery rocks and cut his nose. There was blood everywhere. We had to escort him off the mountain and then to the hospital. He had to have 3 stitches. I made it home before dark and decided to stay in for the night.

Wednesday, May 19, 2004

May 19, 2004
Received a call to let me know that my counterpart will assist in changing my home stay in Trujillo. Yeah! I know I still have a rough rode ahead of me.

May 18, 2004
After some intense soul searching, some intense studying of my Bible, and some intense conversations with God, I know he has a purpose for me here. After seeing and experiencing El Milagro, I have decided that I can work in the site, but would need to live outside it, in Trujillo.

I talked to the APCD and felt I was upfront with my needs. I told him of my dedication to serve as a volunteer, but in order to be the best volunteer I could be, I would need a certain living environment in which to escape. He was completely understanding and supportive. He said that he would call my counterpart and would discuss with her the options of another host family for me, outside of my site. He will let me know what he finds out tomorrow.

I definitely feel better about things, but I know this is going to be so hard. Possibly the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, in fact. With faith in God, I can do this. He is showing me that.

Like my APCD told me--if it was all rosy and great, then why would Peace Corps be in Peru?

May 17, 2004
I made it back to Santa Eulalia. What a beautiful home I have here. I called the PCMO to see what the APCD had said and she said that there are definitely some options for me. What a relief. She suggested that I talk with a trainer, to get her perspective on the situation since she had visited my site previously.

She helped me to realize that intense poverty is a reality in a 3rd world country and she validated my feelings of doubt and encouraged me to call the APCD. I pretty much just gave him my thoughts on my site. He asked that I come up with ideas on how I might be able to fix the problems that I have with the site. He said that El Milagro can be considered the most challenging site in the group, that it meets PC regulations for safety, and that housing is adequate. We scheduled a meeting for tomorrow at noon to talk face to face on a solution.

Since all the other trainees had gotten into town today too, we all met in Chosica for supper and time to exchange stories about sites. One thing that I realized is that many others had a miserable time too. And that I had some pretty great things going on in Trujillo. My counterpart is awesome, they have some great activities going on, they are progressive thinkers, educated, and resourceful. Plus they were just incredibly nice people. The beach is only a 15 minute drive away and Trujillo offers everything in the form of modern amenities. Some of my compadres didn’t fare so well either. One guy was sent 2 hours north of Cajamarca by milk truck to this extremely rural site, where he slept on the dirt floor, only ate potatoes, was unwelcomed by his reserved community, didn’t have a counterpart, had an outhouse (that you would just drather use the woods it was so bad), and was somewhat badgered by the town’s alcoholics because he was gringo. Other trainees, lived behind locked gates for the entire stay unable to leave, others didn’t like their counterparts or felt they didn’t have a role to fulfill in the community. In other words, maybe the grass isn’t greener on the other side.

May 16, 2004
Well I guess it is time for a recap on the previous 3 days of my experience in Trujillo. I really wasn’t able to write, to eat, nor to sleep. It was that bad.

Me and one other trainee arrived here on Wednesday in the afternoon. We were immediately shuttled from the bus station to our host family. Our host families were located in another site about 10 min. from my site, El Milagro. We started off with a big bang. We went to a mother’s club where we were introduced and expected to speak to the group. Then we headed over to a youth group meeting where the same thing happened. We talked, answered questions, and played a couple of games. My host family was marvelous. They had electricity, water, bucket flush toilet, and a shower. They had turkeys and guinea pigs in their patio. Their home was quite comfortable. It was a good first night. Reality set in the very next day.

The YMCA director and our counterpart, picked us both up early the next day to tour my site, El Milagro. I had no idea what to expect and there was no way I could have prepared myself for the reality of the site. El Milagro epitomizes the term ‘extreme poverty’. It is the last pueblo of the city of Trujillo before entering the desert, most famous for the city dump where many residents make a living ‘recycling’ trash and looking for anything of use. When I say city dump, it’s not to be confused with my experience of US’s landfills. This dump is as far as you can see out into the desert. Families live in little square black plastic shelters or in crude adobe housing. Over 40,000 people live in El Milagro. Most have no electricity, no water, and no bathroom. There are no regulations on trash disposal here, anyone may dump trash, and anyone may live in it or go through it. The community ‘recycles’ things found in the dump. They earn 10 cents a kilo for plastic, eat what food they find, and wear the clothes the recover. They take their pigs there to graze, not understanding the re-contamination they are producing. Also, El Milagro is also home to a state prison. The YMCA center, where I am to work, is located next to the prison. The center is a location where kids in El Milagro can hang out, do homework, and play. There are students from universities in Trujillo who volunteer to help with the kid’s with school work and 3 YMCA employees that organize activities for the youth and women’s club of the community. The center is open Monday – Saturday 9:00-6:00. Rocio took us for a driving tour of El Milagro and drove directly to where the children and adults were ‘working’ in the trash. After our tour, we drove into Trujillo to the YMCA office (in a very nice section of town), where I proceeded to break down. I had never experienced such inhumane conditions in my life and to think that I would be living there for 2 years was too much to bear. We took a walk and I just cried and cried. We returned to our home stays and I didn’t sleep. I finally was able to make myself calm down by praying for guidance, support, and a solution.

We returned to El Milagro the next day where we hung out in the center and played with the kids. What a loving group of kids. They had a ton of questions, big hugs, and smiling faces. I was able to visit my future home stay and boy was it a disappointment. The home was made of adobe, my room was supposed to be getting improvements but none by my eyes could be noted. There was no roof, no water, and an outhouse. In the afternoon, we returned to the other site. I attended a mass service at the Catholic Church with my host sister. She introduced me to the priest, who asked me if I was catholic. I told him no that I was Baptist. And he told me that was all that was important, that I was a Christian. How true, I find that to be. I immensely enjoyed the service and felt God’s presence and his calming hand. After chatting with the congregation after the service, I returned home to another restless night. I just remember experiencing this intense fear.

My last day in El Milagro was during a Health Campaign sponsored by the YMCA. There was a nutritionist, a dermatologist, an obstetrician, and general practitioner there to see the community members. I helped with the campaign and played outside with the kids. After another long day, I headed back to Angela’s site. I finally felt in control of my emotions enough to call the Peace Corps nurse, to tell her of my experience. I told her about my site and that I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t live there in that site for 2 years, that I felt incredibly unsafe physically, emotionally, and mentally. She was absolutely great and told me that was the point of a site visit--to see if the site is the right match for you. She also said she would call Ken, the guy who does our placements, to give him a head’s up. What a relief to verbalize what I was feeling.

My last day in Trujillo was a good one. Before lunch, we helped the YMCA with a youth workshop and a women's group fundraiser in the other site. In the afternoon, we did the touristy things like visiting the Ruins of the Moon & Sun, touring down town, and visiting the beach.

May 13, 2004
Oh my goodness. My site is unlike anything I have ever seen. The worst situation I have ever witnessed, in fact.

May 12, 2004
The bus I was on to the ‘campo’ broke down, so I had to hail another one. I helped another volunteer with more presentations in the schools. I head to Trujillo tomorrow. Things that I have loved about Cajamarca are the traditional dress of the people. They wear such brightly colored clothing. The women have on big skirts and babies strapped to their backs. Big white hats are worn by all. Generally, the people are very nice and friendly.

May 10, 2004
I ventured to the ‘campo’ today. That’s Spanish for countryside. I met up with a health volunteer where I was able to help kids learn how to properly brush their teeth, to teach an English class to kindergarteners, and to do some team building activities with high schoolers. Interestingly, only boys attended the high school, it seems that the girls have dropped out of school at this point. After our work in the schools, we headed to the pasture to “water” the cows. The cows are staked to the ground by a lead rope and ever so often you move them to fresh grass and lead them to the creek to drink water. It was a fun experience. We ate lunch at another volunteers house: pasta with a vegetable tomato sauce. Her house is mostly dirt floors, has an outhouse, no refrigerator, and a wood burning stove for cooking. We headed back into Cajamarca to meet up with another volunteer, to visit the local artisan workshops. What a neat place, to watch them make such beautiful ceramics. Her home in the city is very modern. She has all modern conveniences including TV, refrig, and bathroom. I am experiencing some definite anxiety about what is awaiting me in Trujillo.

May 9, 2004
Today is Mother’s Day. I called Mom to wish her a good day. This morning we toured Cajamarca with the PCVs of the area and had lunch in on the plaza. I have the afternoon to myself and just climbed the hill to the church to overlook all of Cajamarca. I went to the market for breakfast goods.

Saturday, May 08, 2004

May 8, 2004
I made it to Cajamarca – 14 hours on a bus last night! The bus was nice granted, like a charter bus in US, but what a night. There is no good way to sleep, especially on bumping rodes. Cajamarca is beautiful, unlike anything I have ever seen. Rolling green mountains, quaint villages, huge farms, and friendly people. We are staying in a hostel right in down town. It is great. Believe it or not – I have hot water! My first hot shower in 8 weeks, what a treat. The rooms are neat and clean and there’s a tv. I feel like I am on vacation. We have the rest of today free to explore the city. Tomorrow I meet up with a volunteer named Amanda to learn first hand about PC service. Cajamarca is a big city with colonial buildings in the town center. There is a huge market a couple of blocks south of the plaza, where everything is sold – guinea pigs, fruits, vegetables, clothing, you name it.

May 7, 2004
What a whirl wind of a day. We found out of site placements, finally! I can’t believe I have made it this far in my PC experience. We leave this afternoon for Field Based Training for 10 days – where you stay with a current volunteer for 3 days to learn the ropes, then visit your site for 3 days to see your home of 2 years. Since there are no volunteers currently in Trujillo, I am heading to Cajamarca first, then will go to Trujillo at the end of the week.

A little about my site, from the written info I received: Intense poverty, final shanty town of the city before entering the desert, most famous for the city dump where many residents make a living recycling trash and looking for anything of use, there is electricity and water, latrines (outhouses), beach of Huanchaco is 15 minutes away, climate is warm and dry (often above 80), houses are made mostly of adobe and bricks, of any PC/Peru site offers the toughest daily reality, structured work (Monday-Friday) environment with YMCA, and Internet is a 5-minute walk away.

May 5, 2004
My family took me to thier uncle’s farm today, he raises exotic fish and has bananas, alvocados, limes, and apples. I was able to pick bananas right from the tree and eat them. He also took me to his ancestrial adobe home that is in his back yard. He said his great grandparents built it. Also got to see the guinea pigs and chickens he’s raising to eat.

May 4, 2004
Not too much happened today that is interesting. Just classes, then this afternoon two counterparts (agencies we will be working with in our sites) came to give presentations to our training group. A site in Cajamarca is in a group home/orphanage. The volunteer will have their own personal apartment, equipped with kitchen and hot water. You can’t beat that for living arrangements. However, the work seems arduous. The volunteer will live and work in this facility with 25 kids and one other adult. That’s a lot of responsibility and a lot of work. The other presentation was about Ancash, way up in the Andes Mountains. This site is a lot less structured. The volunteer will be living in a Quechua-speaking community and focusing on bi-lingual (Quechua/Spanish) education. I return to the Buenos Aires school on Thursday, so I am busy preparing a lesson. Supposedly, we are returning to help with tutoring, but the teachers have requested that we do another self-esteem activity.

May 3, 2004
Something that I have realized is -- you can really get used to any surrounding. The things I thought were just crazy and that I would never get used to, are a part of my everyday routine now. It’s almost like they’ve always been that way. You really don’t need a toilet seat, nor do you really need hot water to bathe in, and you can make due without a car. They say that reverse culture shock when you go home is even worse than the initial culture shock of the foreign country. I am beginning to see why. I can’t believe I have been here 2 months.

Classes today were great – my language improved! I’m up one more level. We’ve changed professors. We leave on Friday to visit our sites and to stay with another volunteer. We had a session on things you can do to improve the housing in your future site, so take notes on your first visit. PC gives you $200 as a settling in allowance, for things like a bed, stove, dresser, paint, or whatever you think you might need. All sites have some sort of shelter, latrine, and water source; but it is up to you to add what is not already there. The families can consider this part of the rent. If after a couple of months, your family is not working out, you can move homes. So, there is freedom in where you live, but you have to remember part of the PC mission is to live like the locals.

May 2, 2004
I went to a trainee´s soccer game today. She’s playing with the Santa Eulalia women’s team. It was fun to sit in the stands and hear the Peruvians root for the Gringa! I heard from a neighbor they want her to play for a team in Lima. Later in the afternoon, went with my family to the men’s soccer game, and had some great grilled chicken. They were having a chicken dinner for a fundraiser for the teams. Really, really sick tonight… You don’t want the details. Probably was the chicken.

May 1, 2004
This was my first experience staying in a hostel, but I have to admit, it wasn’t that bad. We still didn’t have hot water but my bed was reasonable clean. We toured the Plaza de Armas in downtown Lima, where I bought a great purse and had lunch. Service in a restaurant is definitely different here. One person does all the ordering and you better order everything at first or good luck getting it later. In the afternoon, we visited the PCMO´s place in Lima for homemade Mexican food. She pulled out her old PC scrapbook and told us her stories of her service in Paraguay. It has been a great weekend of speaking English and eating “normal” food. Back to Santa Eulalia.

April 30, 2004
We went to Huacan again today to do a health fair. We had a great time working with the kids. Supposedly this area of Lima, is a lot like my site in Trujillo, so I was taking notes. The area was congested with lots of people, shops, and houses. The streets were mostly dirt and lots of graffiti on the walls. On our way back to the training center, we saw a group marching to Lima. This group of 6000+ farmers had marched from the jungle in northern Peru. They were headed to the capital to protest new laws restricting cocoa plant production. Ventured back to Lima to eat dinner and watch a movie at the APCD´s house. What a great setup, working for the American Embassy. They have strict limitations on where employees can live, so that means you get a great pad. We played badminton in the back yard, snacked on chips & salsa, ate salad and Pizza Hut Pizza. Afterwards, we checked in at a hostel and headed to Barronco and Miraflores, nice sections of Lima, for some night scenes.

April 29, 2004
I had my second language interview today. It went pretty good. My Spanish has to of improved, right? I have been living here for 7 weeks now. I ventured to Chosica this afternoon for internet and some ice cream.