July 17, 2004
I woke up at 11:45 am. The last 3 days have been a real blur. I have been sick, unusually sick. I have had a fever around 101°-102°F, have been SO tired with extreme body aches, and with (the lovely) diarrhea. I called the PCMO yesterday and she said that I probably picked up a virus and the only thing to do is drink lots of water, take fever reducer, and rest. Well, that is what I have been doing; hopefully by tomorrow I will feel more like myself. I have slept more in 3 days than I usually sleep in 2 weeks.
July 16, 2004
I woke up with a fever but felt like I could probably make it to El Milagro for my English classes. I didn’t shower or anything just threw on some clothes and grabbed the combi. Sure enough, I had a couple of kids waiting to begin my class. I had 5 kids in total and we studied numbers and colors, sang 2 songs, and played Uno. I also had some time to work on my next lesson plan: we are going to learn family titles and make family trees from old magazines. I think they will enjoy it. I talked with my counterpart and we decided that I could wait until Tuesday for my other class, since the afternoon class is one lesson ahead anyway. That way, on Tuesday I will be giving the same lesson twice.
I was home by 2:00 pm for lunch. My family insisted that I not be out in the cold (make my sickness worse), and that I drink lots of hot drinks like tea. Fine by me, I like tea, but I am not so sure it has as much medicinal strength as they seem to think that it does.
Returned to my room around 2:30 pm and slept until 9:00 pm. I drank more tea with my family, and then was back in bed by 11:00 pm. I hope I feel better soon. I am sleeping my life away!
July 15, 2004
I hung out in El Milagro all day today. I worked on lesson plans in the morning and in the afternoon I went with one of my counterparts to the local public primary school where many of our kids attend. The building itself was relatively nice and looked new, all made of cement and with paint. There was a play area with soccer goals and volleyball net. A bathroom and a 2 story school building with 12 classrooms. We arrived there around 3:30, in time for their recess. What was a bit surprising was the director was just arriving also. My counterpart told me this was a common complaint of the parents: the tardiness of all the teachers. The purpose of the visit was to check on the progress of the kids in our program and offer a workshop to the teachers on a specific topic like boundaries, self esteem, rights/legislation, etc. This school, very recently, had a sexual abuse scandal between a female student and male teacher. The YMCA is helping the family of the girl pursue the case in court. We interviewed each of the four teachers that work in the afternoons. There are 2 sessions of classes; one session in the afternoon for the youngest classes and a session in the afternoon for the oldest classes. I couldn’t believe the number of students in each class: 45-60 in each classroom. That is crazy! How could just one teacher do it? Many of the classrooms in the building are standing empty, because the government won’t pay for more teachers.
We walked back to the center with a family of our program. Just goes to show, I can always find a little friend to ‘escort’ me around El Milagro… hand in hand the whole way. They ask us at Peace Corps, “If you had to leave today, what would you miss most about your site?” I would definitely miss the most my little kiddies and their unconditional love and affection.
I got back to my house to find my site mate waiting on my doorstep. It’s Harry Potter 3 day! Today it comes out in the cinema here and I promised her I would go with her to see it. We invited my brother, since he has to go into town anyway to buy his bus ticket. So, we went into Trujillo, bought our movie tickets for the 9:00 show, and then ate pizza. The whole time I was so extremely hot. I was convinced I had a fever, so we stopped by the pharmacy. I asked for something for fever and a head ache and she just says “60 cents, please.” I have learned by now, not to trust these establishments, so I asked what type of medicine. She hands me something that I’d never seen, with what looked to me to have the ingredients of an anti-inflammatory. So, I asked for another medicine. She game me something which had Tylenol as an ingredient but combined with other things, so I asked for the Tylenol by itself in 500 mgs. Twenty-three cents lighter, we left the pharmacy with me thinking, these people don’t have a clue.
In the movie, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I slept through most of it… I am definitely sick.
July 13, 2004
I got into Trujillo around 8:00, came home and slept to around 11:00 am. I am having a tough time getting back into the groove of things here in Trujillo. Amazing how my mentality can be affected by just a weekend in Lima. Imagine what it will do to me, when I visit the states. I have all the feelings of being a bad volunteer because I am not doing enough or being competent enough. I think it is the guilt of wanting to live with modern conveniences, yet knowing to be a good volunteer I have to give up some of those.
My missionary friends have given me a week guest pass to the country club, so I enjoyed the workout machines, the pool, and hot shower before I went into El Milagro for the afternoon session with my kiddies.
July 12, 2004
I got up at 10:00 to my cell phone alarm, went into the kitchen to put my clothes in the dryer, to find the maid already doing my laundry. What a way to live. She ironed my clothes, cleaned the house, and then made us fresh squeezed orange juice. My taxi to the bus terminal was coming at 11:00, but I decided to change my ticket to Trujillo to the 11:00 PM trip. What are another 12 hours living “normal” with modern appliances, carpeting, hot water, and cable TV? So far, I have been able to watch American news channels, What Not To Wear (my favorite!), and MTV; eat grilled chicken salads and order Pizza Hut; wash and dry all my clothes; take a bath in a bathtub (and shave!). I would rather be able to sleep on the eight hours home anyway. I called my counterpart to let her know I would be at El Milagro tomorrow for my English class and then called a few people in the states, just to say hello. Emily leaves at 6:00 pm this afternoon and I leave at 10:00 for the bus terminal.
My bus didn’t leave until 11:30. I didn’t have any problems falling asleep. I think I am getting used to this form of travel.
July 11, 2004
I made it back to Emily’s home stay by 11:00 am and we decided to just bum around the apartment all afternoon. We cooked sausage, ate cereal, and made ‘real’ coffee. Since, Lina had already left to head back to her site, I spoke with Veronica and I am going to stay with Emily at her place. We ventured to Jockey Plaza around 5:00 am where we shopped, had Starbucks (where I bought a coffee press), and then watched Spiderman 2 in the cinema. We got back home around midnight and stayed up till 2:00 am watching TV and reading. It has been such a relaxing weekend here in Lima. There is definitely culture shock in enjoying this side of life in Lima, especially in a country where the huge majority lives in poverty.
I am heading back to Trujillo tomorrow at 12:00 pm. Back to PC life…
July 10, 2004
I got into Lima around 7:00 am this morning. Veronica, a secretary at Peace Corps, picked me up at the terminal, and then we went to her house. I am staying with her this weekend. They have a really nice place, in a ritzy area of Lima. Wanting to see my buddies, Veronica took me to where they were staying. What a great reunion! It is great to see my training buddies. They are staying with an American lady who works for the Embassy. She has a nice 3 bedroom apartment where she gave us the run of the place. We cooked, showered, watched TV as if we were in our own home. I am a bit sad that I have to stay in the other house, but we will hang out while we can. At 2:00 we went to the Peace Corps office for the VAC meeting. Definitely, the longest American meeting I have sat through since coming to Peru. We were there for almost 5 hours. Gratefully, the meeting was interesting in that we discussed many topics that involved the struggles and challenges of PCVs, PC regulations, future meetings, and budgetary concerns. After the meeting, we headed back to the apartment to eat dinner and change for a night out in Lima. We met up with some of the guys for a trip to Barronco.
July 7, 2004
I head to Lima on Friday to represent Trujillo Volunteers at the Volunteer Advisory Committee meeting. Some of my favorite pals from Piura, Cajamarca, and Ancash are coming too, so I am excited to get a couple of days to hang out with them. I had to go into Trujillo this morning to buy my bus ticket. I am taking the most expensive bus that they say is a bus with beds. We will see. I am not getting my hopes up; I know how Peru can over exaggerate. Hopefully, I will be pleasantly surprised. I also bought a nightstand for my room at the Mayorista Market. The prices are so cheap there and you can see the carpenter’s making the furniture. I had lunch at home: fish, rice, beans, and salad.
After lunch, I went to El Milagro for the afternoon session with the kids. I made another sign to announce my upcoming English classes. I am sure I will have a crowd on Friday because at the same time there is a Mother’s Club meeting and the mother’s will inevitably bring their kids. After work, my counterpart and I went to the medical clinic in El Milagro to attend a meeting. We waited around for about 30 minutes, but no one showed up. Who knows? So, we left and visited with a family that the YMCA is helping -- a very touchy situation with this family. To the best of my understanding, the YMCA is assisting this family with a charge against a school teacher for sexual abuse.
A situation with YMCA that I have observed that I am still trying to understand is their relationship with a group called INABIF. INABIF is practically Peru’s Department of Family and Children’s Services. INABIF shares the center space with us, they work with the same kids, and generally do the same stuff that YMCA does with kids of El Milagro. However, INABIF and YMCA do not coordinate their activities together. For example, INABIF also celebrates birthdays of the kids (separate from YMCA). It is not unusual to show up at the center and realize that you can’t do an activity that YMCA has planned because INABIF has already started a workshop with the kids or vice versa. To me, this is an easily solved problem – why not have a weekly coordination meeting with INABIF and YMCA? Work together besides working separately. This is one of my ulterior goals as a volunteer in El Milagro. I would love to help make this relationship between agencies more efficient.
I made my way home around 8:00, cooked myself some pasta with tomato sauce, and then went to the internet café. I discovered how to use web cam on the instant messenger. Too cool! People can see me at home and if they have web cam I can see them. Technology in this day and age is really just growing leaps and bounds.
July 6, 2004
I pulled the morning and afternoon shifts at the center again today. This morning was a bit frustrating. None of the kids showed up for my English class. No one thought to tell me that all the kids had to march in a parade celebrating El Milagro’s anniversary. So, instead I went to the Plaza of El Milagro and watched the kids march and enjoyed the festivities of the celebration. I had fun chatting with the moms of the project I saw and with some of the kids too.
After lunch, I returned to the center for my afternoon English class. I was fortunate to have 12 kids attend my second English class ever. Today’s lesson was about colors and numbers which lead us into 3 intense games of UNO. The kids really had fun, I think, but who doesn’t like playing UNO, right?
Returned home, did internet for a while, cleaned up my room, then off to bed.
July 4, 2004
Today is my nation’s Independence Day. My family remembered and gave me a hug in remembrance and I listened to Martina McBride’s tribute to our freedom and that is about it. We had a cookout here on the roof of the house. My dad set up a grill and we had steaks, pork, and chicken. Boy, it was great. The steaks were excellent. I didn’t even know that you could buy meat like that here in Peru. Afterwards, my dad, mom, brother and I went downtown to walk around. Nestle promoters were giving out free Sublimes (chocolate candy bars) in the Plaza – first I’d seen of that. Something free! Then we had Chinese, stopped by the grocery store for a few things, and then headed home. We sat around the living room chatting for awhile and I came upstairs to finish my book. Happy 4th! I missed seeing fireworks.
July 3, 2004
All the folks in El Milagro went on a fieldtrip today and I believe it was the best day I have had yet! We loaded 2 huge buses with over 80 people – moms, dads, grandparents, and kids and headed an hour away to the foothills of the mountains to an area that boasts of two pools, a playground, soccer field, and volleyball court. The kids didn’t waste anytime in jumping in the pool. The owner of the establishment announced that all swimmers must have a bathing suit to get in the pool and they must shower first. Many of the kids didn’t have bathing suits, most made due with their underwear with little regard for modesty. The shear happiness on their faces was something I wouldn’t have missed for the world. To escape from the landfill for a day to relax at picnic tables on grass, snooze on the lounge chairs, or play with the attractions was a real treat for everyone.
Several situations arose that I felt I have grown as an individual by being able to witness them –
One was this boy, about 12 years old. He has a severe speech impediment and he came all alone on the field trip. Most kids came with at least one relative. He was very dirty in ill-fitting clothes, he couldn’t button or zip his pants they were so small, his toes were poking out the tips of his shoes, and his shirt was in tatters. He didn’t get into the pool at first; he just stood with us adults not saying anything. He slowly made his way until he was standing directly inside our little circle. Cautiously, he finally asked my coworker, after several attempts for she couldn’t understand him well, if it would be ok for him to swim in his underwear. She said yes that would be fine, but he would have to shower first. An outdoor shower was right beside the pool for this purpose. He obviously had never showered before, nor had he ever been in a pool. After he become accustomed to the feel of the water, you could tell he loved it! The sheer exhilaration on his face has made this entire experience for me. He played and jumped around in the pool for hours. He touched my heart yet again at lunch time. YMCA personnel were fed by the club’s restaurant and the family’s brought their lunch. I thought randomly, as I bit into my second helping of duck, rice, and beans, if everyone remembered to bring their lunch. Just as we were finishing and starting to stand from the table, the same boy approached our table. He just stood there and one of my coworkers asked if he had had lunch. He shook his head no and she promptly combined our leftovers on one plate and he sat and dug in. I felt so incredibly guilty at that moment in time. To have been enjoying good food and conversation with my coworkers, while this little boy, all alone and hungry waited for us to finish, so he could beg for our leftovers.
I also came to realize that the YMCA personnel keep themselves at a safe distance from becoming emotionally involved with the people of the project. They did very little to integrate into the activities of the families on the fieldtrip. I was a bit lost in where I was to fit into the picture. I found I was most happy dancing with the moms, or playing volleyball with the teenage girls, or sitting on the ground with the little girls all in my lap or hanging on my shoulders, or singing silly songs with the boys. It was somewhat uncomfortable to be associated as an employee of the YMCA because of the distance they put between themselves and the families of El Milagro.
Another experience I will never forget is the delight the kids and parents get by having their picture taken. I didn’t quite understand the hysteria at first, for when I take out my camera I am hounded to death! But I realize now, that they will never have the pleasure of owning a camera or taking photos of their life’s experiences. The mom’s shyly asked me to take photos of their babies and hesitantly told me they would pay me for the photos. The things that we take for granted, how many they are! The simple joy of being able to document our lives -- the people of El Milagro don’t have this same luxury.
After lunch, we also held a birthday party for the kids who had birthdays in June. We brought out 2 huge cakes and every kid got a bag of fruit and a hard boiled egg. I was in charge of handing out the fruit and eggs. They all lined up and not so patiently awaited their turn to receive their gifts. I felt like Santa! The kids were so happy to get their food. Many lingered at the end to see if there were any leftovers and their little voices begging (for an apple, an orange, or a hard boiled egg) will probably haunt me forever.
I expect the unexpected and I am still surprised. A little boy was crying and moaning with a stomach ache after we finished with the birthday festivities. His mother promptly began pulling his hair out! With both hands, she was pulling fists-full of hair out of his head. It was later explained to me that this is ‘supposed’ to help with a stomach ache. My way of thinking is that yes, it helps. It helps you forget your stomach ache and you then cry because your head hurts.
You know, there was a time back when I was so scared of ever returning to El Milagro, that the thought brought me to tears. In fact, at the end of my first day there, I swore I would never return. I mistakenly thought the fright and nervousness would never go away and that I would never get used to the trash. I may never get used to the odor or ever feel completely safe walking alone, but to think I would have missed the utter joy of a sweetly smiling face with dirty little arms squeezing my neck in a huge hug me making me feel like the richest woman on earth.
So, today on this fieldtrip to the countryside with these families that lack so much, who enjoy life and friendship, who offer so much love to me -- I feel truly blessed.
