June 25, 2004
I took my time getting ready this morning. Probably shouldn’t record this but I am going to write it anyway. I have not taken a shower since I left the hotel 3 weeks ago. I know that sounds disgusting. To clarify my hygiene habits: it is too cold to stand under that freezing water! So, I take a sponge bath every morning. Needless to say… no shaving.
At work, my counterpart took me for a walk around El Milagro. We walked by the state penitentiary that is next door, the only jail in Trujillo where both men and women are housed. She explained that innocent people are held in prison until they are proven guilty; opposite of the system we have in the USA. (Yet, another reason to be thankful!) Also, if you want to visit a prisoner, women must wear a skirt and they give every person a full-body check to prevent someone bringing in weapons, etc. I am assuming that means that they can’t afford a metal detector. We ventured on our way, down streets of pure sand, filled with garbage. You can see personal ‘landfills’ where the families bring their collectibles to their homes to guard them; if not their things will be robbed. Robbery is extremely common. Each family has a pack of dogs that protects their property, whether that means their houses, their pigs, or their garbage. I have to be extremely careful with my things while I am in El Milagro, for at any moment a kid might decide they want it. But as a way for me to understand this lack of values, I must remember that these children and families are struggling to survive. I believe I might steal too under those conditions. We continued on our walk and talked of many subjects. She explained that there are 3 types of families that live in El Milagro: families that live in the landfill in plastic houses, those that live in plastic/whatever material outside the landfill and work in the landfill, and those that live in cement houses outside the landfill. Those families with the cement houses mostly raise pigs; pigs that graze freely in the landfill. Another problem she mentioned (which I have noticed by working with the kids) is that many of the kids are developmentally delayed, a side effect of their lack of nutrition and stimulation as babies/children.
I had lunch with my family, and then returned to El Milagro where I played and drew with my favorite group of girls. After work we visited some of the ladies of the communities who had developed a couple of small businesses, one selling ducks and the other has opened a small market. YMCA encouraged them to start these projects.
June 24, 2004
Around 9:00 this morning the carpenter came to hang a curtain on my bedroom window. This entire house is made out of cement, so to get a nail into the wall it takes a big drill. My mom sewed me a cute little blue curtain for my window, so now I can take the piece of construction paper down I was using for privacy. Tuesday night, I moved down to a room on the second floor. It is a bit warmer in this room and I have my personal bathroom. I am slowing getting it organized. I bought a new wooden table for 30 soles, which is less than $10 bucks. You can’t beat it.
I got to El Milagro at about 11:00. We cleaned up the office a bit and reorganized the kid’s library. I was back home by 2:00 for lunch. I am still getting lots of veggies and fish. Yeah!
Tonight, my brother and I went to town to shop for me a bookcase. He also had to buy his bus ticket to Lima, he goes there every weekend to attend classes; he is working on his masters in engineering. The market is dangerous to visit at night and that is where the cheapest furniture is, so we are going to come back this weekend. For supper, we ate ‘antecucho’ – cow’s heart. It was fantastic. Tasted like a great steak! We also stopped by the supermarket then we headed home.
Still haven’t paid a dime to live here or to eat lunch here. Who knows?
June 23, 2004
I made my way to work around 9:30. I am supposed to be there at 9:00 or at least that is when they say the center opens, but nobody is ever there before 9:30, so that is when I show up. Suits me fine, I am always late. I played a game called ‘leader of the band’ with the kids after a workshop on how to care for guinea pigs. They seemed to enjoy it. I also announced that I would be starting English classes next Friday. The kids are constantly asking me how to say various words in English. I hope to be able to incorporate some other activities into my English classes, like team building, songs, games, and sports.
I didn’t make it home for lunch until 2:00 today and my family was worried. I had told them 1:00, so they had already called my cell phone and was getting ready to come looking for me. That brings me to a good topic: my family. They are so great! I eat lunch with them everyday and they love to show me around Trujillo. What impresses me is that when they say they are going to do something, they really follow through with what they say they are going to do. I had the impression that Peruvians were bad to be the opposite. They also seem to really care about me and take good care of me. I feel like we have a lot in common and that I can relate to them. They really value education. My dad has two jobs: he is a professor at a night school for adults who want to continue their education and an economist at a sugar factory. My mom stays home, cooks, and is a great seamstress. She makes all my dad’s clothing.
At 5:00 this afternoon, I met my coworkers in downtown to buy a baby gift for my counterpart. She just had a new baby girl on Saturday and we bought her a gift then visited with them.
June 22, 2004
I went into town to check my mail and received 3 packages. This makes my day!
My dad invited me to his sister’s house for lunch. It’s her birthday. I felt a little like I was intruding, but the family was super nice. My dad always looks out for me – he introduced me to everyone, keep my glass filled with coke and made me take a photo with him and his sister. He is such a funny guy, too. He is always teaching me new slang or telling me a joke.
I headed to El Milagro for the afternoon session.
June 21, 2004
I got up late this morning. It was great to sleep in. I went with my mom and dad to see their house that they have in downtown Trujillo. It is in a really cute area and is very nice, 6 bedrooms all with bathrooms, 3 floors, and ceilings with chair railing that is gorgeous. My family is definitely doing ok financially, they don’t have many modern conveniences like cable tv, hot water, their own car, but they are comfortable.
At 3:00, Angela and I took the combi into town again for the weekly meeting at the YMCA office. Except that we couldn’t find it and had to call them to get us. I told the group that I would like to organize some kind of sports activity in El Milagro, like a soccer tournament or mini Olympics and also I would like to start English classes. They were excited to hear about my ideas.
Angela and I had dinner in town at the supermarket (they have a pseudo-Starbucks upstairs) and returned to our houses. When I got home, my sister and neighbors were on the front patio chatting. I asked my sister about accompanying me to the university library and she said that there is going to be a protest by the students tomorrow, so we will have to wait. I ended up talking with them until 2:00 in the morning. They were teaching me Peruvian slang and I told them all about the states. It is crazy how Peruvians are under the impression that the USA is a utopia, where there’s no violence, no corruption, no poverty. Granted I would have to agree our situation is better, but we have our share of problems too.
June 20, 2004
I did some great shopping today. My site mate and I headed to Trujillo for some great things like a blanket and a table. We ate lunch at a typical Peruvian restaurant, where I had some indistinguishable meat that was very tasty. We went to a very shady area of town for shopping. Someone told us that is where to get the best blankets, we went. In fact, while we were there I think I witnessed a pick pocking incident. A kid just ran up to this guy and grabbed what he had his hand. The lady with the guy screamed ‘robber’ but nobody even flinched. It happened so quick I wasn’t really sure that was what I had seen.
I have heard that you can compare being a volunteer to wearing a bunny suit everywhere you go. People look at you, some laugh, and others think you are crazy. That is how I feel here. Living in a fish bowl where everyone watches what you do. Good points, people remember you. If I visit a store more than once, they mention it. Others know my route home better than me and tell me where to get off the combi. Bad points, a million questions from everyone when you just want to continue on your way, the money changers who hang out in the streets haggle you for dollars, and you just can’t blend in, even though you want to so bad.
We returned to my house and my dad invited us to tea and bread. He is so sweet. He just loves to talk with us. My whole family walked Angela home. They had never been to Winchanzao, how crazy is that? So, we all took the walk there. After we got back home, my dad sat me down and told me he wanted me to feel at home and to come to the family with any problem/doubt I encountered. He said on Tuesday we could sign the lease. So far, I still haven’t paid anything for my rent. I feel so lucky to be here, in a home that is so welcoming and protecting. God is looking out for me.
June 19, 2004
Thought I would start this entry with a description of my daily routine, just to take note of it, because it is quite different from my previous life at home in the states.
I wake up at about 7:30 am, I still let my alarm go off at least 5 times and I just continue to push snooze. I plug in my water boiler for my bath. (Picture a plastic pitcher with a plug-in that boils water.) I grab my shower caddy with all my essentials, my hot water, and head to the bathroom. I first wash my hair with the shower, but only get my head wet, because the water is freezing. I bucket bath with the hot water. Brush my teeth (with the water out of the tap, they tell us not to…), return to my room to iron my clothes on my bed, and then get dressed. Then I boil more water for my instant coffee/tea. As I wait for this to cool, I head downstairs and across the way for some fresh bread for my breakfast. There is a little old lady who sits daily with her fresh bread, just on the corner. I return to my room, for some jelly and butter sandwiches and maybe some fruit.
Around 9:00, I head to the street to catch the combi for my ride to El Milagro, $.50 and it takes about 5 minutes to get there. I walk the couple of blocks from the highway to the YMCA center and inevitable there are a couple of kids who meet to walk with me. At the center, the first thing we all do is greet each other with a ‘buenos dias’ and a kiss on the cheek. You greet each and every person in this manner, young and old. We then open up the office and get things ready for the day’s activities; that may mean sweeping the center or rearranging the tables to make room.
Around 1:00, we start to close the center for ‘siesta’; it usually takes until 1:30 to get out of there. I return to my house for lunch. I eat with my family and my mom is a great cook. After lunch, sometimes I may return to El Milagro for the afternoon activities from 3:00-6:00. If not, I may head into Trujillo for groceries or hang out with my family or visit my site mate.
Around dark, I head to the internet café. Afterwards, I head to my room for the evening. I have bought several DVDs, which I may watch, read, or listen to music. For supper, I usually just eat something in my room or in the park where they sell some really great fried chicken and fried potatoes (I can’t do that too often, but it sure is good!) My volunteer pals in Piura may call and we’ll chat for a while. Around 9:00, I am usually beat. Speaking Spanish all day is very mentally exhausting, so I turn in.
That’s a day in the life of this volunteer serving in Trujillo, Peru.
June 18, 2004
I went this morning with my family to their other house inside the city of Trujillo. The father says that they have been planning on moving there for 2 years now. He says that I can live in either place. I told him I would live where I am for the time being. I ate lunch with my family. The meals are much more balanced here. I have at least 2 servings of vegetables and one meat, which is so much better than before. The dad has been so nice to me; he is very interested in my culture and continues to praise my Spanish. He is a professor at a high school and works a second job at a sugar factory. All the kids of the family attend the university and the mom stays at home. There is a 92 year old grandmother living next door too; she is so cute, but can’t hear a thing.
It is really crazy how everyone just wants to go the USA. Everyone I talk with has a friend or family member that is living there. Even my dad here can’t imagine that jobs are hard to come by in my home too. I have to admit, things aren’t nearly as bad in the USA, as they are here. I am so lucky.
As for my work in El Milagro, I am learning more about how things run. My counterpart gave the same workshop that we gave at the town meeting to the mother’s group. The mother’s group calls themselves the ‘Dream Recyclers’, which is catchy since they also work as recyclers in the land fill. I mostly just hung out with the kids and talked with the mothers.
Saturday, June 19, 2004
June 18, 2004
I went this morning with my family to their other house inside the city of Trujillo. The father says that they have been planning on moving there for 2 years now. He says that I can live in either place. I told him I would live where I am for the time being. I ate lunch with my family. The meals are much more balanced here. I have at least 2 servings of vegetables and one meat, which is so much better than before. The dad has been so nice to me; he is very interested in my culture and continues to praise my Spanish. He is a professor at a high school and works a second job at a sugar factory. All the kids of the family attend the university and the mom stays at home. There is a 92 year old grandmother living here too; she is so cute, but can’t hear a thing.
It is really crazy how everyone just wants to go the USA. Everyone I talk with has a friend or family member that is living there. Even my dad here can’t imagine that jobs are hard to come by in my home too. I have to admit, things aren’t nearly as bad in the USA, as they are here. I am so lucky.
As for my work in El Milagro, I am learning more about how things run. My counterpart gave the same workshop that we gave at the town meeting to the mother’s group. The mother’s group calls themselves the ‘Dream Recyclers’, which is catchy since they also work as recyclers in the land fill. I mostly just hung out with the kids and talked with the mothers.
It is so great to be able to prepare my own food. I have gotten into a hot tea habit too.
June 17, 2004
My family took me to the big market in our community today. It is about 5 blocks away and has anything you can think of. I have been eating lunch with my family, but I haven’t even paid my rent yet. I told the dad a couple of days ago, that I need to pay, but he doesn’t seemed concerned. I guess I will just wait until he asks.
Today in El Milagro, we did home visits. What an experience. I can’t really even explain it. Imagine a land fill, then imagine families and animals (dogs, pigs, burros) living there in whatever they can find to make walls (mattresses, plastic, wire, bags). The odor is horrendous. The YMCA has implemented a latrine project, so there are outhouses sporadically amongst the houses. At 5:00pm every afternoon, the families take their pigs to the landfill to eat. These pigs are humongous. The families are raising these animals to sell, but they can’t sell them in Peru. Of course, the pigs carry disease because of what they eat, so these families go to the Ecuador border and sell them there. I was once again astounded at the extreme level of poverty that these people are living in.
Not feeling so well tonight, must be something I’ve eaten. I was asleep by 8:00pm.
June 16, 2004
I did some much needed grocery shopping today. I made some great finds like: Equal sweetener, Campbell’s soup, and even Romen noodles. I dropped some laundry off at the laundry mat – not cheap, but it is just so hard to hand wash jeans. So, the other half I will hand wash here.
I went to work in El Milagro at 3:00. I attended a community meeting with my counterpart. She held a workshop on advocacy. The YMCA in El Milagro, functions a lot like Family Connection does at home. They serve as a community resource where kids are mentored and tutored, families receive counseling, health fairs are organized, and community meetings are held. I was able to see the main plaza and the church and we also visited with some families of the community while we were there.
I introduced myself to the mini market owner and the guy who cuts hair here where I am living. They were nice and warned me to be careful getting off and on the bus from certain areas, there is a history of robbers.
June 15, 2004
I got up this morning and packed my things to move to my new house. I ventured to the market to find some breakfast – bread and mandarins. Around 11:00 am, my counterpart showed up and we moved all my stuff. My family took the news well; my counterpart told them I had to move because Peace Corps wanted us in separate communities.
My new family is nice. There are 3 kids (21, 24, 26 years old), their parents and they rent out the 2nd and 3rd floor rooms. I am in a room on the third floor. My neighbors are a young married couple and a single 21 year old. The oldest son of the family is 27 and he has been a real help to me. He helped me move in and put up my bed; he took me for a tour of the neighborhood, and even helped me get a bus into town. He has studied English and wants me to tutor him. I went into Trujillo to go to the supermarket, but it was closed. I am figuring out that most things close here around siesta time of 1-4pm. I will be eating lunch with the family but I want to cook my own breakfast and dinner. I pay $100 soles a month for rent. That is like $35 American dollars, you can’t beat it.
I made my first visit to El Milagro today. I prepped myself for the shock of it all and I have to admit that it wasn’t such a shock at all this time. All the kids were happy to see me. My counterpart gave me a set of keys to the building and went over the objectives of the YMCA in El Milagro. They are doing so much! They have a full-time social-worker, a full-time psychologist, a part-time teacher, and several volunteer college students who all do programs/activities in the center. There weekly schedule is packed full of workshops, therapy sessions, activities. It is all a little intimidating, but I can see where I can bring some of my skills to the table. I told them I was interested in doing sports activities with the kids (which they lack), team building activities, and a paper making project and they seemed excited that I had some new ideas. In fact, they wanted me to hop right in the schedule for this week. I had to try to explain that I am still in the adjustment phase and would need some time to observe and learn about the culture and way things work.
I told my counterpart that I didn’t even know how to take the bus or where to shop for things like laundry soap, so before I jump into work, I need to feel organized and settled in at home. She was great and immediately took me to town. We bought me an electric hot plate, a dish, a fork, a knife, a spoon, Tupperware, and a bucket to wash my clothes. She gave me a tour of Trujillo on the way. We also decided that I would only work the afternoons this week, so I could get more settled in.
I am feeling more and more confident with my Spanish. My new host family dad told me I speak better Spanish than he does, I know he was kidding, but it does feel good to be able to communicate and share ideas with others in another language.
I don’t think I picked up lice from my sister. Thank goodness!
June 14, 2004
I returned to the house I found by the internet cafe to see about moving in. The dad of the family says all is good for me to move in, so I believe I will just do it. God is telling me this is where I should live, so I am going to follow his advice.
At 4:00, we visited the new YMCA office; the building is brand new and very nice. It is in an area of town that is pretty shady. They don’t even have water, electricity, or telephones and they can’t move in until they do. So, it will probably be forever until that all is ready. We had a YMCA staff meeting at the temporary office. It was quite overwhelming; they want us to start doing activities immediately. Peace Corps tells us to take 3 months to get settled in before we start any projects. Also, they want me to be in the center in El Milagro, 6 days a week, 9:00-6:00 with a 2 hour lunch. That is like a full-time job!
I am worried about how my current family will take the news that I am moving out. Hopefully, everything will work out. I am learning so much, but the lessons are tough ones. To not be liked or to be liked or to stand out wherever you go, simple because of your skin color is harsh.
June 13, 2004
I had a bad night last night. I couldn’t sleep because I am so worried about my living situation. I keep praying, but I just can’t shake my anxiety. I bought some things today for my family, like milk, bread, fruit, and rice.
I met the missionary family for lunch at a golf club in Trujillo. I met their children, visited with them at their house, and afterwards, we again looked for housing. I think God put them in my life for a reason. What a coincidence to be able to know them here in Peru.
June 12, 2004
This area of Trujillo where I am living doesn’t have police, so it is pretty much self-patrolled. People are extremely worried about being robbed. I have been warned several times about it. This common opinion is that if you are stupid enough to allow your stuff to be stolen, then so be it.
This being a ‘rich’ foreigner thing is tough. I so obviously have so much more than they do, and it makes things so difficult.
I went to the YMCA center of Winchanzao to a leadership workshop, but nobody showed up. However, I did chat with another YMCA volunteer, she’s Peruvian and lives in Winchanzao. I have yet to visit El Milagro. I ate lunch at a little house and the family was super nice. This house is a couple of doors down from the house I want to move into to. They said they would give me 3 meals a day for $6, when I move.
I met the missionaries that I had been corresponding with via email. What a nice couple! They helped me for a room to rent in some nice areas of Trujillo.
June 11, 2004
I had a weird night last night for sure. I had absolutely no privacy. I am still sleeping in the same room as my sister. Even though I was writing in the living room, my mom just turned off all the lights said to get in the bed. So we went to our bedroom and she said I could use her bedroom if I wanted to change. There are no doors on either of the 2 bedrooms. Something has to give! Oh, yeah, my sister has lice. I helped my mom pick the nits out of her hair this morning. My mom says its something she has to do every morning. I realize we are supposed to compromise as volunteers, but this is too much. I have to look for somewhere else to live ASAP. My sanity depends on it. Who’s going to look out for me if I don’t?
I tutored the neighbor in English a bit this morning, before I headed to the internet café, a couple of blocks from Winchanzao. I asked the attendant in the internet cafe if she knew of any place for me to live. What do you know? She says she rents a room from a family close by and that they have a room with bathroom that is available. The room is clean and nice, totally cute and only $100 per month. I have to wait until Sunday to talk with the father about the logistics. But I think this is definitely an option for me.
On a good note, our counterpart really seems to understand our roles as volunteers and the importance of being happy where we live.
I am so scared! What am I scared of? Being lonely, I think. I know that this pace of life will take some time to get used to and some adjustments on my part. I really haven’t had to be truly on my own. I will have to fill my days with activities. I can get a membership at a gym. I will be able to cook my food in my new room. I can read and I could get a Spanish tutor. I could make jewelry, sew, paint, or draw. See, I have lots of activities to keep boredom stay away.
Secondary projects I would like to tackle are: teaching English, youth group for Niyelo activities, reading group.
I am thinking about the 2 years before me and it seems like an eternity. I just hope to make this place my home. I know that just means putting myself out there and getting involved. I just want everything to happen quickly and naturally. Patience, I keep telling myself.
When I returned from Trujillo, my family had rearranged the house. The sister’s bed is now in the parent’s room. We had supper or bread and coffee. That is all they seem to ever have for supper. I think financially this family is suffering. It puts me in such a tough situation. I know any number of churches would happily donate to this poor Peruvian family. It would be a temporary fix, one that is not sustainable in the long run. I could I help this family help themselves? That is the real goal of a volunteer.
June 10, 2004
Wow. Here I am in my new home. I am with the same family I stayed with during my site visit. Granted they are very nice, sweet in fact, but this home is pretty rough. As long as I have my own space, I will be fine. The arrangement for me staying here is that I will make repairs on the house in place of rent. In the first 10 minutes, my mom showed me the things that she wanted me to fix or install like: a window, door, and bathroom. The dad even sat me down and said he needed a pair of eye glasses that cost $200. Definitely, not the foot I wanted to start off with in my new home. Peace Corps warns us that people will think we are made of money because we are from the USA. At this point, I am sharing a room with my sister. Hopefully, they will clean out the room so I can have it to myself. They do have a refrigerator here, but like in Santa Eulalia, it is unplugged (I think that is to conserve electricity, but what good is it?) Good things about this home: a flush toilet with a seat, water, electricity, telephone – so all and all I will be ok. Bad things: extremely close to other volunteer (about 2 blocks), no privacy, money issues.
I am having the urge to cry, but hopefully I can hold out. As for my work in El Milagro, I have to get myself prepared for my work there. I know it will be a shocker if not, especially the first couple of days. It is a good thing to be close to Trujillo.
Our counterpart took us shopping. We bought a bed and shelf for our rooms. I am glad I spoke up for myself and told my counterpart that I wanted to live somewhere else, they were supportive. Yeah! Now I have to find somewhere else to live.
June 8, 2004
We have spent two more days in Trujillo enjoying the cafes, shopping, and cable TV. We were supposed to move into our host families today, but something came up with our counterpart, so we are going to move into tomorrow or at least that is the new plan. We also mentioned to our counterpart our concerns about living so close together and they completely understood. They said that we were living in different sections of Winchanzao, so hopefully, it will all work out.
June 6, 2004
We got into Trujillo at 7:30 this morning. Our hotel is ok; not the greatest, but it does have hot water. I slept all night on the bus. We explored the city first thing this morning. I have to admit I am very excited about Trujillo. It is a great city. There are supermarkets that have great stuff like American sliced cheese, sandwich meat, milk, and peanut butter. I was so excited! We found the post office and the bank. Also, there are some great restaurants. For lunch, we ate in a cute little café where I had a great grilled chicken salad with oil/vinegar dressing. We found lots of appliance stores and even a department store with almost anything I would need. We sat in the Plaza for a while and it didn’t take long before people just came up to us and asked us what we were doing in town. It was so funny how incredible friendly and curious people are here. After we chatted for a while, we headed to the movies. I can’t believe there is actually a cinema here. We watched the Day after Tomorrow; it was fair, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Tomorrow is another day to laze around here in Trujillo, and then on Tuesday we head to our sites and to our host families. I am very nervous. I am praying things will be ok.
I went this morning with my family to their other house inside the city of Trujillo. The father says that they have been planning on moving there for 2 years now. He says that I can live in either place. I told him I would live where I am for the time being. I ate lunch with my family. The meals are much more balanced here. I have at least 2 servings of vegetables and one meat, which is so much better than before. The dad has been so nice to me; he is very interested in my culture and continues to praise my Spanish. He is a professor at a high school and works a second job at a sugar factory. All the kids of the family attend the university and the mom stays at home. There is a 92 year old grandmother living here too; she is so cute, but can’t hear a thing.
It is really crazy how everyone just wants to go the USA. Everyone I talk with has a friend or family member that is living there. Even my dad here can’t imagine that jobs are hard to come by in my home too. I have to admit, things aren’t nearly as bad in the USA, as they are here. I am so lucky.
As for my work in El Milagro, I am learning more about how things run. My counterpart gave the same workshop that we gave at the town meeting to the mother’s group. The mother’s group calls themselves the ‘Dream Recyclers’, which is catchy since they also work as recyclers in the land fill. I mostly just hung out with the kids and talked with the mothers.
It is so great to be able to prepare my own food. I have gotten into a hot tea habit too.
June 17, 2004
My family took me to the big market in our community today. It is about 5 blocks away and has anything you can think of. I have been eating lunch with my family, but I haven’t even paid my rent yet. I told the dad a couple of days ago, that I need to pay, but he doesn’t seemed concerned. I guess I will just wait until he asks.
Today in El Milagro, we did home visits. What an experience. I can’t really even explain it. Imagine a land fill, then imagine families and animals (dogs, pigs, burros) living there in whatever they can find to make walls (mattresses, plastic, wire, bags). The odor is horrendous. The YMCA has implemented a latrine project, so there are outhouses sporadically amongst the houses. At 5:00pm every afternoon, the families take their pigs to the landfill to eat. These pigs are humongous. The families are raising these animals to sell, but they can’t sell them in Peru. Of course, the pigs carry disease because of what they eat, so these families go to the Ecuador border and sell them there. I was once again astounded at the extreme level of poverty that these people are living in.
Not feeling so well tonight, must be something I’ve eaten. I was asleep by 8:00pm.
June 16, 2004
I did some much needed grocery shopping today. I made some great finds like: Equal sweetener, Campbell’s soup, and even Romen noodles. I dropped some laundry off at the laundry mat – not cheap, but it is just so hard to hand wash jeans. So, the other half I will hand wash here.
I went to work in El Milagro at 3:00. I attended a community meeting with my counterpart. She held a workshop on advocacy. The YMCA in El Milagro, functions a lot like Family Connection does at home. They serve as a community resource where kids are mentored and tutored, families receive counseling, health fairs are organized, and community meetings are held. I was able to see the main plaza and the church and we also visited with some families of the community while we were there.
I introduced myself to the mini market owner and the guy who cuts hair here where I am living. They were nice and warned me to be careful getting off and on the bus from certain areas, there is a history of robbers.
June 15, 2004
I got up this morning and packed my things to move to my new house. I ventured to the market to find some breakfast – bread and mandarins. Around 11:00 am, my counterpart showed up and we moved all my stuff. My family took the news well; my counterpart told them I had to move because Peace Corps wanted us in separate communities.
My new family is nice. There are 3 kids (21, 24, 26 years old), their parents and they rent out the 2nd and 3rd floor rooms. I am in a room on the third floor. My neighbors are a young married couple and a single 21 year old. The oldest son of the family is 27 and he has been a real help to me. He helped me move in and put up my bed; he took me for a tour of the neighborhood, and even helped me get a bus into town. He has studied English and wants me to tutor him. I went into Trujillo to go to the supermarket, but it was closed. I am figuring out that most things close here around siesta time of 1-4pm. I will be eating lunch with the family but I want to cook my own breakfast and dinner. I pay $100 soles a month for rent. That is like $35 American dollars, you can’t beat it.
I made my first visit to El Milagro today. I prepped myself for the shock of it all and I have to admit that it wasn’t such a shock at all this time. All the kids were happy to see me. My counterpart gave me a set of keys to the building and went over the objectives of the YMCA in El Milagro. They are doing so much! They have a full-time social-worker, a full-time psychologist, a part-time teacher, and several volunteer college students who all do programs/activities in the center. There weekly schedule is packed full of workshops, therapy sessions, activities. It is all a little intimidating, but I can see where I can bring some of my skills to the table. I told them I was interested in doing sports activities with the kids (which they lack), team building activities, and a paper making project and they seemed excited that I had some new ideas. In fact, they wanted me to hop right in the schedule for this week. I had to try to explain that I am still in the adjustment phase and would need some time to observe and learn about the culture and way things work.
I told my counterpart that I didn’t even know how to take the bus or where to shop for things like laundry soap, so before I jump into work, I need to feel organized and settled in at home. She was great and immediately took me to town. We bought me an electric hot plate, a dish, a fork, a knife, a spoon, Tupperware, and a bucket to wash my clothes. She gave me a tour of Trujillo on the way. We also decided that I would only work the afternoons this week, so I could get more settled in.
I am feeling more and more confident with my Spanish. My new host family dad told me I speak better Spanish than he does, I know he was kidding, but it does feel good to be able to communicate and share ideas with others in another language.
I don’t think I picked up lice from my sister. Thank goodness!
June 14, 2004
I returned to the house I found by the internet cafe to see about moving in. The dad of the family says all is good for me to move in, so I believe I will just do it. God is telling me this is where I should live, so I am going to follow his advice.
At 4:00, we visited the new YMCA office; the building is brand new and very nice. It is in an area of town that is pretty shady. They don’t even have water, electricity, or telephones and they can’t move in until they do. So, it will probably be forever until that all is ready. We had a YMCA staff meeting at the temporary office. It was quite overwhelming; they want us to start doing activities immediately. Peace Corps tells us to take 3 months to get settled in before we start any projects. Also, they want me to be in the center in El Milagro, 6 days a week, 9:00-6:00 with a 2 hour lunch. That is like a full-time job!
I am worried about how my current family will take the news that I am moving out. Hopefully, everything will work out. I am learning so much, but the lessons are tough ones. To not be liked or to be liked or to stand out wherever you go, simple because of your skin color is harsh.
June 13, 2004
I had a bad night last night. I couldn’t sleep because I am so worried about my living situation. I keep praying, but I just can’t shake my anxiety. I bought some things today for my family, like milk, bread, fruit, and rice.
I met the missionary family for lunch at a golf club in Trujillo. I met their children, visited with them at their house, and afterwards, we again looked for housing. I think God put them in my life for a reason. What a coincidence to be able to know them here in Peru.
June 12, 2004
This area of Trujillo where I am living doesn’t have police, so it is pretty much self-patrolled. People are extremely worried about being robbed. I have been warned several times about it. This common opinion is that if you are stupid enough to allow your stuff to be stolen, then so be it.
This being a ‘rich’ foreigner thing is tough. I so obviously have so much more than they do, and it makes things so difficult.
I went to the YMCA center of Winchanzao to a leadership workshop, but nobody showed up. However, I did chat with another YMCA volunteer, she’s Peruvian and lives in Winchanzao. I have yet to visit El Milagro. I ate lunch at a little house and the family was super nice. This house is a couple of doors down from the house I want to move into to. They said they would give me 3 meals a day for $6, when I move.
I met the missionaries that I had been corresponding with via email. What a nice couple! They helped me for a room to rent in some nice areas of Trujillo.
June 11, 2004
I had a weird night last night for sure. I had absolutely no privacy. I am still sleeping in the same room as my sister. Even though I was writing in the living room, my mom just turned off all the lights said to get in the bed. So we went to our bedroom and she said I could use her bedroom if I wanted to change. There are no doors on either of the 2 bedrooms. Something has to give! Oh, yeah, my sister has lice. I helped my mom pick the nits out of her hair this morning. My mom says its something she has to do every morning. I realize we are supposed to compromise as volunteers, but this is too much. I have to look for somewhere else to live ASAP. My sanity depends on it. Who’s going to look out for me if I don’t?
I tutored the neighbor in English a bit this morning, before I headed to the internet café, a couple of blocks from Winchanzao. I asked the attendant in the internet cafe if she knew of any place for me to live. What do you know? She says she rents a room from a family close by and that they have a room with bathroom that is available. The room is clean and nice, totally cute and only $100 per month. I have to wait until Sunday to talk with the father about the logistics. But I think this is definitely an option for me.
On a good note, our counterpart really seems to understand our roles as volunteers and the importance of being happy where we live.
I am so scared! What am I scared of? Being lonely, I think. I know that this pace of life will take some time to get used to and some adjustments on my part. I really haven’t had to be truly on my own. I will have to fill my days with activities. I can get a membership at a gym. I will be able to cook my food in my new room. I can read and I could get a Spanish tutor. I could make jewelry, sew, paint, or draw. See, I have lots of activities to keep boredom stay away.
Secondary projects I would like to tackle are: teaching English, youth group for Niyelo activities, reading group.
I am thinking about the 2 years before me and it seems like an eternity. I just hope to make this place my home. I know that just means putting myself out there and getting involved. I just want everything to happen quickly and naturally. Patience, I keep telling myself.
When I returned from Trujillo, my family had rearranged the house. The sister’s bed is now in the parent’s room. We had supper or bread and coffee. That is all they seem to ever have for supper. I think financially this family is suffering. It puts me in such a tough situation. I know any number of churches would happily donate to this poor Peruvian family. It would be a temporary fix, one that is not sustainable in the long run. I could I help this family help themselves? That is the real goal of a volunteer.
June 10, 2004
Wow. Here I am in my new home. I am with the same family I stayed with during my site visit. Granted they are very nice, sweet in fact, but this home is pretty rough. As long as I have my own space, I will be fine. The arrangement for me staying here is that I will make repairs on the house in place of rent. In the first 10 minutes, my mom showed me the things that she wanted me to fix or install like: a window, door, and bathroom. The dad even sat me down and said he needed a pair of eye glasses that cost $200. Definitely, not the foot I wanted to start off with in my new home. Peace Corps warns us that people will think we are made of money because we are from the USA. At this point, I am sharing a room with my sister. Hopefully, they will clean out the room so I can have it to myself. They do have a refrigerator here, but like in Santa Eulalia, it is unplugged (I think that is to conserve electricity, but what good is it?) Good things about this home: a flush toilet with a seat, water, electricity, telephone – so all and all I will be ok. Bad things: extremely close to other volunteer (about 2 blocks), no privacy, money issues.
I am having the urge to cry, but hopefully I can hold out. As for my work in El Milagro, I have to get myself prepared for my work there. I know it will be a shocker if not, especially the first couple of days. It is a good thing to be close to Trujillo.
Our counterpart took us shopping. We bought a bed and shelf for our rooms. I am glad I spoke up for myself and told my counterpart that I wanted to live somewhere else, they were supportive. Yeah! Now I have to find somewhere else to live.
June 8, 2004
We have spent two more days in Trujillo enjoying the cafes, shopping, and cable TV. We were supposed to move into our host families today, but something came up with our counterpart, so we are going to move into tomorrow or at least that is the new plan. We also mentioned to our counterpart our concerns about living so close together and they completely understood. They said that we were living in different sections of Winchanzao, so hopefully, it will all work out.
June 6, 2004
We got into Trujillo at 7:30 this morning. Our hotel is ok; not the greatest, but it does have hot water. I slept all night on the bus. We explored the city first thing this morning. I have to admit I am very excited about Trujillo. It is a great city. There are supermarkets that have great stuff like American sliced cheese, sandwich meat, milk, and peanut butter. I was so excited! We found the post office and the bank. Also, there are some great restaurants. For lunch, we ate in a cute little café where I had a great grilled chicken salad with oil/vinegar dressing. We found lots of appliance stores and even a department store with almost anything I would need. We sat in the Plaza for a while and it didn’t take long before people just came up to us and asked us what we were doing in town. It was so funny how incredible friendly and curious people are here. After we chatted for a while, we headed to the movies. I can’t believe there is actually a cinema here. We watched the Day after Tomorrow; it was fair, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Tomorrow is another day to laze around here in Trujillo, and then on Tuesday we head to our sites and to our host families. I am very nervous. I am praying things will be ok.
Saturday, June 05, 2004
June 5, 2004
I am just hanging out in the hotel room today. I couldn’t really sleep last night. I woke up early and checked my email here at the hotel. They had a continental breakfast which was excellent. With Peru’s ways of little waste, the all you could drink, eat of my breakfast was fabulous. I took a shower, disappointingly my water wasn’t very hot, and then we headed to the beach for some shopping and lunch at Pizza Hut. It is very cold here and there’s no heat. So I have been bundling up when we head outside. I got a 10 minute massage at the mall for 10 soles; it was worth every minute of it! We don’t head out to Trujillo until 9:00 pm. Everyone else leaves earlier. It is so sad to see everyone leave for their sites. Everyone has gotten so close – going through training together, laughing & crying together. It is hard to think about not seeing everyone everyday for now on.
June 4, 2004
Swearing in today! I got up extremely early to get my luggage sent off and myself ready for the big day. With a borrowed dress and shoes and an up-do I said my goodbyes to my Santa Eulalia family. It was very sad. They have treated me so well and made me a part of their family. We left for Lima with a crowd waving us farewell from the training center. Needless to say, I was very nervous about giving my speech.
We made our way to the Peace Corps Office, then to the Presidential Palace. Our ceremony was very formal with about 200 people attending, including past volunteers, world diplomats, the US ambassador, the Peace Corps director, and of course President Toledo. I have to admit, my speech went well! I spoke just before President Toledo. Afterwards, many congratulated me on a job well done and even complemented my Spanish. There were a lot of press cameras present and we even made it on Peruvian television.
After our ceremony, we had an amazing lunch at a restaurant called Mango’s on the beach in Lima -- a complete buffet where I stuffed myself full of chicken, beef, pork, vegetables, and salad. It was scrumptious. The Peace Corps Director, Gaddy Vasquez, dined with us and he sat by me at the table -- my first experience conversing with a President Bush appointee. He told us of his experiences as a politician and his job at Peace Corps Director. Later, we checked in our hotel and just chilled out. For our last night together as a group, we headed to Miraflores with our trainers and language teachers. We had a lot of fun.
June 3, 2004
Our last day of training. We had breakfast at our trainer’s house. We cooked for ourselves: pancakes, scrambled eggs with veggies, smoothies from fresh fruit, and coffee. Afterwards, we presented our mentoring experience. At 3:00 pm, we had a party for our families. I was on the gift committee – we gave the families flowers, framed photos, and homemade candles. Also, we had a food committee (and, boy, they did a great job!), decorations, and entertainment committee. The party was a huge success. We sang a song we dubbed the CHP Blues, did a skit where we acted like our Peruvian moms, and presented the gifts. All and all it was a great end to training.
Tonight is my last night here. I dread packing! My family took me for my last dinner to a restaurant in Chosica. They are too sweet. I will miss them.
June 1, 2004
I practiced my speech for my language class today. We went to Chosica for errands this afternoon. I bought another pair of handmade sandals; thought it might be my last chance! I practiced my language interview questions with another trainee. I have had late nights everyday this week. Just not enough time in the day to get everything in and completed.
I am just hanging out in the hotel room today. I couldn’t really sleep last night. I woke up early and checked my email here at the hotel. They had a continental breakfast which was excellent. With Peru’s ways of little waste, the all you could drink, eat of my breakfast was fabulous. I took a shower, disappointingly my water wasn’t very hot, and then we headed to the beach for some shopping and lunch at Pizza Hut. It is very cold here and there’s no heat. So I have been bundling up when we head outside. I got a 10 minute massage at the mall for 10 soles; it was worth every minute of it! We don’t head out to Trujillo until 9:00 pm. Everyone else leaves earlier. It is so sad to see everyone leave for their sites. Everyone has gotten so close – going through training together, laughing & crying together. It is hard to think about not seeing everyone everyday for now on.
June 4, 2004
Swearing in today! I got up extremely early to get my luggage sent off and myself ready for the big day. With a borrowed dress and shoes and an up-do I said my goodbyes to my Santa Eulalia family. It was very sad. They have treated me so well and made me a part of their family. We left for Lima with a crowd waving us farewell from the training center. Needless to say, I was very nervous about giving my speech.
We made our way to the Peace Corps Office, then to the Presidential Palace. Our ceremony was very formal with about 200 people attending, including past volunteers, world diplomats, the US ambassador, the Peace Corps director, and of course President Toledo. I have to admit, my speech went well! I spoke just before President Toledo. Afterwards, many congratulated me on a job well done and even complemented my Spanish. There were a lot of press cameras present and we even made it on Peruvian television.
After our ceremony, we had an amazing lunch at a restaurant called Mango’s on the beach in Lima -- a complete buffet where I stuffed myself full of chicken, beef, pork, vegetables, and salad. It was scrumptious. The Peace Corps Director, Gaddy Vasquez, dined with us and he sat by me at the table -- my first experience conversing with a President Bush appointee. He told us of his experiences as a politician and his job at Peace Corps Director. Later, we checked in our hotel and just chilled out. For our last night together as a group, we headed to Miraflores with our trainers and language teachers. We had a lot of fun.
June 3, 2004
Our last day of training. We had breakfast at our trainer’s house. We cooked for ourselves: pancakes, scrambled eggs with veggies, smoothies from fresh fruit, and coffee. Afterwards, we presented our mentoring experience. At 3:00 pm, we had a party for our families. I was on the gift committee – we gave the families flowers, framed photos, and homemade candles. Also, we had a food committee (and, boy, they did a great job!), decorations, and entertainment committee. The party was a huge success. We sang a song we dubbed the CHP Blues, did a skit where we acted like our Peruvian moms, and presented the gifts. All and all it was a great end to training.
Tonight is my last night here. I dread packing! My family took me for my last dinner to a restaurant in Chosica. They are too sweet. I will miss them.
June 1, 2004
I practiced my speech for my language class today. We went to Chosica for errands this afternoon. I bought another pair of handmade sandals; thought it might be my last chance! I practiced my language interview questions with another trainee. I have had late nights everyday this week. Just not enough time in the day to get everything in and completed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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