ships ohoy

I think that is how you spell it. Anyways work is going at speed lightening rate because well it kind of has to. I was in my site for four days after my vacation getting organized, having meetings and trainings, trying to make sure that everything was in place. The craziest thing happened I have recently started working with the Mother of the church. She is religious but incredibly straight forward, no bullshit. Well traveled, and runs on full speed. So she wants to do a improved cook stove project so she signed me up to train some 150 people about the subject in her next meeting which entailed me up on an alter with a big jesus hanging behind me talking about how to do one of these projects. I also had to build one as an example.Never could I have ever imagined I would get the opportunity to be preaching on an alter and cannot say I would like to do it again though I heard in September I may have to in order to do a Nutrition Training. It was amazing and I am not exactly sure how many improved cook stoves will come out of that presentation but none of them will count as my work because they are out of my district. Then there was my birthday which I passed with friends drinking and dancing and drinking and dancing and eating ceviche and going to a mass for my friend's dad that passed away on my birthday last year. terribly unfortunate but reason enough for my friend to have returned from Lima to La Matanza. It was nice hanging out with my brothers and then I headed to Piura to dance in a club with some other friends. The next day I was headed to Paita to translate for the US Navy ship the USNS COMFORT. I spent three days there working in the OR, the patient admission, ICU, recovery. Talking with families, explaining procedures and symptoms between the patients and the doctors. It was neat being practically inside a modern hospital that I would expect to see in the states but it was on a ship. I only got sea sick when I was eating because that was located on the top floor. I got lost a few times because you had to use certain stairs to get to certain places. It was strange being surrounded by Americans and all in uniforms. I broke many rules like wearing shorts the first day when I arrived, and wearing sandals, I could not be punctual if I tried so I resorted to running in the halls also illegal. I almost kissed a boy but I figured that would have just been rebellious so I did not. Also I did a presentation about cultural sensitivity after observing their operation outside and on the ship. So that they could better serve the Peruvian population. I did that presentation which was about 15 minutes for about 100 of the most important people on the ship doctors, captains, the commodore. All in uniform all much older than me with a lot of work experience and all intimidating. Me on a microphone again. I worried that they would take it as criticism that I would say something inappropriate halfway through my speech I realized there were two Peruvians in the audience from the Embassy that spoke English so I got nervous I would some how offend them with the information I was presenting. Afterward though I got a strong applause followed by at least 15 people coming up to thank me saying it was the best debrief they had received since arriving to any of their destinations and that they would be using the information as of tomorrow. Then the 2 peruvian women came up my heart swallowed a bit but they were smiling and told me that was the best presentation just the things that they would have also suggested that I clearly knew the culture and the people. Followed by the commodore calling me over. To thank me and then ask me to write a document for them to have so that they did not forget anything I said and could implement my every suggestion. I almost started crying simply because I did not expect such a positive response or that what I had done to be so useful to them. Needless to say it was an excellent experience my first time translating which I have decided I am really no good at because I always want to throw in my own words or tweak the message. I had to get back to site even though I was invited to stay for the remaining 4 months and travel to the other 6 countries. so flattering. I remembered who I was on that ship and what I was capable of doing. I also got my organization involved with an NGO that works on amazing water chlorinating projects. And made contacts with regional municipality to bring my organization to them and with this other girl whom i deem the queen of development. The food was good there was skim milk ha! I made myself sick drinking too much of it I think I am now lactose intolerant. Then I had to return to my life in my small town. Damn it I am a big fish. Any who, doing good things keeping going with the projects right now I am in cram time I think I may have once again tried to do to much in too little time. Only 5 months to go, and still waiting to hear if I get to stay or not a third year. But that would be a different position. That's all for now.