Trainings

So work is going well, if non stop busy but great. In my one job we just finished a training with the volunteers where I got one good beach day in and it was so funny because my friend spent it throwing dead fish at me I told her how dangerous and unhygienic it is but well hygiene is not her finer suit. In which case I thought that I had found a dead crab and picked it up and was mocking her with it when I realized it was still alive and shaking its claws at her as well. One the day we arrived there was also some random event about how we should take care of the ocean and they had this sort of aerobic latin dance class outside and there was a huge crowd of people watching and we could not help ourselves so we jumped in a sweated off all the salt and sunscreen. Then we spent three days inside training and escaping to sun bathe at every chance we could. I got to do some activities and presentations and felt really confident about the abilities that I have to train. It was interesting getting to know the new group of workers and see how their first months are going in their sites and how emotion those first months can be. Then there was a bunch of drama in another area and it is still unresolved so as usual it feels like we are constantly juggling like a 100 balls high in the air at the same time and hoping that none falls. As we wrapped up a successful event we already have to have the next one ready which will be happening next month but all the budgets and plans have to be turned in 6 weeks in advance. There is no procrastination. Boo. As a result of the stress and perhaps the changes in my sleep schedule and eating habits I got sick at on the third day of training with bacterial pharyngitis. Ill terrible and forced to sleep for like 2 days straight and take antibiotics. Lets see in my other job we have completely revamped the way that they are doing health promotion and standardized their interventions that they do in schools and the work they are doing with families. It is incredible but has required a lot of making documents and lesson plans and educative materials. So necessary. These past weeks and upcoming 2 involve trainings of a long list of people on how to use these tools and techniques that I have brought some of which I have personally developed. If this works I will be able to feel personally responsible for having provoked changes in statistics. I have been dancing quite a bit which has reduce my stress levels immensely not to mention that I met an ultimate fighter that has his own gym and I have been training with him. He says that I hit harder than any girl he has ever trained with and if I could dedicate 3 days a week in the gym that I would be able to get good enough to compete which I would LOVE but doubt that I have the time considering next month and all the following months I will be traveling two weeks out of each month. Those types of interruptions make it impossible to stay up to shape and develop a solid technique and endurance, so no worries I will not be getting beat up. It was probably the first time I have worked out in over 2 years and I literally left pools of sweat. Talk about cleansing. However, I think that if I would work out regularly and get a more regular eating habit my immune system would get better. I really cannot afford to be sick all the time. It makes you work at half speed. There are fun concerts to go to here and summer still means beach visits on the weekends. There is quite a bit to be explored in terms of cultural events and architecture, history and anthropology in Lima and right outside of the city there are many places to explore. Although I have yet to do much I am thinking that perhaps if I schedule it in each weekend I will be able to experience a bunch more. Optimistic and living life the the fullest. I would like to congratulate my friend Molly Pond on her recent marriage and send my wishes of joy and fulfillment in the new stage of your life. love yall.

Carnaval

Well last year it was paint fights this year was a bit different we went to Huancavelica it was a very sad place if you ask me. It was freezing they had hot springs that did not were not even hot and rain and we would go to bed at like 8 pm because it would just be too cold to stay out. We had specifically come to this place as a means to participate in their traditional carnaval celebration only to arrive and find out that because of the rains they had recently had the celebration had been canceled. Mind you I thought that was impossible to have happen because it is like sacred party season. So my friend Emma and I decided to travel to another small town even higher up on a windy road. This department was know for being one of the coldest and highest at 3800 meters above the sea. And you definitely feel it walking up a hill as you begin to sweat profusely and your heart feels like it is going to jump out of your chest. So we are on this road to this small town and I am figuring that it is going to be rainy because we are in the rainy season but as we pass through these windy hillsides full of llamas it starts to SNOW. It is the first time I have seen snow in all my travels and I start laughing because neither of us have brought clothes for this kind of weather. We get there and have a lovely meal at the gastronomic fair they are having and then hang out in the plaza waiting for the parades to start. People are throwing buckets of water and water balloons and flour all over the place. Within an hour we are drenched in both and surely able to make cookies later with our coatings. Then there is the rain and dancing in the rain and hours of singing and dancing and merriment in the streets. There is a tradition where a group of people dance around a tree that is strung up with prizes and each couple gets a chance to chop it down and then everyone runs in and rips off all the prizes it is questionably dangerous but super fun to watch. By 8 pm we are once again in bed trying not to freeze to death. It proceeds to rain all through the night which means we had to leave because if it kept raining the roads would have been in too bad of shape to travel out on. We are in the car and the road that yesterday was smooth and in good shape is now filled with huge pot holes and slippery. We get to a tunnel and the mud is shin deep the car slips and we have the front right tire hanging over the cliff, you could feel the balancing point I swing open the door and my friend is literally on my lap trying to jump out I grab her because otherwise the shift in weight would have made the car go over. I have never been so terrified she begins to cry I am laughing as a nervous reaction. We make it down fine though shaken. We go to a different department called Huancayo to be able to avoid the risk of landslides on the roads blocking us into Huancavelica. It is raining again but we are on highway so no big deal. There is this beautiful park we spend the afternoon at it taking pics and then try on the traditional wear. After dinner we run into a Marinera dance competition of adults and youth. Amazing to watch. The following day we take a tour of the surrounding towns some ruins, a lagoon, and pass through some towns that are celebrating carnaval there is a huaylas dance competition so the majority of people are dressed out in these elaborately sewen with bright yarn of greens, yellows, and hot pinks. We visit an archeology museum and drink out of some supposed fountain of youth. Then it is back to Lima I moved into my own room now it is nice to have my own space decorated my own way and more than anything my own bed. Work is in full madness as we have one training after another coming up session planning, budgeting, coordinating, buying and organizing the necessary materials. And in my other job in San Juan de Lurigancho we are planning their work for the year in health promotion which entails designing the sessions or intervention they will being doing in schools and getting their people trained on a more effective style of teaching as well as developing monitoring and evaluation tools for their healthy families projects. Even though my vacation was not the best I have ever had it was still a good time to get some perspective on life and to give my brain a break. I will be trying to dedicate more time to myself reading books I like and building some friendships I started exercising again trying to get ready for this Mixed Martial Arts class I would like to take but realistically I am so out of shape right now for that, not overweight but just no endurance and pretty little strength since I almost never workout in this country. It felt great training the other day even though I am still sore. Long way to go. Perhaps at the end of March I will be able to start those classes. I am a bit sick right now so I spent all day doing nothing. It was nice actually. I think I will have at least one day each month of not working or doing chores or doing necessarily anything or leaving the house just me my bed, pjs, books, naps and snacks. Tomorrow I think I am going to try Parasailing or something of that sort. That's all for now.

Life in Lima

Well it has certainly been a large changing living here in Lima, everything is faster, noisier, lots of traffic, contamination, filth and people are not so kindly as they were in the countryside. The days at work here require punctuality and having to work on the computer all day long. There are constant deadlines and upcoming events. But so far I think I a fairing pretty well, I found a cute apartment that is nearby a bunch of parks and on the bus lines to get to work. I have been editing and reviewing grants that will soon be funded, read through and given advice to volunteers on their work progress, done phone interviews, and a constant flow of developing materials for trainings that will be held next month. It is a lot of emails, answering questions, providing resources, getting people in touch with the right people, and making critiques. All around I feel confident in my abilities and am doing a pretty good job. Then I also have to work 2 days a week in a district that has 1 million people high rates of HIV, Tuberculosis, Anemia, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, etc. My work there I feel is more useful because if I succeed with only 1% of the population I have the opportunity to affect 10,000 people. Anyways, I work as a consultant for the in charges of all the health posts and centers on health promotion. It entails me going to meetings, evaluating their policies and promotion programs or techniques and giving suggestions on how to change their formats and trainings to be more effective. I am very hopeful with the work because I am working at an administrative and management level of the health system and whatever suggestions I have made thus far have been ready accepted and implemented. So basically up until now my whole life is work long hours, coming home fairly brain dead and exhausted but feeling still satisfied with what I am doing because I sincerely believe it is changing a much larger percentage of people's lives. The work that I do with the volunteers allows me to influence and improve the work that they are doing and that means that I have influence over up to 60 communities and in terms of the other job I am doing well that is the largest district in all of latin america so I would say things are definitely stepping up. I feel happy with the relationship so far with my boss in the office I can tell that she purposefully gives me certain responsibilities as a means to develop me further as a professional. My social life is slowly developing itself yet there is little time that I can or want to dedicate to going out I hope to find some cultural events to attend. Though on the weekends my roommate and I have made it to the beach every week as a means to sunbathe and relax and read books. And soon we will be headed to celebrate carnaval in a different department called Huancavelica. It seems so weird to me that within an hour you can be in a place of such dire poverty and an hour in the other direction you are in million dollar apartment facilities. Or in the beach towns it is a million dollar home on one side of the highway and a shanty house on the other side of the highway. It is so frustrating to see this inequality I cannot imagine how it makes those people that are living in poverty feel. Anywho, seems like it will be a year of personal and more so professional development there are many trips and vacations and concerts planned for the future. These first months I think have just been a big adapting phase. But a good news was I received a phone call from my old town and they are continuing this year the nutrition project I designed and implemented last year so there is still hope that the southern part of my old district will recover all the malnourished kids. I am so proud. Things I have to say are going really well and challenging without a doubt but so worth while. Hope all is well.

months later

Opps, well terribly sorry that I have not written in months but life has been crazy out of control so backing up a bit. I finished my nutrition project which was a huge success in terms of being able to recover malnourished children in the short period of four months i can only hope that these improvements continue for the rest of those children's lives. There were significant improvements in children's heights, reactiveness, and overall immune system. The last month in site was a lot of meetings and presentations about the work that I had done and the recommendations for the future work that needs to be done in my site. In short summary-
November: lots of work and meetings, closing of projects, running another training for the new volunteers in my site, my town's anniversary and all the events of the month that entails, lots of dancing and partying and saying goodbye and only tears the last day that I was leaving because that was what we had all agreed upon.
December: move to lima, start training for my new job, week long meeting with one of the groups of volunteers, just trying to get a grasp of what an office job is like, working on a computer the majority of the day, learning the ropes of new computer programs, getting to know my new office companions, and then going back to the states, xmas with my mom and grams in baltimore.
January: Went to colorado for new years, concerts, 2 new tattoos, endless coffee and visits with all the old partners in crime, some amount of drama, good movies and eats. Return to peru to officially begin job. Yesterday moved into my new apt which is small but nice and cheap and has everything included in a really safe and calm neighborhood and lots of plants all over the place. Soooo happy that we got that all worked out. Went to meet with my country partner organization where i will be working sort of like a health administrator evaluating their current health promotion activities and techniques and making them better and training people and developing better systems it is a place that manages 1 million people and is the largest district in all of peru, if I can succeed with anything there it could make a huge different in the lives of thousands. Very big opportunity. This whole year really seems like such a big opportunity.
Now that is all caught up... It was the most gratifying experience of my life these last two years. I think I have matured quite a bit and got a lot out if it many people asked me how I had changed and to put it into words on the spot was difficult so I will instead share a journal entry of mine from November that I feel captures everything I could have possibly wanted to express:
2 weeks notice is usually what one gives to their job when they are quitting or leaving. 2 weeks has always been more than sufficient time to wrap up work, say insincere goodbyes, eat cake and pack up. I keep hearing el mundo da vueltas, but for me it feels a lot closer to what goes around comes around. As I begin the anxiety attack of the year, I cannot seem to grasp the idea that this bed, this room, this image, this importance, this richness in poverty, this lifestyle is all about to come to an abrupt halt. I was so terrified and bitter when I first came here and then there was the honeymoon phase, then survival, suffering, hopeless abandonment, surrender, and success, currently passing thru bitter soon to return to the honeymoon. Saying goodbye is heart wrenching this time. These two years have been eternally short. The days were long and sometimes in the stagnant heat and relentless sun I swore that time stubbornly stood still and bathed in the luxury of its own pace. But now I am watching them fly and wishing there were more or that this did not have to end in tears of relief, regret, rejoice, and relinquishment. As is always expected the next chapter and end to the previous is inevitably uncomfortable, because it is unknown. Yet I think about the future and only arrive to a blur, a load of unclear figures and places, And for the first time I have passed 2 years filled with memories that are crystal clear and I do not feel like I need to photograph everything I find endearing. Because the most beautiful moments are seared into my memory. The things that truly matter were feelings. These years have shown me so many other emotions I never previously experienced fury, rage, embarassment, shame, vengence, depression, happiness, excitement, regret, acceptance, failure, perseverance, stress, exhaustion, longing, love, hate, faith, and grace. I giggled at the idea that in my final report meeting people wanted forgiveness for the way they had mistreated me. I thought this was not the appropriate moment but then again there really never is. The only inappropriate apology is one that never comes. Then they all thanked and congratulated me for the achievements and advancements I had in and for La Matanza. I felt so proud that what I had done was profound enough to merit both verbal and written recognition from the authorities of my town. It was such a strange sensation of insufficiency. They made it clear there was no way to actually thank me for all that I had done, And at the same time the situation made it impossible to even begin to trying to explain what they had done for me as well. Even all the hardships, criticisms and what I felt were cruelties I would not take them back for a second I wanted to thank them for having shaped and defined me as a person and a professional. Joel mentioned the first day that we met and I though how different things are now. How much we have done, changed, and different. La Matanza cleanier and prettier. Me skinner, tanner, a little older, a little smoother and also a little more tough. I learned the importance of a feminine touch yet never lost the calluses on my hands. It was the first time in too long to remember that I found peace with food and fatness and fitness. Eating fried foods 3 times a day and not wincing or feeling guilty. I lost weight without hours of sweat filled exhertion and calorier control. I learned to drink beer and not fear filth and germs. I embraced that I probably ate or was covered in poop the majority of the time. I learned to smile and laugh when you really feel like yelling or crying. That frustration is not a productive emotion for anyone. That patience and calmness get things done more quickly. That a good meal and conversation values in at a good days at work and payday. I learned when you do not have money you do not have to worry about money and that poor people are much happier than rich people. That respect and kindness are tools for understanding and that differences in age, race, ethnicity, education, economics, and politics can all fade into the background and be completely insignificant in the face of humankind. The best things do not come easily or quickly. When you rush things they fall apart. Even when you want to trust everyone you cannot; someone will betray you and some people will always want to do you harm. Always better to come early and prepared rather than punctual and screwed. Relentlessness is the middle name of progress. I laughed in that meeting because it was the first time I present the same ideas I have presented for a long time, and knew that I was listened to instead of just being heard. And that these insights would be used to make relevant decisions that would decide and shape the future of this community. It was the moment after proving that one person can truly make a difference and change the world that the looks in their eyes made me believe it as well. After so much sweat, blood and tears those seconds of sweet certainty convinced me it had all been worth it in a mutual benefit. They mayor said he felt satisfied knowing they had taken advantage of the opportunity that I had presented them. And I knew that I too took everyday to do something usually for others but occasionally for myself to selfishly satisfy my curious nature and love of trying or learning new things. I left with a greater appreciation for how beautiful life can be and enjoying each moment more. With a better understanding of the importance of challenging times in the story of life. I left more mature, less naive, faithful to the fact that making mistakes is not failure and that my world does not make the world turn. It could be my happiness or sadness but the sun will rise and set. Somehow in the midst of being a spectator sport I felt the liberty to screw up and let go and retreat or fight. With all eyes watching and ears listening and mouths ready to slur slanderous truths in the form of lies. And that nothing done would be left to lie quietly. But this demanding presence only resulted in my own sureness to such an extent that I felt relaxed even in the face of scrutany and interogations, I got to the point that hearsay really meant say what you heard plus a little more. Oh but did being held accountable shipshape my ass up. Now each time before I go to do something silly I think the three seconds before instead of the three seconds after. And also have 2 solutions to every potential problem. I learned it was much easier to manipulate people into some form of mind control whenever they were convinced they liked you. I learned that anything is possible, first one must have it clear in mind and put the intentions into the universe and be alert to the signs of opportunities and then fight like hell until you are panting with exaultation. And never once doubt that it will happen or that you can make it happen. Through this one can achieve anything. Nothing is easy but not is impossible no matter how improbable. I learned to ask for forgiveness even at the cost of my pride and also how to forgive and accept apologies. I learned to be grateful for everything but in particular when someone is kind. And to have fun, so much fund as much as possible.I think I met the girl I always knew I could be. I got the opportunity to use my work talents not so much to be productive but rather to benefit the common good. I realized that what motivates me is work itself, better when it is a theme I am passionate about but that money is irrelevant to my life and joy. I can just be calm knowing that I have enough of it. The reflection overall of the experience is that the world does not need to be saved it just needs to be adjusted. This is also true about most of our lives. In whichever moment we believed things to be terrible an attitude adjustment is usually all it takes to get moving in the right direction. I feel people should be obliged to offer everything they have to give because these people have had to survive things that we will never know. The world is sometimes very bitter or angry with the way the global economy has evolved. And they should be it is completely unfair that anyone can drink and eat while others starve and die of thrist. It is just plain selfish. Even If people in the third world get to study at the university they will never make enough money to pull their family out of poverty. The other countries do not have the luxury to live on dreams. The live on back breaking labor until they die, and the first world ignores that all people are just people with the same needs.
Thank you so much to everyone I love and who has supported me and continues to support me I now have regular internet so I will be able to be more diligent about blogging and keeping up on facebook. this year promises many things to all of us,
love you so much.

in charge

so i am in lima helping out with trainings, getting trained and making sure the the parasites that i have to no do any permanent damage before i kick them out of my body. I was training the new volunteers who are refreshing in the sense that they make me realize just how far me and the rest of the volunteers have come. we all started out not really being able to speak spanish and scared and confused and not knowing what we werre doing here and no idea what we had gotten ourselves into. in retrospect i still have no idea what i am doing here but i think great things and maybe saving the world. i had my first encounter with the new group of health volunteers and they loved me they really loved me. and i had be so nervous but after talking with them i no longer had a single doubt that i would be an excellent leader for them and be able to help them do whatever it is they want. I know that i will be there to calm them down or lifgt them up and stop them from crying or wanting to go home. i still have to meet the previous group but all around i feel so much better about my decision to stay here. i thought i was taking such a huge risk but not only do i think that i will be able to take leaps and bounds in my career but also make a bunch of new friends and contacts and still learn so much more about myself and thiings of the world and psychology. i am truly excited and full of energy and ideas for all that is to come. and find myself at the same time being so calm about thigns that usually freak me out like how i have no idea what i will be working in or which community partner i will have and the fact that i will probably be homeless for about a month and then going to the states which has now become a whole world of the unknown and then being in charge of a fairly large group of people when i have never been the boss lady. all should sound overwhelming but i feel incredibly calm and then at the same time i find that both my mind and my body want to do yoga again and eat healthy food and get back to something that once felt so normal and good. i cannot wait for the uncertainty that the future brings for me and you, off to go watch some live music. lvoes

light at the end of the tunnel

So in a work sense things are running a bit smoother still doing anti parasite campaigns, giving food baskets, weighing children, teaching about nutrition and hygiene, training teachers about how to prevent malnutrition. Running around like a chicken with my head cut off. But happy. This past month I went to a concert of one of the most famous singers in Peru, he called me to the stage spent the whole night flirting with me, got off stage twice to talk with me. It was like being 13 again and having NSYNC tell you that you are pretty. Sigh it was awesome. Unfortunately, married so all interaction stopped at the end of the show. Though in my town they sell the video in which everything cannot believe that he payed so much attention to me including me. I have been in report mode everyday it seems like I have to write another report or presentation about my service and how it has gone and that it is ending. The other day I had a impromptu meeting with my mayor where he expressed his personal sadness that his town would be losing an important character in development, he thanked me for doing so much in two years and that it was very notable the success that I had and the changes I provoked here. It almost made me cry and then everyone else keeps talking about how I am already leaving and how sad it makes them feel which in turn also makes me feel sad because I am happily in the state of denial that I am leaving and plan to stay in that state until at least the second week of november just to keep myself sane. I have no idea how to say good bye. Lets see also I have recently become a waitress in my extended family's restaurant because my uncle has a foot wound from uncontrolled diabetes. I think it is hilarious because as I always suspected I do not have the right attitude to be waitress. I like giving hell and talking back. But since there is no tipping here there is really no losing anything. And actually the have sold out quite quickly every night that I work there. My cousin always jokes that we would sell faster if I would wear shorts or a mini skirt or show some cleavage. I just laugh and tell her I am not that type of girl. And I am not sure if I believe those types of outfits are sanitary for the food business. People keep talking about how they will be having a going away party for me I at least have 5 planned. And I am sure there will realistically be more. I am off to Lima for some meetings next week. Things are good but change as usual is nerve wrecking cannot wait to be on vacation much needed vacation hanging out with the friends and the family. Loves.

still in one piece

Ok so I am super sorry that I have not written in so long. I tried a few times but for problems with the internet or problems with the website I had not been able to get back. After re-reading the last blog tons has happened. First I am staying a third year however I will no longer be staying in my site. After many problems with health professionals and many rude words and poor treatment from my health center I decided it was no longer worth my time neither personally nor professionally to continue working with people that insist on making my life harder. Unfortunately, for my site they will have to continue to have a health provider that is deficient. As a result of this project though I have been able to succeed in getting my health center to shape up with the help of their bosses. It is always very ironic for me that all of the people in charge treat me with the utmost respect and all of their workers treat me like crap. But I do not let it get me down but rather am laughing in the face of adversity. The nutrition project is showing great results I have already recovered 9 children in one month. I am still waiting on the results of this month. I finished building improved cook stoves which took a workload off my back. I have treated almost 200 children for parasites. My friend molly came to visit for a week getting a day in the life of Andrea. I was so grateful to have a helping hand to get work done and overall impressed by her willingness and acceptance to new experiences. She even taught a nutrition session. It was great she learned how to take the height weight of the children and determine their nutrition status. I have to say that she really helped me realize that the work I am doing here is so important even though it can also be so challenging or overwhelming. It was great getting to share everything with her considering she is also a nutrition professional and seeing the grand difference between what I would be doing in the States with a nutrition degree and what I am doing here with a nutrition degree. Plus it was very interesting to hear that she was suffering the same growing pains that I am even though we are currently living in completely different realities. Then I was off to a much needed vacation to visit a friend that lives at the base of the highest mountain in Peru Huascaran. It was so beautiful and so relaxing and I had enough time to go hiking and breathe fresh air. We also went dancing in the capital and I visited a lagoon that had turquoise blue water and another place that had a rock forest. Everyday I went to bed happily exhausted from physical exertion instead of mental or emotional exertion. I read books, did yoga, cooked lunch for the first time in a very long time. Then I was off to Lima for meetings with the bosses in which we got to meet up with a group of volunteers that I have not seen in almost two years. It was great seeing how much we succeeded in doing for this country and how much a few people had changed. There was lots of laughter and a little bit of sorrow having to say good bye to friends. Also there were sessions where we talked about how to end our service and say good bye to our sites. In which case it became real that I had already completed my time here as fast as it has passed, it seems like yesterday I came and tomorrow I am leaving. Luckily I have two more months to finish this nutrition project. I have made a point to have a much calmer attitude in the face of so many problems and realize that I can only do so much. If things do not go perfectly that is perfectly ok. And thus I have spent more time enjoying the company of my friends and host family here going to eat and going dancing. We are entering the times of parties so first it begins that every weekend there are parties and then as we get to the end of October thru November there are parties every week and weekend. As a result of the decision that I would no longer be staying in my site for a third year my boss offered me and opportunity to work in the Lima office as the Coordinator of Volunteers for the Health Program, I was previously not certain it was a position that I really wanted but at the end of the day, when I received the offer I felt honored that many of my peers thought I would be a good fit for the job. I will be living and working with one of my best friends here so I feel much more comfortable with the decision. Life is good, I am happy I will be able to come home for a month to the states starting in December I will be on the East Coast and then after Xmas and for New Year’s I will be in Colorado. My dreams every night are already very USA focused. Cannot wait to see ya’ll hoping that everyone is surviving the crazy weather that you seem to be having over there.