My first work week

I got sick for the first time spent a night with diarrhea followed by a morning of vomiting followed by more diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, fatigue, with more diarrhea and vomiting. Bacterial infection got on antibiotics much better now. Perhaps someday you will all have the pleasure of realizing how much solid poop is a joy in life. I graduated from training quite the emotional day. We had to say goodbye to our host families, our trainers, and our new friends all at once. Then pack up and get on the next 16 hour bus ride. The municipality came and took me personally from my capital city to my new home.That made me feel really important but I find myself passing a majority of my time with some sort of official. I found out it is over 100 degrees farenheit everyday here. Consequently, I am sweating frequently especially because I walk or ride my bike everywhere. I think Zeek is a good name for him. Definately a boy it is a mountain bike really tough for the rugged turraine. I organized a parade for World´s Aids day, December 1st. I am building improved cooking stoves next week as well. I am helping out in the library, and soon will be teaching English combined with self esteem and higiene during summer school. I have to start interviewing the community to determine what themes I should be working with. Anywho, the first week was very busy followed by one nervous breakdown on Thanksgiving. I feel it was well earned considering I had yet to cry since arriving to Peru. It is sad to be away from family and friends especially during the holidays and especially when everyone around me keeps asking if I love my family because I moved so far away. The answer is I am constantly thinking about all of you. Plus your pictures are plastered on my wall for inspiration.I am enjoying my new family however. They are immensely great people and kind. I think I now have 5 families in my life. So this week was the Aniversary of my town which is a big deal here. So yesterday I went to Mass, watched the parade from the VIP stand with all the authorities of my town, then there was a speech about all the projects that have been realized in 2009, lunch, then dancing and drinking with the priest, nuns, the directors of the schools, the presidents of clubs, and the Govenor. It was incredible, I of course won brownie points with my sweet dance moves. Today the parties continued as it was the birthday of our health center. More dancing and drinking with the doctors, mayor, nurses, and health technicians. Unfortunately, there is only loads of beer and this other drink called chicha which is kind of like corn beer but strong. Still hate beer by the way, but it is a right of passage to be a part of drinking circles here. Not to mention eating large portions of meat which my stomach is still uncertain how to digest. I never know exactly what meat I am eating and I suppose it does not matter it is just funny to me because I do not want to eat any meat. Also today there was a soup in which the women to my right had a quarter of the head of a pig and to my left half of the stomach and bowels. I lucked out and had the vegetarian portion, containing no actual vegetables. I am curious if this is how it always is here or if it is just because it is the aniversary. I guess I will figure that fact out next week. Everyone askings me if i am accustomed to living here. In my opinion it is a ridiculous question because no one can be used living anywhere in 3 days. I think since everything in my life is at lightening speed so will my adaptation. I am hoping within the month my spanish, my attitude, my understanding of culture and the organizations will be up to par. I hope to be able to do my laundry without help (no laundry machines here), to make friends, and have a solid work plan. I realize that is ambitious but well if I want to get shit done I need to feel competent as a human first. And so begins the next big change, the previous guy told me that I will get hit by the bus so many times and stand back up that eventually I will realize I am stronger than the bus. I am looking at this quote as a warning but also as an inspiration. I know I am strong but this experience is certainly a test physically, mentally, and emotionally. Here´s to giggling at your own sense of humor. (In my case laughing at myself and at things that are not really funny at all) Cheers. And a tardie Happy Turkey day.

Fish out of Water

We went on another training 17 hour bus ride. At the site I got to dig a mini landfill, teach a class on self esteem, hang out with pigs, do house visits, create a radio spot, help build a community garden. I took my first bucket bath, not so bad. I realize I will have many problems with bugs as I have gotten bitten so many times my legs are just hopeless. I also got stung by a bee in my pants random. At another point there were ants in my pants luckiy I was not wearing them. I met my site that I will be living in for the next two years. It is an overwhelming experience. I have multiple schools with about 500 students in each school. I have had to make two speeches in front of no less than 600 people. I met the mayor, governer, advisors to the mayor, and justice of the peace. I have met the health center staff doctor, nurse, technicians, and pharmacists. I have met professors and directors of schools. I have met my new host family. I have a nice home with a bathroom, shower, running water and electicity. My family also raises turkeys so we are not lacking in that category. We have chickens as well. I live by a loud speaker which is the only downfall because at 545 on the dot the annoucements for the day begin a full blast into my bedroom for at least an hour. I have cell phone service and am close to the internet. I basically live in a city that is more or less in a dry forest/desert. The sun is strong, the heat is intense. I sweat pretty much all the time. I will be able to have a bike so that is really exciting as I miss my bike at home. I still have to figure out exactly where everything is in my town and meet a boat load of people. I also need to set up my room. It appears I will begin working from day one which is not common. But the guy before me worked hard and accomplished a lot. The standards are high and I am going to do my best to match it. This is honestly not what I had in my mind because it is so much larger than I expected. But I will be a much better public speaker when all is said and done. My spanish has received complements but I need to build my vocabulary. I feel immensely supported by my community but slightly intimidated. I will be leaving to resume training for one more week and then I am official. These past few months have flown by and I can only hope that I have all the skills I will need to survive, no thrive. Just keep breathing and meeting new people I suppose is the best way to manage.

Adventure

Ok so I went on this trip to get work training and it was incredible and interesting. It completely rejuvenated me about my decision to do this for the next few years. So anyways we took an 8 hour bus ride on this super sweet ride through the country side. It was gorgeous and it actually did not suck at all. Which is important that buses are rides in style here because chances are I will have to ride for 20 or more hours at some point. That all depends on my site. But any who so we arrived late slept in a hostel woke up traveled to a small town at the base of the tallest mountain in Peru. Unfortunately, I was not able to see it because of cloud coverage but it was like you could feel its greatness. I built a latrine, and ate cuy (guinea pig). Tastes like chicken it is just much more work because of the small bone structure and minimal meat. Did home visits about early childhood stimulation and got to better know my co-workers. The next day we went to a different small town and learned how to build improved cooking stoves. It was a get dirty kind of week with lots of hands on work. So happy to get back to construction. The last day we worked with kids building pinatas and interviewing the community. I definitely feel better prepared now. I find out this week where I will be staying for the next two years. I will miss my host family because they have been amazingly warm, but I am getting used to goodbyes. This experience is going to be challenging and demanding but totally worthwhile. And this country is beautiful on so many different levels. I missed Halloween because we were traveling back on a bus to our homes. No worries though because yesterday I was able to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. It is all about paying respect to the dead and spending time in a cemetery. It is something that I think everyone should do. I also ate cow heart off a street cart and did not get sick. My body has done me quite well I hope my health stays in the positive. Because many other people have not been so lucky. And for now that will have to suffice as I would love to sleep. Tomorrow I am teaching English in a middle school. Hopefully the kids do not eat me alive. It has been a strange ride so far I keep learning new things. One day at a time, one new encounter at a time.

Ask and you shall receive

So this week I introduce pictures not many but some is better than none right. I also would like to mourn the loss of a long battle. Yes to all you who have been trying for years to get me to join I did, I officially sold out. If you do not know what that means than it is not relevant. I can be all your friends now, ha. Anyways, this past week was the celebration of many birthdays. Monday we went to celebrate a coworker’s birthday with lots of dancing and laughter. Then Tuesday was my cousin´s birthday so I sat and was able to be socially gracefully, I impressed myself. I am making progress in the language and culture category. Plus I feel that I am apart of my host family which is amazing. Then Thursday we went to visit these day cares which were impeccably organized and clean. Plus I got to try blood donuts truly delicious. As if there were not enough kids, back to volunteering at the library that afternoon. Friday we had a health fair in which I taught about how to make baby food and the diet of a small child to a group of mother´s. That day was my mom´s birthday as well so it was yet another gathering of the family at our house. Picture included. Saturday I went to the university and learned about how to raise guinea pigs. Oh yes I would like to have like 1,000 and be the queen of the guinea pigs. By the way they are top quality in the ratio of protein and low fat per square inch. Hoping to eat one soon. Plus they make leather out of the skin too. Food and fashion can´t get better than that. Attended a 1 year old birthday party which is organized chaos of confetti, clowns, candy, cake, children no batteries included. Went to bed early. Spent Sunday doing laundry and exploring the nearby city watched a traditional dance competition tried some local fruit and the ceviche which is world renowned. Actually felt relaxed for the first time in a while. I really need to utilize free time. Did some yoga yesterday and tomorrow we are off to get our hands dirty with training in the communities. I will miss Halloween but no worries I am sure the bus ride will be a great time. Sunday is another birthday party and also Dia de los Muertos. I will explain that holiday in the next edition. Plus other the other exciting adventures of this week. Love you all.

Oh Man

On Monday I went to an amazing and large concert ran around with my co-worker´s families, danced, and realized how much I love the outfits performers wear here. Glitter, boy shorts, and go go boots can´t beat them, however I unfortunately do not think I can join them either. I will put it on the list of aspirations to be glamorous. So I would like to say that my life is full of unexpected and every time
I think I have any idea of what is unexpected something greater occurs.
Like yesterday I spent hiking up a mountain of a neighborhood trying to
track down some guy who recovered from TB, interviewed him about his living conditions and habits, checked out his tin and wood shack. The man is in his late sixities and has better joints than I do. Then hung out in a health post, visited a soup kitchen, tried not to fall down the hill or get eaten by dogs. Got to the bottom of one mountain only to run up the hill that I live on to inhale lunch to run back down. Gave another presentation at lightening speed. Ate a whole bag of jelly beans thanks mom. Felt wired for the rest of the day. Played with a group of children at the library. Learned that being white is cool but being tall and white is more impressive after watching the kids go crazy with another co-worker that is 6 ft 4 inches. But today you see trumped any cup of coffee which mind you I did not have this morning. When I found myself shadowing a health professional and sitting in on a pelvic exam. Then headed over to the other departments. Certainly less intrusive. The weekend was relaxing on Friday. Clubbing again on Saturday until five in the morning. The joke here is that it is always early. One am is early to go out five am is early to be out and 8 am is just early in the morning. Whereas nothing actually runs even on time here. Early is my new personal joke. I am indulging in the local festivals especially food. And October is the birthday month which is sweet quite literally I get cake and get to dance all the time. It is the life, I officially made it. ha. On the other hand (I cannot effectively use transitions in Spanish but I can in English) work is getting more demanding we spend a lot of time in the communities getting our hands dirty and what not. We are going to have over night field trips soon and then I will know where my next two years will be... super exciting mostly nerve wrecking but I think I will get to work with an HIV/AIDS initiative so that I will be better prepared for my aspirations to go to Africa in the future. Oh the future keeps coming so quickly watch out!

Train Keeps on a Rolling

So adventures in summation I have official made my first local friend. I accidentally attended the viewing of a really famous singer who died last week. There was great music playing outside the National Museum for 24 hours. The floral displays were to die for ha. And I have gotten one step closer to my goal of attending a baptism, a quinceneria, a wedding, and a funeral. I have time though and I believe a wedding in the next week. Any who I later went to a stone beach and relaxed in the fresh air. Returned home showered ate went to a fiesta followed by clubbing with my cousin´s and mom until 5 a.m. Literally I do not think that people sleep here. On Monday I went to another concert outside great music dancing meeting more people. Trying my best to integrate. With some amount of success, I have improved my Spanish (which I suppose is a given). Working my way to advanced. I still run around like a crazy person with my schedule. You know you are in trouble when you have to schedule yourself into your schedule. But I love it. I did a 2 hour presentation for my health crew on breastfeeding which was a mix of English, Spanish, and boobs. It went surprisingly well, and any amount of stage fright that I used to feel I no longer have. I have reached a new degree of shameless. This week I start volunteering at the local library teaching English and doing self esteem workshops. The kids from what I heard are great so I am excited to start working with a familiar population. I think that is all for no.I was yelled at for my lack of photos so I will be working on that as well this week. Happy Birthday to the Homies.

Lost in Translation

Hardly it would be more accurate to say lost in communication. I am at the pivitol moment where I cannot effectively communicate in Spanish English Spanglish. It is mostly entertaining occasionly frustrating and has the potential to be gut wrenching. And yet I feel like I need to work harder. Anywho, the update last week I met the US ambassador, went to a parade, got to see the craziest display of fireworks ever. So they have these structures called castillos that are four levels high and each one goes off with a display of fireworks and then lights the next level and so on. The last level is all the sky and releases large fireworks. There is nothing like this in the states. It is probably not safe but who cares when it looks so great. Oh I also watched a beauty pagent of teenage girls. Very interesting I find myself attending or participating in so many random things that I would probably not do at home. But event is an opportunity to learn more so I go. The girl who one totally deserved it. I visited catacombs on the weekend in a gorgeous old church. Oddly there was nothing creepy about it in my opinion. There was not even a strange gut feeling or goosebumps the way you would expect looking at tons of bones of previous people in piles. But awesome sight nonetheless. I forgot to mention I will also learn how to breed small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs. No I have not eaten one yet though I do plan on it in the future. I have eaten intestines, liver, and heart of pig, cow, and chicken. The food here is incredible. My mom wants me to go on a culinary adventure so I could not be more grateful. I also will hopefully learn how to cook from her.