Where do I even begin this time, so much has happened since I last posted… (trust me I am aware that if I posted more frequently it would be less daunting, but where is the challenge in that?)
First off, the training class for PC Peru 13 has officially sworn is as Peace Corps Volunteers. It’s official, we’re here for the long haul :) Come hell or high water… you know or both
For our last week of training we basically did nothing, sorry trainers but it’s true. The program lost any semblance of structure there at the end, not that I am complaining mind you, just observing. It was a pretty bittersweet week all around. On one hand you are thrilled to finally be done with classes and schedules and feeling like a kid, but at the same time going to site means leaving behind the safe little peace corps world we all built with each other where you can speak in spanglish and be perfectly understood, compare the randomness of your lunches but eat it all anyway, and discuss bowel issues without so much as a second thought. It’s not a world anyone can understand from the outside, and it was hard to say goodbye to it, no matter how excited we all were to get to our sites.
Virginia, Me, Christie and Frank - those people I'm gonna have the toughest time doing without :(
The girls and Vann - the faces in this are priceless
More partying in Yanacoto...we seriously were the most tranquilo group they have had in a while
This is one of those lunches I was talking about...don't ask questions -eat
One of the host dads made that - pretty badass if you ask me
The ridiculous amount of cookies we made for the host family party
The ridiculous amount of fruit salad we made for the host fam party
One of many pictures of my host fam from the party, and I mean many...
Mid-Thriller performance
Host sister Lily
Our last day in Chaclacayo we had our official peace corps swearing in ceremony, which was actually pretty emotional. One of the host moms spoke and could barely finish because she started crying. It makes you take a step back and realize the potential we really have to do something meaningful here. For me at least, that gets a little lost in the mundane-ness of training, so that was a nice reminder before leaving for site. From the swearing in ceremony they basically shove you straight on a bus to Lima. It’s the craziest emotional moment so say goodbye to the families in the rush of leaving. I was struck by how truly sad all of the host families were. Every family I had ever visited said goodbye and knew me by name. My host my was crying as I left, not something I really expected coming into this experience. They truly take you in as a member of the family, it’s pretty crazy.
Basically the night in Lima is created to drink, there is just no way around that. It’s the first time the trainers are allowed to go out with out, and it’s our last night together until Close of Service in 2 years. So it’s kind of a big deal. Every single member of our group ended up out at the same bar, (expect for poor Jen who got sick) and it was a ridiculous night from the stories the next day, which I was blessedly only an observer – rare for me I am aware. The next day we all ended up at the hostel to say our slow, teary goodbyes as each group left by department. Nope, I didn’t cry – just doesn’t happen. But it was really hard to see everyone go…
The boys... short 2
Our last night together :(
And of course nothing takes your mind off sad goodbyes like a nice robbery :) Yup, got robbed on my way to the bus station. My cab stopped at a red light, the window was down and some guy reached in and grabbed my bag off my lap. However, while he did take things that I am going to miss dearly, I am not sure how much he will be able to get for a sweater, some pictures of my friends and a gift from my community partner. Everything that was important (computer, money, ipod, camera, etc) was in my other bag on the floor of the cab. So, I decided I have gotten my robbery quota filled for a while and did not lose anything too important. And Ill never forget to roll up my window again :)
After that lovely segue to site, we arrived in Piura Sunday morning. Some of the girls are lacking basic life needs, like beds so we did some shopping for supplies. We had no welcoming committee this time which was a little depressing, but we have all decided to change that for Peru 14 when they come in a few months. It’s crazy that in less than 2 weeks we won’t be the newbies anymore…
I have met my students at the Special Ed school finally… it was a very interesting day to say the least. I watched teenagers trace letters and color for 2 hours, during part of which the teacher was on her cell phone. Its every special ed teachers worst nightmare. However, I am now faced with the reality that I know how to facilitate inclusion, not teacher kids with severe disabilities. I know that what they are doing, at least in the class I observed, isn’t great, but I don’t know what to tell them to do. However, I did talk to the psychologist about visiting some of the inclusion schools so maybe I can alter my focus to things I understand better. The bright side – the kids are adorable. I already have a few favorites and an entire fan club that follows me around the school.
I also went back to La Molina. There is a lot of potential to really have an impact out there, but unfortunately the only kids that are coming right now are between 5 and 8. Adorable, but not my target audience for workshops on healthy lifestyles and leadership skills… However, I am working with another college student to really revap the ludoteca so hopefully we can recruit some older kids soon. I am still a little nervous to take my camera out there, but I cannot fully describe the situation without photos, so I might bring it there this week.
If you have made it this far reading, I will close with the ridiculous story of my first weekend here in Piura. My host cousin came into town to celebrate his birthday, so we went out to a bar. The combination of drinking and dancing resulted in having my host cousin knock my beer class out of my hand where it conveniently broke on my foot. After several feeble protests from me, my host cousins had me in a cab on the way to the emergency room where I got stitches on my foot – without anesthesia… hey it is the 3rd world after all. We woke the sleeping doctor up, he wiped a little alcohol on my foot, sewed me up and sent me off. Then on Sunday, I went to my cousin’s birthday party at my host grandma’s house where every single person asked me how my foot was, news spreads fast here :)
So all in all, in my first week as a Peace Corps Volunteer I have gotten robbed and been to the emergency room, bring on the next 2 years…
The "workshop in basic skills" class
The Centro Educativa Basico Especial - Castilla
On a side note:
1. Being stared at in the street
2. Being spoken to in broken English
3. Having to respond to broken English in broken Spanish because I speak English too quickly
4. Telling people that I have two older sisters, and North Carolina is a beautiful state with weather similar to Piura at the moment – these are apparently the most important questions to ask when you meet someone new
5. Feeling awkward
Things that entertain me about life in Piura:
1. That I have started to love burgers, and the owner of the burger place knows me by name, and I have drank with him
2. That buying a 12pack (yes they call it that) and drinking it on the street corner is in no way unusual or low class
3. There is nothing you cannot buy in the Mercado, seriously try me – if they sell it in Peru it’s at the market
4. I live in a country that produces coffee but I have to have my parents send me dunkin’ donuts coffee because they export all the good stuff
5. Random neighbors you meet in the street will invite you to visit their house anytime
