Huancavelica, here I come!

Yesterday marked the official half-way point of training, and also the much anticipated moment of getting our regional assignments.

But let me back up and talk about the last few weeks.

We've been working hard at the training center, but have also been going on trips into Lima for museums and other trips.  One was to the Agricultural University where we learned how to plant small vegetable gardens.

It was great to (quite literally) get our hands dirty and start learning by doing.  

Shortly after, we packed our bags and piled into mini buses to go to Huancavelica for our Field Based Training. 

Winding through the tall mountains, we climbed in altitude until we reached Huaytará, where we would spend the next 3 nights.  We had entered the land of llamas, alpacas, and potatoes. 

We split up into groups and visited different volunteers, each about 2 hours from Huaytatá.  We helped with house visits, facilitating classes with youths, kids, and mothers, and built a cocina mejorada, an improved cook stove. 

Returning to Lima, I felt refreshed to have been in crisp mountain air again.  After a day off, everyone was back at the training center, with a hum of excitement over our pending regional assignments.  Before I knew it, I found my photo tacked to a page with Huancavelica in bold letters, and realized that I get to go back! 

We have yet to get our site assignments, but I know that I'll be the first Volunteer at my site (as opposed to replacing someone), and that 3 of us from Peru 20 (Health) will be in Huancavelica, but in a different valley than the one we just visited.  I also know that there's a good chance I'll have to learn Quechua, but luckily Mamá Rita has volunteered to be my tutor in the few weeks I have left here in Lima.

Having had a sneak peak of my new home, I couldn't be more excited.  We have two weeks here in Lima, then we will travel to our regions for more training, and a visit to site.  Then one more week in Lima, and we're off!  So I'm holding onto my seat, as I'm sure the second half of training will be over in the blink of an eye, and then I head to the mountains!

Same scene, different language

After breakfast this morning, Rita, Lily and I climbed onto a combi and went into Lima.  We packed into a car full of family members, and drove to Rita’s brother’s house.  The occasion was my “uncle’s” birthday party.  I met countless sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, and nephews, and we all sat down for a meal.  Half way through, I realized that I had been transported to my real aunt’s house in DC.  The faces looked different, and they spoke a different language, but the setting was shockingly similar.  Various family members filtered in and out of the house, coming hungry and leaving full.  Children ran around while their grandmothers and great aunts chased them with spoonfuls of rice, in an endless quest to feed them.  They spoke of family members who are missing, how big the latest batch of kids is getting, and how they don’t get to see each other enough.  And although I understand much more Spanish than Korean,  the occasional switch into Quechua gave me a familiar feeling of knowing the conversation topic, but missing the details.  As the wine came out and the celebration began in earnest, I took a few moments to sit back and appreciate the comfort of being very far from home, but in an environment that is incredibly familiar.

I was dragged back to Peru when something happened that almost never happens in my real family.  Suddenly, all the couches and tables were pushed back to make space for a large dance party.  Music blasting and feet stomping, everyone (young and old) spent hours dancing in circles around the small living room.

Some things have happened

I just wanted to post some pictures of what I've been up to of late.  

We went and visited a Comedor Municipal, which is a cool program where kids in need can come eat a good meal a few times a day.

Waiting for the combi in the morning to go to the training center.

We took a trip to Lima, went to a few museums, and generally explored a bit.

The Catedral and the Plaza de Armas in Central Lima

A pretty view from inside the Church and Convent of San Miguel

Hiking up to the top of the bell tower 

From the top of the bell tower, overlooking Lima

I've posted this picture in a few places already, but I'm obsessed with it.  I tried to name the puppy Zorro, but apparently that's not the easiest name for Peruvians to say, so his name switches between Soro and Pipo (a puppy with an identity crisis, but at least he has a baby chicken for a best friend)

I'm also attempting to take pictures of all the things Rita teaches me to cook.  I keep forgetting my camera, but here are 2 things:

Soy milk: from scratch, flavored with orange, anis, and cinnamon

Arroz Chifa (Peru's version of Chinese food, but they've adapted it and made it their own)

There's a large celebration this weekend in one of the host communities, and apparently it is tradition for the trainees to do a performance.  Sadly, I don't think I'll be able to go, but here we are learning the Thriller dance together.

In the health program, we have broken into small groups and are working specifically with a family on Early Childhood Stimulation to practice our skills.  Our family has a 3 year old girl, and they've been working with her on Early Childhood Stimulation her whole life, so the training wheels are definitely on, but the practice is good nonetheless.  Here is my group debriefing our first session in the neighborhood playground.