And we're off!

Dressed to the nines, we stood in front of the Ambassador of the United States, raised our rights hands, and swore in.  Finally, we are Peace Corps Volunteers.

It seems strange to think that ten weeks of training have gone by in the blink of an eye.  Yet while it seems like yesterday that we were on a plane to Perú, there are a few things that mark the passing of time.

To start, 10 weeks ago, we were all strangers.  The difficulty of saying bye to the other over the last few days is indicative of the relationships that we have forged and the friendships that I'm sure will last (even despite lack of internet, 27 hour bus rides, and whatever else gets thrown in the way).

Thanksgiving Lunch!

Getting ready to eat!

Some pictures from our post-Swearing In party...

And without a doubt, my relationship with my host family is one of the changes most indicative of the passing of time.  Unfortunately, I don't have a photo with all of us, but below is me and Rita at the Host Family Celebration the day before Swearing In.  I can hardly say how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to live with such a welcoming and wonderful family.  They opened their home to me and have thus far been the best part about Perú. 

So now I'm sitting in a hotel in Chincha with the other two Volunteers of Huancavelica, anxiously awaiting tomorrow when we move into our sites.  We were in our sites for a visit almost 2 weeks ago, so I already know that I have an amazing site waiting for my arrival tomorrow.  In the 3 days I spent in Tantará, I met incredibly friendly people who are as excited to work as I am.  My host family consists of Lola and her two daughters, and in the days I was there, I absolutely fell in love with them, and with Tantará.

Our garden in the morning

As we disperse throughout Perú, it is an incredibly exciting time for us all.

If this was a competition, I would be winning

Today marks the day that the Hamilton Swim Team jumps into the water for the first of many practices this season.  For the first time in four years, and really the first time since I was 8 years old, I am not gearing up to start a new swim season.  And while it was always easy to complain about practice, it makes me exceedingly sad to not have been in the water with my team this afternoon. 

Last year's Seniors!

My last swim meet :(

I’ve come to realize that I am incredibly competitive.  I knew this before, but the training staff constantly tries to make things more interesting by adding a bit of competition between groups, and I really (really, really) like winning these competitions.  And a few happened on Wednesday. 

While it wasn’t quite the same as in the US, Halloween was still used as an excuse to dress silly and eat copious amounts of candy.  At the training center, we had a costume contest, candy, and a movie after training ended.

Dora the Explorer! (this costume dedicated to Elijah Purdy)

Wednesday was also el Día de Canción Criolla, a day to celebrate the mix of cultures found in Peru, especially on the coast. 

My language class in a enthusiastic rendition of Saca los Manos

The language teachers put together a large celebration for us, complete with skits and, of course, a singing competition between the language classes. 

One of the winning groups

While I did not have the honor of actually winning either of these competitions, I thoroughly enjoyed a day of a little extra fun and dancing.

This morning, at 8 am, the training center was buzzing.  Peruvians had a holiday today for Día de los Muertos, but the Trainees had something different to celebrate.  Today, we got our site assignments. 

(Drum roll, please)

I’m going to Tantará!

It seems, however, that every time we get more information about our sites, it just creates more questions that have yet to be answered.  But I now know that I will be living with a mother and her two daughters (aged 12 and 15) in a district capital that has about 500 people in the community, with another 1000 spread in surrounding annexes.  I now have the names of my initial contacts in the community, and I know that my room already has a bed.  It isn’t much information, but it feels like Christmas came early. 

Next week, we head to another Field Based Training (this time in Ancash), and after we have our site visits and I’ll finally get to see my site, meet my new family, and start to picture what my new life will look like.

As I write this, the swim team should just be finishing practice.  I really hope it went well and that they’re all excited for the season, and I am still a little jealous that they are all heading to Commons for team dinner right now.  But I can’t help but feel that between Tantará, Huancavelica and Bristol Pool, Peru wins.