Happy Holidays!

It started to be the holidays when I was stuffed into a crowded truck with other members of my Municipality and we drove to all the annexes of Tantará to give toys to all the kids and panetón to every family. 

The mayor giving out toys in the annex of Ocrococha

With toys in hands and bellies full of hot chocolate and panetón, we were ready for Christmas. 

Christmas Eve rolled around, accompanied by a day of rain and general dreariness.  But my host sisters and I spent the day watching movies and eating fried dough.  In the afternoon, we braided each other’s hair, put on make-up, and got ready for Christmas mass. 

After mass, we all headed to the plaza where there was dancing, more hot chocolate, more panetón, and steaming teapots of fruit liquor.  By about 1:30, we were ready for dinner, so we drowsily walked back to the house where the four of us shared a huge meal of fried chicken, potatoes, and (of course) more hot chocolate and panetón. 

One of my host sisters, Clarita

Before I knew it, it was New Year’s Eve.  Nathan (the volunteer from the site above me) and I took the opportunity to head to Chincha, our nearest city.  Everyone spends New Year’s Eve making life-sized dolls of various people out of old clothes and straw.  At midnight, they put the dolls in a pile and burn them, while throwing firecrackers, sparklers, and other loud sparkly things into the fire.  The burning of the dolls is supposed to be a fresh start and good luck for the new year.  I failed to get any pictures of this, but the smoke-filled air, loud bangs of firecrackers, and colorful flicker of the fire can’t really be captured, anyways. 

Recovering from a minor case of PTSD and hearing loss, we donned our yellow attire (for good luck) and spent the rest of the night dancing on the beach. 

 Welcoming the New Year in style

Celebrating the holidays away from my family isn’t an easy task.  But fortunately I’ve found a wonderful set of friends here in Peru who are willing to invite me into their homes and do everything possible to make me feel welcome and loved for the holiday season.  I’m looking forward to an exciting year ahead, filled with adventure. 

Happy New Year to all my friends and family at home, I wish you all the best.

That time I walked 2 hours through the Peruvian sierra with a bag of guinea pigs over my shoulder

Two weeks at site, and I have found that interesting experiences pop up in short bursts when I least expect it.  This blog post is dedicated to such moments.

That time the plaza was turned into a theater

The elementary school held their Día de Logros (Day of Successes) when the students showed off what they have been learning all year.  The main event was when each grade put on a short play, complete with masks, costumes, fake trees, and one girl who was painted entirely blue.

That time I got a ride in the back of our ambulance

It's actually a glorified pick-up truck with a metal box put on the back and a thin mattress for whatever poor patient needs transport.  Honestly it is used more for transporting health center personel to the annexes of Tantará, which is probably good because the idea of having a broken bone and being jostled while the "ambulance" rushes around winding mountain roads makes me really want to never break a bone.  Ever.

That time speaking English for a whole afternoon never felt so good

After our first week in site, us three Huancavelicanos got together in and sat in a church courtyard, ate chocolate, and spoke nothing but English.  Awesome.

That time my best friend was a 3-year-old girl

Her name is Nayeli and she follows me everywhere.  It generally goes like this:

Me: I can't play right now because I have to work.

Her: OK, let's go.

Me: No, I can't play, I'm going to do work.

Her: I'm going to do work too, let's go.

That time I walked 2 hours through the Peruvian sierra with a bag of guinea pigs over my shoulder

They're actually quite cute if you can get over the fact that you're going to eat them later (for the record, they were delicious).

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.

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.