I have official been in Peru for 6 months. March 16th marked the 6 month mark. It is amazing how fast that six months passed. When I look at it like that so much time has passed and that my service will soon be ending. Yet then I look forward and it is still almost a whole 2 years til the end of service it blows my mind. To be exact I now have 21 months left. I’m starting to get very excited and nervous and a jumble of other emotions because we are almost done with the diagnostic phase and will soon be starting actual projects and “work”. I’ve been biting at the bit to start projects since the new year and now….please give me more time to get prepared. Haha. Of course it happens that way you get what you want and then it is no longer what you want. Oh how funny is life.
So we just got back from our Early IST, a training session where we present what we have so far to the other volunteers of my group. The best thing about this meeting was seeing everyone!!!! Can’t believe how close some friends are but still so out of reach. Although looking forward to meeting up in Mancora with them and having one big party for Semana Santa. It will be like Early IST without time commitments. Yeah!!!! Yet the big downer to this plan is the fact we are going to the beach! I really don’t like the beach…especially here in Peru. Even with sunblock I burn, Burn, BURN! At Huanchaco we were outside maybe 2-3 hours and I had SPF 50 and reapplied and was under an umbrella and still got so burnt that my legs days after feel like they are bruised. This alone was bad but we are going to Mancora…the last time I went to Mancora was a week before returning to the States from study abroad and literally had 2nd degree burns. Still have the pictures to prove it
That sunburn hurt forever!!!!!!! Oh well still excited to go. We might even go snorkeling! So grateful for friends to travel with! Yeah yeah.
Anyways back to how Early IST went…I felt good about the work-progress I had made in my community and still do but feel so behind others. I know there is no real comparison available because communities move at a different rate especially when you aren’t a real city but….AHHHHHHHHHHHH! Gotta get a fire lit under my ass. Haha.
So on a completely different note: Something that really bothers me about Peru. The people of my community think it is a high compliment to tell me that I’m looking fatter, which is their equivalent to that I have adapted to the community. They talk about weight like we talk about I don’t know shoe styles that look good or bad on a person, to their face. So in the past few days I’ve been told I’m looking fatter by a couple of different families. They have effectively started me dieting and putting more emphasis in working out. Also, now I’m kinda melancholy because I think I’m looking fat: which no I’m not saying I am but it sure puts one down in the dumps. Yesterday spent almost the whole day in bed feeling sorry for myself. SO NOT GOOD!!! 1st because having a pity party isn’t going to do anything 2nd because laying around isn’t going to help me get skinny haha and 3rd because I didn’t even use that laying around time to do the things I love like watch a movie, or tv or read a book or a million of other things. Ah…..well lets hope I snap to and quickly because there is shit I need to get doing. Bringing me back to Early IST and the list I made of things I should get started on. One huge success done from that list is a health schools project!!!! YEAH YEAH YEAH!!!! So so excited to actually have something to be working in and feel good about my time. So far only doing it with the “high school” but hope to include some of the other schools! Also, with my health post I’m going to start work with the health promoters that they have and hopefully a group of mothers. Yeah for finally having work to do that I feel will actually benefit the community, so far the work I’ve done on the diagnostic has mainly only helped or effected me.
Another fun note: this week we were without water for most of the week and then we lost power. Now I believe I’m not to set in a life of luxury. The water shortage…no problem just didn’t bath all week (I know gross on the hygiene meter) BUT the problem really came with the power outage…why because I couldn’t make coffee or use my computer after the battery died, etc. That was when I thought I might go a little crazy, it gets dark here at 6 ish 6:30 so nothin to do after dark. It was like the ice storm all over again but without as many candles and flashlights/lanterns.
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