MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Wishing you the very best from Peru.
12/21/11
Today I’m lying here in bed listening to the rain. It is such a lovely sound….but it is also my new competition. Why is it my competition? Because here it rains about everyday! We are beginning rainy season here in Túnel Conchano, Chota, Cajamarca, Peru. I love the rain, but knowing that I have to begin house visits on Jan 2, 2012 is a bit disheartening. YET: never to despair I have my rain boats, rain proof jacket, and people suck in their homes so it will actually be helping me in the long run! But the biggest challenge is now drying my clothes. You know when you leave wet clothes in the washer overnight…the smell that they have. Well this is how all my clothes are starting to smell. Washed clothes on Monday when the sun was shining almost immediately after it was like God was laughing at me and it started to rain. And rain it did until this morning! So my clothes dried a little bit…but raining again so they are now strung up all over the house drying. Ha ha ha ha ha.
Life here goes at a very different pace: a pace slow and relaxed which is the exact opposite of how my life works. The other day I was walking with me sister, Leni and momma Marta…we were walking so slow I could have been going backwards and here that is a normal pace. Emily Powell you would love it, just the right speed for you. Not only in the physical sense is the pace slow but in terms of working. My community wants improved cooking stoves and latrine projects to start but I still don’t know where I am. When I say this they immediately understand and ask that I tell them when I do start.
INSERT TURTLE!
Something that in the states we would be like okay figure it out soon, but tell me a projected start date haha. Also, my family thinks I work hard….because I go to the health post every day and work out in my room. Which is so little in comparison to what I was doing before, cause now I am only actively working half the day or so in the community. The rest of the day in my room trying to write a survey in Spanish, get ready to teach English, Math, Art, and History/ World Geography. Aka what have I gotten myself into….a mess that is exactly it. Why? Because not the most patient person in the world. Don’t know anything about teaching and even less about Art! So needless to say terrified!
This past weekend went to my regional capital, Cajamarca with Hayden and Kate (two volunteers from my training group). It was fun! So first you must understand that in Peru the majority of people are short…aka they don’t need leg room. Also, the safest/ fastest mode of transport are called combis, collective cars that are vans converted to seat at least 10 people! So very cramped and from Chota where Hayden and I are closest to is 2 combi rides and 4 hours! During the second ride…there was this dude in-between us. Which I don’t know if his muscles were just that big or he was being a jackass and making himself as big as possible! Also, sorry you chose to sit in-between us but no you may not have what little leg room I have! JERK!!!!!!!!!! But we got to Caja and we went to pick up our boxes that Peace Corps sent first and my glasses that had broken back in training.
WELL…that didn’t improve my day. My glasses lens that they fixed they didn’t put transition on the new lens. So how dumb do you think I look with one lens that stays perfectly clear and the other that turns to dark when in the sun. For me it is kinda funny because the lens that doesn’t turn I have no vision but on principal that I explained several times about the transition and they didn’t listen really pissed me off. Okay whatever…..BUT then opened the arms of the frame…….and low and behold glasses that are less than 6 months old one of the arms just up and pops off! Well I’ll be! ARRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Good thing I like my extra pair and that I have an up to date back-up! Thanks mom for making me go get new ones! Haha. Which a question for anyone who wears glasses and lives in a rainy place…how do you do it? Please tell me some tricks! Cause it is hard to see where I’m going sometimes with all the drops collected on my lenses. Also, speaking of broken…waaaaaahhh dropped my Ipod the other night and now the screen has this huge black line going through it! Sad day.
Next, it is so weird to think that Christmas Day is approaching. Here they celebrate on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is kinda like a normal day. I’m going to a baptism for 3 children on Christmas Day, my house mom to the market like every other Sunday to sell her animals.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!
Cell phone service:
Okay: my phone will ring if it is in my room BUT! You must run outside to actually get to talk to the other person. Not only outside but to this huge rock that is next to the road….oh and if it is raining, tough luck! Or while walking there is this one curve in the road that gets great reception. I look ridiculous but sometimes stand there to call other volunteers! Haha. Or I go to my Health Post and out in front get pretty good service! So that is the fun I go through to make a call here!
Wake Up service:
All you need is one rooster that sleeps outside your door in-between the two houses. It works like a charm if you want to get up at 5:30AM everyday….cause that is when your call comes in. Also, it is the best wake up service because you can’t snooze or answer the call and say okay yes thank you! Ha ha.
ON a very good note! Finally starting to feel like I can do this. Two years here. Why? Because I am no longer living like a complete visitor, meaning not in a sleeping bag anymore. In Caja bought sheets and a down comforter (sometimes spending a little extra can really make you smile---like when I get into bed and it is awesome). My walls are not completely empty anymore:
I know 3 pillows: your saying she is living like a queen!
This is my before Peace Corps life...
Old man from KO, green ribbon=cajamarca grouping, map of caja and of Tunel with some other stuff mixed in.
Love Jennifer
PS. This is me with the US Ambassador, ME, and the PC Peru Director
