Oh how the Peace Corps can bring a person down

Today was suppose to be a BIG day. What led to disaster? Well let me start from the beginning...(some fun pics of my animals).

 My pigs!!!

The baby puppies!!
I have been in site for almost 5 months. I spent the first 3 months working on my Community Diagnostic, gathering data etc.Then months 4-5 were filled with training/ writing diagnostic/ first vacation. AKA jammed pack. So we were asked to turn in a rough draft of our Diagnostic. So all us Caja girls did.


When we got them back...the nicest way to put it is just go jump off a bridge with your report because that is about how good it is. Think back to when you were in junior high and you get a paper back and it is all in red. Oh and that the graphs you made are not the right type. Why aren't you a mind reader? Didn't you know we wanted it this way! I mean sorry we didn't give you a format to follow or actually we did and you followed it....but never mind we changed our mind on which one we wanted.
So that put me in a stellar mood to begin with! Then in my community I started inviting people to come to my presentation of that very Diagnostic. While asking people, almost half of them say...No sorry have something else to do. Others say sure. And the third set of people why are you asking me so far in advance! I won't remember, ask me a couple of days before. I went back to those people and guess what...oh I have something that day. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Sometimes I really don't like Peru! But oh well some said they would come including my "volunteer boss, Barbara". So I make all the posters as best I can because have no artistic talent, buy snacks....

The presentation is set for 8am this morning. Well my cousin, Deisy, from the Early Stimulation Center shows up at 8:05am. We are sitting out front of my health post because they still aren't there yet. Around 8:30am 2 of my health post workers show up, among them the Jefe (boss) of the health post not included and my PCVL, Barbara. Then at about 8:45am the PRONEI lady shows up and that is it!!!!! Not my mayor or anyone else that I asked and said yes. I just spent almost 5 months getting ready to be to this point and no one bothers to show up. I can hear a beer calling my name at 9am in the morning. Also, feel like crazy and then trying to pop off peoples heads!
Anyways so I don't give the presentation and Barbara and I leave. Guess who I see? Low and behold my mayor getting ready to go to Chota. Well thanks for your time and consideration. I mean your show of support really means a lot to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Words cannot express how angry I am right now.
Oh well. soon I will get happy in the same pants I got mad in.........but not yet, haha.

6 MONTHS

I have official been in Peru for 6 months. March 16^th 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 2^nd 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!!! 1^st because having a pity party isn’t going to do anything 2^nd because laying around isn’t going to help me get skinny haha and 3^rd 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.  

Early IST

So it is official! Have jumped past the first big mark in my service---Early IST. What that means is we have to stop laying around just working to get to know the community and start focusing in on the ideas that we want and can literally achieve during our service.
To begin we had our training in Huanchaco a beach town near Trujillo. Not being a beach person myself it was beautiful but sand everywhere, sun, and salt water. The sun has an intense hatred of me and my body...SPF 50 and left on my shorts and shirt for quite a while and my legs looked like nicely cooked lobster. Even now my legs are pink/purple and are physically painful to touch. How ridiculous is that!!!! Also, planning on going back to the beach in a month for not 1 day but 3-4....my body is going to DIE!!!!! and then I develop skill cancer yeah for good life decisions.
Anyways one day on the beach and I was done BUT the best part was getting to see my friends from training. To see how other peoples lives are progressing (seeing how much I still need to do-AHHHH!) Can't wait until Semana Santa when we will all be together again but without the training! Now I just gotta work on my beach body. Come on P90X and early morning runs...become a part of daily life. Will work on a detailed accounting of the week..........in a bit haha. Tired and going to bed!

The Fun Things I'm Learning

Today my family discussed my Little sisters ulcer among a few other health concerns. They believe she has an ulcer because she is not eating enough. If you didn’t know an ulcer is caused by not eating when you’re hungry or by not eating enough. When you go to town at lunch you should eat at least once if not twice before coming home. Also, drinking lots of water can help but only if it is hot and 3 times a day. Aka that means don’t drink a whole hell of a lot but more than normal. Gastritis is caused by drinking too much pop. So everyone put down that can of coke or beware that your stomach is about to start going haywire.

Never drink anything cold. Don’t you know that drinking something cold can give you a cold or make you very sick? There is no such thing as allergies to pollen. The weather is making you sick. Also, the sun can give you a headache but to cure it just put some water on your head and you will be fine. Aka the weather can be blamed for almost any sickness that befalls a person.

As a “gringa” the reason I’m weaker physically is that I don’t eat enough. For this we in general are weaker than Peruvians (who are able to carry their children on their backs up and down hills and in the fields). How can a person be strong if they don’t work every day in their charca? So therefore we don’t need to eat a full plate of beans and rice at mealtime. For this I will admit I’m not a physically strong person in upper body strength but can carry cargo and walk just as well as they do, I simply don’t have as much of a reason to carry heavy loads large distances. Argh…haha.

When you have an animal that is sick, the best way to cure it is by putting motor oil all over (especially if it is a skin sickness). Or to bring luck that your animals don’t get sick put garlic around their necks. Here we don’t often eat meat simply because it is expensive or the animal itself serves another purpose but by all means as a treat for the dogs feed them chicken bones and cuy (guinea pig) bones. If a dog suddenly dies the reason is someone poisoned the poor thing!

All this in just one week

Depends on how you look at it:

As we all know there can be many different sides to an argument or look at an object. Well here is one I’ve been pondering: what is good parenting? In the states a child without a parent nearby is considered abused or is lacking in parental control, here in Peru children learn to be self sufficient at a very young age. There is this little boy Jorge, I think he is 3 years old and when I see him most often he is by himself playing in the road. This morning on the way to teach he is about 300 yards away from his house around the curve, hiding in a tree. Now does this just not blow your mind that a 3 yr old who is still developing in every way shape and form, is alone or when not alone he is with other children under 10? Here in the campo there is no such thing as a daycare or babysitter but the fields aren’t going to work themselves either, so what do you do with the youngsters? If they are still little enough they carry them on their backs, but in Jorge’s case he has a baby sister who gets that coveted spot. Are we to protective or are they to careless? All I know is I’m way to crazy and obsessive to ever let my kids that far away from me at that age. Sorry future kiddo’s your life is going to be on a much shorter leash.

Did someone put my hand in cold water while sleeping?

So today is Tuesday, January 24, 2012 it is official. A 22 year old gringa went to Chota after teaching her English classes. The day passed pleasantly, didn’t get hit by any water balloons although one was thrown at her. Finally hit up Serpost while the ladies were there because they can’t be bothered to be there every day at set hours. Received not one but 2 packages from home and my medicine from Peace Corps so needless to say she was ecstatic! Here in Peru bathrooms a hard to come by. It is like looking for a needle in a haystack. So the poor gringa held it in and went to find a ride home. The day was still treating her well…found not only a car but a combi with nice comfy seats that was willing to go without being full (another oddity). The driver wasn’t very familiar with the road so hit every big pot hot possible and drove at a normal sedate pace= to crawling along for most here. Yet finally arrived home and the rain was coming but still hadn’t started and one of the powerful men in the community walked part of the way to her house with her. Here is where God gave a blessing and got a fully belly laugh at the same time: she continues on thinking I’m almost home, I can hold it as long as no one stops me and starts talking. I can hold it three more houses to go. I can hold it two more houses to go…………I can’t hold it……….I can’t hold it. Of course she is in one of the few places with no trees and two houses kinda close together but this is where the luck literally runs out because these are two of the houses she is thinking of doing latrine projects with cause they don’t have one!!!!!!! And there in between the two houses she has to decide wet your pants or pullem down and hope nobody walks by or sees you. Yet it took her to long to get her belt undo and this 22 year old started to pee her pants like a 3 year old until she finally got her pants down. So God got a belly work out right then but only by His grace did no one pass by and as far as she could tell nobody saw. This was rather fortunate because when she passed the last house on the way to hers with her pee pants the family was working in their garden just a little down the hill from the road but she waved and just continued on. Yet the day continued to be good to her because her family wasn’t in front of the house where her room is either. Then she got to open her packages which completely wiped away an embarrassment by happiness. PS Thank you Amanda, Aziz and Jenna!!!!! Love my beef jerkey, new shirt, and positivity passed through love. Ha ha.

Which since I’m obviously going to air everything…my bladder hates Peru. I’ve always got to go at the most inconvenient times, meaning I’m a old lady and have to get up and go at night. Which is really really bad luck because the latrine is so far away and you’ve got to hold it long enough to get TP, flashlight and boots on then walk there without peeing yourself when a dog or other animal in the dark starts making noises. Ha ha. Oh how comical is my life right now.  

Learning the meaning of back breaking work:

Today, Wednesday, my family cut their oat field. So since we are in the dark ages still after then cut it the oats still have to be beaten off their stems. This turned out to actually be a lot of fun. I beat the straw with this huge stick while my family stood back slightly afraid haha. They all the stocks were inspected to see if they still had their heads and if so pull or rub them off. I did the easy parts meaning not the actual cutting and I was still tired after. Haha. So sad that I’m that out of shape, although running in these hills that they don’t consider mountains---haha---are really kicking me into better shape. PS Jenna that jump rope is kicking my butt, forgot how much work they are. Haha. But fun!!!

Oh to be dead

So there are many differences in culture from the Southern States versus the Northern States. You can’t begin to imagine the differences in cultures when you go to another country. This past week my eyes have been opened to a new custom that I do not like. The way we treat our dead in the US is with respect (or more often than not), meaning a funeral is a solemn affair that is there to give the family and friends comfort and show support in their time of need. Also, although not a big fan of cookie cutter lives I do like that we have a plan or a sort of guide to what to do in the event of a death. So why all the death thinking…this week my families Tia Julia died. She and her mother lived alone a little up the hill from us. When she did the family asked if we would have her “wake” here at our house. Of course they said yes. What you ask does that entail, well first it is having the dead in their casket on display in the room next to where I sleep for 3 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope to one day become a medical examiner so I have no problem with the dead but sleeping with just a thin piece of wood between me and her. CREEPY! Then there is the tradition of staying up all night for the 2 nights she was here drinking and smoking. Somehow this is a celebration for the dead. Then the telling of her life (which was pretty cool). Today was the funeral and we went up to the cemetery and this is a true testament that I have literally gone back in time. They dug a hole made a wooden cross and wrote on it with marker and that’s it. When we were in the cemetery you couldn’t tell where people were buried because some us rocks and others us wooden items so of course they don’t last. It was so unnerving to know that I was walking on somebody’s grave and that no one was upset at the possibility. My host father even went so far to ask why I was walking funny….well trying to look for imperfections in the ground that will signify a grave. The more recent ones you could tell b/c the ground was still raised. Blows my mind. I mean I don’t want a huge to do when I do kick the bucket but I hope that my grave or whatever will still have the respect that it deserves. Oh and then I thought that was the end of the festivities but I was wrong we had one day of reprieve and then the next day everyone came again for breakfast and the washing of every clothing items of the dead. Why I’m still confused or what they are going to do with the clothes have no clue. And of course after the wash party we ate some CUY! which if you don’t know is guinnipig and is very VERY popular here. The favorite plate of almost everyone here.

On another personal note, I have never been the most patient person. Whether you see that as a flaw or a strength depends on how you look at it. For instance, I’m motivated to get my shit done and done to the best of my ability in the time allotted. I mean I think that is pretty standard in the US to some degree. Well here I have been tested….A LOT!!!! I mean wow can these people move like turtles. I’m currently teaching at the local high school. Which yes this is totally optional but if you are going to come and participate then participate! I ask them to do something and it is perfectly clear to them what I want and they sit until I come by them directly and most don’t do anything out of class. So super frustrating—mom don’t know how you have been a teacher for so long. Believe me when I say I would already be locked up for child abuse or in the crazy house. It is not only the students but the way of life here as well is at a speed 5X slower than even Ponca City, OK. The only time something is done in a timely manner is when they want something. Like my surveys I have to do---I have told them that I can’t even consider them for any future projects without one (which is not technically true) but I have done more surveys in the last week than half a months’ worth of work. I’m not trying to say that we are better in the states. The things that motivate aren’t always for good reasons either but it doesn’t take pulling teeth to get the majority of us to get our asses in gear! One of the traits I most miss in other people. And since I’m bitching I hate hate hate that one event or funny story is retold until the horse is not only dead but half decayed! The one in particular I’m thinking about happened on New Years. Here the tradition is to burn a doll made of old clothes to burn away the bad of the old year to make way for the new possibilities. As a joke I started dancing with our doll and we called him my boyfriend. I pretend cried when they burned him and I think every person that my host mom talks to knows this story. Which at first was a nice opening to talking to people especially the shyer ones, but now I just want to pull out my hair because of how many times it has been told. Also, I’m expected to have the same enthusiasm every time but I have run out of new things to say about it and I HATE REPEATING MYSELF OVER AND OVER! Ah what I wouldn’t give for a really nice bottle of wine and a good book and my reading chair with my KD blanket wrapped around me. A simple dream but God can hardly wait til I have those moments again. Haha. So melodramatic…someone needs to slap me and say just enjoy the fact that you’re in another country in a once and a life time opportunity! PS God does love me because the coffee I have been sent is seriously so good every morning!!!!! Don’t think I would be quite as nice without it….

Speaking of nice, I have now been told twice that I look like I’m getting fatter. I mean are they trying to drive me to an eating disorder? I think that they are. Culture or no culture I don’t find it appropriate or a funny joke to tell me I’m getting fat like it is no big deal. My friend Hayden the other day said “with all the weight talk here in Peru it could drive even the most confident of women to an eating disorder” and damn but she is right. Although I wish my eating disorder was the kind that leads to me eating less not more, haha, can’t seem to fill my belly up now. Now ain’t that just shitty. Ha ha. But there is hope at the end of this hellish tunnel and its called running mountains::::my new favorite thing to do!

The Adventures of living in the Campo

I’ve learned the literally meaning of don’t mess with the bull or you will get the horns. So my host mom and I were going to Chota for the weekly Sunday Market. She is in the trunk I’m by the window squashed in the back seat with 3 women and a 4-5 year old, and don’t forget the two women in front with the driver. We have barely started going when we see this old man fighting with his cows…aka 2 bulls! So one of the ladies from my row gets out to help the old man. By helping it means throwing rocks at the bulls head!!!!! First think that is plain stupid to throw anything at an animal that can easily gut you. Haha. Anyways the bulls finally start walking in the direction they are suppose to, the same way we are going. When the lady gets back in and were all settled we caught up to the old man. Well he has control of one bull but the other is way ahead. We pass him and the one bull but when we try to pass the second it had finally had enough of people bothering it. SO it puts its head down into charge position towards us. Not only towards us but towards the window where I’m sittin’!!!!!!!!!!!!!It got close enough to us that I could see its nose streaks the entire way to Chota. Life flashing before my eyes and all I can think of is Jurassic Park when the T-REX flips the car and it eventually falls over the cliff. Which my cliff is not that steep but still could have been an extremely bad day. Ha ha.

Anyways the new stuff with me is that I’m cold! We are really gettin rainy season started the right way. But it sure drops the temperature! Right now my nose is a constant little drip…get mental imagery!  At least I’m finally starting to earn my keep here. Have begun my encuestas/ surveys of the community. All I can say if I do to many my body is going to be rockin. Why? Because I gotta hike all over kingdom come to find people and there is mud everywhere that prevents you from going up and makes you go down faster than you want. Yesterday I taught my first class ever. It was for 7 kids that showed up and mainly English but it was not as bad as I thought it would be. However still not great! Have little to no idea what I’m doing. After an hour and a half I gave up and said lets end early since it is the first day. Now how am I suppose to keep saying that throughout the next two months? Also, the people hear can talk and talk and talk. When I am walking to and from the school or health post to my house they all want you to sit down talk and eat something. All please leave me alone I’m on my way home for a reason and other times it is I don’t want to sit here forever with you. I just want to make some small chit chat for a few minutes and then be on my merry way.

I have learned that the things out of your reach are what you crave the most. For instance, they don’t really eat chips here in Chota. You can only find personal size bags. I find myself craving a huge bag of any kind of chip would be so incredibly good right now. Which I’ve always been more of a salty person than a sweet and here the bread is sweet, the coffee is sweet, the milk is sweet, the yogurt is sweet (sweeter than normal), etc. I need SALT!!!!!

Oh another great story from the last few weeks. I had a close meeting with the Shit Your Pants Club, my application was yet again just barely turned down. So it was the first time I have really been sick since I’ve been here. I’m pretty sure that I had food poisoning, but here is the scoop: went to Chota with my cousin we had as close to a steak as we are gonna get for the next two years for lunch and continued on my merry way doing the shit I needed to do. But on the ride home my stomach really really started to feel weird and sharp pains shooting through me. Yeah for being on the slow combi for once!  Anyways get to site and ask the nearest house if I could use their bathroom. Got in just in time for the explosion to start and then proceeded to vomit…yeah me! Anyways got my stomach under control long enough to walk up the hill to my house. Didn’t tell my family I was home but I was running to the letrina and then laying on my bed as still as can be. They saw my light at dinner time and got super concerned when I didn’t want to eat. So they ate and then the nights entertainment was ME!!!!!!!!!! Meaning the whole family decided the only way I would feel better is if they come into my room and watch me get up and run to the bathroom every few minutes. Guess I needed moral support for that Shit to come out of me…ahhhhhhhhh! So all the pressure and strain made me truly cry for the first time hear in front of my entire family. Not something that I particularly enjoy! Anyways after about 5-6 straight hours of pooping and occasionally vomiting finally had nothing left inside of me and feel asleep. Felt awful the next day but I’m thankful that I didn’t wake up to a bed full of shit. Gotta look on the bright side of life, right? haha

Well if I think of any more great stories I will post them soon because I'm in my capital city for a meeting so guess what that means....internet for the day! Couldn't be more excited! Love from Peru