Independence Day

July 30^th, 2006 Santa Eulalia, Peru

Independence Day

This past weekend was consisted of "feriados" for Independence Day which is July 28 here. It was actually kind of a letdown on the day itself. The people here now how to party. Most of the neighborhood parties start at like 4pm and go until 5am in the morning or later. But the historian who shared with us last week claims that there is a real lack of identity here within the country. Not a whole lot happened. Definitely no fireworks, although there was a parade in Lima. I went with my family to a city called Nana, where my mother’s family lives.

We ate Panchamanca style, which is pretty cool. It is typical plate enjoyed in Peru. Basically, you get some rocks really hot and throw pots of meat (rabbit, lamb, chicken, etc) on the rocks. Then you surround the pots with potatoes and sweet potatoes. Throw some tamales on top of that and cover with banana leaves. So yeah, it cooks in the ground. Very tasty.

Saturday I went to a party at the local church and where the youth were presenting the ancient dances performed back in the day throughout Peru. That was pretty fun. Sunday we went to a recreational type park where we played volleyball, ate fried chicken, swam and played a game kind of like washers. All in all the weekend was pretty fun. Except there were no fireworks.

Tuesday they tell us where each individual person is going to spend the next two years. That is quite the day. I think it will really hit people when they realize how far they will be from so and so. Friendships have really developed in slightly more than a month. My money says someone cries. I’ll let you know. Sometimes, I forget I live in Peru. I’ll be packed like sardines in a bus and notice some billboards and then realize I live here. I am not on a two week vacation. I LIVE HERE……for the next two years.

Life in general and more on host family

July 15^th, 2006 Santa Eulalia, Peru

Life in General

I absolutely love my time so far as a Peace Corps trainee. This has been a tremendous experience and each day I am more confident that I have chose to journey path that will offer growth I would be unable to find or duplicate elsewhere. Although, the friendships I have developed here have duration less than a month, the vulnerability and bond shared between us is as strong as some of the closeness it took months to secure in other circumstances.

Yes, times are often hard or difficult, but the elation one feels after true accomplishment is tremendously rewarding. Daily I struggle with the language and the frustration conjured by my inability to express my thoughts in general, yet alone the intricacies of my innermost emotions. Often the food is discouraging, but not the slightest intolerable. The work hours are essentially limitless, for after nine hours of training at the center, I return to home where I practice my conversational skills or do my homework. Even the “downtime” could be considered work because it often consists of attending some sort of family event where I must engage in cultural integration.

Despite the difficulties I endure daily, this has been one of the greatest times of my life. The Peace Corps organization has impressed me beyond measures with their organization and competency. You hear so many negative things about the inefficiency of government organizations, which I still don’t doubt but so far I have been nothing but impressed, at least with the post here in Peru. I encourage all my friends who are the in the application process to endure it and strongly consider the experience. As for now, I am a huge advocate of the Peace Corps, its mission, and the potential growth derived from service.

More on my Host Family

Mi Padre- Jaime Alderete

My father works at a local public school where he teaches children. At night he operates an internet café out of my house. He is quite funny and genuinely caring guy who is always willing to help me with my Spanish homework if I desire.

Mi Madre- Deri

My mom is a nurse who works an hour away in Lima. During the month of July, she has it off for vacation, so that has been extremely nice. She is very caring and worries about me since I am American. She is always telling me this is Peru, not America.

Mi Hermano- Juancarlo

My brother is 13 years old and attends a private school. He enjoys playing soccer and in the internet café. From time to time we play cards, we he absolutely loves. He has typical adolescent hormones and is obsessed with Shakira.

Mi Hermana- Michelle

Michelle is 11 years old and attends private school as well. She likes to draw and is the more studious of the two children. She thinks it is funny to speak to me in Quechua, another language spoken in the mountains here, but my mother scolds her when she does.

Mi Tia- Elle

I just had an Aunt move in recently with her two kids. She is about 25 years old or so and is studying to be a computer technician. She has two kids, Carlitos, 3, and Evelina, 10 months. Carlos is adorable and quite the entertainment. He is trying to learn how to wink, but cannot. Therefore, he holds one eyelid down with his finger and blinks.

Mi Abuelo

My grandfather is the coolest guy ever. He owns a little tienda, which sells the basics, sort of like a convenience store. He lives across the street and I make an effort to chat with him daily. He slurs and is hard to understand but is more willing to play charades in order that I understand. All the other trainees in my neighborhood love him and stop to talk often. He lives with my grandma.

The Daily Life

July 2^nd, 2006 Santa Eulalia, Peru

The Daily Life

Wow. Those three little letters can mean so much sometime. That word probably is the best descriptor of my time so far. I cannot believe that I have only been here 10 days. For these are not normal days. Each day brings new challenges like ones I have never encountered before.

Language:

This is definitely the best way to learn a language. Every day I make a 10 minute walk to the training center. Here I spend at least 3 to 6 hours in a language class. But this is quite more productive if you actually want to learn to speak. There are only three others in my class besides myself and my profesora. The class revolves around conversation. It is also a lot cooler than any other Spanish class I have ever taken because we take field trips to the plaza where we are forced to converse with people and must return with information from questions asked.

I got placed in the intermediate low level so I am about in the middle of the pack. The basic description of my level is that I can survive adequately to satisfy the majority of my needs. But the desire to express myself more completely with both my host family and those I encounter has served as motivation to learn the language with regular proficiency.

Food

My diet pretty much consist of rice, potatoes and some random meet added. Sometimes it is quite good and other times it is extremely bland. Unfortunately they don’t keep salt and pepper shakers on the table here. Thus, I have to ask for it which could be awkward or offensive. Recently, they have been putting this stuff called “aji” on the table. It is made from a chili pepper and is kind of like Tabasco but much much better. If the food sucks, I just put that junk over it and mask the taste.

The drinks here are what is crazy. First of all, they don’t pour drinks at the beginning of the meal, they wait until about three-fourths of the meal into it and then serve drinks. Although, I have not quite figured out if this is just my family. The array of drinks is even crazier. Most meals are served with either agua de apio or agua de papas. That is celery water or water enhanced with a potato pulp. Definitely different stuff. The Coca-Cola here is tremendous because it is made with real sugar.

My nutrition somewhat lacks because vegetables seem to show up far and in between. This is actually somewhat a point of frustration because the vegetables are actually extremely cheap relative to the prices in the States. I have not figured out whether they are expensive here relative to income or if people just do not incorporate them into their diets because it is not how they traditionally eat.