Today...

Every day is different, I guess as most days are. Today I have a headache. Spent some time at the Casablanca today which could basically be described as a small farm run by an old Peruvian couple one of whom graduated from Cornell. Crazy shit! I mean literally crazy shit! The farm has run off energy from guinea pig shit for the past 14 years. I don't think I have mentioned this before but Peruvian's eat guinea pig's. They are called CUY. Cuy shit is also very useful. It can be used to cover up the smell in the latrine's, in making compost and in being turned into a gas for energy. CRAZY SHIT!!!! Anyhow, after the farm we went to lunch at a place in Chaclacayo which has subsequently become my favorite Cebiche restaurant. Delicious! Hung around for a while afterwards eating cake and drinking beer. It's always nice to hang out with good friends. We have a lot of fun. My emotional compass is way off lately and I can't pin point it. I don't feel home sick. There is nothing outstanding about Peru that makes me uncomfortable...what is it? I wish I knew. Maybe I am lying to myself. Maybe it's something that is right in front of my face. I don't know. All I do know is that it will pass. Anyhow...blah blah. La la. I'll attach some pictures :)

Keepin it gangsta...

I would like to preface this entry by saying that I can already feel a little piece of myself becoming lost....

Today was a "feriado" (holiday), in other words, there was no training. Although, the Peace Corps did bless us with language interviews today. Of course I was nervous. I do have to say that my Peruvian family was incredibly supportive. God bless them. My mom even made sure I ate before I left for my interview.

It was a beautiful day today. The weather was incredible. I went to my interview at 12 and was done a half an hour later. I went back home to collect some of my things so I could meet up with some friends for a little outing in Chosica, a town I affectionately refer to as Disney Land. As I was walking back to the training center to meet my friends I made the decision to blast my ipod the way I would if I was on my way to work in the city. Gangsta Rap, Dance Raggae, Hip Hop... AMAZING. It's something I haven't done in a month and when I did it I felt this sense of relief. I had recovered a "pep" that was missing in my step.

I try to explain myself to my family as often as I can. I want them to know who I am. I don't want to lose my identity because I have nothing to be ashamed of. I express myself in the most diplomatic ways possible and I am happy that I have made this decision.

I love the Peruvian culture. I love the way my family likes to hear what I have to say. I love listening to my Peruvian parents, about their epoca (time). I love learning their values and how they feel about the world today.

I refuse to lose myself to the shock that comes along with a new culture. Today was a good day. A really good day. I relaxed with good friends, bought turron (pastry) for my family, had a lovely dinner with my family and topped off the evening watching home movies of my little sisters. Today was a really good day.

Sometimes you have to make yourself vulnerable in order for people to have confianza (trust) in you. Become vulnerable, let down all guards, put yourself in a place you thought you would never go but never lose yourself.

Field Trip!

Today WatSan (Water Sanitation) was blessed with the opportunity to go out into the field. The field basically consists of being dropped off in a town and being told to investigate a water system. Clearly, I am not an engineer by any standards but it gave me the chance to see an actual water system and how it works. More than that I was really impressed by the amount I learned just simply getting the chance to interact in the community and get some real hands on experience. It was refreshing really.

Back on the flip side in what I like to call ¨real life¨my grandmother is in the hospital and not doing so well. All I can really ask for are some prayers. It´s weird cause these things are expected from old people, right? I guess my main concern is that I have a father that´s no more than six or seven years younger than my grandmother. Will this happen to him also? Who know? No sense in really worrying about it. I´ve been keeping busy so it´s easy to push these questions to the back of my mind.

Other than that, things are going relatively well. Had a lot of fun today on the field trip, rocking out on the bus, bringing back the old school if you know what I mean. Making some really great friends here. Lots of time to think which is lovely. Clarity is really important in all of this. Lots of clarity.