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.

Three letter words

I just returned from watching a futbol match and I am feeling kind of funny. I think it's only natural to feel very high for only a temporary period of time, eventually, you have to crash. I am crashing...kind of hard at the moment. Not sure why I feel this way. I just hope I wake up and this feeling doesn't exist anymore. All I can say is that I am low right now...

Saturday in Lima

To be perfectly honest I wasn't all that excited to be visiting Lima. My philosophy is that I already live in a big city, why do I want to be bothered by the hustle and bustle of another one? I joined the Peace Corps for several reasons. One reason, albeit it a very small reason, was that I really wanted to get away from the first world. Lima is hectic- McDonalds, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, KFC, bums, hustlers, bootleg products, etc. Things I can definitely do without. I would like to visit again just because there are definitely some more places I would like to see, otherwise, Lima can stay exactly where it is. I missed Huascaran while I was gone. I missed my barrio with its dirt roads and lack of proper lighting and the parade of dogs that are constantly harassing me. I began thinking, I already had to deal with the anxiety that comes along with separating from my family and friends in the states and in just a short ten weeks I am going to have to deal with the trauma of leaving a place I have grown to love and miss in just one short week. Bizarre.

Early Morning

Well folks, it's not even 6AM and I am getting ready for the long adventure that lies ahead. I just wanted to thank everyone for all of the prayers, I am feeling much better and a special thanks to Mucinex...lol

See you in Peru :)

On the road again...

I arrived in DC yesterday afternoon after spending two weeks with my wonderful mother and friends in Fresno. I pretty much spent the entire two weeks preparing for the Peace Corps. Although, my down time consisted of: spending time with my mom and good friends, eating good food, swimming, camping, fishing and wine tasting. It was a lovely break.

Yesterday I met some Peace Corps Volunteers almost as soon as I checked into my hotel. Really cool people. Went out for some dinner and then sat around at chatted about life, llamas and the possibility of owning a horse in Peru. I am currently in bed after day one of Peace Corps Staging (AKA Orientation) and guess what....I'm getting sick. I am praying that I will wake up in the morning and feel like a different person but I'm not sure at this point :(

Orientation was from 1-7. It wasn't all that bad and the time seemed to fly by pretty quickly. There are 40 some-odd people in my group which was really surprising because I only expected about 15-20. My mistake, I guess. Everyone seems really cool and dedicated. It was a refreshing experience to be around people who have similar interests. And guess what? There is someone from Fresno in my group and I love him already :) Tomorrow we have staging at 8:30 AM to 6. AHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Then the following day it's off to Peru. I can't believe this day has finally come. Well, good night for now. Pray that I wake up feeling better.

xoxo