Peace Corps Norms

The following is a list of algunas cosas (some things) that may seem odd or different to our North American eyes, but have been accepted as truths, more or less, to those of us here in Peace Corps Peru.

1) Discussion about bowel movements is more than commonplace. In fact, we essentially informally check-up on each other each day and throughout the day to see how our digestive health is doing. Talking about diarrhea and pooping pants is a completely acceptable topic of conversation. We have even had some charlas (sessions) to learn more about both of them. Biggest take away (from our awesome doctor, thank you): "Never trust a fart, it could be a shart."

2) Similarly, it is totally normal for a person to skip out of a class/days training because they are ill one sense or another. We have two beds in the house turned training center that people can occupy if they are feeling at all under the weather and it's perfectly fine to use them.* Unfortunately, given a few different illnesses - most recently stomach problems and a cold at the same time - I have definitely taken advantage of this resource on a few occasions.
*As a disclaimer, I don't advise ditching out of classes on purpose - especially not Spanish if you're in a lower level, because there are some great conversations and very information sessions to sit in on and be part of.

3) Also along those lines, during FBT (Field Based Training) my group had to endure the snow-capped mountains of Ancash for three hours during one site visit. Poor us, right? During the trip, we climbed a full 2,000 meters and thanks to the pressure and early morning coffee/tea, about half of us had to make a pit stop, twice, for a bathroom break. When I say "pit stop," I mean that the vans pulled over on the side of the road and a gaggle of trainees hopped out of them with fervor, running for any sort of mound or knoll to squat behind. The boys, with their capacity for versatility, took in the sierra view on the side of the cliff "because they could." We all got just a little closer that day. Language professors included. The poor language and tech professors were mere bystanders, but I do pity them a bit for having paid witness to glimpses of bare bottoms and such.

4) Tambien, during FBT we were all thrilled at how nice the hostels were. Even more so, we were positively ecstatic at being welcomed with toilet paper and even in some cases, with jabon (soap) and/or shampoo! "What a lovely moment," I look back with fondness in my eyes, head at half-tilt. It's the little things. Truly.

5) Eating animals we consider pets in the U.S. Well, I have to say that I for the sake of saying I'd done it, I did try cuy, guinea pig. At a grastonomica festival in a colegio (school) a few of us gave in and figured we might as well figure out if we had a taste for the cute little guys or not. Turns out, most of us weren't really fans. My tiny piece tasted much like chicken, however, it was probably one of the whitest parts. Much like any other animal, the darker you get the more gamey it can taste. I don't think I'll actively seek it out in the future, but we'll see how my site visit goes. I'm not sure how I'll react if I walk into my new house family's house to a 10 pound cuy they got just for me and I have to tell them I'm vegetarian. Awkward! You may hold your breath to hear how it goes.

6) Taking an hour out of our language class to learn traditional dances for our Host Family Day festivities. We were dancing around like fools, laughing and trying our hardest to follow our amazing dance instructors/language professors who had all of the moves. I can't wait to get a hold of videos when we all perform. I've tried to upload the video of our practice, but it isn't working at this time. I will try again later. Stay tuned!

7) In PC, when you finish up your three month training adventure and real life begins, you go from working at a pace of 0-60 most days to having minimal activities to occupy your time. In an attempt to circumvent this, many of us have begun contemplating the hobbies we want to pick up while in site. Some people having been buying cheap-o guitars to teach themselves to play, an idea I'm not totally opposed to, except I may be too occupied with my crocheting and, hopefully, lopsided ceramic-making. Fingers crossed I can re-learn the wheal method at site! Anyway, other people want to exercise a ton and/or train for the Lima Marathon. Also a great idea that I'm on board with and hopeful for. Crafts is a big thing, por ejemplo, making things from used items - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! We will work at making that a thing here! I'll keep workingon my list and get back to you. :)

You may be saying to your self "Que es eso?" or simply "What is that?" That, my friends, is my current project. I am working on making a blue and green infinity scarf. While this is my first time to crochet, if not ever, at least in the last 15 years, I am quite content with it. Plus, I must admit, I love crocheting! It looks like I'll be just fine in la sierra after all ;). (Crocheting and knitting are major past-times/multi-tasking activities for a vast majority of the woman in Peru, especially la sierra.)

Cold Showers, FBT, Site Assignment

It has been some time since my last post and the truth is that so much is going on with very little down time for writing and very little Internet access for posting. My apologies. I promise, though maybe I shouldn't depending on how my Internet connection will be, that in about a month I'll start posting so frequently the ideas will become repetitive. Mid-August is when I move to my site, my home for the next two years. When work really begins while downtime simultaneously increases in abundance. But I am getting ahead of myself. As you can imagine, much has happened in the last number of weeks. I am here to tell you about some of the interesting, and even odd things I have experienced thus far in Peru. I also apologize in advance. We are all experiencing this lovely phenomenon where the more Castillo we acquire, the less English we can think/speak/write. Now many of us can barely communicate at all with a limited Spanish vocabulary and our first language slipping through our fingers. C'est la vie.

Ah! Donde esta el agua caliente?
The lovely cold shower. Luckily until this incident we have had hot water in our shower thanks to this nifty mechanical box on the shower wall. That is when we have access to water, which is usually between 6:00am and 10:00pm every day. Still, thi sis more luxury than I had anticipated. Entonces, one day I tried showering after having gone a few days (I promise you don't want to know - the dirty hippie rumors are definitely true for some of us here, myself included. I simply argue that I'm preparing myself for what may be to come). I stepped in after trying to let the water heat up. It never did. 'Tough shit,' I told myself, 'You waited this long to wash your hair. It is time.' I washed one part of myself and then another hoping that at least for my hair the red light on the mechanical heater would kick on. It didn't. I have to tell you, this water was so cold that it literally was stinging my scalp with every drop. My head felt like it was being targeted by a paintball squad of angsty teenagers with something to prove. The craziest part is that I am currently coastal and the idea of having to bathe in mountain runoff water in a month may keep me up at night. Thank you Solar Shower[insert trademark here]! *Fingers crossed*

Dat FBT Do
My program, Desarrollo Juvenil, sent half of us to tour current volunteer's sites, talk with them, and host charlas (teaching sessions) in la sierra in the department of Ancash. The other half did the same in another department on the cosat called Lambayeque. This lovely experienced is called Field Based Training (FBT).

I was sent to the beyond beautiful department (deparmento=state in Peru) of Ancash (see photos below) for one week with 12 other trainees. Before leaving, our itinerary seemed really intense and daunting. I will say that some days did feel a bit lengthy and as jam-packed as the schedule said, but it was wonderful leaving the training center for a change of pace and scenery. I really enjoyed getting to see people's homes, their projects, and acquiring a better sense of where I could fit in. Hard days are sure to come, but right now I feel I am where I should be.

FBT definintely finalized that I want to live in la sierra. After being in Ancash for only one day, I already felt more clear-headed, healthier (the decrease in smog helps), and more content. The days were pretty busy at the start, but as the week progressed we were less overwhelmed with the experience and/or things to do. Of course, Friday came around and I suddenly didn't feel great. 'Could I be experiencing altitude sickness for the first time? Yo no se.' Such was the Spanglish conversation I had with myself while laying in my hostel bed on a firm mattress with a lumpy pillow. Turns out I had a bacterial infection and was put on the ever-dependable Cipro after three days of body aches, chills, fever, and finally my first encounter with bouts of diarrhea. Yay! My buddy Cipro cleared me up not three days later.

I think I was most bumped that I was stuck in bed in the hostel while everyone else got to work with a volunteer's photography club doing a photo-taking scavenger hunt. The fact that such a thing could be a potential project made me so elated I almost rallied to participate that day. I wanted so badly to talk with the volunteer about how the logistics of the program because I am incredibly intrigued and hopeful to start something similar in my site. In addition to this group/project, I would love to hold an exercise/yoga group as a side project, potentially work to build up a school library, create a woman's/mother's group, host a 'summer school' program, and a bit of sex education. Some of these are on the mandatory side, others are simply of my interest for now without knowing what is needed in my community. It all sounds like more than it probably will be, but I am excited!

Ancash :)

Oh you know, just the view from a volunteer's house in Ancash. And John playing with her host cousin.

Drum Roll Please...
I found out my site last week. I had a final interview with the director of our program, Desarrollo Juvenil, on Monday and our sites were announced last Wednesday. I am headed to the land of green rolling mountains, leche, y personas amables (nice people). Looks like I am stuck living in the positively gorgeous department of Cajamarca for two years. Even better, I have been paired to live with my wonderful friend de Houston tambien, Brooklynn! That's right. We're sitemates. I can't believe we will be in such a beautiful place...together! We are headed off for our site visit for a week in a few more weeks and then wrapping up things here and headed out for good. I have been talking with my current host family and I am truly sad to leave them. We are all looking forward to when I come back to visit - hopefully my family de los Estados Unidos can drop by here with me for some cebiche since we will be in the area initially. My host family is insistent! I absolutely adore them. They are such beautiful, generous, helpful, and patient people. I am happy to have this connection here and am excited to meet my family in Cajamarca soon enough! La sierra awaits!

Mi mama anfitriona y mi abuelita

Abuelita, Rosa - Te quiero!

Brooklynn y Yo y Nuestra Sitio!

Cajamarcinos! :D

Much more coming soon!