LET MY SERVICE BEGIN!!!

I really don't even know where to start from. So much has happened this past month, it has been hard to keep track of it all. I do have lots of good news and some bad news. Ill start off by informing everyone what I've been up to in the past month.....
About 3 weeks ago we were given our site assignments. It was a day full of excitement and anxiety since we were being told where we were going to be placed in Peru for the next 24 months. As i mentioned in the last posting, I was hoping to be placed near the coast. Having visited the Andes, I kinda new I would not be comfortable there. Luckily, I've been placed on the coast, near the capital, Trujillo. I'll be living 2hrs. from Trujillo. My town is called Magdalena de Cao. For those of you National Geographic’s fans, there are two articles written about the town. Both full of information regarding the ruins that are near by. It also informs everyone about the recent discovery of a mummy that's about 1800yrs. old. Currently, the mummy is not ready for display. They are still cleaning her up a bit and building a museum that should be ready to display her by the end of this year. I’ll get to more details about my town in just a few. That same weekend we were given our site location we got to go visit it and stay there for an entire week. When we all returned to the training center, it seemed as if though everyone was satisfied with the site they have been given.... almost everyone. As we got back we were informed that one of the aspiring volunteers was not longer going to finish the training
for the Peace Corps. Sad news to all but at least he realized it before he was a year into
his service. Good luck Kev!! Also, that same day I got back from my site visit, I was informed that my laptop was stolen from my house, since I had not taken it with me, trying to prevent such thing. Long story short, it ended up being my host brother that took it, along with a key chain. Luckily, I was able to get my laptop back. Unfortunately, they had erased all my info that i had saved up and installed WindowsXP in español. Three weeks later, I've finally installed the operating system suitable for me, but still working on small details in order for it to work like it did before. I guess i got lucky to have gotten my laptop back, could have been worse. To add on to that, I had to have an emergency evacuation from the house and move to another volunteers house. I stayed there for 2 weeks, pack again, then move to Magdalena de Cao. Can someone say STRESSFULL!?!?!
As our training has come to an end, each and every volunteer has been scattered out through Peru (except for the married ones that always stick together). We had our closing ceremony take place at our beautiful training center on Friday, August 22nd. After swearing in, we grabbed our bags and headed to Mira Flores, one of the nicest areas in Lima, and enjoyed the last time all the volunteers would be together until Reunite, which will be for thanksgiving... can't wait for that. So now we're here all alone and begging this wonderful experience every ex Peace Corps volunteer says they have. This past week hasn’t been so bad for me. I am what considered a replacement volunteer. I have replaced a volunteer that has been here for two years. I've been hanging out with Kevin all week, till now, since he has now finalized his two year service. Kevin has been a crutch for me this past week. He's shown me the community, introducing me to the important people, and has shared some inside detail that's always nice to know. Now the rest of the path is up to me to decide on how i want my experience to be. The counter part they have assigned me to is an artisan group call Red Artesanal Cal Viejo. They primarily work with wood. They make a variety of products, from jewellery boxes to clock frames and replicas of sculptures found in the ruins near by. I will be assisting them in topics such as Marketing, Tech support and the tourist in the area. Aside from that, i will hope to be working with the local schools, and the Mayor of the town. Possibly coordinating summer activities and learning.
In order for you to get a better idea of Magdalena de Cao, here are a few stats: Its composed of about twelve hundred habitants. It has a really small junior and high school, one police station (I got lucky with that one), and one really small health post. Haven’t had a chance to pay them a visit, but will do soon, who knows what kind of business assistance they may or may not need. We are surrounded by acres and acres of sugar cane. Though we are on the coast, and just like San Diego, it can be very desserty here, I feel lucky because its flat, but mountains at the horizon, and lots of green do to the sugar cane fields. The first day I drove into this town, I felt as if though I were in PA. Replace corn fields with the sugar can that is. I am currently living 2 miles from the oceans shore. It’s a perfect distance to go for a run (sorry Pearl, no back yard hills here). For those of you who are interested and would like to run a marathon in Peru, please let me know. It'll be the second annual Pacasmayo Marathon coordinated by a current volunteer. I've just began training for this. It will take place next summer, June or July, that’s winter here in Peru. There are other events such as the 5 and 10k if need to take it easy. There’s plenty of time to train. I'll be waiting for you!!!!
As if it couldn't get any better, I am living about an hr away from the "longest Left hand breaking waves in the world". I remember researching this from the states before i came out here, and what are the odds of me being placed so close to such perfection. Haven’t had a chance to test drive it, but once I do, I will ride you in on the experience!!!!