Where does time go?

So it’s been 8 months now since I’ve been in my new community. Got to say I LOVE IT! Compared to how my service was going back in my old community near Trujillo, it’s been a 180 deg change. As I described in my latest blog, I still have tons of work and the community is as charming as when I first got here. I had a fear that people would lose that welcoming charm after a few weeks I were in site, but it’s been the opposite. As I get to meet more people, I become more recognized in the community and people are getting more comfortable with me, allowing them to be more welcoming, that permitting me to gain that trust that all peace corps volunteers need to start working on their projects.
So as I look back and still feel new in my community, I realized that it's been 8 months since I’ve been in this beautiful town in the middle of the Andes. I guess staying busy and enjoying what I’m doing sure helps time go by fast. Not only that but we are currently the oldest Peace Corps group in Peru. Who knew that not have access to internet or no phone service can make time go by so quickly. We’ve already had 3 other groups train and are currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers. Peru currently holds approximately 160 volunteers and by next year they hope to have over 200 in the field.
Several people in our group has brought up the topic of what are our future plans after Peace Corps… work, grad school, travel, what? I’ve been asked by several the same question. Though we still have 7 months left before our Peace Corps service is over, I have been thinking a whole lot about this question. And in reality I don’t have anything planned just yet. I just feel that my options are endless. Not only because I’ve served as a Peace Corps volunteer but also the knowledge I’ve gained throughout my service has been extremely valuable and one of kind. As I study my options for post service, I realize I should get a move on my next step. When I least expect it I know I’ll be done with my service and not having something planned is just not my kind of thing. What I do have planned thus far is to travel a bit in South America for a few months and then head back to FL. and spend lots of quality time with my family shopping, eating, and sharing my crazy memorable Peace Corps stories. After being in the states for a while I’m considering two things, getting a job in the states, depending on how the job market is handling it self at the time, and two, moving to Colombia and gaining some more foreign experience in the business field. Of course that’s all still in the air but are things that I’m considering at the moment.
I’m hoping to install internet in my house next year to help me with research and planning for the future. I feel as if I can’t move forward without internet. Though it’s been nice and peaceful not having internet and catching up on some amazing reading, I believe its time I spoil my self and start surfing the web. Luckily they started offering internet in my community a few weeks ago.

Thanksgiving Vacation:
As some of you already know, we as Peace Corps volunteers get a chance to celebrate American Holidays without being charged any vacation time. During Thanksgiving a few Peace Corps volunteers gathered together and cooked as much food as possible. I almost turned out to be a vegetarian Thanksgiving due to the fact that everyone decided to make every kind of salad possible and a few stuffing platters. I made my famous tostones/Patacones (fried plantain patties with tomato sauce topping). Let me just say they were a hit! After eating as much vegetarian food as possible a few volunteers brought some Alpaca meat to grill. Now that’s some good eating!

What next?
Remember last year when I was supposed to get my knee surgery? Well it’s that time a year again. I’ve been scheduled to fly out next week, jan10th, and possibly go under that wed. or thur. I thought I would be in the states for this but it turn out that Panama is where I will be Medivacked. They plan on keeping me there for about a month while I recover. I’ll be getting my cyst removed and getting my meniscus repaired. They say it’s a minor surgery but still a bit frightening for me. So, if anyone is going to be in the Central American region, come on by and pay me a visit!

New site – More work – One year anniversary!

Ok. So I know I mentioned in the previous blogs that I would write w/ more frequency but in reality you all will know why it has not been possible.
Not sure if everyone knew but I ended up going to the states about 3 months ago right after one of the worst nervous break downs I’ve experienced in Peru and in my life. It all happened right after my house here in Peru got broken into and had everything stolen. I went to the states and was able to clear my head and reconsider my Peace Corps service. After being in the states it helped me to see things from the outside and was able to realize what a Peace Corps volunteer actually does and how much the community appreciates what we do. Unfortunately a few people from my community fucked it all up for everyone….. no more business advising, English classes, surf lessons, etc. I know once I would get back from the states Peace corps would honor me a new community for me to work in. so I thought, I did not go through a ten month application process , 3 months of training, and 8 months working as a volunteer just to give it up so easily and ruin my future opportunities. As I got back from the states I was granted a new site. I am currently living in a small community in the department of Cajamarca or as we PCVs like to call it Caja-mazing! So I went from living three miles from the ocean to living in the middle of the Andes. In total honesty I was feeling a little hesitant in requesting a new site especially in the mountains, knowing how much I love the coast and warm weather, but I knew I was ready for a fresh start. No regrets thus far.
My community: population of 2000 people including outer villages. Lots of agriculture: corn, wheat, oatmeal, etc. It has 3 education establishments, One kindergarten, One Primary, and one secondary. If one gets sick, we do have a health post w/ one doctor and a nurse “available” 24 hours (better not get sick during siesta hour!). The family I live with is composed of a Host mom and dad and a frank my 4y/o host brother. I’m planning on taking this kid to the states and putting him on the show “kids say the darnest things”. He has the mouth of a 40 y/o. Luckily we do have water and electricity 24/7, unlike my old site, but that doesn’t mean I get a chance to shower daily since its so cold up here and there’s no such thing as hot water unless your making a cup of tea.
Projects – work:
I’m primarily working (advising) w/ two businesses. One is a ceramic Association and the other is a qui (guinea pig) farm and slaughter house. I spend more time with the ceramic artisans due to the fact that we are in the midst of putting together a course to improve other ceramicist’s business knowledge and quality of product. The qui farming are just starting out and spend more time with other NGOs since they provide funding to build the slaughter house and get their business up and running. Once that step is complete, I will then work with them more frequently. Other projects, as they are called secondary projects, include teaching English in the primary school (1-6 grade), teaching 3 vocational courses at the high school level to the kids who are about to graduate this year in December. One of the three is taught her in my town. The other I teach with a neighboring volunteer at his community, which is about a 30min. walk. Lastly, the 3rd vocational course is taught in a far rural community that consists of a two hour hike were there’s no running water or electricity. Considering the fact that we have to hike 2hrs to teach the class, we just pack up our camping gear and spend the night there and hike back the next morning. Though I’m still getting a feel for my community and learning what there needs are, I do have in mind a few more projects for the future, such as: A youth business/entrepreneurship club and a community clean up/recycling group.
One year in Peru!!!
Last month on June 6th a few volunteers and I celebrated our one year anniversary in Peru. We all stayed in our favorite hostel in Cajamarca and BBQ while watching FOX news (unfortunately they don’t broadcast CNN at that hostel). Considering everything that has happened to me, I feel as though this past year here in Peru has flown by. I believe I have finally found my niche and am ready to give it my 100% to the remainder of my service (one more yr.)
Upcoming events:
4th of July Pacasmayo Marathon: I was suppose to be training and run this marathon this weekend but after such intense training I developed a cist in my right knee and all I can do now is volunteer and pass out water, yippy!!. But after being in the mountains for 3 months straight I am ready to head to the coast, get some sun and surf the coast.
July 20th, Colombias Independence day: I will be traveling to Colombia and reunite with my family that will also come down from the states. I will be there for about a week then come back to Peru to enjoy another vacation to celebrate Peru’s Independence Day (July 28th). I’m still debating on whether to travel to the Amazon or far south to Lake Titicaca. Any suggestions????
Well, that’s about it for now. Ive also posted my new mailing address and cell number. Though I don’t have cell reception in town, I usually climb up hill for 30 min. to a place were miraculously has cell reception. There I can make phone calls and check my voice mail.

Yet it happened again….

Jorge Chaves International Airport- Lima Peru.

I sit here at the gate still in total awe not believing what just happened and were I’m about to be in a few hours…….
One would think, as I did, that the Peace Corps service is going to go smoothly as planned. Though several of us have never been to the country of which we are serving in, we get a general ideal of what we expect and what we want to make out of it. For the most part that can be some what true. But for me I tell you that it has been the most challenging experience ever. During the past few months, on top of all the robbery experiences I’ve been a victim of and other issues I’ve encountered in my site it's made me quite uncomfortable having to stay there. With out going into greater detail I have decided to change sites. I spoke to my supervisor and country director and explained the situation and tribulations I’ve been having. The meeting went well and I was granted a site change for the upcoming month. UNFORTUNATELY last month, Thursday March 20th as I decided to take an innocent overnight trip into my capital city of Trujillo to pick up some mail and run other errands, I find my self being a victim of yet another and more extreme theft experience. Friday afternoon; as I prepare to get on the bus and journey though the hour and a half trip back to my town I turn on my cell to receive several shocking text informing me that my house was broken into and all my belongings were gone. Having a “bit” of anger already accumulated in me by my past experiences, I could not believe what I was reading. But i confirmed the robbery by others trying to get a hold of me also via text. Not being able to call anyone in my community to get more detail, I did not know what to expect as I rushed to my house. When I arrived, my counterpart which is also my neighbor was waiting for me. We walked into my house to find out that in fact they had taken almost everything I owned….. from fridge, radio, DVD player, bicycle, to my passport and other important documents. “Luckily” they did leave me a few pairs of jeans and some shirts for me to wear. At this point I still could not believe it. WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING??!!??!!

Believe it or not, having to leave my community because of such calamity this past week was quite saddening for me and my fellow neighbors. But in reality I am really glad to get out and start fresh; new community new Peruvian culture. It’s going to be a complete different experience compared to the life I was living on the coast. So after all this mess that’s when I decided that I need a break from it all. And what better place to do it than in the superb south Florida beaches?!?!
I need the time to spent with my family and make sure I still have the strength needed to complete my service. For now I just need to be back at home and eat as much Taco Bell and Chipotle as possible and prepare my self mentally and physically to be living in the Andes for the next year and a half where all they eat is potatoes for all three meals. I will be keeping everyone posted as far as where I will be residing and what my new address will be.

Holidays, NewYears, Carnaval and much more!!!

Holidays in Peru you ask??.....


December was quite an interesting month. All the kids began their end of school year summer vacation. I had a chance to talk to the school director to see if it were at all possible for me to start teaching either English or since I am a business volunteer, Business education. If time permits I wouldn’t mind teaching both. Throughout this summer I had plans on starting summer activities with the kids on top of working with the artisan group I am currently with. Unfortunately I was not able to do any of this this summer do to the fact that I was out of my site for over a month. I’ll get into greater details much later.

Back to how my holidays were spent. Christmas: Here in Peru, much like several other countries in South and Central America, Christmas is celebrated on the 24th. Lots of family’s throw big parties and have a grand feast. Here in my town with a population of a little over 1,000 and with the average income of $Not-Much, little was done for a celebration. As generous and humble as my community members are, they did not let their finances interfere with enjoying the holidays. I spent the night of the 24th with one of the artisans’ family. We waited till midnight of the 24th to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. We ate turkey, drank lots of chocolate accompanied with a bread called “Paneton” similar to fruit cake but is has a bread texture and bits and pieces of chocolate. Paneton is very popular throughout the entire month of December.
The Toy Drive I mentioned in my latter blog went somewhat according to plan. Here in Peru, there are lots of Non Government Organizations (NGO’s) which I am currently working with. These NGO’s usually participate in toys drives all over the country in rural town where toys are not usually distributed. Whenever a toy drive is organized, it’s customary to give the toy with a cup of hot chocolate and a piece of the paneton. The funds that were provided to us for the toy drive for my community was insufficient for the chocolate and the paneton. Though it was mentioned to the kids and parents while distributing the invitations for the toy pick-up, they still showed up to our toy drive with empty cups to be filled with chocolate. I’ll admit, it broke my heart to have to tell them that this Toy drive was with out the chocolate and paneton, it was American style. I’m really going to try to make it up to them this year. Not that they really cared because once we gave them the toys they completely forgot about their empty cups. Gotta love kids!!

The winter season out here transitioning into summer is a very drastic one. Before the Christmas holidays no one would be interested in going to the beach at all, though the temperature was great for spending a weekend on the beach. Right after December 25, everyone heads out to the beach on the weekends. Thus far I have been taking a few kids out there and teaching them how to play American football. It’s funny how some kids believed to know how to play the sport just because they’ve seen it on TV. Who knew I would have turned out to be a football coach throughout this lifetime. Luckily the volunteer that I replaced left a ton of sporting equipment, everything form those plastic baseball bats, to Nerf and professional footballs.

HAPPY? NEW YEAR!!!!

As planned. I decided to head up north, back to Mancora where I had spent thanksgiving. This time there were about 15 volunteers, several of which I had never met. I really enjoy visiting Mancora, such a small beach town with all the amenities. Great Food (it’s hard to find Mexican and sushi here in Peru), nice beaches and surf. Though a small town, I find it to have more tourist than several cities in Peru. I’d have to say that this New Years Eve party was one of the best I’ve had. I prepared my self to the fullest. Had my camera ready, purchased a great New Years party hat (your going to have to imagine what that looked like) to add to it, here in Peru they have several customs for New Years, so I also purchased yellow underwear for good luck through out the new year. They have these yellow underwear all over the place. I purchased mine while eating lunch. These little kids came up to the table and offered me a two for one combo, the “Good luck” yellow underwear and fireworks for only 12 Soles ($4), how could I have refused such deal. Other customs of which I did not participate in is to run around the block with a backpack. They say it’s for the person who wishes to travel. Another is to stuff human clothes and create some kind of dummy. At midnight they burn it and it’s supposed to represent the burning of the old year. They have many more customs depending on which region of the country you’re in. Point being, my new years was a great one!!! Pool party at midnight, fireworks off the shoreline and meeting interesting people from all over this world, until……. This is where it gets good. That same night after midnight a few of my friends met a group of Peruvians. They seemed really cool and nice. Though we have been cautious the entire night, I guess this is where we let our guard down.

We all know how dangerous Mancora can be. Though a really small town, it attracts lots of thieves since there is a great amount of tourists roaming around. This group of people hung out with us throughout the majority of the night, they did not seem like the sketchy type at all. When my friend and I headed back to the Hostel to go to sleep, she realized that she did not have her purse with her. Included were two cameras, once which was mine, two phones, etc. We back tracked to see where she might have left her purse. Through out the entire time we are trying to call the phones in the purse with another friend’s phone, but no luck at all.
After a while of looking around, I get a phone call coming from one of the phones that’s in the purse. I answer but there is no one on the other end. All I can hear is ruckus and music. Seeing how the strip where everyone was at the night before was all closed down, I knew the noise had to be coming from the beach. Realizing it had been a mistake or a miracle from God that the phone called us since there was no one on the other end, I did not hang up…. We rushed to the beach and followed the noise on the other end.

Once we got to the beach we saw the people we were hanging out with the night before. My friend approached them and asked if they knew anything about her purse that was missing. Instantly one of them answers with great furry “don’t come here accusing me of stealing your purse, I did not steal it” , as I heard what was going on I approached them and asked her to calm down and explained that my friend was not accusing her of stealing the purse we just want to know if they knew anything about it. That calmed them down but they were still very upset. Having taken a psychology class in HS and in college I instantly assumed they were guilty (not that one need that to know they are guilty), if not why would they get so defensive all of a sudden. I knew they were not going to collaborate, so I told my friend to leave them alone so we can get closer to the phone which was still on the other line.

I knew if we told them I hade the phone on the other line they would instantly turn if off behind my back. As we got closer and closer to the phone, my voice got so clear it sounded as is I were talking to my self. I knew it had to be less than 5 ft. away. I had a gut feeling that it was behind a table at which a lady was selling appetizing snacks. I asked her calmly if she knew anything about my friends purse, she replied not with much attitude but with a little bitchiness in her tone. At the time I dared not to go behind the table and start looking for the purse… I was stuck between two decisions, go behind and possibly find it or go behind and not find it and get kicked out by the husband.

All of a sudden a person comes up to the stand to order some snacks, as she was getting his products bagged, he looks at me and points with great discretion behind the ladies stand. He knew what I was looking for since the ladies were making such a fuss about them not taking the purse. I took that guys advise and without hesitation I went behind the ladies stand and started moving boxes of beer, trash, and other stored products. Buried away in between two boxes of beer and lots of sand I found my friends purse. Still, the business owner pleads guilty. However she does admit that it was one of the two ladies that handed her the purse for her to hold. She said she did not know it was a stolen purse, YEAH RIGHT!!

Unfortunately when I opened up the purse, the two cameras where no longer there, but the phones were. I hung up the phones, grateful to have at least found half of what was taken away from us.
We go back to the other ladies and ask them once more, WHERE ARE THE CAMERAS THAT WERE IN THE PURSE?!?! Again they play stupid and get angrier. We leave things as they are and head over to the police station to report what happened. After an hour of dealing with the cops, a police officer finally shows up in a truck to pick me up and show them were it all happened. At this point I did not think the people were still going to be there. “Lucky me”, they were. The cops interrogate the women at the beach as well as the store owner. The two women begin arguing with the cops while I’m dealing with another lady.

After a few minutes of talking to her and asking her why shy is acting so frustrated and still playing innocent knowing that she is obviously guilty. She builds up so much anger and with great frustration swings at me with the palm of her hand. Not expecting such aggression, I was not prepared. POW!!! My nose cracks and blood begins to gush out. Not that I was going to hit her back or anything….. but another cop comes by to “control” the situation. She begins to smack, kick and scratch him... concluding in both of them wrestling on the beach.

After a good minute of watching I hear everyone freak out and say she got a hold of the gun but lost it in the sand. From both of them wrestling, it goes to both of them looking for the abandoned gun. It looked like a Sunday episode of the Nickelodeon show when kids are looking for surprises in the green goo. I was really surprised to see how a lady was able to get a cop on the ground and get a hold of his gun. Having an uncle in the Police department and myself having attended a youth police academy in Cleveland, I know you’re suppose to guard your gun like your privates. Things got so hectic, while I was still talking to people and asking if they knew anything about the cameras, I hear a gun shot go off……. Luckily it was a police officer shooting a stray-bullet to calm people down. By then I was so fed up with it all and had no luck finding the camera I decided to head to the clinic.

Though I was not able to find the camera, I do feel good I found the purse with the phones and during the crazy beach scene several people came up to me and thanked me for getting the cops. Supposedly they were victims by the same ladies but did not want to approach them…….. Now I know why.

All of this concluding in broken cartilage and a small fracture to my nose. By day 3 I could not deal with the pain any longer and a nose that looked like one of the 150 varieties of a Peruvian potato. After getting X-rays in my capital city, the Peace Corps doctors required I get the procedures done in Lima.

After spending a few weeks in Lima, my nose looks much better (almost normal). Till this day, the swelling has gone done, resulting in the side affects…. when I move the tip of my nose I can feel the cartilage crack or scrape against the bone; another odd one is when I squeeze the tip it make a suction noise. I believe there’s an air pocket in there that did not heal correctly. Those are just my theories, ill have to wait till I go back to the doctor to see what it really is. For now I’m just hoping that with time it’ll attach itself together.
I guess the yellow “Good Luck” underwear doesn’t bring as much luck after all……

CARNAVAL EN PERU????

Believe it or not there is such a thing down here. It’s celebrated in the department of Cajamarca. Surrounded by the beautiful Andean mountains range; people came together to celebrate. Cajamarca has a unique style of celebrating though. Having been in New Orleans just last year, we all know their style of celebrating is to have as many beads as possible and to give it to the women who “earn” it. And by “earning” I mean flashing you. Here in Peru, it’s a little different. Yes, they have the typical parade which last about 4 days, lots of people in the streets but it’s not your typical carnival. Here it is customary to throw water, oil, paint, flour…etc. A few of my friends purchased Super Soaker water guns which ended up being a great investment. So imagine….. over 15 Peace Corps Volunteers getting ready in one room filling up paint into water balloons, filling up paint/water into the water guns, and painting ourselves just to be a little camouflaged. The way we left that room doesn’t compare to what a Vegas hotel can look like after a week of partying…. (so I hear).

This day of painting and partying is thrown on the Saturday right before Ash Wed. Prior to and after that Saturday, you still have to be careful. People will still throw water balloons all day and night, especially the ones that have been drinking all week and cant get enough of it, *sigh*. Carnival is celebrated here from Feb. 7th-March 7th, though the big party and parade was last weekend. At the end of the month they will have another grad celebration with the burial of the carnival king.

And of course, for those of you who have been keeping up with my blog will know that I have a tendency to be the one who gets robbed, so yes…… I got ROBBED AGAIN!!! This happened half an hour I arrived into Cajamarca. My friends and I walked into the plaza where the celebration is being held. There were lots of people everywhere; when all of a sudden this guy decides to trip towards me coming from the back. What looked like I was helping this guy out concluded in him pick-pocketing me and taking my wallet. When I helped this guy off of me I decided to check on my wallet 10 sec. later, but that was 10 sec. to late. I keep thinking I’ve learned my lesson by getting so many things stolen, but it just seems to keep happening. In a way I guess I’ve learned my lesson by not getting the same thing stolen twice…… but I do have a year and a half left so I won’t speak too soon.