T*I*P

Dear Poor Blog Followers,

This week is the final week to finish up my community Diagnostic, which means I have procrastinated majorly, and have written a blog entry to the tune of K'Naan's T.I.A (This is Africa). Naturally it's called, T.I.P, (This is Perú). I promise, it is probably my last music venture for the two years. The rhymes don't all match, but if you know the song (and I highly suggest it, and HIGHLY SUGGEST you listen to TIA at the same time as reading this blog entry), it will make a moderate amount of sense.

Happy Early Thanksgiving to everyone, I love you all and hope you enjoy, will try to get a foodie-blog up for the big day.


T.I.P. By John William Meyer, Original Lyrics by K'Naan

I hope you got your passports, and cipro pills

I take families (and friends) on a visit anyday

They never eaten real guinea pig anyway

I know way all the volunteers and cheers say

Welcome to the moderate-sized town we call Jangas

Well students is paying attention likes it's Tuesday

Ah Youth from the Hood huh who say?

My segundo students will tell you how to algebra

My cuarto students are quick to grab the paint brush

Around here we make the middle-aged women blush

Colegio to Health Post in a Rush

So we don't really give a fuck about your excuses

This is Perú Hurray

TIP, Hurray, TIP, Hurray, TIP, Hurray

It means This is Perú, Hurray

You don't know how rainy it is here

The streets is cement in these parts here

You don't how crammed it is in here

There's twenty-two people in this combí here

You don't know how uncomfortable it can get here

I live with a random family in these parts here

You don't how dirty I am here

The town hasn't had water in a month here

Let's Go.

I walk with nurses up to Jahua ANYDAY

I've got nothing else to do ANYWAY

I know all the donkey trails here

Welcome to the continent of corruption

Where Fujimori used budgets as bank accounts

Where Peace Corps leaves quickly if a Chavez-ista gets won

No Internet
But many Volley Nets

With the cats and guinea pigs running all around the rooms these days

I deliver what they need like sex-ed lectures

I learned from the deadly streets of Middlebury, no regrets

And I wasn't ever looking for extra cred

But those streets bred me to volunteer

It's no secret we know how to speak Spanish

But Peace Corps sent me to a Quechua site

Used to be advanced, now I'm a beginner

And I read a lot cause I'm bored

When I walk through the streets like Shaquille O'neil

little children say ¡Hola Jhon!

The Jangas game just got itself a new gringo

This is Perú, Hurray

TIP, Hurray, TIP, Hurray, TIP, Hurray

It Means This is Perú

You don't know how rainy it is here

The streets is muddy in these parts here

You don't how confusing it gets here

I don't speak both languages in these parts here

You don't know how loud it can get here

There are a lot of religious festivals in these parts here

You don't how fun it is here

My incredibly vague job is to work with youth in these parts here

Ha, it's Profe Jhon. This is Perú. Ka-ka-ka-boom

¡Read it From the Bottom Up!

First off have you read the list yet? If not, look at the title again! Ok, enough me being a tool, in all honesty, this list are some of the funnier aspects of my life. I really do love it here, lots of great friends, and the culture is absolutely beautiful, with amazing landscapes, beautiful languages, wonderful weavings and dress, and fun kids. The Map is almost complete, and I have had more support with that than I can thank, it looks great, and I'll post a picture when it's done (the one above is of a much earlier phase, but I loved the picture). Working on the Community Diagnostic, we're going to have a 5K for Thanksgiving, REAL family visiting in December (YAY) and in January we'll really hit the ground on some cool projects. In the meantime, I hope everyone is doing well, and for those of you who are looking for a more “Foodie” entry, to celebrate Thanksgiving I will do a review of Peruvian Cuisine: It will include my thoughts and experiences on and with Ceviche, Potatoes, Rice, Potatoes, Soup, Potatoes, Guinea Pig (does it really taste like chicken?—but it looks so much like a rat?), Cat, Corn, Pasta, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Inka Cola, and Potatoes.

1a. Oh come on? You really think I'm going to end that cheesily?
Soups from Celebrations at the Colegio (School)—It will have you in the bathroom before you can say, “No Gracias.”

1. The wonderful kids. They're definitely the reason I'm in Peace Corps.

2. Punto Azul Ceviche in Lima. I swear to God, Jesus himself squeezes the Lime.

3. Host Family Arguments or Discussions in Quechua at 6 a.m.--It saves you from using an alarm clock, and occasionally can be pulled in to make your dreams weirder, as we don't have Malaria Medications to do that here.

4. “Jerga” (Slang) from My Host Brothers—My Quechua classes may not start until January, but I definitely have a leg up on most Volunteers in terms of dirty slang words.... Unfortunately most of them are not fit for publication (Sorry friends, send me an e-mail with a request, but Moms, and Harvard Professionals—although I was the one to introduce you to I'm on a Boat to you Aunt Dorreen--read this blog!).

5. Being approached by Drunks for on the spot English Lessons-- “My name is” I'm not sure at this point you could pronounce that correctly in Spanish buddy.

6. Hearing Gringo, Quechua, and then seeing Middle Aged Women giggle in my direction. Hola Chicas :).

7. My 83 Year Old Neighbor (and this one's serious) who told me she wants to see my World Map completed before she died! Technically, we are government workers, so what do you expect? I'll do the best I can Señora!

8. Writing “Solicitudes.” A Solicitud is a type of formal Peruvian Document which you need to write when you ask for a service or materials or an event space. For instance, we have to write a solicitud for help from the Police in our Thanksgiving 5 K. In the document you promise your event will not only benefit EVERY SINGLE person to the community, but there's an off-hand chance that it might cure cancer.

9. Sheep on a Roof. Where else is your sheep going to get its tan?

10. Wait China and Japan are two different countries?—This one is for you Ben Cotton—Here they call people that appear to have ancestry from China, Chinos—it's really not meant to be offensive, and by the end of my home-stay in Lima I started to do it with our amiga Carla (I know Ben, I'm sorry). Alberto Fujimori, the old thief of a President—w/ a clearly sounding Japanese name, here is to this day known as “El Chino.” I'm hoping the map helps to clear some of this issue up.

(Start Here) To all Loyal Followers: To celebrate my new charger, thank you fellow PCV Colleen Brunell, I am going to write a Top Ten List of Why I love Peru, and specifically why I love Jangas, Ancash (which is better). Some will be serious, others, will not.