I'm not even sure I should be allowed to have a blog anymore. I rarely write in it, I never send updates, there's no general theme to it, in other words: I'm less dependable than a guinea pig's sunday plans. However, I do feel guilty about all this, so here goes nothing.
Oftentimes, people question if a Peace Corps Volunteer actually does anything at all—ok, so you say you had some great projects, but if that's really true, how'd you manage to read every book ever written and stay more current with television than your stateside friends?
As you learn in these two years—there's actually more hours in the day then you ever thought.
Therefore to show we actually do quite a lot down here and out of boredom (or craziness), I've decided to critically interview myself:
I mean this is a funny question for a Peace Corps Volunteer, but have you (I) been to busy to write in the blog?
Great question John William. Absolutely not. In August I read David McCullough's Great Bridge a 600 page tome about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge—obviously, I had some time on my hands.
What other books have you read recently?
Well, now that you ask, in the past few months I've read : Great Bridge (Great book), Cloud Atlas,
Cloud Atlas, really? After all your bitching about how you couldn't get into it?
Yes, and I LOVED it, and highly recommend it. I had never never travelled from the year 1849 to 2300 to 1849 in one single book. Now I have, and I DON'T regret it, thanks Matthew :), 4 years late, but you know how the saying goes.
And what else?
Farenheight 451 (interesting read), Siddhartha (famous eastern philisophical book that I liked—Ohmmmm), Manhunt (The captivating 12 day search for John Wilkes Booth—it doesn't end well for him—thanks Duffy), Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs (a fun look at 1990s and early 2000s popular culture , thanks Duffy). I am currently reading Bananas which is a book about, well, you can probably guess. It's about the United Fruit Company.
Oh come on—is all you do read?
Well no of course, Johanna and I are currently watching The Wire, Big Bang Theory, and I am enjoying the new (to me) 5th season of 30 Rock.
Books and TV shows, typical Peace Corps I see.
Easy there—we also celebrated the Jangas Town Fiesta this past weekend by eating lots of pizza made in the Italian Parroquia (a little taste of Italy, right here in the heart of the Andes :), playing fooze-ball and dancing our hearts out to cumbia music in the Plaza under the insane fireworks.
Parties, Books and Movies? Are you even changing any lives?
Easy, everyone's a critic (especially myself apparently). These are all parts of Peace Corps goals 2 and 3 and I've also been getting a WHOLE lot busy in projects.
What are you going to do, paint another map? Cause that went so great last time..
Ok, that was a low blow. And yes, Absolutely—this time indoors and of both Perú and the World.
That seems reasonable, what else you got on your plate?
Well, let's see, as I explain it I have 6 Main Projects: Organic Gardens, Mental Health in the Grade School, Youth Health Promoters, Girl Scouts, DREAM Mentoring, Sexual Health PEPFAR Project.
Wait a minute—did you say girl scouts?
Well, they're technically called “Guía Scouts” here.
That's not my point—you're a girl scouts troop leader?
Well I'm technically called a “Guidador.” Fine, yes girl scouts is a big group here in Perú, and we recently had a training on how to start a group. After living in a culture that can understatedly be called machista, I am doing what I can to foment young girls being leaders in their communities. Boys are allowed too and we have a few, we don't discriminate. We read, do mathematics, sing songs, play games, and generally kick ass.
Do you bake cookies?
If these are the type of questions you (I) are going to keep asking, I'm going to ask that we change subjects, you've (I've) obviously lived in this machista culture a little long.
Fine, what is Mental Health in the Grade School?
Working with the Municipality, we contracted a psychologist to work with a few of the tougher cases in the colegio, and together we give dynamic lectures about self-esteem, communication, and planning for the future.
Interesting, that sounds like an important but very frustrating project.
That's exactly how I'd describe it.
I've decided we're going to go into a Rapid Fire Round.
That's a great idea.
Thanks.
You're Welcome.
Quechua or Spanish:
Spanish though I can make people laugh in Quechua.
Fútbol or Volíbol
Until I busted my ankle, volley, now neither.
Favorite Wire Character?
Stringer Bell. Omar is a close second, Oh Indeed.
Favorite Book?
Cutting 4 Stone
Favorite Food?
Please, I can hear them from here :). Cuy—don't knock it till you try it. Ceviche a close second, Oh Indeed.
Wish for rest of service?
Friends come visit
Highest Play Count on Itunes:
Sk6ers “4th Street Moon”
How big of a dork are you for doing this interview?
No comment.
3rd Year Extension?
No, but best of luck to friends that plan to!
Biggest shock?
Time—it's gone a little fast.
Peace Corps Africa or South America?
Oh Please, does that even need an answer? T*I*P.
Anything you'd like to say to your friends and family back home?
I love you all a lot, take care, come visit if you can, stay in touch, and I'll see you ALL in Aug. 2012.
Most Successful Project:
Youth Health Promoters. This past weekend we did a sexual health campaign for adolescents in the small rural community of Vicos (see Picture). We had the kids draw their bodies to talk about anatomy, it took about 15 minutes of nervous giggling until someone finally drew the “rani” (quechua for penis—I told you I could make people laugh in Quechua). We showed a video on teen pregnancies, played dínamicas about safe sex, and played games about self-esteem. Kyle had the fun task of showing the STD powerpoint in front of a very conservative crowd. He did a great job.
Afterwards some of the mothers that were at the health campaign asked our health promoters (in Quechua) about how they could protect themselves from STDs and unwanted pregnancies. They also asked when we were coming back. This was a very proud moment of us, as for the first time we began to realize that in small, but important ways this project is sustainable and will have a positive, lasting impact on the communities.
Would you have any advice for anyone considering the Peace Corps?
Think a lot about it, pray you don't get teaching English in Eastern Europe and go for it! These have been my most challenging 16 months of my life, but I've grown more than I ever imagined, and met more inspiring kids than I ever thought possible. Sometimes it's really just as simple as my 80 something host-grandmother hitting me on the way out of the bull stadium and smiling a huge grin as she says “Gringo” and laughs.
Are the tax dollars worth it?
I guarantee that Peace Corps causes more smile/giggle per dollar than ANY other federal program. Seriously, we write tri-annual reports on these numbers.
Now excuse me, I've gotta go read about bananas and watch a 30 Rock, I've got a lot going on tomorrow.
Thanks for your time.
My pleasure.
Good Night John William.
Good Night John Boy. From Ancash, Perú, we (I) wish you a Great Night, signing off, 8:00 p.m, Thursday, September 29th.
