2 Continents, 1 Marriage Proposal, 1 Perú Map, 1 Sprained Ankle, 1 Haircut and a Whole Lot of Deja Vú

The author of this blog would like to congratulate a certain Matthew Meyer and soon to be Jessica Meyer. Personally I feel responsible for bringing the two together—now I've got to save the stories for the speeches, but let's just say this here author was there from the beginning, and saw this one coming :). The author of this blog learned about Matthew's plans November 11th (11/11/11) one day before the proposal. I asked Matthew if he would propose at Thanksgiving or Christmastime, Matthew said he was planning to do so before—and did so the next day. Matthew never was one to waste time! This author appreciates this as I probably would have burst having to keep this as a secret. Matthew said I could tell people down here as long as it didn't make it back up to the states. This is a good thing because Johanna said I looked ridiculously happy (like a hamster) ready to spill some really good news.

With such joyous news, we move onto the blog I wanted to start a while ago. While Matthew was busy going to ring stores, I was yet again looking for a haircut. Now this year, I actually don't need any shoes repaired—(I do need an ankle repaired and real new shoes—thank you Beth Mentink) and not being all that impressed w/ Jeshu's work, I decided to branch out. A year ago, “I challenged anyone to find a better price.” Little did I know I was throwing the gauntlet down for myself. A year into integrating into Jangas, I knew I could undercut Jeshu's 4 sol price. Kindly rejecting my host mom's offer to chop off my golden Peace Corps hippy locks, I set out on the town.

Now Peace Corps volunteers can't make any money from our town for the teaching we do, but that doesn't mean we can't play the old-fashioned barter system. I've been teaching little Pierro and Diego how to color in the lines for months, and I teach their dad Freddy English. Therefore, I got a free haircut from Pierro and Diego's mom Yanet, and I'm thinking that maybe Jeshu should specialize in the shoes. Lucky for me a haircut will not be in order for some time, as I now have a Peace Corps bet with two of my buddies Mike and Jeff that neither of us will cut our hair until Easter. Jeff says the last time he had long hair he was compared to Screech from Saved By the Bell, so I'm banking on a win here.

A year ago, I talked about Kyle being the town psychologist. Well, here we are a year later, and finding a real psychologist has been my primary project these days. I should have just gone to Kyle in the first place, it would have saved us a LOT of worrying in the short term. Finally the Mental Health Project is back with a psychologist—w/out a psychologist the Mental Health Project is best referred to as John William reads a 660 page book called “Common Ground” (thank you Duffy) and the Great Gatsby while waiting for there to be a psychologist.

A year ago, I talked about painting a world map. We all know the sad story here, but if there's one thing you learn in Peace Corps (I know I've said that line before), it's that you have to keep trying day in and day out. As Norwich's motto goes: We will try. This year, learning from past mistakes, we're painting this map inside, and we're starting w/ a Perú map to get a little motivated first. Painting in the town library means involving the town government. Wading into the Peruvian bureaucracy is like going for a swim in molasses. Our first official painting date involved no painting, lots of cussing, and of course, lots of fun. Angel and David (they're now seniors—were juniors last year) are back for round two—this time enjoying the fact the project will be more permanent, and less rainy. The friends that put the plaster and then painted the map with enamel paint, then told me this was a terrible combination when it started to peal have not been invited to help...

And we also have the moral support of the girl scouts for our map project—who December 14th will have their inauguration as official girl scouts. Make fun, but I believe these are THE FIRST girl scouts in all of Ancash (definitely in Jangas) and they've earned it. A few of these girls have studied with me for about a whole year now-- Robert Baden Powell and his wife Olave Powell—the founder of the scouts and guides respectively, would be proud. I know I am.

So here we are a year later, painting another map, getting my fifth (last?) Peace Corps haircut, searching for psychologists, looking for a new pair of shoes, listening to Stephen Kellogg (new album, but still...), getting ready to read a David McCullough book about a different president, getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with great friends, still getting up every day and trying. In fact, if you just do the last one, the rest seem to take care of themselves.

Next Week: The story of how Kyle, Johanna and I spend S./ 3.50 soles to go to really thermal springs, where we swim by ourselves and have a beautiful view. Ok—some things have changed, we've learned a lot. I Love You all Very Much (this never changes)!

Congratulations Matthew and Jessica—I can't wait for the celebrations to start and send all my love your way. Oh and if you're a non-family/close friend reading this blog, you STILL have no idea what the hell this is all about. Enjoy!