Thanksgiving Take Two

As everyone starts (is way into, I know I know) to get into the holiday spirit, I will regale my reading public (the 10 family and friends that read this piece of work + 1 or two unfortunate people in Russians that have stumbled to this address after some odd google searches...) with the story of the 2011 Peace Corps Perú Thanksgiving.

As all of you know (unless you're just getting in from a bizarre google search somewhere in Russia) last year I organized Thanksgiving. This year I didn't. Oddly enough it wasn't as stressful. Our job was to be in Trujillo on Thursday. Check. Our job was to eat ceviche on Friday and swim in the cold Pacific Ocean and play frisbee. On Saturday we ran the second annual Peace Corps Turkey Trot. The course was along the beach, to the dock, to the rock, to the dock and back. Ancash friend Kyle Blair would have won the race had he not confused where the finish line official towel was. Congrats goes to La Libertad volunteer Chris Wilson who won many events that day.

Fortunately for us, we had some heavy hitters added to the roster—Kate brought some serious sweet potato biscuits and Julianne brought some serious southern cooking in the form of sweet potato and brown sugar.

The list:

20+ Peace Corps Volunteers

4 Turkeys

15 Kilos of Potatoes

Kilos and Kilos of Apples

10+ Desserts

3 Beach Days

More Sugar than I'd like to admit

With so many delicious dishes prepared, what did I make you ask? Please. Meyers make applesauce. That's how we do. From the first Peace Corps get-together on (July 4^th, 2010) I have prepared applesauce. With some help from Liz, we rocked the apple sauce. We joked that it was probably the best of all dishes—we kidded ourselves with this. Until Erin's host brother, who speaks pretty good english (just doesn't have all his idioms down), asked “what is this apple dish?.” Erin responded that it was applesauce. Her host brother says “it kills me.” A job well done. While I am very excited to be home for Thanksgiving next year, I will definitely miss my Peace Corps friends. After two years we've got this thing down to a science, and I might be a little culturally shocked when we actually celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday next year. A crazy month past Thanksgiving, and I give thanks for health, friends and family—back to the basics.

From Russia (Perú) with love.

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!

An Interview by and with John William Meyer

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.

DREAMing about Peace Corps

I promise to get better on this blog--here's an article I wrote about the presentation I gave back in July to some DREAM kids in Burlington. Will do a Jangas write up soon, we've got some serious animal happenings to discuss: Oso (Bear) goes down, Karina our 14 year old dog (oldest dog in Perú) no more, Oliver Anchor Huamaliano Meyer (her orphaned (Oliver Twist) puppy son) pees in my room, the rooster has a baby (still not dead, though he is a dedicated father), and Kyle's approaching birthday will give me an inside look at eating guinea pig (from start to finish). More in weeks to follow. Much Love from Ancash.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


On Tuesday July 5th, 2011 I gave a presentation about my Peace Corps service to several elementary and high school students who live in affordable housing in Burlington, Vermont.

I've known about Peace Corps since I was in diapers and my dad told me stories about his two life changing years in The Gambia in 1967-1969. When my brother did Peace Corps some thirty eight years later we visited him at his site in Lindi, Tanzania.

Unfortunately this level of familiarity with Peace Corps is not the case for many Americans, especially Americans who live in lower socio-economic classes. Hardly any of the children present had heard of Peace Corps, nor knew that they too could one day serve as volunteers.

The elementary and high school students are members of the DREAM mentoring Program (Directing through Recreation Education Adventure and Mentoring). The DREAM program matches college students with children in affordable housing with the goal that this mentoring relationship de-mystifies the idea of a college education for the families and children involved. On July 5th, we took the program a step further: we worked to de-mystify Peace Corps service for the children of the Franklin Square community.

After showing the short 50th anniversary video about Peace Corps, I shared pictures and stories from my first year of Peace Corps service in Jangas, Perú. The kids had pretty standard reactions—trying to learn a few words of spanish, oohing and awing at the snow-capped mountains, remarking how “hot” the popular reggaeton artists Chino and Nacho were, and screaming “ewwww” when the picture of guinea pig on a plate came up in the show.

However, not all the responses were typical. Many of the children in the DREAM program are recent African refugees from Kenya and commented on the similarities between their previous life in Kenya and life in Perú-- remarking excitedly about my host mother's stove: “that's how we used to cook in Kenya!”

When I mentioned how Peace Corps is an option for all American citizens, a few eyes lit up at the idea. As Peace Corps heads into its next fifty years, many of its volunteers will be refugees who grew up fast in communities similar to the communities they will serve in. These volunteers will bring a whole new meaning to cultural understanding in their service. They will yet again re-define what being American means to the rest of the world. As a soon to be Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, working together as a community of RPCVs we must ensure that every child, regardless of where they are from, knows that Peace Corps, just like college, is out there waiting for them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Look Ahead at Next week's Entry:



Oliver Anchor Huamaliano Meyer (Anchor is the Only brand of milk he drinks)

News Flash:

After a bismal April performance of one blog entry, I'm going for it in May. It's time for a Jangas Animal Update.

I often get chastisted from Beth for my “resort” Peace Corps Housing. OK Beth, it's true, I have a toilet, you have a letrine, my showers are teasingly hot, and yours are taken with a bucket in your host family's “living room,” but you ain't got nothing on me in terms of animals.

For the non-Meyer family readers who haven't seen my house, my door opens directly to the outside. When I wake up I am in a cuy (guinea pig) zone. My family raises free range cuys—and yes they taste like chicken—in fact, they're delicious. Cuys are a serious business in Ancash, recently my host mom and I headed to Huaraz where she sold four cuys (I believe at about 20 soles each).

My host mom Maximiliana works constantly cleaning, feeding and caring for this economic investment. Mostly cuys eat alfalfa, fruit peals and scraps. As an “economista” they seem to me to be an incredibly efficient investment, and I seriously think they could be an international development project waiting to happen in other parts of the world.

That brings us to the local Jangas crime report. No mom, it's not real crime, Jangas continues to be a very safe environment. Well, I can't lie, it was a real crime. Lonchera, the family dog (I should really use past tense here...) has had it in for the cuys for some time. A few months ago, Lonchera killed a few cuys. Then came the tragic day. My host-sister was home. My host-sister Margarita loves to clean, so one day it came time to clean the animals. I participated (host-family integration, Peace Corps Goal number 2). I am sure we are the only family in Jangas that cleans its animals. Which I'm definitely not gonna complain about, believe me (I don't have fleas in my bed, while friends of mine do...).

So there we sat, rinsing, scraping, and shampooing the various mutts and kittens we have here in the Huamaliano-Cueva-Meyer residence. Lonchera was last, and looked good after her bath. Now recently I've read The Devil in the White City (thank you Duffy), so I'm pretty sure Lonchera had some of the devil in her, and to celebrate her new cleanliness wiped out 7 cuys. She ate a few of them, and killed the others for sport. Seven cuys is a major economic loss, Lonchera was not.

Before she left for another world, Lonchera gave birth to Oso (Bear). Oso is a fat little round dog that gets along well with the cuys (he better).

Lonchera is not the only one that has attacked the cuys in cold blood. Remember the adolescent rooster? Well he's all grown up now. So much so, that he doesn't like to be touched anymore. The other day when it was time for him to go out to pasture, we all tried to corner him. Remember how my door opens to the outside? The fucker ran for it, ran to the back of the room, ignored Katherine's yoga mat, and jumped for the bed, stepping on my pillow (I'm pretty sure this move was just plain gratuitous) before Marco grabbed him.


A few days earlier that week, the rooster stepped on a cuy, killing it. Let's just say it wasn't his week, and let's just say (again) that I think it's time for a chicken dinner. My birthday is coming up after all.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Side Note: While I have your attention, or at least some of it, I will make an abrupt transition (Matthew's favorite type :).

I would like to use this forum to give a shout out for Matthew Meyer and Jessica Sayre to all of our family and friends (and a few people that read this blog in Ukraine—eso!).

Congratulations Matthew and Jessica for all your hard work over the past four years. The world now has two more intelligent, hard-working, caring doctors. Thanks for the dedication guys. Love you both very much, and will be thinking of you on Sunday.

Sandwiches, Big Birds and my 3.5 Days of Beach Service

2 out of every 5 Peruvians are entrepeneurs. Perú at 40,3% has the highest rate of entrepeneurship in the world, with the world's average being 9,3%.

For our Semana Santa celebrations, my fellow Ancash Volunteers and I headed for the coast—Mancora which is a few hours from the Ecuador border. Mancora has great waves, great food, great sand, and great sun.

In between sunburning myself, surf lessons, boat cruises, (remember, it's all part of protecting and defending the constitution), I realized that this beach was unlike any I'd ever been on, and that in fact it really wasn't a beach at all--it was the freest market I'd ever seen. Up and down the beach there were local entrepeneurs selling everything from the typical rip off sunglasses to a wicker mat you could use to lay on (I almost bought one).

Over my three days, I saw the following things being sold or rented from hunreds of vendors: soda sandwiches, necklaces, earrings, ice-cream, popsicles, sunglasses, beer, umbrellas, hats, etc. There were artists offering to make 2 week tattoos, and hair stylists offering different styles of braids. No one owned a store, no one needed to, a box or a backpack are the only necessities to compete.

By the second day I had already changed my behavior to meet the beach's supply. I started bringing a few soles to the beach. I bought coconut juice from a man that chopped the coconut right in front of me. We rented umbrellas and bought soda from the Avon Barksdale of the West side of Mancora (seen in picture, wearing light blue and white—she really did control the beach).

But most of all, we bought sandwiches. Our favorite vendor by far was the “Sandwich lady.” Where else in Perú can you get a stomach-satisfying piping hot, fresh off the moto-taxi fresh tomato, basil and mozzarella sandwich? Whenever a volunteer would arrive, inevitably, the first question they'd ask was “has the sandwich lady been by yet?.” We learned that she buys them for 3 soles, and sells them for 3.50, selling 80 on a good day. She offered to make extra for our bus trip back.

Even the “boat cruise” we went on was the work of a fellow Volunteer contracting a fisherman to take us out on the water for about an hour to see the sunset. Needless to say, my vision of the Spirit of Ethan Allen were quickly erased.

My favorite example of the intense creativity of the local entrepeneur came on the second day. A huge bird (I think it was a crane), landed near us and wasn't flying away. A huge crowd formed around it.

As the bird didn't interest us that much, we decided to go for a swim, and on the way back I joked that there'd be someone standing with the bird offering to take your picture with it for a couple soles. When we got back, my friend told me that recently a guy had offered her the opportunity to take a picture with the bird for a comfortable 8 soles.

It all made me think back to a conversation Matthew and I had a few years back in Italy as we watched street vendors enter discotecas selling roses, glow in the dark sunglasses and glow sticks—Matthew wondered aloud if the US lessened its laws against strict street vendors if just a few people might leave the US's giant informal market in drug trafficking to start their own small business.

As I got on the bus back to Huaraz, to climb those 10,000 feet again, they started loading people's luggage. Our backpacks landed next to a basket full of about 20 chickens—undeniably another small profit in a neighbor's small business.

A Peace Corps Week

Before I receive an angry message from Jean saying I haven't blogged in a while, I figured I'd get one up. Jean—I'm still waiting for that e-mail by the way—passive aggression is big here by the way.

I think the reason I haven't put a blog up in a while is that after ten months in Perú, the not-so ordinary is beginning to feel ordinary. Sheep being lowered from a roof on a rope—seen it, uncomfortable moments with host family—felt them, Quechua—been talked about it in, rain—been pelted by it for 6 months, guinea pig- ate it, bread-helped cook it, cultural events—immersed self in, cultural music—danced to.

So instead of a specific memorable day in the Peace Corps, I figured I'd share a week with y'all. Today is Monday, and my memory is fresh—so let's see what I did today.

Monday:

Teach English in the colegio (English teaching is almost undoubtably every Youth Development PCV's least favorite task)--Ian, Kyle and I all teach it on Monday to get it done with. Today I taught some question words and greetings. It was riveting.

Internet in Tarica—very slow, not recommended, but a great price.

Lunch at homestay—very bland (stomach issues), not recommended, but great price.

Preschool Classes 3-5 p.m.-- Very Fun, definitely recommened, incredible price. This is a carry over from Vacaciones Utiles—every Monday and Wednesday, me, Marionella, Santa, Yessenia, Pierro, Angie, Diego, Jilary and various other 3-8 year olds get together for two hours of coloring, art activities, children's stories, mathematics or if you get lucky like today fruit salad making. Eventually the idea is to expand the program with high school trained teachers.

Volleyball-- From 5-7 I use my 1 meter 83 centimeters to drop bombs on my host-country partners. There's way more technique than I initially thought. Unfortunately, there's always a bet on the game, and I'm definitely down a few soles.

Tuesday:

Classes in Jahua—Jahua is a caserio—small town located about 30 minutes walking from Jangas. It's a beautiful hike—as the coolest morning commute I'll ever have, literally through the Andes, this is one of the several moments during each day where I am happy to have ended up in Peace Corps. Sorry Teach For America, but I don't think you've got anything on us here.

The challenge of work in Jahua comes in terms of language. While we've had a few Quechua classes, anyone that has ever studied languages knows that you ain't gonna be teaching a math lesson after studying the Quechua greetings.

However, I have a great, very manageable class here. I help the principal out with the 4th graders—6 girls and 4 boys. The kids stare at me with a little more uncertainty than normally, as they translate both spanish and the language of mathematics. Ocassionally they ask me questions in Quechua, where I do the best I can, picking up the spanish they mix in. This class is definitely a challenge, but the kids and I are getting to know each other, and we're already making some progress. For those that watch West Wing—sometimes it's about getting the kids to go to the blackboard—and although these are some of the shyest kids (and especially girls) I've ever worked with—they're starting to take those steps to the white board. It's a start.

Meeting with Mentors—

This is probably the most exciting program we have going on down here. For those that know me well, they know that throughout college, I mentored Maverick, and in my senior year of college, I fell in love with the DREAM Program. Well, it took about 9 months, but along with Beth Mentink, my mid-western partner in development, we now have a college mentoring program called “Sueña” (need I translate?). With some of the volunteer teachers from Vacaciones Utiles, we started a program that has 6 college students from Huaraz that go visit kids on Fridays. We're working on recruiting more mentors, fundraising, and forming the important relationships with the awesome youth group Beth started. Activities so far include: a birthday celebration, International Day of Water Celebration, and Mazamorra Sale (boiled pumpkin innards—actually really delicious)...

On Facebook—it's called “Sueña Chavin.”

Wednesday: Planning health Promoters and More Pre-school

Thursday: Jahua, Planning and Homework for Promotores de Salud (more on this later).

Friday: Planning and Sueña Program (Another breath-taking hike—it's 40 minutes if you're alone walk fast, it's longer if you form a mentoring program and now don't walk quite as fast...)

Saturday:

Youth Health Promotores! Kyle and I just started this program—the idea is to train about 30 adolescents in preventative health—nutrition, safe water practices, safe cooking practices, safe sexual practices, psychological health etc, so the adolescents can then work in their schools, families, and communities, sharing the information. It is by far the most fun project we have going—I'm not sure who has more fun, the kids or Kyle and I—but I think that's the whole idea of it.

Sunday:

Sunday is no day of rest here. It's business day. After my community analysis, I realized there was a major gap in the breakfast market in Jangas. Ceviche or Chocho (a form of Ceviche with beans) is great—but for breakfast? Really? Apparently acid-reflux isn't an issue here. Anyway, with a few of the JUMPers (Jóvenes Unidos Motivados para el Progreso—Young People United Motivated for Progress)--we sell pancakes and Jello. We were making about 5 soles, until Alberto came over, messed up and put too much baking soda into the mix—thanks to Alberto's clever business strategy, this past weekend, we made about 10 soles on pancakes, 5 on jello.

So that's my basic week—at least the work part. As you'll notice—there's not a whole lot going on at night. Yup, you read it correctly. That's why I have time to write blogs as long as this one, and in depth e-mails to all my friends :). Some nights, I'll watch pirated movies (they usually are scatched and frustrating), other nights I'll talk to host family or friends, other nights I'll talk on the phone with real family, or Peace Corps friends (free in-network talking is amazing), every once and a while we go dancing, but overall reading, writing, and mostly talking are as good as they've ever been.

Even with all the hobbies you can have, Peace Corps leaves more time to reflect about yourself and the world than I knew existed.
For the true Peace Corps Experience—I'll share one of these reflections (get ready—you're about to enter my psyche—jump off the diving board, it's about to get deep :).

Recently my World Map has gotten mostly wrecked. For three months we put in our afternoons, battling the rain and the tiny details of the Pacific Islands to put up a beautiful piece of art. But not even our best efforts could outdo the Ancash rainy season, and a couple of kid's with free time and a little aggression. You'd think this would bug me more, but other than a little feeling of annoyance, I remember that the map was never about the result, it was about the process of learning geography, and making frienships in my community—and as I come out on the bright side of my first Ancash rainy season—not even the lluvia and pealed paint can take that away.

We're already in the plans for a new world map. This time we're going to draw a Peter's projection (another West Wing reference—the map for social justice), a map of Perú, and most of all we're putting the map INSIDE the library. For me, the whole experience shows why human development projects are more lasting than infrastructure development projects. In a Youth Development volunteer's schedule, there's not a whole lot of time spent building letrinas, or chimneys for cooking stoves, but there is a lot of time spent with Marionella, Pierro, Neli, and Angel.

My host brother Marco, who put as much time in on the map as anyone, said it was a representation of the world's current current situation. In a way, he's right. But, as we're learning not even the Hosni Mubaraks of the world can stop united young people motivated for change from re-constructing their own worlds, one week, or day, at a time.