So I know I haven't made a lot of posts lately, but I definitely think I should get an "A" for effort. I have had some pretty obnoxious computer problems but now we're BACK and I hope that this post will make up for the lost time.
So it's pretty pathetic that I haven't posted pictures since Halloween. Me, Madeline, Susan, Kerry and Heather (falta Jenn) - the Piura Peru 13ers - celebrating Halloween as the "Newbs" in our sweet tracksuits. The party was complete with an ice luge (how they found that I have no idea - I didn't even know there was ice in this country), talent show, pot luck dinner and bonfire on the beach.
Don Lazo (my socio comunitario), Brett, and I at Brett´s despedida (going away party). There were definitely some drinking circles and some dancing, the entire municipality took the day to be there. I´m really fortunate to have had Brett as a volunteer before me... he helped me so much and definitely showed me the ropes of life in Vice. I don´t know what I would have done without him. He actually recently just got married (December 11) to a Peruvian he met on his first night in Piura! Crazy! This also explains why people keep asking me if I´m going to get married here ¨just like Brett¨ hmm...
Madeline´s artisan, me, Dona Flora (artisan from Chalaco), and Socorro (artisan from Vice) at the Peace Corps office in Lima before the artisan fair. The fair was in November and there was a workshop the day before so we went down for that. All the business volunteers in Peru were invited and the fair took place in the US Embassy. I remember being blown away by the power of the air conditioning in that place, and also by the fact that I could flush toilet paper down the toilet. It was like being home! I guess we were technically on US soil..
Anyway, the fair was definitely a learning experience for my artisans and a stressful experience for me. We ended up selling less than 100 soles of products while some of my friends´groups sold almost 3000. That gives you an idea of the quality of our products and HOW FAR we still have to go. However, being in Lima was absolutely amazing. I didn´t like Lima during training but this trip was definitely a success. Not only were the business volunteers reunited for the first time since training, but we went out to some great places that played LIVE American music and I also got to watch my first and only college football game of the season. It was a little taste of civilization and it was definitely difficult going back to site.
Frank, Jess and Kim at Corner Bar in Miraflores, watching football, drinking beer, and eating cheese fries. Doesn´t get more American than that. It was an awesome afternoon of relaxing after a long and late night and shopping at the infamous ¨Polvos Azules¨where we were able to buy all the seasons of Entourage and Friends for 92 soles... 30 dollars. You need to see this place. It is awesome.
My delicious Thanksgiving dinner! We managed to make all the American dishes from food from the Peruvian market. I was quite impressed with my friends´cooking abilities. I obviously did not cook, but I DID slice the bread for the stuffing.
Me, Susan and Vince after Thanksgiving dinner.
Me, Beily and Susan - at the beach!
Before heading out - my parents specifically requested more pictures of me on my blog. I got more bug bites on this trip than I´ve ever had in my entire life. 48 to be exact.
Me and my little cousin Lucero on her 10th birthday. We went to Piura for dinner and I gave her some markers. I was the only one at dinner to give her a gift which was a little weird. I also made a card to give her and she didn´t understand the use of it. She kept being like, ¨This is for storing pictures, right?¨ After a while I was just like yeah. So far I haven´t witnessed a lot of gift giving in my family.
Lucero and her brothers. I wanted to post this pic to point out that across all cultures, boys will be boys. Also, just for your information, I had chicken for dinner, I did not eat the dish that is in front of them.
A bullfight for the anniversary of San Clemente, a neighboring town. I had never seen one before and it was seriously brutal. They killed two bulls!
Senora Rosa and Senor Hugo, my host parents, in the church in San Clemente.
I took this photo from the back of a truck on the way to visit some of my artisans in Chalaco. You can see a water tower in the distance and that´s where Vice is. This desert is what surrounds my town.
The artisans in Vice held a ¨Show Infantil¨to raise money for the association. There are two girls who came and led dances and gave out prizes to the kids. Lots of fun.
Me with Aranza, my cousin, and Ana Claudia after their first communion. This was one of my favorite days in Vice because I really felt part of the community. Everyone wanted me to take pictures with them and invited me to their family parties afterwards.
Andi and David, twins who I think are somehow related to me. I wanted to put up this pic because as most of you know, my brothers are twins and my mom´s favorite picture of them is one before their first communion in literally this same exact pose. She has made them remake the same pose during all important events for a photo which is why I remember. I took one look at this picture and really missed my little brothers!
I went to the graduation of my cousins Aranza and Wally and here they are dancing. In Peru you have ¨primaria¨which is 1-6 grades and then ¨secundaria¨which is 6-12 grades. They graduated from primaria. All the little boys and girls dressed up in black and red and danced for their parents and then danced with their parents and godparents. The principal and professors all made speeches and the ¨godparents¨of the graduation gave all the kids a bracelet. They made toasts, all the twelve year olds had a glass of champagne. There was a lot ot eating, dancing, and of course, drinking.
Then came something that I did not expect. The ¨hora loca¨or ¨crazy hour¨- this group of people came in dressed crazily with masks and on stilts with tons of balloons and fun hats. The point of this was to dance to an hour like a crazy person and of course I had to participate. This is a picture taken by my aunt Margo who had stolem my camera while the rest of us were in the train running around the whole complex.
Me with Senora Rosa and Senor Hugo. Everyone dressed up really nicely for the event and it was held in the resort place right outside of town. I was definitely underdressed for the occasion but pretty much everyone else was wearing clothes that were WAY too tight so I didn´t feel too bad about it.
Me and Lucero at the graduation. You can see the table decorations in the background. It was a really nice party, even by American standards, except maybe a little corny by American standards. I don´t know, I kind of forget what American standards are.
This picture is from my diagnostic presentation event. This woman is probably 100 years old and has been an artian her whole life. We are honoring her here in front of the group for her achievements and for teaching so many of the current artisans. Sweet heart. She started crying when I visited her at her house which was made of straw with a dirt floor. She is such a nice lady and I almost broke down talking with her. The reality here is so different.
In the Casa de la Cultura in Vice giving my diagnostic presentation in Decemeber. About 50 artisans showed up, my boss from Piura, and representatives from the municipality. We had a contest and also honored our ¨maestra artesana.¨ I talked for over an hour in Spanish and I think they understood at least 50% of what I said. Definitely a success - complete with the classic Peruvian refreshments afterwards. My biggest accomplishment so far - even if I had to give the presentation from my laptop because there was no projector.
Me with the winners of the conest - Merry Christmas Mom and Dad haha. Also, this is the first time I have worn business casual since I got to my site.
MY BIRTHDAY! 23! Thank you to everyone who called and wrote emails and messages! It really means a lot to me! My birthday was actually GREAT! Surprisingly. My family had a lunch during the afternoon for me and they all toasted to me and we drank some delicious wine (other volunteers may call it gross, but I´m partial to a good Peruvian red). Then I took a nap and was not really feeling like going to my meeting with my artisans but... it turned out to be a surprise birthday party for me! Here I am with some of the kids.
Me with the artisans, kids, and cake in the local. They all sang happy birthday to me and said some nice words. I broke down and I´m pretty sure I cried during my little speech. I honestly couldn´t believe they did that! Some of them even gave me gifts of artesania and the kids gave me some little toys.
I had the honor of cutting the birthday cake - which was still warm and delicious.
But the day does not end there! Later that night I went with my host parents and brother to a concert of ¨Corazon Serrano¨that happened to be in Vice that night. It was cumbia music and we stayed out dancing until 3 in the morning. I had a great time with them even though I stuck out like crazy at the concert. Definitely the tallest person there. This one was held at a sort of out door gym, it´s called the coliseum but I don´t want you to get the wrong idea, and there are no assigned seats it´s all just open dancing in front of a stage. The band also reads ¨saludos¨out during the concert, so you can write a message on a piece of paper and pass it up for the band to read. I got at least 3 happy birthday songs sang to me ¨nuestra amiga de los Estados Unidos.¨ Being the tallest person there, I danced all night with short men. As the night went on they became short drunk men. Their eyes were at the same level as my chest. I had to lay the law down pretty seriously with some of them... awkward. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I totally enjoyed my Peruvian birthday celebration!
SO! Finally I am almost updated. I am going to Lima next week for in service training and will have wireless access and hope to make another post about Christmas and New Years then. You do not want to miss this!
Saludos!
