tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78534499638389165522024-03-13T06:16:49.208-07:00Tacabambina BabyThe contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-89833241781898397062013-06-14T12:20:00.000-07:002013-06-14T12:20:38.786-07:00despedidas are hardA couple weeks ago I resigned from Peace Corps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My close of service date is June 21<sup>st</sup>
and I will be on a flight that night for the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I waited to write about it, because it was a
difficult and complicated decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have been unhappy in my project work for a while now, but I would always tell
myself that if I just kept trying I would be able to make something
happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then one day I was walking
around my community looking for women on a list of names I received from the
health center of moms with children under 1 year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was trying to find moms to work with in an
early childhood stimulation project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was wandering the streets of my town asking people ‘do you know this woman?’
and ‘do you know where this woman lives?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I found an eligible mom in her house I asked her if she was
interested in working with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just
thought to myself that I didn’t want to do this anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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And it felt like that decision was selfish and there is this
embarrassment I feel for being a quitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, having spent a lot of time thinking about the decision I know
it is the right one for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaving Peru
is difficult, but the prospect of staying here for 4 months longer just to stay
doesn’t seem worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I talked
with the director of Peace Corps Peru I told him I felt ‘defeated’ and that I
just didn’t feel like I could start over from nothing again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going back to school and going home certainly
factored into my decision too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just
want to feel happy with my work again and I don’t think things will change in
the next 4 months here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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I just spent my last week in Tacabamba.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hasn’t really sunk in that I probably will
never see this place or these people again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went to go visit my first host family recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t stay for long, because it was too
hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I first got to Peru I was
helpless; I couldn’t express myself, I didn’t know how things worked, I got
sick all the time, I was scared and lonely, but that family took care of
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those people opened not only their
home, but their family to me and I got to be a part of their lives for my time
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been dreading going to visit
them for a while-since I made the call to my boss in Lima.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to go thank my family for including me
in their lives, loving me, and also make it clear that we may never see each
other again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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I had prepared these little speeches to tell each family
member how much they mean to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told
my host brother and little cousin that they are important, intelligent, and
that I am sure that they will achieve whatever they set their minds to in the
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People don’t really say those
things so much here and I felt like it was important for them to hear it from
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told them I was proud to be their
sister, daughter, niece, and friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
all cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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I arrived on a Friday afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Witman, Eduar, and I awkwardly hung around
not talking about my leaving playing Frisbee and helping carry baskets of bread
from the host grandparent’s adobe oven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We wanted to bake a cake, but the electric oven wasn’t working and the
wood oven had cooled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all ate dinner
and after we watched the Peru vs. Ecuador soccer game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next morning I taught my host mom how to
make pancakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then I tried to
leave, because I knew the longer I stayed the more difficult it would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave my little speeches at my host family’s
house, my host aunt and uncle’s house, and my host grandparent’s house (they
all live close on the same little block) I kept getting choked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst part was after all the goodbye’s
there were no cars to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I just
sat waiting with my host aunt my eyes all red and wiping snot from myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My host brother gave me a piece of bread
while I was waiting and I asked him if he wanted to sit with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me ‘no, it’s too difficult,’ and
walked away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I think part of the reason-and I don’t want to diminish the
relationship formed with my host family- that the bonds are so strong is that
when a volunteer arrives they are in such a completely vulnerable place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These deep connections are formed out of a
basic necessity for human relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And yes, my host family would annoy me because we would have the same
conversations over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
wasn’t a whole lot we had in common so we had to work with what we could share;
it was often jokes with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We laughed a
lot and every night after dinner my host mom Dalila and I would dance outside
in the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dalila has a huge crazy
inappropriate made up vocabulary, her own personal ‘jerga’ or ‘slang’ she calls
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I was really careful to use my subjunctive tense grammar to
express that I don’t know when or if I will be able to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the question they asked me again and
again ‘you’re not going to forget us are you, when are you going to
visit?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My host grandfather got very
defensive, because last year a previous volunteer that lived with them promised
to visit and he was unable to follow through on the promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were crushed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although now that I have been thinking about
the whole scenario I’m not so sure that is exactly what happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not ever really confirm that this guy
did promise to visit; I just heard it second hand from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And things can easily get lost in
translation.</div>
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This last week in site I spent a lot of time hiding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wears you down to tell people over and
over that you are leaving to be met with questions such as; ‘you won’t forget
us will you?’ ‘why don’t you just stay here,’ and ‘what was your job here
anyways?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is this snap opportunity
for you to make the last impression on the people here; they will either
remember me as the girl who left early because A) she wasn’t acostumbrada
(accustomed), B) she doesn’t like us/this place/ and/or she is only here for
money (I think they think I make money at this job), C) she worked here and
liked living here/us/our country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
lot of pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Also I get a lot of demands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People complain to me about how they haven’t heard from the previous
volunteer since she left in November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>WHAT???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would she keep in
contact with every acquaintance she made here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And yet that is the expectation that people have sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think because we (volunteers) are seen as
having the ability to be mobile there is this idea that we can just travel back
to rural northern Peru whenever we want to just to come visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no matter how many times I repeat how
expensive the flights are, or how long and hard it is to travel so far, or how
I hope to have a job/be a home owner/have a family the impression is burned
into everyone’s minds that if I don’t visit them in their future it is because
I forgot them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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I can’t exactly explain why that is such a painful thing for
me to imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea of leaving
family, neighbors, friends, colleagues, acquaintances behind all believing that
I just forgot them or that I didn’t care about them stresses me out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So sorry for being a drama queen, but moving
internationally is a little emotionally exhausting, bah! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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When I started giving my things away I decided to give what
I like to call my ‘big ticket items’; my dresser, book shelf, water heater, the
basins I use to wash laundry, to the women that work in my host family’s
restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured they don’t have as
much as my family and they could really use the stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They took everything I laid out, including
some socks and underwear that I personally considered unsalvageable and was
planning to throw away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when my
host mom found out that I was giving my dresser and bookcase away to Dena and
Miguelina she was kind of upset. She came by my room to ask me what I was doing
with my dresser and before I could answers she said ‘I thought that was for my
Yossy, I wanted her to have it for her room,’ and I had to tell her I had
already promised to give it to her employees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She sort of lingered outside my door for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt very uncomfortable and proceeded to
try to call any volunteer friend I could think of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally one picked up and I thought maybe I
would appear to be busy so my host mom would walk away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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The weird part of all this is that I felt strangely guilty
as if I owed my host family that stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even Migue and Dena when they were going through my stuff where all sneaky
about it and wanted to hide it from Rosa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I caused a lot of drama between my host mom and her employees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found out later that Dena told Rosa off
when Rosa asked them about my giving them the furniture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also that Rosa told Miguelina; who is a 20
year old girl from a small town with no electricity 4 hours walking distance
whose mother has epilepsy and cannot work so Miguelina never finished high
school because she left to make money to support her younger siblings and is
now doing a correspondence class to get her high school diploma while she works
all day at the restaurant, that she should pay for a ‘going away/goodbye’ or
despedida for me since she would make money off my dresser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Miguelina was too nervous to come to the
party that Rosa and my host sister Yanet put on for me, because she was worried
they would ask her to pay for the food or drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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I just feel really sad that my host mom treated these women
like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why does she need to bully a
20 year old girl when she has a successful restaurant, store, her own home, 2
of her kids went to college and work as professionals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that because Miguelina is uneducated
and she is from a small community in the campo she is considered to be less
than someone from town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know my host
mom is not a monster; in fact she is a generally nice lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I cannot please everyone-no matter
how hard I try someone’s feelings are going to get hurt in all this leaving
business.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I feel so lucky that I have such a loving wonderful Peruvian
family as well as my American one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
helped me to cope with the loneliness and the difficulties of find my way in a
foreign world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On some level that<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is</i> what Peace Corps is all about;
forming relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So at least I did
well at that part of the job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am happy
to be on my way back to the USA and sad for leaving my host country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guilt hold of being an ‘early
terminating’ (i.e. quitter) volunteer is slowing falling away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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See everyone soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thanks for reading and chau for now,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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kb</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi6hvDxVESlETIYaPLx1cZTL4QqKCKLThdnh-nmCEtrIZ4UMOWOMmUdAWUsjMmhoFa8kf3xnll9srUs4Vc5SlsIu319CtWrd_MyIBjXhUN-4KVsAZbakcObLt8jlPdA1-9RSHz8qbbac/s1600/DSCN2483-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi6hvDxVESlETIYaPLx1cZTL4QqKCKLThdnh-nmCEtrIZ4UMOWOMmUdAWUsjMmhoFa8kf3xnll9srUs4Vc5SlsIu319CtWrd_MyIBjXhUN-4KVsAZbakcObLt8jlPdA1-9RSHz8qbbac/s320/DSCN2483-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my host uncle, cousin, and brother snuggled up to watch the futbol game when I visited my old site last week.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSo-ItG8It7nJjNoIXGqLTkI-JCNgt5CEL82ypNCBd07A3BnPn1ec5UlLmoLvmg119GzYfHThfuDqPckb8SwrV7Z3QPGpoPYDYU-mbV5aMu3o_vzBgfZ_mo-8vJzeeYtIugTBpnofO9E/s1600/DSCN2487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSo-ItG8It7nJjNoIXGqLTkI-JCNgt5CEL82ypNCBd07A3BnPn1ec5UlLmoLvmg119GzYfHThfuDqPckb8SwrV7Z3QPGpoPYDYU-mbV5aMu3o_vzBgfZ_mo-8vJzeeYtIugTBpnofO9E/s320/DSCN2487.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my host mom Rosa and sister Yossy at the despedida party they threw for me</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip55QojXQREvchMmyO0d9zhngrIoPu11y4ivOl8A8RcYrnzSqvqL-DoRelWFiDNMh1H1zhxUHjxODyzMMr083oqWOEahupwn6YlS8U1djmHYysKX5-Psn9mBgvzupd809pgNcc7Rq33zs/s1600/DSCN2488-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip55QojXQREvchMmyO0d9zhngrIoPu11y4ivOl8A8RcYrnzSqvqL-DoRelWFiDNMh1H1zhxUHjxODyzMMr083oqWOEahupwn6YlS8U1djmHYysKX5-Psn9mBgvzupd809pgNcc7Rq33zs/s320/DSCN2488-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjee08m4PkQCTCaPD1Nq6BCw8jM2nxeU9A7uHasXgrDtQBMFOgBvzR4cZcK0rGBJ3c9Or70A3G32t5k1tPVzoDyr4fJGSr6h335_WzhrKKAYeZa78CIAfI7_UikUf8jCTNEmjKr-fymuGg/s1600/DSCN2489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjee08m4PkQCTCaPD1Nq6BCw8jM2nxeU9A7uHasXgrDtQBMFOgBvzR4cZcK0rGBJ3c9Or70A3G32t5k1tPVzoDyr4fJGSr6h335_WzhrKKAYeZa78CIAfI7_UikUf8jCTNEmjKr-fymuGg/s320/DSCN2489.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">host dad Sergio and Manuel bought the first caja of beer of the night</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV25W-XC1xFk0lABfKc_MNdbrkz_xoGEH3Oe3u4NDbB7gsFiAIWZbxG3JC4OgMyZbZsK6oE5Te5u4YYggspRY_NN1UY7EOQT7pb5K6GE4gaVluvEkhiVlHhZ62GaA5t0soshEiGUGGGM/s1600/DSCN2494-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV25W-XC1xFk0lABfKc_MNdbrkz_xoGEH3Oe3u4NDbB7gsFiAIWZbxG3JC4OgMyZbZsK6oE5Te5u4YYggspRY_NN1UY7EOQT7pb5K6GE4gaVluvEkhiVlHhZ62GaA5t0soshEiGUGGGM/s320/DSCN2494-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamonte dancing with my host sis Janne</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW1bdi0DgfomzrgLok5CAxRUxIItfxWBRVPa8mAUjtl6T5GxCnzasmOnvXjR_tc9Q865GwXzW5J5UwllrSz9CKOKtUupGQjRCEkquLh4K9VErmdLIO2tVfh3o7w2NsdODktC2T2rSyoA/s1600/DSCN2500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW1bdi0DgfomzrgLok5CAxRUxIItfxWBRVPa8mAUjtl6T5GxCnzasmOnvXjR_tc9Q865GwXzW5J5UwllrSz9CKOKtUupGQjRCEkquLh4K9VErmdLIO2tVfh3o7w2NsdODktC2T2rSyoA/s320/DSCN2500.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with my host bro</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpokCNZvJsnSGS4q4qHUhjJ3YenpayCTJMcAluiuRqG1pOjrXBi15mjntRb_mW2BS8hJ6cOLR8CxVTn-BZQdgkpD2eBleU0pEhonQLUJkOK8JFcDbS5iqfTdNHps89NrJX4W4-1SBaaLo/s1600/DSCN2505-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpokCNZvJsnSGS4q4qHUhjJ3YenpayCTJMcAluiuRqG1pOjrXBi15mjntRb_mW2BS8hJ6cOLR8CxVTn-BZQdgkpD2eBleU0pEhonQLUJkOK8JFcDbS5iqfTdNHps89NrJX4W4-1SBaaLo/s320/DSCN2505-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dancing up a storm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_nOMXGBTykNGdM89O5Bw_hQpR54SCq9aufoai8gJwu6P1NpZqpjYCt9w5f2XZHUBhLs0WwIT0F4pMlONJkA5HzeNnzQUH9DEsq0z739SMJNT42qPz_6DH1Obe0BKoxGV_cJcYFuKnPM/s1600/DSCN2512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_nOMXGBTykNGdM89O5Bw_hQpR54SCq9aufoai8gJwu6P1NpZqpjYCt9w5f2XZHUBhLs0WwIT0F4pMlONJkA5HzeNnzQUH9DEsq0z739SMJNT42qPz_6DH1Obe0BKoxGV_cJcYFuKnPM/s320/DSCN2512.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the circle dancing at parties-I'm totally bringing that back to the US</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZTlGbo3hkyFKtgwSNHRsQZb_1CyQpdfT6rx058nYNtoFE3L7b_9GAq_viPMieB008twqJXZbysQD-d6o61OTCSJrxs4ZN-P8-ef4H6azbcWWqpT7_CyuYkn5TVZi05vUTsw7NpX335I/s1600/DSCN2517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZTlGbo3hkyFKtgwSNHRsQZb_1CyQpdfT6rx058nYNtoFE3L7b_9GAq_viPMieB008twqJXZbysQD-d6o61OTCSJrxs4ZN-P8-ef4H6azbcWWqpT7_CyuYkn5TVZi05vUTsw7NpX335I/s320/DSCN2517.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with my best Tacabambino friend Manuel!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NievrhpTaerQ1TtvOt5wSV3tl1lOO4XNlF9cHWeOMiDke1ZlzbwhBl7quRf6jRk_hnt4IygUkN7oODtl_BXSs_c3PpxiyeZ4xvRJe8NlXEMKvnNUFAiI9GwntNtbms0NqoNu-y9WKu4/s1600/DSCN2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NievrhpTaerQ1TtvOt5wSV3tl1lOO4XNlF9cHWeOMiDke1ZlzbwhBl7quRf6jRk_hnt4IygUkN7oODtl_BXSs_c3PpxiyeZ4xvRJe8NlXEMKvnNUFAiI9GwntNtbms0NqoNu-y9WKu4/s320/DSCN2520.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">he was probably telling me a joke</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o5qU-lkF9uq-4PVcw8lSwl2QfykV2RiXEuLjOyYINDPUiUnN0O7I4kP5Q3rXqGGDPP1ynouvxB41XWSpQ68IHYIvQgFXIXgu4rOHulrGpVZq-87mQ4ot6IH1KJUl8r6ZalyDJQeSGzM/s1600/DSCN2522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o5qU-lkF9uq-4PVcw8lSwl2QfykV2RiXEuLjOyYINDPUiUnN0O7I4kP5Q3rXqGGDPP1ynouvxB41XWSpQ68IHYIvQgFXIXgu4rOHulrGpVZq-87mQ4ot6IH1KJUl8r6ZalyDJQeSGzM/s320/DSCN2522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my host brother took this one while I was starting to fall asleep in my chair<br />
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Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-72335939874082032862013-05-31T15:54:00.001-07:002013-05-31T15:54:52.274-07:00Pictures from the youth leadership campThank you for all your generous donations! Here are some photos of camp VALOR 2013.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTryhOxQ9Xda14OTMqgZCJqWa6gXGk8kOwsRcdG7LZ1kzTRRo83sI8Fma1yH43msEjITF9zfLKae8qHk45wC-DOdTewXao5ZmadRJ8xEUjGvWkHWwkEMLrRRMM7ZTK7yTHK2XciEKNiPw/s1600/VALOR+FOTO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTryhOxQ9Xda14OTMqgZCJqWa6gXGk8kOwsRcdG7LZ1kzTRRo83sI8Fma1yH43msEjITF9zfLKae8qHk45wC-DOdTewXao5ZmadRJ8xEUjGvWkHWwkEMLrRRMM7ZTK7yTHK2XciEKNiPw/s320/VALOR+FOTO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjoPNONBHvPdfSGIUXkkyHml-_-i24A6IqRhU7m_zXM7Piuc8SAP68XF-5jdeN3EJkurrLeD7b8mW6PU6IdEQ6HMc79XrVu-y6s53hMFI1wWp_Ku25NAbnnChydWNtJifXuePPgxE3lc/s1600/253302_10101801065746658_1235677624_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjoPNONBHvPdfSGIUXkkyHml-_-i24A6IqRhU7m_zXM7Piuc8SAP68XF-5jdeN3EJkurrLeD7b8mW6PU6IdEQ6HMc79XrVu-y6s53hMFI1wWp_Ku25NAbnnChydWNtJifXuePPgxE3lc/s320/253302_10101801065746658_1235677624_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabian and I, even though he is only 12 he did great at the camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf0H__66DCywinbf4OOy-G2K3AEa2sUI59hpwA9mTKRUPHlAEMI2-KcPEIpGriLMMtjSQDf7WNaHA2VnI42dAUSUWT-UDVnUbAXRBNzXe43KtFCwid6JBhyvDMI9v6DCUYV4G4meUMgY/s1600/312166_10100901953135596_2003964034_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf0H__66DCywinbf4OOy-G2K3AEa2sUI59hpwA9mTKRUPHlAEMI2-KcPEIpGriLMMtjSQDf7WNaHA2VnI42dAUSUWT-UDVnUbAXRBNzXe43KtFCwid6JBhyvDMI9v6DCUYV4G4meUMgY/s320/312166_10100901953135596_2003964034_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hanging out in the back of the auditorium during the lectures</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzYuzXpWit2DQn3reh4O5x_wDnoY6y3JwOVO1nYeV2BtKVIUqM5Toy0PpmFANI5tEeeLILqedmS6d036z2AvLkfmvuND1D8OnfKrAy8w1gNWb1wL1pBm9g0C5Oi85kPXObIguzKRAtHs/s1600/575576_10101801089848358_1714076703_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzYuzXpWit2DQn3reh4O5x_wDnoY6y3JwOVO1nYeV2BtKVIUqM5Toy0PpmFANI5tEeeLILqedmS6d036z2AvLkfmvuND1D8OnfKrAy8w1gNWb1wL1pBm9g0C5Oi85kPXObIguzKRAtHs/s320/575576_10101801089848358_1714076703_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not sure who's kid this guy was but he asked for a picture with a bunch of us holding his certificate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6i2ijR17pZFHuAuvclmmJnzpGhP1JZUUYYKXvuzai7SfwJ2ctsnBb6r-uriu5TMe8gI_LGLWXIpPu1fTih94N7qFPvLWivtSNVUH8IInOUpqmW_4fybxef8QmFdz3VfC-LLnSZV82vKo/s1600/600616_10100953091503796_1318209358_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6i2ijR17pZFHuAuvclmmJnzpGhP1JZUUYYKXvuzai7SfwJ2ctsnBb6r-uriu5TMe8gI_LGLWXIpPu1fTih94N7qFPvLWivtSNVUH8IInOUpqmW_4fybxef8QmFdz3VfC-LLnSZV82vKo/s320/600616_10100953091503796_1318209358_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabby and I gave a session on how to defend yourself from peer pressure</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScQdNTW0KA-f1Wp8u47ZodnsBpMayNOkibNtxcNKqOkdutof2SdP3BdCwuIpw1e_Fx0S3u4tZkBF7uaKi930yVppqpdkIBRbjN4MKr0gRoNvsYI3nTPQVrhNHSrqN9tkQ8ZF8IehqI_4/s1600/933921_10101801031674938_1143421467_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScQdNTW0KA-f1Wp8u47ZodnsBpMayNOkibNtxcNKqOkdutof2SdP3BdCwuIpw1e_Fx0S3u4tZkBF7uaKi930yVppqpdkIBRbjN4MKr0gRoNvsYI3nTPQVrhNHSrqN9tkQ8ZF8IehqI_4/s320/933921_10101801031674938_1143421467_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is a picture from part of the tour of the university</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3ZfjredW69KMdO2mAF8ahtv-a3JVvYn3HZs1DQ7qWZXirVCyomhc87mjBwD86xajpFmyGI9mMkNxfQ0743SarkUNVe17WHxLThNjFpRn74Vono4P39sHMaEIveiYrdD83SxJfChlIx8/s1600/941538_10100953091858086_257271405_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3ZfjredW69KMdO2mAF8ahtv-a3JVvYn3HZs1DQ7qWZXirVCyomhc87mjBwD86xajpFmyGI9mMkNxfQ0743SarkUNVe17WHxLThNjFpRn74Vono4P39sHMaEIveiYrdD83SxJfChlIx8/s320/941538_10100953091858086_257271405_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at the inca baths</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDCeJrWbJxrJRR7_XN0xB0ESvIDNRe3ydDxudFlb7EXmfH1ufhlsvVJD8KpPPTa8wWINu_cXov1LDOCahN59jjSCafdI5LIM8DmEM9mrXtgeoSGKLKUCm86yfYOyoc1IxL57wZfLL9K0/s1600/946821_10101801018476388_1328991339_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDCeJrWbJxrJRR7_XN0xB0ESvIDNRe3ydDxudFlb7EXmfH1ufhlsvVJD8KpPPTa8wWINu_cXov1LDOCahN59jjSCafdI5LIM8DmEM9mrXtgeoSGKLKUCm86yfYOyoc1IxL57wZfLL9K0/s320/946821_10101801018476388_1328991339_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I taught everyone how to play the snorting game-it's a troop 41999 favorite</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ThbaAEV1c5w3msX5N4QpaSD60O6PoutDj71EcsXn6Jshe8m8pcvAyO4aq6xUtiN3MLKfvk1TqCie4MNaXlKlsxHIx1jbOrkkJvVJHHnEJ01rw6el4JVhcIuaNHIMmnUWKyI8UpfY9CU/s1600/IMG_3976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ThbaAEV1c5w3msX5N4QpaSD60O6PoutDj71EcsXn6Jshe8m8pcvAyO4aq6xUtiN3MLKfvk1TqCie4MNaXlKlsxHIx1jbOrkkJvVJHHnEJ01rw6el4JVhcIuaNHIMmnUWKyI8UpfY9CU/s320/IMG_3976.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we got ice cream one of the days</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10oWed8gtr8E6SIVwFZze-du14uPiLWvQ_lCY1arkEd7UB3imCkme0txPrGxRt3KafOhfV85KTEsdbu8dPPEgyiGNTyqOjYFdkhiJuv-dP16bWqR0bQrXsqvgaEr373rUemC3J0SmeAM/s1600/IMG_3979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10oWed8gtr8E6SIVwFZze-du14uPiLWvQ_lCY1arkEd7UB3imCkme0txPrGxRt3KafOhfV85KTEsdbu8dPPEgyiGNTyqOjYFdkhiJuv-dP16bWqR0bQrXsqvgaEr373rUemC3J0SmeAM/s320/IMG_3979.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we had a fogata or bonfire on the last night</td></tr>
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Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-85376496979250379072013-05-26T16:18:00.000-07:002013-05-26T16:18:15.786-07:00Thank goodness for small successes!
This weekend was the leadership camp for boys in
Cajamarca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diamond and I along with the
other volunteers in our training group were supposed to be ‘in charge’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It mostly felt like I was running around with
my trying to fix problems that kept coming up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the best part of working with Peace
Corps volunteers is that they are good creative problem solvers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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These leadership camps are fun events for the kids and
volunteers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I felt more relieved
for the camp to be over than I have at other camps, probably because I was
supposed to be running the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
brought 4 boys from Tacabamba; 2 boys I already knew and 2 I had never
met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made an announcement at the high
school that I wanted interested boys to fill out applications and bring them to
my house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of the entire high school
only 5 kids filled out the applications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My plan had been to only bring 2 boys, but at the last minute (since
Diamond and I were the points of contact for the event) we got calls from other
volunteers that boys were canceling and backing out. The night before camp I
went out and basically trolled for teenage boys to take to this event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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When we finally got to camp (it is about a 7 hour car ride
from Tacabamba to Cajamarca) we were all pretty tired, but being around all the
other volunteers sort of gave me some extra energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner we played a bunch of ‘dinamicas’
or team building group games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of
the games that I like to lead are tried and true from my time as a Girl Scout;
train wreck, honey if you love me, the snorting game that Jenni Glysson taught
me is one of my favorites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The second day of camp we took the boys to the Cajamarca
national university (Peruvian equivalent to state school).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tour was pretty boring, but I hope that
just seeing the campus and meeting some of the administrators might make the
university seem less intimidating for the boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The third day we had field games in the morning, a career panel in the
afternoon, and a bonfire with smores at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The last day the boys had debates on topics that they had been preparing
in groups throughout the camp, we did prizes and certificates, and it was time
to travel back up north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall, the camp was a big success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grant stuff is almost over, now Diamond
and I have some more paperwork to do to close it out-so that is a relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I believe that the boys got something out
of it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might not be ready to
step in an denounce all forms of sexism they see in their communities, but
they’ll probably notice it more and think twice about joining in with their
friends cat calling a woman in the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope that in the least their actions that reflect gender equality will
be an example to their peers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the most frustrating parts of having a job that
revolves around behavior change is that you seldom get to see the outcomes of
all your work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often I just have to have
faith that my time and energy has contributed at least on some small level a
change of thought or behavior in someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And volunteers have to find a way to be satisfied not seeing those
results and knowing that they may have only affected one person in their
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
This is so difficult for us as Americans, because we judge
ourselves based on numbers and results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In behavior change it is sort of impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can measure knowledge learned on a pre and
post-test, but that does not indicate whether or not someone has actually
formed a new habit of boiling their water or washing their hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point my hope lies more in the
personal relationships that I have formed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know that the kids in my sexual health education classes learned some
new things, but the kids that came to camp or participated in my youth group I
know that they are going to act differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My host brother in San Juan<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will
read books for fun, my host mom will make more salads, maybe the Peruvian women
who have been in my life might want to be more independent after meeting
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I like to tell the kids in my English classes or youth group
that they are intelligent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tell their
parents too and they always react with a little bit of surprise, because people
don’t say that here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is
important for kids to know that they are intelligent and important-so I tell
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe just hearing that from
someone will help them to be encouraged to study and want more for
themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Yesterday Diamond, Nate (D’s boyfriend visiting Peru from
the U.S.), and I went to El Condac with our youth group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>El condac is a local waterfall, that people
like to say is a tourist attraction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
waterfall is a 2 hour hike outside of Tacabamba.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trail especially when you get to the
climb down to the waterfall is in bad condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was beautiful and the views on the walk
down were incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like we
were at the end of the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I brought
my peanut butter and jelly to have the kids all try a typical American food
(which I thought was very generous of myself since peanut butter is kind of
like gold to a PCV).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids swam for a
little while and we hiked back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I have 2 funny stories of the week; <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I figured out that my dog will only come when I
call her for a walk if I am wearing this big floppy sun hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I always put it on when I am going out
for a walk with her she suspects foul play when I call for her without the hat;
either a bath, flea medicine, or eye drops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve never had a dog before, so I guess I didn’t expect them to be so
clever or silly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Diamond called me one day this week to ask me if
I could go by the preschool where she is doing a classroom exchange (she visits
the school here in Peru and talks about the US, while also communicating with
an American school to teach them about Peru).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was supposed to be going by for a presentation and wanted to double
check that they were still expecting her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I live only a block away so I walked over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turned out that that day they were
knocking down the adobe building-probably they are going to rebuild with cement
or brick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, no one from the
preschool bothered to tell Diamond that they were tearing the school down the
day that she had scheduled with them to do her presentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Below I have pictures from the waterfall
excursion and the photos of the leadership camp still to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks again for all the
donations and moral support!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Chau for now and thanks for reading,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
kb<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhOOkwhFQgVgkG3jxFauqM5F0L2K6O8WQVzuvKzynA1eNVMCTuCvrPrun-L1vD8qRDSbLYlZsvfZTOlqpi4sgF324Q3E5mwtIrWrP4P46d_1xyOvnuG1CaZ9heaYcc8CkIKU4vBVZ3UE/s1600/DSCN2464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhOOkwhFQgVgkG3jxFauqM5F0L2K6O8WQVzuvKzynA1eNVMCTuCvrPrun-L1vD8qRDSbLYlZsvfZTOlqpi4sgF324Q3E5mwtIrWrP4P46d_1xyOvnuG1CaZ9heaYcc8CkIKU4vBVZ3UE/s320/DSCN2464.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with my host grandpa and at the bottom is my dog Lulu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4ZZejP6SoEmTwbJBKqBSG1smbCw0loliZiJ-MpS5QusTmWHgfF2_iCMAdjcGSwCw2JgB0k5WQAKQNeUrpHTrF-2yOyY94Viai7hJ0d1rqci0P5QBeT15qJ-QUfZlJv8l5vjz_3WZxfM/s1600/DSCN2465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4ZZejP6SoEmTwbJBKqBSG1smbCw0loliZiJ-MpS5QusTmWHgfF2_iCMAdjcGSwCw2JgB0k5WQAKQNeUrpHTrF-2yOyY94Viai7hJ0d1rqci0P5QBeT15qJ-QUfZlJv8l5vjz_3WZxfM/s320/DSCN2465.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with the whole gang</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXTijK0JYo0GbtURm2MEogkBRumdmC9KpowbMwniACvgMTVjKhGNrt8ruMhDBLINxEuleYxRHVGq1lwksWypYz8wFnFia-iU4494pZmQG1er7-lxf1mjEv7t4EUq8IpW-HenbXRnT7Mc/s1600/DSCN2468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXTijK0JYo0GbtURm2MEogkBRumdmC9KpowbMwniACvgMTVjKhGNrt8ruMhDBLINxEuleYxRHVGq1lwksWypYz8wFnFia-iU4494pZmQG1er7-lxf1mjEv7t4EUq8IpW-HenbXRnT7Mc/s320/DSCN2468.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate and Diamond</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicoR1ZbCQ31TVgXc5RGZg4rznrw3jhYrRinR0knYA286GMJN1afC0n1Sd-HgpouE_NlWVqnsISzNvCLT8KrvQc0hx37H_wwU9ZOqsDmkSKVW1NmPBWUhCd6VSEZPvbK8r6GuoBTz6NrU/s1600/DSCN2469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicoR1ZbCQ31TVgXc5RGZg4rznrw3jhYrRinR0knYA286GMJN1afC0n1Sd-HgpouE_NlWVqnsISzNvCLT8KrvQc0hx37H_wwU9ZOqsDmkSKVW1NmPBWUhCd6VSEZPvbK8r6GuoBTz6NrU/s320/DSCN2469.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate making his way down this terrible rock path. Everyone was slipping and falling all over the place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzs6MR4xIjBFgETVE_nuU9Tft0wgi_AQnemZ2Ss2VpTDkAnf7DxnehoN3lguw7JaiPOoTPVk-c6L1NaKFZ2djvb_Os5ULgThpFnNQcvoJvjG1NLE0t8Gt3OPOThyphenhyphenpnXOo9wxK-anqqQM/s1600/DSCN2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzs6MR4xIjBFgETVE_nuU9Tft0wgi_AQnemZ2Ss2VpTDkAnf7DxnehoN3lguw7JaiPOoTPVk-c6L1NaKFZ2djvb_Os5ULgThpFnNQcvoJvjG1NLE0t8Gt3OPOThyphenhyphenpnXOo9wxK-anqqQM/s320/DSCN2471.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond and Nate in front of the waterfall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAMzVRdNYgPrFck9EhJ6u4yM4LfapkofxzgQi-JMOCqebwn6ctSJU9CHPJdgqDLEKASWw41AZW02gkWAnsU2AhxLmE0DrErUY-JA5KJq0ZFDEA_r3HgLzQYIt-wADNYl4eBi34OUiKNc/s1600/DSCN2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAMzVRdNYgPrFck9EhJ6u4yM4LfapkofxzgQi-JMOCqebwn6ctSJU9CHPJdgqDLEKASWw41AZW02gkWAnsU2AhxLmE0DrErUY-JA5KJq0ZFDEA_r3HgLzQYIt-wADNYl4eBi34OUiKNc/s320/DSCN2472.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond and I </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-50897540973447661262013-05-14T10:28:00.000-07:002013-05-14T10:28:20.444-07:00a world where nobody likes to say 'no'
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Diamond and I are currently leading a teen group at the high
school in Tacabamba.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The group is made
up of kids that want to be peer educators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has been kind of a nightmare trying to get the permission we need to
have the kids in our club teach sex-ed in the high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, the kids are definitely not dedicated
enough in showing up on time or participating during meetings for me to feel
too guilty about it not happening for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead we have compromised and made the group kind of an extracurricular
health promotion group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year we
painted a mural in the health center and held a movie night for the entire
student body. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
This year the kids in our youth group had a big idea; a
school wide soccer/volleyball/chess tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We invited each section (kind of like homeroom, except that they just
spend their entire day with the same classmates-everyone does the same
electives on the same schedule) to form teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The idea for this event was from the kids in our group and in theory
they were supposed to help us organize the whole thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did help a little, but Diamond and I
ended up doing most of the work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
So for the past couple weeks we have been doing all the
preparations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for the past two
Saturdays Diamond and I spent the whole day at the tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not one kid ever said ‘thanks’ to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead I got a lot of kids showing up late,
arguing with me or whining about how they didn’t get to play more games, and I
was particularly upset when the kids couldn’t bother to stay for a short announcement
I was making at the end of the tournament to thank the other adults that
helped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admit I shouted after the kids
while they left that they were being ‘rude turds,’ but I shouted it in English
just to make myself feel better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I guess technically the event was a success, kids showed up,
a couple adults came through for us, and our peer educator group was on display
for the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I feel so
frustrated at how the students treated me and the other adults that showed
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel really frustrated that the
Municipality promised to give prizes to the winners and they are so
disorganized that they can’t get around to doing anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also feel really frustrated that the kids
won’t participate in a free soccer/volley ball tournament unless there are cash
prizes available-that was so surprising to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I suggested we buy the winning teams ice cream cones or chocolate
bars I was laughed out of the room by my peer educators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were adamant that kids wouldn’t show up
unless there were cash prizes (and they were totally right).<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
After the tournament wrapped up on Saturday, Diamond and I
helped decorate the church for her host sister’s wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The party that night was really fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It started<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>late because of the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Diamond, Ellie, and I were basically cater waiters for the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since we didn’t start serving the food until
late and the house was so crowded the dinner wasn’t served until around
10:30pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drinks were being served
earlier on empty stomachs, so by the time we were weaving through the crowd
with trays of food everyone was pretty drunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
There was a lot of dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although my experience has been that people from Cajamarca do not hug a
whole lot, with the alcohol flowing I got a lot of hugs from Diamond’s host
family members and some of my host family members that were guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ellie and I stayed until 1:30am and walked
back to my host family’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diamond
told us that the party went on until 4:30am and that her host family woke up to
make breakfast at around 8am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>envy Diamond not being able to
fall asleep until 4:30am because of the loud music and dancing outside her
door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
The next day; Mother’s Day, there were a lot of
celebrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The funny thing about the
celebrations for Mother’s Day was that most of them involved a group of men
sitting around and getting really drunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the corner near my house my adult host brother Ivan and a group of
neighbors were camped out most of the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time I left my house the would call me
over and I would do the Peruvian finger wag ‘no’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I baked my host mom Rosa a banana bread and
magically we became best friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
really need to bake more often-my host family likes me a whole lot more when I
make them cakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I also tested out a theory about making excuses to avoid
undesirable social situations on Sunday evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday night there was a kind of a block
party near my house for Mother’s Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were blasting loud music in the street and drinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I did not want to dance or drink
again, but I also knew that everyone would try to pressure me to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been watching The Mindy Project and in
one episode a character says that someone has diarrhea to get them out of an
unwanted social situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when the
waves of ‘come one, just come to the dance for a little while,’ ‘just drink a
little bit with us,’ started rolling in I simply said I couldn’t because I had
diarrhea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
My excuse didn’t shut down the invitations <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">as</i> fast as I would have imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to fend off questions like: ‘why don’t
you just take some medicine?’ or ‘how bad is it really?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually though I successfully employed the
theory of shutting it down with diarrhea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who says that TV isn’t good for you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It applied to my real life!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Sorry for being gross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also sorry for being so complaining lately…I am trying really hard to be
more positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many great
things about Peru the country and it’s people, but I always catch myself
focusing on the negative stuff. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
For example who’s to say that the whole nobody says ‘no’
here thing is bad?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those men on the
street inviting me to drink or my host family pressuring me to come out dancing
with them are just examples of the social practice of nobody-ever-says-‘no’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have to keep inviting (or in my
perspective pressuring), because you can’t say ‘no’ or take ‘no’ for an
answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to have an excuse or
you have to say ‘I’ll come by later’ and then just not do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is how things work here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as it annoys me when it happens in
the context of no one showing up to a meeting I called, it is a relief to know
that when I flake out on other people that they will not be offended since that
is just the way things are here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Anyhow, thanks for reading and chau for now,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
kb</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7HcYYmie7ST4U_cmEzxySmsDw84L6x5hDve3RN9wFWDrBTE8CatbZXhbVWgxGDDTlGT8eeLiwlNW_npF3uuXnxS6qg5RdG1VgeSFMp112DDekzU5jp9GfLrjJuZ3KISgwzyQDO-A7-E/s1600/DSCN2459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7HcYYmie7ST4U_cmEzxySmsDw84L6x5hDve3RN9wFWDrBTE8CatbZXhbVWgxGDDTlGT8eeLiwlNW_npF3uuXnxS6qg5RdG1VgeSFMp112DDekzU5jp9GfLrjJuZ3KISgwzyQDO-A7-E/s320/DSCN2459.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here are some action shots of the tournament</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eLI4GFNwxJ6waze-6jvYEKxeCNBbi2BURkqoC6VmDG14t_Mj2wWUqxMFvq1c7ioFla4ArE1NXE7sKHG2vzRI9s73kPHZuerAJcmk3NxMk3wVB61htYX4oXdJ1QHz3z9yPxR2j0SZ0Zg/s1600/DSCN2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eLI4GFNwxJ6waze-6jvYEKxeCNBbi2BURkqoC6VmDG14t_Mj2wWUqxMFvq1c7ioFla4ArE1NXE7sKHG2vzRI9s73kPHZuerAJcmk3NxMk3wVB61htYX4oXdJ1QHz3z9yPxR2j0SZ0Zg/s320/DSCN2462.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my host dad taking his typical afternoon nap</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-J3VjwvcFOxroe_YB3Pi6Ik9Z8JQSDdPWw7xmngyi790SJygNYNU460qq-5F-rCNO__Srfn0TSPCy1el_IU_qAIhWkhNjK0Lw1JBq-2VKqWq2ZrN-erJ1MDubNa9rFaEPgdtqpzKV28/s1600/DSCN2463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-J3VjwvcFOxroe_YB3Pi6Ik9Z8JQSDdPWw7xmngyi790SJygNYNU460qq-5F-rCNO__Srfn0TSPCy1el_IU_qAIhWkhNjK0Lw1JBq-2VKqWq2ZrN-erJ1MDubNa9rFaEPgdtqpzKV28/s320/DSCN2463.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">picture of the kitchen at the home I live in now in Tacabamba</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pictures from a visit to my previous site San Jaun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIu6sybzeBGbKIYdy9n0gOGNMh_v3Gz-uxiP-txGEGxIR-wZ-rtq4I9HXhyWRkqQ3_7v43qv8P0yL88iHOXXzrTr5wEbolbWVJZUePeGj6tpHwN5GqLDZvuB9pAeZ_8Y4O9QYB0FEdXM/s1600/DSCN2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIu6sybzeBGbKIYdy9n0gOGNMh_v3Gz-uxiP-txGEGxIR-wZ-rtq4I9HXhyWRkqQ3_7v43qv8P0yL88iHOXXzrTr5wEbolbWVJZUePeGj6tpHwN5GqLDZvuB9pAeZ_8Y4O9QYB0FEdXM/s320/DSCN2451.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is a typical kitchen, big difference huh?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC6Ay1c5Q3fSgWu4e4BW3ejYqbuqEWtpbW0_b_k_QQlu5RYj6XmyQCmHeSQ5m7wkjh0evltfO7M2h4lsVJuXe1VbXJHoRzWCpjbBjiYhhc0QMF1N0FTHL5mQmSBdn1j4tvDmDlmtwfmw/s1600/DSCN2452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC6Ay1c5Q3fSgWu4e4BW3ejYqbuqEWtpbW0_b_k_QQlu5RYj6XmyQCmHeSQ5m7wkjh0evltfO7M2h4lsVJuXe1VbXJHoRzWCpjbBjiYhhc0QMF1N0FTHL5mQmSBdn1j4tvDmDlmtwfmw/s320/DSCN2452.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">showing off all the food we made</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LIgrIq22fpPNbBAwdjp9_ZXtuAqrkzuabb_wU4ntEFadAM8z4g12VrBGZjmEbMenbDocuQGxGzLhVjr3z3ybgSs-JVdD2NkvrG9pees8JsFzLrBCER6dFcs6hseD_8iodHfl9yonzOc/s1600/DSCN2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LIgrIq22fpPNbBAwdjp9_ZXtuAqrkzuabb_wU4ntEFadAM8z4g12VrBGZjmEbMenbDocuQGxGzLhVjr3z3ybgSs-JVdD2NkvrG9pees8JsFzLrBCER6dFcs6hseD_8iodHfl9yonzOc/s320/DSCN2454.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sometimes I can't believe that I lived in a place like my first site</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-3482823348727813012013-05-01T16:37:00.001-07:002013-05-01T16:37:36.441-07:00feeling introspective this week
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">This weekend I went into
Chota for one of my allotted regional capital visits every month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chota is not very big, but it does have a
Serpost and good internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chota is a 2
hour van ride away from Tacabamba.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
roads are pretty bad, but I don’t notice as much as I used to when I first got
here.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">It was a nice visit this
week, because several other volunteers were also in town and we were able to
spend time together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday morning
at our favorite cheap breakfast place it felt like we were being continuously
accosted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First there was an elderly
women begging for money from all of the people eating in the restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We shook our heads no and kept up our
conversation in English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lingered
for quite a while and made her way back to us saying a phrase that every
volunteer I know hates, ‘no seas malita,’ or ‘don’t be bad’ (*in the dictionary
to call someone ‘mal’ that way it translates to ‘evil’- so maybe possibly it
means ‘don’t be evil’).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">I hate when people say
this phrase to me and it is always when they want me to do something that I
don’t want to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When that lady came
back for the final word to us ‘no sean malitas,’ I guess I overreacted a
little, because I told her it wasn’t necessary to call us ‘malas’ and that we in
fact were not ‘malas.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I probably should
have just let her have that last word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">The next person to accost
us was a man who apparently had a sign reading that he was deaf, but I did not
notice his sign at the time. He approached us and put small cards on the table
in front of each of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 of the other
volunteers warned me not to look too much or touch the card, because if I did
this man would expect me to pay for the card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Inside the cards there might be jokes or puzzles, but if you look at
them you have to pay the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we all
avoided looking at the cards in case he would mistake it for interest in buying
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man waited for a few minutes
and then made his way around picking up all the cards off the tables before he
walked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only he forgot one of the
cards on our table, so I shouted after him to let him know he forgot his
card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">Those other people at the
restaurant probably thought I was such a jerk; first telling that lady off and
then yelling at a deaf man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the
third and final person came around to beg from us I just shook my head no and
tried not to think about how I told that poor old lady off before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt like I had been pretty harsh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">This week a lot of drama
unfolded with my sexual education class in a small town 2 hours walking
distance from Tacabamba.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I first
went to this town to ask for permission from the APAFA (parent association) of
the high school, they were very suspicious that I worked for the mines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent about 30 minutes talking about what
Peace Corps is, who pays me, why am I in Peru anyway, and why do I want to
teach their kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the
grilling they decided that they would give me permission to teach their kids on
Monday afternoons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">A couple weeks ago when
another obligation came up on Mondays I thought nothing of asking the kids from
my class in El Naranjo to just meet on Tuesdays instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My logic was; in a community with no
electricity and no running water what other activities/obligations where these
kids going to have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turned out
when the parents realized that I had changed the day of the week of my class
without asking their permission they were very offended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">I received a phone call
from the director of the high school informing me that the APAFA was unhappy
with me and wanted a copy of my contract with the Municipality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have a contract with the Municipality
I work for the U.S. government, but either way that didn’t sound so good for my
classes continuing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend Ellie
helped me brainstorm how I could find a solution that would make everyone
happy-I don’t know what I would do without other volunteer’s help in these
situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I typed up a schedule for
the rest of my classes and dropped them off at the director’s house so that he
could pass them out to the kids and they in turn could show their parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">I only received one more
angry phone call from a parent, but I was able to explain that it was a
misunderstanding and that it was not my intention to offend anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that everything is all cleared up, but
I guess I won’t know for sure until next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is frustrating when people are so uncommunicative with me, but expect
me to be super communicative with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The situation is not ideal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Normally a Peace Corps volunteer works in the community where they live,
the people know and trust them, and they are able to receive community support
for whatever activities they are doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In El Naranjo the people may or may not still think I am a spy for the
American mining companies and I do not know anyone (except for the 22 teens in
my classes and the male nurse who is never available to work with me).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">It is not fair for me to
march into this town and expect for them to just get on board with some
stranger teaching their kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not
reasonable for me to expect that the people from El Naranjo are going to
understand how I have structured my classes or why I want to work with their
kids in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">I had
imagined after living here as long as I have that I would be fluent in the
Peruvian world view, but sadly I still am not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A lot of the time I can anticipate how people will react, but I don’t
understand their logic still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
funny how deep our American way of thinking is engrained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">We are taught from a
young age in the U.S. that if you work hard you can achieve anything, we should
strive to leave our country better for the next generation, and we are
personally responsible for our success or failures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in Peru; I imagine from generations of
struggling to survive in extreme poverty, the ideas above are unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Diamond and I worked on developing a
latrines project for 3 months only to have the Municipality tell us they would
not be funding the project (after they strung us along, everyone month they
would tell us come back next month we’ll let you know about the budget) the
reaction of the families in our project was: ‘the Muni misled us again,’ and
‘remember how last time they said they would do a project and they never
did.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They weren’t even all that surprised
and they certainly did not appear to be as angry or frustrated as I was-or at
least they did not express it in a way I would recognize as anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed more like complacence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">Things are fine the way
they are, why should we change?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
how things have always been and it was good enough before so why not now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When promises of change are made they often
are not kept by the people that make them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One really important thing I have figured out is that I cannot want it
more than the people I want it for- or rather people have to want to change or
else I am just smacking my head against the wall and feeling like a failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">Whew, that got kinda
serious, huh?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">Thanks for reading and
chau for now,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;">kb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-10816888470685639672013-04-23T10:16:00.001-07:002013-04-23T10:16:16.562-07:00Youth Camp coming up: Imagine a Peru without Machismo!<div>
Howdy everyone,</div>
<div>
<br />While I miss home (*read double ply toilet paper, hot showers, cold milk and cereal, just kidding) and have been thinking about all of you a lot, I have been doing well here in Peru. I have had the fortune to be involved in many different projects and events that have made me feel proud to be in the Peace Corps.</div>
<div>
Most recently, my sitemate Diamond and I wrote a grant for the annual youth camp with all the other volunteers in the department of Cajamarca. The event, called camp VALOR (value), is a three day event where we will do workshops over self-esteem, leadership, healthing life-habits, and vocational orientation for high school boys from all over the region (we also do one for the girls ). We will also be doing team building games and even have a panel of local professionals present their careers. For many of these kids, they have never even left their home towns, let alone attend any kind of leadership conference or camp. In the past this has been one of Peace Corps Peru's most successful annual programs for youth.</div>
<div>
However, the only way we are able to run the camp is to get donations from both local communities and family and friends back home. The idea is that if we can get at least 40% of the money/materials necessary from local counterparts, then we will do our best to find the rest from other sources to make it all happen.</div>
<div>
If every volunteer does their part then the amount I need to raise is minimal. So here is where I humbly ask for your help in making this camp a success and to give these youth leaders an opportunity of a lifetime; an opportunity that could lead them to a better future. This year we picked the theme of the camp to be 'Imagining a Peru without Machismo' (sexism).</div>
<div>
If you would like to donate (even a tiny bit helps us get there) please simply follow This <a href="https://donate.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=13-527-017" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc;">LINK</span></a> to an official United States Peace Corps web site where you can not only donate but see our progress to our goal as well as read more about camp VALOR.</div>
<div>
I can't thank you all enough for the support you have already given me during my service and I thank you in advance for your continued support.</div>
<div>
<br />Sincerely with gratitude,</div>
<div>
kb</div>
Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-26640872086002258522013-04-16T15:51:00.001-07:002013-04-16T15:51:23.629-07:00Cusco vacation<br />
It has been a while since I wrote
blog post and a lot has happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
family came for a visit during their spring break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and
Machu Picchu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt amazing to spend
so much time with my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I
will admit I was a little bit stressed about money during the vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s one of those annoying little things
about vacations, but also about living in Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is this constant presence of this awareness of people trying to
rip you off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it is small
things; like a taxi driver charging more for gringas than he would for
Peruvians, but other times it feels bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Through Peace Corps I have official Peruvian residency and there are a
lot of times when there are 2 prices for archaeological sites or even plane
tickets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
There were a lot of hiccups, but
overall it was a great visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of
the highlights include: a llama spitting in my face (you always hear about it
happening-and it did, it was gross but really funny), crazy tour guides whose
‘factoids’ proved to be a less than true when we googled them after the fact
(one lady told us that the stones that made up Machu Picchu were partially held
together by magnetism…that was a big fat made up fact), almost losing the expensive
somewhat irreplaceable train tickets (but we found the electronic versions on
my email), and the race to see who could hold out the longest without getting
sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
I am embarrassed to admit that
although I was not the first one to get sick I did get pretty sick and before
it happened I may have been doing a lot of trash talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘I’ve lived here for a year and 7 months
street food doesn’t scare me, and yeah, I’ll eat that salad off your plate, I
can’t believe you are worrying about those ice cubes’ I was tossing around a
lot of talk, but then I got super sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>***Thank you Debbie for the Immodium***<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
Machu Picchu was probably the
most beautiful place I have been to in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It gave me that feeling that the Grand Canyon gives you-it is just so beautiful
that you cannot believe it is real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Except that Machu Picchu is manmade so it is different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those crazy Incas were some determined and
hard-working engineers, because it seems that they could not have chosen a more
difficult place to build a city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
tour guide Edith was wrong-those blocks were not even a little bit held
together by magnetism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
Anyway, now it’s back to site and
back to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got permission from the
director of the elementary school to do some cute activities with the kids in 5<sup>th</sup>
and 6<sup>th</sup> grade about self-esteem and peer pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to work with the health center in
Tacabamba on a project about Early Childhood Stimulation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to focus on moms with babies under
1 year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The youth health promoter group
that Diamond and I are doing together is doing really well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the sex-ed class that I am doing at the
high school in El Naranjo (the town 2 hours walking distance with no
electricity) is kind of rocky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
planning on attempting to bribe them into participating with candy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
So things are going well right
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully I’ll have some silly
cross-cultural anecdotes to write about next time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best one I had this week was having to
eat 3 ears of corn on a house visit so as not to offend the woman who invited me
food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was rough-thank goodness we
only eat corn at 2 out of the 3 meals a day (just kidding).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Chau for now,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
kb<o:p></o:p></div>
Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-26777614370393434522013-03-23T10:59:00.000-07:002013-03-23T10:59:06.790-07:001 year olds have the coolest birthday partiesMarch 9th was the regional meeting for all the volunteers
in Cajamarca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes roughly 7 hours
to travel from Tacabamba to Cajamarca, but it’s worth it when all the
volunteers get together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we gather
it feels like for a little while you can just relax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only a volunteer would understand when your
host mom tells you that you got that cold because you took a shower at night,
or when the municipality lost your document for the 5<sup>th</sup> time, or
when you walk 2 hours each way for a meeting that no one bothers to show up
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Cajamarca there is a big grocery
store where we can buy cheese, peanut butter, and pringles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It always feels like a mini vacation when we
go to Cajamarca.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
On the way back from Cajamarca Diamond and I were invited to
Ellie’s host sister’s daughter’s 1<sup>st</sup> birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kaory’s birthday was a huge event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diamond and I showed up a little late, but we
jumped right in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every kid in the whole
town was invited for this party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
were snacks, music, some older cousins dressed up like Minnie Mouse and
Strawberry Shortcake, and I think there were at least 8 cakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived in time for the ‘hora loca’ or
‘crazy time.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ellie’s job was to pass
out whistles, paper masks, headbands, and other party favors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My job was to shoot confetti over the whole
crowd from this tube that opened kind of like a role of Pilsbury crescent
rolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also I tried to take pictures on Ellie’s
camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was wild, dancing, kids
fighting for favors, and so much fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am definitely planning on having a ‘hora loca’ at my wedding, just maybe minus
the whistles.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
After the ‘hora loca’ it was time to pass out jello cups,
then sandwiches, then sing happy birthday, cut the cake, the pi<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ñ</span>ata (which by the way
was not the way we do pi<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ñ</span>atas
in the states; the small kids where shuffled forward so they wouldn’t get
trampled and then the bottom of the pi<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ñ</span>ata
simply was pulled out by an adult), and finally each kid upon exit was handed a
balloon with a picture of baby Kaory’s face printed on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each activity was executed by a team of
adults that included Ellie, Diamond, and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some parts were accompanied by a special song; happy birthday, there was
an ‘hora loca’ theme song, and also I believe there was a pi<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ñ</span>ata time theme song.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I overheard Ellie’s
host sister and mother talking about food running out, because there were some
party crashers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently some mothers
from a nearby community were passing by and had their kids walk into the party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the all the kids in Conchan were
invited, the doors were open and everything was so wild, I guess checking
invitations or saying something to the party crashers directly was not
something they were willing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the end it all turned out okay, it didn’t seem like they ran out of snacks or
had to exclude any of the kids whose moms invited themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all the towns children left it was time
for the adult party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all got big
plates of rice, potatoes, and chicken with chicha morada drink (a beverage made
from blue corn and sugar).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it was
time for huayno dancing and drinking circles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course Diamond, Ellie, and I really brought our best dance moves and
broke up the huayno with some old favorites; the shopping cart, sprinkler,
running man, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Huayno dancing is basically a two-step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on the person there may or may not
be arms involved, but if you are really into the dance it is a lot of jumping
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like it because it is easy and
everyone can participate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like
huayno, because when you dance you are not supposed to make eye-contact with
your partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not something
people have told me, but rather something I have learned from observation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you watch a line of people huayno dancing
everyone will be looking at their feet, to their side, anywhere except for the
person across from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is kind of
funny to watch.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
This week started off kind of slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Monday afternoon exercise class I was the
first person to arrive and the municipality turned out to be closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I waited for a little while, but no one has
attended the class except Diamond and I for at least 3 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, not counting the time that my host
brother Sergio and his friends came to the class-it was really cute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point of the story is that Diamond and I
had heard so much positive feedback about doing an aerobics class. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
It was not surprising that no one showed up, but for some
reason I just started crying in front of the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A guy that I recognized as an employee of the
Municipality was watching me and I told him about how everyone I had spoken to
had told me how much they wanted aerobics classes, how Diamond and I had paid
for radio spots advertising the class, how we had printed copies of calendars
to pass out, and still no one would come to our classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me that the people of Tacabamba are
‘verguenzosos’ or ‘embarassed’ to say ‘no’ to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never thought that that would be something
that I missed or wanted to hear, but I really do miss people just saying ‘no’
when they don’t want to do something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hate how people say ‘yes’ and then just don’t bother to show up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fall for it every time
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Later on in the week I walked out to Solugan; the community
where my former sitemate Laura did a latrines project, to talk with the
teniente (an elected community leader recognized by the municipality).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ronnie is a very polite kind family man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went out to Solugan with the intension of
pitching the idea of my ‘old person health’ classes, but Ronnie had a long
laundry list of things he needed help with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The stuff he was asking for wasn’t about getting free stuff, or English
classes, or agreeing to project work he had no intention of following through
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked me for small things that
would make a big difference in his community and it made me feel so happy to be
asked for real help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
At the end of Laura’s latrine project there had been some
materials left over and the community voted on what to do with the extra
latrines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the extras was going to
be built for the local kindergarten so the kids didn’t have to hold it during
class time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, due to the location
of the kindergarten and some disagreements from neighbors about building a latrine
on their land, the latrine would have to be built in a tricky spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ronnie asked me to help them get one of the
municipality engineers to come out to help them build.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They needed some professional advice and Ronnie
was having trouble getting anyone to help him out at the Municipality building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
That afternoon when I got back from Solugan I went into the
Municipality talked with one of the engineers I know, got the name of another
engineer who knows about latrine construction and water table stuff, and wrote
up a formal document asking this engineer to go out to Solugan to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if it’s because I’m a gringa,
because I live in Tacabamba, or because I am really not so ‘verguenzosa’ to be
pushy and make a fuss, but I was able to get the ball rolling for Ronnie and
those poor kindergarteners in just a couple hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Ronnie also asked me about the possibility of doing a cuy
hutch building project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost everyone
I have met in Cajamarca raises cuys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the more rural communities (read: poorer) a lot of times people just have all
their guinea pigs running loose on the kitchen floor, which is really
unhygienic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if people are
really poor or also really stubborn they will argue and argue with you that
their cuys die from cold when they take them out of the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that is true, but even if they put all
the cuys in a hutch that was in the kitchen it would still be so much
cleaner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ronnie told me that people in
his community were too poor to buy all the materials needed to make hutches to
get their cuys off the kitchen floor, but could I help them ask for materials
from the Municipality.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Asking for money from the local government has been a super
frustrating pass time of mine since I moved to Tacabamba, but what Ronnie was
asking me to do was to teach him how to do something for himself and his
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what Peace Corps is
supposed to be all about; helping people learn how to do their own
projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the time I feel like I
am shoving Peace Corps project goals down people’s unwilling throats-especially
when I work with moms on nutrition and hygiene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People are busy, why should they care what some foreign girl with bad
Spanish has to say about how they should live their lives, I totally understand
why they do not want to come sit in a class that I am giving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is different though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is his idea, his project; he wants to
work with me to learn how to do this for his community on his own in the
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to teach Ronnie how
to write up the documents that he needs to ask for money and I’ll sit in the
municipality with him waiting to get face time with someone to whom we will
pitch the idea.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
On some level I am worried that this might not work out,
because nothing really does seem to work out how you plan it to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I am going to give it my best
pushiest without verguenza gringa shot and we’ll see if we can get the wire
mesh and nails to build the hutches for the families in Solugan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Although, it’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i>
still in the planning phase right now I feel more hopeful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if I can’t get anything to really work at
least I know I tried my best and it’s not time to give up yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rainy season makes everything feel so
difficult; your clothes don’t dry on the line, people don’t show up to things
because they don’t want to be out in the rain, and also hiking in mud out to a
community tires you out so much faster, but school started 2 weeks ago and the
health Center is finally done with their work plan for 2013 (even though ahem,
we are ¼ way into the year).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, maybe I
will get to be a good volunteer in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fingers crossed my sex ed classes don’t fall through at the high school.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Thanks for reading and chau for now,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
kb</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
PS: I wrote this blog post last week, but we had no internet. Some updates include: I have permission to teach sex-ed in a rural high school in a community called El Naranjo. It only took me about an hour of the 4 hour long parent association meeting to convince the community that I was not in fact a spy working for the American mining companies that work in Cajamarca. I start classes on Monday. Ronnie never called my back and I haven't heard from him in about a week. I wrote up all his documents and we are ready to get this engineer thing going whenever I get his signature. Tomorrow is Palm Sunday or Domingo de Los Ramos-I am so excited for the procession and religious ceremony. Pictures to come soon!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Here are some pictures of Kaory's 1st birthday celebration:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0uMuhNiKQtFdIGRWFuLrWPV3a9GipDdW7d5__YXLwrvcUY-M3aT68asJcNSos8f1_cN-51AZ1kIds-xgO1vZNwNtTykqAHh8tdGLu9Zd4t9_ypbjRGUK3lT2lO6s4P-fwo__jvl15Pg/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0uMuhNiKQtFdIGRWFuLrWPV3a9GipDdW7d5__YXLwrvcUY-M3aT68asJcNSos8f1_cN-51AZ1kIds-xgO1vZNwNtTykqAHh8tdGLu9Zd4t9_ypbjRGUK3lT2lO6s4P-fwo__jvl15Pg/s320/IMG_1513.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie passing out the goodies the wild kids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Rlnis5iAiZ_GeVpTHLxkD8zJ7Psz__teLSR9ulFjeahahtPinCxLcZCSLGGIEDGPqVVUueiNhyXdWcihGRNLmUkDhsIktYl8ehCxzhe7J_G-Dre87sZDWUIJPpcV3bXJYYavh8Dadls/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Rlnis5iAiZ_GeVpTHLxkD8zJ7Psz__teLSR9ulFjeahahtPinCxLcZCSLGGIEDGPqVVUueiNhyXdWcihGRNLmUkDhsIktYl8ehCxzhe7J_G-Dre87sZDWUIJPpcV3bXJYYavh8Dadls/s320/IMG_1515.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">during the hora loca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8izlHgHIoZpUBhv4BQ5HoHkvkSOSygNnIua8-9sPu1D8jTz1d_H8xpcaScqsvyfzSFVf1llcHujj3G8xcs9htIpZL-nLyOSTOP4HHyLJhJCEHUi2l_j1Vz0uZOpY1ygVxOSu4VsuopI/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8izlHgHIoZpUBhv4BQ5HoHkvkSOSygNnIua8-9sPu1D8jTz1d_H8xpcaScqsvyfzSFVf1llcHujj3G8xcs9htIpZL-nLyOSTOP4HHyLJhJCEHUi2l_j1Vz0uZOpY1ygVxOSu4VsuopI/s320/IMG_1522.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Peace Corps ladies with Diamond's host momma Adelaida-one of my favorite people</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTqrefGho2vcW_E_FjUiBgls7ozVfNCA1gI3-WlQmfif66zC_e0Et6XjdxKt9dAYSrRwSWMt76wUD5At-PXzKaTTMZfvzBz_clklFaIQ9JeuDJU-W10WDEtKycgaubvz1QPilg3FM8y4/s1600/IMG_1530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTqrefGho2vcW_E_FjUiBgls7ozVfNCA1gI3-WlQmfif66zC_e0Et6XjdxKt9dAYSrRwSWMt76wUD5At-PXzKaTTMZfvzBz_clklFaIQ9JeuDJU-W10WDEtKycgaubvz1QPilg3FM8y4/s320/IMG_1530.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo opportunity with the birthday girl and her cakes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo17ZH-gepqtUQc2YO5bti0ixA_kXiwoHtjpqmcKBRNKloWmRoAH5CQDd0YLt127X9iuazfLS3uTGFzv4daeW0g6o05aTdUQHC0XAN3kOciC82OJjJ14oCuD_uEAEVMa2mNqH-hHzngM/s1600/IMG_1535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo17ZH-gepqtUQc2YO5bti0ixA_kXiwoHtjpqmcKBRNKloWmRoAH5CQDd0YLt127X9iuazfLS3uTGFzv4daeW0g6o05aTdUQHC0XAN3kOciC82OJjJ14oCuD_uEAEVMa2mNqH-hHzngM/s320/IMG_1535.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie with the balloons with Kaory's face on them</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFuduYVm3gIEECpkNOg6DnkVXgdKSRbI29MRrljfoaUzIf4i4vQzoZVr2FF0-IZNhALEUQacmxTSDmQyo-AcsuSDQnnyBqvoc3J9aV8OFkWlvhLYzpHCio_-d-BJLzywfKdgvHpMKCgI/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFuduYVm3gIEECpkNOg6DnkVXgdKSRbI29MRrljfoaUzIf4i4vQzoZVr2FF0-IZNhALEUQacmxTSDmQyo-AcsuSDQnnyBqvoc3J9aV8OFkWlvhLYzpHCio_-d-BJLzywfKdgvHpMKCgI/s320/IMG_1533.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the pinata, plus you can kinda see the camera crew (really it was only 2 people; one person with the camera and another with the light) to record the whole event</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1wxF8-utr9issDUrjOchCFpQzyHdJBzl-LxwEKe-k2cgl5vOUHGSuIeQm2wVrNjNOtbMn7uQIEUSM61KdRjztMKZZAObNU1nIZjuQMJaEQyfTQMpbBvDTqUBLDkDGGPb8Xe72NObJqA/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1wxF8-utr9issDUrjOchCFpQzyHdJBzl-LxwEKe-k2cgl5vOUHGSuIeQm2wVrNjNOtbMn7uQIEUSM61KdRjztMKZZAObNU1nIZjuQMJaEQyfTQMpbBvDTqUBLDkDGGPb8Xe72NObJqA/s320/IMG_1536.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">post- hora loca we are all exhausted and the place was pretty much trashed. So then we danced all over and drank a lot of beer of course.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz_qo51O9_s3WsN7Yem9zy6Q8RLviTzuqncSakmRiVvpa6Jc6NvedkSGvxhbYH41JqvU9WCpg69udQ0MYF58XrPOKi_S5po7CSSVdXj9VZnNewuAELGoE4e6K-6XtSj-LShZHd-Q5Qko/s1600/IMG_1537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz_qo51O9_s3WsN7Yem9zy6Q8RLviTzuqncSakmRiVvpa6Jc6NvedkSGvxhbYH41JqvU9WCpg69udQ0MYF58XrPOKi_S5po7CSSVdXj9VZnNewuAELGoE4e6K-6XtSj-LShZHd-Q5Qko/s320/IMG_1537.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">giant glossy poster with Kaory's face on it, check! They nailed it!<br />
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Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-43570057661745585152013-02-18T06:19:00.001-08:002013-02-18T06:19:11.783-08:00Quick visit<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This last week I spent in Ann Arbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only had one interview, but I am still on
the wait list at 3 other schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
interview was a MMI or multiple mini interviews, and it wasn’t as stressful as
I would have imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am very lucky
that I was able to come in for any interviews at all, because it is so
expensive to travel and there are a lot of restrictions on out of country
travel in Peace Corps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just say,
my bosses in Lima were not too happy that I was coming back to the U.S. so soon
after spending 3 weeks at Christmas out of site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The interview was at 8:30 am in Mt. Pleasant,
Michigan which is about 2 hours from my parent’s home in Ann Arbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my dad offered to drive up with me the
night before and stay at Motel 8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole drive up we spent talking about
potential interview questions and how I should answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it was partly because when I skype
called all my schools the week before to remind them I would be in the U.S. and
ask for interviews the response was that several just rejected me on the
spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I was feeling like I wasn’t
such a worthy candidate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, an
admissions counselor at Wayne State told me that “no respectable medical school
would accept someone with grades as low as yours,” and things like that stick
no matter how hard to shake it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The best part of going with my dad was that when we
arrived in Mt. Pleasant at around 9:45pm he looked at me and said ‘we need some
snacks.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to the grocery store he
let me pick out chips, cookies, and beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s like we are the same person sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The next day I woke up and found myself in a room
full of people in suits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was one of 4
or 5 other candidates/interviewees that showed up not in a suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">stuck as all in an
auditorium and let sweat for about a 15 minute wait, but it felt way longer in
my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could hear people all around
me making small talk; an activity in which I excel and enjoy to participate in,
and I just sat there in my head freaking out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then came a moment when the admissions people passed around a microphone
and asked each of us to introduce ourselves; name, hometown, where you studied,
and where you live now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was happy for
this moment, because as nervous as I was I knew that it might intimidate the
others that I flew in all the way from Peru and that I am a Peace Corps
volunteer.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On some level all volunteers know that people back at
home are impressed by what we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The secret
is that we volunteers (maybe I should only speak for myself) feel like big fat
fakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Day to day life in Peru doesn’t
feel so impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came into Peace
Corps thinking that I would make big changes or at least I would be able to see
the difference I had made….whatever that really means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you show up and you realize; the reason
a country has invited Peace Corps volunteers is probably because those kind of
changes are so difficult to make happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That is not to say that I regret joining Peace
Corps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week I went to my sister
Jessie’s school and spoke in front of 2 classrooms about Peru and about Peace
Corps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think they were 7<sup>th</sup>
and 8<sup>th</sup> graders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One kid; who
I suspect was prompted by her teacher, asked me if I would do Peace Corps again
now that I know what it is like. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any volunteer
can tell you that that is one loaded question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the one hand I have received this amazing once in a lifetime
experience to live in another culture, learn another language, I am seeing the
world from a different perspective, and I’m supposed to get to help people
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On the other hand I constantly feel disappointed in
my accomplishments, when I am really honest with myself I feel this sort of
indifference to project work sometimes and I think it is my way of not getting
too invested so that when my work falls apart I don’t feel so hurt as I used to
let myself feel in the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
want to be a drama queen here, but that kid really got me thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did I join the Peace Corps?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it reminded me that I worked very hard to
get here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent 2 years applying to
get here and now I’m here living it while complaining about how difficult it
all is for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t that why I wanted
to do this in the first place to push myself to do something challenging?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, now it’s year 2 and I feel like I need to really
do something I can be proud of, but I also don’t want to set myself up to be
disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to find a way to
feel satisfied with the small things that I have accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they feel very small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, who knows how those small things will
affect someone in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all,
the people that I have met in Peru have caused a profound change in me-simply
by including me in their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it’s
not such a stretch that I might have changed a couple people’s ideas along the
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my goal for myself is to think about
what I have done here in a more positive way and to adjust my expectations for
this year without giving up before I even try again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Whew, sorry for all the heavy posts recently. Here is a interesting cultural tidbit to offset the seriousness and complaining nature of the rest of the post:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The week before I came back for the interview I was hanging out with the host family and some neighbors in front of host mom Rosa's store. The power was out so everyone was sitting and talking instead of watching television. Host aunt Elva decided she wanted to take a ride on the neighbor's motorcycle just for fun. A lot of people have motorcycles where I live and there are often multiple riders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I remember when I first got to Peru I was shocked when I saw a baby on a motorcycle. Yes, in fact I do know that 'a baby on a motorcycle' sounds ridiculous. Sometimes the baby is strapped to the mother's back or if the baby is a little older they can sit in front holding on to the handle bars from between the legs of the driver. Either way it is a little scary-no longer shocking to me, but still scary. Anyway, host aunt Elva put Iban on the motorcycle with her. Iban is 2 years old. He sat between her legs and griped the handle bars (is that what you call them on a motorcycle?). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They got about a block away and just fell right over. Don't worry no one was seriously hurt. It was scary, but no one was injured. According to Elva, Iban didn't lean into a turn and started to slide off so she shifted her weight to break the fall tipping over the whole bike. Iban was scared and so his mom took him to a neighbor's house to be 'cleaned'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So this is where the interesting cultural tidbit comes in. In Cajamarca most people I know are believers of modern medicine, but they also believe in curandismo to some extent. I guess a 'curandero' would translate to 'shaman' or 'traditional healer'. When kids are scared or upset it is common for them to be 'cleaned' by the curandero or sometimes by any old family member. What I have seen and heard about is kids getting 'cleaned' with an egg or with a newspaper. Someone will sort of run the egg or the newspaper over the kids body while saying-from what I can tell-prayers. The bad energy will leave the child and go into the egg or newspaper. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Curandismo is not really big here in the mountains, but on the coast it is much more formative presence. I have heard about getting 'cleaned' with a guinea pig, which sounds kind of fun to me if not a little uncleanly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Chau for now and thanks for reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">kb</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">*here are some pictures of my visit to Bambamarca at the end of January and a few from February.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_7zoTD7TU48yLEOwAQDx54-6XBCqg_fciqoVI-X2P4HU6CfCgZGXF1QV4CCgFpU9eKkIjQp0agsm9bRdgvv2sNQZ4jX-EtBkvMgpU2ZbDY8CJzUtbHj_9WSsy9WdeNCUDmfsjxls8c4/s1600/DSCN2302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_7zoTD7TU48yLEOwAQDx54-6XBCqg_fciqoVI-X2P4HU6CfCgZGXF1QV4CCgFpU9eKkIjQp0agsm9bRdgvv2sNQZ4jX-EtBkvMgpU2ZbDY8CJzUtbHj_9WSsy9WdeNCUDmfsjxls8c4/s1600/DSCN2302.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">making tamales for dinner in San Juan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNfSA01SAnylDGWTVJtlz2nCnANBO-1qb082x-zrdWEPnMEMmh5KQXFL29GK5_I22anrtpIX4C0vNVa9mMQAmGsJkaGVd_9kkbTdBKLZAsyBokyzOz9gfKULzoaXyjaH21Cmu8WRhIig/s1600/DSCN2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNfSA01SAnylDGWTVJtlz2nCnANBO-1qb082x-zrdWEPnMEMmh5KQXFL29GK5_I22anrtpIX4C0vNVa9mMQAmGsJkaGVd_9kkbTdBKLZAsyBokyzOz9gfKULzoaXyjaH21Cmu8WRhIig/s1600/DSCN2304.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the ladies helped me perfect my husk filling methods</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9pfHqb6eRZdLK26HSkbuj1D_WuC43jn7Q8rwrMr4nCUxX27GADmSluU8emuJ7K2Blr6igHPB2n7xA5MDzSlCnvA3FE_uqbT_esVwNVrp7sRC64qJwH9WcLjxLnYQgFMfwP5Oti8MpgU/s1600/DSCN2307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9pfHqb6eRZdLK26HSkbuj1D_WuC43jn7Q8rwrMr4nCUxX27GADmSluU8emuJ7K2Blr6igHPB2n7xA5MDzSlCnvA3FE_uqbT_esVwNVrp7sRC64qJwH9WcLjxLnYQgFMfwP5Oti8MpgU/s1600/DSCN2307.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is where my previous host family makes cheese, with Dalila, Witman, and Eduar</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNy4eJibuEUp7-lMypP8PWAFhByd8f-Bt8JiPwsE_E3b2uPEyeUqU21-c5l2F6NXI9qaBwMDxmGy7yJvGJAoBrCAo91R23RH9ETlIhRKyhiXO7SNB4oV6ahPjlXqCaVe6mdOw7XEr8jI/s1600/DSCN2308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNy4eJibuEUp7-lMypP8PWAFhByd8f-Bt8JiPwsE_E3b2uPEyeUqU21-c5l2F6NXI9qaBwMDxmGy7yJvGJAoBrCAo91R23RH9ETlIhRKyhiXO7SNB4oV6ahPjlXqCaVe6mdOw7XEr8jI/s1600/DSCN2308.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5CzBrwCT-vZZ6qYIqa84-y70MVVTJfGUeszpO96SmR985wr6CcQeLXReA6HbzM-do98LZiy5BF7vVj1vZ6EOoAkQ4F3u5jckLp3oNyBDVwu0Z6ISWd44o33Fc986V0XY7_Ef2b_DVKg/s1600/DSCN2309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5CzBrwCT-vZZ6qYIqa84-y70MVVTJfGUeszpO96SmR985wr6CcQeLXReA6HbzM-do98LZiy5BF7vVj1vZ6EOoAkQ4F3u5jckLp3oNyBDVwu0Z6ISWd44o33Fc986V0XY7_Ef2b_DVKg/s1600/DSCN2309.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eduar's got Peace Corps and Michigan swag</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjry2qjQ95CIquuejHqTwUn-UPojlVx8ohb3_Nag8IzEcUmkc8GKCoz4bY20MXw9cMHSOMJzY7I3CntckW57AuzYD71p1qOaLvUjaiCu2OCXzm84Qy6vKEzsQ40b8vhDsv5fr3D1ZTaU/s1600/DSCN2310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjry2qjQ95CIquuejHqTwUn-UPojlVx8ohb3_Nag8IzEcUmkc8GKCoz4bY20MXw9cMHSOMJzY7I3CntckW57AuzYD71p1qOaLvUjaiCu2OCXzm84Qy6vKEzsQ40b8vhDsv5fr3D1ZTaU/s1600/DSCN2310.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">goofing off with the cheese molds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKOGvKT2Xq7PxZ31jd2e7ob7EdiKJ-AqMBVuLhBFQIItQ1ALnjYSt3eqbBKqRaS2KVvfx8BbjppcpfkDtfhZHnRBrC1FIFffAq74ROrB3vu_emVmZoS39hH6NkIQzfMeYlmrkAGiwuUs/s1600/DSCN2311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKOGvKT2Xq7PxZ31jd2e7ob7EdiKJ-AqMBVuLhBFQIItQ1ALnjYSt3eqbBKqRaS2KVvfx8BbjppcpfkDtfhZHnRBrC1FIFffAq74ROrB3vu_emVmZoS39hH6NkIQzfMeYlmrkAGiwuUs/s1600/DSCN2311.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCQmataUw43aOomBlL6rPzImlyBTBMq_pgGAlj_ht0OqLb6-cpng1dbTB-GVzOXzkBtN7kMzaL-EHnxrMVu_DIY6ipaORQwVrYIxlh6rTZADN9uJBmA4M_-mbvIptQv6fKDv8_Aiiwss/s1600/DSCN2315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCQmataUw43aOomBlL6rPzImlyBTBMq_pgGAlj_ht0OqLb6-cpng1dbTB-GVzOXzkBtN7kMzaL-EHnxrMVu_DIY6ipaORQwVrYIxlh6rTZADN9uJBmA4M_-mbvIptQv6fKDv8_Aiiwss/s1600/DSCN2315.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting for a car down to Bambamarca</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMysfBKXngC6VUG-sSYGLIMd99P0UOeIt_IQMGJbyNu3uO1kvsl4PNSvzSGg1gBTqm5NUll64E-dk4IW4Axc0ZAIo0rEM3JT2sqNMo8EVBbYRPGNs7T8JBn275sFER1n9vLuxaI_OY9jY/s1600/DSCN2320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMysfBKXngC6VUG-sSYGLIMd99P0UOeIt_IQMGJbyNu3uO1kvsl4PNSvzSGg1gBTqm5NUll64E-dk4IW4Axc0ZAIo0rEM3JT2sqNMo8EVBbYRPGNs7T8JBn275sFER1n9vLuxaI_OY9jY/s1600/DSCN2320.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my extended host family from Tacabamba lives in Lima and generously let me stay with them on my to the states for the interviews. Host mom Rosa sent me with a package for little Sergio-I was surprised to find that it had an entire pig skin wrapped up inside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I brought back Michigan shirts for all my host sibs (both families) after my visit home at Christmas</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTh4AuJkmY92eHYqeVC-MywbQSER_6W2xXdAuGhJ12AWVuCCpofaVuGUYfTMJwFxMLnEJ77Yrl0Avqm-i2EMBWSQOITMrEBFrp1IC5I0x7T-sC_o3dgQP405uEZfz_H_HAYEdWivynuc/s1600/DSCN2322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTh4AuJkmY92eHYqeVC-MywbQSER_6W2xXdAuGhJ12AWVuCCpofaVuGUYfTMJwFxMLnEJ77Yrl0Avqm-i2EMBWSQOITMrEBFrp1IC5I0x7T-sC_o3dgQP405uEZfz_H_HAYEdWivynuc/s1600/DSCN2322.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZkqaWxIA0QILmX48gaFsfmHQpk35hkovUve-7Mll1s5HJqsIIgZr2v76iw1us6AJlZssMq8-ElDpsRWM9eLMscFH6DN3ML-j40kT0o1es5rR-22ILfMkEfuITjZaWRdNYxSskxjOhFA/s1600/DSCN2323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZkqaWxIA0QILmX48gaFsfmHQpk35hkovUve-7Mll1s5HJqsIIgZr2v76iw1us6AJlZssMq8-ElDpsRWM9eLMscFH6DN3ML-j40kT0o1es5rR-22ILfMkEfuITjZaWRdNYxSskxjOhFA/s1600/DSCN2323.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and I went to Detroit during my week home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4anWV4B-caKUNIcpxn4VvbUlaqsOyJ3nKrp6zEjvPAcGMHYstRmT68pBhueYNSAPNOkHkJDou8OXIBSNmBYMjjaNmUN4XhwX62GcFg-Rox5CZlktd9tH8xXLyb3PtjL8Y1z9TddSQh0/s1600/DSCN2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4anWV4B-caKUNIcpxn4VvbUlaqsOyJ3nKrp6zEjvPAcGMHYstRmT68pBhueYNSAPNOkHkJDou8OXIBSNmBYMjjaNmUN4XhwX62GcFg-Rox5CZlktd9tH8xXLyb3PtjL8Y1z9TddSQh0/s1600/DSCN2327.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detroit feels so big after Tacabamba</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7rU9c9jjIAvoctCce-0kmlPYS7cV-59pugALHcctCN2oHiT3-NquBd-7-Jfkn7x_rYAtPt_La0oWLdmd_UhUh44hBfjchn0rqwsd_azQdtEIbSURWV2ehXF1RPW4bKxN0_hnGu9_MOU/s1600/DSCN2328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7rU9c9jjIAvoctCce-0kmlPYS7cV-59pugALHcctCN2oHiT3-NquBd-7-Jfkn7x_rYAtPt_La0oWLdmd_UhUh44hBfjchn0rqwsd_azQdtEIbSURWV2ehXF1RPW4bKxN0_hnGu9_MOU/s1600/DSCN2328.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought the buildings were beautiful</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPt7PcYWwwyHraO5XcAZhIZguYXDsu9QTsUHLXqFD7zSgX622_ncOBsgab_xS2yPbHTaRrl-RhFcj1K_zVnA4xVl54eMhXdfhyphenhyphenb8S0FuacYRK04mk-oSMKQiOlLZwWXjBlxsTXNfc6eo/s1600/DSCN2331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPt7PcYWwwyHraO5XcAZhIZguYXDsu9QTsUHLXqFD7zSgX622_ncOBsgab_xS2yPbHTaRrl-RhFcj1K_zVnA4xVl54eMhXdfhyphenhyphenb8S0FuacYRK04mk-oSMKQiOlLZwWXjBlxsTXNfc6eo/s1600/DSCN2331.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">behind me is Canada</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMi8FlA8v7WFb1mBHve9Qh75B7HNUhIa5X_Dwz1aeboA_IKMttc4glI5h19Z8OLvHnJj3O0ZLHMaMbgxn43oQ0MUEfRv4ka6EFEe_IBmtju5cohEuuk3dxzrLV5a-EsO3fPLuZVHR_8Q/s1600/DSCN2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMi8FlA8v7WFb1mBHve9Qh75B7HNUhIa5X_Dwz1aeboA_IKMttc4glI5h19Z8OLvHnJj3O0ZLHMaMbgxn43oQ0MUEfRv4ka6EFEe_IBmtju5cohEuuk3dxzrLV5a-EsO3fPLuZVHR_8Q/s1600/DSCN2332.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went downtown to see the Detroit Golf Show or something like that, it was pretty bad. The auto show is definitely more fun. Although there was a guy who my dad has seen on the golf channel talking about swing theory. I mostly enjoyed walking around downtown and spending time with my dad. </td></tr>
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Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-15657782266279004722013-01-30T10:32:00.000-08:002013-01-30T10:32:18.740-08:00The good, the bad, and crying in public is uglyThis week I made a trip out to visit my first host family in San Juan. I find the trip to be stressful. It is about 3 hours of bus travel to get from Tacabamba to Bambamarca and from Bamba I waited for over an hour for a truck to fill up so we could ride up to San Juan. However, once I got there it was a great relief. I was greeted so warmly by my entire host family. It felt amazing. <br />
<br />
I brought Witman, Eduar, and my host sisters (who weren't in town, because they are in University in Cajamarca) University of Michigan t-shirts. The boys were so excited. They wore them around the whole time I was there. We walked in the rain to my previous sitemate's site to deliver something from Nate and Kelsey. It took us about an hour each way, because of the mud. We baked a chocolate cake. I helped my host mom Dalila, host grandma Niceda, and some other neighbor women make tamales. We ate a big family dinner. We laughed, danced, sang, and were generally very inappropriate. It was great. <br />
<br />
The next day I stayed through lunch. After lunch I took Witman and Eduar down to Bambamarca with me to teach them how to use email. We parted ways and I headed to the home of one of the nurses that I used to work with in San Juan. She always invites me to her house. Doli was very close with the previous 2 volunteers that lived in San Juan and she briefly host mom to a small business volunteer Josh, but he had a site change after a year. Doli is a very kind woman and someone I really enjoy spending time with. I didn't really get to spend time with her this visit, because she was frantically working on finishing the 2012 end of year reports for the health post. <br />
<br />
It was kind of an awkward visit, because I felt like I was just by myself in her house. I hung out with Roymer her 5 year old son, but watching him play plants vs. zombies got old quickly. I made a pizza, because she and I had talked about making pizza together. We didn't eat it until 9pm. The next day when I woke up her co-workers were back and I was sitting by myself in the kitchen again. I decided to leave earlier than we had planned. I just didn't want to sit around waiting, I felt like I needed to get back to site to get things done. <br />
<br />
So I guess writing this blog post isn't exactly getting things done, but it makes me feel better. It is a big effort for me to go visit Bambamarca; time, money, and it is sort of stressful bouncing from house to house with my stuff in a plastic bag. It is really difficult when I am leaving San Juan and every one's response is to do this whiny nagging 'don't go, you only just got here,' and 'just stay another day, come on.' It is nice to know that they love me, but it is hard when they do that to me.<br />
<br />
I got to Chota today and I was really excited to finally call this woman from the admissions office at University of Illinois medical school. She had called my parent's home phone on Friday last week saying that she needed to speak with me. I tried calling her on Monday and Tuesday with no luck; she wasn't in the office and the second time the Internet was not strong enough to support a skype call. Today when I called her I found out that all the urgency was about her needed to tell me that I would not be receiving an interview. I was crushed. I had worked myself up into the giddy happy fantasy that she was trying to get a hold of me to let me know that University of Illinois wanted to interview me when I will be home in February. <br />
<br />
I sent an email to all the schools where I applied to let them know that I would be in the U.S. in February and I was still very interested in an interview. I thought I had gotten a bite. I was so upset when she told me that my application was incomplete, because I only had two academic letters of recommendation. When I was in school I didn't realize I need three and I got two; one from my biochemistry teacher who I really liked and one from my physics professor (because it was one of my only pre-med science classes that I got an A in and I was pretty surprised myself that I liked physics so much). <br />
<br />
I was kind of rude to her on the phone. I was crying in the internet cafe, not a totally new thing for me-it's happened before. Although, it has happened it is always humiliating. I asked her why she couldn't have just emailed me the information. Instead I was hanging on to this idea that I had an interview for 5 days and I had been trying to contact her for 3 of those days. It just seemed unfair to me that it was so hard to get a hold of her when I am the one riding in a bus to get to the internet. This lady probably has internet on her phone and she couldn't email me back Monday in response to the email I sent her on Friday. (*this is what I think whenever anyone in the U.S. doesn't respond to an email quickly, "that person probably has internet on their phone what gives??)<br />
<br />
So I cried for a while, bought myself a coca-cola and a chocolate muffin. I feel better now, but worried. I am so worried that I won't get in anywhere and that will mean that things won't go as planned. I guess if Peace Corps has taught me anything it is to expect that nothing you plan will work out how you planned it to. So what if I don't get into any of my schools? I will deal with it and things will work out in a different way. It is going to be okay. <br />
<br />
I am so lucky that I have such an amazing family and great friends who make me feel strong. I am so lucky also, because I will get to have an interview at Central Michigan University in February. Now, that one will go as planned I'm sure of it-I got a confirmation email itinerary and everything. Sheesh the U.S. advance email itineraries are wonderful. On the other hand coca-cola in Peru is made with real sugar...it's pretty wonderful too.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading. Chau for now,<br />
kb<br />
*lots of photos of San Juan visit to come, I forgot to pack the cord for my camera-whoops. Plus, my old person health class is on friday-I think it's going to be great!Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-92167147971837604602013-01-24T14:40:00.000-08:002013-01-24T14:40:11.019-08:00Carnival; when child snipers attack!
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week felt especially productive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diamond and I started writing a grant to fund
a boys leadership camp in May, we got permission from the UGEL (Unidad de Gestion Educativa Local = United Administration Education Local) to teach
sexual education classes in several high schools in our district, we went to a
community meeting in El Naranjo one of the places we have been looking at for
one of us to work, and I scheduled 2 more meetings in El Naranjo (sexual health
with the ronderos and older adult health).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My extended host family is still here so there is a house
full of people at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am lucky
that I have such a kind host family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rosa’s brother and sister have both invited me to go visit their
homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they tease me when I say
‘yes’, but explain that I don’t know if I will be able to get vacation
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be especially interesting
to go visit Rosa’s sister Elva, because she lives in the amazon jungle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, now I’m pretty close with her
kids. Still it really bothered me that they made such a big deal that I gave them what I like to call a 'peruvian yes', because I have to deal with that all the time. Everyday people promise me they will show up to one of my meetings or work with me on something and then just completely flake out. I have come to expect it at this point-so why where they so shocked?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since it is vacations the kids (and adults) around town have
been playing a lot of carnivales, which is an excuse to soak innocent neighbors
and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t mind playing
carnivales with water guns, but the water balloons hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since anyone at any time could be playing
I am constantly on the lookout for water balloons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids hide in the balconies and throw
their ammunition like snipers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s fun,
but it’s also a little stressful to constantly be looking over your
shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, Diamond and I pose as
extra fun targets, so we get hit a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week I went to what I think would best be described as
a Peruvian wake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A woman in a nearby
community died of cancer, Rosa and her sister Elva were close to her and we
went to her family’s house out in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I did not know what to expect, but it really wasn’t very different from
any event state side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman’s family
cooked a huge meal so they could be prepared to feed anyone who came to show
their respects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only they cooked over
small fires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were flies
everywhere, probably because of the quantity of raw meat that was processed by
hand by a group of women that plopped pieces of flesh into a large plastic tub
and tossed the bone and fat aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The smoke and the heat made me really tired and my eyes
teary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every guest was invited in groups
of 6 or so to sit at the kitchen table and eat a big plate of food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food was good, but we had just eaten
lunch back at the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know
we were going unlike Rosa and her sister who didn’t eat lunch in preparation; I
had to wolf down second lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
quantity of food you are given is a reflection of how respected or loved you
are by a Peruvian woman (at least that is my theory), and if you don’t finish
your plate that is a sign of disrespect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No matter what excuse you make or how much to tell a Peruvian momma you
love her food, if you don’t eat your whole plate you can bet she’s going to
hold a little grudge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also during carnival is a special tradition called a yunsa tree. During this carnival celebration; which seems to go from New Year to Easter from what I can gather (not exactly the catholic Lent I know), the yunsa tree is moved week to week between different neighborhoods or communities. The tree is filled with prizes. The one that I saw last weekend in Tacabamba had shirts, brooms, big drums of cooking oil, toys, and lots of other stuff. At the end of the yunsa tree weekly traveling parties people take turns trying to cut it down. When you take your swing at the tree anything that falls out is yours to keep, but if you are the one to cut the tree down on your turn you are obligated to purchase all the prizes for the next tree.</span></div>
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I went with my visiting host aunt Elva and a family friend Manuel to the yunsa dance on Saturday night. I had fun dancing. I'm not such a big fan of the drinking circles, but at one point in the night I was being included in 3 independent circles. Drinking circles are the just the way that people drink beer at parties. Everyone in the circle shares a cup and a bottle of beer, it goes around person by person. I think of it as doing beer shots...warm beer shots, yum right? Not so much, but you get used to it after a couple parties. </div>
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The music at the yunsa tree party was so loud that I couldn't hear anyone. Even when a very intoxicated older gentleman shouted into my ear (he spit quite a bit on my face) I still couldn't understand what he was saying. It may or may not have been worsened by the fact that in December I ruptured my ear drum on my right side. The next day I was having a lot of ear pain and ringing on one side, but it went away by that Monday. </div>
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This week Diamond and I started our aerobics classes. Our first class was kind of a flop. Only 3 people showed up; we calculated our BMIs and did 30 minutes of cardio. However, we have high hopes for the future. Tomorrow I am scheduled to do a hygiene charla in a nearby community. I was invited by one of our community health promoters. It makes me feel really happy that these promoters that we helped to train are doing their own classes in their communities. I'm excited to see how she does. Plus, I'm doing the 'ano, mano, boca' or 'butt, hand, mouth' talk about how if you don't wash your hands you are basically eating your poop, thus giving yourself and your family parasites or diarrhea. That one is always a fun one.</div>
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Chau for now, thanks for reading.</div>
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kb</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gTgL_xJzA_QH3r-TpST0r72CIgVtxtAa2-AJYy3k_pW8h81LhxyF8KQDk-O2f-7iWMpT0BtC5FNKq-JXADK0Y5rzwHQf1ynj5IJEc8XGdrCq4ficQcQ_rCMy71pO5jtu9kIuchRYYiU/s1600/DSCN2249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gTgL_xJzA_QH3r-TpST0r72CIgVtxtAa2-AJYy3k_pW8h81LhxyF8KQDk-O2f-7iWMpT0BtC5FNKq-JXADK0Y5rzwHQf1ynj5IJEc8XGdrCq4ficQcQ_rCMy71pO5jtu9kIuchRYYiU/s320/DSCN2249.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first weekend back in Peru Marta invited Diamond and I to her family's home in Chota for lunch. Marta works for a Peruvian NGO and she is one of my favorite people in Tacabamba. The is me with her niece Tatiana.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tatiana playing the princess game with me</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she's making me beautiful like a princess she told me</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">now it's my turn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she was so friendly. She asked Diamond and I if we are sisters.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond and I with Marta's parents. I had a good one with Marta too, but it's not uploading right now. I'll put it up next time.</td></tr>
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Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-8797564845245911252013-01-13T16:48:00.000-08:002013-01-13T16:48:06.318-08:00First week back...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coming back to Peru was rough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It probably didn’t help that the trip back up
to my site from Lima is exhausting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
immediately felt very alone and I was alone for those 2 days traveling to
Tacabamba.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now it is summer
vacation from school in Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where I live in
Cajamarca a lot of people leave their communities to make extra money as
migrant workers during the coffee harvest in the jungle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there is not a lot of project work to look
forward to during January and February, because people just aren’t around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I got home to Tacabamba on Tuesday night I was
surprised to find 3 new kids at my house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My host mom Rosa’s nephews and niece are staying with us for
vacations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are a pretty
rambunctious group and immediately showered me with questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite was ‘are you a man or a woman?’
which I thought was uncalled for, but 5 year old Jesus just wasn’t sure about
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also asked me if I was married or
if I have kids; pretty typical I get that a lot from adults too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next day I hiked up to Ayaque with Diamond and
Marta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marta works for a Peruvian NGO
that has a lot of the same goals as Peace Corps health and we work together a
lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marta took over for the promoter
who was in charge of Ayaque last year and she needed someone to show her
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not want to hike up to
Ayaque the community where Diamond and I spent so much time developing a
project only to have it flop in early December, but I figured it would be good
for me not to wallow alone in my room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And it was, good for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Showing Marta around really made me realize what a big deal
it is that Diamond and I put in all those hours visiting houses and getting to
know that community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew names,
faces, where the worst dogs live, and the people there knew me too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it really sucks that our project didn’t
work out and it won’t count towards anything, but I did successfully get to
know this community that is so isolated that it seems to often get passed over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although my project didn’t work out, I
will still be able to advocate on behalf of the community throughout this
Municipality project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I can keep
them honest and make sure that Ayaque doesn’t get forgotten again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So far our plan for an adult exercise class is not coming
together so well, but I’m sure we’ll wear the municipality down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We aren’t asking for any funding just a space
to do the class, so I’m crossing my fingers that we get all the documents
signed and stamped soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime
the search is on for a new community to work in this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In December Diamond and I made a list of all
the communities in the district that have a secondary school and a health
post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we need to find one that fits
for a healthy homes project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m trying to keep busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m trying not to worry about med school stuff too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m trying to not let the rainy season bum me
out too much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chau for now,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">kb</span></div>
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Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-50866135004305020362013-01-08T07:02:00.001-08:002013-01-08T07:02:14.779-08:00Back to the Rainy Season RealityI am so lucky. I was able to go back to the U.S. for the holidays and spend 3 whole weeks surrounded by the people I love. It felt amazing to be back in my country. I felt like I fit, I knew how things worked and what to expect. It was wonderful to be able to express myself fully. The amount of love and support I felt was incredible. <br />
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On Sunday I left Detroit. All the sleep deprived travel time between Miami, Lima, and now (I still have 7 hours of van rides to go as I am writing from the regional capital Cajamarca) back to my community Tacabamba. I am surprised at how emotional it has been. The sadness of leaving has surprised me. Rationally I know that I have my Peruvian family and friends (I actually have 2 families since I had that site change in July), not to mention my wonderful Peace Corps family in the volunteers. <br />
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It is much harder than I expected it to be. However, I have so many great things to look forward to and I need to keep those in mind. Plus, I have been here for 15 months already and as one volunteer friend pointed out we are 3/5th of the way finished with our service. <br />
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So I'm on my way today to reunite with my Peruvian family in Tacabamba and survive the combes from here to there. I have more to reflect on, but I think I'll post it this weekend. I'm started to get worried about no getting back to site until really late. Thank you everyone who welcomed me home. I love you all so so much. <br />
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hasta este fin de semana,<br />
kbKate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-49853122670885204312012-12-16T12:55:00.000-08:002012-12-16T12:55:08.436-08:00I'll be home for ChristmasLast week all of the volunteers from my training group came together for the first time since our last group wide training event which was in April for medical checks and our mid-service conference. The first three days we had med checks; a visit with the doctors, the dentist, and a parasite test. It was really nice to catch up with everyone and we had a lot of free time to just hang out in Lima. We volunteers really get excited about good food, because often in site we eat a lot of the same thing over and over. For me in the sierras that means a lot of rice, potatoes, and fried egg. In Lima we could eat burritos, Indian food, pizza, or felafel, the food choices are endless! (*burrito means 'little donkey' in Spanish, except apparently in Mexico where it means delicious food...but the name confusion has proven to be an embarrassing disappointment on more than one occasion)<br />
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A few highlights of the week in Lima with the rest of my training group Peru 18;<br />
Going with a group of friends to give our stool samples! Finding out I have no parasites was actually kind of disappointing, because it means that all the times I got sick was just food poisoning and having a parasite would be way more bad ass.<br />
A visit to the national museum.<br />
On my friend Christina's birthday a group of us went out to eat burritos (and I don't mean little donkeys) and go dancing. <br />
Staying in a backpackers hostel we were in rooms with 4 bunks and lockers. So in our room we had 2 strangers; sick Lewis and Emma, a sort of friendly couple from England. Sick Lewis spent all his time in bed and may or may not have gotten me really sick before I left. However, it was really fun to refer to 'sick Lewis' all week, he and his girlfriend Emma told me they plan to rent motorbikes and drive to Colombia. To really pant the picture for the reader I want to make sure that you imagine Lewis with dreadlocks down to his butt and lot of piercings/tattoos while Emma wore a lot of tiny clothes and a fanny pack at all times.<br />
Getting a pedicure was nice, but I was seriously embarrassed about how gross my feet were. <br />
Going to Parque Kennedy; a park named for President Kennedy that is full of cats. A local church feeds thereby supporting a very large population of homeless cats, that roam this park. I felt like I was on cat safari.<br />
Playing euchre one night with 2 other volunteers and a very friendly Canadian man named Glen who was probably in his late sixties. It was one of my favorite and weirdest moments of the week.<br />
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On Thursday and Friday we had mid-service conference with the Peace Corps health staff. It was really nice, but I had trouble staying focused and participating since I was so excited about leaving Friday night for the states. It was also really difficult to hear about the successes of the other volunteers; I am happy for them, but also really jealous. With the site change in July and more recently the healthy homes project that Diamond and I were planning fell apart-I'm feeling pretty dejected. My hope is that being home for a couple weeks will help me to be more motivated to start fresh in January, after all I am kind of an expert now at staring fresh third times a charm, I hope.<br />
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On Friday night I went to the airport with Ellie and Hayden two of my best friends in Peru, also volunteers in Cajamarca. We had a scare-err I had a scare, Ellie and Hayden were both very calm, when the taxi broke down for a while. At the airport we discovered that as Peace Corps volunteers we can go through the diplomat lines. We felt pretty proud of ourselves. It does say on our Peace Corps passports that we work for the American embassy.<br />
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On Saturday morning during my layover in Miami an elderly woman from Brazil found me and latched on for about 2 hours prior to takeoff. She was coming to Michigan, Ann Arbor specifically, to visit her doctor son and his newly pregnant wife. However, she spoke no English. She spoke some Spanish, but mostly Portuguese. When she spoke to me and I confused her Portuguese for Spanish we became fast friends.<br />
<br />
I'm at my parent's house typing this write now. It feels like so much has changed and at the same time nothing has changed. Definitely seeing Jessie and Eric was really weird at first. I cannot get over how tall they both are, but especially Jessie-it's like she is walking on stilts or something. Kevin the cat is all grown up and he's not such a great cat. I would have thought with such a great name that he would be better, but he doesn't really like me. So I think I have mostly escaped the reverse culture shock, but I still haven't left the house yet so only time will tell. I may freak out in a Walmart or an Applebee's, I've got plenty of time to do it still.<br />
<br />
Below is a link to the Peace Corps website about the top states and cities where volunteers are from. Michigan made the state list and Ann Arbor made a list for the highest per capita. <br />
<br />
http://www.peacecorps.gov/resources/media/press/2155/?from=hp_banner_topstates<br />
<br />
Also, finally here is a link to the much anticipated music video that we made in site. Diamond, Laura, Ellie, and I had so much fun making this. We think it's great, but it's probably pretty weird. I wrote a short description of important vocabulary words on youtube. <br />
<br />
http://youtu.be/58qI-IEKqes<br />
<br />
Happy Holidays! <br />
kb<br />
<br />Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-89750431436797914032012-11-25T15:09:00.004-08:002012-11-25T15:09:55.007-08:00Camp ALMA and Thanksgiving
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
**Disclaimer; there is a lot of
vomiting in this blog post**<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Last weekend was the girls leadership
conference put on by the volunteers in Cajamarca. The conference is
called Alma; which means 'soul' in Spanish, but it is also an acronym
for Activdades de Liderazgo para Mujeres Adolescentes (leadership
activities for adolescent women). Camp Alma was a great success.
Each volunteer brought 2 girls from their community to attend and all
together there were around 30 girls at the camp. <br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
For my sitemate Diamond and I the trip
from our site Tacabamba to the regional capital Cajamarca city is
about 7 hours. We have to hop bus to bus; well it's actually public
transport vans called combes, between all the bigger cities along the
way. The ride between Bambamarca and Cajamarca is the worst stretch
because of the elevation changes and all the curves in the road that
the drivers take at full speed. We filled a whole van of just
Peace Corps volunteers and their girls. That last leg of the drive
the girls all started to get sick; one by one barf bags were passed
around and the girls would quietly cough. I am always so impressed
by how quietly Peruvians vomit on car rides. I know that it sounds
weird, but they are so quiet you wouldn't even know they have been
sick until they throw their barf bags out the moving car window.
Since we volunteers make the trip fairly regularly none of us get too
car sick.<br />
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We finally arrived at the camp at
around 8pm and we were all exhausted. It was exciting to see all the
other volunteers that live in southern Cajamarca that we don't get to
see that often. Also we had pizza for dinner which was pretty great.
Usually pizza that I have had in Peru has sauce that tastes like
sweet ketchup or it doesn't have sauce all-which really makes or
breaks the pizza in my opinion. Pizza is one of those elusive foods
that I often try to make for my host family, but it is never as good
as I remember it being in the States.<br />
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I'm not sure what brought it on, but I
got really sick the first night of camp. I think it is probably
parasites acting up, but I'll find out for sure in 2 weeks when I got
to Lima for mid-service medical checks. The next day; the first real
day of camp, I was miserable. As a group leader I was supposed to
accompany the girls in all their activities of the day, but I ended
up taking lots of naps and making frequent visits to the bathroom. I
felt really nauseous all day, my stomach just hurt with what I like
to call 'bubble gut', and I had a fever. I had sulfur burps which is
the main reason why I thought it was parasites; gross carbonated
smelly burps is a symptom of giardia.
<br />
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Despite the nausea I would have
stretches of time when I could be distracted enough to do fun stuff.
The first day the girls had lectures on alcoholism, sexism, self
esteem, and did a lot of team building games. We taught the girls
how to dance gangnam style or 'the horsey dance' as the kids in my
site often call it. I missed a lot of the first day, because I kept
slipping off to my room to sleep. On day two I felt a lot better.
We did field games with the girls and I was in charge of the human
knot game. There was a career panel in the afternoon. Women with
various professions came in to talk to the girls about their
experiences. The girls in my group asked questions such as; 'did you
parents support you in your studies,' 'is there sexism in your work
place,' and 'do you enjoy your job?'
<br />
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In the evening the girls prepared for a
mock project plan that they prepared for imaginary communities. For
example; my girls were supposed to think of a project to improve the
self esteem of the high school students in their pretend community.
They designed a pretend project with classes taught at the high
school about various topics including; bullying, peer pressure, and
self esteem. They prepared for a mock debate that they participated
in on the last day of camp. And we had the girls practice how to put
on condoms. The majority of the girls knew how to check the condoms
and put them on, because they had been in the sexual education
classes that volunteers often put on in high schools. There was also
a bonfire that last night. We taught the girls how to make smores<br />
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On the last day of camp the girls
wrapped up all the group project work they had been doing; putting on
presentations about their imaginary community projects and the mock
debate in teams. We left Cajamarca at around 1:30pm and made it back
to our site by around 8 pm. It was a long long day. The girls all
received special certificates and t-shirts. They had to do a lot of
speaking in front of groups, working with other girls they had never
met from the other volunteer's communities, and problem solving in
the imaginary project plans.
<br />
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This week Diamond, Ellie, and I went
into Chota to make Thanksgiving dinner with Barbara another volunteer
who lives in Chota. We made so much food; baked maccaroni, a baked
chicken, sweet potato casserole, carrots and broccoli, and apple
crisp. It was really nice to spend Thanksgiving all together. Being
so far from the States at times like Thanksgiving is sometimes really
emotional. It sort of caught me off guard, but the friday after
Thanksgiving I went to visit my previous host family and all the
sudden it hit me. I just sort of had a little melt down. I had
traveled pretty far out of my way to go see my old family and when I
arrived it seemed like my host mom was surprised to see me. I had
called them earlier in the week to confirm, plus earlier that day and
still she acted surprised. No one was home except my host mom, my
brother Witman was playing with his friends. The room that used to
me mine she told me was off limits, because they were renting it out
to someone else. Instead she had me put my things into the room
where they used to keep all the guinea pigs they raise to eat.
<br />
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My old host family's business is buying
milk from the neighbors and making cheese to sell in Bambamarca. I
spent the afternoon sitting around by myself while my host mom Dalila
was running around receiving the milk and making cheese. Neighbor
women would walk in with their milk to drop off and see me asking
'where have you been?' I had to leave in such a rush in July,
because it was technically an emergency evacuation/site change and
apparently no one from my host family had bothered to explain where I
had gone or why I had left. Over and over I explained why I left,
where I was living now, and I tried to emphasize how it wasn't my
decision to leave, because sometimes it felt like these neighbors
where angry with me.
<br />
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Anyhow, it surprised me how upset all
this made me. It got better when we ate dinner together; Dalila,
Witman, and I. Also I did not end up having to sleep by myself in
the guinea pig room. Instead Dalila made up a bed from me upstairs
in the family living space, where I had never previously been
invited. Witman said something to me that made me feel so happy; he
told me that he was reading Harry Potter and asked if I could find
him a copy of the second book since he like reading so much. That
was what I really wanted for him-to become a reader.
<br />
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The next morning Witman had to go to
school; kids in my department have Saturday classes to make up for
all the school lost from the protests. I got to see my little cousin
Eduar though, because his teacher apparently didn't go on strike with
the others back in September. He showed me his new puppy and we
talked about what he wants to be when he grows up. When it was time
for me to leave he told me he didn't want me to go and I nearly
cried. I really miss them both Witman and Eduar. They were my best
friends for the first 8 months of service.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Visiting my old site is really
difficult and it's hard to explain why. I miss the way that family
made me feel about myself. I felt like I was apart of them and their
lives. There were also not such good feelings. They would often ask
to borrow money from me and I constantly felt like I needed to be on
the look out for being taken advantage of. I think the good feelings
outweigh the bad ones though and I feel like I still want to find a
way to balance them into my life here in Peru.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So this Thanksgiving I had a lot to be
thankful for, but mostly I just feel excited to be coming home to
visit in December. I can't wait to see all my family and friends. I
can't thank you all enough for the motivation and courage you have
given me. I couldn't do this without you guys, so thanks.<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanks for reading and see you soon!</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
kb</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dwWL2mZSFQUSzAsjjnWQBwdTiA-hAP_WtNbdZclppZK-JlLEEaNaLQZmd6PBrsURIkcDWHefkEouYYxDfFpT47yYbcGGhyphenhyphenY9xen18jvMQVy4wumpg2KE3-HqrZuU29F2HJZSRjwCiH4/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dwWL2mZSFQUSzAsjjnWQBwdTiA-hAP_WtNbdZclppZK-JlLEEaNaLQZmd6PBrsURIkcDWHefkEouYYxDfFpT47yYbcGGhyphenhyphenY9xen18jvMQVy4wumpg2KE3-HqrZuU29F2HJZSRjwCiH4/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my team of girls doing the spagetti challenge; they recieved spagetti noodles, string, a little masking tape, and a marshmellow the goal is to make the highest structure possible.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxiyJGVYUBO1zrWhmUzvBPwpg6cjMgJBe5uz30MzxTlz39B107_O6rkqjTNS4nxw0k-v6213NFags0t9CBu5hU8ga_1vWBZO5CxrMLY-fn1xWh6yAODDPxmC4CWs8v6Vm5yewtdD50io/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxiyJGVYUBO1zrWhmUzvBPwpg6cjMgJBe5uz30MzxTlz39B107_O6rkqjTNS4nxw0k-v6213NFags0t9CBu5hU8ga_1vWBZO5CxrMLY-fn1xWh6yAODDPxmC4CWs8v6Vm5yewtdD50io/s320/074.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hayden and I at the field games</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPci52uXuJD_ma3OfESJNgn1AKHAuM-llPSMCAjtFbTKexNE2CHYUrKedShi0h15mSkfds1D5-fDQn-OIuDRvpZrXMK3wpP9lpllWNctSTkqPU5ft7a2SAHMl8xuxgeYkr5KchsTnRvF0/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPci52uXuJD_ma3OfESJNgn1AKHAuM-llPSMCAjtFbTKexNE2CHYUrKedShi0h15mSkfds1D5-fDQn-OIuDRvpZrXMK3wpP9lpllWNctSTkqPU5ft7a2SAHMl8xuxgeYkr5KchsTnRvF0/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">human knot game</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-fl_mf2VvJxfwhXRqSEgZZv4F6kcdil2zscDSxonAlgkY-U39b2Uj8E8-jy8X-_QnNbJejreN-m_SBy9e-Z0ByfZhtbbfLhNSu_iPtZJTuB7mzffowp4UgFZAXDTBbSf0nwn2i7nqr4/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-fl_mf2VvJxfwhXRqSEgZZv4F6kcdil2zscDSxonAlgkY-U39b2Uj8E8-jy8X-_QnNbJejreN-m_SBy9e-Z0ByfZhtbbfLhNSu_iPtZJTuB7mzffowp4UgFZAXDTBbSf0nwn2i7nqr4/s320/082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTadnOXBn0qjhrQjjzqAK9LFItdHtTWS1BeAXsFPqRKjqzPMNFim6qTA_npXPrPo8_PCCAOEO9pg751U_SlBHCXizQhrPUZfcA-wfy1BhiquDwu6AM1uQQp-13k6BCGNi-qYkW_-dOsTQ/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTadnOXBn0qjhrQjjzqAK9LFItdHtTWS1BeAXsFPqRKjqzPMNFim6qTA_npXPrPo8_PCCAOEO9pg751U_SlBHCXizQhrPUZfcA-wfy1BhiquDwu6AM1uQQp-13k6BCGNi-qYkW_-dOsTQ/s320/086.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bonefire with smores!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i3cOLD1gihcb2TcvFFws__QrN1purN32a2azWfsdHcX2cKJRGwagl1frRF2Vr0ecaa156r-_6zYZhySbe_sgg_FoZYvVcFI5F15WjyVnDJJ7x5GgLRrnHgt0LQs_lfQ8YOaxhFAglzY/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i3cOLD1gihcb2TcvFFws__QrN1purN32a2azWfsdHcX2cKJRGwagl1frRF2Vr0ecaa156r-_6zYZhySbe_sgg_FoZYvVcFI5F15WjyVnDJJ7x5GgLRrnHgt0LQs_lfQ8YOaxhFAglzY/s320/087.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my team presenting their project plan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hanging out while the girls ran around doing field games</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZBDQv-HQN5oRVY8_MCxA-tsD5FbE_7ZfM5-mEbLWCjjjkdcQiqY1120u-Q75qUmOPtz_bu12aju3q28Ktpgj7s7oFNncOf1xumpTzBKB8t8vzpnxRapgIROttOLrn0ZO6QXwhCRYaBM/s1600/DSC00926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZBDQv-HQN5oRVY8_MCxA-tsD5FbE_7ZfM5-mEbLWCjjjkdcQiqY1120u-Q75qUmOPtz_bu12aju3q28Ktpgj7s7oFNncOf1xumpTzBKB8t8vzpnxRapgIROttOLrn0ZO6QXwhCRYaBM/s320/DSC00926.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love how they put the earrings on the llamas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ITQLN2yBNuEB3iwSDyPkzPzR4ZAfYX3G-z1oqi262-mRjgnKEVpkNpMe5UNKO6F7KDZtNfnbd3XOU3FuFNIZGm2CNL-YZqglsCp71H8noo-klJsbAdjZ9KXgQYAcltItdB6aueIq6G0/s1600/DSC00947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ITQLN2yBNuEB3iwSDyPkzPzR4ZAfYX3G-z1oqi262-mRjgnKEVpkNpMe5UNKO6F7KDZtNfnbd3XOU3FuFNIZGm2CNL-YZqglsCp71H8noo-klJsbAdjZ9KXgQYAcltItdB6aueIq6G0/s320/DSC00947.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of my girls Lesly (on the left) won a game where everyone puts a loop of masking tape on their nose and touch noses. Whoever gets the most tape on their nose wins.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDgEZZWj1iSEzsWZmRdab7xJpWKAE1kkx9QsJgpFQFZHCBk5sdQKLck1K8KSuY8YMPmqwNux6v4QvmizZNEIA88ugpfYIgdB6hX8UGCLtuOU8PyafOYTpTFxQ82L73HSo8IySgAmiACA/s1600/DSC00955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDgEZZWj1iSEzsWZmRdab7xJpWKAE1kkx9QsJgpFQFZHCBk5sdQKLck1K8KSuY8YMPmqwNux6v4QvmizZNEIA88ugpfYIgdB6hX8UGCLtuOU8PyafOYTpTFxQ82L73HSo8IySgAmiACA/s320/DSC00955.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">teaching gangnam stlye again</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCeXcY8uH8mD6phEwvQtJlddDUdPQCbzTbqUVNNAGPWzI8UQX6xHAFYFsyZfuNbx7pziFoscih3NfaQO-srL6L3bOp2BD9l_zbGV9Pfc0OiOaej78yInEFBQUYhF4hCQffLU9x-ib6Ek/s1600/IMG_2047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCeXcY8uH8mD6phEwvQtJlddDUdPQCbzTbqUVNNAGPWzI8UQX6xHAFYFsyZfuNbx7pziFoscih3NfaQO-srL6L3bOp2BD9l_zbGV9Pfc0OiOaej78yInEFBQUYhF4hCQffLU9x-ib6Ek/s320/IMG_2047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond and I with all our girls from Tacabamba</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYWhMo5k-CxsVXsrisFimyRJ4nnaJXF8YufCa6Uxzw61I4uaHjq-foY5PdiPO8rZsT-tVisVdtgALGUQRALZUSaF7HdTySLG6V3qEYj8hXpCYBWNkkj-s4KebPRBUXwsZaW30IjNSqso/s1600/IMG_2053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYWhMo5k-CxsVXsrisFimyRJ4nnaJXF8YufCa6Uxzw61I4uaHjq-foY5PdiPO8rZsT-tVisVdtgALGUQRALZUSaF7HdTySLG6V3qEYj8hXpCYBWNkkj-s4KebPRBUXwsZaW30IjNSqso/s320/IMG_2053.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the whole group</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MvMS6TchVSEe4yiuc9sf7u6QtECk4p0h4PO4mTzZg-vk6Azhh1tmaKPzvmQ4yh9N7hCx3Ki9o6Bj7EeQGBkJse0JaYlPr8HK7-qIDm5ryAjwNuXHIarsLfHWL-5NY83Cxdh9cDtanWY/s1600/IMG_2054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MvMS6TchVSEe4yiuc9sf7u6QtECk4p0h4PO4mTzZg-vk6Azhh1tmaKPzvmQ4yh9N7hCx3Ki9o6Bj7EeQGBkJse0JaYlPr8HK7-qIDm5ryAjwNuXHIarsLfHWL-5NY83Cxdh9cDtanWY/s320/IMG_2054.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all the volunteers<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-48896851802436631212012-11-15T09:30:00.000-08:002012-11-15T09:30:32.148-08:00Welcome Peru 20<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This week was the regional FBT or field
based training for Peru 20. The new health volunteers came up on
Wednesday. It felt like we had been waiting so long for the newbies.
I was so excited our bosses in Lima decided that Diamond and I would
be allowed to host the 20ers, because at first they told us they
weren't sure about it since we have only been in our new site for a
few months.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The first big training activity we had
planned was at Jennifer's site. We were going to take the 20ers on
house visits for Jennifer's improved cook stove project moms. Since
Diamond, Ellie, and I were all going to get paired up with a new
volunteer we went out to Jennifer's early to find the houses so that
we would know them the next day with the 20ers. The dogs are really
bad at Jennifer's site. Jennifer's host family dog followed us
around while we visited the homes that we would need to lead the new
volunteers to for practicing house visits. Her poor dog was attacked
by a couple of much bigger dogs and Jennifer had to carry him for a
while after since he was too scared to keep walking.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of our goals as health volunteers
is to work with moms on 'healthy homes' projects. Healthy homes is a
pretty broad goal, but it almost always involves house visits.
Especially where I live in the sierras hygiene is often lacking in
rural homes. It's often really basic stuff to Americans, but if you
think about how it was drilled into us as kids and if you imagine if
it never had been it makes more sense. Also there is a lot of
extreme poverty and understandably brushing teeth or buying a new bar
of soap is not the top priority when kids are malnourished. Another
important part of the situation is that women here are overloaded
with all the information from the Ministry of Health about how they
should be; you should be washing your hands, brushing your teeth,
washing your vegetables before you cook, you shouldn't let your cuys
(guinea pigs) run around loose on the floor in your kitchen, and the
list goes on. These women have it all memorized; when you ask them
the questions they know the answers. However, they are not
necessarily practicing the hygiene rules that they can regurgitate on
command. That is where Peace Corps volunteers come in, part of our
goal is to visit homes to observe, motivate, and pressure moms into
actually making healthy changes in their homes. That is why house
visits are so important.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
After a long day of walking around in
the campo in rubber boots (so uncomfortable and also so much foot
sweat, yuck) we caught a van out to Tacabamba. On Friday Ellie had
the trainees in her site; they taught a sex education class in the
high school and learned about library projects. Saturday morning
Diamond and I had a community health promoter training session to
give, but since the trainees were visiting they planned it all. They
were so creative and they made the class so interactive for the
community health promoters.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the afternoon on Saturday we hiked
out to the community where Laura did her latrines project so the
trainees could see how a completed project looks. We stayed out in
Solugan to attend a community meeting with Laura; it was the final
meeting of her project. Like all meetings it ran long and by the end
it was dark. Laura and Diamond's host family had called moto-taxis
for us to get back to Tacabamba, because the hour long hike back
would be difficult in the dark. Then it started to rain. There were
9 of us with the trainees, Laura, Diamond, Ellie, Anghie (Laura and
Diamond's little host sister), and I. However, only 2 moto-taxis
made it out to Solugan. So the first wave of 6 left for Tacabamba
and Laura, Ellie, and I waited. While we waited we were invited hard
boiled eggs, hot chocolate, and tamales.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the end another moto did not come
for us, so we just started walking. Very quickly we were completely
soaked, but it seemed really funny at the time. We caught a ride
from a truck that went by when we were about 15 minutes out of
Tacabamba; I am still surprised he allowed us in his car since we
were soaking. It was about 10:30 pm when we got back to Tacabamba.
Ellie and I sloshed over to my host family's home knocking and
shouting for someone to let us in (I did not have a key to the house
yet, but I made one the very next day). No one would let us in and I
had accidentally left my cell phone in my room; it was the only place
where I had my host parent's phone numbers. So we had no choice but
to go to Laura and Diamond's host family and ask if we could stay the
night. Laura and Diamond gave us dry clothes and we staying in an
extra room. It was pretty memorable drinking tea dressed in Laura
and Diamond's clothes and laughing about how ridiculous the whole
thing had been. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On Sunday, the last day of field based
training, we took the trainees to the health center to paint a mural
with our youth health promoter group. Diamond and I had asked the
teens to draw us a sketch of the mural so that we could scan it and
use the projector to project it on the wall, but they all flaked out.
Lindsay; one of the trainees, luckily offered to make a sketch for
us to use. So we projected Lindsay's drawing up on the wall and let
the kids go for it with pencils and later paint. We still have a lot
of work to do on the mural, but it was a good start. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Finally on Sunday afternoon we had the
newbies go with us to Laura's world map class. We watched some movie
clips about Peru with the kids, played some games, and talked over
the kids in English about how the planning and execution of the
project went. It was a nice relaxing time with a group of great
kids. We of course all danced Gangnam style or 'horsey dance' as
well as the 'funky chicken' dance with the kids. When it was time
for the trainees to leave town we were in the middle of heavy rains.
We waited for a bit, but it didn't let up at all. By the time we
made it to where the vans pick up and drop off everyone was soaked.
I felt terrible Diamond and I got them all cold and wet before they
had to travel.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My favorite part of us walking in the
rain to see them off was how all the people would shout at us 'you're
going to get wet.' The Peruvians all seemed to stop whatever they
were doing to just wait inside for the rain to stop. They shouted at
us from under the protection of the overhang of their tin roofs.
While they shouted at us I just kept smiling to myself, because we
were already completely soaked in a way that I would have thought was
apparent. Yet, they kept advising us to get out of the rain since we
would get wet. It's cultural moments like that that really make me
laugh, because as an American I am always in a hurry to get somewhere
and I refuse to change my plans just because of a little rain. Here
in Peru people have a different perspective and I admire their more
laid back views about time, schedules, appointments.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Anyhow, all in all I think FBT went
really well. I am so excited to have the new volunteers up here in
northern Cajamarca with us. They are wonderful people. I have some
pictures below.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanks for reading and chau for now,</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
kb</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4w8FjtTJB2d8QsExXtrPiAi6k8OnpbD37C0LiTOAGeyG5aYabHYa2aKly8EmlECzugxOnYpqyhp1bd1w2u1pEXKmHPXD3UsAorQ9h-E7tsKDYLK0xys-Nv5pfpuPWq-80hErjDWDWhU/s1600/DSCN2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4w8FjtTJB2d8QsExXtrPiAi6k8OnpbD37C0LiTOAGeyG5aYabHYa2aKly8EmlECzugxOnYpqyhp1bd1w2u1pEXKmHPXD3UsAorQ9h-E7tsKDYLK0xys-Nv5pfpuPWq-80hErjDWDWhU/s320/DSCN2114.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">talking about high blood pressure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH-XgZmb6IbXP5YIgblt8UixTWh2mi5GW7IQYEsorBl41nQ-9BF4c5yJ5Z6kFvWd0EpQJziAJLo9G-iuVnjvjSPWelvULP70Wv4MF2MWXmHr5c9wDNIf6TYazadJ9rrU6j6BAFN1tHY4/s1600/DSCN2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH-XgZmb6IbXP5YIgblt8UixTWh2mi5GW7IQYEsorBl41nQ-9BF4c5yJ5Z6kFvWd0EpQJziAJLo9G-iuVnjvjSPWelvULP70Wv4MF2MWXmHr5c9wDNIf6TYazadJ9rrU6j6BAFN1tHY4/s320/DSCN2115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peru 20ers doing a session on heart health<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMUxx0IPrPdXhrY9QFv1Wu0qrX_GKvnb3P3QpOZj50RkBM_wOf_ybMEMmdBDJmDvKwDshsXrG_O4QmzlGLJ_NeMMvDAVMjoOWmxGprm-dhHO91nMKAFme6FIdjteaiKi_ClYVMcdLLsU/s1600/DSCN2117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMUxx0IPrPdXhrY9QFv1Wu0qrX_GKvnb3P3QpOZj50RkBM_wOf_ybMEMmdBDJmDvKwDshsXrG_O4QmzlGLJ_NeMMvDAVMjoOWmxGprm-dhHO91nMKAFme6FIdjteaiKi_ClYVMcdLLsU/s320/DSCN2117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_7QvDyd2xgtuVtAkaoBOwiXGys8Rd9xHsTY8s2UDeylpiSF59SafVfkejo8WbvSz6nhuqkCaaTcU_dXnT5ql7-_lIVU3iz1Lp6zy64Dynca4W2r-oaVxIOS_Hxv0fl8b0wNb-kB1QQ4/s1600/DSCN2123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_7QvDyd2xgtuVtAkaoBOwiXGys8Rd9xHsTY8s2UDeylpiSF59SafVfkejo8WbvSz6nhuqkCaaTcU_dXnT5ql7-_lIVU3iz1Lp6zy64Dynca4W2r-oaVxIOS_Hxv0fl8b0wNb-kB1QQ4/s320/DSCN2123.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">community health promoters doing a skit about house visits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqxTFdsBIQHuOUDgI4PPPIxC7kFyIiGgIc7_b1-M96zNMWmxUVzdWwzYSWreBetWRLOdmyrBn2f2OxQceeNj41RkILiGohoUsdqhfU6rwnG5-lgytrvk58xC0phxJN5hSdVZlK3JbY9w/s1600/DSCN2138-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqxTFdsBIQHuOUDgI4PPPIxC7kFyIiGgIc7_b1-M96zNMWmxUVzdWwzYSWreBetWRLOdmyrBn2f2OxQceeNj41RkILiGohoUsdqhfU6rwnG5-lgytrvk58xC0phxJN5hSdVZlK3JbY9w/s320/DSCN2138-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">group shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCilmzHk7HQlYlQkb0lvxliGLIiGf7kW6reDlRXjVDD0l3gxDs07vz7IsQB0N1NE-BlyOgF5IAUWiiekpgzCjbHhODj4jlkwI2kkkJU83w_dFv_x4-kvssNGvWDcU4buJ_FswLrzTWfw/s1600/DSCN2140-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCilmzHk7HQlYlQkb0lvxliGLIiGf7kW6reDlRXjVDD0l3gxDs07vz7IsQB0N1NE-BlyOgF5IAUWiiekpgzCjbHhODj4jlkwI2kkkJU83w_dFv_x4-kvssNGvWDcU4buJ_FswLrzTWfw/s320/DSCN2140-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">you can't really see it, but this guy as a U of M hat. For some reason they are really popular down here-I see them all the time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrnDxx5EopLSauitW9KIIuVAq5-VRg2ia0VjjULxdYt89q0qeKNkoe5Oi9nl9M6cHdGFiFDCI56lKhlETddAD_SGOXD9I7si6Z2jVqMWkW_HngwamCcrzHlXASXb4u_ic34OsnH2uWbI/s1600/DSCN2144-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrnDxx5EopLSauitW9KIIuVAq5-VRg2ia0VjjULxdYt89q0qeKNkoe5Oi9nl9M6cHdGFiFDCI56lKhlETddAD_SGOXD9I7si6Z2jVqMWkW_HngwamCcrzHlXASXb4u_ic34OsnH2uWbI/s320/DSCN2144-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Laura's final meeting with her community Solugan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqPeAB9TEI90bX_-8kThUesjEncSNU247wG_8Oh0kXEV0HKtvfsdLr1W4LrWop4pWHNKz5M2VZfQGt1hZrtEMys4srvnnHpwylLn_qfoms0fDz9i1fc8TyPI_oqkG3Z8z4EhVdGjNcEU/s1600/DSCN2147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqPeAB9TEI90bX_-8kThUesjEncSNU247wG_8Oh0kXEV0HKtvfsdLr1W4LrWop4pWHNKz5M2VZfQGt1hZrtEMys4srvnnHpwylLn_qfoms0fDz9i1fc8TyPI_oqkG3Z8z4EhVdGjNcEU/s320/DSCN2147.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she made a delicious chocolate cake; here she is secretly frosting the cake under the table</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaoaaeCXekDOn-zbEbr9y3OXMEcz8gZLbx7F2cVFAnjMrpWHBEG1WoAA9hTK1CJuuC1VoWwUjK7Uw7Fp4nuvXrZlIuuKQScIkW4A4OniUSONl9OdgY5GJsaDLWy-MVSzgZKW0-8q6TDg/s1600/DSCN2148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaoaaeCXekDOn-zbEbr9y3OXMEcz8gZLbx7F2cVFAnjMrpWHBEG1WoAA9hTK1CJuuC1VoWwUjK7Uw7Fp4nuvXrZlIuuKQScIkW4A4OniUSONl9OdgY5GJsaDLWy-MVSzgZKW0-8q6TDg/s320/DSCN2148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tracing the sketch for the mural with the artist Lindsay Ballo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwESGZXfTqOHhNor62bzt76OD_2CZ1V869gJl4Sqbm-BuNUotvcymlpHXCsu9YIgy-TnLQoDDTpccRUr4LVkBi6HIteyv1j7oOdb0i9_QjDFC83FCuYMWV3bhki7mb8HhndxnGYa9EzU0/s1600/DSCN2149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwESGZXfTqOHhNor62bzt76OD_2CZ1V869gJl4Sqbm-BuNUotvcymlpHXCsu9YIgy-TnLQoDDTpccRUr4LVkBi6HIteyv1j7oOdb0i9_QjDFC83FCuYMWV3bhki7mb8HhndxnGYa9EzU0/s320/DSCN2149.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a long line of students waiting to give Laura a kiss<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-92156466019257223722012-11-04T18:02:00.001-08:002012-11-04T18:02:22.587-08:002nd and 3rd goal work<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I didn't get a whole lot of good work
done this week, but Laura, Diamond, Ellie, and I did film a music
video. I know, I know, being a Peace Corps volunteer is so much
work, right? Well, we decided that filming this music video was
really all about Peace Corps third goal-which is to promote cross
cultural understanding amongst Americans. Our music video is
'Cajamarca Girls' sung to the sound of Katy Perry's 'California
Gurls', but with some different lyrics about our region of Peru.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Our music video is in the style of the
Huayno music videos we have here in Cajamarca. Huayno is a genre of
music that is typical of the sierras. I find the music to be
annoying at times, but also I catch myself humming and singing along
in the combes (big vans that serve as the only form of public
transportation here in Cajamarca). Along with the music Huayno also
has a typical dance. It is basically a 2 step and depending on the
dancer's enthusiasm may or may not involve spinning, hands, or
switching places with your dance partner. Huayno is danced at all
the parties here, and it can be danced in pairs facing each other. <br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I enjoy Huayno dancing because it is so
simple, but since it is so simple it gets kind of boring after a
while. If your partner is an enthusiastic dancer it can be more of
an aerobic experience involving a lot of jumping and spinning.
Normally it is repetitive and both parties awkwardly avoid eye
contact throughout the entire song.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Our music video is in the style of
Huayno music videos because they are really low budget and have a
charmingly formulaic quality. There is a lot of dancing in a line
doing the huayno two step, very bad transitions and effects, and
weird nature shots randomly sprinkled in between. Here is a link to
a Hermanas Ayay music video; <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of61wje1RQY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of61wje1RQY</a> , they are a super popular huayno group
from Bambamarca.<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Last week Laura and I bought our
traditional outfits so that we could wear them in our music video.
So we set out to make the video in our campo outfits with our 12 year
old cameraman Leo; Diamond and Laura's neighbor kid who amazingly
followed us around for about 3 hours. We picked several locations
around town to film, but wherever we went we attracted a lot of
attention. I wish we could have filmed the people just stopping what
they were doing to stare at us, but Leo kept the camera on us. So we
still have some editing work to do, but by next Wednesday we should
have the video all ready to put up on youtube. The master plan is to
put it up on youtube and we can all become mildly famous. We will
then send our video into Ellen Degeneres and she'll obviously love us
and fly us out to be on her show. Cross your fingers it all works
out....we have so much free time on our hands to scheme and daydream.<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was really fun hanging out while we
did the music video. The four of us speak in a lot of spanglish,
because weirdly I often catch myself forgetting words in English.
The worst part is that for all the bad English my Spanish is not
really improving either. I have plateaued and I am too lazy to be
serious about studying. Some of my favorite things said where; <i>toe
thumbs</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> for </span><i>big toes</i><span style="font-style: normal;">,
</span><i>unbathens </i><span style="font-style: normal;">for </span><i>people
that don't shower</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, </span><i>cookie
snacks/chip snacks</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> for </span><i>cookies
or chips</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, and I can't think of
any other good ones right now.</span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Laura
made homemade bagels and Ellie brought cream cheese from the grocery
store 6 hours away in Cajamarca. We sat around eating bagels,
reading about the elections and hurricane Sandy the day after the
music video. Laura is leaving really soon for end of service; she
has been here exactly one year longer than I have, and it was nice to
have some quality bonding time together. We are all going to miss
her so much, but we are also excited for her since she is staring her
new life back in the U.S.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Today
we had a Halloween party at the elementary school. The second goal of Peace Corps is promote cross cultural understanding in our host countries, basically to teach Peruvians about American culture. There wasn't a
huge turnout, but I think it was better that way. As it was the kids
were a little wild and I don't know if there would have been enough
candy to go around. Diamond, Laura, and I were probably the most
dressed up out of all the kids. We did Halloween relay races; walk
like a zombie, hop like a frog, fly on a broom, etc, danced, and
played a game Laura invented similar to pin-the-tale-on-the-donkey
but instead pin the ingredients in the witch's cauldron.</span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Thanks
for reading and Chau for now,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">kb</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">**my pictures are not loading. I'll be sure to post them next time I have better internet. Also I should be able to post a youtube link to our amazing huayno music video...</span></div>
Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-6254089643341719142012-10-30T18:12:00.001-07:002012-10-30T18:12:25.171-07:00traje tradicionalDisclaimer: this post is kind of moody
brooding and a bit of a downer, but don't worry then it gets more
positive<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This week during house visits to Ayaque
(the community where Diamond and I are going to do our Healthy Homes
project) I met a 13 year old pregnant girl. I was with an obstetriz
from the Health post; in Peru an obstetriz an entirely different
profession than nurse or physician with a focus in women's health.
Since I have been visit Ayaque weekly for about a month now I know my
way around fairly well and an obstetriz named Luz asked me to help
her visit the homes of the pregnant women in the community.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Luz read me the names of the women we
were going to visit and there was a name I didn't recognize. I asked
a local woman and found out she was the daughter of one of the moms I
know from my project. We went up to her house and it turned out I
had seen this girl around before. I was blindsided when the Luz
asked her how old she was and the girl turned out to be 13. My
little sister Jessie is 13. When I was a 13 year old I had acne,
braces, I didn't know how to fix my hair or how to dress, I spent
most of my time avoiding this one kid who bullied me and reading Meg
Cabot books. I remember being terrified of boys. At middle school
'fun nights' my friends and I would dance in a tight circle so that
we didn't have to deal with the embarrassment of interacting with the
opposite sex. This 13 year old is 8 months pregnant.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The department (or state) where I live
is called Cajamarca has one of the highest maternal mortality rates
in Peru. The obstetriz Luz took the opportunity to try to remind and
scare the girl to ensure that she would come down to the health
center to give birth. I was torn, because I knew that Luz meant to
scare her for her own good and yet I couldn't help but see her as a
terrified 13 year old. I felt like it was a situation beyond my
Spanish level so I just stayed out of the conversation.<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was one of those encounters that
makes me feel very sad and at the same time very lucky. I am so
lucky that I got to be a kid for as long as I was able to be one. I
feel sad that there is nothing I can do to help girls like that girl.
I thought coming into Peace Corps that I would be able to make some
impact here, but now it feels like I would be lucky if I reached just
a person or two. The problems are just too big, but if I can help
the women in Ayaque feel like they have a little more control over
their lives I would feel very proud of myself.<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Okay, there were fun things that
happened too! I tried to make pizza for the first time with this new
host family. Rosa (my host mom here in Tacabamba) has asked me
plenty of times to teach her how to cook American food. What is
American food exactly? Burgers, they're from Germany I think. Pizza
is from Italy. I really didn't know what was distinctly American,
but pizza is very un-Peruvian so we picked that. I thought that Rosa
and I would cook together and it would be a nice bonding moment for
us. What actually happened is that I bought the ingredients and
cooked by myself. Rosa was out. She asked me to wait for her, but
then she didn't show up.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Perhaps it wasn't the best time to do
some weird food experiments, but I figured I'm a health volunteer so
what better opportunity to show my host family how good vegetables
can be. I made the pizza sauce with carrots and peppers in it and I
thought it was delicious. So while I was cooking the pizza little
Sergio (my 12 year old host bro) was around the house with a couple
of his friends. I lured them away from their video games with some
popcorn that I made and we hung out while the pizza cooked. First we
ate popcorn and danced around to Gangnam Style or as the Peruvians
call it the 'horsey dance'. Then we played Pass the Pigs and Go
Fish.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Big Sergio (my host dad) even played
Pass the Pigs with us and I think it was one of the first times I
have seen him laugh. So I missed the bonding time with Rosa, but I
felt pretty proud of myself for being such a good sister.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanks for reading. Chau for now!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Kb</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
here's a picture of Laura and I in
our traditional outfits.
</div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKUkl0BvqunSoe5UH-0whckLmYY0_yVCVOkz130XvQlCJhftaq3DpZuHh3UFLYxnwIivAVP3wx_XqoA7v6jzoBUUG9TqAgHm0Mu3HRuBWF5AA5kPy64G31yUPbotJdfdCWjDv6ryY6gQ/s1600/DSCN2062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKUkl0BvqunSoe5UH-0whckLmYY0_yVCVOkz130XvQlCJhftaq3DpZuHh3UFLYxnwIivAVP3wx_XqoA7v6jzoBUUG9TqAgHm0Mu3HRuBWF5AA5kPy64G31yUPbotJdfdCWjDv6ryY6gQ/s320/DSCN2062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-80656675724704024022012-10-21T18:40:00.000-07:002012-10-21T18:40:59.031-07:00feels like I'm finally getting to work!<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Since the last time I posted I have
been doing a lot of baseline house visits. The goal is to visit the
homes of all the participating families just to evaluate how their
home is now and their level of knowledge in various preventative
health topics. I check out the family's kitchen, the latrine, ask
questions about how to prevent diarrhea, and what are 2 signs of
malnutrition, etc. I am so lucky to have such an active community
health promoter in Ayaque where we are working.
</div>
<br />
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Florencia
is an energetic 62 year old woman who is a volunteer community health
promoter for Ayaque. On my first day of house visits she met me in a
pair of flip flops, a long braid hanging out from under her baseball
cap, and while we walked she was rolling thread into a ball. By
around noon I was ready to be done for the day. I had climbed up the
mountain to get to Ayaque and then Florencia and I climbed another
peak to get to some of the farther houses. I would catch my self
panting, sweating profusely, and stumbling in the loose rocks on the
upward path, while Florencia effortlessly made her way in flip flops.
Florencia kept me working until about 3:30 in the afternoon and I
didn't make it back down to Tacabamba until at least 5pm.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We both
wear the same kind of campo skirts, we both have our hair in braids
mine blond and hers white, and we both wear our caps during visits.
I really enjoy the company of Florencia she is a kind and hard
working woman. I am so lucky to have someone who is willing to show
me around the community, because the homes are so far apart. She
also knows where the meanest dogs live and she has much better aim
than I did when we had to throw rocks at them. Sometimes I like to
remember how horrified I was when I first got here at seeing people
throwing rocks at dogs or hitting them with sticks. Now, I'm the
first one to grab a hand full of rocks. When I lived in San Juan a
couple dogs bit me, but it was rainy season so they bit into my
rubber boots (also a pig bit me once, they can be really mean).</div>
<br />
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Each
time Diamond and I hike up to Ayaque it gets easier. I still get
tired and sweaty, but now my body aches less. Maybe it's the
altitude change or maybe I'm just out of shape, but by the third
switch back Diamond and I usually stop talking to focus on heavy
breathing and sweating off all our sunscreen. When we make it to the
top we split up to go visit our various houses. We split the
community in half so we could each form our own groups of moms to
work with.</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I try to
carry at least a liter of water ever time, because Ayaque does not
have a water system. Women and children have to haul water from
ponds or creeks around their community-so I try not to ask for water
as it is such a precious commodity. Despite Ayaque being such a poor
community the families are incredibly generous. Often women invite
me food. Here inviting someone food is a sign of respect and in some
circumstances it is expected. I am always hoping not to get invited,
because once you are invited it is rude not to finish your plate.</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I bought
myself a sling shot at the market. Apparently it strikes the
Peruvians as very funny that I want to learn how to use a sling shot.
I'm not sure if it is because I am a gringa, a female, or an adult.
Sling shots are generally used by little boys, but the dogs in Ayaque
are really mean and I think it would be useful to learn how to defend
myself. I've been getting lessons from my host brother and from
little boys in Ayaque sometimes when I'm up there.
</div>
<br />
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The big
budget meeting that the municipality was supposed to have this week;
that I marked in my calendar 2 months ago as the day when we would
find out if we got funding for the latrines project, never happened.
When Diamond and I went to the municipality to excitedly ask if we
had received funding they told us that they had forgotten about the
meeting and it would be rescheduled for the next week. I was so
angry, but not as surprised as I might have been when I first got
here. I guess if the local government was really efficient and
projects were happening here than they wouldn't need Peace Corps
volunteers.
</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This
week Laura's sex Ed classes started up again and I tagged along.
Mostly I walked around the class rooms and tried to quiet students
down or wake kids up. This last class in her project is about
contraceptives and abstinence. She teaches the kids about abstinence
and the various forms of contraceptives that are available at the
Health post here; condoms, birth control pills, and birth control
shots. At the end of the class Laura does a condom demonstration
with a carved wooden dildo from the Health Center. I know that in
public school in Ann Arbor we had sex Ed in 5<sup>th</sup> grade, one
year in middle school, and in 10<sup>th</sup> grade I had another
health class. I liked to help with an activity at the end of class
where the kids read little dialogs with a negative attitude or
pressure to have sex followed by a comeback response. Since a large
portion of the population in Peru is Catholic we like to let the kids
know that the Pope has fairly recently proclaimed that condom use is
acceptable if Catholics are using them to protect themselves from
HIV. Although there's not a whole lot of HIV in rural northern Peru
there is a ton of teenage pregnancy, but if kids can justify using
condoms during their sac religious premarital sex all the better,
right?!</div>
<br />
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
included some pictures from the Peru 16 Despedida (goodbye) fiesta.
My group is Peru 18 and the 16ers arrived in Peru exactly one year
before my training group. They are starting to finish up with their
service which is super exciting. For the party I tried to put
together some homemade karaoke. I thought if I found the YouTube
karaoke versions of music I could rip the music and videos with words
so that we could have English karaoke songs. I probably spent about
6 hours downloading music and searching for good versions of the
songs without lyrics. One of the restaurants the volunteers frequent
agreed to put 2 cases of beer in the fridge for us and let us use the
sound system for the karaoke (Peruvians usually drink their beer room
temperature, gag). As it turned out the sound system at the
restaurant was a little outdated and would not get along with
any one's ipods, mp3 players, or my USB. So my karaoke was a total
flop. It didn't matter though we still had a great time.</div>
<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading! Chau for now.<br />
kb<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrVRbY06wOXcKSc-z2m3CTqtkgIAjrPS5A_4ER7E6LwbVGC_Ftb7Km36jJbtWksRMWuBn5C7VCdjroXS7IQTkRkWMtnZzUPMNnFhxyNihomMFK0TZyR0lN-RreWc98kuO5a0gY6mKjdI/s1600/DSCN2051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrVRbY06wOXcKSc-z2m3CTqtkgIAjrPS5A_4ER7E6LwbVGC_Ftb7Km36jJbtWksRMWuBn5C7VCdjroXS7IQTkRkWMtnZzUPMNnFhxyNihomMFK0TZyR0lN-RreWc98kuO5a0gY6mKjdI/s320/DSCN2051.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie and I being silly at the Despedida party-Ellie asked me to pick her up and carry her</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXNQJK0RcGQVijIkoLYmDP0ifFyDgrVd9ojikolujGerdGjhaM1OCzgxAjU1ukv93ZstV-f97GhzF3Pi0gKr7R9UcoHdERjmCA25cHmigCuvUaSvbvxHx3qthyRvXu7SIp6PfsH_XBak/s1600/DSCN2052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXNQJK0RcGQVijIkoLYmDP0ifFyDgrVd9ojikolujGerdGjhaM1OCzgxAjU1ukv93ZstV-f97GhzF3Pi0gKr7R9UcoHdERjmCA25cHmigCuvUaSvbvxHx3qthyRvXu7SIp6PfsH_XBak/s320/DSCN2052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW7g6tUl8Auzn4_m2HB24SV5BIzEwLH19DM2KJDtrhhUPWQgSzAyjQuI-PK5rxT8fVfciv9glwHtVCA4tl5q5MQEHyajn4ydLt5L-VRSvVHXxtOpDcz7yf2w5zNvRnhwxk6X9WE6viXw/s1600/DSCN2053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW7g6tUl8Auzn4_m2HB24SV5BIzEwLH19DM2KJDtrhhUPWQgSzAyjQuI-PK5rxT8fVfciv9glwHtVCA4tl5q5MQEHyajn4ydLt5L-VRSvVHXxtOpDcz7yf2w5zNvRnhwxk6X9WE6viXw/s320/DSCN2053.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday morning breakfast with our 16ers. Diamond designed a t-shirt for the occasion, a couple of us are wearing it in the pic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk32Guoi0gbKz76aoTuJTXGhoIaeFMwng4lTpQE6HDhDQgAkOydKYKOz8rl4E-B81OFZzvAav47YSYgs3DtwdFIJ8z-rGS_dxzEwCO8_0olVyMpvsR-viXAxt_n8poH-YK1q6WZLkR1Fc/s1600/P1050611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk32Guoi0gbKz76aoTuJTXGhoIaeFMwng4lTpQE6HDhDQgAkOydKYKOz8rl4E-B81OFZzvAav47YSYgs3DtwdFIJ8z-rGS_dxzEwCO8_0olVyMpvsR-viXAxt_n8poH-YK1q6WZLkR1Fc/s320/P1050611.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">reaping the spoils of the 16ers departure: loads of pads and tampons!!! I dealt them out like cards so we would all get our equal share-thanks Kelsey for sharing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHhEAM3XUjTkvnGv4HhPXAwe4-MbaLwBf5G3bXRSH7pB8vzwGB7dwEWUWM9c2CM9TYOlrd4tCQwNxJF89RzTAybpTDJXCwPW-k5ewOmK7F1XkNIUgf3lpq_ALm7NSGsMU39GzZFV8eXE/s1600/P1050630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHhEAM3XUjTkvnGv4HhPXAwe4-MbaLwBf5G3bXRSH7pB8vzwGB7dwEWUWM9c2CM9TYOlrd4tCQwNxJF89RzTAybpTDJXCwPW-k5ewOmK7F1XkNIUgf3lpq_ALm7NSGsMU39GzZFV8eXE/s320/P1050630.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with our regional coordinator Jose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52z1efti1nQYR6UA0zP7L7CU5__HCNptWtxZpVPp5amgf2oWJG-p7npN0Ya6OAQRNoUAX7TIJs6_Ar9iCE1UcU6EgM3da2-wZUtI98VmPI38uNYj5GYgEvwspf19bbNJXy6qEpueWJ8M/s1600/P1050633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52z1efti1nQYR6UA0zP7L7CU5__HCNptWtxZpVPp5amgf2oWJG-p7npN0Ya6OAQRNoUAX7TIJs6_Ar9iCE1UcU6EgM3da2-wZUtI98VmPI38uNYj5GYgEvwspf19bbNJXy6qEpueWJ8M/s320/P1050633.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gringos on the dance floor!!! </td></tr>
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Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-16855974266739936672012-10-08T16:09:00.001-07:002012-10-08T16:09:27.551-07:00health promoters, grocery store visits, and 12 year old host brothers<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's been getting pretty busy around
here since the last time I posted. Last weekend was the first ever
Pasos Adelante Congress in Chota. Pasos Adelante is a series of
classes written by Peace Corps volunteers for teaching youth various
life skills. The course covers topics from; leadership, decision
making, self esteem, sexuality, good communication, HIV/AIDs, STIs,
how to use contraception, to basic anatomy of human sexual organs.
The conference was planned for kids that had finished the Pasos class
and had interest in continuing work with their Peace Corps volunteer
as a youth health promoter.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Laura; the Peru 16er whose site Diamond
and I have invaded with our site change, did a gigantic Pasos
Adelante project with the entire student body of the high school in
Tacabamba. The municipality and health post came together to agree
that the class was a great idea. They came together long enough to
see the project started and then left Laura to teach the 500+
students on her own. When Diamond and I got here in July Laura let
us help out with some of the classes. It was super helpful to feel
useful and to get out of the house when I first moved sites. I
really appreciated getting to do the classes.<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So all three of us invited 2 kids each
to go with us for the weekend long conference in Chota way back in
the first week of September. And last week; the week of the
conference, we were scrambling to find our kids. Part of the problem
was that teachers have been on a nation-wide strike since that first
week of September, also there was the town party so kids flaked out
on bringing back their permission slips for that time too, and
finally people flake out because that's how things operate here.
Since teachers are on indefinite strike lots of families just up and
left town for impromptu vacations. Laura lost her two kids that way,
I lost one of mine, and also I just couldn't get a hold of the other
girl I invited.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>***It blew my mind the idea that
people could just up and leave the way they did. I still can't kick
my American way of seeing the world. I understand more of how
Peruvians see the world, but just think about living in a reality
where you don't have to clock in and out of work. Here your 'job' is
whenever you want to show up and whenever you want to leave. People
work in the fields, or open a store in the front of their house, or
drive a mototaxi when they need cash. It is so different here and it
still gets to me sometimes.</b>***<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The kid I lost to an impromptu vacation
was my 15 year old host sister Yossi. I invited her, because I want
to get to know her better. Also admittedly I wanted to suck up a
little to my new host family. She was excited until one morning I
went downstairs for breakfast and my host mom Rosa told me that big
Sergio, little Sergio, and Yossi had left on a vacation to go visit
big Sergio's family. I asked about when they would come back and she
said she didn't know. So 2 days before the event I was frantically
scrambling to find more kids to bring. I thought it would be more
difficult to get parents to agree to let me; someone they don't know
at all, take their kids for 3 days 2 nights of this health promoter
conference in Chota 2 hours away from Tacabamba. It turned out not
to be such a big deal to get parents to sign those permission slips.<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the end we scraped together a good
sized group of kids and we made to the conference. The event was so
much fun. It was kind of like being a summer camp counselor for a
weekend, except that the kids were attending lectures that we put on
instead of doing arts and crafts, archery, and canoeing. It was a
really great bonding moment for us volunteers, but also for the
teens. At the end of the camp the kids from the various sites where
volunteers live were signing each others notebooks like yearbooks.
It was really sweet and I am really excited to work with our group
from Tacabamba.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
After the conference Jennifer and I
went down to Cajamarca to meet up with a friend of ours from our Peru
18 training group. Christina called me and said 'I need a vacation,
I bought a bus ticket to Cajamarca,' about 3 weeks ago. I was
excited to see her, drink boxed wine, and go to the grocery store.
Going to the grocery store is a really exciting activity for us
volunteers-we know it's kind of pathetic, but just walking around is
kind of like being in America, ha! Ellie came down to meet us and
we got to watch American football while eating real cheddar cheese.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Also we went to the Inca Baths. The
Inca Baths are the most famous tourist attraction around Cajamarca.
Mom and I visited them when she was here in May, but we just looked.
This time we got in the water and it was really fun. Outside are the
giant stone baths full of those bright colored bacteria/fungus that
grows in hot springs. There are also several long buildings filled
with small rooms with tiled bath tubs. For just 6 soles we had a hot
tub room for ourselves. The faucet let in boiling hot water from the
natural hot springs. And for the group of us it was heaven. I don't
think I have taken a bath since I was in the states. I have a cold
shower in my new site, before I had stand in one bucket and pour
water over my head from another bucket, and whenever I stay in a
hostel I get a hot shower. A real bath though, I don't think I have
seen a bathtub in Peru.<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On Wednesday I went with my regional
coordinator Jose, Alonso (his title is Program Specialist and he is
pretty much my favorite person from the Lima office), and Barbara
(the third year volunteer who lives in Chota and did all the planning
and organizing for the awesome Pasos conference) on a site
development visit. The next group of health volunteers arrived in
mid-September to Lima, just like how I did last year. So right now
Peace Corps is finalizing the sites where these new guys will
live/work. It was really interesting to see the process of site
development. We made a meeting with the mayor (who flaked out and
never showed up), with the health post (they were a lovely group of
people all very excited to have an extra person to help with health
promotion), and visited 2 potential host families.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On Saturday Diamond and I gave a
training class for the local community health promoters. In each of
the surrounding communities there are supposed to be at least 2
health promoters. These people volunteer to serve as a point of
contact for their neighbors when they have health questions. The
health post uses these community health promoters to help them gather
information and do door to door promotion. Even though we had to
plan the class from this super boring manual from the Ministry of
Health the class was still pretty fun. This months topic was child
health. We reviewed nutrition, hygiene, domestic violence, how to
prevent accidents (<i>please store your machete out of reach of your
two year old,</i><span style="font-style: normal;">), and danger signs
(which symptoms are bad enough you better take your kid to the health
post). I think most of it was pretty common sense and therefore a
little boring for the promoters. However I learned some good new
vocabulary words and got to test a carrot cake recipe on the class. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">When I
got back from the health promoter class I was tired and just wanted
to sit around in my room not speaking in Spanish. My host brother
Sergio had other plans. He really wanted to eat a pineapple that I
brought back with me from Cajamarca. My friend Christina gave it to
me to bring back, since she lugged it all the way from her department
and we never got around to eating it at the hostel. I told him I
wasn't hungry and we could eat it later, but he's 12 so he kept
pushing. Then I lost my temper a little and told him I didn't have
to share with him since it was my pineapple (so much arguing over a
stupid pineapple). I thought I had won the battle, but about ten
minutes later I heard a little knock on my door and Sergio asked me
if I was ready yet. So I told him to go ahead and eat it without me.
He looked uncomfortable, so when he left I thought that he wouldn't
do it. Later I checked the fridge and saw that little Sergio called
my bluff. That entire pineapple was gone. I couldn't h</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">elp
but laugh to myself, because I had invitar-ed (invited) him so I
couldn't get upset or be surprised. </span></span><br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
Now that I am starting to feel busy I finally feel more useful.
Diamond and I are still waiting to hear back about funding for the
latrine project. Although now we have a modified plan; if the mayor
of Tacabamba decides it's not in his budget then we will ask his arch
enemy the mayor of Chota for the funding. It might be kind of
awkward pitting them against themselves, but it's better then those
60 families getting passed over again.
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
Thanks for reading! Chau for now,</div>
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
KB</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1N3S2e6qrloXegW4MoEWj5417tzB3KePaoF79jopEFxehrKVrSekv7TbVSLQPkhUDnR57PK4yKVrBGSrvn2ZhJyYh58umVc66DtXzoHGft66ABs_W5V75o63kuZoGlTLV7KRWWfrtSg/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1N3S2e6qrloXegW4MoEWj5417tzB3KePaoF79jopEFxehrKVrSekv7TbVSLQPkhUDnR57PK4yKVrBGSrvn2ZhJyYh58umVc66DtXzoHGft66ABs_W5V75o63kuZoGlTLV7KRWWfrtSg/s320/IMG_0745.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group shot of the first ever Pasos Adelante Congress</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRBC8uKiEHmrYIvb-uL5uC9Gdg3OWClkcfHllOvHBU1bf6HLtt5jA5OMn4o1HpC0TdyvjyMO2968aklg_5wfUXEJnfMua-4YCQD5BGf893yz8qK-Zn8TxnI_ieUmb8Esssy8CL4DNgNY/s1600/DSCN2041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRBC8uKiEHmrYIvb-uL5uC9Gdg3OWClkcfHllOvHBU1bf6HLtt5jA5OMn4o1HpC0TdyvjyMO2968aklg_5wfUXEJnfMua-4YCQD5BGf893yz8qK-Zn8TxnI_ieUmb8Esssy8CL4DNgNY/s320/DSCN2041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Condom race</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1JUNtcdsN2mHuWhavrzaNLEP45y5oDna9hHQM4cCdEasJDnbpMGsK_dnDczZY1s_rqjlQLeq2DQf4tB3vX8n22OjTZBTDAV_o7ncG8SkMd6IR94epP4Dyk9h4ddkg2bRtdhhJIUOkMU/s1600/DSCN2044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1JUNtcdsN2mHuWhavrzaNLEP45y5oDna9hHQM4cCdEasJDnbpMGsK_dnDczZY1s_rqjlQLeq2DQf4tB3vX8n22OjTZBTDAV_o7ncG8SkMd6IR94epP4Dyk9h4ddkg2bRtdhhJIUOkMU/s320/DSCN2044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Health promoter class in Tacabamba </td></tr>
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Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-90904392182096542442012-09-22T09:34:00.001-07:002012-09-22T09:34:19.006-07:00Tacabamba Fest 2012<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This past week was the Tacabamba
fiesta. It was a big deal. Tacabamba was flooded with visitors.
There were bullfights every afternoon for three days and nightly
concerts. Peruvians are good partiers. The blasting sound systems
at the f<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">útbol field a few blocks
from my host family's house that were converted to fair grounds where
on nightly until around 4 or 5 am. I went to the fair grounds for
the concerts a couple of the nights. Everyone groups up into
drinking circles formed around crates of beer. There were also very
large fireworks displays every night usually at around 1am, but the
hour changed depending on the</span> night.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Overall I am really glad that the party
is over. It was really stressful to have so many out of towners
around. I stick out. The stares and whispers get old. Since public
drinking and drunkenness are not illegal people's inhibitions were
down and my guard was way up. I remember when I was in high school I
used to think it was kind of exciting to get a cat call from
men-running on Dixboro road near my parent's house, but I have had
enough of it for a life time. I mostly get called 'gringa', but I
also get 'micha' which is Quechua for 'cat'. People with green eyes
get called 'micha' here, because they have cat's eyes.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was so excited when on Wednesday
night my host brother and sister in-law asked me to go with them to
the concert. Since my host dad Sergio is a police officer there are
always tons of cops eating at the house (remember my host mom run's a
restaurant out of the front of the house). So when we went to the
concert my host brother Iban and a couple police officers that
frequent the house bought a case of beer. I think I may have
described a drinking circle in another blog post, but essentially big
bottles of warm beer are cracked open and a small plastic cup is
passed around. Depending on your company, men will pour the beer for
the women. It is polite to-I want to call it salute, but I'm not so
sure if that's the right word-the person to their left who has just
passed them the beer. Then you drink what I like to think of as
little beer shots and throw the foam onto the ground behind you
outside of the circle. Finally you pass along the beer and cup to
the person on your right.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was excited to be invited by my host
brother Iban and his wife Yanette, because I still feel like I have a
lot of work to do with connecting with this new host family. Iban
got kind of drunk and liked to brag to his friends that we are
brother and sister, can't you tell? Also we danced a lot. I danced
with all the men in the circle, even the police officer Luis who
seemed like he hated every minute of dancing. My other host sister
Paola came in for the party. She works as a police officer in
Cajamarca (the capital city of this department= Cajamarca,
Cajamarca). She is really sweet and patient. I was lucky she came
with us to the party, because at 2 am when the guys bought another
huge crate of beer she and I were practically falling asleep standing
up so we went home.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The other days and nights of the party
Ellie came in from the town about 30 minutes away. All 4 of us;
Laura, Diamond, Ellie, and I, spent a lot of quality American time
together. Laura showed us a music video called 'Gangnam Style' (sp?)
and we practiced the 'horsey' dance from the video. We cooked good
food, painted our nails, and just hung out. Laura is an amazing
cook. She made quesadillas on homemade tortillas one night and
lasagna with a loaf of homemade rosemary bread on the side. Carby
and cheese city so good, yay!</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There were 3 days of bullfights. I
went with my host siblings for one of the days. I like bullfights,
but they are very stylized and therefore repetitive. First the bull
comes out and runs around for a while so everyone can get a good look
at him. Next 2 men on horseback come out-both men and horses are
heavily padded. The riders stab the bull in the back of the neck on
a big fleshy part of the back behind the head. Then 2 men on foot; I
guess they might be assistant matadors since they wear the same
little outfits, run out into the arena and stab decorated foot and a
half long sticks into the bull's back. These lances or sticks must
have a hook or barb in the end of them because if they are stabbed
correctly they stay in the bull's flesh for the remainder of the
fight.
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then the matador 'dances' with the bull
by himself. At this point the bull is usually heavily bleeding out
of his back and his tongue is hanging out of his mouth with
exhaustion. The bull charges, the matador jumps aside, and when he
is ready the matador attempts to stab a sword into the same fleshy
part of the bull's back. If he is a good matador his sword will go
right threw the bull's heart and the bull will die pretty quickly.
If he misses then they have another process. The matador gets one
more stab and if he misses again they stab the bull threw it's skull
instead.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's not that a bullfight is boring.
However, the fight I went to was 3 hours long and 6 bulls were
killed. I just didn't feel the need to go back the next 2 days to
watch the same thing over again and again. Sometimes I find myself
cheering for the bull, because it seems cruel how they bleed out and
run him around in circles until he is dizzy and tired. When one of
the bull struck the matador I caught myself screaming with the rest
of the crowd. I was happy to note that the meat from the bulls that
are killed is sold in the street after the fights. Families can buy
it to take home and cook up for dinner or buy some fried up right in
front of you. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I forgot to mention that before the bullfights and concerts there were several days of fair. People could bring in their livestock or vegetables to be judged. During the typical plate contest Peace Corps and Predesci (a local NGO that works in ending malnutrition) teamed up. First we tried to get the municipality to change the rules of the contest that plates would be judged on their nutrition, but they declined. So instead we made healthy options and talked to anyone who would listen about nutrition. Most of our vistors during the fair were kids that colored the vegetable pictures I made copies of to pass out. Also Diamond and I were in a parade one of the days of the fiesta. The parade started about 2 hours late and only lasted 10 minutes. I was sunburned and kind of pissed off, but afterwards we had a fun lunch with the health post employees. I guess the beer and shiringo (a typical plate from Tacabamba itself-basically a tuna omlette) made up for it and I laughed it off as another instance of getting perued.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This week Diamond and I had an important meeting in the community where we want to do our project. I was under the impression that the meeting was already happening in the community and that we were just going to tag along taking advantage of everyone being in one spot. However, there was a big miscommunication. Apparently in order for us to call an official meeting we have to write an official document to the Teniente (I'm not totally clear on his responsibilities, but he's the only kind of leader/representative for this tiny community. I don't even think he is elected....I have no clue) and he will set off 2 fireworks which is his way of calling everyone to a meeting. This community is tiny and the houses are all very spread out. People don't have electricity, running water, or latrines, so I guess it makes sense that the easiest way to call a meeting is with fireworks.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So we hike up to Ayaque which is about an hour and a half straight up from Tacabamba and we find out that the people will not come to the meeting since the Teniente didn't call a meeting. I was really frustrated, but we did get to talk to a small group of moms that were very interested in working with us. Also we met the Teniente and promised to get him an official document next week so that we could have a real meeting next Thursday. On the whole the people seemed very interested and also very friendly-quite encouraging. Now we just have to wait for the municipality to decide if they have enough money in the budget to fund the latrines building project. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Project work is looking good. I feel like I am making some progress in getting in with my new host family. Host mom Rosa went to the doctor last week and found out her blood pressure is too high. Her homework is to go on a half hour walk every day and I am her new walking buddy.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanks for the mail; Sesame, Kwapis, Nana, Pat, and Yamo family! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chau for now. With love,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
kb</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">setting up with the awesome Predesci facilitators/promoters</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie and I looking official in our PC polos</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcVd8VbFU9jOqucbvaxJO0GCisbO8hYdJzHkLUXh2rOmC8yxCi0h0v70k2zDDjIR6ZeqrhFtNcT4VHiqIQiucvj1gLh0J2E-pPwMJwinCDsz9rdxANieiwLUdS_7oALSDeUfMcYxDaeI/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcVd8VbFU9jOqucbvaxJO0GCisbO8hYdJzHkLUXh2rOmC8yxCi0h0v70k2zDDjIR6ZeqrhFtNcT4VHiqIQiucvj1gLh0J2E-pPwMJwinCDsz9rdxANieiwLUdS_7oALSDeUfMcYxDaeI/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just beyond our table set up were big make-shift bleechers for a futbol tournament</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoS8Gj51CcWZxOITrwggqX3bV9mOccRU3AvixdgBqpYqdCWfgx66szx_KwjpOuAuUdF-dOZPGYOevw6s9wP9btV8Dq04wwpzfMIMBZCcSUu8ShZPbBghZCj3O-ydRqiLpv2k1DwHdIzQ/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoS8Gj51CcWZxOITrwggqX3bV9mOccRU3AvixdgBqpYqdCWfgx66szx_KwjpOuAuUdF-dOZPGYOevw6s9wP9btV8Dq04wwpzfMIMBZCcSUu8ShZPbBghZCj3O-ydRqiLpv2k1DwHdIzQ/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some neighbor girls with their little brothers, they were some of the first kids to come visit our table</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdwZMjmA1y8dTpLid0R5sy8eDuXBtJJuflAz7rns64RTkgJ2SGp5-S-jetBnUmu6whQqPuOPWFpqeAMtT64_b6P8xAaqGsSHZhUgGIbHIjOP1755Lg189wkoJnbOncVqVw0qwsSc70x4/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdwZMjmA1y8dTpLid0R5sy8eDuXBtJJuflAz7rns64RTkgJ2SGp5-S-jetBnUmu6whQqPuOPWFpqeAMtT64_b6P8xAaqGsSHZhUgGIbHIjOP1755Lg189wkoJnbOncVqVw0qwsSc70x4/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">healthy plates; banana bread (admitantly not so healthy, but everyone loves it), tortilla de verduras (vegetable omelette), papas con queso y higado (cheese, potatoes, and liver), and camote con leche (sweet potato with milk)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAn4iLw3q0BGtJdBerwy26OpalnT2wnVc1DNL5ZXKV685n1kaXkxkb1-4r2IL9NtARv2eRHTmv1PSdWju8gmqb_xiIrEiSE0WvAA0RS093AkS4ycful6gYVkCi6tyQURdYG1aFi5mvopk/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAn4iLw3q0BGtJdBerwy26OpalnT2wnVc1DNL5ZXKV685n1kaXkxkb1-4r2IL9NtARv2eRHTmv1PSdWju8gmqb_xiIrEiSE0WvAA0RS093AkS4ycful6gYVkCi6tyQURdYG1aFi5mvopk/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our table and beyond the huge crowd of kids coloring</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv2lgQ449uH410h6pmHmQwxgcCNZ5MOUfwNToM5d1YbQN2fZ9PTNB4CdpXkIjbUwg7iWjbdQFGANAh3og1WDJxFqol6WbZJJFZJ2GXG2mYDrWC0xzNZ51dcrVjd45SojoCSPR6iqYsBw/s1600/019-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv2lgQ449uH410h6pmHmQwxgcCNZ5MOUfwNToM5d1YbQN2fZ9PTNB4CdpXkIjbUwg7iWjbdQFGANAh3og1WDJxFqol6WbZJJFZJ2GXG2mYDrWC0xzNZ51dcrVjd45SojoCSPR6iqYsBw/s320/019-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the whole gang</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKJjTp05_yFzIBORZBTSod66fz39VgSe46vjo111Zb0SdO6RnOXtpK7lsGgSjZQuurYrUn88Kc05AZe1HpwYA8HvWEZKkUhxtGnd80WeNVAgdJsRRKwP32BIF9ce4pitHvL3XkY16lus/s1600/020-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKJjTp05_yFzIBORZBTSod66fz39VgSe46vjo111Zb0SdO6RnOXtpK7lsGgSjZQuurYrUn88Kc05AZe1HpwYA8HvWEZKkUhxtGnd80WeNVAgdJsRRKwP32BIF9ce4pitHvL3XkY16lus/s320/020-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">men setting up for the fireworks. Every night they would construct these gigantic bamboo structures with fireworks attached all over and the levels would light up one at a time.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdlblCw5s_8YWycMMain4mI1tSFXtf5lRQ2_TakmxwadpUzOGGBbaeHojcl7GT-smlBISU9DbsiErf-UJPGPVNEPLaL4zHK551aSwkXKz82I-goqbtApTQLGmzfXhs3HgL3UF7YeR59o/s1600/021-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdlblCw5s_8YWycMMain4mI1tSFXtf5lRQ2_TakmxwadpUzOGGBbaeHojcl7GT-smlBISU9DbsiErf-UJPGPVNEPLaL4zHK551aSwkXKz82I-goqbtApTQLGmzfXhs3HgL3UF7YeR59o/s320/021-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some out of towners brought in this llama and charged 2 soles to have your picture taken with him</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyRt5oFOmoWQkiTTvkyKpPSn6R_reAzC-F2X-9qcmjCNu9CBbFTy_d1otHQ9YTETI7h-NlC6xiSaHjbxyx5lFknuJqUkPRBuzvwn4s7ddNR-vNDjtUK_Y5eoQfJu6sfifLTgiC3iO6NE/s1600/022-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyRt5oFOmoWQkiTTvkyKpPSn6R_reAzC-F2X-9qcmjCNu9CBbFTy_d1otHQ9YTETI7h-NlC6xiSaHjbxyx5lFknuJqUkPRBuzvwn4s7ddNR-vNDjtUK_Y5eoQfJu6sfifLTgiC3iO6NE/s320/022-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting for the parade to start</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoHF1kQh26gQtbuh_AL1HBWtNjZpQtMTrhBCoW860OR4jIXx8qfS4NaqT4TbqwJQ1t9HqCgxxoGZEjvZkcTkUdfgesO6wstWJM2_fDtLfQJbPU2iUjoidmA_y_OTjVg5AoE6RBHmyLKs/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoHF1kQh26gQtbuh_AL1HBWtNjZpQtMTrhBCoW860OR4jIXx8qfS4NaqT4TbqwJQ1t9HqCgxxoGZEjvZkcTkUdfgesO6wstWJM2_fDtLfQJbPU2iUjoidmA_y_OTjVg5AoE6RBHmyLKs/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu and Minina crying to me from the top of the stairs, so cute</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQLaloImmLGWnKmBll8AwRxkNxL8lhhTtJ9UVdCyvYvhAQ8ts7FcmRPFpJe-GRrhicUDA_iTLmRxJdpYnCJhHfGrJ5NM_XNgXJeAdohvEpL8lVICNXf2MIWCWwQUg4nXPgXwioXGJVZs/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQLaloImmLGWnKmBll8AwRxkNxL8lhhTtJ9UVdCyvYvhAQ8ts7FcmRPFpJe-GRrhicUDA_iTLmRxJdpYnCJhHfGrJ5NM_XNgXJeAdohvEpL8lVICNXf2MIWCWwQUg4nXPgXwioXGJVZs/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the arena had a really awesome view of the mountain range all around us</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRInyBtmK0vikMONB91ZIL5xzomZJgIB48HPqtDwo3IDBEiqfzBKFyKvqsWZPyAFFAQcbWxMFSFbjwS5XMsYK3mrC7VpFwbOjDwKuIQh86iUnyOPSe857pVeFIgfTKCWOohUWQdMvVRUw/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRInyBtmK0vikMONB91ZIL5xzomZJgIB48HPqtDwo3IDBEiqfzBKFyKvqsWZPyAFFAQcbWxMFSFbjwS5XMsYK3mrC7VpFwbOjDwKuIQh86iUnyOPSe857pVeFIgfTKCWOohUWQdMvVRUw/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the rest of these pictures Yossi took for me. She was acting bored so I handed her my camera-she killed the battery and filled the memory stick. I only kept some of the better ones though.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhhPjILXkxuWu4thiaBxS4KEDl4j8vmqJoSk_ca-InB6txEeC9Dp4UFQt9xNpHnkxGsrNd9-onoUYzaENLvSHvSBuyQbgVTFOE0fu7_an2GP1Nl8XpQLMKHXZhvaq36IZei3WZGpwSGw/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhhPjILXkxuWu4thiaBxS4KEDl4j8vmqJoSk_ca-InB6txEeC9Dp4UFQt9xNpHnkxGsrNd9-onoUYzaENLvSHvSBuyQbgVTFOE0fu7_an2GP1Nl8XpQLMKHXZhvaq36IZei3WZGpwSGw/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">he already looks angry and he just got in the pen</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuX2REFs-kW6OYpIeUmacViAYxh6mHL_u3JYTz7IsCXn0gjmPnGO7ML7YLeeMOQfAnmSmQ3rqqL60-DLUYZSBFjzC_U7irlxe79mkFRgpP4AQ8Ry64OQXb1FsSZeQ21NJrpORarXCnglA/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuX2REFs-kW6OYpIeUmacViAYxh6mHL_u3JYTz7IsCXn0gjmPnGO7ML7YLeeMOQfAnmSmQ3rqqL60-DLUYZSBFjzC_U7irlxe79mkFRgpP4AQ8Ry64OQXb1FsSZeQ21NJrpORarXCnglA/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMOaqAH9_6Hmn899LrWgzPJq2MZG8M1dKqieQCmNS2NDaA9KtG8oXolCsIBBFuX_GPMe2h9lnOvYPDGHaUjoaFJ0LuhyIPy7SGiqhRuc-W45kyma8nUt2ANilRvLgLgoX7-8gZokeiKU/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMOaqAH9_6Hmn899LrWgzPJq2MZG8M1dKqieQCmNS2NDaA9KtG8oXolCsIBBFuX_GPMe2h9lnOvYPDGHaUjoaFJ0LuhyIPy7SGiqhRuc-W45kyma8nUt2ANilRvLgLgoX7-8gZokeiKU/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kind of hard to see, but the guys on horseback are in this shot. He's stabbing the bull with his lance thing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48YXUgfqE6KrWYItsqHqACek5tpylPpO6OyRHCHedEQGL9vEQgeXQi8SgOxacLAS8xVaRQkfFxcyeKjv_V8FkAkDiUtb7i6BisYUxvi8walA-jooVI7pcPrIX_l4gntSaU3AsaE7xR7s/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48YXUgfqE6KrWYItsqHqACek5tpylPpO6OyRHCHedEQGL9vEQgeXQi8SgOxacLAS8xVaRQkfFxcyeKjv_V8FkAkDiUtb7i6BisYUxvi8walA-jooVI7pcPrIX_l4gntSaU3AsaE7xR7s/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guy with his hands above his head is jumping out of the way, because he just stabbed those little decorated sticks into the bull's back.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_a_4hN6CGGJZt2eA_-7wVMTRX9dyxk-DKSdZQt85cFt9WDIXw30z6ZL7LYvVZz8c8ow78Ezk3YfA636XGdSixkj8Jul_DgipZgfUa9avgWuiompMORzh852ieRvaH0qpy-skJSdiUVQ/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_a_4hN6CGGJZt2eA_-7wVMTRX9dyxk-DKSdZQt85cFt9WDIXw30z6ZL7LYvVZz8c8ow78Ezk3YfA636XGdSixkj8Jul_DgipZgfUa9avgWuiompMORzh852ieRvaH0qpy-skJSdiUVQ/s320/040.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here you can see the flag sticks hanging off the bull's back</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFiVHI8oksIRK2MzLaQhR0XArbY7ciET6W3mm8YygzaxXHjIGyRzesrOw1b8VJE9s2rXF1okVgVYfOBxOmVRGisBYR_rfL2Pzg0NUqJDDknRuFr6-clT0CiCBLzmVqBJToGZQOzG5v9Q/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFiVHI8oksIRK2MzLaQhR0XArbY7ciET6W3mm8YygzaxXHjIGyRzesrOw1b8VJE9s2rXF1okVgVYfOBxOmVRGisBYR_rfL2Pzg0NUqJDDknRuFr6-clT0CiCBLzmVqBJToGZQOzG5v9Q/s320/111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-70125122866224275782012-09-07T15:11:00.000-07:002012-09-07T15:11:05.684-07:00Tragically I didn't get to eat Priscilla the pig<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Last weekend I visited my San Juan host family for the first time since I moved sites. I was really nervous and excited to see them. I missed them a lot my first couple weeks in Tacabamba and I continue to call my host mom Dalila every week to check in. However, I was nervous that things would be weird or that they would ask me about building an improved cook stove. Previously it something we were discussing, but it was always a topic that felt uncomfortable for me. I knew that the family probably had enough money to buy the materials and build there own improved cook stove, but they wanted me to do it for them. It always left me torn between wanting to do something nice for this family that I love, but also feeling a bit used.</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lucky for me the stove building conversation never came up. I was only in San Juan for a quick visit. Apparently too quick for us to eat Priscilla. Now <i>that</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> was disappointing. I went out behind the house gave Priscilla a good belly rub and said my good byes, and we ate rabbit for dinner instead. When I asked Dalila she said she though I would be staying through Sunday and they were planning to kill Priscilla on Saturday. Boooo!</span></div><br />
I got to hang out with Witman and Eduar. We played frisbee and read Harry Potter. It was really nice. When neighbors passed the house or saw me walking around they asked me where I had been. I felt sort of frustrated that my host family hadn't told people that I had left. Unfortunately I was unable to make a public announcement or really say good bye in my town since the move was rushed. It was sort of like Diamond and I were evacuated. Diamond wasn't even allowed to pack her own things for the move, her host family packed all of her things and sent them down from her town by ambulance. The week that we left people in Diamond's previous site were attacking unknown cars with rocks and so our regional coordinator was afraid to drive up to her site in the Peace Corps car.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">So that was also disappointing to find out that nobody in San Juan knew why I left or where I had gone. People just kept asking me when the next volunteer was coming and I had to tell them that Peace Corps had shut down their whole district for volunteers. There will be no more volunteers in the Bambamarca area for until Washington decides it is safe again. I found out that all the kids in the district will have to repeat a year of school, because they have missed so much during these protests and strikes. It's really sad. Especially when I think of the 6</span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;"> graders I taught English classes with, they were all going to have their </span><i>promociones</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> this December or graduation. It is a really big celebration. Kids get special presents and new clothes. There is a huge party and at night the whole community is invited for drinking and dancing all night long. </span></div><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">So the visit was nice. It felt good to see my family and I fit right back into my spot. I just felt a little sad for leaving them all over again. I hope that Witman and Eduar can make it to University some day and I worry about how will I keep in contact with them all. I almost forgot that I very briefly saw my </span><i>enamorado</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> or boyfriend while I was in San Juan. Good old Delphin; 105 and still walking the streets (err- it should be street, there's really just the one), and I gave him a good hand shake. I know his daughter better and her I gave her a greeting cheek kiss with a hug, but him I've have only met once for an interview about the history of San Juan. Anyhow, my host family thought it was hilarious that I went up and greeted him. I only wish I had thought to ask for a picture with him-it would have been super awkward to ask him, but I bet he would have gone along with it and I'd have the evidence.</span></div><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I came back to Tacabamba and Diamond and I had a big meeting at the municipality on Monday morning. It turned out not to be such a big deal as we thought it would be. We had to wait for an hour and a half to be seen. When we were brought in it was in front of one regidor instead of all of the regidores and the mayor was also not present. We talked to the regidor Lisandro about our project plan and budget. He told us he could have an answer about the funding by mid-October. So it leaves us still waiting to get started, but things move slowly here and I try to keep telling myself that we now have a foot in the door. </span></div><span style="font-style: normal;"></span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">This week the teachers went on strike. It is a nation wide strike, because the Peruvian government has passed some kind of law that the teachers need to take an exam every year. This new round of teacher strikes has brought up a lot of interesting conversations with neighbors around Tacabamba. Teachers only work about 25 hours a week here in Peru. Most public schools have classes from 8am to 1:30pm everyday. There is vacation from mid-December through March 1</span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;">st</span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;"> as well as 2 weeks off in August. What my neighbors tell me is that a lot of the teachers in the public schools lack any type of higher level education. In Peru to qualify to be a high school teacher, you only have to have graduated high school. Now the rules are changing and the government wants to move towards hiring teachers with bachelors or masters degrees. The trouble is what will they do with all the teachers that are working right now? It seems unfair to me to toss them out of their jobs, but also not really so fair to the students to have a teacher that doesn't have higher than a high school education. </span><br />
<br />
So with the latrines project on hold and no sex-ed classes happening with the teacher strike it's been slow around here. Also next week is the town party in Tacabamba and everyone is just getting ready this week. Everyone is making last minute improvements on their homes so that they look nice for the fiesta. Also from what I hear lots of families will be opening up their homes to rent rooms to accommodate the huge influx of people that will visit for the fiesta. I haven't heard anything from my host family about people staying at the house with us, but there are 2 extra rooms that could potentially be filled for the fiesta next week. <br />
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This week I finished up with my secondary applications to 3 schools in Chicago; Loyola, Rush, and University of Illinois, and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. With all this free time I have been obsessing and worrying about getting in somewhere. I'm pretty sure I won't hear back for months so I am trying to stop thinking about it in every free moment. It is just so exciting to fantasize about coming back to the states, going to school, having an apartment, and feeling like I have control of my life. <br />
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Here in Peru most of the time I feel powerless. It feels like I can't do anything right and I don't understand how things work. I still don't feel like I can express myself when I want to have a meaningful conversation with someone. It's like in the US when someone doesn't speak English very well and you know they aren't stupid, but it is so difficult to look beyond their bad language skills to give them a chance to show you who they are. I totally understand people's reactions to me here in Peru and I just wish I could take back all the times I thought a certain way about people I met in the states that weren't totally fluent. I guess this means I should crack open my grammar text books once in while here, huh?</div><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Also this week Diamond and I made pickles. It turns out pickles are surprisingly easy to make! In 2 weeks we'll be feasting on pickles, yeah!</div><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Thanks for reading and chau for now,</div><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">kb</div><br />
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">here's a list of some foods I miss:</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">cold drinks and drinks with ice</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">cereal and cold milk</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">bread; sliced bread, whole wheat bread, rye, sourdough, toasted bread</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">cheese (that isn't wet farmer's cheese, I'm talking stinky cheese that tastes so good and gives you terrible breath)</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">baby carrots and peppers</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">hummus</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">salsa</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">pickles*but in 2 weeks I'm gonna eat some</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Mexican food, Thai food, Indian food, Middle Eastern food-any kind of spicy foods</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">BBQ anything, hot dogs taste weird here-I just want to go to a baseball game sometimes</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">greek yogurt</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">good beer</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">mom's lasagna, chili, black bean soup, that pasta salad with the artichoke hearts, homemade jam</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">brewed coffee- not that instant nescafe, yuck!</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">root beer</div>and mostly I miss cold drinks or milk with cereal<br />
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<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">foods that I know I'll miss from Peru:</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">choco sodas</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">humas</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">aji</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">all the delicious new kinds of fruit that I've never seen before in the states; grenadillas, guanabana, surco, lucuma, maracuya, that weird cactus fuzzy fruit, </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">beet salad </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">chicarrones </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">cerviche if it's done right</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">maybe cuy...but chicken is probably better</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my boys Witman and Eduar, plus a couple favorites from english class Dresli and Nelver</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry Potter times</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in Tacabamba</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the street where I live<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I live here! At <em>Restaurante Yossy</em>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-84205305634693895842012-08-25T17:25:00.000-07:002012-08-25T17:25:15.352-07:00Diamond's Birthday, breast feeding marches, peruvian humor, and fish holes<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This week has gone by relatively fast. On Monday was our site visit with Emilia-that was a long day. Then on Tuesday Diamond and I went up to Ayaque with Yovani. Also Diamond's host family threw her a special surprise birthday breakfast. Laura made pancakes and shared the Costco size maple syrup her family brought for her when they recently visited. Plus, the host family made tamales and birthday cake. </div><br />
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The Peruvians weren't super impressed with the maple syrup which was disappointing since to us it was like eating a taste of home. We sang happy birthday in English, then in Spanish, then a verse I didn't recognize, and finally they told Diamond that she had to take a bite out of the cake. This was the first time I have heard of this tradition, but where I lived before in the campo people don't usually have cake on their birthdays since almost nobody has an oven.</div><br />
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Diamond, Yovani, and I hiked up to a nearby community called Ayaque. Diamond and I are planning on doing a big latrine building project in Ayaque. Things happen slowy though so right now we are spending time writing up a draft of a plan and accompanying Yovani on her house visits with mom's in Ayaque. At the end of September we have a community meeting lined up in Ayaque and we are planning on getting families signed up to be involved at that time. </div><br />
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">In the afternoon on Tuesday the three of us; Diamond, Laura, and I, went to the health post to give a presentation to the doctor and nurse in charge of child health about Peace Corps. Our boss Emilia asked us to do the presentation in an effort to get the health post to work with us more. They are very understaffed and don't really work with us very much. It seems like they can't bring themselves to take the small amount of time to coordinate with us volunteers, and if the would we could do a lot of great promotion work basically for them. We're talking work that the health post could take credit for on their monthly informes to the ministry of health, but the health post will not take the time to plan and coordinate with us. It is super frustrating. I hope the presentation helped.</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="font-style: normal;">On Wednesday in the afternoon we went out to a community with Melva another Predesci facilitator. Predesci is this amazing NGO that is funded by the regional government of Cajamarca. They work in rural health promotion; focusing in on pregnant women and women with children under 1 year. They are pretty much Peace Corps health volunteers on steroids. They are Peruvians so they speak the language, know the system, and they have very specific jobs to carry out designated by their NGO-unlike us volunteers since when we show up we are supposed to work with the community to develop a project that </span></span><span lang="zxx"><i>the people </i></span><span lang="zxx"><span style="font-style: normal;">want. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="font-style: normal;">The Predesci representatives are currently working on forming these groups called CODECOs; </span></span><span lang="zxx"><i>Comite de Desarrollo Comunitario </i></span><span lang="zxx"><span style="font-style: normal;">or Commitee for Community Development, in the small poorer surrounding communities outside of Tacabamba itself. Diamond and I attended, because we thought it would be a great way to observe how to organize a working commitee since we are going to need to form 2 commitees for our latrine project. The community that we went to was the one where Laura did her latrine project and she needed to talk with them about some upcoming visits they would be having. </span></span> </div><br />
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The meeting started really late, but when it finally started it was productive. It was really helpful for me to see how Melva ran the meeting and helped the people get themselves a little more organized. The idea behind these commitees is that now the people can represent themselves a little more. Instead of waiting around for the municipality in Tacabamba or for an NGO to come in and give them construction projects, they can now go directly to the municipality themselves with their requests and ideas. As a volunteer our job is to kind of hold our rural community's hand through the process of asking the municipality for money and working with the health post. The goal is that by the end of a big project the community can organize itself more and work together to do community projects. Sometimes it is a bit of a foreign concept here; to join together and get things done for the community as a whole.</div><br />
<div lang="zxx" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Anyhow, at the end of the meeting I was able to make a short announcement about doing an older adult health class. I was surprised by how much interest there was. We'll see if the people actually show up to my meetings, but I now have a list of 15 older adults that way they are interested in coming to educative sessions about how to take care of their health. I am super excited to work with them. I think our first session is going to be on diabetes. </div><br />
Yesterday I talked with my old host mom Dalila for the first time in a while. She asked me how I was doing, I asked how the family was doing, and I also asked about how my 3 'boyfriends' were doing. In San Juan my host family had this running joke with me that I had 3 boyfriends; the director of the secondary school, the care taker of the primary school, and our 105 year old neighbor. The director of the secondary school was sort of friendly with me, but he always managed to avoid me when I needed to work with him on coordinating for the youth health promoters. I privately liked to call him Warrio, because of his mustache's striking resemblance to the video game character. The primary school care taker is a really nice guy-he even gave me an exta set of keys to use during my english classes. The 105 year neighbor man is named Delphin which means <em>dolphin</em> in Spanish. I met him when I was doing my community diagnostic report, because I interviewed him to ask about how San Juan was founded. <br />
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I asked Dalila about how my 'boyfriends' were doing and she told me that Delphin had died. I expressed that I was sorry to hear the news and while I was talking she quickly replied 'he's not dead, I was just kidding.' I have to give Dalila a lot of credit, because she totally get's me. I was shocked that she made a joke like that, because it is so outside of what I consider to be 'peruvian humor' and it was hilarious. The conversation ended with me promising to go visit San Juan next weekend. We are planning on eating Priscilla my favorite pig. I only hope that I get there early enough in the day to give her a good belly rub before we eat her for dinner!<br />
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Also yesterday the kids had school off. I really couldn't tell you what the holiday was and neither could my brother Sergio. There is this wierd hole in the floor where Sergio is trying to raise fish that he caught in the river. It's really big and nicely tiled on the inside. Maybe it was once a water tank of some kind. Every once in a while my host mom Rosa asks little Sergio (that's what we call him, not to be confused with his dad; big Sergio) to wash out the hole in the floor where the fish lives. This is so bizarre on so many levels that I had to take a picture. <br />
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My understanding is that the end goal is for the fish to become big enough to eat and they can begin breeding them for a continuous supply of fish at the restaurant. However, I have never seen anyone open that hatch to the fish to feed them. To clean the fish tank/hole Sergio has to bale out all the water and catch the fish in a bucket. The hole is much deeper than he is tall, so he practically has to swim during parts of the process. I took a picture, becuase it just struck me as so ridiculous to have a hole in the floor where you keep fish.<br />
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Chau for now and thanks for reading,<br />
kb<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlYnoRJTKFQSe5ozV4mVDlI8lQnPz0n_LYFlWg6DSblZM-Sw8hjSdcptlayAqf1ltZijf_izoXu8pX_xn1xVvJpxwfDQUGUdK0Bg5sGmtK1qPgSXBLxcpnq6N2uAAQn50jTQozMrEn5E/s1600/DSCN1278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlYnoRJTKFQSe5ozV4mVDlI8lQnPz0n_LYFlWg6DSblZM-Sw8hjSdcptlayAqf1ltZijf_izoXu8pX_xn1xVvJpxwfDQUGUdK0Bg5sGmtK1qPgSXBLxcpnq6N2uAAQn50jTQozMrEn5E/s320/DSCN1278.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I added this picture as a reminder of what the kitchen was like when I lived in San Juan as a juxtaposition to the beautiful kitchen in Tacabamba at Diamond and Laura's host family's house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHifXGZp_IpzDoL2cmjxZOLCLqBtexduInJHUJxEh9M5HBT86B0cKVaMYi2b8hdoyRvBUvXaLSmGNZ14tdMiHUvnsmFR57m7iGiG3ObysS22B_5XLQd8CkIdW6rD40f3WEdEoRK5D6-gw/s1600/DSCN1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHifXGZp_IpzDoL2cmjxZOLCLqBtexduInJHUJxEh9M5HBT86B0cKVaMYi2b8hdoyRvBUvXaLSmGNZ14tdMiHUvnsmFR57m7iGiG3ObysS22B_5XLQd8CkIdW6rD40f3WEdEoRK5D6-gw/s320/DSCN1827.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a view from during our walk back down to Tacabamba from Ayaque</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwLqAqbTc_nH4dq7BUhpZD5U4Yb9TG0CH2q2F8e_S_LWXAwdCJBD_2XiWNualwpL_i7xvTneu6luO_pIdUF13-QrdGQMmHxG24rpTv5lbz7iUZqkCbRS8d_N-vjw-Rhr3Y8Y7NdYiqaU/s1600/DSCN1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwLqAqbTc_nH4dq7BUhpZD5U4Yb9TG0CH2q2F8e_S_LWXAwdCJBD_2XiWNualwpL_i7xvTneu6luO_pIdUF13-QrdGQMmHxG24rpTv5lbz7iUZqkCbRS8d_N-vjw-Rhr3Y8Y7NdYiqaU/s320/DSCN1828.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond and I</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpNcuJaVfYyxeXUdnA2k1KJVFLbp0qkPsaanWQWw2M-SJnrvekB9Z5E2LTZS9ooaUQL1Qzo7zvr6Wib9f0eMwe6PkwmltmNiZHb0FrSjSfzDqcGOVZuMGlqp9ag8eDGDxInaywrEoVPY/s1600/DSCN1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpNcuJaVfYyxeXUdnA2k1KJVFLbp0qkPsaanWQWw2M-SJnrvekB9Z5E2LTZS9ooaUQL1Qzo7zvr6Wib9f0eMwe6PkwmltmNiZHb0FrSjSfzDqcGOVZuMGlqp9ag8eDGDxInaywrEoVPY/s320/DSCN1834.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a parade for the week of 'lactancia materna exclusiva' or 'exclusive breast feeding'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshhAiypbfe4OKEwb1qdvCh9Ykq8Ewu_5mjfCPdv6rHawQGWhNpf6g8jKEU1jvFpA3nBdJaxziX6AEWfJZ8EQNQuUdDaeu3SOxh4Dch-d8Bl0c92KJL0d5B0Xq_ly3Fi33kWsH-7MoiOo/s1600/DSCN1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshhAiypbfe4OKEwb1qdvCh9Ykq8Ewu_5mjfCPdv6rHawQGWhNpf6g8jKEU1jvFpA3nBdJaxziX6AEWfJZ8EQNQuUdDaeu3SOxh4Dch-d8Bl0c92KJL0d5B0Xq_ly3Fi33kWsH-7MoiOo/s320/DSCN1835.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this mom's sign says that babies under 6 months should only drink breast milk not cow's milk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuTbr8ji1JYA49mz_gN0_xGDoA0jIMFaHykrOGYkuMp1halZ_Zy6IdSLhyphenhyphen6fhVuty6wAWFFK_UTvl48ldSctOKHTE9OsAPc4uFuPOaIxfcGh6pDe4896A4HWE2NM4CrKf2WFGGWUCyLE/s1600/DSCN1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuTbr8ji1JYA49mz_gN0_xGDoA0jIMFaHykrOGYkuMp1halZ_Zy6IdSLhyphenhyphen6fhVuty6wAWFFK_UTvl48ldSctOKHTE9OsAPc4uFuPOaIxfcGh6pDe4896A4HWE2NM4CrKf2WFGGWUCyLE/s320/DSCN1837.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sergio cleaning out the hole in the floor where the river fish live.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyU8TDo76TrqV2t4VMlWCxqWzCAj_8_tWJcczA6NElUvWSeq8X_JP7cCq2kdDVjUzEBfjQMDyprCfW1P5pHsjb1C64Cm_Ej-BVmWhRuso7BVVXEVjN84k98T2di4MNc-xopnEN9J_g3Ic/s1600/DSCN1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyU8TDo76TrqV2t4VMlWCxqWzCAj_8_tWJcczA6NElUvWSeq8X_JP7cCq2kdDVjUzEBfjQMDyprCfW1P5pHsjb1C64Cm_Ej-BVmWhRuso7BVVXEVjN84k98T2di4MNc-xopnEN9J_g3Ic/s320/DSCN1818.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond's surprise birthday breakfast.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSLyEjUt5eXvi1aLhLNLp9u9lUCr33ZjPwYrg6FFJLs0ODUmDgD6OMS_8Nws3-Xr1KOayhtGbV6KZOMA3M_j3visrB5zYpO3EVPZnxSHn8ZOSOiPDMCwptPKYCij5Bdza4hj1fG05d2U/s1600/DSCN1817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSLyEjUt5eXvi1aLhLNLp9u9lUCr33ZjPwYrg6FFJLs0ODUmDgD6OMS_8Nws3-Xr1KOayhtGbV6KZOMA3M_j3visrB5zYpO3EVPZnxSHn8ZOSOiPDMCwptPKYCij5Bdza4hj1fG05d2U/s320/DSCN1817.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pancakes with maple syrup!</td></tr>
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</div>Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-11796381255246271112012-08-05T14:38:00.000-07:002012-08-05T14:38:38.554-07:00Ancash Adventures<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">July 28<sup>th</sup> is Peruvian Independence Day and volunteers get to take 4 free vacation days. I felt kind of guilty going on vacation when I only have been in my new town for 2 weeks, but I also really wanted to get out of Cajamarca for a while. A couple other volunteers planned the whole vacation to a department called Ancash. Ancash is internationally known amongst big time hikers and moutain climbers. The capital city of Ancash; Huaraz, is a pretty touristy place. We wanted to come for a visit to eat delicious food and try to do a little hiking. We have been talking about the bagels and micro brewery beer for months amongst ourselves in Cajamarca. (bagels are really hard to find and there is a cafe in Huaraz known amongst the volunteers for it's awesome breakfast food-especially bagels)<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It is a long trip between Cajamarca and Ancash. First I had to get myself to Cajamarca city which took about 6 hours of bus rides. Next I took an overnight bus between Cajamarca and Trujillo; a bigger city on the coast. The following day I had another night bus to catch between Trujillo and Huaraz, but it left me with a day of waiting around by myself in Trujillo. Trujillo is a big city and I don't know it too well, but I found out that the grocery store in Trujillo sells green tabasco sauce, Heinz ketchup, and Snyder's brand pretzels. I was super excited to eat a big mac at the McDonalds-I hadn't eaten McDonalds since last year before I left the states. Peruvian McDonalds unfortunately does not have a dollar menu, but along with ketchup and mustard you can also serve yourself aji or peruvian hot sauce on your burger or you can have an Inka Cola instead of a Coke for your drink.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Thursday I finally made it to my destination Huaraz, Ancash. I met up with 4 other volunteer friends; Ellie and Jennifer also from Cajamarca, Allison a U of M grad too who lives in a department called Piura, and Julianne who lives in Lambayaque. The first thing we did after we put our things down at the hostel was to go eat bagels and drink good coffee. We spent the rest of the day walking around Huaraz and planning which hike to go on. We ate delicious Indian food-I know can you believe it Indian food in Peru! <br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On the second day in Huaraz we woke up at 5am to catch a combe; which is sort of like a extra large van that serves as the main form of public transportation, out to the national park where the girls had picked a hike. The hike was to a glacial lake called laguna 69, and it was supposed to be about 3 hours from the trailhead. The driver we had hired to drive us up to the park from the main highway where the combe let us off told us that we needed to meet him back at the trailhead at 3pm because he said the park would close at 3:30. <br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I'm not an experienced hiker, none of us are. The altitude got to us fast. The views were amazing and we were so determined to get to the lagoon. We started out the hike with a young Czech couple, but they passed us pretty early on. The directions we received from the driver were that after the first little lake it would only be about a half an hour until the big lake. So when we reached the first lake exhausted and freezing we just kept walking. The trouble was that the trail was pretty much unmarked after that and we were starting to run low on time. <br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So the sad part is that we did not make it up to the laguna 69, because we were starting to get worried about missing our car out of the park. Plus, we were exhausted and the trail was unmarked so we weren't even sure if we were climbing the right trail. We went back to the little lake to eat a packed bologna and cheese sandwiches. It snowed while we ate.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I got it in my head before we went to Ancash that I wanted to do a naked lake jump. It's something that a lot of volunteers do and I thought I should do it since I probably won't have another chance to jump in a glacial lake. It was very cold and I didn't really jump in. It was more of a fast dunk during which I shouted curse words. I cut my foot on something in the lake, but I didn't notice until we got back to our hostel. I must have been too cold to feel it very much. When we got back my sock was full of blood. <br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On our third day we went out to visit 2 other volunteers that live in Ancash. Their site was beautiful. We cooked lentil burgers and sweet potato fries on Katie and Ben's cocina mejorada or improved cook stove. It was so nice to see them. Katie and Ben are a married couple. Katie is a health volunteer and Ben is an environment volunteer. Their home was so cozy and nice. They are so happy and that made me feel good.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And that was the last day of vacation. After that Ellie, Jennifer, and I did the 2 days of overnight bus back to Cajamarca. In Trujillo we met up with another volunteer Christina and we all went to see the new Batman movie at the theater, and it was IN ENGLISH!!!!! We also walked around the stores in the mall and it felt like we were in the states a little bit. Especially, this one store called Sodimac which is bascially Peruvian Lowes or Home Depot.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The rest of the week was mostly uneventful so I'll just include highlights. My new host brother Sergio turned 12 and we had a really nice family lunch. He and I made a banana bread for a cake, but he also had some cake that his mom bought from a bakery. He also got a new puppy for his birthday. It is the tiniest dog I have ever seen. I worry she is too little to be away from her momma yet, but they assure me she'll be fine. Her name is Lulu and she is so little she doesn't even know how to eat food yet. Most of the roof guinea pigs that my host family raises are bigger than her. <br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Diamond and I got our first real assignment. We planned and gave a very successful training session for local health promoters. The topics were good communication, how to plan a class or training session, and how to do a good house visit. In Peru home visits are emphasized for more rural communities, but the health posts are often too overwhelmed with patients to go out and do door to door promotion. Local volunteers are supposed to get trained and help work as an extension of the health post, but it doesn't usually work that way. In my previous community the health post would claim a list of names as trained health promoters and gather the money from the ministry of health to fund the program. However, those people didn't actually attend any trainings or do any health promotion. It was just a way for the health workers to get a little extra money for parties or buying lunch.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I finished up all my secondary medical school applications, except for Wayne State I'm still waiting on them to send me theirs. I am so lucky to have my amazing Mom, Dad, and friends Carol, Laura, and Diamond who helped me proof read all the essays. I really appreciate all the help.</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Also Diamond and I went to Conchon to visit Ellie to inaugurate her new gas cook stove. We ate sweet potatoes and tea for dinner. And I learned how to make a fishtail braid on Ellie. It was a good 2 weeks. </div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Chau for now,</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">kb</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">the pictures are a little out of order...</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at the Indian food restaurant Chili Heaven</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">views during the hike</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Host sister Yossy and brother Sergio at the family birthday lunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu the world's smallest dog</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu meeting a baby guinea pig</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond and I at our first real charla or talk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">preping for the lake jump</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lake jump surprise</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer said that this donkey stunk</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNo45KAkrUxxttf_GScNjcwXH7YJZonBDQAgpthfIfszOnmCuQlBrXcENEhgBMqOJne3jsAF2t-LiEOk706riFjCMmOpEkDwMkEroVvDZUHnhwp7XXjuvB4efbU8m9Ow5r2IaUNR6Evo/s1600/post+burrito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNo45KAkrUxxttf_GScNjcwXH7YJZonBDQAgpthfIfszOnmCuQlBrXcENEhgBMqOJne3jsAF2t-LiEOk706riFjCMmOpEkDwMkEroVvDZUHnhwp7XXjuvB4efbU8m9Ow5r2IaUNR6Evo/s320/post+burrito.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer and I rode the whole way up to the national park in the trunk of this guy's car to save a couple soles. Boy was that an uncomfortable ride. The road was really bad and one point the driver even had to pull over to change a popped tire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">visiting Katie and Ben in Shirapucru<br />
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</div>Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853449963838916552.post-58282510073148849842012-07-22T14:52:00.000-07:002012-07-22T14:52:48.502-07:00starting over<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I guess I forgot how fast the first few weeks go by when you get to a new site. I am meeting new people, learning names, finding my way to new places around town, trying to find a new routine and understand my new host family's routine, and generally following around Laura the 16er volunteer who has been in Peru exactly 1 year longer than Diamond and I. Every night by 9:30 I can't keep my eyes open I'm so tired. I got kind of sick this week. Which is weird since I expected here in the 'city' things would be way more hygienic than they were previously in the campo. Maybe, I had resistance to those campo germs after 7 months and now there are new bugs shocking my system. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Diamond and I hiked up to a community called Ayaque on Wednesday morning. We went up there with a woman who works for an NGO in the area; she and her co-workers do personalized house visits for every pregnant woman and mother with a child under 1 year. It is quite impressive what these PREDECI people do going door to door bringing the healthcare to the people hardest to reach. I have included some pictures below of the path up to Ayaque. For the record when people told me that Ayaque was nearby I was not expecting a 2 hour hike. First it was about 45 minutes of switch backs that went straight up the side of the mountain and after reaching the top we still had a ways to hike in. I was still a little sick the day of the hike and I had a horrible moment where I thought to myself: <i>this is it, I'm going to poop my pants right now. </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Practically every volunteer has a pooping of the pants episode and I have so far managed to avoid one. The climb almost got me. It was a close call, but I'm still in it for that bet I made.</span></div><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">When we finally got to Ayaque, Yovanni the PREDECI promoter we were with told us that the people in Ayaque have no electricity, no water, and no latrines. Ayaque sounds like a great place to do some construction projects paired with health promotion classes; hand washing, safe water, nutrition, tooth brushing, and hygiene. Even though the families in Ayaque are extremely poor, people still offered us food when we visited their homes. It is a Peruvian custom to invite people to eat and it is a sign of your thanks. The more food you are given the more appreciation you are being shown by your host. So for a very poor family to offer you food it is a very important honor and it would be highly offensive to turn them down or not to eat it all. It's something that we volunteers often joke about amongst ourselves. If one volunteer buys a beer or food and offers to share with you, and then you offer to pay them back (since we are all pretty poor here), they can always play the 'I just invitar-ed you, therefore you aren't allowed to offer to pay me' card. </div><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">At one of the homes the woman in charge of the household offered the three of us; Diamond, Yovanni, and I, huge heaping mugs full of cooked gourd. It is kind of like eating the guts of a pumpkin cooked up with a bit of milk and sugar. This dish is almost always served cold and people spit out the black shells of seeds onto the ground while they eat. It doesn't taste bad per say, but I did not want to eat such a giant portion and I felt really sick already that day. Yovanni silently whipped out a plastic bag from her backpack and when our hostess wasn't looking she would quietly quickly shovel her chiclayo into the bag. The three of us were sitting on a long wooden bench against the side of the house, made out of a board of wood balanced on a rocks and covered with a handwoven blanket. After I had scooped out most of my chiclayo into the bag I switched mugs with Diamond, but then I made a grave mistake. I didn't keep a good hold of the plastic bag and big glob of chiclayo fell out plopping on the ground. Diamond covered for me right away by moving her feet to block the spill from the view of the family. Then I had to nonchalantly scoop up the mess without the family noticing. Yovanni and I had almost gave it all away with our suppressed laughter at my clumsiness. </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Later on Wednesday Diamond, Laura, and I went to the town down the road called Conchan to visit another volunteer friend Ellie. It was so cozy to have a group of us. Ellie showed us around her town and we went back to her house to cook dinner. We attempted to make burritos. I elected that we use lentils since they are cheap and easy to find here, but none of us had ever cooked lentils before. They turned out a little tasteless, but avacado, homemade tortilla, tomato, onions, and tobasco sauce made up for it completely. Also Ellie invitar-ed us some homemade peanut butter and apples, which tasted like America! It was wonderful. Ellie taught us how to make homemade granola for breakfast the next day in her host families electric oven and we drank real coffee-not the instant stuff I drink daily while I imagine all the free coffee I drank at Sweetwaters before I left. </span><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The next morning we worked on painting a sign that Ellie is making for a library project she is doing in her town. We played What a Girl Wants in the background on my laptop-it's an old Amanda Bynes teenage girl flick about a girl who grows up with her single mom, going to England and finding her dad, who turns out to be Brittish semi-royalty Colin Firth. It was nice to just pretend to be in the states for a while. Ellie even had a recent Glamour magazine that her mom had sent her. I was in heaven.</div><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This week went by fast. Things are still a little awkward around the new host family, but they are very friendly so I'm sure it will turn out fine. I feel optimistic about project work especially with Diamond here too. My host brother is still following me around a little too closely, but I am confident that I will become less interesting as the newness wears off. This week I received emails from U of M, Michigan State, and Oakland medical schools with links to their secondary applications. I'm still waiting on Wayne State-which is were I really want to go when I get back. </div><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Chau for now,</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">kb</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">market day in Tacabamba, from left to right: Diamond, my host brother Sergio, Ellie, Me, Laura, and in front Rinaldo and Angie-Laura and Diamond's adorable host siblings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our house visits in Ayaque</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEQ2Ohi0z3bXMUw7eiVBUxbFMMbGhJx70GoyqkniD7pIWecbLhtMuvcOvP-qopCnqXpsahlm-qYirJq-_oiMetGCDN6jhKXxkwul8du7kztwWiYrXNj4OcOuZnUg1N-xa1l2puT_MASU/s1600/DSCN1739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEQ2Ohi0z3bXMUw7eiVBUxbFMMbGhJx70GoyqkniD7pIWecbLhtMuvcOvP-qopCnqXpsahlm-qYirJq-_oiMetGCDN6jhKXxkwul8du7kztwWiYrXNj4OcOuZnUg1N-xa1l2puT_MASU/s320/DSCN1739.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pictures from HIVAids classes Diamond and I are helping Laura with. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDPxsZA4QskSGyT7vSVll-s_8nLIeHkEVkKbGb4_EAaFwia-iSJE3vDj3wBaMeFYurTMrIi-pP0luyjy0mjE45UdBdhgFK_sqgdaWDcrVXwagA28wqteebKQxzCzFGOa_Ehh6GtJ5qjs/s1600/DSCN1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDPxsZA4QskSGyT7vSVll-s_8nLIeHkEVkKbGb4_EAaFwia-iSJE3vDj3wBaMeFYurTMrIi-pP0luyjy0mjE45UdBdhgFK_sqgdaWDcrVXwagA28wqteebKQxzCzFGOa_Ehh6GtJ5qjs/s320/DSCN1740.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a game that helps demonstrate how the imune system works.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK52ycc0L-z7v21x6_-TqYP-NTuGxm3AYdnIjMXeMkzqg_6j2h6I0B0hIvQmf7foZJ2VLAODXn9VdXfxRfFJHQKEm6KcudHGJMHMnZ7SuIdhfyrOTPNaHD5Huwxk0Rsqt7F1-G_6Pt1E/s1600/DSCN1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK52ycc0L-z7v21x6_-TqYP-NTuGxm3AYdnIjMXeMkzqg_6j2h6I0B0hIvQmf7foZJ2VLAODXn9VdXfxRfFJHQKEm6KcudHGJMHMnZ7SuIdhfyrOTPNaHD5Huwxk0Rsqt7F1-G_6Pt1E/s320/DSCN1741.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">okay, so I uploaded this picture badly. However, this is the trail up to Ayaque, the white pathway up the mountain.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuAyYJ_Ffz17GGD_C70RnmDfFfqGt5z3yuun2Rau_2wjvmnKy1TB9R6290HlsUCMOHhhhRk6pmVaCXi5q5Xd8Pi7eb-y6CqzvgbTbGeno__tRDm9O2mjJ7enSS20RTWXiNKGlK72e1S0/s1600/DSCN1742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuAyYJ_Ffz17GGD_C70RnmDfFfqGt5z3yuun2Rau_2wjvmnKy1TB9R6290HlsUCMOHhhhRk6pmVaCXi5q5Xd8Pi7eb-y6CqzvgbTbGeno__tRDm9O2mjJ7enSS20RTWXiNKGlK72e1S0/s320/DSCN1742.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my host bro Sergio and some neighbor boys climbed up the hill above my new home with me. There is a big white Jesus statue up there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA0BOy4itnMHGT4c5g0vXylloElNEkr6t3MMgzD9o7S8XdI9xDVUh-tZXDePw-fHtHWybXpaTjnzh5GptsIEtyrh9asoKI1KldZB-JQUB6PyKlchCPHFz6CcTC3kKB7YEZTD0ryhniJA/s1600/DSCN1744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA0BOy4itnMHGT4c5g0vXylloElNEkr6t3MMgzD9o7S8XdI9xDVUh-tZXDePw-fHtHWybXpaTjnzh5GptsIEtyrh9asoKI1KldZB-JQUB6PyKlchCPHFz6CcTC3kKB7YEZTD0ryhniJA/s320/DSCN1744.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from Jesus' feet, again there's Ayaque path</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzUVYj0OSiA9Q9qK6JQyWyTOrtsMAgwQI0Rq8ZvQ0zc6wJlVsmyjRIPACuUZQJbsxaCgRj4JAwAYJdEEkmmlP2k3mzBdLKWv6q3keUjnqunMZwb5IThm4roPuVQK3fXKxbqPKlDZTUho/s1600/DSCN1745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzUVYj0OSiA9Q9qK6JQyWyTOrtsMAgwQI0Rq8ZvQ0zc6wJlVsmyjRIPACuUZQJbsxaCgRj4JAwAYJdEEkmmlP2k3mzBdLKWv6q3keUjnqunMZwb5IThm4roPuVQK3fXKxbqPKlDZTUho/s320/DSCN1745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlhiwT0-DmIHOO6LVIsLMa2BDvyDQT85KaOOEWozgB03DYS842aiE-v_sVuIbzOKh5emIw1R2xOu5slUdJGlISNtstGZ43Bf0OsQqAOUjLvCwu6a_viJ6D0n769mIy_l_bDOTaqNRhXs/s1600/DSCN1746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlhiwT0-DmIHOO6LVIsLMa2BDvyDQT85KaOOEWozgB03DYS842aiE-v_sVuIbzOKh5emIw1R2xOu5slUdJGlISNtstGZ43Bf0OsQqAOUjLvCwu6a_viJ6D0n769mIy_l_bDOTaqNRhXs/s320/DSCN1746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1UtUkU77x-SWSral2kP5-NRlWNI_Blx34nBmxNLSby26QJmsgCH4FcYWT-HjUxNl9zusLPwChDkbtvueoRd1J86w6t5NagVIOoSjWs5YLLXIM9dUHNHrHpBDIA8QQ74qxAz63R3JJgM/s1600/DSCN1747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1UtUkU77x-SWSral2kP5-NRlWNI_Blx34nBmxNLSby26QJmsgCH4FcYWT-HjUxNl9zusLPwChDkbtvueoRd1J86w6t5NagVIOoSjWs5YLLXIM9dUHNHrHpBDIA8QQ74qxAz63R3JJgM/s320/DSCN1747.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday night we attended a beauty contest. Although there were only 4 contestants the whole thing went on for over 3 hours. Between the 3 times the girls walked for the judges, local kids did dances, poetry, sang songs, and did what they called 'dramas'-those were the most painful. Laura was asked to be a judge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3jXrKkhCCpOVb8g1BzQQKsAGgmLzSPnEk3xoLz4SmQORGbxy2uPc8f8XG3fCngMKXD8fZlg2BUn515IuMZxYOfdzb7YhWo1OYkLgcrDTBzImZQl7n7ugXP1rP33xxjGLp1G74c7Q0Yc/s1600/DSCN1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3jXrKkhCCpOVb8g1BzQQKsAGgmLzSPnEk3xoLz4SmQORGbxy2uPc8f8XG3fCngMKXD8fZlg2BUn515IuMZxYOfdzb7YhWo1OYkLgcrDTBzImZQl7n7ugXP1rP33xxjGLp1G74c7Q0Yc/s320/DSCN1752.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">teaching the HIV/Aids class with high school kids</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKTJQ44d4nSweLvS3HqdEOgZCRnTH-g1CvEtDezfHyBzR8pESpyAxVIdi5I1kPxMLfakOZE999jV7hjkvRlpvpfuLif67k9i7e2eoN-cfxy1GzOYjr36TVmFweA_D36rq0j6Fnnr20X4/s1600/DSCN1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKTJQ44d4nSweLvS3HqdEOgZCRnTH-g1CvEtDezfHyBzR8pESpyAxVIdi5I1kPxMLfakOZE999jV7hjkvRlpvpfuLif67k9i7e2eoN-cfxy1GzOYjr36TVmFweA_D36rq0j6Fnnr20X4/s320/DSCN1754.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">views from my room; below is the main living area. the stairs lead up to my room and under the stairs is the bathroom. the sink is on the left side. the door at the bottom of the stairs leads to the kitchen and restaurant in the front of the house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE07Le9YLvnS6v71zlnb4gKeB4OCdLHrUM59QjV15LtptYtc0UYzMs3xKmecp81wZTynONpVr2Nx18IrkZ6jb0QYc4Vf38edineZ0039rQ8oOwWWIylP8PslHoi0GU-luwaKiNVv-LPro/s1600/DSCN1757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE07Le9YLvnS6v71zlnb4gKeB4OCdLHrUM59QjV15LtptYtc0UYzMs3xKmecp81wZTynONpVr2Nx18IrkZ6jb0QYc4Vf38edineZ0039rQ8oOwWWIylP8PslHoi0GU-luwaKiNVv-LPro/s320/DSCN1757.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my room, it's a little messy right now. I'm hoping to get a bookshelf soon, that'll help a lot.</td></tr>
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</div>Kate Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414661924684261506noreply@blogger.com2