Tumbes March Monthly Meeting WITH sound!

Here is a Video I made based on the monthly meeting we were treated to a little south of Zorritos (Little Foxes) Tumbes at a beach resort!

Peace Corps is SO hard :)

Volunteer Replacement Meeting

Peace Corps Rep 1 – Peru not caring 2

Oh Peru why must you live a life of disinterest.  It is the time in a volunteer’s service that he/she must ask for a site replacement i.e. a person to compare me too.  I was asking for 2.  One volunteer would continue working with my artisan association and also begin to work with the newly emerging association in La Campina (town next to me).  The other volunteer would be from the youth development program.  I asked for this volunteer to be placed in Pedregal Grande, where I live now. Reason being that I hardly ever work IN site and not for lack of work, but rather lack of time.  The community could really benefit from a youth volunteer, we have a preschool grade school and high school, youth groups and an active health post.  It just seems completely compatible to the work prescribed to YD volunteers.  Well, after talking to Wilfredo (Regional Coordinator) at my recent monthly meeting, he told me to set up the meetings for the following week.  (A huge feat, if you ask me, three meetings in less than 4 days)  So I began the task a little hesitant on the inside, but overly positive on the outside, sporting my Peace Corps Official polo shirt around explaining the programs and numbering the benefits of volunteer placement in the community to all the officials and any who would listen.  (I mean seriously we all know I can sell it!) So I went around printing official invitations (because no one will come near a meeting without one.. more on this later) At mid-day Tuesday I had it all programmed for a jam-packed Thursday afternoon:

2 P.m. La Campina

4 P.m. Pedregal Chico

6 P.m. Pedregal Grande

Well you can imagine my worries when Thursday rolled around and Wilfredo called to say the PC vehicle broke down, so he’ll be late because he’s taking a taxi.  (Actually on the plus side bc when a rather rich looking peruvian rolls into town with a brand-new white toyota SUV…people anticipate $$$) So I get to La Campina about 2:20ish and there are 2 people outside the local.  (Humph…) I begin to converse in order to sway the director of the school to stay longer though, he explains, he has an urgent meeting at 3… its peru, yeh right. He lingers about till Wilfredo comes and by that time 2:40 there are a good 10 people… trickles. I opt for Wilfredo to start because we have a tight schedule and as the meeting begins… intro to what is PC who are volunteers. what are the expectations of PC. what are the expectations of the community… etc. We have a peruvian full house (45 people – men included!) Success in La Campina.  I was pretty amped esp because I was texting my counterpart in Ped Chico to get ready because we heading out to their local right after. I should mention that right now each community has certain homework bc PC is goign to decide where the new business volunteer will be placed in Ped Chico or in La Campina.  So using the competitive stance, I mention that there was 45 ppl at the meeting and tell them to round up some artisans.  We get to Pedregal Chico a bit late, so this only adds to my hope of how many people will show.  Oh hope, how you let me down.  We get to the local its Iris and her baby woo hoo… Wait 1 hr. 4 more ppl…. not getting better, I tell Wilfredo to begin.  Not to happy with the turn out he reluctantly begins the whole schpeal again.  Well, at the end we had a turn out of about 23. 20 artisans and 3 drunks that were hoping for some swagg.  I was completely bummed about the turn out, especially on how it reflects on me.  I mean imagine if at yoru office they had the opportunity to receive an equal of you at your job and they had a meeting to talk about the possibility and then only 4 people from your office show up.  Really says, “hey, you're doing a great job and OF COURSE we would LOOOOVE another person LIKE YOU who does what YOU DO here with us!”  Sufficed to say, I was beginning to get gloomy, with yet another meeting ahead of me. During the previous meeting I made sure to let Iris know we would need a moto or a way of transport at about 5:50 to get to Pedregal Grande on time.  I even went up to her at 5:30 and told her to tell them to come now. 6:00…6:10…6:20…. nothing. GRRR I wanted to punch the wall! But keeping my cool I went to a guy eating his dinner and told him to hurry up i needed a ride and there were no other motos, and for 1 sole extra I got my way. I left with Wilfredo and arrived upon a municipality close. woo fricking hoo.

PG was a no go. No one came and just when my boss was getting to ready to leave the incompetent mayor strolls up to my house and was like “oh the meeting, right. muni is closed, pity no one came.” p.u.n.c.h. i.n. t.h.e. f.a.c.e.

At that point I almost broke down to tears and just wanted to shake him! I told him how important it was to get another volunteer and nothing really that’s how much you think of me, nothing?!?!  Wilfredo was quite comforting saying that this happens all the time in promising communities, its the culture, and just hope they get their shit together for the next year.  Here’s hoping/I don’t care.

So after these disappointing developments to my day, I looked back on the one good meeting and reflected on how well perceived we are in that community and how after 2 years with their volunteer the novelty will have worn off and it will go back to it was before. If that's not the most devastating news in development, I don’t know what is.

That was Thursday, Friday was filled with fantastic-ness. I bought all the fixings for my fiesta on Saturday night and also heading to the new chic eatery la Terraza Suiza. (The Swiss Terrance, or more commonly known among the PCVs, the Sky Bar.) Admit it you, you are intrigued. And a tad jealous. After spending a ludicrous amount at the grocery store we climbed the 4 stories (no elevators) to the rooftop restaurant, settled in the balcony overlooking the Plaza de armas (main plaza) and order two PILY CZSTEKS. Yes, it’s the actual spelling on the menu.  And outside of Philly, hands down, the best god-damn philly cheesesteak this side of the equator. To wash it down we had the brand new, limited edition, Cusquena de trigo (A FREAKIN WHEAT BEER!) It just seemed too good to be true.  And with my party following the next day, it was.

More on my party in the next post..

Chao xoxo

Elizabeth

My 24th Birthday!!!

a video of my 24th bday party held the 13th at my house with a couple of the PC girls and my family and friends from site.

Greatest thing since sliced bread:

The last moments:
The story of Cesar's turkey
Please check to make sure you have good sound before you press play!
Enjoy!

A great video compilation of Carnaval

Click on the link below to check out the video that Kerry (my site mate) put together of the Carnaval Comparsas (the dance competition)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcOxG18tQIU

A couple of things to note: the marinera is the dance of northern Peru. There’s one group in the video who, yes, their faces are painted black. They are supposed to be representing the Afro-Peruvian population. Political correctness doesn’t really exist down here. The dance with the crazy horn masks is from Puno (down near Lake Titicaca). The one with the tree is from Arequipa. The rest I cannot remember.

for more fotos from the weekend...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2338304&id=11308280&l=8522e243ce

I forgot about Valentines Day

Yes it did happen.

This weekend was so jam-packed with events, carnaval, wedding and soccer team anniversaries that an already tamed commercialized holiday (in comparison to the states, of course), Dia de San Valentin, was completely forgotten by yours truly.Which I should add was amazing.  Not only does the american holiday make me feel insignificant but also is a constant reminder for 2 months (thanks halmark) that I am alone and do not currently have a boyfriend. Like I need a reminder thank you.

THURSDAY

Well the weekend started on Thursday when I went to get a mani/pedi with the novia (bride to be), Ines.  We went to a great salon it was 30 soles (10 dollars) for a mani/pedi complete with exfoliating scrubs and massages (grrrreat price) also makes me question not doing that before!

After a wonderful time at the salon we headed to get ceviche and some other piqueos at a local restuarant, La Habana.

After that excursion the day continued normally with classes in the afternoon followed by a restless night sleeping in the almost bearable heat.

FRIDAY

I didn’t mention this before but I was asked by the novia Ines to be a testiga (witness) for the civil ceremony.  In the states (as my mother informed me) you can use the church’s cert to pass for legal documentation, but here you have to get married 2x. Once in the muni and second (if you choose) the religious ceremony. So Friday morning at 10:30 I went to go attend and sign for the happy couple. In true peruvian fashion they ended up not starting the ceremony till 11:45. It was very nice, though if you ask Kerry, I was more excited than the bride. LOL I was so excited to be a testiga in someone’s ceremony. I mean they got married and I signed it CRAZY.

Pedro y Ines

 

Me signing!!!

 

Me, los novios and the other testigo.

Kerry, los novios and me!

So after this ceremony I went into Piura and bought the greatest shoes ever for the wedding on Saturday night. I wish I had a photo of them to show you. But honestly its so true when someone is getting married your dress doesn’t need to be better than the brides but damn if you can’t get the cooler shoes :).. plus I had my eye on these shoes for months and was waiting for a sale, alas there wasn’t one but at least I could justify the purchase !!

Friday was followed by English class 5-7, then kerry and I headed to the stadium at Catacaos for the dance competition for Carnavales. We went with my sister, Esther, Iris, Mario, Marisela, and Liche. Also this year we brought a digital camera, not like last year when I brought the disposable and not one foto came out. So not only do I have photos but videos too!! Aren’t you all lucky!! I am not only helping you get through the work day by taking time to read this blog but also helping you procrastinate longer by writing an extra long blog.

So back to carnaval dances. It is a competition amongst the 8 teams each team has a theme and they do a performance its like a town wide spirit day competition.

  bleachers going crazy Liche Kerry and Me! Mari and Esther!

Below are some photos, most blurry but you can find more on FB videos will be put up if they aren’t already by the time you read this.

Green team came in first, followed by the red and in 3rd, yellow.

SATURDAY

Okay so the weekend just continues with events.  Saturday morning I headed over to Narihaula to drop off the gifts that Karrie sent to her host family via my postal box than headed to give my gifts to Iris and her new baby boy (Jose Abel).  I am the godmother of this perfectly wonderful baby boy.  Usually they do the baptism when the baby is 3 yrs old or so. But since Jose has tumors in him kidney and needs an operation in Lima, they are thinking about doing the baptism sooner, will keep you posted.

HE is soooo little <3

After that wonderful pit stop I had to head into the city to return the wedding gift. Semi-long story here's the cliff notes.  Kerry and I decided to buy the same Juego (set) of dishes for the novios to start. Much like we buy Wedding China in the states.  There was a great deal in the Macy’s like department store for these awesome plates that they would have never been able to afford. So kerry bought a set of 4 and then I was thinking either Ill buy another one or buy the rice cooker (obvi in high demand considering you eat a lb of rice per person each day).  Finally I decided to go with another set of dishes.  So when I was in the city the following week (last Thursday to be exact) I ran to Saga (Peruvian Macy’s) and bought another set and I thought I bought the same juego, blue striped.  Saturday morning rolls around and Kerry and  I are about to wrap the gifts and she opens the box I bought and was like ummm wrong dishes.  And I go, noooo you have got to be kidding me! But sure enough, I bought the blue striped dishes and she and I had chosen previously the blue striped dishes with the accent green line. Yes, attention to detail important.  So I grabbed the receipt and went back to Piura to exchange the set.  Thank goodness there was another set there and we got it gift wrapped for free, similar to the nordstrom’s perk.  So then I get back to town and went home to clean my room (translation – procrastinated by watching episodes of “How I met your mother” – great show) And Then I got read put my hair in a wonderful up do and turned heads as I headed into a moto to Narihuala to film the wedding.  YUP. I was asked to film the wedding, bc I had my video camera. So I begrudgingly said yes, bc honestly i think “Not saying “NO” to a bride” is a universal rule.  I got great footage and have already complied the cd with the film and photos.  Here are some photos.

Family of the novio-Pedro

Ines – novia

At the reception

Me and Gabriel (Nephew of Novio)

  Novio, Me Cesi and Kerry

Novios!!!

  mad dance moves o’ mine.. no worries there is a video – check out those shoes of mine.  This type of behavior continued throughout the night till about 2 in the morning. At that time Kerry and I walked back to Kerrys, but in true Peruvian fashion the partied continued till about 4:30 in the morning.

SUNDAY

Sunday we woke up quite late at 10:30 and had to plan for the next big day of the weekend. Yes not even done yet. Can you imagine the exhaustion??

Today was carnaval games in Catacaos and also the wedding lunch at the novias house.  We went to pedregal to get ready and then headed to catacaos to drop off our stuff and to figure out what time we would be playing during the day.  Then we headed back to Narihuala for an hour or so to eat lunch and then headed back to catacaos to get in on the official parade and beginning ceremony of carnaval.  There are photos but on the disposable camera. which I hope this year they’ll come out.  (Also if you had by chance picke dup a copy of today’s Correo (newspaper) my friends alex and kerry are on the front page bc they rode on top of the truck)  We continued to play, eat and drink until about 9 pm.  I bought this SUPER AMAZING water gun.  It was the highlight of my day, I have no idea why i didn’t think of that fun last year.

Okay well I have to take another shower bc yesterday the two I took weren’t sufficient to get off all the house paint + clothing dye + shoe polish mixture that was lathered on my body… god help my sneakers and clothes.

Hope you enjoy this.. at least those that read this. :)

<3 chao,

EKH