So I’ll begin on Sunday evening after my usual massive feast of arroz con pollo no podemos olvidar las papas =) and 2 hour nap… sounds a bit ruff I know. I went to Chosica again with my sister for mass, but when we got there we pulled a George Henry (Told mom we were going but instead went out to eat) Met up with Roxanna, my cuñada, (sister in law) and the amigos of my older brother (who lives in Spain for work… very common here, at least from what I’ve heard) and we went to get some chelas (beers/cervezas) and to karaoke. I wanted to leave at about 11ish but I def don’t think Consuelo wanted me to ruin her time… as the hour hand clicked to 2 am and my eyes were burning a hole through her head, she and I decided it was time to go. No really, if looks could kill, I think I’d be up for murder in Peru. And I know most of you are saying, why didn’t you just leave or just tell her you need to go, that would be the American thing/obvious way to go about this situation, but you all have filters my friends. ((If the Corps had any one word as its slogan I would go with Filters. If I had a penny for everytime someone mentioned that word in training, I could double my salary. =) YAY 16 soles a day…no really, my salary is 8 soles a day in training which is mas o menos $2.50. Sweet, right?)) Back to the story though, an American woman on a bus travelling home anytime past 10 is never a good idea, never. Also, I did tell her, but to her and her friends, time is irrelevant, especially because she doesn’t get up in the mornings/afternoon until 1ish, where as I have to get up at 6:30. So upon leaving I pulled out the “act like a 5 yr old, silent treatment card” …I think she got the hint that this was not acceptable for me for next time. But all is well in the Pastor household, I just mentioned something to her on Monday about it and she understood. This week was probably the fastest one, it flew by. I can’t believe I’ve been here three weeks. School is the same almost everyday, we get tested again on Thursday for language skills, so we’ll see if I learned anything. Personally, I think they’re asking a bit much… lol just kidding.
All during training, we have these notebooks and one of them is dedicated to “Our Favorite Person.” About twice a week, we add onto the story about the person, whether it’s made-up or real. Everyone picked someone very close to them, a best friend, a parent, an ex-boy/girl friend, a bf/gf, a grandparent, do you get where I’m going with this?? Well, the next day when we read our paragraphs, or our teacher did, everyone got a good laugh from my person, and who did I pick you ask?? Mr. JT, yes, I did write about Justin Timberlake. (Pause…I know you all are dying laughing) Hey, what can I say, the man is amazing, I mean I write about him and I travelling and him calling me, working out together. I guess its pretty pathetic on paper, but I mean you can take me out of the states and put me in this amazing selfless organization and hope I can do something, but you can never take away my childlike adoration and love for *NSync and JT… the best. I’m still convinced that on his next world tour he’ll come to Peru. I mean, I even thought about writing to his fan club to put in a request for him to hold a concert here. Naturally, I did no such thing, but the thought def has passed across my mind a few times…
So on to more serious and thought provoking topics, like having volunteers throughout Peru, come to our sessions to talk about their experiences and communities. It’s been a great resource and learning tool for me and I’m sure for all the other aspirantes to have them come. We’ve learned about making soy milk and peanut butter, received cooked books, how to disinfect our water, vegetables and meat, the best way to travel to our sites and when, what medicines work for what and what not to do in certain situations, we learned its better to lie and tell the person we are going to the party and then not go, so you don’t hurt their feelings. Also, they won’t notice that you didn’t show up =)
On Thursday we went to a Institute 20 minutes away from the center. It is very similar to a Vo-Tech school in the states. I believe that’s what we call them at least. They had three majors or concentrations there, mechanics, nursing, computers. The place was really small; the students ranged from ages of 15 to a student in my group who is 42 yrs old. The variety was helpful though, because we worked on a marketing plan with them and the experience of others worked with the creativity of the younger students. Most of the groups decided on food or artisan stands. I was in a group with 2 other business aspirantes, Ken and Chris. Our group decided to do a typing service, since we mostly had computer students. Sometimes I just get so frustrated with the seemingly lack of innovation. I mean what seems so obvious to me, isn’t to others. For instance, we had 8 groups and there were about 3 volunteers with each group of 5 students; the assignment was to come up with a business and then do a FODA for our business. My problem with these groups was that each one wanted to do a restaurant. How is that feasible?? When on every corner is another freakin restaurant, with the same food. When I say same I mean exactly down to the prices. So odd, it’s like putting in another bodega in town. My town has about 10 bodegas for a population similar to Sea Isle in winter minus 200. And again, they all sell the same exact thing. It’s just their culture. And though I’m weeks into it, still baffled. The more I think about it, I really want to help them create a service that is a need for people, not so much a store of convenience for them. I know, who am I to say these bold statements about their culture, and you’re right, I need to really assess what’s going on in their culture before I diagnosis it. Well, back to the assignment. So initially my group was gung-ho about starting a food business. So naturally, I pointed out the non-obvious fact that every group was doing either food or artisan products and shouldn’t we think of something else. I asked them what their skills were and think of a business using utilizing them. It quickly occurred to them that they knew how to do accounting and how to use computers. Therefore the group came up with the idea of having a typing service for local businesses to bring their books and they would type them up for a fee. I think they did a great job. I was just happy that I wasn’t do an “Original Peruvian Food” restaurant.
Later that night, I was laying in my bed and I heard this noise, it was def something alive and moving in my room. I actually was like maybe I imagined this, unfortunately I didn’t. But I’ve come to terms with the fact that when you hear a noise sometimes its better not to find out what it is… Plus the fact that I think I killed a whole family of these massive locus bugs that Peru has (mix between a grasshopper and death) therefore I think the distance relative is coming for me… yes at night I do make these stories up in my head. In the end I saw a figure moving in my trash bag… so I ran over tied the bag shut and just hoped whatever it was will die. Here’s hoping.
Friday was a fun day at the center; we did a lot of activities and games, for more team unity. After, I went with a few people for Pizza and beer. Good taste of home. And just like the price of pizza is rising at home, it’s rising here. It wasn’t cheap! And I finished off dinner with my FAV snack… beso de moza. It is a marshmallow on top of a graham cracker then covered in chocolate, basically a pre-made smore and positively amazing.
Saturday all of the aspirantes went to the University of Agraria in Lima. There we learned how to start our own garden and what types of fruits and vegetables we can grow and where they will thrive. We also learned the different techniques for planting seeds, also, how to transplant. I have a few pics of me from the Univ. up, in them I am planting Crispy Lettuce…Not really sure what made it so crispy haha yes, I’m that corny. After, a few of us headed out to Surco, a district of Lima. There we ate at, where else, but TGIFridays. Where, surprisingly they all spoke English! We ate at Jockey Plaza, what we call a Mall. This is a huuuuge mall,I think it’s even bigger than KOP. But we just ate and hung out. PS that area is loaded. The house are huge and people are dressed head to toe designer. I was eating with Shannon, Sophie, Jon, and Ken. We made a pact that every year (well, the next two) we will meet up on the 28th of Junio have dinner and celebrate “American Day.” Ha It just occurred to me that only an American would be conceited enough to create American Day. We headed home in a taxi and jammed out to the American music, the taxista had satellite radio, go figure. When I got back, the Corazon de Jesus fiesta was going on. I wish I took a pic to show you, but basically there was a huge, huge, huge statute that had fire works shooting off of it and in the end we lit it on fire. It was insane.
Today, Sunday, I was supposed to go to Chosica again for Ceviche but I gave up I don’t feel like moving, only sleeping. I’mconstantly exhausted. I beginning to hate the feeling. Oh yeh I went on a run today. I was going to run on the school rec field like I usually do, but the boys were playing futbol and wouldn’t let me on it. So I ran at the lower level on this area that I will just label, a dirt patch. If you could see this, I think you would die…lol It was more of a work-out to dodge the dog-poop and random massive rocks that the running was!! Dad, I kept thinking of you and your “affection” for dogs, you would of died, really you would of. I would challenge any animal lover to spend a few weeks in Peru and I promise you, you will leave hating those awful animals called dogs. I know, I didn’t like in America that much so why did I think it would get worse, no idea. But it is worse now, and God forgive me for saying this, most of the time, even when they aren’t bothering me, I still want to throw stones at them =) Although my “track” wasn’t that good the view was amazing. Because, I live on a mountain, I was looking down on the whole town, so cool. Well, I do have more to write, however I think my fingers are cramped. So… Chaufis! MUAH! Xoxo
ekh

otra vez

You know me... I can always find the camera and pose for a pic lol (at the Ag school... learning about types of tomatoes to grow and how)

Me and Ken at the Ag University... go figure... I learned how to keep a gardin.. though I do have a bit of experience (veggie garden at the shore... missing dads tomatoes!!!) Here Ii´m planting lettuce after this we went into the fields and hoed... is that how I should spell it lol... again go figure ha

Posing at the beach =)