Processions in Perú

Halloween is coming and I was really aggravated that I didn't have a copy of "Hocus Pocus" on my hard drive to watch, but because I have great friends... I woke up one morning to a an email from the great Amanda Cuppi saying that a copy was now available for me in ITUNES. Thank-you for trying to help cure my holiday homesickness :)

So, I had my night English class that ended up turning into just another English class for the kids in my town. At first I was a little upset that people who told me they were going to come didn't, but it ended up being a really great first class and everyone was participating. I think the night time more laid back setting of the classroom made teaching a little easier. 


I have a lot on the docket at the end of this week. I'm planning and doing charlas with Pierina in the primaria and I have meetings set up with the health post ladies to get my community diagnostic in full force. 


Fun Story and Some History from the Weekend


I was walking back to my house after being gone for the day to find my host family outside (all 100 of them) decorating the outside of my house in white and purple streamers, balloons, fireworks and flags. Other houses on the street were also doing this, but obviously Juana's house was the best. I really had no clue what was going on until I asked my host brother. He told me there was going to be a procession tonight (shocker) for St. Milagros. Every week there would be a procession down a different street. Our street was the first to have the procession.


Now, for those of you who don't know... St. Milagros is Lima's patron saint. El Senor de los Milagros or ' The Lord of Miracle' is symbolized by an image of Jesus Christ and was painted by an Angolan slave on the walls of a poor church during the colonial times. The painting portrays a dark skinned Jesus Christ on the crucifix. Above the cross is God and the Holy Spirit; below is the Virgin Mary with her heart punctured with a spear of sadness. The image was HIGHLY controversial at the time

The painting 

Over a hundred years there were 3 natural disasters in Lima. The earthquake of 1746 was the last one where the church wall and the painting remained and stood miraculously amidst the rubble. News that the wall had survived made others quickly gather to partake in a procession. 


Entonces, October is the "purple month" and marks the celebration of El Senor de los Milagros. 

Example of a procession in Lima. Tamarindo's wasn't quite as large.

I wasn't able to upload the pictures of the procession and my house in Tamarindo, but I promise the next blog post will be ALL pictures. I was able to sit on my front porch with my whole family in Tamarindo and watch the procession pass my house (that contained a full band). My host brother set the fireworks off and the balloons that were hanging were timed to pop and pour confetti on everyone. I was pretty amazed and found myself once again thinking.... only in Perú. 


I have some people to thank for CARE PACKAGES I just recieved: big thanks to Casey, Amanda, Mark and Claire. Always love walking to SERPOST and finding out I have some gifts from home.


I thought this quote was appropriate because 90 percent of my time in Perú is spent waiting. 


"It is not easy … to wait. Waiting is what the hunter does, and the poet and the slugger. He waits for the moment of inevitability and fate and then he swings, or shoots, or takes up the pen to put down a line. They don’t teach us to wait in America; they teach us to grab. But waiting is what we do when we are looking for something beautiful, when we are looking for an end to our sorrow. Nothing is infinite in life, not even sorrow. You just have to wait." -Cary Tennis

Until Next Time,

Brielle

Update just for you, Mom.

I’ve come to the conclusion that if I don’t blog almost daily I am most certainly going to receive a phone call or Facebook message or email or telegram from Teri-Lee (better known as Mom) demanding an update.

I want everyone to know that it can get difficult to blog because sometimes you feel like what your doing is either

A. too boring to write about

B. life is becoming normal and the things that were once really weird aren’t anymore.

C. it’s hard to put into words what is even going on

However; despite all of these things. I’ve decided to update.

This blog post is being written for a very dedicated reader: my very blunt and fantastic grandmother: this one is for you Grandma Jinny. She has recently told me that she could almost recite all of my blog posts back to me. It’s nice to know that someone out there in the blogosphere is taking the time out of his or her day to read my ramblings. So Grams, this one is for you. I miss our weekly lunches at LuLu’s and can’t wait to start them up again in 2013.

Grandma Jinny and I at my graduation from Penn State

 So a little update on my life here in Sandy Tammy (my new nickname for my site). The first three months are meant to get to know your community so that at the end of it you can write up a Community Diagnostic. So, as of late, I’ve been trying to get some of that done. This means making up surveys, doing interviews and other things to get useful information.

I attended a 5 hour meeting type thing about “Education Problems in Tamarindo” a few day ago and I thought I was going to be BORED OUT OF MY MIND, but I was pleasantly surprised.

 First off, I need to point out the meeting was suppose to start at 8am, I looked at my clock when the meeting really started… 9:37am. Oh how I love LA HORA PERUANA. Punctuality is a huge issue in Perú and can often be really, really frustrating for volunteers.

But back to the meeting: I was able to get some really useful information on what is lacking in the education system from the view points of students, directors and other leaders in the community. I left the 5 hour meeting knowing that I was moving along with my community diagnostic that I have to present to my group of peers and Peace Corps staff in Lambayeque in a few weeks.

I’ve been suffering, as most of you know, with a weird stomach disease that I now know the name for: GIARDIA. It’s a wonderful little parasite that will hopefully be cured as soon as I take the prescribed medication. I’m glad that all finally got cleared up because it was really starting to affect my daily schedule.

I’ve had a really good morning so far. I had a meeting with my favorite socia Pierina and we have TONS of charlas and different events in the works for the rest of October and November. Things are starting to get rolling and I’m really starting to enjoy my Peruvian friends here in Tamarindo.

Today is my first English class (has been postponed for multiple reasons) for the people in the Municipality and adults in my town. I’m really excited to do this because I know that it will help me build confianza with members in the community that will later be able to help me with projects. I will hopefully have a lot to write about this class- because I plan on making it super freakin’ fun. There is close to 40 people coming. The chances that my class actually starts at 7pm is really slim.

It’s just another day in the life of a Peace Corps Volunteer. I woke up this morning to my host brother blasting (by blasting I mean you guys could probably hear it in States) “Bad Romance.” Just so happens I love that song & my favorite coverband, Go Go Gadjet (www.gogogadjet.com)  does a wonderful version of it. It is also Jeff Tomrell’s birthday so today he gets a shout out (Happy Birthday, Keep ROCKIN’ on!) 

I write this post as I’m sitting on my front porch lookin’ out at the live cattle passing in front of me on my dirt road. Despite the challenges- I really do have the coolest job in the world.

Please read this blog post by my site neighbor and closest friend in Peace Corps, it’s a good one! http://perusinginperu.blogspot.com/2011/10/you-arent-in-kansas-anymore.html

 I leave you with a  quote from a book by Nicholas Sparks. I just finished his new book “The Best of Me.” Good, light read.

I have faith that God will show you the answer. But you have to understand that sometimes it takes a while to be able to recognize what God wants you to do. That's how it often is. God's voice is usually nothing more than a whisper, and you have to listen very carefully to hear it. But other times, in those rarest of moments, the answer is obvious and rings as loud as a church bell. -The Last Song

Until Next Time,

Brielle

4 months in Perú

I decided to start this blog post of with a post from my favorite movie of ALL TIME. There's no crying in baseball. There's no crying in Peace Corps (ok, maybe a little). ;) 


So, in celebration of making four months (and all the rest of Perú 17 as well, which is HUGE), I would like to talk about the 4 things in Peace Corps Perú that I have enjoyed and love the most. It was hard to narrow down this list and currently hanging in my room in a running list of the things I love, I've got a little over 50 at this point. 


1. My Peace Corps Family: This includes all of Perú 17 (Youth and Small Business), the rest of the groups of Peace Corps Volunteers (Perú 15 in Piura , I will most likely cry at your despedida), and staff (PCMO's are a GOD SEND). It's really cliché to say this... but most of these people have become like family to me in the very little time we've been here. When social norms, like keeping your bowel movements to yourself, are thrown at the window... it is quite hard not to get close really quickly. Also, it helps to talk to people who understand what is going on because they themselves are going through the same stuff. I got super lucky being placed close to other volunteers at site (shout-outs to Kelsey, Kyle and Lucas) and have been able to get to know people from all over the United States. So, this is a special thank-you, to my Peace Corps family... this experience would be so much harder without ya'll!


2. My family and friends back home: How can this be a reason I love Peace Corps Perú? Well, because without them I'd probably have already bought my first plane ticket home. I can't remember the countless times I talked to my parents my first week at site and couldn't for the life of me figure out why I chose to do this. Thankfully, I have a wonderful set of parents who know what I really want, when I'm whining about something else. Also, my friends. You don't realize how great your friend are most of the time until you move 3,000 miles away: especially the ones that take the time to write stupid emails (that would be a normal text conversation back home. Amanda Cuppi, you win this one) to keep me in the loop, the ones that send me goofy care packages just to make me laugh (Jack Davis), and the ones that make countdowns for your return (Aaron Cebular, this ones for you). So, thank-you, family and friends for making this journey in my life so much more enjoyable and for thinking of me constantly. 


3. Time to do things I've always wanted to do and most importantly... time to think. When I was living in the United States I often felt like I had no time. That's the wonderful thing about Perú the time flies... but it also stands very still sometimes. I've been known to make hasty decisions and leave "wakes" in my paths as most people say... so this experience has given the opportunity to take the time to see everything from all ends: whether it be about the present or my future. 


4. Host Families. The smartest thing Peace Corps Perú ever did was make it a rule that volunteers live with a host family throughout their entire service because this is NOT the case in other posts. Host families are not only crucial to integration... they make the whole experience that much more amazing. Juana has recently been calling me daughter when she addresses me, and the first time she did it I was stunned. Juana spent most of my 4 months here only calling me Aná, but the other night, as I spent the day suffering with this uncurable stomach snake... I heard her ask me if I needed anything and she added daughter at the end of it. I have transitioned from crazy white girl who pays rent to part of the family & that those of you in Peace Corps know that it's an amazing feeling. I got lucky to be a part of a family in Lima and I look forward to being "Juana's gringa daughter" for the next two years. 




Happy 4 months, Perú 17 (especially my Youthies... can't wait to see ya'll at Early IST)

Hope you're all still snackin' See you soon :)

Yo, Kyle and Kelsey: My youthie site neighbors, who I adore.

Lucas and I 

Because I'm missing Grey's Anatomy this season... I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the show.

"You never know the biggest day of your life is going to be the biggest. The days you think are going to be big ones, are never as big as you make them out to be in your head. It’s the regular days, the ones that start out normal those are the days that end up being the biggest. You never know today is the biggest day of your life. You don’t recognize the biggest day of your life until you are right in the middle of it. The day you commit to somebody, someone. The day you get your heart broken. The day you meet your soul mate. The day you realize… there’s not enough time because you want to live forever. Those are the biggest days, the perfect days." -Grey's Anatomy

Until Next Time,

Brielle

David

Today was a good day. 

Despite my English classes being canceled for no apparent reason and despite the heat being almost unbearable, I’ve had a good day.

One of the reasons being that my future husband, Scotty McCreery, has released a new C.D. (Thanks to Poppa Colby I’m currently uploading his new album into my ITUNES). For those of you who are unfamiliar with my favorite underage country crooner… here is a little sample with his single “Trouble with Girls” from his NEW C.D. “Clear as Day”.

The second reason would be that I have the greatest family (I can hear my dad’s sarcastic remark as he reads this. No DAD, I’m not looking for money haha ). It’s no secret that the adjustment to site has not been easy for multiple reasons, but I’ve had nothing but unwavering support, advice and love from back home. This includes the moments where I call to yell about my aggravation in my site to silly petty issues going on back in the States (yes, there are times my problems don’t just exist in Perú). I received multiple boxes of snack foods (to avoid Juana’s rice, sorry Juana) and clothes to help get me through what is going to be a pretty HOT summer. So, if I don’t say it enough Mom and Dad, THANK YOU! Not just for your awesome care packages… but for everything in between and most of all: your unconditional love.

The third reason: one of my favorite people in Tamarindo is working in the municipality today. This is where the point of my post begins.

David. I met him during site visit, and his exterior (quite large and sometimes scary looking) threw me off a little. David was the man who drove the mayor’s truck around (and me during site visits) and many times I was left alone in the car with him as my mayor ran errands, and the first time this happened I prayed David wouldn’t talk to me. But for anyone that knows David knows that there really is no avoiding this large Peruvian. He really can talk your ear off. I learned his life story in no time.

 He was a man, with a wife and 3 kids (and one on the way), that once lived in Mancora (a touristy beach town about 3 hours away) working for “gringos like you Aná.” He told me he worked around the house and cleaned their pool and was treated very much like family for 5 years. He cried when they decided to go back to the States and keeps in touch with them as frequently as he can. He later moved to Tamarindo because it was more slow paced and he needed to find another job to support his family.

David and I in Patia during site visits

I never understood during that week why David insisted on screaming slowly in my face when speaking Spanish, but he later told me that he did that to help me learn. I watched David almost start crying when he thought he lost my wallet during site visits, and later when we traveled he carried all my personal belongings to prevent a scare like that from happening again. “Crazy Aná, you are so forgetful.” (Me? I always remember to take my credit cards out of the ATM)

 Before I left to go back to Lima, he pulled out an old medal of a saint from his pocket and said “I will no longer be driving you around in the car, but please take this as you travel. It will keep you safe. My faith is very important to me. Please keep don’t lose this.” I do have to say, I was touched.

When I came back to site David had a new job: security guard in the municipality twice a week. I often find my way to the municipality, but the days that David is there it’s different. The place is much happier, and I find myself laughing more (Me? Laughing? Crazy).

David and Juan when he was stilling drivin' the whip around.

David was the first person in Tamarindo that treated me like a normal person rather than the “token gringita” walking around. I always get greeted with a HUGE bear hug and a David like smile. After a week in site,  I got the privilege to meet his wife (who he is so very proud of and talks about on a constant basis) and the new baby girl. He constantly asks how my family is back home and when he will get to meet them (Mom and Dad he’s very excited to meet you guys).

I’m starting an English class for adults once a week at night for those who want to learn. It’s a way to get to know the adults and parents in the community and so far I have about 30 people signed up (including my MAYOR), but the one person I cannot wait to teach is David. He’s been asking me for a month straight when he will get to learn English from “Miss Aná.” You often hear volunteers saying you find “your things” to help you get through the lows and David is definitely one of them (even my site neighbor Kelsey can attest to this). His personality is contagious and you can’t help but be in a good mood when you are around him.

I’m thankful for people like David, he has taught me not to judge people right away because they might just be a gift from the Big Guy upstairs. Peace Corps is about helping and teaching others, but more and more I’m realizing that the experience is helping and teaching me.

So here is to all the David’s in the world. Don’t shut someone out before you get to know them because you never know how awesome that person might be. So awesome in fact, that they sit down to take some PhotoBooth pictures with you.

the man.

He was in awe of PhotoBooth

P.S: As I was typing this post David was screaming in the municipality, holding the remote control to the T.V. saying  “Aná, I think a show you like is on. Glee? I’ll leave it on for you.” Thank-you, David.  I do enjoy Glee.

So, today was a good day even with its’ little bumps. I got to spend the day with David and finish my day off with a very entertaining episode of Glee.

"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible. It is yours." -Ayn Rand

Until next time,

Brielle