First off. Please listen to this song while reading my post. It is a new favorite of mine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zp1TbLFPp8
I´ve decided just to post a blog entry from the municipality in my site because I have no idea when I will be getting on my own computer. So please excuse any typos because I´m on a computer with a really different keyboard. Pictures will be available later.
Site Visits
I arrived in Piura City, Piura on Sunday and got to meet different Peru 15ers and our regional coordinator. We had a small meeting in the hostel then spent the rest of the day conocering Piura.
The next day was socio communitario day where I finally got to meet my community partners that I will be working with in site. Juan, my socio that works in the muncipality and Mariela, who works in the health post came to get me. We spent the day going over our roles and a work plan. After, I got into a truck and was headed off to my new humble abode.
I spent the week conocering my new family and the town. I had to make a speech in my municpiality to the alcade (mayor) and a bunch of other towns people. I did an interview wtih the local journalist who was pleased to find out that I also majored in periodismo (journalism) in the states. I got to visit my friend Kelsey´s site and attended her little getting to know you party. I went on a hiking tour with my jovenes and also swam in the river that runs in front of my town. Apparently that is where you go in the summer when you feel like your skin is flying off and you are getting attacked by mosquitos. Can´t wait for summer time in Tamarindo.I visited the port town of Patia and had some awesome food with the mayor and I got to spend some time watching a volleyball game in Kelsey´s town of El Arenal. My site visit was filled with tons of events and by the time we all came back to Piura City we were mentally and physically drained. Thankfully.. Piura City has a Starbucks and a really awesome store with Brownie and Peanut Butter milkshakes.
Last Week and Swearing IN!
The last week in Lima was one filled with happiness and saddness. I was sad to be leaving my amazing friends and family in Lima, but I was happy to finally become a Peace Corps Volunteer. The last week was filled with last minute surveys, medical charlas and tech training chats. We had our host family party the night before swearing in and it was amazing. Special shout out goes to the three man group of Jon Bibb, Matteo and Zack for their awesome rendition of Baby Got Back and the animal song. I got to spend some time laughing and enjoying food some 17ers prepared with my host family. Bryanna wouldn´t leave my side all night and I knew then it was going to be really hard having to leave her that Saturday morning.
Friday was awesome. The Ambassador came to swear us in and everyone dressed in their best. All the staff was there and representatives from our host families came. Afterwards everyone took pictures and went back to their families for their last dinner. A bunch of the 17ers had their last night out and said their goodbyes. It was a night filled with laughter and tears for sure. After 10 weeks of training you really do become like one big family... family that talks about their bowel movements a little too often. Shout out to Kyle, one of my site buddies, for his awesome rapping skills and last performance for a few months of Baby Got Back. The song is 17´s new theme song for sure.
I woke up the next morning dreading having to say goodbye to my family. My host sister took off work to be able to have breakfast with me and see me off. I had my last breakfast with the family and spent the morning talking about how I would come visit at Christmas and that I couldn´t have been more grateful for everything. I really do feel like the Colonia family took me in as one of their own. I told Carmen she would always been mi mama peruana and I left with a new brother and two sisters.. and a little baby sister on the way! Finally, my cab to Lima showed up and it was time to say goodbye. Bryanna, my three old, was blocking the door saying ¨ no te vayas, Brielle¨... and my host mom wouldn´t let me go when she hugged me. I thought leaving my family in the States was going to be the last hard goodbye... I was wrong.I finally got in the car and headed to Lima. I can say one thing about living with my host family during training... I got to experience the amazing patience and love that Peruvians have for their children and for their families. Those ten weeks were unforgettable.
So, here I am. I´m about 48 hours into living at site in my humble little town of Tamarindo.
I have 100 guinea pigs, 50 rabbits, 100 birds, 6 pigs, 20 goats a dog and many other different animals. I´m not exaggerating on the numbers. I also have a cow, but I haven´t seen it yet. Im living with my socio that is 25 and his brother. My host mom is older and lives in the house with us, but her husband died many years ago. She wakes up at 5am to work in the chakras farther away from my house and returns around lunch. She is normally alone for dinner.. but now that she has a crazy gringa in the house... I´m able to sit and eat with her most nights. I can´t tell if she loves it or is dealing with it yet. She is pretty awesome and cracks me up on a regular basis because she thinks I´m crazy. I told her I didn´t like soup and she responded in the typical Peruvian whine that she did not either. TWINS!
My host sisters live in houses in the back of my house with their kids, and one of my host sisters, Rosita... just found out she is 2 months pregnant! So we will be welcoming a new little one into the home next year. My house is semi filled with flies because of the farm animal situation, but I´m coping. I now have a roof and a secure door, which means I´m finally sleeping through the night. We only have running water in the morning, so if I want to shower in the afternoon I have to do it with a bucket. Luckily, I became pro at bucket bathing in Lima because we barely ever had running water. The heat is out of control and it´s only winter... apparently when December comes I´m going to love cold showers. I´m also going to be covered in bug repellent because of the rice field around me. Can´t wait to be eaten alive.
I´m experiencing those extremely high highs and low lows that most PCV´s talk about. It´s finally sinking in that I will be living here for 2 years. In the next two weeks I´ll be painting my room with my jovenes and buying a rug and dresser for my room to make it feel more homey. This week is the anniversary of Tamarindo so there are events going. I´ve already witness a pageant where one of my jovenes won Queen of Tamarindo... it was interesting to say the least. I watched kids take a test in a park for 3 hours... I´m not exaggerating. La Hora Peruana is in full swing here. I watched the mayor perform three weddings yesterday. And today I spent some time in the health post with my socio and later will be watching the first round of volleyball games. We have a huge baile (dance) on Friday and a day long fiesta on Sunday.
I will be returning to the regional capital for our meeting on the 2nd and 3rd where I´ll get to decompress with other PCV´s and see my beloved 17er´s! Peace Corps life has finally begun. Here´s to the next 2 years in the blistering sun :) Bring on the cold showers.
Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.
Until Next TIME!
please check out my new address on the side of this page. start sending your goodies... maybe some bug repellent and baked lays chips.
-Brielle
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