I’m here at my first full day at site. Last night was miserable. I slept on the floor of my room with my sleeping bag and pad and used my mosquito net wrapped in a sweatshirt as my pillow. But it was my mind that kept me awake. I had a profound feeling of being alone that was amplified by the darkness and openness of the campo. The other volunteers have been trickling away over the weekend and this was the first night I was without them. I’ve become pretty good at constructing a new life in different places, but it’s always daunting at first and a good deal of work. Thankfully, the sadness I feel motivates me to get out and start building. I know I’ll create relationships and things will become more familiar.
The last week of training was wonderful. It was all easy days and going out in the evening.
Here are all the ladies of the MAC program making our agreed piropo faces and then a pyramid of everyone going to the Junin/Pasco/Yayos region:
On Thanksgiving, the staff made us a lunch complete with turkey and stuffing. That plate was one of two for Baber, but he´s a tall skinny man and has places to put it.
Then we had a party with our host families and a talent show. A handful of us formed a band called, “Los Maximos” and we played Rivers and Roads, I Will Survive, Wagon Wheel, and Peace Corpsing which is Free Fallin with PC lyrics. We basically brought the house down and it was a lot of fun. A few years ago, I never thought I’d get up and sing and play in front of more than a hundred people.
Then Friday was swearing in. We got dressed up and took lots of pictures. I think I’ve bonded with folks a lot more since FBT and it was fun to hang around with them. There was also an encore of Peace Corpsing. Here are Los Maximos with Diego, the director of the environment program. He´s a good sport.
That night was also my hermanito Jose’s birthday party. It was great to be able to celebrate with the Peruvian and gringo sides of my life in Buenos Aires. We played very violent musical chairs and had a dance contest that I lost badly despite my best efforts.
We spent Saturday in Miraflores, which is the nice part of the city of Lima. We walked around, made last minute purchases, and ate Dunkin’ Donuts. American chains like D&D and McDonalds are funny here. In the states, they’re on the low end of eating options. In Peru, they’re considered fancy because they’re American and cost more than the average menu place. They are super clean and the service is excellent. I haven’t felt the pull towards MickyD’s yet, but that donut and coffee were awesome.
Also, no matter what my sense of adventure and joy in trying new things, it’s comforting to have something familiar once in a while.
Then Sunday we took the bus up to Junin. I didn’t cry until I we were a half hour from our stop. But that’s what I get for listening to Fleet Foxes and slow New Pornographers songs in the twilight while riding through the pampa. I’m such an inconvenient crier.
I’ve had more difficulty with the altitude this time. I also get the words for altitude sickness and hangover confused, which makes explaining myself around town more interesting. I think the words are sorroche and rescata, but not for sure. Ah, well. Maybe being seen as a functional alcoholic will give me some street cred.
So here I am. On my own with all the benefits and pains of that state of being with lots of work ahead of me. I think it’ll be great.
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