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So much to say: (SEPT –OCT 2011)
As my time here rolls to a close, 4 weeks left in fact, I obviously want to close out this blog that I started at the beginning of my journey. When I first started it I was fresh out of the military and couldn’t think of anything else to blog about except my packing list. Even the name “Peru, Practically Speaking,” has feeling of an Army officer’s official report. I wanted to start a blog that gave cut and dry, realistic advice to future volunteers; I wanted to essentially write a good ole’ Army AAR (after action review) that others could learn from. I can remember many of my fellow volunteers telling me that they thought I was going to be ubber-intense simply by reading my all-encompassing gear blogs before I even got into country. But then, little by little, as the blog continues on, you can sort of feel the way the Army in me slowly started to percolate out of my blogs, and drip by drip the Peace Corps filled them back up. I started talking more about the experiences I was having and my thoughts in regards to them; in the simplest of terms, I was writing about my feelings. I wrote about parties and traveling, other volunteers, and my host family. I wrote about work days and down days, happy days and rainy days. Pretty much a pretty typical Peru Peace Corps blog.
All told, I feel that this blog has captured (albeit with large gaps in the narrative) a sort-of transformation within me, which I feel any good travel blog should do. I know that I am leaving this country a different person, and I hope I’ve captured enough of my experiences and thoughts within this blog to allow for the reader to see it as well.
With that said I sort of want to close this blog in a similar fashion in which it was formed; writing about packing lists. Though this time I feel you’ll note a significant difference in my tone. I honestly can’t remember what exactly I put down as my “essential items” on the first few blogs ( I won’t be around internet for another week and a half so I can’t pull it up at the moment,) but I’ll try my hardest to remember. I can recall writing about boots and clothing for sure, the benefits of Gore-Tex and Vibram soled foot wear; both of which wore out in two years. I can also recall mentioning aid kits, personal hygiene stuff, and possibly even underwear and long-john pro’s and con’s; all of which will be used up and replaced by the Peruvian equivalent. I vaguely remember sleeping bags and camping gear, and possibly even duffle bag choices for packing for the campo; which, of course, is entirely up to the personal interest of the individual.
Now, when I consider all of these options I have to honestly say that you could arrive to Peru with a day pack full of clothes and bathroom supplies and do just fine. Every volunteer will have a capital city to buy missing toiletry items and every volunteer will come to know Topi-Top at some point or another to fulfill their clothing needs. So as much as I hate to admit it, and as frustratingly vague as the packing list is that the Peace Corps sends weeks before departure, it’s actually pretty accurate. Within two years any adaptable volunteer will find solutions to their logistical needs, I guarantee it...As I write this I’ve already been critiqued for not at least adding SOMETHING of use, so here it is, you’re words of advice; 1. If you have big feet buy sturdy shoes that will last because you can’t find anything bigger than EUR 46 in Peru, 2. If you have wool allergies bring your own long-johns, 3. Chaco’s may be the brand name of Peace Corps footwear, but better left at home since the mountains are too cold and the coast is too dirty, and 4. if you are athletically inclined and just can’t wait to do some pull-ups, definitely buy the Rouge Fitness pull-up rings. They can be looped over any soccer goal in Peru and were key to maintaining my fitness for two years (and I didn’t get paid to say that). So there you have it, a little bit of Army and a lot a bit of Peace Corps, Peru Practically Speaking- over and out, 2009-2011.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Continuing to catch up on blogs
One of the last few blogs: (SEP 2011)
Well, I’m not sure I can say this in complete seriousness, but I’ve maintained my blog for my two years in the Peace Corps! It wasn’t a flawless narrative and there were some substantial gaps, but now its official, this week is the Two Year Anniversary for me arriving in Peru. It’s quite impressive to think that not only have I spent the last two years in a foreign country serving in the Peace Corps, but that I spent almost 15 months before I even came here just trying to apply to the program! With the 27 months in Peace Corps and the 15 for me to apply that’s about 6 months short of 4 years of either thinking about, or directly serving the Peace Corps; and to think its about to finish up for me in 4 short weeks. Of course they do say your service never really “ends” once you return to the states because you’re expected to continue with the Third Goal of Peace Corps; sharing and volunteering in communities in the states.
I guess I can see how your service never truly “ends” because, honestly I’m not really feeling the type of closure that I thought I would. Considering that this was such an important and even one of the longest continual chapters in my life, you’d think that the end would feel as satisfying as a marathon finish line. But as I tick one more day off the 30 day countdown, it’s hard not to imagine that the difference between my being here and not will only be accentuated by a plane flight. It’s hard to explain but I look at “ending” as so final and absolute that I don’t think it can apply to my situation. I know that if I ever want to come back to my town to dance the palla or baile de los negritos or a sweet dish of guinea pig, It’s a simple hop, skip, and a hell-bus away. I know the doors to my host community will always be open to me, and I think that is more than many NGO’s and missionaries can say...On that note, before I get to ahead of myself, check out my Peru, Year Two video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOvcqmq7Hko
I can see how stepping off the flight in the states will only mark the sequel to all of this; the part where I’ve finally returned to share with friends and family all that I’ve experienced. I don’t predict any tears will be shed for me in my town, and I’m pretty sure I’ll simply be remembered as the hairy gringo that bothered everyone about their trash. But I don’t think it should be any other way. I wasn’t an NGO that came galloping into town to whip up some short sighted projects and galloped away weeks later. And I wasn’t a group of missionaries purely focused on their own personal religious agenda either. I was simply a traveler looking to experience a new culture and hopefully make some positive differences along the way; The Spirit of The Peace Corps wrapped in a nut shell. For me it happened exactly how I wanted it too, no fan-fare, no parades, just the simple click and smile of a well taken photo. Since I lived in my town day in and day out the novelty and romance faded away early in my service, and I was left with pure reality. I guess that is sort of why blogging went by the wayside for me, because every hiccup and giggle just became the daily routine... Now, don’t take this the wrong way, its not meant to be negative or even disparaging (for the few potential PC volunteers that might read this,) but simply a statement of the natural flow of a two year assignment.
I’m so satisfied with the projects I’ve been able to mastermind with the few people that actually took advantage of my presence. And I’m incredibly grateful that this small mountain town eventually opened its culture up to me to share. I’m happy for the classes I’ve taught and the conversations I’ve had, but I also think it is a good time for me to be headin’ on outta’ here. One of the truths that I’ve garnered while living here is that my biggest accomplishment here was to watch and learn a different way of life; and now its time for me to start my own life and stop being the observer. So as I look back on these two years passed and especially as I read blogs from the first few months, I see the “practically speaking”, ex-Army, borderline anti-social guy transforming into an accomplished world traveler, dual language speaker, easy-breezy spirited dude....
...And as you may have guessed this will probably be the last chronicle of Peru Practically Speaking. I can pretty much tell you that I’ll finish up my last remaining days writing final diagnostics and finishing the books I’ve sworn to read. If anything of note does happen to fall into my lap I’ll be sure to tell you face to face in a few short weeks.
Well, I’m not sure I can say this in complete seriousness, but I’ve maintained my blog for my two years in the Peace Corps! It wasn’t a flawless narrative and there were some substantial gaps, but now its official, this week is the Two Year Anniversary for me arriving in Peru. It’s quite impressive to think that not only have I spent the last two years in a foreign country serving in the Peace Corps, but that I spent almost 15 months before I even came here just trying to apply to the program! With the 27 months in Peace Corps and the 15 for me to apply that’s about 6 months short of 4 years of either thinking about, or directly serving the Peace Corps; and to think its about to finish up for me in 4 short weeks. Of course they do say your service never really “ends” once you return to the states because you’re expected to continue with the Third Goal of Peace Corps; sharing and volunteering in communities in the states.
I guess I can see how your service never truly “ends” because, honestly I’m not really feeling the type of closure that I thought I would. Considering that this was such an important and even one of the longest continual chapters in my life, you’d think that the end would feel as satisfying as a marathon finish line. But as I tick one more day off the 30 day countdown, it’s hard not to imagine that the difference between my being here and not will only be accentuated by a plane flight. It’s hard to explain but I look at “ending” as so final and absolute that I don’t think it can apply to my situation. I know that if I ever want to come back to my town to dance the palla or baile de los negritos or a sweet dish of guinea pig, It’s a simple hop, skip, and a hell-bus away. I know the doors to my host community will always be open to me, and I think that is more than many NGO’s and missionaries can say...On that note, before I get to ahead of myself, check out my Peru, Year Two video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOvcqmq7Hko
I can see how stepping off the flight in the states will only mark the sequel to all of this; the part where I’ve finally returned to share with friends and family all that I’ve experienced. I don’t predict any tears will be shed for me in my town, and I’m pretty sure I’ll simply be remembered as the hairy gringo that bothered everyone about their trash. But I don’t think it should be any other way. I wasn’t an NGO that came galloping into town to whip up some short sighted projects and galloped away weeks later. And I wasn’t a group of missionaries purely focused on their own personal religious agenda either. I was simply a traveler looking to experience a new culture and hopefully make some positive differences along the way; The Spirit of The Peace Corps wrapped in a nut shell. For me it happened exactly how I wanted it too, no fan-fare, no parades, just the simple click and smile of a well taken photo. Since I lived in my town day in and day out the novelty and romance faded away early in my service, and I was left with pure reality. I guess that is sort of why blogging went by the wayside for me, because every hiccup and giggle just became the daily routine... Now, don’t take this the wrong way, its not meant to be negative or even disparaging (for the few potential PC volunteers that might read this,) but simply a statement of the natural flow of a two year assignment.
I’m so satisfied with the projects I’ve been able to mastermind with the few people that actually took advantage of my presence. And I’m incredibly grateful that this small mountain town eventually opened its culture up to me to share. I’m happy for the classes I’ve taught and the conversations I’ve had, but I also think it is a good time for me to be headin’ on outta’ here. One of the truths that I’ve garnered while living here is that my biggest accomplishment here was to watch and learn a different way of life; and now its time for me to start my own life and stop being the observer. So as I look back on these two years passed and especially as I read blogs from the first few months, I see the “practically speaking”, ex-Army, borderline anti-social guy transforming into an accomplished world traveler, dual language speaker, easy-breezy spirited dude....
...And as you may have guessed this will probably be the last chronicle of Peru Practically Speaking. I can pretty much tell you that I’ll finish up my last remaining days writing final diagnostics and finishing the books I’ve sworn to read. If anything of note does happen to fall into my lap I’ll be sure to tell you face to face in a few short weeks.
3 month countdown
3 month countdown: (JULY 2011)
Its not like I’m counting every minute...just every day that passes is all...
I’ve officially started my 3 month countdown. Well, it isn’t officially three months yet because my request to have an early COS by 30 days has yet to be officially approved and confirmed, but I see know reason why it wouldn’t be. Its odd how the Peace Corps has transformed my sense of time into thinking that 3 months is but a drop in the bucket, but I had this same sensation as I was finishing my military obligation as well. My feelings are being pulled in several directions as I wish time would move faster so I could move on with my life plans, hoping time doesn’t move to fast so that I remember to truly soak up my last few weeks in site, and not being able to believe where almost two years have gone...I arrived here in Obama’s first year of service; Avatar was still in theaters for crying out loud! I continually tell myself to keep my head in the game since there is still time to work and help out (seeing as my time left is still longer than many other NGO’s or foreign volunteers spend in foreign countries doing projects), but I won’t cover up the fact that I’m definitely catching up on my book backlog and movie supply; if anything to finally get rid of them as I start to think about packing.
The hard part about coming to the end of a long term commitment is being split in two parts, the present and the future. Its hard to stay focused on helping my host site when the prospect of finding a new apartment, applying to colleges, thinking about how best to spend the re-adjustment allowance, and all the other, “other” things that have nothing to do with my life here in Peru slowly start to creep over the horizon like the coming rays of morning, (the “light at the end of the tunnel” analogy seems apt as well.) I’ve never been one to have my entire being in the moment. I seem to always have at least one foot, a cocked eye, and an alert ear to the coming possibilities what my future can hold, and now is no exception. Try as I might to remain present minded it usually ends in vain considering that every conversation I have with people in my town has now become a handy reminder that, “tres meces, (three months)” *subtle whistle of astonishment* in fact “no es mucho tiempo, (isn’t much time)” or that I “no falta nada, (don’t have much more)” and indeed those last few months will “pasar rapido, (you guessed it, pass quickly).” So my best coping mechanism will be to just fall into the gentle reverie of waiting which Peru has taught me so well, and try to seek comfort in the idea that what could have been has been and what I could have done I did.
Now, another thing I also want to talk about is something that seems to be all-a-buzz with the Peru 14 volunteer group; who is staying for a third year. After getting through with the recent Limpi Sequia, which many of you blog followers may remember from last years posts and even my first year video that I made, I had a flash of what it might feel like to stay a third year. As the community members finished up the festivities and started naming the people that will be responsible for certain activities for next year ensuring the tradition gets carried on, they came upon my name since I was in charge of bringing coke for this year. They all looked at me with pleading eyes, asking me if I would be able to bring coke next year; such a heartbreakingly simple request which I had no power to say “yes” to since I wouldn’t be here. At that moment it flashed through my mind, “what if I was here next year?” And I found myself toying with the idea of how much more ingrained and heartfelt my relations would be with my host community if I could pass one more round of annual festivities. How much more enlightened they could become with all the extra environmental presentations I could give in an extra year. And even how much more productive I could be with technical projects with a whole new year to apply for grants. But like I said, the moment was a flash, and passed without anyone else but me realizing what had happened. I came back to reality, finalized my inability to pledge another round of coke for the next year, and felt satisfied that I had made the right decision of leaving when my two years are up. To be honest I want to leave on a high note. I want to leave just when my town doesn’t want me to go. I want to have a positive, nostalgic sigh pinned to every thought of me when the town members of Miraflores think of the awkward, bearded gringo that had the audacity to leave his parents for a foreign land...
...so once again, sorry Diego, I just don’t think the third year position is for me.
Its not like I’m counting every minute...just every day that passes is all...
I’ve officially started my 3 month countdown. Well, it isn’t officially three months yet because my request to have an early COS by 30 days has yet to be officially approved and confirmed, but I see know reason why it wouldn’t be. Its odd how the Peace Corps has transformed my sense of time into thinking that 3 months is but a drop in the bucket, but I had this same sensation as I was finishing my military obligation as well. My feelings are being pulled in several directions as I wish time would move faster so I could move on with my life plans, hoping time doesn’t move to fast so that I remember to truly soak up my last few weeks in site, and not being able to believe where almost two years have gone...I arrived here in Obama’s first year of service; Avatar was still in theaters for crying out loud! I continually tell myself to keep my head in the game since there is still time to work and help out (seeing as my time left is still longer than many other NGO’s or foreign volunteers spend in foreign countries doing projects), but I won’t cover up the fact that I’m definitely catching up on my book backlog and movie supply; if anything to finally get rid of them as I start to think about packing.
The hard part about coming to the end of a long term commitment is being split in two parts, the present and the future. Its hard to stay focused on helping my host site when the prospect of finding a new apartment, applying to colleges, thinking about how best to spend the re-adjustment allowance, and all the other, “other” things that have nothing to do with my life here in Peru slowly start to creep over the horizon like the coming rays of morning, (the “light at the end of the tunnel” analogy seems apt as well.) I’ve never been one to have my entire being in the moment. I seem to always have at least one foot, a cocked eye, and an alert ear to the coming possibilities what my future can hold, and now is no exception. Try as I might to remain present minded it usually ends in vain considering that every conversation I have with people in my town has now become a handy reminder that, “tres meces, (three months)” *subtle whistle of astonishment* in fact “no es mucho tiempo, (isn’t much time)” or that I “no falta nada, (don’t have much more)” and indeed those last few months will “pasar rapido, (you guessed it, pass quickly).” So my best coping mechanism will be to just fall into the gentle reverie of waiting which Peru has taught me so well, and try to seek comfort in the idea that what could have been has been and what I could have done I did.
Now, another thing I also want to talk about is something that seems to be all-a-buzz with the Peru 14 volunteer group; who is staying for a third year. After getting through with the recent Limpi Sequia, which many of you blog followers may remember from last years posts and even my first year video that I made, I had a flash of what it might feel like to stay a third year. As the community members finished up the festivities and started naming the people that will be responsible for certain activities for next year ensuring the tradition gets carried on, they came upon my name since I was in charge of bringing coke for this year. They all looked at me with pleading eyes, asking me if I would be able to bring coke next year; such a heartbreakingly simple request which I had no power to say “yes” to since I wouldn’t be here. At that moment it flashed through my mind, “what if I was here next year?” And I found myself toying with the idea of how much more ingrained and heartfelt my relations would be with my host community if I could pass one more round of annual festivities. How much more enlightened they could become with all the extra environmental presentations I could give in an extra year. And even how much more productive I could be with technical projects with a whole new year to apply for grants. But like I said, the moment was a flash, and passed without anyone else but me realizing what had happened. I came back to reality, finalized my inability to pledge another round of coke for the next year, and felt satisfied that I had made the right decision of leaving when my two years are up. To be honest I want to leave on a high note. I want to leave just when my town doesn’t want me to go. I want to have a positive, nostalgic sigh pinned to every thought of me when the town members of Miraflores think of the awkward, bearded gringo that had the audacity to leave his parents for a foreign land...
...so once again, sorry Diego, I just don’t think the third year position is for me.
Its been much too long
So I'm catching up on blogs, and I'm going to post 4 in rapid succession. Sorry for the delay, hope you enjoy the reading...
Its been awhile and for that I apologize. (JUNE-JULY 2011)
I was struggling to write something for my blog recently because I wasn’t sure how I could accurately portray my recent life without falling back into some saddening anecdote of how I had to go back home on emergency leave to be at my older sister’s funeral. So now that it’s out there, that’s about all I want to say about it...
...I was home for about 20 days then I came back not really sure how to proceed with my Peace Corps service. So I did what most confused volunteers do, travel. I was back in time for Semana Santa in the end April and went up north to Huanchaco and Chiclayo. I was met up with Krista Latta and we had a wonderful time exploring ruins and eating way to much pollo a la brasa. I then returned to my town and my time there was mostly filled with me explaining why I had to leave in such a whirlwind and where I had been for over a month. I didn’t really plan any upcoming events because I knew that in a week and half I had another trip planned; to the wild and steamy jungles of Manu.
Once again I rendezvoused with my travel buddy Krista, but this time we were also joined by her Aunt Jill and Uncle David from the states. All in all we made a pretty lively team, and with our binoculars ready and hiking boots tied, we set out to with Manu Expeditions once we arrived in Cuzco to go as far as tourists can go into the Manu reserve. Once we crested the mountains outside of Cuzco the scenery immediately changed from dry shrub to lush cloud forest, and the vegetation and humidity only got thicker as we went further down towards the Madre de Dios River. We spent 9 days between river and jungle travel, staying in various bungalows along the way and spotting as many animals as possible. Our guide, named David as well, was incredibly knowledgeable and patient as we were continually awed at various common jungle animals and plants that he’s surely seen millions of times during his 20 years of guiding awe-struck gringos. We made it through the trip with high-spirits, low rates of malaria, and with a huge list of animal sightings especially numerous tropical birds and cool monkeys. And just to put this in there, we saw a jaguar! Ha!
I parted ways with David, Jill, and Krista in Lima and I went back to my site with mixed emotions. Mixed mostly because I couldn’t really see where my service was going to take me next. I kind of had a pre-mature sense of achievement when I went home for the emergency leave, and now it felt as if my motivation was pretty low. It felt like I was running a marathon and at mile 20 they stopped the race then told me that I had succeeded anyway, and then 2 weeks later they called me up and told me to run the last 6 miles for good measure. The sense of accomplishment and purpose just really isn’t there. Either way, I returned, re-scheduled my classes and got caught up on current local events.
Not to my surprise my sleepy mountain town hadn’t changed a bit and getting back in tune with my classes was easy. I’ll be honest in saying that I’m just now, almost two months since going home, feeling okay with being back in Peru again. Though its an understatement to say my service has a different taste to it. I think I’m now racing to the finish simply to have a successful and complete two years, and I’m trying to find some sort of “cruise control” for the rest of my time. So with three months left of travel and 16 days of vacation I think I can make a good run at it, and then after August September won’t look so long since I’ll be planning on leaving in October. Sorry Diego, the third year position just isn’t for me.
But don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to enjoy my time as much as possible, and I’ll fight off the “senior-idis” that is slowly encroaching on all of us Peru 14ers. I’m going to continue with my environment classes and maybe even work a bit more with the health post since the staff nurses are changing which could bring new ideas. I never thought that the my service would provide me with this variety, these two years may be the longest of my life simply because they’ve been so full of activity its hard to believe they aren’t over yet.
Its been awhile and for that I apologize. (JUNE-JULY 2011)
I was struggling to write something for my blog recently because I wasn’t sure how I could accurately portray my recent life without falling back into some saddening anecdote of how I had to go back home on emergency leave to be at my older sister’s funeral. So now that it’s out there, that’s about all I want to say about it...
...I was home for about 20 days then I came back not really sure how to proceed with my Peace Corps service. So I did what most confused volunteers do, travel. I was back in time for Semana Santa in the end April and went up north to Huanchaco and Chiclayo. I was met up with Krista Latta and we had a wonderful time exploring ruins and eating way to much pollo a la brasa. I then returned to my town and my time there was mostly filled with me explaining why I had to leave in such a whirlwind and where I had been for over a month. I didn’t really plan any upcoming events because I knew that in a week and half I had another trip planned; to the wild and steamy jungles of Manu.
Once again I rendezvoused with my travel buddy Krista, but this time we were also joined by her Aunt Jill and Uncle David from the states. All in all we made a pretty lively team, and with our binoculars ready and hiking boots tied, we set out to with Manu Expeditions once we arrived in Cuzco to go as far as tourists can go into the Manu reserve. Once we crested the mountains outside of Cuzco the scenery immediately changed from dry shrub to lush cloud forest, and the vegetation and humidity only got thicker as we went further down towards the Madre de Dios River. We spent 9 days between river and jungle travel, staying in various bungalows along the way and spotting as many animals as possible. Our guide, named David as well, was incredibly knowledgeable and patient as we were continually awed at various common jungle animals and plants that he’s surely seen millions of times during his 20 years of guiding awe-struck gringos. We made it through the trip with high-spirits, low rates of malaria, and with a huge list of animal sightings especially numerous tropical birds and cool monkeys. And just to put this in there, we saw a jaguar! Ha!
I parted ways with David, Jill, and Krista in Lima and I went back to my site with mixed emotions. Mixed mostly because I couldn’t really see where my service was going to take me next. I kind of had a pre-mature sense of achievement when I went home for the emergency leave, and now it felt as if my motivation was pretty low. It felt like I was running a marathon and at mile 20 they stopped the race then told me that I had succeeded anyway, and then 2 weeks later they called me up and told me to run the last 6 miles for good measure. The sense of accomplishment and purpose just really isn’t there. Either way, I returned, re-scheduled my classes and got caught up on current local events.
Not to my surprise my sleepy mountain town hadn’t changed a bit and getting back in tune with my classes was easy. I’ll be honest in saying that I’m just now, almost two months since going home, feeling okay with being back in Peru again. Though its an understatement to say my service has a different taste to it. I think I’m now racing to the finish simply to have a successful and complete two years, and I’m trying to find some sort of “cruise control” for the rest of my time. So with three months left of travel and 16 days of vacation I think I can make a good run at it, and then after August September won’t look so long since I’ll be planning on leaving in October. Sorry Diego, the third year position just isn’t for me.
But don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to enjoy my time as much as possible, and I’ll fight off the “senior-idis” that is slowly encroaching on all of us Peru 14ers. I’m going to continue with my environment classes and maybe even work a bit more with the health post since the staff nurses are changing which could bring new ideas. I never thought that the my service would provide me with this variety, these two years may be the longest of my life simply because they’ve been so full of activity its hard to believe they aren’t over yet.
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