Last Weekend

Hello to all!

So last Thursday we headed south to Bernales, a small town outside of the larger city of Pisco. It is the site of a current volunteer, where we were planning on building several latrines. As usual, things didn’t go quite as planned. We arrived several hours behind schedule, and none of the materials had arrived either. We had planned on getting started soon after we got there, at least getting a little jump on our project while there was still a little sun left. However, it didn’t happen that way, and we just had enough sunlight to get our materials to our respective places. I wasn’t feeling great, so how it all went down was fine with me. We all slept in a local building. Very camp/mission-trip esq. But it was fun, and actually pretty comfortable on the cots we were given. Before I went to bed a couple of my friends and I got in on a game of soccer with some local kids. We kicked some major ass…and no it doesn’t matter that were pre-teens :s

The next morning came quickly, and we started our work by about 7:15. Most of the morning consisted of making cement and mortar to lay the bricks for our dry bathroom. It was overcast, but the signs of the coming fierce sun were all but written for us to see. Even without the sun it was pretty warm. But by the time the sun hit the temp had risen even more, which was bad for on several levels: 1.) because the cement was drying almost as fast as we could lay the bricks and 2.) because I am very an Oregonian and therefore basically have an allergy to the sun. We really weren’t getting far, and the project wasn’t looking great. None of us, even one of the current volunteers that was there to help us, had ever built a dry-bathroom.

After lunch, which consisted of a bowl of soup with an entire chicken leg and foot emerging out of the broth, we returned to the worksite to find the owner of the house had built a make-shift canopy for us to work under. This was greatly appreciated!!!! And eventhough the cement was still drying really fast, it wasn’t quite so bad. My skin certainly was thankful.

We gained some more help from our Third-year WatSan guy, John, who’s job is basically to lend tech support and to have a good time with us. He just got down with two years of service in the Dominican Republic, and was therefore very knowledgeable in the construction of such things. We didn’t however get to the place we were hoping to by the time the sunset, but it was better than nothing. Bret and I played more soccer that night, and then were surrounded by a group of kids who said we were taking them to dinner after we told them we had to stop playing in order to go get dinner.

Most people stayed up late and had some fun, but I was exhausted, and conked out while laying on my bed. Unfortunately, the next morning one of my group mates and friend, Lexie, awoke to some pretty bad flu symptoms. After talking to her today, it seems that she has pretty much the exact same symptoms that I had a week ago. It’s going around! So we were out one person, but that spot was filled quickly by other volunteers that had already finished their project.

By the end of the day we had finished all that we had set out to do. It wasn’t easy, and at times (like when we were pouring concrete on top of some wood that resembles wafer) we weren’t sure if things would work, but it all turned out well.

After lunch it was time to leave. WatSan separated into two groups, one that went directly back to Lima, and the other (which I joined by default because I was in the bathroom while the Lima group left) went to checkout a lagoon/oasis that was only a few miles away from the site. It was the best decision for sure. Basically the area is a dessert that resembles something like that of Satan’s pooper, but amidst all of the sand dunes and sun, there was a small paradise…that smelt a little funny. But this place was amazing, and the water was fine (but I wouldn’t be surprised if I have some crazy Peruvian parasite). We swam out a ways into the lake, and enjoyed a treat that only comes around so often.

Unfortunately the day was not all amazing. During our work, one of my teammates broke my leatherman tool. That is sad in general, but it was also a graduation present, making it a worse. I also had to say goodbye to my favorite sunglasses, which disappeared after our bus ride back to Lima. I think they fell out of a pocket…ot they were stolen. Either way it was kind of a big day for material losses.

That night (Halloween) my older brother, Carlos, took me to this huge Halloween dance party. I really wasn’t that up for it, and didn’t have a costume, but that turned out to not be a problem. We met his cousin and her friends there, and didn’t stop until the early morning hours. Sunday was spent recovering from the entire trip, and to be honest I’m still a bit drained. I suppose that is one thing I can look forward to in my new site, and that is that I can take a few days to just rest and of course get accustomed to the new living situation. We find out our site locations on Friday!!!! I’m both nervous and excited.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Being Tuesday that means that it is soccer day, but also it means that we are teaching an English class across the street at the local school. It is only for 45 minutes, but it also means that we get to sleep in and I only have to cross the street. Today was a day for learning about different ways to teach English in our sites. I am actually looking forward to doing it, which is the opposite to a surprisingly large portion of the group. This morning I saw the remains of a pretty horrible accident not too far down the road from my community. I guess a small car was trying to cross the road at the wrong time, and a combi (small bus) collided into the driver’s side door. I asked a combi worker later that day what had happened, and he told me pretty much exactly what I could have deduced myself, but also that two passengers in the small car had died.

On a happier note (kinda), last night I was sitting in the living room, just watching some tv with Chris when I felt a slight movement under my bare foot. I didn’t think it was anything, but then it got more obvious. I looked down and saw the largest grasshopper/cricket I’ve ever seen. Obviously nothing dangerous, but it did confirm my fear that every little movement of even a single hair is some giant bug or something about to bit me!

Just to let you know i´m alive

Hello all,

I´m back home after a couple of long of days. My group was about five hours south of here, working in the site of a current volunteer. We were separated into different teams and were to build different types of latrines for several families. My team built the maing part of a dry bathroom. The sun was fierce, and almost dried the concrete as fast as you could put it on the bricks. But we got it done. I´ll write more tomorrow evening. I´m way to tired to get too into it tonight. Hope all is well!

Try'n to Catch You Up!

Hello everyone,

So last week (Thursday) the WatSan group came to my community to clean the water reservoir and some individual house tanks. We spent the first part of the morning making our way up the waterline, all the way up from the road. After a bit, I went to clean and family’s water tank. Actually I had to climb into it, which wasn’t so bad because it was blazing hot. The chlorine that we used to scrub down the walls did however burn a little bit of my skin…but apparently that’s just how you do it is WatSan

Friday we headed up to Ayas. It is a small community high up in the mountains. Well it is high compared to my community, but overall 10,000 ft really isn’t that high in Peru. It was nice to finally be somewhere that isn’t dry and dust filled. We hiked up for a little over an hour, and then stopped off at a small waterfall to eat lunch. Afterwards we continued up the mountain for another hour. I couldn’t believe how far up the mountain the towns pipeline went. The beginning of the spring, where the water is collected, was easily an hour and a half away from the town if you were moving steadily. It made me think of how hard it must have been before they had the water system set up. Its hard to imagine having to get water from that source everyday. The trip took all day, and by the time we were coming back down the mountain it started to pour. When the rainy season starts, it really starts! It didn’t rain at all the fist month we were here, and then within a week I rained two or three times I think. However, I think that is not usually the way it goes. Depending on what site I get, the rainy season could have a huge effect on my first couple months. If I am in the mountains, or on the north coast, the rain can make it seriously difficult to get anything done, or even get around for that matter.

Saturday our class let out really early, so I headed into Lima with a few of my friends. We headed in to do some shopping at this renowned market, where everything is cheap…most certainly illegally. Afterwards we headed over to Mira Flores, which is basically the tourist part of town. The first time we went with out class I really didn’t notice as many tourists as I did this time. It was pretty weird actually. One of our main goals was to find a place that sells Guinness. The need for a dark beer was growing strong among the men folk! But unfortunately we didn’t find anywhere, and that was after searching high and low. We did however get directed to a middle eastern restaurant, which was really great because it was completely different from what we have been eating. We had originally planned on being home by the early evening, but of course that didn’t happen. Didn’t really do anything that night because I was exhausted by the time we got home.

Sunday was the day that the really well known country club, right next to Yanacoto, opened it’s doors to visitors. It is a pretty big event for a lot of the local people, who could never even dream of affording the membership fee. It is amazing, and pretty sad, how a wall can separate two distinct ways of life. Here the grass was green (and in existence) and there were pools and restaurants, and all sorts of things that seemed so out of place when they were a few short steps away from the place I am not living. However, it was a good time. I went with Chris and my oldest host brother, Carlos. There are several bingo games that people love to play, hopefully to win the grand prize. We only stayed for a few hours because we all had things to get done.

This work week hasn’t been too exciting. Classes have pretty much been the same, although the urge to stay in beg and sleep straight through the hours and hours of lecture and Spanish classes is only growing exponentially. It seems to be a shared feeling amongst the group.

Tuesday we did go into a museum in Lima. That was interesting. The most interesting part was the exhibit on the top floor, which is dedicated to the time of terrorism in Peru. It really represents both sides well, and is quite moving. The entire museum is also made of solid cement, so it gives an extra eerie feeling to the exhibit. That night (last night) was also great because it was the first time I played soccer in almost four weeks. It was really great being back out there with my friends. It is by far the best way to let of steam. My ankle didn’t hurt very much, which was great, but was stiff today.

Tomorrow we are heading south again for a couple of days. We are going to a current WatSan volunteer’s site out side of Pisco, which is in the department of Ica. I believe the town is called Bernales, but don’t hold me to that. It was greatly effected by the earthquake of 2007. We are going to be building latrine and latrine related things Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning. We have been told that this is definitely going to be a roughing it type trip, and that in order to get all of our work completed it might require very few hours of sleep. YAY! Something that really excites all of us! But really, I’m actually looking forward to getting out and working. The two other programs (health and environment) already left for their trip. They are going up in the mountains of Ancash.

So when I get back I’ll write to tell you how it went. Happy early Halloween to you all!

Feeling much better today, and i think that can all be attributed to the antibiotics my doctor gave me. Yesterday, much like monday night, was filled with hot and cold spells, fever, headache, frequent bathroom visitation, and pretty much overall a shitty demeanor. However, it meant a legitimate reason to stay out of the training center for a day, which under different circumstances, might have been preferable.

Today has been a lot better, although some symptoms persist. Eventhough i am begining to feel better, my host-mother´s investigation continues. No matter how many times we go over what foods i´ve eaten, or that it is probably just a flu like illness, she will not rest until she has pin-pointed the cuplrit (which i believe secretly she just doesn´t what to be herself). I really don´t think it was caused by something i ate, and even if it was, it wouldn´t change anything now. However, as i have learned over th past two day, that logic is wasted on a peruvian mother. It´s funny cause she tell me to not be worried, when it should really be the other way around.

Side note: i just saw my host brother help another volunteer with some computer problem, and he seemed really happy when she say thank you to him. Probably because he has a raging crush on her. But in a sweet way...not like ted bundy (or any bundy for that matter). Those of you who have watched married with children will understand that last one.

Dani (personal shout-out): Got your card today, and really loved it. Thanks for the love.

Teddy (doggie-shout-out): if you were literate this would probably mean more to you, but i´ll just have mom give you a pat on the head for card you sent me. I have the feeling she might have written it for you. I´m sorry you get confused when you hear my voice through skype, but can´t see me around the house. I would be confused too. I´m also sorry Dogger is still making messes on the floor. But i think there comes a time in any dogs life, and hopefully my life, when you just say, ¨screw it, this is just as good as any place to go!¨ Plus you´re so old nobody really blames you.

Tomorrow, for our practice day activity, we are cleaning some of the water tanks here in my community. Then on friday morning, we are heading to the sierra so that we cand do around a 3 hour hike up to a city, to look at their water system, and spend the afternoon coming back down. Should be fun, but probably pretty tough, because it think the elevation is around 10,000 ft. Not quite like back home at our awesome 500 ft, but i it should give me a run for my money.

So hopefully i´ll have some good stories, and photos after. I could have taken photos from the past two days...but i´m sure you all want to eat, and caring on normal trains of thought, so i opted not to. Just looking out for you

ps. Some of you have probably noticed that my spelling is not what it once was...don´t judge people.

Fire down below!!!!!!!

Yep, woke up sick today. Won't go into details, but i did make it to the center, but then slept in the infirmary for a solid 5 hours. The doctor said i should wait until tomorrow to see if it persists, and if so we are going to attack with some antibiotics. Quite possible the worst part of it is the ceaseless pondering and investigation by my host mother into what i could have eaten to make me sick. The investigation is fierce. "no mom, i didn't eat anything strange...no mom, i don't think it is the soup from 7 days ago...no mom, i don't think it is an evil spirit, so put down the guinea pig (ok that last one didn't really happen...but could if i don't get better)." Hope all of you are better thank myself at the moment.

Lazy sunday...

Today has been highly unproductive. Unless you consider watching several bad movies productive. All this time i could have been doing things that actually need to be done... however i didn't, and therefore must do them now. So here are a couple pictures of my house and Yanacoto, as well as our dogs and cats.

The oldest one looks like a pirate because it only has one eye. The female (the one that is smiling) apparently is pregnant.

I really don't know how they figured that out, seeing that she is extremely small, but i'm sure their is some Peruvian magic that went into it. The proud father is the white guy next to the

pirate. Their names are Niña, Niño, and the pirate is Naño. All very original names as you can see. The cat...well i'm not sure what its name really is, cause my host brother just calls it gato-perro (cat-dog). I guess it is fitting, because they all just hang out and play with each other.

Here are a few pictures from outside of my house, and from the rooftop.

Rebecca, i promised i would write more about Chris, so here is a new story just about him. So as usual Chris strolled into my house with a bag full of food (his after-lunch-lunch). My brother and i were watching a horrible horror film (why in the middle of a sunday i don't know). Well chris wasn't really paying much attention because... well there was food to be eaten, so

enough said. Well there was an explosion in the movie just as chris was about to rip open some type of Peruvian mystery sauce. To make the story short, it got all over him and anything around him. Although the dogs were pretty excited. So here is picture:

Hope you enjoy it as much as i did seeing it happen.

Week 5 down!

So the weeks go back fast, and the go by slow. Such is life. However, a day goes much slower after a night out at a local concert, and you wake up to your host mom tapping on your window, and you are confused because she is waking you up early on a sunday...then you sit up and realize it is tuesday. Not that that happened to me :)

So monday night was the...100th anniversary of Chosica, which meant there was a huge concert with many bands playing throughout the night. It also meant bad news for several poor gringos. Four volunteers were robbed in one way or another in just the span of 3 hours. Two got their wallets taken (only one really had stuff in it) while others got their phones stolen. However, besides the theft, it was a really

great time. The past volunteer to live with my host family was in town, so along with him, and my two host brothers, most of the group from Yanacoto headed to the concert. We were there from around 10, until 2am. It was nice to switch something up in the routine.

Unfortunately those incidents at the concert weren't the only robberies to take place in the past week. (Warning to each and all mothers reading: scary incident coming up, but will not happen to many people...so mom don't worry :) ) A girl in our group went to a concert this last saturday with her host sisters. They were related to someone in the salsa band, and they were looking for a cab to take them to the after-party. They did find one, and luckily (so they thought) a cheap one! Well after a few turns here and there, the driver turned around and said he needed everything they had, while pointing a gun at them. They did as he said, and luckily were left unhurt, however the girl didn't have any of the numbers for our directors. The police apparently weren't great to them either, at least not until they got in contact with our director, and our security director (who looks like the spanish version of Robert De Niro from Meet the Parents...and equally intense). As it turns out, they found and impounded the car. I'm not sure what will happen next. But we are all just thankful that she was ok.

Funny story about our security director (ex military...and you can tell). He is very serious about always calling him and getting help whenever we need it, no matter where, and even if it is somewhere that we shouldn't be. so someone asked "what do we do if we have to kill someone?" (as in if we were attacked...i'm guessing...unless we have a killer amongst us) And he answers very nonchalantly, "I'll deal with it after." Like i said, very De Niro-like.

Anyways, the rest tuesday and wednesday weren't anything big. Pretty normal. I have a new spanish class. However, much to my embarrassment, i didn't raise up a level after my last interview. I guess i'm not surprised, but it i felt soooo stupid. And usually, as many of you know, i can usually be my biggest critic. I really miss my old class. My new professor is very sweet, and i like my classmates, but my old class with Ivan as my prof. was awesome. Plus i got to spend most of the day with Chris, Melissa, and Alyse. Sadly i don't see them as much now, especially because we are starting to focus more on out tech classes.

Speaking of tech classes, this week began our thursday/friday practical training days. So this thursday our WATSAN group separated into 6 teams and did handwashing training at the school right across the street from my house. It was a lot of fun. My team worked with the 10-12 year olds. We played a couple of games, and then my group of students and I presented conjuntivitis (pink-eye) to the rest of the class.

After that, we left for our two day excursion. We first went to a district of Lima that has been a success story as a place where the community got organized about their trash and waste, and is now very clean. Apparently before they got organized, no dump truck had been up the hill in decades. And by the stench, giant mounds of trash, and the swarms of flies, you could tell. I can understand how big trucks couldn't get up and into a lot of the community on the hill. It was really, really steep, and the roads were wide enough for maybe a honda to get through. Also, amazing to me, more people lived on this one hill than do in my entire home town of Roseburg (more than 24 thousand lived there). It was amazing to hear of the change that has occured.

Next we traveled a few hours south on buses (while watchign Tom Hanks in Big, in spanish). We arrived in Cañete that evening. We enjoyed a night away fromthe ordinary, but i certainly didn't try to "enjoy" it as much as some of my fellow volunteers, who didn't look so great during our many tours the next day. OH! I got my first warm shower at the hostel! It was awesome. Probably worth all the traveling.

Friday we met with the mayor of Cañete, and then went to several site visits around the area. We saw trash/recycling centers, as well as dry bathrooms. This took up most of the day, but most of the day was spent going from place to place. After eating a late lunch with the entire WATSAN group + those who showed us around (probably 30 in total), we started our way back to Lima, and then home. Once back in Lima 5 of us Yoco elite found a tiny cab. I mean that literally. This thing was really small. I had my friend Jess on my lap for a good halfhour, and just about before i though i would have permanent blood flow problems to my legs, the driver said it was safe to have someone in the way back.

After the long day, this morning came much to quickly. However, it was back to the usual saturday routine for WATSAN, back a the center. It has been really overcast today, and at lunch my mother said that it was about time for the very little rain that they get during the spring and summer to arrive. She must have felt it in her bones, cause i was amazed to see it sprinkling an hour after her saying that. I'm glad to see a little bit of precipitation! 24 years of Oregon in my blood doesn't make me used to this dry dessert! Well, that's about it for me. Sorry that i don't have many pictures from this week, but we were told that they could easily get taken if we brought them to our site visits. However, there is a picture of me with my first package, which I received today!!!!! I felt like i had won the lottery. So far the best part of my day, and maybe the week. Miss you. Talk to you all soon.

Can't think of a title

Hello all! It is Sunday the 11th and i am writing you, as always, from the trusty internet cafe. Didn't do much on Thursday, which was a half day. It was a national holiday, and therefore we didn't have to have school in the afternoon. Although it felt like so much time, i really didn't get much accomplished besides sitting around with my host brothers and Chris, sharing a couple of beers and stories. It was a beautiful day, which made it sad that i couldn't get out and play some soccer or run because of the ankle.

The next day was not quite so relaxed. We had our second language proficiency interview which was... well not what i would have hoped for. I don't know what it was, but i just didn't feel like i i could talk at all! It was really frustrating for some time after, but now i just think it is funny. The rest of the day was pretty low key. I stayed after classes to do some exercises that didn't involve running. During this, many were playing ultimate frisbee, and i sh#t you not the hole struck again. Yes the same hole that took my ankle struck again and in the exact same way. So now there are three buys with ankle problems, and we are all living in the Yanacoto community. Must be something in the water...

The next morning the WATSAN group finally got to go into the big city like the other groups do every weekend! We went to the Catholic

University of Lima, where we learned a lot of about water pump systems, improved stoves, and a lot of other stuff. To be honest i've not been all that excited with my technical classes, but seeing these different things in person, how cool and simple some of the designs are, really made me feel excited about the stuff i have the chance to do in my site. (like this teeter-totter pump)

That afternoon we met up with a lot of other volunteers and a couple of professors who showed us a great place to get ceviche. After having our fill, and feeling it in out wallets, we sat by the ocean, but shortly after made our way back to the heart of the city so we could combi our aces back to Yanacoto. I was not so into the idea of another combi ride back home (after the

previous 3 hour experience) but had no money to do otherwise. So combi it was! It was a lot better this time and i actually got to sit down.

That night (last night), most of the group met up at the other Pat's house for a bonfire/fiesta. It was nice having everyone around outside of the center. Pat's house had a great set up for that many people to hang out and enjoy a nice fire.

Today was pretty low-key. I watched some soccer games (go Spain!), and began a t-shirt design for our PC peru 14 group. Maybe i'll put upload whatever i end up with in the end so you can see. After that Chris and i headed into Chosica to run a few errands and just get out of the house. Later i had the opportunity to skype with my dad, uncle, and grandfather (G-dude). Skype is pretty much the coolest thing, as long as it is working that is. Especially if you have a camera.

Well, tomorrow starts a new week, so wish me luck! Hope all is well with everyone. Miss you!

Patrick

Second of my ¨catch-up¨ posts

Hello! So i know i said i´d do this after dinner last night, but the cafe was full, and i was exhausted. So here it is... plus a picture of Chris doing what he does best.
I left off having finished my birthday, Oct. 1st, which takes us to friday the 2nd. Not really an exciting day, at least not at first. THe day progressed as it usually does on a friday....slowly. After classes finished we planned to have a little soccer tournament in the backyard of our center with trainees and teachers alike. It started off great, justplaying little 4 x 4 games. However, i ended my session by stepping in a hole, and rolling my ankle. I guess Tyler´s ankle luck rubbed off on me when we went to Lima. I hear a pop/crunch and new i was in trouble. It really didn´t swell up fast, and wasn´t the worst pain i have had involving ankle problems, but it didnt´feel great.

The next morning i made my way to the center for our hands-on training day like every saturday for WatSan (water and sanitation), and made sure to call the PC medical officer, who told me that i should jsut stay home and elevate my ankle, ice it, and wait until monday...because the clinics that i would have to go to are way to busy on the weekends. So...after having a rough time getting back, and feeling extremely frustrated with both my ankle and peruvians in general, i took it easy and watched some tv, read, and napped. Later on people just kept showing up randomly. Someone new would walk in and be surprised that the place was filled with other volunteers. I guess i´m just that popular :s There was a fiesta gong on just a block away from my house, and that meant really loud fireworks, which sound more like dynamite going off until like 2 in the morning. The party apparently continued until 5-6 am, but in bed pretty early.

Sunday was soccer day for me...watching, not playing. Again i used my time for reading, napping, and watcing about 3-4 full soccer games. Watching that many soccer games pretty much takes up the entire day, so that was pretty much that. However, there school across the street from me was having a dance presentation from every class. I will try to post pictures and video of this, because it was pretty great. I hobbled my ace over just as it started. Along with a few other volunteers we saw everything from 1st graders doing traditional dances, to teenagers getting down to some Michael Jackson. I always suspected MJ was influenced by the Andean culture. Now i know for sure.

Monday i got to go to the PC headquartes for the second time in a week, both for ankle injuries. Jorge took me to a private practice doctor...although i couldn´t tell the difference between it and the hospital...which was next door. Earlier that day i had thought it would be a good idea to bring my book just in case i went to Lima to get my ankle checked out...but for some reason unknow to me i didnt follow through with it, and later regretted it as i sat for two hours in the waiting room. It wasn´t so bad, and Jorge and i got to talk a lot. It only took the doctor 5 minutes to determine that i didn´t need anything besides some meds and to stay away from excercise for a a few weeks. So i was lucky that i didn´t leave with a cast like Tyler.

Jorge was going to call a taxi service to take me back home, but agreed with me that it was dinner time and also rush hour, thus making it a perfect time to get some really traditional peruvian food...pizza hut. Yes i know, very american of me...and i enjoyed every minute of it. Plus Jorge was the one who brought it up. A nice break from the ever-present rice, potatoes and chicken. Also, i guess pizza huts down here must not have gotten the memo, because they are like 5 star restaurants compared to the ones back home. It is pretty funny how nice they are, and i guess that´s what volunteers always say.

I havn´t been doing much this week. I got to chat with Kim this morning which was really great. Umm...tomorrow is a national holiday, so we only have to go for to the center in the morning. Hmmmm....also, friday is the second round of our language proficiency tests. So keep your fingers crossed that i don´t regress down a level!!! I missed out on a good soccer game last night, but i´m going to be good about this ankle so i can make a quick recovery...hopefully. Ok, well i´m hoping to put up some pictures, and maybe a video or two pretty soon. So stay in touch. Also, thanks for sending me cards! You know who you are! It is really great to find something marked for you on the table as you enter the Centro. I think it is kind of an unofficial contest between volunteers, cause you kinda make it a big deal that you got something and someone else didn´t...at least if you want to be an ass like me you do :p

First of my ¨catch-up¨ postings

Hello! I know i really didn´t write much last week, which is no good because it was filled with quite a bit of stuff.

So i got to play some soccer back at the same place, this time going smoothly. Had to wait all day for it to happen, but it was great once it got going. I can´t think of anything really big happening wednesday...i think, if i remember correctly, my spanish group and i went up the road to Chosica, were we bought food from the market to take back to the center to cook. There are some nasty stuff in the market, including what i would be willing to bet is the ugliest dog of all time. Imagine, if you will, an average size dog that resembles a mix between a greyhound and a lab. Now, only put a little bit of manegy hair on it´s head and shoulderblades, keeping the rest just a dried out gray skin color. Then you look a little further down to the nearly 7 inch long breasts and nipples that every so gently brush the ground it walks on. Yeah...try to eat anythign about witnessing that abomination.

That evening i made a run into Lima because one of my friends hurt his ankle while playing b-ball. It was a several hour event, and ended with him having to get a cast because he had a torn-ligament.

Thursday was an important day, because it happened to be my birthday. Most of the day went pretty slow, but i didn´t expect much different. HOwever, the the U.S. ambassador to Peru came and gave a speech/discussion to our group (but i know it was really just because he knew it was my bday). After classes were done, i was told i couldn´t go outback to the patio area just yet. A few minutes later i was brought in to a huge group of people that had surrounded a piñata, and then there was Chris in a filthy barney costume that he had borrowed from the local library. (side note: The funniest thing was that chris apparently ran full speed to the library, grabbed the barney costume, and then headed back full speed while little kids yelled for barney! Also, the suite was so dusty and haggard, that he probably has some type of unknown fatal-illness now...or at least herpes). So that was fun. They got a cake for me as well, so that was nice. Afterwards, a large group of us went for a couple beers.

That night i had chris, kate, and matt over to watch a movie. About the time when they were ready to head home and pass out, my host family came in with more cake, soda, and beer. So they stayed and we watch these random music video mix dvds that my host brother Raul loves. They really make you feel like it is 1996 again.

Friday....well i´ll get to that in my next catch up blog after dinner!

I got fleas

Yeah the title says it all...i´ll find one of those litle SOBs every now and then. I blame it on the damn cat that is roving around the house all the time. But i think once i start thinking about it it gets worse than it actually is, and i start to get all hypocondriac-like, thinking that and little itch is a bug!!
So i got up today and wasn´t really sure where my spanish class was to take place. Last week my group thought it was in our community, but were mistaken. This week we were pretty sure that it was again in our community...but not %100 sure. So we all show up at Chris´s house for class...and our teacher doesn´t show. So we start to thing: ¨great, a scond time we´ve screwed up!¨ But another person from anothe group was around, and thought the same as us. So we get a call, which indeed tells us that we need to get to the Center, but not because we were wrong, but in fact because other people we so confused that half the people had arrived at the Center, and the other half in ther communities. So thise jeep comes flying into our community to pick us up. I don´t know if the driver just is happy that he gets to get out of the Center and drive fast, or if the PC says that it is practically life threatening that we have missed a mear 20 minutes of a spanish lesson, but this guy was driving like a bat outta hell. I mean it was like operation-get-the-gringos-to-the-center-so-fast-it-makes-them-sh$t-there-pants. We all thought it might be over doing it a bit, but hey maybe the guy jsut needs to go fast every once and awhile.
Class was pretty normal. Although we got to play to dodgeball, which was nice. Yeah i know, dodgeball? Aren´t we soooo grown up? Well it pretty much fits wit how we are treated, but if that means a little dodgeball (mata-gente) then i guess i can put up with it.
After getting my second round of a couple injections, we had a lovely talk about STD´s! Oh and if a regular picture is worth a thousand words, these are worth a million thoughs of wanting to gouge my eye out so i never see such things again. Today was the first birhtday for a trainee, and right in the middle of a talke about HIV, a mariachi band comes stroming into the little training room. They play for nearly a half hour and dress the volunteer up. The mariachi leading the show gets all of the girls to dance with the birthday boy, and i beleive the girl who set up the who thing sang a couple songs with them (yes, she has training in singing with mariachis). It was great, and a lot of fun...but then i started to think that my birthday was only 3 days away, and that the bar had just been set pretty high for birthday celebrations. So i started to think it was going to be sad when i get just a regulate ¨hey happy birthday¨greeting on thursday. But a couple of my friends joked with me that now they have to raise the bar.
Because i ran out of the house quickly, as the speed-driven driver wailed away on the horn, i was able to grab all of my running gear...except my shorts. So instead i grabbed a beer with the bday boy and several other people in my group. I ate just a few minutes ago, and now here i am. There is a popular boy band, Grupo Cinco, playing in Chosica tonight. I´m not sure if i am going to go, because it would mean a very late night, but a think a few people are going. I think i might as well expeience it, but i´m not sure if i´ll follow through. ALso, although i was ready to keep up our boycott of the soccer facilty, it appears that we will be playing another game there tomorrow. Hopefully we don´t wait another 2 hours to just play 30 minutes. Alright, well that´s about it for me...oh... her is my address at the training center, should anyone like to keep in touch by the ol´fashion way:

(My Name)/Cuerpo de Paz
Calle Los Cedros 647
Chaclacayo, Lima 8, Peru

That is good until i get into my actual site...i think.

Patrick

Recap of the week

This past week, since my last entry, has been one of ups and downs. I woke up wednesday feeling horrible. The dust still plagues my throat. I recovered fairly quickly, and had a decent morning, starting with my spanish class. I learned later that afternoon that we were to get into groups (those of our current communities) and do different types of surveys and research among the people we are living among. My self and two other volunteers, Raija and Dani, decided to get a an early start on it, so we started after school. We asked random groups of people that we cam into contact with to draw us a picture of their community, and/or what they thought were the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in there community. We got a lot of positive feedback from those that we asked.

Thursday came quickly, and in all honesty all i could think about was the soccer game that was lined up for that night at 6. But 4 hours of spanish class, and 4 hours of finishing the previously described group project was between me and what i desired. The day passed quickly. We didn't have to do much for our project because we had gathered so much info already. Soon enough it was 5:30 and i was off to the field!

However, it didn't go quite as planned. Once again, the host father of another volunteer had reserved the field for 6, which we all waited patiently for, however, we didnt' get to play until 7:30. This is because they had a "conflict" of scheduling and they were currently having a round-robin for an adult league. That basically means that they just don't give a flying f**k because we are gringos and not very important. To so of you this might be a bit offensive or quick judgement. You may be right, however, i have already dealt with the blatant discrimination against gringos on several occasions: see Combi fares. I'm not saying they aren't entitled to try to take advantage of those that are willingly fooled, but i've pretty much had it with the "taking advantage" of gringos look at life. So we didnt' get out on the field until 7:30 and were only able to play until 8, yet we had to pay for a whole hours worth of play. So we all decided that this was not a place that we wanted to return to anymore.

Friday morning brought a new day, and we were to present our projects to the rest of our fellow volunteers. I had draw several comics about some of the funny things that we in Yanacoto put up with on our poster: the crazy dogs chasing us, the mototaxis almost running us over, etc. I got a lot of recognition for these drawings. I kinda get embarrassed when people talk to me about my art, but it was also nice of them to tell me that they really liked it.

Soon after our presentations we left for a mass exodus to Lima. I slept most of the way. We arrived and waited around in the main plaza for a few minutes while we got organized into our spanish groups. We then had lunch in our respective groups, and did a couple of group activities, which like always, meant that we had to go up to random people and ask them questions about the local buildings, etc.

Both Intermediate High spanish classes (8 students in total) walked to a local market place. We were given 20 minutes to just walk around. The upper floor, where we went first, unfortunately is right about the oh-so sanitary meat market, so many of us almost vomited in our mouths several times. after that fun experiences we got in taxis and headed to Miras Flores, an area right on the coast. We got some coffee and churros, and then headed to see the view of the beach. The sky was very much like oregon, gray and cloudy. I felt right at home, while others complained about it being to cold. he place that we ended up at, overlooking the ocean from a high vista, reminded me very much of a trendy outside mall that you might find in So Cal. After a little bit we were set loose to get back home on our own. Chris, Pete, and I planned on getting a beer with basically the rest of the whole group, but after an hour of the "who's going were" game, we decided it would be better to get back in time for dinner with our families. Big mistake.

If it is one thing i can recommend to anyone wishing to travel in Lima, it would be to not use public transportation during rush hour. We got on a combi (the one to take us to the actual on that would take us back home), which was really crowded. This wasn't unusual, but that fact that it took 45 minutes in stop and go traffic wasn't great. Oh but we knew so little of what awaited us. After getting off the combi, and taking directions from several different people, we finally got onto the combi that was in route to Chosica ( and thus Yanacoto). About 10 minutes into the ride the combi basically stops moving at any real speed (meaning that i could get out and walk faster than it). The driver puts on the emergency lights and slowly putts along the right side of the road. All the while the cabin is being filled with the black smoke that is flowing from the exhaust pipe. This goes on for about 20 minutes, and people started to demand their money back and to get off. Some do, but most stay, and the bus finally kicks back into gear.

An hour later, still standing, cramped next to the smelly guys and the guy that kinda looks like he could shank me at any moment, the bus decides that it was a lot of fun putting along at 5 miles per hour, so it does it again. This time it goes for about another 30 minutes. Fun times on a combi! After we've been on the combi for about an hour and a half, it starts to thin out with people. However, because my mother always insisted on me being a gentleman, i always gave any open seat to children, women, and anyone older than me (which when you are only 23 means the majority of people). So by hour two of standing on the moving stink-box, i would basically scream internally everytime a new batch of women would get on the bus. About the time we arrived to Chaclacayo ( 15 miuntes before my stop), i finally got to sit down! Oh how great it was! Like i had never sat before! As always, the giant hill awaited our arrival patiently :) In all our trip from Lima to home took around 3:30. Some people that didn't leave for several hours after us took similar means of transportation and arrived in 1 hour... I've learned my lesson.

Saturday the water group met up at the center to construct hanging worm composting bins, and we also poured the first slab of concrete for our permanent worm-composting bin. This was a lot of nice, hands on work, that most of us had been longing for. The only complaint from people was that this work come on a saturday morning. That afternoon, after eating a nice lunch, i napped for several hours.

That night, many of us (most of our group) eventually met up at a dance club, where we proceeded to amaze the peruvians with our gringo-ness. It was a really great time, and i think our saturday nights are really necessary to blow off much of the steam that is built up over the week.

Today i got up and did laundry with my hostbro Carlos. Then we went into Chosica, were we took his ex and her children to what is basically the peruvian long-john-silvers. well maybe not that bad, but it really did resemble an american eatery that has way too much nautical stuff on the walls. The kids are really great, and are calling me uncle already. After that Carlos and i met with one of his brothers and shared a couple of beers.

NOW i'm back, and writing this. Sorry that this is so jumbled and lacking in detail, but i am tired! Hope all of you are well!

Love,

Patrick

The first weekend: mission impossible, big night out, etc.

Alright, so a whole weekend has passed since my last post. It´s been a pretty full couple of days. Friday was business as usual, starting with spanish in the morning, eating lunch in mi casa, and then heading over to the center for the second half of my day. I believe that was the day that we presented out Tippy Taps. I don´t know if i explained what they are in my last blog, but basically they are a used plastic bottle that you use for washing your hands. You cut the bottom off, hand it upside down, and then unscrew the top just a little so you can use the water to wash your hands. Basically it is suppose to function as handwashing unit in places where there is no sink...like in a latrine. Mine was the Tip Top Tappy, brought to you by Tip Top Industries. It has a no slip grip, and it´s ribbed for your pleasure. SO when you want a Tippy Tappy, look no further than the Tip Top Tappy (warning the Tip Top Tappy may cause severe retinal damage, loss of bowl control, loss of hair, increased toenail fungus, as well as immediate death). Anyways, that was the little thing we did in class that day.
After classes a couple of different groups grabbed a beer then headed home. After dinner a few people came over and we watched Zoolander. Everyone had an activity that had been given by our repective project groups, and was called Mission Impossible. My mission, along with my co-agent Teagan, was to ask someone about the water in Chaclacayo; have someone draw us a map of the city, and lastly, find a mason and ask him several questions about his job. The water was easy to learn about, while the other two were not so easy. I asked a random teenager if he could help us draw a map, but with much support and offering ideas of where things actually were, all that the map contained was three odd-shapped squares. So that didn´t go great, but oh well. Finding and Albañil or mason, proved to be a difficult mission. After asking several people, going to the wrong house, getting a random phone number that didn´t work, i found a group of guys working on a cement driveway. I asked one of the workers several questions, which he was happy to answer until the second that he saw his boss, which was about the time he just picked up his wheelbarrow and took off back to work.
There was a fair going on at the highschool which is right across the street from my home. It had been going on all day, and later on i and some of my fellow Yanacotan volunteers played a couple rounds of soccer. That night the group of volunteers living in Yanacoto and I went out to Chosica where we went to a coupld of clubs/bars. My older host brother Carlos met up with us and took us to a second club which was really quite big. After a while the group of volunteers headed home in a taxi, but Carlos and I stayed to hang out with his friends more. We got back at the early hour of 4 am.
I didn´t get up until 1pm that next day, and pretty much wish i hadn´t gotten up at all. I don´t know if it is the new surroundings or what, but i had one of the worst hangovers in my life! And that is saying something! I felt absolutely horrible, and thought that i might literally be ill with something else. I also didn´t feel like i had been prarticularly wreckless with my drinking, which was why it surprised me so. But i got through it. Lunch helped. Nothing quite like rice, potatos, and more of the two to really soak up what ails you.
My host borther and i went back into Chosica to find some soccer shoes for me. He has an ex-girlfriend, who has two children, which he has basically helped raise since they were young. I met them and we took them to the little fair that is in the Chosica park. The little boy said the blond hair on my arms made me look like a white gorilla, and then proceeded to compare the arm hair of myself (white gorilla) and Carlos (black gorilla). Very nice kids all in all.
Monday morning was back to school. There was a slight hick-up however. I, along with the other people in my spanish group, believed that we were to meet in at my house at 8:30 am. However, my mom got a call while i was eating breakfast at 8, saying that i was late for class at the center. So i rushed out, and got to school a little later. Luckily i wasn´t the only one who had misinterpreted the schedule. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. I went for a run after classes finished. I have been doing pretty well with keeping up on excercising, which makes me feel great. I had a beer with a group of volunteers, then headed home to eat, do homework and hangout.
Today we actually did have class in my house, which was nice because i don´t have to leave! I can get up later, and i don´t have to leave to eat lunch. I really wish that i could just know all the spanish that i possible could right now! It would save me from some frustration. But i´m sure it will be fine soon enough. After classes finished this afternoon, a bunch of of went to the same soccer complex to play. The other Pat in the group had had his host father set up a game for us. His host dad played goalie, while we played a team of his friends. A lot of extra people wanted to come and play, which wasn´t that great of an idea for those of use that had been planing on playing, but it wasn´t so bad. I think that we either tied, or won the game, but regardless it was great to play. I got two pretty good goals, and played a lot, so i was really happy. I returned home just a couple hours ago, around 7:30. Ate dinner with my host mom, and here i am now! Actually i did finally talk with my parents through Skype tonight. That was very nice. I also got a surprise skype call from Dan Northcraft. It´s crazy to be talking with someone in China, while you yourself are in another country as well. Ok, well it is 10:30 and i still need to do my home work, maybe watch some tv, and hopefully get rid of this constant throat pain (it must be the dust in the air...or the occasional trash burning). Hope all is wel with everyone. Thanks for reading.

Pat

More from the first week

Hello all,

The past two days have been busy, like every other day! My spanish class started having our lessons in our community yesterday (wed.) We are starting out in Melissa´s home. Then mine next week. My mom says she has to do a bunch of cleaning in our living room before next week...which to me seems spotless, but i suppose it is a mom thing. After class i walked back down to my house and ate lunch. Then around 12:30 proceeded to preactically repel down the steep road down to the highway. Going up and down that thing two or three time a day, usually filled to the brim witn potatos and rice is relly going to get my ass toned. And yes if anyone would like to learn more about my diet i would recommend diving head first into the potato pile at Fred Meyers, but only after eating a pound of rice. No i´m just joking...well kind of. It really is good food though, and my mom is really really happy that i eat everything. I guess they had a volunteer that didn´t really care for much, so they are always surprised that i will eat what´s in from on me.
My training in my WatSan (water and sanitation) group was really frustrating that day, but it is great because i am really able to talk with my trainers, who really care and understand what is going on. So that makes it a bit better. I also have friends to help me laugh it off. After training, we had a yoga lesson taught by one of the volunteers. It was nice, and there were tons of people. Even tons of people that hadn´t ever before. EVeryone thought i must really be into yoga seeing that i had my own mat...but i´ve only been 4, no 5 times. Last night i did some homework, and then watched a movie with my host bro. During it i thought i felt something rumbling a little, like a big truck outside. Bu there was no truck. I came to learn today that it was a small earthquake. One of many that i guess plague this country.
This morning for my spanish class we went into Chosica, where i had to walk into the local municiple building to ask the about the local water. It was a little strange, but i have this strange sense of courage, which i am taking as my knowing that it really doesn´t matter if the people don´t like me. However it was awkward walking into te crowded building, and then finding a woman to talk to, but did so while she was trying to make a call. This afternoon in my WatSan class we talked a little about site locations and how they are chosen (but no, i don´t and won´t know mine for several weeks). Then we made Tippy-taps, which are water dispensers made from plastic bottles. YOu leave them in the sun, on the roof, for several hours, and by doing so you allow the uv rays to disinfect the water, then you have clean water t wash your hands with! The use of uv rays in this manner is known and SODIS, which i´m sure i´ll know a lot about at the end of 10 weeks.

The bad thing about living here with the internet right next door is that i here the shitties MTV pop songs played over and over and over again. And then somehow they will even find the same song, but with like a chipmunk voice over. oh how wonderful!!!! Another great thing here in Yanacoto is the plethora of crazy dogs that try to nip at you! :) I think i´m going to start a page on our volunteer website called PPP (los perros mas peligrosos en Peru). I think it would be great for volunteers to put up pictures of the crazy dogs in their site. Also, every morning i wake up and think that it is foggy, but have realized it is just the dust and burning trash in the air! Chris has joked that he is from LA and that he understands poor air quality..but that this is ridiculous. YOu can really see how a lifetime of conditions like this would have serious ramifications later in life.

I went with a group of my fellow voluntarios to play soccer today. We found this place in the town just about 5 minutes up the highway. It is this little turf field that you have o pay to get into, but it was nice because we just played 5 on 5 with the people that we came with. Well 4 on 4, but two locals who work at the place joined in. I did pretty well actaully. but unfortunretly i got some pretty bad blisters on my feet, so mi hermano told me we´ll go find me some soccer shoes this weekend. It was also a bit hard to to the previously mentioned air quality. I think we were all feeling the burn pretty quick.

I´m really excited to get out and see more o peru....whenever that might be. It seems like it is going to be an amazing place to be.

Well that is all for now. I think i´ll go pass out now!

Patrick

Living in Yanacoto.

Hello to anyone reading this...which might just be you mom. Since my last entry i have arrived safely in Peru. The flight here was fine, without any complications. In fact, i was drawing in my sketch book, and a flight attendant asked me to draw something for the flight crew. They really enjoyed it, wich i could tell because the paraded up and down the aisles holding it up for everyone to see. On my way off the plan they also handed me a stack of free drink/food coupons for another flight on American Airlines. But lets be honest, if i even ever use them, it will be for the drinks. We were immediately greeted by the Peace Corp team. They tood us through customs and put us on a couple of rented busses. We drove for about an hour to a conference/retreat area in Chaclacayo (were our training center is located). We didn´t get there until around 12:30 AM. So we were pretty tired, and still cou´ldn´t go to bed until we were assigned our rooms.
The next day was filled with a lot of the usual orientation activities, like policies and procedures, and in the afternoon we had different interviews. The interviews were for our home-stay, language level, and a one-on-one with our project coordinators. I was pretty worried about the language test, but it went well, and was told by my interviewer that i had exceeded the minimum requirements for to be placed in site. I don´t know why she told me...maybe because she knew i was nervous, but it was really nice of her. So all i have to do is not become worse at Spanish in the next ten weeks to pass my spanish level test. I´m not too worried about that, because i´m already having thinking, and even dreaming a little, in Spanish. Anyways, that evening i went walking around and found a little place to have some beer with some other PC people. Others joined and made our party about 11 strong. We had to get back for dinner at 7, but after most people went to the little dance club at the center. I had a lot of fun that night. It started out with only a few people dancing, and a lot of Peruvians watcing...and even taking pictures ( i know because they tood one of me). Well i was just goofing around most of the time, but it seemed to work out great cause everyone was enjoying me being there. I was wearing my hiking boots, which i think REI should label as hiking/dance´n boots. My friend Chris and i were having a realyl great time and getting the other guys out on the floor with the other female volunteers.
The next morning came a little too soon, and much was said about mine and Chris´s dancing abilities. We packed up our stuff and headed out to the training center. It is a really beautiful home, in a well manicured compound. It was originally owned by some Italian business owner. We did more orientation activities, met with our language professors, and to my delight i found out Melissa (who i went to UP and Sain with) and my friend Chris are the only other people in our group. Chris and i usually are just making each other laugh, and Melissa is very sweet. After that our host families arrived. I believe there are 17 people in my town ( Yanacoto). I was greated by my oldest host-brother Juan Carlos, and my host-mother Lucia. Carlos is a prety tall guy, and luckily a very clear accent. He is always amped to talk with me and is really positive. My mama is a little bit harder to understand, but i´m getting better at understanding her. Most of the volunteers in my area and our families crammed into a little combi (bus) and drove to our town.
I am surrounded by other volunteers, and infact can watch many of the from the top of our roof is i choose to be creepy. My house is a lot nicer than i expected. I have my own room which is probably larger than any room i have ever had with a host family. It also so happes to be right next to a room which my family uses for an internet cafe. So for any of you with skype i could set up a time to use it if you would like. It is also kinda cool because my friends come over and i get to see them while they are here using the internet.
I began to unpack my stuff while Carlos and i talked. We had some great conversations about many different things. I learned that he has worked for several beer companies, and now is a part of a new (and hopefully upcoming) beer company named Franca. I walked around a little, and while doing so saw many other volunteers. I thought that they were playing soccer up on the cement court, but were actually playing Bingo. Apparently a Swiss woman donates various things to the comminty ever month and they have a Bingo game to win them. I walked back down to my house and chatted with my Carlos again. It was then time for dinner, which i ate with my host mother, and when they arrived, my host brother Raul and my father Agipito. By the way Carlos is 36 and Raul 32. I had a little bit of a sad moment when my host mother told my host father that i speak very little Spanish. I mean, i know i´m not a native speaker, but it´s not my fault i can´t understand her. But i thought it was funny. I sat up with my Carlos and Raul on the second floor balcony where i live. I started to watch some tv, but by 9 i was read for bed.
Morning came, and i had my first cold shower. Quite...invigorating to say in the least :) I had breakfast, and then was ready to head out for the center. The father of a volunteer that is my neighbor accompanied all of use to the center to help us know the stops. I seriously live within a block of 4 other volunteers, and only a few more blocks to many others. When we leave in the morning it pretty much looks like a Gringo exodus.
Wel the day was pretty boring to be honest. A lot of orientation activites, like a class on security. I am really happy with my Water and Sanitation team. Both co-volunteers and trainers are really cool. It also seems to be more laid back than the Health and Environmental teams have to be. I learned that there are only around 11 other water volunteers already working in Peru. Also, that we will most likely be working in only three different states (Departamentos): Lima, Ica, Piura. If i could choose now i would pick Piura, on the northern border. I have been told many times the north is the best, and my host brothers said they would pick the same.
I came home and walked around with a couple of volunteers. That night Chris came to use the internet and ended up hanign around with me and my host brothers. We listened to music and drank beer on the veranda for several hours. I tried to translate a lot of songs for my brothers. Chris went home around 9.30, but we kept talking until around 11.
Finally i am almost up to date!!! This morning i had another wonderful shower, ate breakfast, and met the with my traveling buddies outside my house. Carlos walked down the really steep road that we have to go down to get to the highway. You have to watch out for the Mototaxis that go flying by you all the time. They are basically a covered motorcycle with two back wheels. Just a side not, my family rents a room to a young mother who has two really young children: Josef, and Leslie. They are probably only 2 and 3 respectively. They are right next to me playing, and they are incredibly cute. They really like hanging out with me. Anyways, this morning started out with some actual Spanish classes!!! Yay. We mixed in with another small group and played a couple games. The first game was called Titanic. We all chose cards with various famous people on the opposite side, and then had to make an argument for why that perso should not be thrown out of the only remaining lifeboat that is already too full. Well by luck of the draw, i was Ronald McDonald...and you can pretty much deduece that i didn´t last long against the likes of Princess Diana, the Oprah, Shakira, and Daniel Craig. But it was fun. Next we went out into a little park and played dodge-ball. If you got hit you had to answer a question in Spanish. It was a lot of fun. We separated into our normal groups and continued with a normal Spanish class. Then we had lunch, and proceeded to have several hours of what i would say was very boring classes on how to better collect information when in our sites.
Many people have said that they want to start doing a lot of excersise activites after training each day. We went running today. Although i didn´t really want to mob out in a group of aroudn 13 people, so i ran by myself for some time, but met up with Melissa and Nate. We went through the streets and up a pretty steep hill. I hadn´t ran for quite some time, so it was good to get in almost an hour´s worth of excersise. Melissa and another volunteer are also going to lead Yoga classes (thanks Kim for telling my to bring a mat), and i think Nate is going to teach us som Brasilian Ju-Jitsu (?). We all made it back to our bus stop without any guidance, and then proceeded to hike up the massive hill. Tomorrow our professor Ivan, will be coming to our community for spanish class. This week we are having it in Melissa´s house. So i walked with her and Chris, and another volunteer named Steve, to her house. We stopped off to meet Chris´s family. He has several kids running through his house at all times. We were almost attacked by several dogs, but made it to Melissa´s. I got home, tired, and hungry, and ate a lot. This made my mother very happy. She made me a dish that is very similar to chile relleno. So i was really happy too. My host brother is showing me that he just put a Journey music video on his Facebook page. I´m eating meat once again, and so far it really hasn´t been too bad. It makes me feel a little strange at times, but i think it´s ok (again, thanks kim for the probiotics!). Carlos just got home, and Chris is here using the internet, so maybe we´ll hang around a bit and talk. But after that i need to get to bed!!!!! Ok, well i love you all. Thanks for reading. I´ll try to be better about getting on here !

Patrick

Leave'n Time

So i write you from Gate 28, while awaiting my flight to Miami...so that i can then fly to Peru. I'm with 57 other volunteers, to it was a bit of a cluster @!*& getting checked in and through security and whatnot. We left the hotel at 8am for our 1:15pm flight.

Yesterday i got up and visited some of the monuments along the mall. You know, all the basics: Washington, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, etc. We also checked out the Smithsonian, but only for a few minutes. We headed back pretty much in time to make it to our 1 o'clock registration. The rest of the day was pretty much orientation. It involved a lot of talking to group members about how we were feeling, what are certain policies and why, and info for tomorrow (which is now today). A strange thing is that a girl that i went to Spain with and graduated in my class from UP will also be going on this trip. Last night some of us walked around and had dinner, a few beers, but basically called it an early night due to our early departure from the hotel.

It was pouring this morning as we all scrambled to get the luggage under the busses that were taking us to the airport. Seeing that i am from the great (rainy) state of Oregon, i figured i could take the rain and help others...which i did, but cause me to be drenched for an hour. Speaking of Oregon, there are at least 4 volunteers from the state.

I've been going in and out of feeling good and scared/lonely. I know it seems like it would be hard to feel lonely when surrounded by 56 other people, but it just isnt the same as having your best friends around. But i am hopeful. Also, feel free to give me as much encouragement and support as you would like, for i am worried that ill be the roughly 10% of people that decide to go home before they get to their assignment. On top of that, i think a larger percentage...maybe 30% don't complete the 2 years for various reasons. I'm pretty worried about that.

I guess the plan for the weekend, once we arrive in Peru, is to go on a group retreat. I'm sure it will be more information and exercises similar to our staging, but hopefully it'll be fun. Then we meet our families on Sunday...i believe. Then i think we start our 10 weeks of training. I've heard that the Water and Sanitation crew is always a fun rowdy bunch (says one of the trainers), so im hoping it'll be fun. Ok, well that's all for today. Wish me luck.

Patrick

Departure and Arrival

So I am officially in Washington D.C. It has been a long day. It started out with waking up at 5:00 am, and then heading to PDX. Got through baggage and check in ok. Stood around with my mom, Kim, and her mother. Then as time past, we new we needed to get through security, so that Kim could catch her flight for Guatemala. It was hard saying good-bye to my mom, but i'm sure it won't be too long into the future when she and my dad come visit. But another hard time was soon to happen: saying good-bye (see-you-soon) to Kim. It is really hard to leave someone you care so much about, but i think that both of us are pursuing great things, and no matter what we want the best for each other and will try to keep in touch as much as possible and see each other whenever feasible. Either way she is one of the greatest parts of my life, and i am so thankful that she cares for me so.

The flight was nothing special. Watched some 30 Rock and an Eddie Murphy movie (which i dozed off to several times). I thought i had more time in Chicago between flights, but it turns out i only had around 30 minutes. So that was a brief stop in Chi-town. I talked with Kim briefly, and got on the plan. Luckily i had an empty seat next to me, so that was nice. I noticed a girl on the other side of the aisle from me that looked like she might be in Peace Corp (had a lot of travel/heavy clothes on that not many people wear in summer), but i didn't want to ask her if she was going to Peru with the PC.

Landed, talked with Kim right before she lifted off out of Dallas. Headed to the baggage claim, and met up with a guy named Greg (from Albany, NY, but has lived in San Diego the past few years). I noticed he had a PC sticker on his baggage. Then the girl that i thought might be going to Peru asked us if we were in the PC, and it turns out i was right. Her name is Alyse (probably not spelled right) and she is from Portland. We waited for the shuttle to the Holiday Inn, and when we got on we met Nate from the O.C. We all got to the hotel, and it turned out Gregg and I were roommates. We got some beers down in the bar, watched some tv, and then met two other guys that showed up. Mark is from Wyoming, and Todd is from Colorado. All three (Greg, Todd, Mark) are all involved with environmental programs. We had dinner in the bar, and now i'm back in the room. I think we are going to meet up with those guys in the morning to do some sight-seeing for a little bit before we have to check in at 1:00-3:00 pm.

I've been pretty freaked-out, sad, nervous, stressed, excited all day. I won't lie, this has been a really hard day emotionally, but i am pretty excited for what is ahead of me. No better way to see how it will be than to just go on and do it! Miss all of you (thanks Pete, Sam, Holly, tricia, Em, Martin, Andy, Heath, Alison, and Dani for for coming out to dinner with me last night).

Love you and miss you all,

Patrick

Bags are Packed

Alright, so this is hopefully the first of many entries that i will make on this blog. I am pretty much packed up, and getting ready to leave for Portland today. I fly out Wed. morning at 8:30 and will arrive that evening in Washington D.C. for my staging event. Basically it will be an orientation as well as a time to wrap up loose ends. Then i fly out on Friday around 1:15, stop off in Miami, and then i make the long part of my voyage to Lima, Peru.

I'm really nervous, and sad to say good-bye to all of those that i love so dearly. But i am also very excited. I promise to keep all of you in my heart and mind, as long as you do the same! Wish me luck, pray, cross you fingers, or anything you think works, cause i'll take it all.

Patrick