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!