Today I was asked when I am going to "empezar regalando"- start giving, as in when I´m I going to start giving things out. clearly gringos only come to give away things. the poor woman was incredibly confused when I explained that I´m not giving out anything, and that I´ll be here for two years.

Lesson to the gringos: when you travel or go abroad for charity, don´t just give things out. It creates a culture in which people expect all gringos to come bearing gifts and reduces their ability to be self sufficient. Work WITH the people, give them your time and friendship, share your skills. The whole the give a man a fish thing.. it´s true.

In other news. I´ve been keeping busy with my special school 2 days a week, working on my diagnostic (though not as much as I should be..) and going to various meetings here and in Chiclayo. I just promised to teach my dad´s elementary kids English 1 hour a week, starting next Wednesday so we´ll see how that goes. I have no idea how to teach English so this should fun. I´m meeting tons of people, most of whom I don´t remember their name but at least I try to remember their position or role, such as the lady that works in the municipality or which school they are the director of, etc. still no marriage proposals, though one guy straight up asked me to have his child and I´ve had plenty of people tell me they are sure I´ll find my Peruvian boyfriend and in the same breath warn me about Peruvian men.

Oh, I also apparently have really tasty blood. The mosquitoes have eaten me alive, mostly my arms and my face which makes for an attractive look. I´m told that once the mosquitoes get to know me, they won´t bite as much. Still, I asked the doctor to send me some bug repellent which I will coat myself in every day. I couldn´t figure out why there were so many mosquitoes (and I've been told it´s not even mosquito season yet) and then the doctor mentioned all the rice fields and it clicked. My town is surrounded by rice fields, sugar cane, and corn. Growing rice involved large amounts of stagnant water and mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Thus making my site mosquito heaven. Note to self-turn down any possible invite to work the rice fields.

ok, it´s time for my afternoon siesta. let´s see how many mosquitoes bite me in my sleep.

Dear Grandpop,

You would like Peru. You´d be frustrated by people not speaking English, but you would love them for their ingenuity. Riding in a mototaxi to a caserio, or small farm community, I saw all sorts of jerry-rigged things. Nothing ever goes to the trash until it has lived it´s life at least 4 or 5 times over. I´ve seen tables attached to bicycles to create carts and bicycles that are beyond their years but still work thanks to Peruvian ingenuity. Their ingenuity spreads even into jobs. They think of everything to make money, find a need and fill it. Pretty much every family has some sort of side business, and often that business has a side business. For example we make copies, type documents, print, and bind manuals. But the side business of the side business is that we also sell snacks and gum, pens and erasers. All to earn a couple extra soles. Where our bathroom wall doesn´t go up all the way, cardboard boxes have been sewn together and taped up to fill in the 1 foot gap. Most cars should not run. And I don´t mean by US standards. they just shouldn´t work, but they do. Held together with wire and dirt they rumble down the road, a typical station wagon loaded with at least 5 passengers plus the driver and who knows how much other cargo. It´s a mechanics dream.

You would also like the big machines. While the farms are mostly run by manual labor- men and women bent over planting, weeding, and harvesting there are also a good number of big machines. If you were here, you´d probably be able to tell me what they´re all for, but I have no idea, ust that they´re BIG. Our street was being paved and there were more big machines, but also men with buckets of sand and a broom. Quite the contrast.

Most of all, you´d like the drinking circles and cheap beer. It´s not uncomon to start at 9 am on a Sunday and spend the whole day drinking. Or after a long day in the fields to partake in a drinking circle. Sometimes they drink canaso, a strong homemade liquor they make from sugar cane, but usually its one of Peru´s various cheap beers, Pilsen and Cristal and once in awhile Brahma if the money´s really tight. If they´re in a spending mood, they might splurge for a Cusquena which is not too bad. Grandpop, you could pass hours in a drinking circle sharing a couple cases of beer and stories about your farm equipment and what you jerry-rigged that day.

I could see you sitting around shooting the breeze with any number of the various old men I see hanging around town. And when I see something poorly jerry-rigged, I smile and think to myself "My grandpa coulda done better."

A couple of photos

¡¡¡Los Hermanos Yaipen!!! I went to their concert in Chosica with my family and ended up front row with a group of friends. It was amazing. This was during their hip thrusting part. There was also booty shaking and overall flirting with the audience. Los Hermanos Yaipen are to Peru what NSYNC was to the US in their day. Needless to say, it was an unforgettable night

Dear US Taxpayers: Be proud. Peru just welcomed 36 new Peace Corp Volunteers into their communities and homes. These 36 people are set out to do great things and be prime examples of US citizens. Keep us in your thoughts, as our job isn´t always the easiest but is bound to be an adventure. This picture is from the first and last time I, as a PCV, will be clean and well put together- at least until Close of Service in two years. Next to me is Franny, a fellow Lambayequean, Youth Volunteer and my best friend here. Next to her is Isa, our wonderful and fearless Tech Trainer. She is an amazing person and a great friend and fellow clumsy person :)

My Lima family at swearing in. Pops was taking the picture and Vivi was running around getting dirty or eating. I miss these people like crazy, but am blessed with another great family here in Lambayeque.


This is what being a Youth PCV is all about. Getting hugged by 14 mothers and a father all at once with heads landing where you´d rather they didn´t. This was a dinamica we did at the end of the Escuela de Padres session and it allowed normally reserved parents to be silly for a little. The session was about healthy communication with your children. Part of my job is working with parents of youth to change some behaviors at home and thereby improve the lives of the youth. I had so much fun and I think the parents enjoyed it too. I love my job!!

More later. These took about 30 minutes to load, I was surprised it didn´t take longer.