Sunday, December 19, 2010

Real World: Nazca

After three weeks of being at site, the real world has begun to hit. Keep in mind that each Peace Corps representative has a completely different site with a completely different story. A good majority of my fellow volunteer companions are living in conditions very different from mine: very small communities (sometimes 300 people), pooping in cockroach-ridden latrines, bathing with 1L of water per day (just think: one nalgene full per day. Thats IT.) because their town only gets water every 2 weeks, hours away from urban life, or even without cell-phone service (*gasp* How can they ever survive?!). I, on the other hand, have somehow wound up in a tourist-ridden city (of a zone of over 50,000 people), in a house with running water, sewage system, and access to internet and phone service. But each has their ups and downs- we all carry burdens of the job, but in different ways.
For these first three months, we as PCVs spend our time gathering information in order to prepare our Community Diagnostic. Essentially, a Community Diagnostic is a really long compiled report about our specific community- the culture, the people, the problems, the instituations, the workings of it... everything! In order for us to do beneficial, sustainable projects we need to first make sure we understand what the community needs. This includes doing interviews, surveys (with over 100 people), meetings, collaborations-- anything we can think of in order to learn about the people's needs here. At the end of the 3 months we have to present our Diagnostic to our entire community and to the PC staff. Quite a load! Yes, it is a lot of work, but at the same time I really appreciate that they make us do these because it allows us to understand our community more before we begin working with them, which is essential. Since I am the first PCV to ever step her little foot into Nazca, I am the first to find out all of this information for the volunteers to follow after I leave. It sure is never boring!
These last three weeks have been intense, exciting, scary, fun, frustrating, challenging, and overall a good start to the rest of my life here in Nazca for the next few years. The thing about working in a big city here in Peru is that in order to make progress I have to make myself known by all the bigwigs. I need the town's recognition, respect, and support in order for me to move forward with projects. SO basically I have spent my first three weeks meeting as many higher-ups as I can to let them in on what I am doing. Also, speaking with these different people allows me to learn a lot more about the runnings of the city- how things function, who does what, what problems are there. There are a lot of things for a person to learn about a new city. My goal is to try to understand as much as I possibly can so that I can best approach the projects I have in mind. So far I have been in working with: the mayor of the province of Nazca, the Nazca water-systems company (se llama EMAPAVIGSSA), the Office of Environmental Health in the Hospital, the Red Cross, the Office of Environmental Health in the Municipality, the Ministry of Women and Social Development, several local reach-out groups (Vaso de Leche y Comedor Popular), the director of the school-systems of Nazca, Rotary Club International, the Madre of the Catholic Church (who does a lot of outreach), and several directors of various schools and pueblos outside of the city. As much information I begin to learn, I feel like there is so much more to know. This is the beginning base of my Diagnostic. A little over two-months more and hopefully I will have a better grasp on things... but between you and me- I think I'm going to need a lot more than 3 months to understand this community. It's a whole new world here. A whole new world.
Por eso, every day is a new surprise of things to come.
It's kind of funny: since I am still learning Spanish, I sometimes don't understand what is going on... so when I trust the person I am working with I kind of just go along with it... and honestly, those are the times where the coolest stuff happens! It usually happens when I'm working with some business man and he mumbles something to me in Spanish really fast (that I don't understand) and then makes a phone call and then something happens-- whether it be jumping into the seat of a garbage truck to see how the garbage system works, being taken in a Municipality vehicle to the middle of nowhere to witness where they burn all their trash, being herded into the middle of a huge crowd to watch a Peruvian dance competition for 2 hours, taxi ride to a nearby town on the beach for an event on wind energy in Peru, climbing to the top of a really high hill so we can inspect a certain well-water system, or even one time I wound up at a Nazquenian hand-crafted pottery event. The opportunities are limitless for random lost-in-translation moments... I wonder what is to come!
As for now, I hear some Peruvian music blaring through the window from the main plaza so I am going to see what all the noise is about. *10 Soles says there's a school-wide dance going on!

*side note: Nuevo Sol is their currency here! 3 soles=1 dollar. (a.k.a. I bet you'll owe me $3)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Week 1 of Nasca-ness

So after 10 weeks of intense training and Peruvian adventures, I finally got sworn-in as una voluntaria del Cuerpo de Paz. A big moment for sure, as on the horizon all we can see is the mysterious unknown. No more classes, no more instructors, no more speaking English, no more friends close at hand, no more pre-made schedules. We were then at that moment left to our own devices for the next few years. We are essentially dropped off at site and are left to our own devices to not only survive, but to inspire positive change and health within the community. Honestly, what I have been going through here at site for this first week of service has been so intense and different, no amount of training could have ever prepared me for what I was about to jump into. It was as if I jumped into the middle of the ocean accompanied with only a fun-noodle and was expected to survive. Well, fortunately for me-- I love to swim.
Nasca, Peru. The home to many world-famous sites including the Nasca Lines, El Cerro Blanco (the biggest sand dune in South America), Los Aqueductos (aqueducts created by pre-Incan civilizations- some that still function), various cemeteries with mummified bodies, and now ME!
I thought that by living in Peru for 11 weeks already that I would be accustomed to the culture here... well was I wrong! Moving here I have encountered an entire new life. There are a lot of changes I have been experiencing. I will share a few with you...
-I began a new diet. It's called "the runs". I don't even have to do anything, just sit on the toilet and boombam all the food I ate has magically gone through me! It's not on the market yet but if you'd like to begin this diet I'll let you try some of the water here and you'll be on "the runs" in no time!
-I have also changed perfumes. Instead of dousing myself religiously with bug repellent, I now spend a good portion of the morning applying the Peace Corps provided sunblock all over. The reason? Well, let's just say I completely understand where the saying "it's hot as hell" comes from. I'm in the desert!
-The parties I have been experiencing here are surely like no other. For example, the other day I went to a party for a 97 year old woman complete with her being spoon-fed papaya by her daughter, a table full of still living friends and family (that had to yell at each other so the other person could hear), tea cups, and me........ HAHAHA! A little different than the typical college party I guess. I'll find some friends here soon I'm sure...
-Also, I got a name change. I am "Catalina" here. It's much easier than the awkward language sessions I could continuously have with how to pronounce my actual name... every single time I met someone. Si entonces for simplicity's sake: Catalina.
-I've been getting a lot of action here in the kissing department. Every single time there is a greeting or departure... there is kissing. So essentially the barriers are automatically broken down at an initial meeting because, well, you just kissed them! Quite an ice-breaker I'd say.
-I have a new nightly fashion. Compliments of UGA Student Learning Center (it's always going to be the SLC for me... givin' a holler out there to my dawgs!) these green ear plugs have gotten me far. They allow me to fall asleep despite the nightly war of dogs outside my window and they allow me to sleep past 4am because of the rooster concerts that go on every single morning outside my window. Thanks SLC!
-The other day I turned on the TV and there was my face. The truth is that not a lot goes on here thats exciting so when something happens (it could be anything!) their going to talk about it. just so happens that I am that "something" right now.
-I've picked up a new hobby! Making speeches. hahaha. Essentially I meet new people every single day and they are all curious about what I am doing here and who I am so I give them my speech. I must say, after the 100th one I think I've been able to do it backwards in my sleep!
-And this is always the question that follows it: "Are you single?" ...And then I say "yes" and then they say that I will definitely end up staying here longer than 2 years because I'm going to meet un Peruano. (this exact convo happens like 5 times a day) At first I felt uncomfortable when people always asked me that because in the States we don't commonly speak about relationships until a little later in conversations. However, I have grown to understand that Peruvians love their relationship drama and that their women have babies so I have now just grown to expect this convo.
-I got my desk space in the Municipality. Never had an "office" before! Right next to a window so thats nice too.
-My typical emotion here is a mix of confused/lost/uncomfortable... but you learn how to accept that and move on. A sense of humor is essential for this job. It's a whole new culture and a whole new place that I do not know... I am positive I unknowingly do probably 20 things per day that is not typical of this culture- but that is just how it is. In time I will understand more. But for now, laughing at my blunders is the only way to stay sane.

There is so much more to say about my job here, about the culture, and various thoughts. Every day is a new battle and a new adventure. This is just the beginning. Stay tuned!