I realize I have not written in this blog in a long time. There has been a lot of things going on, as you can imagine. Here are a few things I have been up to: I started an environmental youth group of about 20 high school students in Nasca. We meet every week to do a variety of environmental activities such as bike rides, river cleaning, making/flying kites, game nights, air quality lesson, interviews on the news, etc. It’s a fun environment and it gives the youth something to do. This is part of my “Ecoeficient Schools” Project in 6 different schools. We work with students and teachers to increase the environmental consciousness and education with them and start recycling projects in the schools.

I am doing a healthy cook stove project in the rural pueblos of Nasca, Ica, Peru. Most people in these pueblos cook over an open fire which often causes a lot of health problems on the people. These new cook stoves are made from adobe and have a chimney so the smoke directly leads outside, the food cooks quicker, and they save on firewood. I really like this project because I get to be outdoors, doing manual work on a project that directly benefits the community members.

I’ve had a trip to the jungles of Madre de Dios with some friends and to Machu Picchu with my parents. I do weekend trips to visit friends in their sites. The closest Peace Corps Volunteers to me are about an hour away. It’s nice to speak English, share a beer, and talk about all the crap that we go through daily.

I got a site mate here in Nasca. His name is Mike Kowalick. He is actually from North Carolina as well, which has provided entertainment for us as we point out “Southern” habits that we each do. He is going to be taking up on my Environmental Action project in the schools since he is a Youth Development Volunteer. I had my Close of Service Conference two weeks ago. It was nice to see all the volunteers again. It’s super interesting to talk with them and see the personal development loop we have all made. We all entered this endeavor so naïve. It is sad having to say goodbye to everyone, but it seems that’s what life is: a long string of hello’s and goodbye’s.

I write this blog entry with the intention of filling you in on my experience here over the last few months. I have just mentioned a few adventures that I have physically done; however, some of the more interesting adventures I have been on are more of the personal sort. Sometimes I feel like I am being put through a washing machine with all the bumps, turns and whirls, except I often feel like I come out even more tainted and stained. If nothing, this experience here has kicked my innocence to the world and has hardened me… one may translate that as good or bad, but it is what it is. I still write in a journal. Here’s a quote from one of my entries last week: “I think that life will always be hard, love will always be confusing, and there will always be surprises.” Maybe my thoughts and feelings will eventually change, but this is where I’m currently at.

Huelga 2012

Monday:

I have been trapped inside all day. Finally, as the sun slips down below the horizon, I decide to take it to the streets. I want to make sense of all this talk. I want to understand what this strike is all about. Even one step out the front door, the difference is noticed. There is a certain silence flooding every corner of this town, a certain eerie presence that has taken over.

I continue further.

These are normally the peak hours of commerce and shopping here; however, all the stores are gated shut and locked. No sign of movement whatsoever. The market grounds are nothing but mere vacant lots, with only the lingering scent of rotting fish and vegetable rinds to reveal their function. There is not a single car to be seen in this typically bustling town. The absence of this cacophony is a rare moment- one only experienced in the early morning darkness. People drip aimlessly along the streets. Their quiet murmur distinguishably slices through the silence. Some boys fly by on their bikes, taking full advantage of the empty roads.

I continue further.

Buses are stacked in rows and packs, stretched along the streets where the highway meets the city: all vacant. Their passengers, now riding the strike, are littered along the walls and benches, waiting. And waiting. Everyone, hundreds of people, sit in waiting, conceding to that which they cannot fight. We abide to the fact that we cannot win this battle and must only wait until the government and the miners come to an agreement. Hundreds of police line the streets in intimidating squads, prepared with shields and weapons. They confidently meander through the streets while there is nothing else to be done.

I continue further only to see the roads covered with rocks, broken bottles, tree trunks, barbed wire, garbage bags, smashed cars, big broken machines; essentially anything to block the entering into and exiting out of the city. We are stuck on an island in the middle of the continent.











Tuesday:

Tires are burning among the rubble. Cement telephone poles are knocked over. No one is in the streets except for mobs of miners slowly hovering from place to place like Death Eaters waiting on Harry Potter. The local news channel is blaring on every household’s television, with word about the latest actions. Ambulance sirens in the background reveal their position as the escort wounded strikers to the hospital. It's not every day people are shot in Nasca. The tension builds throughout the day, reaching a climax with some sticks of dynamite on the main bridge. The smoke from the explosion ominously covers the afternoon sky. The smell lingers long after the smoke cloud fades.







Since midnight on Sunday March 18th, the miners all around Peru are striking against the government. The artisanal miners do not want to formalize like the government is demanding. Therefore they are taking to the streets in revolt to get their voices heard. There are four main mining areas in Peru, and Nasca is one of them. The largest of the mining areas is Madre de Dios, which accounts for at least 85% of the illegal mining activity in Peru.

It has been a very interesting experience to witness this conflict, one that I have never seen happen in the States. It makes me think of war-torn countries and how the people must feel: helpless, scared, trapped. I only got a small taste of that this week, but imagine what it is like to feel those sentiments all of the time, and on a much more intense scale. How unbearable it must be.

Again, we are so lucky to be where we are and have what we have.

Welcomed Surprises

From an outsiders perspective, being in the Peace Corps often seems like such an adventurous, exciting experience. Sure, at first it is pretty exciting because everything is new; however, there is a honey-moon stage for everything... including Peace Corps life. Sometimes things get so humdrum we find ourselves hopping buses just to escape for an afternoon simply to eat dinner in a different town in hopes of mixing up the normal routine.

Fortunately for me, I live in a pretty famous town (Nasca) that receives quite a bit of attention from international spectaculars. Here is a glimpse at some of the excitement we’ve been sprinkled with lately:



This desert madness is from the International Desert Racing Competition called "DAKAR". It was held in January with racers from all around the world traveling from Argentine, through Chile, and ending in Peru. Luckily they ended up coming through Nasca!! It was a race of motorcycles, hummers, 18-wheelers, cars, jeeps, etc. Basically anything with wheels and a motor. Honestly, I have never experienced anything like that. Not just the race, but also withstanding the blazing desert heat in the middle of an incredible wind storm. Let's just say I was a completely different color when I got back to my house from all the dirt. I think I'm still washing my shirt from that day! http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html









This is a little traveling circus that came through Nasca while traveling around South America. It was complete with incredible acts such as jump roping, juggling, farting clowns, swinging, unicycle, tight rope balancing, and even drugged tigers that sat on command! As impressive as it was, I don't think I would quite compare it to Cirque de Sole... maybe more like a high school talent show. ;P









Next, Nasca was the host of in International Dance Festival just last week. Countries represented included Taiwan, Serbia, France, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, and of course Peru. It was quite a large event, actually I have never seen as large of an event here in Nasca since I got here. It seemed as if the people here were just starving to learn about the world and different cultures. They were so curious! It was really interesting to me as well to be exposed to these different cultures, music, dancing, people. My favorite of them all to watch was Serbia. It was like a mixture of Greek/German/Arabic culture... fascinating!!!














There's a little look into the interesting events that have happened here in the last few months. If you want a lil taste of it, come and see for yourself. (aka.... Visit meeee!! ;D)

Somos Iguales

If I’ve learned anything at all while I’ve been here, it is that no matter how much we put up borders or have our opinions of things, we humans are much more alike than we are different. As much pain and suffering goes on in the world over differences of religions, color of skins, gender, sexuality, personal preferences, sports teams, nationalism… it’s often just our egos saying we are better than the other.

We all feel hurt.

We all want to be comforted.

Friendship, among Peruvians.


Friendship, among Americans.




We all love. We all, at some moment, let down our guard. We all make mistakes.
We cry, we laugh, we wonder, we know.

We eat, we drink, we sleep. We all worry. We trip on sidewalks. We want to belong in groups. We all find a purpose.

We have moments of strength, and moments of weaknesses. We care for our young, we find ways to have fun, we are attached to the love of our mothers.


Peruvian women caring for their children.


American women caring for their children.



There are so many things that we all share. We often get so distracted in the details that we forget the overall truth.

We have different education levels, we have different backgrounds, we have different cultures, experiences, and habits. Some of us are rich, some of us are poor. The color of our skin is different. Everyone has their own story. Everyone was randomly given their set of cards.


My Peruvian mom.


My American mom.



But on a very basic level, we all share so much.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.”

Elephants, Not Hamsters

"Being busy doesn't necessarily mean bring productive."

I am awake for about 16 hours everyday. So let's say I spend 3 hours in the morning exercising, eating breakfast, getting ready for the day; an hour eating lunch; another hour with dinner. That now leaves a total of 10 hours left in the day that are all MINE.

I used to fill that time with rushing, stressing, meetings, programs, being frustrated, fake conversations, not enough time to really get all the juice out of the certain activity. I was often tired, usually stressed, and never satisfied.

In plain terms... I felt like a hamster spinning in her wheel. Working hard, but not seem to be getting far.

Somehow, after over a year of pain and frustration, I finally understand how to maneuver. At a steady, calculated pace with each step leaving a clearly defined footprint. More like an elephant.

So for a week and a half now (ever since I've been back) I have been working as so- at a steady pace, taking my time, following through, preparing well. And I like it. I am so much more happy!!!!! I also treat my relationships so much better with friends, family, and people within the community. Ahhh, very nice.

Being so, I now have more time on my hands. I have been thinking about a few books that I really want to dig into. If anyone has them lying around or sees them in the bookstore, send 'em my way! I am STARVING for more stuff. I will reimburse you in either money or llama hugs and kisses.. whichever you prefer.


"More Than Good Intentions" - Dean Karlan and Jacob Appel
"The White Man's Burden" - William Easterly
"PATHOLOGIES OF POWER: Health, human rights, and the new war on the poor" - Paul Farmer
"Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered" - E.F. Schumacher
"The End of Poverty" - Jeffery D Sachs
Any National Geographic Magazine, Scientific American, etc.


Alrighty, I hope to hear from y'all soon. And remember... take the day like the Elephants, not Hamsters. ;)

Quick Trip

Tears streaming down my face, eyes open wide open, unable to form a single word. One would think that I was stepping into a foreign world, lost and confused beyond all belief. And in a sense I was. One year and four months of living in another country, coming back to America, my home, was a deeply impactful experience for me. (I now fully understand “culture shock”). Being amazed and curious about almost every other thing I saw. Not to mention the emotional reunion of seeing my family again. I have never meant a hug so much in my life. It was as if in that moment they were extracting all of the pain, hardness, and negativity that I had felt the previous year and were washing my soul clean with their love, simply wiping it all away.

Two weeks of fun, relaxation, adventures, shopping, eating, enjoying, laughing, crying, conversing, driving, learning, reflecting. With family and friends. At home and at the beach.

















I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better break. I ended rejuvenated, recharged, and focused on what I need to do. Now I am here back in Nasca and am happier than ever. I have cut out negative parts of my life and have been focusing on the positive. I have been setting specific goals and working for them. I am on my way of really coming into myself. It’s amazing how much we still have to learn about ourselves. As long as we continue to push ourselves out of our comfort zone’s we will continue to explore our beautiful selves. It’s not easy, but the rewards are vast.