A few weeks ago the newest group of Peace Corps Peru volunteers arrived in country and have been completing their training in Lima. These volunteers are 17ers, which indicates they are the 17th Peace Corps group to arrive in Peru since the program was reopened in 2002. (My group is Peru 15). All even number groups work in youth development and small business, so it’s crazy to see them following the same pattern of training and experiences that we completed exactly one year ago. As “veteran” volunteers, Ian and I were selected to plan a week long field based training trip for 12 new trainees. Field based training is undoubtedly the best part of the training experience; it’s the first time you escape from the Lima bubble and see how volunteers really live and work. It’s an opportunity to gain firsthand experience working with Peruvian youth, meet community members, and catch a glimpse of what life might have in store for the next two years.
Planning a 7 day schedule for 15 people was no simple task, and both Ian and I took our responsibility seriously, filling every free moment with an activity or experience. Whether the new volunteers love us or hate us for keeping them so busy is still up for debate, but I’d like to think that after a week in La Libertad they now have a much better idea of what life in Peace Corps entails.
The trainees arrived on Sunday, fresh off their first experience on an overnight bus from Lima. Looking lively, we introduced ourselves, braved the frantic line of screaming taxistas, and introduced them to our usual hostel in Trujillo. After a brief period of recuperation after the chaos that is night buses, we shuffled to breakfast and began our week. We took it easy the first day, exploring the necessities of Trujillo and what a volunteer might need when they take a trip to their capital city (Good food, hot showers, etc.)
On Monday we departed bright and early for Puerto Malabrigo, probably the most rustic Peace Corps site here in Peru, located in a beautiful beach town known worldwide for the largest left wave. This may have been an inaccurate first portrayal of a Peace Corps site, but Erin kept the trainees busy and quickly showed them that she manages to accomplish meaningful work despite the temptations of the beach. We provided fluoride treatments and an oral health workshop for children and parents in the local kindergarten as well as the special education school where Erin works. We enjoyed a beautiful ocean-front lunch of fresh fish and then organized a beach cleanup with a local youth group. During Erin and Keith’s time in Puerto Malabrigo they’ve worked extensively at a surf school. Tough life, right? The trainees were fortunate enough to don their own wet suits and help the little surfistas with their lessons. Quite a unique and successful day, I’d say. I certainly can’t imagine anyone else went surfing on their Peace Corps field based training.
The following day we visited Bello Horizante where the trainees embraced their first opportunity to brave a classroom all to themselves. They taught English to the primaria students, and as I walked around observing I was happy to see the trainees getting down and dirty with the kids; hand motions, animal noises, silly games… nothing was off limits. Following the English classes the trainees observed Ian and I give a charla about effective communication with your parents. This isn’t the easiest topic to discuss with Peruvian teenagers, but we managed to elicit some participation and even hearty laughter after Ian and I posed as their “padres gringos” in a sociodrama. The afternoon consisted of futbol Americana, Frisbee, and other games with the kids at a local orphanage where Ian works.
La Libertad is one of the only departments fortunate enough to house both coastal and sierra sites (beaches and mountains, less than 2 hours away!). Taking advantage of this geographic gift, we headed to Otuzco, Brian’s beautiful mountain site to engage in some environmental educational sessions with local youth. If you haven’t seen a tippy-tap, you should ask one of the new 17ers how to prepare this amazing hand-washing gadget. They’re all pros at turning a discarded water bottle into a germ-killing, diarrhea-preventing tool, useful for all those bathrooms and kitchens without running water. After a few foggy days in Trujillo, I think everyone was particularly grateful for the strong sierra sun that accompanied us on our hike this afternoon. In Otuzco, trainees were also exposed to the wonders of Peruvian street food- salchipollo, papas rellenas, tamales, anticuchos, you name it… we tried it.
Following our Sierran excursion we descended to Poroto and jumped right into the school day, delivering sessions on vocational orientation and recycling (two of the programs I’m working on right now.) The kids at my school were beyond excited to have a huge group of my gringo friends come and work with them, and immediately attached themselves to their sides. It can be difficult to get up in front of a room of teenagers and facilitate a successful class, but the trainees did a great job and continued improving as the week progressed. After working with the secondary students in Poroto we headed to Mochal, a caserio located just outside of Poroto. I wanted the trainees to see what it’s like to work in both a large central school and a tiny caserio school. When we arrived to Mochal we were greeted by the principal and all the students in formation with a microphone announcing our arrival. There are less than 50 students total at this school, from kindergarten to 6th grade, but our welcome was quite the event. Peruvians have a tendency to give long-winded, overly formal introductions and palabras commemorating an event, and this was certainly no exception. Don Erico, the principal, announced the school’s appreciation for the arrival of the esteemed colleagues of our beloved Senorita Kelsi from the respected organization Cuerpo de Paz and after the national anthem and a few more introductions we began. The trainees facilitated games and dinamicas with the kids, who were also thrilled to have visitors. Before we left we elected one of the trainees to give the palabras de agradecimento or closing words of thanks. He took the microphone with confidence and gave an impressive speech, my personal favorite part was, “Gracias por tu feliz” or “Thank you for your happy.”
We headed back to Poroto and after lunch we had a question and answer session with my health post who helped the trainees understand some of the most prevalent health issues in Peru, adolescent health risks, and how Peace Corps volunteers can partner with their local health post to address these issues. Afterwards the trainees met with my group of youth health promoters to prepare interactive sessions about hygiene, nutrition, values, and/or dental health for primary school classes the next day. My health promoters are great, and they were excited to have the opportunity to work with the trainees. The groups were formed of 2 teen health promoters and 2 trainees, and as I walked around and talked with each group it was exciting to see them sharing ideas, knowledge, and planning their activities.
. After the sessions were prepared and we ended the meeting the kids invited us to play soccer, so we walked through town to the soccer field. It was a beautiful day, and a really fun opportunity for the kids to get to know lots about other Americans and the trainees to interact with youth on more casual level, which I personally think is the most meaningful kind of interactions I have here.
On Friday the groups of my health promoters and trainees delivered the health education sessions for the primary kids. The groups meshed incredibly well, and I was especially proud of my health promoters who were able to demonstrate their knowledge and took ownership over their presentations. Before we left email addresses were exchanged, photos were taken, and we were given enormous bags of sugar cane, pineapples, oranges, avocados, and other treats from kids of Poroto.
Our week of field based training ended on Saturday with an environmental leadership activity at Ian’s site in Bello Horizante. Working with some kids we painted garbage cans and placed them in the community and prepared a mural to encourage the protection of the environment. After a very busy week we had the afternoon free to enjoy Trujillo. When we got back to the hostel, some of the trainees called Ian and me down for a “meeting.” Before we knew it we were wrapped up in blindfolds and being thrown into taxis. Laughing, they told us that we were being kidnapped. It really was quite an experience being in a taxi blindfolded- neither of us had any indication as to where we may be going. We got out of the taxi about 10 or 15 minutes later and were led through a crowded area. Ian finally realized we were at the mall in Trujillo and got really embarrassed. I on the other hand thought it was hilarious and happily played along, waving my hands around and causing a scene. I’m sure the Peruvians thought we were crazy, but it was quite entertaining. Finally we were sat down and the blindfolds removed and were surrounded by all the trainees who thanked us for planning the training week. We were both treated to delicious Starbucks drinks and really thoughtful handmade certificates. Overall I think the week was successful- the trainees had the opportunity to work with youth of all ages, from various communities, in lots of different focal areas. The week was certainly a whirlwind, but I think they left La Libertad with a more comprehensive understanding of what life as a Peace Corps volunteers may look like.
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