tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56139296940513171802024-02-07T06:23:28.881-08:00Buscar La Paz y La Prosperidad de la Ciudad- Peace Corps Perukelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-91207279734931149592012-07-15T05:24:00.000-07:002012-07-16T06:51:18.407-07:00Preparing for the last combi ride<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I vividly remember the emotional rush that accompanied during
my very first combi ride to Poroto. I
was crammed amongst a jumble of people, excited and slightly overwhelmed at the
prospect of seeing my new home for the first time. I remember all my senses were heightened as I
took in the sites of the passing pineapple fields, smelled burning sugar cane
lingering in the warm air, heard cobradors shout in Spanish jabber, and felt
the bumps and curves of the carretera.
Everything was new and revealing itself to me for the first time; my
anxious anticipation was palpable as I anticipated the site where I’d be living
for the next two years. Now, after
countless trips on that same combi, I’m called by name and greeted with smiles
by fellow Porotinas as I climb aboard.
The squawking chickens, screaming children, and huge bushels of fruit
that inevitably accompany me have become commonplace fellow passengers. My two years have passed and I’ll soon be
embarking on my dreaded last combi ride out of Poroto. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I rode that first combi with a nervous smile plastered on
my face, I could’ve never anticipated the experiences that were waiting; shared
laughs, frustrating challenges, and countless new opportunities. Somehow this little town, nestled in the very
base of the Andes Mountains, surrounded by vibrant green pineapple fields has
stolen my heart and truly become home.
It’s been an experience far different from anything else in my life, and
something that I know will affect everything that’s yet to come. I truly thought joining Peace Corps meant
leaving my life behind and starting something new. While Peace Corps was absolutely a distinct
departure from my previous lifestyle, it has in no way been a different
life. It’s amazing how we all have the
ability to adapt to new situations and integrate into foreign
environments. Practices that initially
seemed bizarre, illogical, or different have become “normal” and my conception
of reality has surely been altered as I became comfortable with my new
lifestyle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’ve found that my life hasn’t been put on hold these past
two years; in fact, quite the opposite has been true. My life has continued and been enriched by a
distinct set of challenges, relationships, and opportunities for growth. Never before had I encountered moments where
I felt so lonely, cynical, and frustrated, but simultaneously loved,
encouraged, and inspired. I had
experiences and interactions that truly tested long-standing personal beliefs
and conceptions of the way the world works and others that re-affirmed them in
personal and meaningful ways. I realized
that as much as I missed my “real” friends and family, I was also capable of
forming an entirely new system of support in my community and amongst fellow
Peace Corps volunteers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Much like two years ago, I am once again faced with a myriad
of emotions as I’m about to jump on this combi for the last time. The “unknown” in my life is no longer the
foreign, as it was two years ago.
Ironically enough, it’s now the “familiar” that’s become unknown. I’ve become accustomed to 4:30am braying
donkeys as my alarm clock, lazy Sundays picking pineapple, extended lunches laughing with my host family, children greeting my entrance
with screams of “Senorita Kelsi!,” stray dogs chasing me on my afternoon runs,
and long Spanish conversations with local senoras about town gossip. I’ve
embraced less than hygienic habits and integrated bizarre Peruvian jerga into
my vocabulary. Will I be ready to face the
world of 9-5 jobs, punctuality, and materialism? I have to remind myself that America also
means my family and friends, dinner parties, real weekends, hot showers, the
beginning of a career, and food I can choose myself. Twenty-seven months outside the US has made me
unsure of what’s waiting for me and what new adventures lies ahead. My own beliefs and personality have undoubtedly
been impacted by my time here in Peace Corps, but I have faith I’ll jump back
into American life carrying with me the very best of Peruvian culture;
hospitality, warmth, and taking the time to enjoy life and relationships. I’ve said before; I’m ready to go, but I don’t
want to leave. Leaving my host family
and community and boarding that combi will undoubtedly be one of the hardest
things I’ve ever done. As I watch the
town of Poroto fade away into the green fields, my emotions will once again be
heightened and my future unknown, but I now carry with me experiences that I’ll
never forget and confidence gained through the struggles and successes of the
last two years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I began packing, I found a letter I wrote to myself
almost exactly a year ago with
instructions to open during my last week at site… here’s an excerpt- </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“This may not have been the easiest thing in the world, but now that it’s over I hope you continue to feel 100% certain that it was 2 years incredibly well spent. As you continue with your life, remember the simple pleasures, the beauty of relationships, and the small things around you. Maintain passion, enthusiasm, positivity. Don’t ever lose faith; in yourself, in God, in others, in your own capacity. The world awaits. I know it’ll be hard to leave, but Peru will always be your second home. Remember what you said when you started this adventure? You wanted a heart and home in this country; I certainly think at this point you do. So- be fuerte, be ambitious, love life, love others, love yourself. Embrace your last bit of time in Poroto; keep smiling, eat some pina, laugh with the fam- don’t take things too seriously and think of the many blessings you’ve had over these last years. Take this experience back home with you and let it mold your future in the best way possible. “</span></div>
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<br /></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-47744555628082896542012-06-28T05:25:00.000-07:002012-07-10T05:27:36.695-07:00Peace Corps Highlighted in Trujillo Newspaper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The following is an article featured in the main Trujillo newspaper, La Industria. It highlights the work of Peace Corps in the region, focusing on our recent youth camps. I translated most of the article below.</div>
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Hundreds of Youth
Share a Unique Experience</div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Peace
Corps: More than a Vocation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Organization Founded
by John F Kennedy Works in 8 Provinces of La Libertad</div>
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“Don’t wait for change, be the change.” Peace Corps promotes
this motto to hundreds of youth in 13 regions of Peru, one of which is La
Libertad, where 25 volunteers can be found working in 8 provinces: Otuzco,
Sanchez Carrion, Santiago de Chuco, VIru, Gran Chimu, Ascope, Pacasmayo, and
our own city.</div>
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The story began to write itself 51 years ago when the president
John F Kennedy founded Peace Corps, a development agency supported by the
United States, which provides American professionals who work on social
development projects in communities who solicit their support. The members of this organization are
currently working in 79 different countries.</div>
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Within Peru there is an initiative with Peace Corps
volunteers working in environmental management, water and sanitation, youth
development, small business development, and community health.</div>
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The regional coordinator of Peace Corps, Sandra Rivasplata,
explained that there have been many years of intense work in the design and
implementation of projects based on the reality of each community with a strong
emphasis on community inclusion. “Our
first efforts were focused on combating chronic child malnutrition, which led
us to become authorities on the theme and allowed us to expand our lines of
action.”</div>
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Peace Corps works prioritizing interventions benefitting
children, women and small businesses, focusing on workshops and educational
sessions. Annually, the volunteers
facilitate two camps with student leaders from the region, one named ALMA
(Leadership Activities for Young Women) and VALOR (Leadership Activities for
Young Men).</div>
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In these camps the youth spend four days learning about
diverse topics including; leadership, self esteem, youth entrepreneurship, goal
setting and life planning, vocational orientation, and health
(sexual/reproductive health, teen pregnancy prevention, etc.) sharing
experiences with other youth from the coast and mountains from the region,
converting the camps into a great space of sharing and learning amongst the
youth.</div>
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This year the first camp was held with young women with the
principal focus of vocational orientation, including a vocational tour where
youth visited four different institutes and universities and listened to
presentations about scholarship opportunities, motivating them to continue
their studies for a better future for themselves and their families.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Facts-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There are
8655 Peace Corps volunteers in the world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">240 Peace
Corps volunteers serve in Peru<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">33
Volunteers are in the La Libertad Region<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-38385816900413607662012-06-08T06:58:00.000-07:002012-06-10T07:04:28.924-07:00Escuela de Padres<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For the last two years I’ve been working extensively with the youth of
Poroto on everything from health promotion to environmental education, cultivating
meaningful relationships and trust between myself and the adolescents of
Poroto. However, the amount of time
students spend in school or personally with me is minimal. Our root values and beliefs stem from our
families and homes. Despite behavior-change
attempts or educational programs, if we don’t reach out to families and parents
we’ll be fighting a losing battle against promoting positive lifestyle habits
and practices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The thought of working with parents seemed overwhelming at first; not
only am I 24 years old with no children of my own, but I also come from a very
different culture, especially when considering familial trends and parenting
styles. What did I have to offer to
these parents? Furthermore, even if I did have valuable information to share,
who would listen? I had planned on doing
an Escuela de Padres series in my local school since arriving, but it took
several personal encounters to give me real motivation to organize the project.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> A little over a year ago, I was
working in the health post when one of my favorite teenage boys comes in. He was crying and inconsolable, which was
extremely atypical from his usual cheery demeanor. I spoke to him in private with the nurse and
after calming down he confessed he had misplaced his phone and his mom was
going to hit him again tonight if he couldn’t find it. He expressed this happens on a regular basis
and he was terrified of going home. On
the outside, this boy seems well-adjusted, happy, at the top of his class; someone
who I expect to overcome many of the obstacles in his life. However, if he’s battling continual abuse at
home, what long-term effect will that have on his self-esteem, confidence, and
abilities? This is just one small example, but it helped me realize that no
amount of sessions or education with youth can change the way parents
communicate with their children. I
couldn’t leave Poroto without trying to engage actively with parents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After this interaction and several similar encounters, I decided to coordinate
with my local school and health post to organize comprehensive parent-education
workshops for parents of both elementary and high school. Peruvian schools are
technically mandated to have Parent Education sessions, but like dozens of
other programs, they conveniently ignored this requirement. I started by meeting with all the teachers
and principal of the school to determine relevant issues and concerns that
affect parents and their relationships with their children in Poroto. After extensive brainstorming and planning we
launched our program. Working with parents and captivating their attention isn’t
easy, and I’ve heard a long list of failures with parent-related activities, so
I was determined to ensure parents’ attendance and participation. I solicited the support of teachers, the
principal, and the health post to encourage parents to take advantage of these
workshops, and we began about this time last year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Working with the nurse and psychologist from my health post we’ve been
able to facilitate discussions on everything from adequate disciplinary practices,
talking to your children about the changes of puberty/adolescence, preventing
teen pregnancy, alcoholism, promoting nutrition, and dealing with domestic
abuse. The three of us have worked really well
together, complementing each other’s knowledge and skill-set. Johan’s professional knowledge of psychology
and familial relationships gives credibility to our programs while my
enthusiasm and non-formal education activities help parents feel comfortable to
share and express their concerns. I also
know most of their children by name, so they’re more open to comment on
personal anecdotes. I’ve found myself smack
in the middle of dozens of bizarre conversations with parents, tackling taboo
topics and laughing through uncomfortable situations. Never in my life did I think I’d be in a room
full of Peruvian parents facilitating a session about talking to your kids
about sex, but I’ve put aside my <i>verguenza</i>
and jumped right in. The Escuela de
Padres program has not only allowed parents to learn new parenting techniques and
diffuse tough familial situations, but also provided an outlet to share
experiences and advice. This program has
also served to bridge the gap between the health post, school, and families,
which I hope will make families feel more comfortable to seek out professional help
and assistance when necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our attendance has been consistent and participation is active after a
bit of encouragement. The opportunity to
work one-on-one with over 100 parents from my town has provided insight into a
whole new realm of the community and its dynamics. I may not have children of my own, but
somehow these Peruvian parents have come to trust me and together we’ve shared
many memorable moments. </span><o:p></o:p></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-62642215813755908472012-05-10T17:12:00.002-07:002012-05-10T17:26:13.519-07:00Facing the person in the mirror<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is exactly what I looked like when I left America, si o no?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Three months left. What an adventure these past two years
has been; more highs than lows, but lots of new experiences and more than
enough time spent in my own company. When
I look in the mirror, two years after setting foot in this country, I gaze back
at myself and appear to be pretty much the same. I’m a little dirtier, maybe carrying a nice
little <i>recuerdo</i> of the rice and
potatoes so generously offered in abundance.
I might have a few more wrinkles from the strong Peruvian sun and laugh
lines formed from the shared experiences and ridiculous cultural exchanges, but
when it comes down to it, I’m still me; still Kelsi. After two years in Peace Corps I was subconsciously
expecting a grand transformation of sorts; some revelation about my purpose in
life or the hidden way the world works. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Despite incredible new experiences, defeating challenges,
emotional blows, exhilarating successes, and true fulfillment, I feel like the
same person. However, when I look in the
mirror there is something different, something that’s developed over the last
two years that I can’t quite put my finger on. After pondering what that that
extra little something might be, I think I finally identified it: comfort. I have spent the last two years learning to
rely on myself and serving as my own personal entertainment. Out of necessity I’ve become comfortable with
myself; my quirks, my strengths, my shortcomings, and my convictions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Regardless of a wonderful host family and a supportive community,
life in Peace Corps can be lonely and I’ve learned to be able to spend time
with myself. Coming to Peace Corps fresh
out of college was a dramatic transition. I spent four years living with my
best friends in a beautiful college town, where I was constantly surrounded by
others. Everything I did was accompanied
by other people and I thrived on the social interactions, sharing every detail
of my life with those around me. I didn’t
have any need to entertain myself or contemplate on any grand level who I was
or what I stood for. I’ve always been a strong person and known what I thought
and believed. However, I did not know
how to “just be” and embrace time alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Many long nights here in Poroto have taught me the pleasure
of my own company and I’ve realized that I can only make others happy if I’m
happy first with myself. The time and leisure of thought and reflection
afforded to me during Peace Corps has been both a blessing and a curse. In an atmosphere conducive to emotional
instability, it can be torture to be trapped in my own head. Simultaneously, it is through those quiet
times of reflection, doubt, and questioning that I’ve gained self-confidence
and become truly comfortable with myself.
I may not know exactly what I want out of life or the path that I’ll
take in the future, but I do know myself well enough to be confident in my
ability to own my decisions and figure it out.
In America it can be far too easy to hide behind friends, a job, a
lifestyle, a boyfriend, or an image, but here you have little else to rely on
but yourself. Stripped of any comfort,
support, or familiarity you’re forced to embrace who you are and work with what
you’ve got. Resourcefulness and self-reliance
come fast or you’ll drown. No one is
here to hold you accountable or keep you grounded; every day you have to wake
up and learn to live with yourself. I’ve
learned to speak my mind, form strong opinions, and truly battle internally
over what I believe and what I want out of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I’ve learned to take
ownership over my decisions, even if they’re hard, and I’ve come to realize
that life cannot be perfectly planned.
Life is messy and emotions are fragile, but strength and confidence are
born out of insecurity and struggles. I
still don’t have concrete answers, but I do know myself much better. Every day circumstances happen that are out
of our control; projects fall apart, people disappoint, plans change. Life happens and we can’t change that, but
we can change how we react, how we face obstacles, and how we respond to life’s
twists and turns. So when I look in a
mirror I realize that Peace Corps hasn’t turned me into a hippi (fortunately) and
I am no closer to understanding the meaning of life (unfortunately), but it has
given me the time to get to know myself.
My thoughts, my beliefs, my hopes; the good, the bad, and the messy, and
with this knowledge of myself I’ve learned to enjoy my own company. The luxury
of alone-time has armed me with a sense of self that will help me navigate the
next phase of my life, and with this self-awareness I feel ready to confront
the next set of challenges and adventures that life will bring. </span> </div>
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<br />kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-9476219834953698902012-03-26T14:29:00.001-07:002012-03-26T14:36:47.834-07:00Poder de la Mujer<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79WUBz4FxI4ezFSN0DTec0DtneMQvQiKXOZvK9DbLQWZHwQ5EsFlNyAxvWXosqFWGH7ofmw2ce4ciHEB3JhIB2NhLzOLhzvujhLfPPSjyN04H-iLT5-GfL-LRIKW9iFHKU-86lVQN2cA3/s1600/P3082511+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724322264116573282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79WUBz4FxI4ezFSN0DTec0DtneMQvQiKXOZvK9DbLQWZHwQ5EsFlNyAxvWXosqFWGH7ofmw2ce4ciHEB3JhIB2NhLzOLhzvujhLfPPSjyN04H-iLT5-GfL-LRIKW9iFHKU-86lVQN2cA3/s320/P3082511+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja12OOSqFoI8lLUOPJcRVm4uOqo3nRVOg5d2xfaqSPjoVg-ToeIuB1Aabsatt4uIuCx3oDi2xJD9TVc6G1FlaDkUYE83h3OL8D1YcbGBEa7PJ6_GbrluKhFZhzl5RAzg5VL4M2IufXaGTz/s1600/P3082506+%2528362x500%2529.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 232px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724322258910395714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja12OOSqFoI8lLUOPJcRVm4uOqo3nRVOg5d2xfaqSPjoVg-ToeIuB1Aabsatt4uIuCx3oDi2xJD9TVc6G1FlaDkUYE83h3OL8D1YcbGBEa7PJ6_GbrluKhFZhzl5RAzg5VL4M2IufXaGTz/s320/P3082506+%2528362x500%2529.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDIjBYmC3wW0TQN3xcJUFODCef04aMsJUNUC0r5cNFrbvMpb0hL7f5sbBF2CPkNyKUMWyxyZGTgXCrUnerMIzWeNz1e4mO6M3qfUhKaz8RwtR35X87U2aSlQDjfte6I6Bcpa0Zua2XLdJ/s1600/P3082503+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724322251776271042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDIjBYmC3wW0TQN3xcJUFODCef04aMsJUNUC0r5cNFrbvMpb0hL7f5sbBF2CPkNyKUMWyxyZGTgXCrUnerMIzWeNz1e4mO6M3qfUhKaz8RwtR35X87U2aSlQDjfte6I6Bcpa0Zua2XLdJ/s320/P3082503+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_dtNvcqSYQNRFxQvd1LPTICeoDUa0YHHiY9Q3-K7Ri6ww3jXWSKawwV1aQwZ4RE8zlSwE9xBIjTLncP_vKprT0AwVpuUw2qjIPtpQSnWSbViTNHou98gfPCPo3sJMOEzUrj1_7JILBQa/s1600/P3082479+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724322248821511570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_dtNvcqSYQNRFxQvd1LPTICeoDUa0YHHiY9Q3-K7Ri6ww3jXWSKawwV1aQwZ4RE8zlSwE9xBIjTLncP_vKprT0AwVpuUw2qjIPtpQSnWSbViTNHou98gfPCPo3sJMOEzUrj1_7JILBQa/s320/P3082479+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuG8pshbwt5RYal_EJsCY9N99LEJBWJdIxI1DlTe89qNmNt7L9jUQqLvOut8knOOl_Hkkc1zDNN6MewAYO8oSZhawO4bCKpgpxnAFY8W2ir2vTqb5c1p23mZq7sg1ajhcb0Wh5d91nYj5/s1600/P3082473+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724322241864054658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuG8pshbwt5RYal_EJsCY9N99LEJBWJdIxI1DlTe89qNmNt7L9jUQqLvOut8knOOl_Hkkc1zDNN6MewAYO8oSZhawO4bCKpgpxnAFY8W2ir2vTqb5c1p23mZq7sg1ajhcb0Wh5d91nYj5/s320/P3082473+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Here in Peru it seems as though there is a festival or official day of celebration for anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Everything from the common, like Mother’s Day, to the bizarre (or potentially invented) like Pisco Sour Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve learned to take advantage of these days to facilitate events or generate awareness about a relevant topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>March 8<sup>th</sup> was International Women’s Day, so Lindsey and I decided to plan an educational health fair for women in the district of Poroto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We began coordinating with our counterparts from the health post, soliciting support from the psychologist, nurses, and obstetrician to provide professional advice and interactive sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The idea was to present important health information in a fun and participatory way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The idea started small and manageable, but before long it transformed into an expansive event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We incorporated the 20 plus health promoters living throughout the rural sections of the district, my youth health promoters, and another NGO working in health activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The municipality and police also became involved, creating a community-wide project that required seemingly endless coordination amongst all parties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Serving as the go-between between so many disparate community organizations definitely tested my patience at points, but the event came together well and ended up being a success.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The day began with an opening from the mayor and local authorities, recognizing the importance of women in the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After concluding the welcome, each authority wrote their personal reflections about women on an enormous paper mural honoring international women’s day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We continued with a cultural show of typical dances performed by community members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>From there, groups of women passed through series of stations that focused on different health fields; nutrition, family planning and reproductive health, women’s rights and empowerment, and mental health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Each station included interactive sessions hosted by health professionals and Lindsey and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We also incorporated a different game at each station to encourage participation, teamwork, and fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The games included bobbing for apples, three-legged races, pin-the-tail on the donkey, and egg races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To our delight, the women participated with enthusiasm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Full grown women were practically swimming in the bobbing-for-apples bucket and knocking each other over in the three-legged race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My youth health promoters also worked with the kids in the community to do art and play health-related games, allowing their moms to participate fully in the health fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In addition to playing ridiculous games, women were able to learn how to prepare healthy meals, exercise their rights to education, work, and health, access birth control and family planning, report domestic violence, and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The entire community participated in this event honoring women and their power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I continue to believe women are the key to development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If a woman is educated and empowered they will make positive, informed decisions regarding their futures and their families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The most responsible, involved, and dedicated youth in my community are girls, and if they are given further opportunities to exercise their leadership and explore their skills, I believe the future of Poroto is in excellent hands. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-23327237854351674422012-03-14T15:04:00.001-07:002012-03-17T09:04:29.531-07:00Acostumbrando...<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoEf9KmhD4B2I5peXXDfQ4Pa1Vp9DGjY9oxi13kdXo1jXaGLNOU6lobCXfDgbt5_7SQ-YjIB-SHUtQQCUqlae1qS2e8I51rSG0EWrCx2JjRJtkFbfhTeKjHI7QyA3d_RArKhW_9NFSlc3/s1600/P3082471.JPG" style="font-size: 100%; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoEf9KmhD4B2I5peXXDfQ4Pa1Vp9DGjY9oxi13kdXo1jXaGLNOU6lobCXfDgbt5_7SQ-YjIB-SHUtQQCUqlae1qS2e8I51rSG0EWrCx2JjRJtkFbfhTeKjHI7QyA3d_RArKhW_9NFSlc3/s320/P3082471.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720897293353175410" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: Georgia, serif; margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Acostumbrar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If I were to simplify the entirety of my goals, hopes, and aspirations during my Peace Corps experience into one word, this simple Spanish verb would pretty much sum it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Despite my attempts to adequately convert this into English, any translation falls short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In my eyes, acostumbrar can mean to become integrated, to get used to, to become comfortable; in essence, to become part of something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So, you may ask, after two years of new experiences, frustrating challenges, and successful projects, why is “acostumbrar-ing” still the focus of my thoughts and actions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Life in Peace Corps depends on becoming accustomed to your surroundings, understanding the dynamics of your community, and embracing a new and very distinct way of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I strongly believe my personal happiness and sense of fulfillment stems from integrating into a new environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In all my life I cannot remember a more overwhelming</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 100%; "> experience than when I first arrived in Poroto.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 100%; ">As I climbed off the combi I knew this rural 1200 person Peruvian town would be home for the next two years.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 100%; ">I was left to fend for myself: to find work, make relationships, and form a new life for myself.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 100%; ">Knowing no one, having little guidance over my work plan, and still stumbling over </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 100%; "></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 100%; ">Spanish, the tiny town somehow felt immense.</span></p><span ><br /></span><p style="font-family: Georgia, serif; margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I refused to recognize any lingering sense of doubt, and instead decided to embrace this new adventure and jump in head first. Wasting no time, I decided I would dedicate my first months to meeting as many people as possible and gaining as many new experiences as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Every day was a new adventure, with new challenges to overcome and different cultural barriers to tackle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I immediately fell in love with my sunshiny new town, accepting its many glaring imperfections along with its endless possibilities. Before long, I was invited to family lunches, danced at town parties, and greeted by name as I walked down the street. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span ><br /></span><p style="font-family: Georgia, serif; margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">Despite my initial love for Poroto, I certainly wasn’t “acustombrar-ed” to this crazy new life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For months the early morning donkey brays startled me, the enormous portions of rice and potatoes overwhelmed me, glaring poverty disheartened me, and strange Peruvian customs besieged me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, I slowly found myself taking part in the activities I first found so bizarre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I loved eating a huge bowl of chicken soup with chicken feet for breakfast, I found it normal to sit in the town health post with stray dogs at my side, and started to throw Peruvian slang into my Spanish vocabulary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Every conversation with a Peruvian inevitably began with, “</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US">¿</span><span lang="EN-US">estás acostumbrando?” to which I confidently responded, “</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US">¡</span><span lang="EN-US">claro que si!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92qEPFTOJRoD2HD85gKW_lvjYx_8fjjeDFrGA6GzpkOTIaGbUAhMeHA5ulSEvzMW62hcE4VpQ760-1pquDm8eT1-b1Qts_zVNeQgnw8R8TXeuWynJgfJg_8lFBE2WExpxPiqkpTg8X5Na/s320/P2042049+%2528500x366%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720880922216194066" style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px; " /></div><p style="font-family: Georgia, serif; margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Now, over a year and a half later, as I come back from the chakra with my host family covered in dirt and carrying large sacks of fruit or enter the school to resounding shouts of “Senorita Kelsi!”, people in my community now comment with a knowing smile, “ya, estás acostumbrada.” My sense of normalcy has shifted entirely, and I’ve come to understand the deeply rooted societal customs of Poroto and Peru in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I worry that when I go back home my less than socially acceptable Peruvian tendencies will continue, and I’ll end up sucking on chicken bones at the dinner table, bathing only a few times a week, or aggressively waving my hand to get someone’s attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, in all seriousness, I have been adopted by my community as a pseudo-Porotina and I consider Poroto my second home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As much as I sometimes like to think I’m Peruvian, I’ve come to realize I will never fully “acostumbrar.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>American roots run deep and I will never understand some intricacies of the Peruvian culture (for example; how an open window or a fan is a sure cause of the flu, but heavy drinking for hours out of a shared cup poses no sanitary concerns).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, the bizarre beliefs or lifestyle choices are far outweighed by the many cultural habits I’ve come to deeply appreciate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Peruvians are warm, generous people; no matter how little they may have, they share it without reservation, keeping me well fed with heaping plates of food and freshly picked fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>All Peruvian women seem to have the incredible talent of miraculously producing ample food for anyone who may unexpectedly show up at their doorstep or arrive late to a party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve learned to take myself less seriously, and come to realize there is never anything so urgent that I can’t take the time to stop for a quick chat and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a good morning smile with the senoras I pass on the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’d like to think that in my time here in Poroto my community and I have simultaneously “acostumbrar-ed” to one another; slowly learning more about the other and becoming more comfortable as we share, laugh, and experience life together. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-44809576509629083472012-02-08T13:31:00.000-08:002012-02-08T13:48:41.175-08:00US Ambassador, Rose Likins, Visits Poroto!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJhhgqdvL3iowNWKjJp8uNyaYJ-hsDmjbqhf_wzrqO8H1Ded048x_UwGJwx2Vva9mdefP6GBPsLCHIM8D6bUFOLDCVFP2BQkkQSuWjgObSqFtBGT2jbzB8Ee-m8A7cJmTuIgGknTRm-CP/s1600/P1252019+%25282%2529+%2528354x500%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJhhgqdvL3iowNWKjJp8uNyaYJ-hsDmjbqhf_wzrqO8H1Ded048x_UwGJwx2Vva9mdefP6GBPsLCHIM8D6bUFOLDCVFP2BQkkQSuWjgObSqFtBGT2jbzB8Ee-m8A7cJmTuIgGknTRm-CP/s320/P1252019+%25282%2529+%2528354x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706882719676789938" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">US Ambassador to Peru, Rose Likins</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZx69ksS0E9ZXkjE_5gBVag3b-SQAYt6YW2un3-0aCu0vm0oTvbWFVoCtM9IDGlhayxkcKNZTXurSf22tGFE5mZrc-PCBksGk36X9qxciG0tR7FQG5938nnovF0auKKu2lzu5NyoO4sYp/s1600/P1252018+%2528500x374%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZx69ksS0E9ZXkjE_5gBVag3b-SQAYt6YW2un3-0aCu0vm0oTvbWFVoCtM9IDGlhayxkcKNZTXurSf22tGFE5mZrc-PCBksGk36X9qxciG0tR7FQG5938nnovF0auKKu2lzu5NyoO4sYp/s320/P1252018+%2528500x374%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706882705048583378" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Introducing La Embajadora to our host families</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvIMvPaO9HWnthJkPpmg5ZdLUWKGWMbhs-H7zrY1CFaEnc8IKuvlYVUtd8FHP2EX7WMuVnbifzUs4qNF3kvRI2iplYIHx2z9KRdcXUCgJzJc98g3vwYbDUIW45v46UC_B3By2fDOK_GPu/s1600/P1252016+%2528500x373%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvIMvPaO9HWnthJkPpmg5ZdLUWKGWMbhs-H7zrY1CFaEnc8IKuvlYVUtd8FHP2EX7WMuVnbifzUs4qNF3kvRI2iplYIHx2z9KRdcXUCgJzJc98g3vwYbDUIW45v46UC_B3By2fDOK_GPu/s320/P1252016+%2528500x373%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706882697082257810" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Explaining that Peace Corps exemplifies the best of the "American Spirit"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHV0dtA-vqffGqWVNJ0dHIJwxbG9MJjryu02RZQiUVyowr8Okpk47LO1WsRaEXaXJDk9T96VKQDuxyTaT9PgBZ26C9RZqTXpVyeoxZHIILpKvqxIYwwegxnTXwWgg44Oqf4tqoytmuCLV/s1600/P1252006+%2528500x365%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHV0dtA-vqffGqWVNJ0dHIJwxbG9MJjryu02RZQiUVyowr8Okpk47LO1WsRaEXaXJDk9T96VKQDuxyTaT9PgBZ26C9RZqTXpVyeoxZHIILpKvqxIYwwegxnTXwWgg44Oqf4tqoytmuCLV/s320/P1252006+%2528500x365%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706882688658297106" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My wonderful youth leaders explaining the youth entrepreneurship and health promoter programs they've participated in with me</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_OoPDzohLbj6_jIM0TJtSzqUgfv23MoQXxglNcM3GAXGQryI5r40tQTSZXR-GmNHpsJsTptcgg7SARjqgzRsEOcwbcm_R1lkcQbbgUMhP7lUSsmJmzRnkYfVmqVFnQewof6Nl6-yEArB/s1600/P1251998+%2528500x341%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_OoPDzohLbj6_jIM0TJtSzqUgfv23MoQXxglNcM3GAXGQryI5r40tQTSZXR-GmNHpsJsTptcgg7SARjqgzRsEOcwbcm_R1lkcQbbgUMhP7lUSsmJmzRnkYfVmqVFnQewof6Nl6-yEArB/s320/P1251998+%2528500x341%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706882689892357106" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Poroto's Mayor welcoming the ambassador to the beautiful district of Poroto</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>During the celebration of the Peace Corps 50th anniversary, various Peace Corps volunteers were invited to an elegant party and reception at the residence of the US Ambassador in Lima. Donned in our finest attire, we were able to mingle with important Peruvian and American diplomats, embassy workers, and Peace Corps staff. The ambassador’s residence was quite impressive, and the event indicated the importance of the ambassador’s position in strategic Peru/US relations. The formality of the event was quite a distinct departure from our typical lives and work as Peace Corps volunteers, but a nice chance to celebrate the history of the organization.<div><br />I was recently contacted by our country director in regards to planning a special trip for the US Ambassador. She wanted to see the work of a Peace Corps volunteer first hand by visiting their site and meeting their community. My site-mate, Lindsey, is working on an extensive healthy lifestyle and “cocinas mejoradas” project and I’ve worked closely with my health post on various successful health promotion and youth focused projects. Although this trip was still only a possibility, we were both simultaneously excited and nervous at the prospect of hosting the ambassador here in our tiny Peace Corps community. We contacted community counterparts and created a tentative schedule, highlighting our projects and involvement in Poroto. After some deliberation, we were selected to host the ambassador and showcase the work of Peace Corps first hand. Wasting no time, we informed our work partners, students involved in our summer education classes, and health promoters that an important visitor from the US would be coming. Many of the participants in our projects live in far away caserios with no phone service or transportation, so informing them of this important meeting was a bit of a task. However, we managed to organize a schedule that highlighted the broad work we’ve been doing and confirm the participation of various community members. </div><div><br />I was recently in Lima for an advisory council meeting with office staff, when we found out the mayor of Trujillo had changed the ambassador’s meeting time only 2 days before the planned event, which required us to reprogram the ambassador’s visit for a day earlier. I rushed home from Lima and both Lindsey and I spent Tuesday running (literally) around the district of Poroto, communicating the changed schedule with the many health promoters living in isolated caserios, preparing presentations with our counterparts, and encouraging the participation of local authorities. Despite our excitement, we were nervous because of the last minute schedule change, and after a full day of planning we could do little more than go to bed and hope for the best. </div><div><br />We woke up early on Wednesday morning and received the full support of our health post staff, who had also arrived early to clean, set up the room, and prepare for the presentation. Before long, a caravan of large SUV security vehicles rolled up to my 1200 person town, creating quite a sensation here in Poroto. Somehow, we managed to have the entire invited audience in attendance and seated in the health post before the arrival of the ambassador and her entourage. The mayor and entire municipality, the health post staff, my youth leaders, health promoters traveling from isolated caserios, participants in our projects, and our host families; everyone was early and eagerly awaiting the arrival of the embajadora from Los Estados Unidos. </div><div><br />The ambassador arrived to the health post and was met by a standing ovation and an enthusiastic audience. We met her at the door, led her to her front-row seat, and began our presentation. In Peru, it is custom to formally address each audience member of importance personally, so my introduction was a very long-winded, “A very good day to our ambassador of the United States and her esteemed colleagues present, mayor of the district of Poroto and municipality staff, our honored doctor Luis Aponte and health post personnel, Peace Corps staff present, district health promoters, and audience in general…” I still can’t get used to these formal introductions, so after making it through that without a hitch I knew we were in for a good day. I was given the opportunity to explain Peace Corps as an organization, its role in Peru, and specifically how I’ve been active as a volunteer in Poroto. </div><div><br />From there, I gave a brief presentation explaining some of our most successful youth development projects here in Poroto, including our youth health promoters and teen pregnancy prevention campaigns, youth entrepreneurship and environmental programs, and parent education workshops. Diana, my loyal community counterpart/health post nurse spoke highly of her work with me and the impact of our programs, even sharing that recent data suggests that the teen pregnancy rate has dropped in the district of Poroto as a result of our work. I also invited two of my youth leaders, Karolain and Tania, to speak about what they’ve learned participating in projects with me. They were well spoken and sincere, and their kind and generous words about me and our projects made me hold back tears. </div><div><br />Lindsey and I continued to share pictures and details about our rural health education series we’ve been working on together in the isolated caserio of Huayabito. This caserio is 3 hours walking distance away, with little access to water, electricity, or other basic needs. We’ve traveled there consistently over the last 6 months, giving interactive nutrition and cooking classes, hygiene and disease prevention, and composting and gardening workshops. We were thrilled and surprised that the health promoter from Huayabito came rushing in during the meeting, having walked the three hours in the heat to join us. This portion of the presentation served as a transition to Lindsey’s exciting new program of healthy living and “cocinas mejoradas” she recently began in the district. Working with the 20 health promoters in various caserios in the district, they will be trained in basic health practices and then construct “cocinas mejoradas” for 70 families. Cocinas mejoradas are improved cooking stoves, which include a chimney and covered flame to drastically reduce smoke contamination and health problems as well as preserve more firewood for cooking. The health promoters each brought a rural family who will be benefitting from this new program, so it was an excellent opportunity to gain support and excitement for this upcoming opportunity. </div><div><br />To finish the program, I explained the importance of the cultural interchange and community integration. In order for projects to be successful, the involvement of the community is indispensable. I’ve spent a year and a half cultivating meaningful relationships within Poroto, and this event was an excellent sign of the fruits we’ve bared through our mutual collaboration. The overwhelming support and positive feedback from my community on such short notice indicated their commitment to me, Peace Corps, and the work we’ve done together. </div><div><br />I was also able to introduce my incredible host family, who has been a solid and constant source of encouragement, laughter, and comfort during my time here. I truly feel like I am not only Peruana, but Porotina at heart, and a member of the community and my host family. Joshy and Pascuala couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces during the entire presentation, so when I invited them to the meet the ambassador personally they were quite excited. The whole family came to the front of the room and spoke genuinely about our shared experiences and my presence in their life, and gave the ambassador hand-picked Porotina Pineapple, freshly selected from the chakra. The ambassador closed the program, thanking us for our participation and explaining that Peace Corps truly reflects the best of America; the desire to explore, to serve, to grow and make an impact on the world. </div><div><br />Peace Corps is something that can be explained over and over again, but without seeing it first hand, it can be difficult to truly understand. I have become extremely proud of Poroto and the people who live here, so the opportunity to show off my community, my counterparts, and my work to the US ambassador was quite a memorable experience. It seemed as though the ambassador also appreciated the opportunity to see Peace Corps first hand; in many ways, we’re doing the same kind of work. Obviously, on a much different level, but after a year and a half of life in Poroto I will be the first to advocate for small-scale diplomacy. The contributions of Peace Corps volunteers throughout the world represent an intercultural exchange and collaboration of resources and knowledge that couldn’t be replicated in any other form. In a way, we’re all ambassadors: the daily interactions, community projects and educational opportunities shared, and intertwined lives of volunteers and their community create lasting bonds of friendship and mutual understanding that promote a positive image of the US in a personal and meaningful way.<br /></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-33545363233208792122012-01-20T11:42:00.000-08:002012-02-08T12:51:52.681-08:00The Wards do Peru<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left; ">In April of 2010 I received my official acceptance to the Peace Corps and found out I would be living in Peru. When I called my family to share the good news I still remember my mom’s response, “Oh Kelsi! My passport is just dancing!” indicating her excitement for my adventure but also her intention to visit as soon as possible. Over a year and a half had passed, and my mom’s passport was finally put to good use. After exchanging hugs and excited screams in the Lima airport (and realizing my family wasn’t really just a mirage) the 5 of us piled into a taxi, ready to start our Peruvian adventure with excited smiles hidden behind the piles of luggage on our laps. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6zYfSvZsu6ikoyxfrAngqLmBKAn91m5C3kOzL9VWTt-Jfoa2GrzdMrdFKLgnSZvD-cKnZR6Ur5Lbk9R-OpmLlz28V8dX-3-vvLTDF2tWD1CncDv8BXH-3IUbl5e_ZtQ6dvIRUnkd5gwT/s1600/1+lima+1+%2528500x333%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6zYfSvZsu6ikoyxfrAngqLmBKAn91m5C3kOzL9VWTt-Jfoa2GrzdMrdFKLgnSZvD-cKnZR6Ur5Lbk9R-OpmLlz28V8dX-3-vvLTDF2tWD1CncDv8BXH-3IUbl5e_ZtQ6dvIRUnkd5gwT/s320/1+lima+1+%2528500x333%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706859421392691698" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b>Enjoying Iglesia San Francisco <o:p></o:p></b></p></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbnDx3lhpnlc5WgdPClU2At_AW8XzxMzjVCUsdIb6ukPh1z8ldqI4nUdFij97J1UEzsESRYnM_CIRxzUMxKfIkk3BH043VzOTpzH0Yt_IAkVC3_zCmCg91S6BKoDsdd7_AcW6WEif-5xe/s1600/1+lima+2+%2528500x334%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbnDx3lhpnlc5WgdPClU2At_AW8XzxMzjVCUsdIb6ukPh1z8ldqI4nUdFij97J1UEzsESRYnM_CIRxzUMxKfIkk3BH043VzOTpzH0Yt_IAkVC3_zCmCg91S6BKoDsdd7_AcW6WEif-5xe/s320/1+lima+2+%2528500x334%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706859415728178130" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b>Satisfied after a delicious lunch at Punto Azul<o:p></o:p></b></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left; ">Our first day was filled with exploring all that Lima has to offer, covering a huge portion of the city in only one day. We began in downtown Lima, wondering through parks and plazas, enjoying Christmas decorations, and tasting Peruvian desserts. The heat and sunshine was surely a welcome change from December in Pennsylvania, and we took full advantage of the city. We visited the Plaza de Armas and toured Iglesia San Francisco, complete with intricate wood work, beautiful cloisters, a Peruvian rendition of the Last Supper, and haunting underground catacombs. We enjoyed lunch at my favorite Lima restaurant, Punto Azul, and tried ceviche, pescado sudado, aji de langostinos, and other Peruvian seafood dishes accompanied by frozen passion fruit juice.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>From there we wondered around Parque Kennedy in Miraflores and along the coastline of Larco Mar. We enjoyed the sprawling parks, the mosaic creation of Parque del Amor, and paragliders swooping over the ocean into the picturesque sunset.<o:p></o:p></b></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJWIb5jWYPoNzr8MxF3ivTObv8d0IwKEAmLKC8LJd1rp-lcqK6MBxnghH7Yh9Lvam7gHnqqRnFi9SD5WOKLpVKzWq2sOqgoJ74YG1d3wY_NuYyC_v_PvALk_XhtbHB-nzhaxChLMTt7FA/s1600/1+lima+3+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJWIb5jWYPoNzr8MxF3ivTObv8d0IwKEAmLKC8LJd1rp-lcqK6MBxnghH7Yh9Lvam7gHnqqRnFi9SD5WOKLpVKzWq2sOqgoJ74YG1d3wY_NuYyC_v_PvALk_XhtbHB-nzhaxChLMTt7FA/s320/1+lima+3+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706859407999337058" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Relaxing in Parque del Amor</b></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We arrived in Trujillo the following day after my family’s first experience on an overnight bus and immediately boarded the infamous “combi” I’ve been preparing them for. The trip was quite smooth as we traveled down the sugarcane lined roads and arrived safely in Poroto. As we unloaded our suitcases and made our way to my house, the community began to realize that my family had arrived at long last. We headed to my house, met warmly by my host family as if they were life-long friends. Seeing my mom and my host mom, Pascuala, interact was one of the most precious images of the trip. Within seconds of meeting they were both teary eyed, Pascuala somehow communicating that she had stolen my heart and my affection for the last year and I was now a part of two families and she was thrilled to have a chance to meet my other mother.</b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NeknxDDdHfQX2cjjQ7He7akyiSP5MWdA-zh4LptSdL9LDQst-6mkTdmTcAK6CPj2N3dbLdz0ao-kLaCqSHsIaaXHqEWnO6Y5lYaamcm9d8p6Gk3rQtRKWSom38W-Pua0XD34n616BQ5K/s320/PC221083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706867788233405170" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><b> </b></div></b></div><div><b>Before long we were all chatting over freshly peeled Porotina pineapple, forgetting any language or cultural barrier that may have existed. </b><b>As we were talking I heard an announcement over the loudspeaker of the school blaring in the distance, announcing my summer class schedule and that the family of Senorita Kelsi was visiting and would be joining them in a few brief minutes for the school year’s closing ceremony. We rushed over to the school, greeted by swarms of my school kids excited to meet my <i>familia</i> <i>altaza.</i> After meeting many of the teachers and youth I work with, we continued to the Health Post Christmas party where we were treated as the guests of honor. Rounds of heartfelt <i>Palabras</i> were given expressing thanks for the presence of my family and my participation in the Poroto community before sharing in a celebratory meal. We then proceeded to the annual gift exchange, where the health post doctor’s genuine words about my enthusiasm and impact on the community almost made me tear up. After finishing up our <i>paneton</i>, we headed to the dance floor and even my dad was up there dancing with very little encouragement.</b></div><div> <div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left; ">The family overlooking my community, Poroto</b><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r1v1CsqBG46O4djMleL6LkrV6TKD_ijcANNOwlmW9jB6-pigXPt700ACKuGr9T2HljvFNNattRgP_iKRHd6mX8JWRty3tLeXOBHBHd422xyhKjqw7jyZrfymfNwDZurw_APRL10l8jwm/s1600/1+poroto+2+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r1v1CsqBG46O4djMleL6LkrV6TKD_ijcANNOwlmW9jB6-pigXPt700ACKuGr9T2HljvFNNattRgP_iKRHd6mX8JWRty3tLeXOBHBHd422xyhKjqw7jyZrfymfNwDZurw_APRL10l8jwm/s320/1+poroto+2+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706859406937386450" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>As the days in Poroto continued we were able to share countless laughs and memories between our families. I served as the 24/7 translator, but both families quickly learned basic phrases and the power of gestures, sharing stories and communicating without problems. We headed to the chakra and spent the day trying new fruit, admiring the pineapple fields, and playing with the animals. Joshy and my mom were in fits of giggles as they learned “head, shoulders, knees, and toes” in both languages, complete with the hand motions. As we left the <i>chakra</i>, my host mom gathered up our Christmas turkey who had been fattening up on the farm for the last several months and slung him over her shoulder to bring back for our Christmas Eve meal. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b>The whole group, looking over Poroto from the chakra<o:p></o:p></b></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2U0FBSNonJ9tTqMU4h8ZolitZruzEd6Co-KqGXUhUrpq_5YIHOb92SUztDC5Jyubpx5rEUA0iFQkdBSFFdtXSVVlwAYj_6uHY6wVsnZEwLX4A-I24VNBkUAXr8VAdPHojJ_OIGeRotGx/s1600/1+poroto+3+%2528500x334%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2U0FBSNonJ9tTqMU4h8ZolitZruzEd6Co-KqGXUhUrpq_5YIHOb92SUztDC5Jyubpx5rEUA0iFQkdBSFFdtXSVVlwAYj_6uHY6wVsnZEwLX4A-I24VNBkUAXr8VAdPHojJ_OIGeRotGx/s320/1+poroto+3+%2528500x334%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706859398909611378" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Christmas Eve is the main event of the holiday season here in Peru. We spent the day cooking mountains of Peruvian and American food- tamales, Christmas cookies, mazamorra, turkey, homemade pizza, and more. Three more Peace Corps friends joined the fiesta, and the celebration grew. Our faithful turkey served as the Christmas sacrifice, and after he had been thoroughly plucked and prepared, our entire crew walked through the streets of Poroto carrying our turkey to the large adobe oven in town, as if in a funeral procession. <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>We spent the night relaxing, eating, talking, and laughing until midnight when we officially marked Christmas with huge hugs for everyone and heartfelt speeches by my host dad and real dad. As Spanish and English banter and laughter echoed through the room, I realized how blessed I was to have so many people I care about in one place. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Hiking the chakra on Christmas day<o:p></o:p></b></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7dEiEkxhPcOfl4VI8eYVXcW81Sl2ba_VJ77d2un66NcE0v7D-uWWFYxf5OcxmSh74bIPbTi2DUKcQLob7oy27uDqp-4vl1VU7ebL4aD69bSfXpYWfUuKhsugxA34yzy5UelOSI6H1pRc/s320/1+poroto+5+%2528500x334%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706858567839796690" /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Here I was, thousands of miles from home, on a hot Christmas Eve night, surrounded by my real family and a Peruvian family who have taken me in as one of my own. When I moved to Peru I had high expectations for my experience, but I never imagined feeling so at home and so myself in such a new place. Christmas day was spent hiking the chacras and surrounding dusty mountains of Poroto, exploring Pre-Incan remains and enjoying a lazy Christmas afternoon with family.<o:p></o:p></b></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPaWB5j-DZnHpVk55PTGjF9J9oeXR3mFdGWJD4NAdTxp7DDK2gZpbSvL0zek7jEyTNoa8zVzvIw_CqcDEUzV4JkdxrKX2NcF9nWhOixMfNDXXEA4380Sl70x4BTFlGCcHXt2enauKy_mc/s1600/2+huanchaco+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPaWB5j-DZnHpVk55PTGjF9J9oeXR3mFdGWJD4NAdTxp7DDK2gZpbSvL0zek7jEyTNoa8zVzvIw_CqcDEUzV4JkdxrKX2NcF9nWhOixMfNDXXEA4380Sl70x4BTFlGCcHXt2enauKy_mc/s320/2+huanchaco+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706858559633123186" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Passing the Caballito de Totora boats in Huanchaco Beach<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>After several days in the campo, we scrubbed off the Porotina dust and enjoyed some time at the beach outside of Trujillo. We basked in the sunshine, relaxed and played games, and ate some good food. Later, we decided we would try our hand at sandboarding, which is essentially snowboarding but on wooden boards down steep sand dunes. We traveled to Santo Domingo and passed by an oasis lake as we hiked up to the top of the sand dunes. The clear sky and sun highlighted the distant fields and desert dunes beyond the steep sand cliffs in front of us. We strapped on our boards and took our turns wiping out face first into the sand before getting the hang of it. Mom was loving it and was definitely the most graceful sandboarder. We enjoyed the rest of our time in Trujillo and Huanchaco, taking in the impressive Plaza de Armas, walking around the busy city streets, and wondering around the botanical gardens.<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6vdo-13v0hdqk28pRSeiwNKXf8t5IkxPWNSubiu3VXRxfAq3tj8DEKfoUn24e9O5GlMoqNFczhrqfTAS7wyzqjzliopjjY3P-VaFjLG0yv2wwaXx5KNBxBPuGsHs3EwQQPZO1wFSh73m/s1600/3+sandboard+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6vdo-13v0hdqk28pRSeiwNKXf8t5IkxPWNSubiu3VXRxfAq3tj8DEKfoUn24e9O5GlMoqNFczhrqfTAS7wyzqjzliopjjY3P-VaFjLG0yv2wwaXx5KNBxBPuGsHs3EwQQPZO1wFSh73m/s320/3+sandboard+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706858554314195954" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>After our brief beach and city respite we boarded a night bus and began our real adventure, climbing through the winding mountain passes to arrive in Chachapoyas, a beautiful cloud forest region located in the Amazonas department of Northern Peru. Shortly after arriving we embarked on our first outing to Gocta, a recently discovered waterfall measuring more than 700 meters in height, which makes it the 3<sup>rd</sup> tallest in the world. The drive to Gocta was incredible; we wound through tight mountain passes, passing under naturally formed rock tunnels as the blue sky highlighted the steep surrounding cliffs. We began our hike to the base of the waterfall and an intense downpour ensued, promptly soaking us and bringing a heavy veil of clouds over the mountains and valleys in the distance.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Embracing the rain and enjoying the hike<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1L5EI_ma2sg96jiIJhwEFClSrtv7NKGcaKOAyiwovwEmRyrbVa9PlpuS2MU3IX-Vofzm1THL99ffb_-qzRQUGijtiMgIIWah6F2gb7GSxyCfG215Pod3OAF3kfTu-78mpqKc4AjTR-Kx/s1600/5+gocta+1+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1L5EI_ma2sg96jiIJhwEFClSrtv7NKGcaKOAyiwovwEmRyrbVa9PlpuS2MU3IX-Vofzm1THL99ffb_-qzRQUGijtiMgIIWah6F2gb7GSxyCfG215Pod3OAF3kfTu-78mpqKc4AjTR-Kx/s320/5+gocta+1+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706858548070616498" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b> We continued through the jungle paths under a canopy of brilliant green vegetation. As we advanced, a roaring sound of rushing water in the distance indicated the approaching waterfall. After turning the corner, a powerful cascade of water came into sight. Initially, the crest of the waterfall blended into the mass of clouds, but soon the sun emerged, revealing its magnitude. As we approached, the temperature dropped dramatically and the powerful mist showered us in its spray. Only the top section was visible from this vantage point, which accounts for only 200 of the 700 meters of Gocta’s height. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Here I am at the base of the top section of Gocta, 500+ meters are still invisible<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeW413Y0XtJkxDR0zZYChgglG6ZcfS7qcSum4IyrnpvRJcfoLiUC8ozQ4olG-RbY7NZ5TtF9lrMn4ErQY4iwlM_wzottNceBULYLaTG9Ann_yvMcY-xaGsTmAyBRsxYOzRdIIPgP_dkTU9/s1600/5+gocta+2+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeW413Y0XtJkxDR0zZYChgglG6ZcfS7qcSum4IyrnpvRJcfoLiUC8ozQ4olG-RbY7NZ5TtF9lrMn4ErQY4iwlM_wzottNceBULYLaTG9Ann_yvMcY-xaGsTmAyBRsxYOzRdIIPgP_dkTU9/s320/5+gocta+2+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706858538497195954" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>We hiked down and were able to appreciate the full enormity of the waterfall cascading into the faint light of a rainbow at its base. Gocta is also surrounded by over 20 other waterfalls of impressive size, which had materialized in the distant green mountain landscape after the morning fog cleared. After descending from the waterfalls, the path continued to provide an impressive panorama of rolling green valleys and lush greenery. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Gocta Waterfall- 3<sup>rd</sup> tallest in the world!<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_F5wXTqQZqcI006mOuB4oIxAIc6wgTm7NqT8F5X9HO1UuSFE_FruawBnJyQcIhvFD5mGT3MfdF3YR8LltS8BAnz3LhSZYm13MxniVA6CoY0Piv1FYH-mbptt8PnFUwhYZJfQOmv8JuWvi/s1600/5+gocta+3+%2528500x333%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_F5wXTqQZqcI006mOuB4oIxAIc6wgTm7NqT8F5X9HO1UuSFE_FruawBnJyQcIhvFD5mGT3MfdF3YR8LltS8BAnz3LhSZYm13MxniVA6CoY0Piv1FYH-mbptt8PnFUwhYZJfQOmv8JuWvi/s320/5+gocta+3+%2528500x333%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706857566445514194" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Chachapoyas is a newly discovered region, inhabiting an incredible wealth of culture, history, and aesthetic beauty. Although locals have known of the local treasures for thousands of years, Gocta was formally discovered only 6 years ago and many of the ruins and archaeological sites have not yet been officially recognized or preserved, which provided us with an incredible insider’s view to the region. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Rocking our mud boots and enormous flashlights- ready for the caverns<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPaL8jaCpp7JZstwdT2q90nmRTyL7Qc0VpwFjVOP-jx-LhyH0S1etgdsUT0pRwVxUyB5Y4C4DvY1PSfydInFZVeKtRAGL_L9zbNowE4Y_uIIH3ltLa8Hy_b_TjA1NkXD5d4qF4Tj_lHud/s1600/6+hike+1+%2528500x334%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPaL8jaCpp7JZstwdT2q90nmRTyL7Qc0VpwFjVOP-jx-LhyH0S1etgdsUT0pRwVxUyB5Y4C4DvY1PSfydInFZVeKtRAGL_L9zbNowE4Y_uIIH3ltLa8Hy_b_TjA1NkXD5d4qF4Tj_lHud/s320/6+hike+1+%2528500x334%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706857557053394818" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The following day we began our hiking trek, starting at caverns situated beneath rolling pastures and quaint countryside. We entered the caves, donning high mud boots and enormous flashlights, which would prove to be quite useful. Luis, our loyal tour guide, led us through the dark winding caverns, highlighting stalactites and stalagmites that were thousands of years old, pools of cool water, and skeletons whose hollow eyes told silent haunting stories of the human sacrifices of the past. Each time we thought we reached the end of the cavernous corridors, we continued on, trudging over an hour into the deep crevices of the cave. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Stalagmites formed over thousands of years<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTVcmEyGwPu4apRot-_lCZhPO6E1XNqJpZFDa0wM4-SCpVN2kqaXnRac_vBdQ0gJj_twiJLlauh8BBoU5H3gFVMrZoB8aQ74YnPZAO82uObBm6d1eTrq2Qgk4MQqv_sznHlRmUXxqj0pm/s1600/7+cave+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTVcmEyGwPu4apRot-_lCZhPO6E1XNqJpZFDa0wM4-SCpVN2kqaXnRac_vBdQ0gJj_twiJLlauh8BBoU5H3gFVMrZoB8aQ74YnPZAO82uObBm6d1eTrq2Qgk4MQqv_sznHlRmUXxqj0pm/s320/7+cave+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706857554715246770" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>We emerged out of the shadows and back into the light of day and continued to valleys shaded by green patchwork quilts of fields. We hiked down to steep rock cliffs to the location of the Karajia sarcophagi, which date back over a thousand years. These six sarcophagi are larger than life, measuring more than 2 meters high, and remain intact as they peer down ominously with their painted eyes and jutting chins. Other sarcophagi and impressive ruins have been extracted from the area, but are currently on display, uncovered, in a small local hut that serves as a “museum.” <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Beautiful countryside views on our hike to Karijia<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNq8A-T4IvVdxDTKuSl8YIzl2EG21A9Ml_Q4hTfJQUhU92G1DFzzrRd3GsRYUuMOxRcXHCyOINu72YU2iF4TNwAV_ayAyW2ts8i1-AjfQDQ3VZUIY2En13h5fHMLxVgJiKnq8EXuoa8-uz/s1600/8+hike+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNq8A-T4IvVdxDTKuSl8YIzl2EG21A9Ml_Q4hTfJQUhU92G1DFzzrRd3GsRYUuMOxRcXHCyOINu72YU2iF4TNwAV_ayAyW2ts8i1-AjfQDQ3VZUIY2En13h5fHMLxVgJiKnq8EXuoa8-uz/s320/8+hike+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706857540302584098" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>The sarcogphagi of Karajia<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-BLhmCfb5PpKB7gdCCHaaQ-gn7Qah9-5lw5nKJndCmeEt6rqgaNRbp8iquIbzQiGXiDs5DwdVSajbP8DOEGLEH1Sfb_NdAD24mbs8HdJFUKrT4-nVUpws8_J76x0sTWbr8-Z5FaZu-eL/s1600/9+karajia+%2528500x333%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-BLhmCfb5PpKB7gdCCHaaQ-gn7Qah9-5lw5nKJndCmeEt6rqgaNRbp8iquIbzQiGXiDs5DwdVSajbP8DOEGLEH1Sfb_NdAD24mbs8HdJFUKrT4-nVUpws8_J76x0sTWbr8-Z5FaZu-eL/s320/9+karajia+%2528500x333%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706857534777755106" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Our adventure continued through winding mountain roads and led us to Valle Belen, or Valley of Bethlehem, an incredible river valley outside of Chachapoyas. From above we could see the serpentine river snake through the lush green valley nestled between tree covered mountains. The sharp S-curves of the river were so exact they seemed unreal. We continued down to the valley, and found a single house that would serve as our accommodations for the night, completely isolated from any other signs of life. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>A view of Valle de Belen from above<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uHNr-LdSppdJpXKRz6qdzBem44jUX_rgfEzhO4rqKMEjQv6y-cntun2MRfhou-rJApRKoUGNecMdLN9-qJREvK1m0tVO8f-mAUnAd6HyIPcMZ6om9bqIFj4F-33SnBn02-7gZQZauo0N/s1600/10+valley+de+belen+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uHNr-LdSppdJpXKRz6qdzBem44jUX_rgfEzhO4rqKMEjQv6y-cntun2MRfhou-rJApRKoUGNecMdLN9-qJREvK1m0tVO8f-mAUnAd6HyIPcMZ6om9bqIFj4F-33SnBn02-7gZQZauo0N/s320/10+valley+de+belen+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706856083185038706" /></a><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; "><span>Appropriately named, Valley of Bethlehem- one of the most impressive sites I’ve seen</span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"> </span></b></div></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqogXw5wpbh8stosi1zoRv0wIQI4v32RSkwpeMfKXYK1Ry1vToagVL2xOUnUf2vQmIIMiT8ORVgKjStSBe1_DQHxb5g6oQmVNtHjpJmKlK2w3-u6SWrN4BLjWPOQAGHWhtVDjnmvdp8-t/s1600/11+valley+de+belen+2+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqogXw5wpbh8stosi1zoRv0wIQI4v32RSkwpeMfKXYK1Ry1vToagVL2xOUnUf2vQmIIMiT8ORVgKjStSBe1_DQHxb5g6oQmVNtHjpJmKlK2w3-u6SWrN4BLjWPOQAGHWhtVDjnmvdp8-t/s320/11+valley+de+belen+2+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706856079659842178" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The following morning we awoke to begin our hike, admiring the open green fields with gallivanting horses and cattle grazing along the banks of the river. We hiked for several hours through lush green cloud forest, shielding ourselves from the rain and mist with our enormous blue ponchos. At one point, Abby, James, and I decided we would pick up the pace a bit, and before long found ourselves far ahead of Mom, Dad, and our tour guide, Luis. An enormous bull finally served as a road block, causing us to stop and wait. After 45 minutes or more, we begin to construct elaborate stories about deaths by machete or kidnappings, taking the rest of the group for dead. Finally they emerge from the fog, explaining that in our rush we’d miss the whole point of the seven hour hike- the Pre-Incan ruins hidden in the surrounding ferns and jungle vegetation. The Amazonas region has an incredible amount of completely unexcavated Pre-Incan ruins, dating back to 500-500AD. We left the “Raider of the Lost Arc” exploration to Mom and Dad, and continued to our destination. After several hours of steep downhill climbing, we arrived in a tiny town of 15 families that would be our New Year’s Eve accommodations.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Beginning the day’s hike in Valle de Belen<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxaCVspwUndcbqCejGyelz-rN3MBvXAGJAVEgUBa05uXYmjrAXRf2_NpTjTs-Ce8y3AUfB-VWif3SUFA6Jwc3BnPvh2ACRyBXKPjYKxuh88xJajyvKIcapS30bQOmNUYdg-U3oknumkrM/s1600/12+hike+start+2+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxaCVspwUndcbqCejGyelz-rN3MBvXAGJAVEgUBa05uXYmjrAXRf2_NpTjTs-Ce8y3AUfB-VWif3SUFA6Jwc3BnPvh2ACRyBXKPjYKxuh88xJajyvKIcapS30bQOmNUYdg-U3oknumkrM/s320/12+hike+start+2+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706856068638419762" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Isolated paths winding through ancient Pre-Inca ruins<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBMLY18CTlUrxUHlriWxBrXKtmb6G9bQtAL1U8VzveuRjHgpKpMpk4dAIilxh3KMKccyaLPvP4Pi1g3vt3OJ_lJ3Qx9DfmqqYlJC22vnKZkybXVCGScN0vEvK8HSMWyxkOQje0y64qOb7/s1600/13+hike+in+ferns+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBMLY18CTlUrxUHlriWxBrXKtmb6G9bQtAL1U8VzveuRjHgpKpMpk4dAIilxh3KMKccyaLPvP4Pi1g3vt3OJ_lJ3Qx9DfmqqYlJC22vnKZkybXVCGScN0vEvK8HSMWyxkOQje0y64qOb7/s320/13+hike+in+ferns+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706856062847433634" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Now, when I decided to take my entire family on a rustic trek through the Chachapoyas cloud forest, I may not have completely considered the degree to which I’ve adjusted to the less than glamorous living situations. Here we are; the five of us, on New Year’s Eve; wet, cold, and tired; sitting on a plank of wood watching neighborhood kids play marbles in mud puddles, unable to enter our rooms. A couple hours later we can enter our rooms, but it isn’t much of an improvement; no window coverings, huge gaps in the doors to the outside street. We decide to embrace the situation, playing cards, charades, and even entertaining the entire community with an impromptu dance party on the wooden balcony, set to the tunes of the <i>huayno</i> and <i>cumbia</i> music blasting in the <i>pueblito</i>. We ate New Year’s Eve dinner after watching the guinea pigs skitter around the kitchen where our food was prepared, and went to bed at 8:30pm. Feliz Ano Nuevo!<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The following morning we enjoyed some freshly brewed coffee from the coffee beans produced in that very town which would serve as necessary fuel for the day’s adventures. We climbed on our mules with very little instruction and set off into the surrounding woods. Wasting no time, we began scaling steep, narrow, muddy paths. I’ve never been on a horse before, so climbing up 80 degree angles of slippery mud and rock about gave me a heart attack. I gripped my horse for dear life and gave a panicked look to our tiny Peruvian guide, who gave me a crooked smile with green coca-leaf stained spit dripping down his face. Great. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Climbing the narrow, muddy mountain trails on our not so faithful mules<o:p></o:p></b></p><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGowWgU8ehcR8Z_MIbPO23hW1nkZxlH25EL9ydBaL-0tC19MXfTtMlVJdGrhl3f99JQCa73nB70SzlC4Yq5Mz8wYoJq3IwG9FrQ0z7eeaWNu0z9kY-TdceCTyegBcwHWB6tyTVdtooIirh/s1600/15+horse+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGowWgU8ehcR8Z_MIbPO23hW1nkZxlH25EL9ydBaL-0tC19MXfTtMlVJdGrhl3f99JQCa73nB70SzlC4Yq5Mz8wYoJq3IwG9FrQ0z7eeaWNu0z9kY-TdceCTyegBcwHWB6tyTVdtooIirh/s320/15+horse+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706856057494692450" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>We continued for six hours on the mules, which led us through isolated passageways and high cloud forest mountains that seemed oddly mystical. The lush green vegetation, shiny coffee plants, meandering animals, and steep cliffs were truly beautiful, and it was amazing to explore such an isolated area. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Exploring the mystical cloud forest of Chachapoyas on horseback<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKJN7r6PQdq57LcYwab6BRAXV4UV8DVnFzmT57yzWGuQbLZRRMMAAKUH2IbHHjecL-ButkNnKo9q9ed5W7jKXxuYYmXHfGPgIbt4W3AN-9NFDfaFhJ1vq4Z0JzVizrXtXKWccIdD8ixBe/s1600/16+horse+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKJN7r6PQdq57LcYwab6BRAXV4UV8DVnFzmT57yzWGuQbLZRRMMAAKUH2IbHHjecL-ButkNnKo9q9ed5W7jKXxuYYmXHfGPgIbt4W3AN-9NFDfaFhJ1vq4Z0JzVizrXtXKWccIdD8ixBe/s320/16+horse+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706855664674225650" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>After a few hours I had about enough of this horse riding business. At several points the horses slipped on the muddy rocks, so after watching Abby’s horse fall and her cling for her life, I decided I trusted my own two feet to finish off the hike. We finally arrived at our stopping point, but after an hour Dad was still nowhere in sight. The rest of our family and all the guides had arrived, which caused a bit of concern. After two hours he finally emerges, with some pretty epic stories of the uncooperative mule, which had been bucking, biting, and kicking for the last stretch of the climb. Soaking wet and cold with several hours of walking ahead of us and dusk fast approaching, I silently cursed myself for not planning a cushy vacation put rather embracing the true Peruvian experience. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Despite a long day, the views were incredible<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpNN_skzlxOLLM_8a6jQ1cqhrlhNR96-yh6t8qF-mfzMBR22ie78ATHRMHAjyuGmY8ytqzeosVJEgu3gNWoKNq3bNEfFhNKhrzra1ad8NlwBR7FRumiWPyWlIlRpv-A4ObEECdVzWHgOh/s1600/17+descend+%2528500x333%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpNN_skzlxOLLM_8a6jQ1cqhrlhNR96-yh6t8qF-mfzMBR22ie78ATHRMHAjyuGmY8ytqzeosVJEgu3gNWoKNq3bNEfFhNKhrzra1ad8NlwBR7FRumiWPyWlIlRpv-A4ObEECdVzWHgOh/s320/17+descend+%2528500x333%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706855655260181874" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>We began walking down the curvy mountain road towards the far away town, hoping for any means of transportation. Finally, we hear a motorized vehicle accelerate in the distance and our hopes rise. A motorcycle pulling a small red wagon approaches and with absolutely no hesitation I flag down the driver and hop on, joining the Peruvian man, a little boy, and sacks of onions and potatoes already occupying the wagon. My family seemed a little wearier at the idea, but with minimal coercion the 5 of us and Luis climbed aboard. Despite the added weight, the motorcycle managed to pick up impressive speed down the muddy, steep, winding road to the town. We rode the wagon for several miles, hugging tight turns with steep cliffs beckoning below. At one point, Mom turns to me with a smile on her face but a look of panic in her eyes, and I tell her that other friends had been too careful when planning their parents’ trips and felt they hadn’t seen the true Peru. I explained that I wanted to give them a taste of what Peru was really like… her response, “Well, Kels… I’m full.” When we finally arrived to our destination we were in good spirits despite the day’s ridiculous adventure. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Ready to hop in our luxury transportation<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtNaho8UqJ3NddpLwQsTOUGqLwgSJvIeknDcAi06dD8SI3dugw5vbzWE7d6FdHm5uTIAKbOplGSN4itE7eEg9J5Ec73PVDP0Tc2pzoTuaVX5ybclwSURpSo3_9-Vfz4FbEE4X8TnGC1I5/s1600/18+wagon+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtNaho8UqJ3NddpLwQsTOUGqLwgSJvIeknDcAi06dD8SI3dugw5vbzWE7d6FdHm5uTIAKbOplGSN4itE7eEg9J5Ec73PVDP0Tc2pzoTuaVX5ybclwSURpSo3_9-Vfz4FbEE4X8TnGC1I5/s320/18+wagon+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706855645363613826" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The following day we departed for Kuelap, the iconic ruins of the Chachapoyas regions. These ruins are comparable to Machu Picchu in their size and structure, but date back to Pre-Incan times between 500-600AD. The rain had cleared, providing incredible views of the surrounding countryside in the distance. The rock wall fortresses of the ruins were enormous and the compound was expansive, highlighting incredible architecture methods utilized before modern technology and machinery. The remains of houses, citadels, and community buildings provided a glimpse into the lives of those living over 1500 years ago. The intricate stone work and designs formed immense walls that contrasted beautifully with the surrounding green valleys. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Entering the Kuelap compound<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UIMTmrqnT3TTb_oaNzQIZheo1jV6G4Xr71GUCAWydIuIsp2ePF6pwZ-87uSIkPQeZCgrhnlJbjqCTMm0ahfPjrdyIpJKl1-LBZwrrpdZO4yyL1Evl0acAMYjFth61MbvBBUr-kgT49yQ/s1600/19+kuelap+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UIMTmrqnT3TTb_oaNzQIZheo1jV6G4Xr71GUCAWydIuIsp2ePF6pwZ-87uSIkPQeZCgrhnlJbjqCTMm0ahfPjrdyIpJKl1-LBZwrrpdZO4yyL1Evl0acAMYjFth61MbvBBUr-kgT49yQ/s320/19+kuelap+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706855642971498402" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>The surrounding landscapes were incredible<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-5Zc3LwS54FJid4reiAV0L0jPFVRgqMvOui4WMKke5ihI6hN0BdSowUjrDEa8saFYyYOYmC0Q2Rl4sLOp0BnJBpId_uRy0fU-qcjWcsERKqJ6sJD7D3nhAReH_04e39C5SKR9pNICj0G/s1600/20+kuelap+%2528500x335%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-5Zc3LwS54FJid4reiAV0L0jPFVRgqMvOui4WMKke5ihI6hN0BdSowUjrDEa8saFYyYOYmC0Q2Rl4sLOp0BnJBpId_uRy0fU-qcjWcsERKqJ6sJD7D3nhAReH_04e39C5SKR9pNICj0G/s320/20+kuelap+%2528500x335%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706855637148908386" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>The fortress constructed to protect the village<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQTJc_l5gttHssENI198n0mDD0a199JMf-RmIbpF7FUD4M4MBICVj6csBu3sL2Z8fLLsBC8i1HNj8DWeuKgmDiBlPFNlwpMcBlPMzjAhXf6kwW0W7Zi-EVoAmXcnMqj_0f7VoHgWS_lVe/s1600/21+kuelap+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQTJc_l5gttHssENI198n0mDD0a199JMf-RmIbpF7FUD4M4MBICVj6csBu3sL2Z8fLLsBC8i1HNj8DWeuKgmDiBlPFNlwpMcBlPMzjAhXf6kwW0W7Zi-EVoAmXcnMqj_0f7VoHgWS_lVe/s320/21+kuelap+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706855100776759746" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Intricate designs constructed of stone over 1500 years ago<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEocDfjFGDEQkhD2J36lpFJ-gnWr9rJIXChOewOgrzFEsevlIWiCD5FVdiRVqmlG1DdUGwJ_CfgKXVaP2gzcxwL47FP4MZOZd2r2nO2Fo8tXS0jpIAKmI3MMzXTfF0LU5qgKqEmMYVqR8z/s1600/22+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEocDfjFGDEQkhD2J36lpFJ-gnWr9rJIXChOewOgrzFEsevlIWiCD5FVdiRVqmlG1DdUGwJ_CfgKXVaP2gzcxwL47FP4MZOZd2r2nO2Fo8tXS0jpIAKmI3MMzXTfF0LU5qgKqEmMYVqR8z/s320/22+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706855096711441666" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Round house structures inside the Kuelap compound<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-_XWKrIdgtHoj83vyubnEvKu_CBOwAEtT8L75UZmLs8Fl6MjndcGR42yNuSf7Duo2M5BXy-qBiSVWcuTxzdNswuzuCVsaw7Is8lJGAwGEE72dZBt1urdBeBUJhfOUQlqCto0oN1gRNuv/s1600/23+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-_XWKrIdgtHoj83vyubnEvKu_CBOwAEtT8L75UZmLs8Fl6MjndcGR42yNuSf7Duo2M5BXy-qBiSVWcuTxzdNswuzuCVsaw7Is8lJGAwGEE72dZBt1urdBeBUJhfOUQlqCto0oN1gRNuv/s320/23+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706855076920923522" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b> After a hurried trip back and a quick shower to wash off the accumulated grime of the last 4 days, we boarded an overnight bus back to Trujillo. After roughing it in Chachapoyas, we decided to take a several hour “American” vacation to the mall, indulging in Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and McDonald’s soft serve- a nice treat after a steady diet of rice and potatoes over the last several days. I think my family can now sympathize with me when I comment on the monotony of the food options here when living in a rural Peruvian town. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Taking a little detour to America<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzpqThX88ver6BhGzrihASg8VRt5yBqaJduqhaqwvU2tSlegBKpvNANkiOb8ciCyfTJHFJ1pHxBNuWlTQ_jhyPkxuTaHEMo5_RTrJQEYbGfDTM3rQNt77nvzn6OO5266ss6o5tnJ3m0fp/s1600/24+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzpqThX88ver6BhGzrihASg8VRt5yBqaJduqhaqwvU2tSlegBKpvNANkiOb8ciCyfTJHFJ1pHxBNuWlTQ_jhyPkxuTaHEMo5_RTrJQEYbGfDTM3rQNt77nvzn6OO5266ss6o5tnJ3m0fp/s320/24+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706855040641911298" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Our adventure continued to Huaraz, Ancash, a beautiful region in the Andes mountains. We awoke on the bus to glistening white snow peaks and soon entered Huaraz, a large mountain city with an interesting juxtaposition of tradition and modernity. Andean women dressed in their large pollera skirts, braids, and hats can be found walking along European backpackers and city-dwelling Peruvians. We enjoyed the city and relaxed by the fireplace in our hostel, admiring the snowcapped mountains and red-roofed houses in the distance. During our time we were able to explore some of the rural areas, heading to Beth’s tiny Peace Corps site for a picnic and a hike with John William’s excellent tour guide services. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Exploring the city of Huaraz<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aYCCIYEPydbih4ozLbPrOWJwsxiTghgs5bS9QuYkxa93pM9qK_Dhfulrsh1Yn7Zx8LQxitaxmMFDzQ5yug5g-7wCQgaQlG-iNC2k9wIRZMEG6aa2DiF4YRGiVMNRi-NyDziDiWkdVqlu/s1600/P1041821+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aYCCIYEPydbih4ozLbPrOWJwsxiTghgs5bS9QuYkxa93pM9qK_Dhfulrsh1Yn7Zx8LQxitaxmMFDzQ5yug5g-7wCQgaQlG-iNC2k9wIRZMEG6aa2DiF4YRGiVMNRi-NyDziDiWkdVqlu/s320/P1041821+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706855035002147042" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Many traditional women come in from the rural mountain towns to sell produce<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZYhhVf5qOlCVXu1CJFyR85DP6a9HGYh-3XuOIP3fxtC4OHvIZ2FspjEOcMDk5XJyj-34NyckWebG8OOga6uESJgMxisajrcU4BcrKrrrDtIXckQW4MnCseuTk7CQorUUGvDcQW9mir6I/s1600/P1041825+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZYhhVf5qOlCVXu1CJFyR85DP6a9HGYh-3XuOIP3fxtC4OHvIZ2FspjEOcMDk5XJyj-34NyckWebG8OOga6uESJgMxisajrcU4BcrKrrrDtIXckQW4MnCseuTk7CQorUUGvDcQW9mir6I/s320/P1041825+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706854241398343778" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hiking to Chavin<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG6jkJgxMCXZ4VVFT9_yL60nj3-DDVD_rtSbrpBXxf9LEuAC8lEW-l8O0JQLSeX46nvyUNvJQNRqSHq3YytCQDEj9vIuXwP6w3JcS_qBPKZdJMFAzGiofVJDVkxiOlwODum1ODDVnLIxi/s1600/P1051853+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG6jkJgxMCXZ4VVFT9_yL60nj3-DDVD_rtSbrpBXxf9LEuAC8lEW-l8O0JQLSeX46nvyUNvJQNRqSHq3YytCQDEj9vIuXwP6w3JcS_qBPKZdJMFAzGiofVJDVkxiOlwODum1ODDVnLIxi/s320/P1051853+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706854229764257362" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Our Peace Corps tour guides and Gulliver, Beth’s precious new puppy<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-UHFZBY6QLfRmXAfDnNO5Q0SIFg1Nun0624IOEMkKSp5e6rjqZ0WvHErURuwQUft9pkyn9NxGkR_2GXjioyml90CtwlxctjSuDWnvhG4PGAKqWoyfnBeVndNhMnJ_nWqoWwcP7WaWEfK/s1600/P1051855+%2528375x500%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-UHFZBY6QLfRmXAfDnNO5Q0SIFg1Nun0624IOEMkKSp5e6rjqZ0WvHErURuwQUft9pkyn9NxGkR_2GXjioyml90CtwlxctjSuDWnvhG4PGAKqWoyfnBeVndNhMnJ_nWqoWwcP7WaWEfK/s320/P1051855+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706854226053995762" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Our final adventure was an amazing biking and hiking excursion to Laguna Llangunucho, a glacial lake outside of Huaraz. Dad, Abby, and James rented mountain bikes and rode from the top of a winding road that has more switchbacks than any other road in South America and was featured on the TV program “World’s Deadliest Roads”. Mom and I hiked a significant portion of the same road. At the highest peak of our climb we could see two crystal blue lakes in the distance, surrounded by cliffs and glaciers hiding behind clouds. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>The crazy road where he hiked and biked to the lakes <o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_ZRnQP0hhNicl_1D5Ar8x07JvlAcGeCpjCqz7aRIPYzWadcYvpxjKeLhm3zWWBnSGzFmKWZ-FynIrJi1lRJkQRX_I8pwWIohLAB58gZbMxOYXUy8BYNSRT-yn8cDM7i108wFPDkm-42N/s1600/P1061892+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_ZRnQP0hhNicl_1D5Ar8x07JvlAcGeCpjCqz7aRIPYzWadcYvpxjKeLhm3zWWBnSGzFmKWZ-FynIrJi1lRJkQRX_I8pwWIohLAB58gZbMxOYXUy8BYNSRT-yn8cDM7i108wFPDkm-42N/s320/P1061892+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706854217834732994" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>A view of Laguna Llangunucho glacial lake from above<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2VUWq1wy-PQHumk8JzgGwm-CXYw1g2gm2YKfkS8-JT800h1asTamfkB3R_9oDL2vx4jA5aS3IWhTlh6otrkxEQiqEQWY1k_w5ahFyW2bc-yUPsoN7TZIzKyjqUSGLLZ4VxbrPf-XYA0c/s1600/P1061900+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2VUWq1wy-PQHumk8JzgGwm-CXYw1g2gm2YKfkS8-JT800h1asTamfkB3R_9oDL2vx4jA5aS3IWhTlh6otrkxEQiqEQWY1k_w5ahFyW2bc-yUPsoN7TZIzKyjqUSGLLZ4VxbrPf-XYA0c/s320/P1061900+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706854212777472178" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b>We began our 13 kilometer descent to the lakes on the winding dirt road. After a bit, we were feeling adventurous and decided to cut down the cliffs instead of follow the serpentine road. Before long we were scaling steep mountain passes without an escape route. There were several points where it was more effective to slide down on our butts, gripping whatever grass or plants for traction. After being led astray by an imposing bull in our path, we finally managed to find our way and arrived at the glacier lakes. Despite the backdrop of cliffs and snow, the lakes were the color of the Caribbean, the crystal clear water creating a beach scene in the middle of the Andes Mountains.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>The bull blocking our way<o:p></o:p></b></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M5rghjZvfw-gjm5_66ypm-knnZrH_TvmFnEakos0BPomliIM1AGGCob4NKFg4EesPBJaJFYrjZXiubs86iIEwRblzxsh38cHf9QHiavQEjiDM8N_iRfrenGwWMtEo59l8JBk1tY1Wjtc/s320/P1061909+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706853174879642482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Scaling down the mountainside<o:p></o:p></b></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQjL2NrwNWMHsgS5bY54fOfwu4CKdaV9rEKhqUYAMcLpjhxKJA41pXWYUoLFd_vEaYflsxftEL3MSJYE3sTOcef81pvptYC1rP-WbzQ9jRLHbmw-CH2_JnsDSBTO8yN_YeTOYg6at7giY/s320/P1061910+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706853176504944386" /><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Snowcapped mountains in the distance<o:p></o:p></b></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CR5fQ22ccO-ANi7S099dRMBVmXBU7gaE-N8v09QvQ7fZV1WjI_M5-u_uVnrxuPqeu-q95PfQTYhY1xmu6TTKWtWsPC_dvkJ0K1QvALKxFw2i8vCz8Hd1qn1c4aDDYid0Q6YSmrRWuFFC/s320/P1061917+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706853184812639346" /><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>Descending to the glacial lakes<o:p></o:p></b></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhsYkRZZHkhG0RsR-znzA7-kVwB0I2vV3UkWq5gAPFzbSNYHm5b_ah92wa6X04xWJ0iTaHDzyEDjVES3ay7ORKerMe-BtUFrA4mJpqfHj_X8n6LGyUp5nFG2UlAQ0PEhLaY9ZXqB2g7YZ/s320/P1061931+%2528375x500%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706853196661949154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:0in"><b>The Caribbean comes to the Andes Mountains<o:p></o:p></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzekQtTqWB56ZrHhNxWmwf0YGIgmgovqdnNh1iW_g1aZ3l4oowEAoV9aL25xo1SqheNwzBZwkn3ML8AiZptptr9NrRdQxs1IYtAzX9__htcy64r91CleINKR2pkN4-YdbKMsHD8kUC_hSt/s1600/P1061951+%2528500x375%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzekQtTqWB56ZrHhNxWmwf0YGIgmgovqdnNh1iW_g1aZ3l4oowEAoV9aL25xo1SqheNwzBZwkn3ML8AiZptptr9NrRdQxs1IYtAzX9__htcy64r91CleINKR2pkN4-YdbKMsHD8kUC_hSt/s320/P1061951+%2528500x375%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706853204475288434" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>During the last year and a half I have fallen in love with Peru; not only its amazing sites and hospitable people, but the bizarre intricacies I’ve come to embrace. Only so much can be expressed through shared stories or written words, so the opportunity to share this experience with my family was an incredible blessing. My life here means so much to me, and it truly has become a second home. Now when I talk to my family they can hear Joshy’s hearty laughter, understand my frustration with obstacles that prevent my community from advancing, taste the sweet Porotina pineapple, sympathize over a cold shower or an overdose of rice and potatoes, imagine the crazy swerves of a combi, hear the sing-song voices of children yelling “Senorita Kelsi” in the streets, and better appreciate the incredible impact this country has had on me. <o:p></o:p></b></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-87656291535248971832011-12-16T13:05:00.000-08:002012-01-16T13:26:08.265-08:00Giving Thanks<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698341952887996594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-6e8CUL0cmsO8saVfLnjfl5qFzUfUw7lgW5aS09miBaSOV42FOgyRP33HigQGQrgd-onE5lUyj9cI3ctG1BGQzw28mtseFo8gsJAe4r7xb72BMWM_rpNQV8W-7jeA9pYSEQEI2Ti6ncn/s320/PB250039+%2528413x550%2529.jpg" /><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">As I reminisce on Thanksgiving holidays spent at home, familiarity is at the core of these family celebrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>During all the Thanksgivings I celebrated in the US, I was always surrounded by familiar foods, familiar faces, familiar places, even familiar tastes and smells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This familiarity marked the essence of the holiday for me, a sense of comfort flooding my body as I breathed in the scent of baking pumpkin pie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Just like everything else in the past year and a half, these past two Thanksgiving holidays have been different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Different, as I found out, can be a very good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although I value the familiarity of home and the importance of tradition, the two Thanksgivings I’ve spent in Peru have been among the most memorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although I associate the holiday with familiarity, its foundations were surely quite different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think the basis of Thanksgiving developed through the union and fusion of different cultures, different customs, and different traditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As the pilgrims and Indians sat down at their supposed feast, I doubt the dual cultures and new smells evoked any deep seated sense of comfort or familiarity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I imagine it was in the discovering of each other’s potentially bizarre language, customs, and foods that made the event a legendary day of sharing that we continue to commemorate today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><br /><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Last year, after spending only three short months in my new Peruvian home of Poroto, I remember being extremely excited to reunite with my Peace Corps volunteer friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although being far from friends and family for Thanksgiving was different, we managed to create a little piece of America in the depths of the Andes Mountains in Ancash. This epic Thanksgiving celebrated with glacial lake hikes and high altitude turkey-trot races set a high bar for my Peruvian Thanksgiving expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">This year, we decided to bring Thanksgiving to the beach, and celebrated in Puerto Malabrigo, the site of the world’s largest left wave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Peace Corps volunteers traveled from near and far to reunite and celebrate together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We enjoyed the sunshine and spent the weekend preparing enormous pots of food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Each person brought their favorite family recipes to prepare and share; sweet potato biscuits, homemade stuffing, garlic green beans, pumpkin pie, banana pudding, ginger broccoli, chocolate cake, homemade applesauce, spicy cornbread, apple pie and more. Chris and Ellen even brought their pet turkey all the way from Cajamarca, which they’ve been raising since last year to serve as the focal point of this important meal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Our Thanksgiving day began bright and early with a turkey trot 5K race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We all donned our matching red “Hang-5K” t-shirts and headed to the beach to work up an appetite for the afternoon feast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although winner received a free surf lesson, everyone enjoyed participating in this memorable Thanksgiving event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698341965569266834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyVh_Ph8bqkAqiyIBwozzA486hLLmplqgeU-_Nr2phrDAv1g_4eafcNlyTGEXzSnjT-14yJZ3RvZaX4UlCo0lk4AHZ_v4ZKGOdPnp8PXhEfzogaapajjZh5j4ar4O0mf65CpAzbrXSclV/s320/PB260105+%2528550x381%2529.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698341958237446658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf8xWZ8cvIn60R-oNYd52_CrKuddyfsia_bv_GbyazsnVw_krlH_ilOHlhJeTsnDEqLLSXfbpr4OZeBMnNocUruPdzyKtxCDAFxxU13cSmQGQc6_DL1tZd1_rPjVGIgxYcobkDsJgCmDo/s320/PB260093+%2528550x402%2529.jpg" /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698341967443719442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3oXTI-3sBx-NQDzZqG3vlqn_3szvTJGOglHfeGn1nzqpEWPt07x-qnS7yb248Yog8Tr3kul9zp7FLov-xxtrOurrwzeiMyBrAa-rCrJechbtEjz6es1p6pVNRMGaB8Asbjhvodibe2kT/s320/PB260111+%2528550x401%2529.jpg" /> <br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">As most people know, I adore my Peruvian host family, so I naturally wanted them to join us in Puerto Malabrigo for this holiday celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had been nagging them for weeks, raving about the enormous platters of delicious food and beautiful location of this year’s Thanksgiving, but as usual they wouldn’t commit 100% to coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When they called to tell me they were on their way to join in the festivities I was quite excited (I think Joshy was won over when I told her 30+ gringos would be in attendance).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We spent some time soaking up sunshine and frolicking in the waves, and then commenced the chaotic cooking frenzy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOx8T75Oec2KxyWYhR9sZhxrpBqeQtY6onmzI-qOxBtjtCgSR1YPFxRGI7pvzpJATGn50y5vqObiF9fzfGes0s2LQ-7GaYsKR678GcoP1TYS7otJANjuN0LyHji3o1TmrftL1h95NBEbT/s1600/PB250049+%2528550x393%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698341954669729634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOx8T75Oec2KxyWYhR9sZhxrpBqeQtY6onmzI-qOxBtjtCgSR1YPFxRGI7pvzpJATGn50y5vqObiF9fzfGes0s2LQ-7GaYsKR678GcoP1TYS7otJANjuN0LyHji3o1TmrftL1h95NBEbT/s320/PB250049+%2528550x393%2529.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698340834793973634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtLjFOz-P9xawQwGyM-IjS-jnAr9Zjey_hyphenhyphenVutYV9yeoO3W9PbtX2rsU-GdY_HtwuzqOoGk2_gYnvdt0Ib3T1x-znKdTYF-MTyJMAWOQhyphenhyphenAwnzFfW93psqeSqLD9AZkoa0XYg6nAMIBYx/s320/PB260148+%2528413x550%2529.jpg" /></div><br /><div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">After a weekend of cooking we sat down at a table that seemed to stretch out forever, filled with Peace Corps volunteers, host families, and other local community members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As different people stood to give “palabras” or toasts for the holiday, I found myself overwhelmed with emotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With my host family by my side, delicious food on my plate, and friends filling the room, I’ve realized that familiarity isn’t found by simple repetition of the same people, the same places, or even the same foods, but rather by embracing the circumstances you’re given and creating something new and beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698340826094669874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgUdrihPzJ76TeHRBObdijDtwNGNAQDaYc9IKNkHlzdp6kucPAEHH7go92pqHzX-So7N091ikDJIXMgonSoTGhllmF1lfQ_FLgZf6E2WgUscXt5N1iqYmth3Lph4QjqPo-DY-4bTYulOX/s320/PB260143+%2528550x413%2529.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698340816520087906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOnFW3YmrfgIoLXQ5RWG-vsZxSnHOK3924vvckDP1FyH34MCmUx_1XYDrbKtfoG-M_BQcIXtiXc4_rwgzI298eTTbNF-KYq3wcr-gc_fSFC41vgzrYLPq2wIaMlp8m8V8DY-ck1oVHm1i/s320/PB260139+%2528413x550%2529.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698340818841266626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4FXpvsej8OwgnHWMMs2OVCTCQoVhWwmV1PKr3t7GZM_Nsx6jKhDZuNffsLYlq9p3JD_S_OH1OGZPEIl_ia1Sc3inNez8ISi_KuOCdq9cmbSXOpKT1mYIbSxixyG2iulTCsye4noUCGlr/s320/PB260131+%2528550x386%2529.jpg" />Thanksgiving leftovers on the beach... that is a tradition I could get used to. Cold turkey sandwiches never tasted so good.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO07-yJIRzg1Q2n7bONLqQn61Q64jI3P8i1zAZVtDZX4-PujVZcboZCmG5ePYAAEqGOLX9vpjrLVwm3uDwfrrKxpBDyFTTPrBIQXCZSYCsa6NXHj0kwHiPokm8CkbWCtPJ24XJaKhwKIhV/s1600/PB270224+%2528550x421%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698340838150108162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO07-yJIRzg1Q2n7bONLqQn61Q64jI3P8i1zAZVtDZX4-PujVZcboZCmG5ePYAAEqGOLX9vpjrLVwm3uDwfrrKxpBDyFTTPrBIQXCZSYCsa6NXHj0kwHiPokm8CkbWCtPJ24XJaKhwKIhV/s320/PB270224+%2528550x421%2529.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-23884391294117274752011-12-11T09:13:00.000-08:002011-12-11T09:24:06.480-08:00Confronting Teen Pregnancy with Confianza<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zkfcjFBhLu7KZbA7hLvjJeHjBzP84Et_mofCErqL03YrKGhLy1BbD4WMSYBmRS1YWkYCI_MK6IGyov02FvP_kqcOPL8qFDsDR3l_NYACv6svfGD3I1bP-c5LtmENeCgEl_a6lB3W9IuQ/s1600/P2020032.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zkfcjFBhLu7KZbA7hLvjJeHjBzP84Et_mofCErqL03YrKGhLy1BbD4WMSYBmRS1YWkYCI_MK6IGyov02FvP_kqcOPL8qFDsDR3l_NYACv6svfGD3I1bP-c5LtmENeCgEl_a6lB3W9IuQ/s320/P2020032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684921918264119106" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NdPqdbZ26kNQm3wJUBH0d0ceMyo8rTB2cPkWC7g4IW-4ttGpUA7-BP6FZ_Z3B84qW2PmJ3nOjgG0Jvns0AwjWbOOWYck1wPr59N_3YPsennybNQ_dJVfzPx9GC4GmZ-6Y6faD371CBb7/s1600/PB030381.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NdPqdbZ26kNQm3wJUBH0d0ceMyo8rTB2cPkWC7g4IW-4ttGpUA7-BP6FZ_Z3B84qW2PmJ3nOjgG0Jvns0AwjWbOOWYck1wPr59N_3YPsennybNQ_dJVfzPx9GC4GmZ-6Y6faD371CBb7/s320/PB030381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684921893730344850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeoGFrURNeB-X_fNTDRmd7KMX6UzpzdxqMT2ceComIg6t9qfQZr0ZAFtoZczyPRyGIIZfsruY9RYZB-Y7WeckbHZu_BglSUidTpbubht_IQPzG6dhyphenhyphenfNPoDp35Y1xgYsqVXcMDXXbyh4U/s1600/PC030862.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeoGFrURNeB-X_fNTDRmd7KMX6UzpzdxqMT2ceComIg6t9qfQZr0ZAFtoZczyPRyGIIZfsruY9RYZB-Y7WeckbHZu_BglSUidTpbubht_IQPzG6dhyphenhyphenfNPoDp35Y1xgYsqVXcMDXXbyh4U/s320/PC030862.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684921888967722274" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Teen pregnancy rates in Peru are extremely high, and the repercussions of unplanned early pregnancies are evident in a variety of ways. As youth development volunteers, many of us see the impact of teen pregnancy within our communities and work on diverse projects to address this issue. Tackling this problem is not simple, and the contributing factors to teen pregnancy are various. Long term planning and goal setting is lacking among most Peruvian youth in my community and the immediate necessities of life often dominate the focus and energy of people here- especially for those most affected by poverty. The short-term economic benefits of working in the fields or marrying young often outweigh the long-term benefits of finishing high school or pursuing a professional career. Many families do not have the luxury of a steady income, a two-parent household or educational opportunities, and thus find themselves caught in a cycle of poverty and limited options for the future. <div><br />Teen pregnancy affects a broad spectrum of the Peruvian youth population, but certain demographics are more susceptible to this trend. In my observations, teen pregnancy rates have a strong correlation to lacking educational opportunities. Unplanned pregnancies are much higher among adolescents who do not attend school or who live in more isolated caserios, indicating a lack of both sexual education and future opportunities. Although there have been several instances of students attending high school and becoming pregnant, there are many more cases that attract less attention because the girls do not attend school and are further removed from the public eye. Unfortunately it is often the most isolated and difficult to reach youth who most need intervention and education. Creating a comprehensive strategy to combat teen pregnancy is complicated and requires entering into a variety of social situations.<br />Since arriving at site I’ve worked with a group of youth health promoters who we train in sexual health topics including teen pregnancy, self-esteem and values, STDs, HIV and AIDS, etc. The members of this group have been the solid core of my work here in Poroto and forming trusting relationships with these youth leaders have helped grant me access to the “hearts and minds” of Peruvian teenagers. At this point we’re all very familiar with each other and able to delve into touchy issues and uncomfortable topics, providing important insight into the lifestyles, decisions, and problems of the youth of Poroto. The teens in my group are able to ask questions and share stories openly without feeling judged, and this has opened the door to many interesting conversations (some of which still make me turn rojita). I’ve seen relationships evolve, given love and advice, and helped talk them through important decisions, which is undoubtedly the most rewarding part of my work. Statistics of teen pregnancy and other youth issues can be overwhelming, but if I can have any kind of positive impact through the personal relationships I’ve formed I’ll consider my work here a success.</div><div><br />Apart from my work with my youth health promoters, I recently partnered with the local high school and health post to facilitate a school-wide teen pregnancy prevention campaign using the resources from PreNatal. I’ve really enjoyed working with this program because it encourages youth to think about consequences of sexual relations and pregnancy on a holistic level; considering repercussions not only for their personal future and health but also their future babies. The message of this program focuses on the importance of family planning and considering the implications of having a child at an early age which include a higher risk of birth defects, premature births, and maternal health problems. The program includes a poignant video featuring real teen parents, a series of personal reflection questions, and even a catchy music video. I facilitated these workshops with the support of the doctor and nurse from the health post and coordination from the school staff. The response was extremely positive from all those involved, and will hopefully influence the youth to think about their decisions and possible consequences. </div><div><br /></div><div><br />Although working directly with youth is important, values are undoubtedly rooted in the home, and family dynamics have an incredibly huge role in personal development. Children of adolescent single mothers are much more likely to be teen moms themselves, creating a cyclical pattern that can be difficult to break. Additionally, teenagers with unstable home lives or lacking parental support are more likely to become teen parents. Working with youth only goes so far, so engaging parents is imperative to fully address teen pregnancy. I’ve recently started an “Escuela de Padres” program, which consists of a series of workshops for parents focusing on areas including familial communication, preventing alcohol abuse, and teen pregnancy. I’ve partnered with the nurse from the health post and recently had the added support of a psychologist. During these sessions we’ve encouraged parents to improve communication within the home, tackling potentially difficult issues such as sexuality. We’ve sought to engage parents in interactive sessions where they can share their struggles, successes, and concerns about raising teens. Never before did I think I would be talking about erections and masturbation in front of 20+ Peruvian parents, but Peace Corps continually broadens my comfort zone. </div><div><br />As I’ve explained, I’ve worked with youth, parents, the health post, and teachers on programs and projects to combat teen pregnancy, which leaves out one important faction: teen moms themselves. Accessing this particular group can be more difficult than the others, but is also incredibly important. I’ve found the best way to interact with these women is in informal settings, and my most successful attempts have been cooking classes. Last summer I worked specifically with pregnant women, many of whom are teen moms, during healthy cooking and maternal health classes. I also had a youth baking club which attracted the interest of teen moms, who otherwise wouldn’t participate in youth oriented activities. I’ve recently been working on nutrition and cooking themes in one of the most isolated caserios, where various mothers are under 16 years old. This has been an opportunity not only to reach out to these teen mothers, but gain access to other young women in isolated communities who do not attend school. </div><div><br />Teen pregnancy is a deeply rooted societal issue, reflecting cultural, political, familial, educational, and health practices. These complex influences affect adolescents in different ways, and the solution to decrease teen pregnancy rates is multifaceted and requires attention from various sectors of the community. Adolescents need access to quality educational opportunities, reproductive health information, strong values and decision making abilities, and familial support which calls not only for the support of local authorities and institutions, but also individuals who take a vested interest in the lives of the young people of the community. As Peace Corps volunteers we’re granted intimate access to the daily lives and personal decisions of Peruvian youth, so I would encourage each of you to capitalize on this confianza and confront teen pregnancy on a personal level.<br /></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-25209653624956276012011-11-21T07:38:00.000-08:002011-11-21T11:38:19.679-08:00This Peruvian Life<span class="Apple-style-span" >Things I love about my Peruvian life</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><b>1.</b> <b>Old people’s wrinkled smiles</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2. Hanging out in the chacra- probably my favorite place in Peru</b><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CFkT6YEwTbYMQv7TLN7iEom_uHdq7tmOBW46R-qj8W8D9pf22rbFNiAqqjlxk_eCQOH-_AEjzihZ2ZL1hRZgcL1IGvmnqg1RvuRWs5pHWtZhWowq3AkjpH-8HeRUvOf4ZlR0y0m9Zwct/s1600/2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CFkT6YEwTbYMQv7TLN7iEom_uHdq7tmOBW46R-qj8W8D9pf22rbFNiAqqjlxk_eCQOH-_AEjzihZ2ZL1hRZgcL1IGvmnqg1RvuRWs5pHWtZhWowq3AkjpH-8HeRUvOf4ZlR0y0m9Zwct/s320/2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677490667334773778" /></a></div><div><b>3. Seeing a baby walk or talk for the first time, which makes me realize how long I’ve been here</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>4. Going to SERPOST and having a handwritten letter or thoughtful package from home. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>5. The luxury of having time to just think</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>6. Castillos at town festivals (enormous firework towers that spit sparks all over the crowd)</b></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2cW6baAic_Bg6x2yhZ3FeQw90zpX_TC24aSBC9w4vsT7dXF2wuY7SSdHdZ7oWS2QPUGBYQrxEIOF0TvLQdJlo71PrOcorLrOH3npshVn4rIaICBU4tvv3khCyzURPa5FMAybnVT0-vcP/s1600/6.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2cW6baAic_Bg6x2yhZ3FeQw90zpX_TC24aSBC9w4vsT7dXF2wuY7SSdHdZ7oWS2QPUGBYQrxEIOF0TvLQdJlo71PrOcorLrOH3npshVn4rIaICBU4tvv3khCyzURPa5FMAybnVT0-vcP/s320/6.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677490653834612466" /></a><b>7. Throwing around Peruvian “jerga” (slang) to the amusement of all those around me</b></div><div><b><br />8. Being gifted fruit as I walk through town</b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5ffzNKBdGYYyslHrvtY9dV3AVKD0wj_TSSUwO2YOYWQHRCQJ_GyFcCC3HvxJQWv5_Jfmu4_JQ6zxWJ1r1lElQsV8-SQ6ex7FhZrkKWhUjQVTgySsuTR3krvxyxRzAanJZ-c8yEwPhIuD/s1600/8.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5ffzNKBdGYYyslHrvtY9dV3AVKD0wj_TSSUwO2YOYWQHRCQJ_GyFcCC3HvxJQWv5_Jfmu4_JQ6zxWJ1r1lElQsV8-SQ6ex7FhZrkKWhUjQVTgySsuTR3krvxyxRzAanJZ-c8yEwPhIuD/s320/8.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677490635345898306" /></a><b>9. Ridiculous encounters that would never happen elsewhere</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>10. Laughing with my host family</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCsWYlCSC8FbipVDh-x2Q_c_8TYxWY8i25OERdnkPSdWcioMjjQxt7v3d2Ul3gq6rk7RJLI3QLzFptgyQVbopGptO-TKWC2wG44WXttEWCP5fLmAaI8Je2Bd6l0G7ODs3MeX7674wbmDS/s1600/10.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCsWYlCSC8FbipVDh-x2Q_c_8TYxWY8i25OERdnkPSdWcioMjjQxt7v3d2Ul3gq6rk7RJLI3QLzFptgyQVbopGptO-TKWC2wG44WXttEWCP5fLmAaI8Je2Bd6l0G7ODs3MeX7674wbmDS/s320/10.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677490621579263538" /></a><b>11. When a taxi driver agrees to the first price I offer</b></div><div><b><br /></b><b style="text-align: justify; ">12. 3 course meals for 5 soles ($1.75)</b></div><div><b style="text-align: justify; "><br /></b></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>13. Spitting guaba seeds in the chacra</b></div><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1"> </ol> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXqb_GY8-50l4r1t_l2_27ZYMfWjehMyaYNAyRZVE2KTpJhoR9anQi2CshatvJQ8M4tRbQqHySCpRyDd6gxeLqMmjLaFDanAJBKeRcqmKAgpk9A7qLbWsQrDOi5ldcflN18B5H-umTK9X/s1600/13.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXqb_GY8-50l4r1t_l2_27ZYMfWjehMyaYNAyRZVE2KTpJhoR9anQi2CshatvJQ8M4tRbQqHySCpRyDd6gxeLqMmjLaFDanAJBKeRcqmKAgpk9A7qLbWsQrDOi5ldcflN18B5H-umTK9X/s320/13.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677490616559406274" /></a><b>14. Being told that my white skin is beautiful… who needs a tan?</b></div><div><b><br />15. A hot shower after weeks without one</b></div><div><b><br />16. Making a joke in Spanish that people actually understand</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>17. When my host family calls me their hija/hermana</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YB67YD79vYyXyyOw9b6OSBoG7mscL7pN8nN2ZhOoC5F3E3tNken5X-N_pLKVg_E43t5pQTHXv1wzUczT3hAOoBMVn_R6bGg_RMpzgk-7Js1Q4EsXmlxkMv_BKuK_qxqJ7JXbCE7_X9_H/s1600/14.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YB67YD79vYyXyyOw9b6OSBoG7mscL7pN8nN2ZhOoC5F3E3tNken5X-N_pLKVg_E43t5pQTHXv1wzUczT3hAOoBMVn_R6bGg_RMpzgk-7Js1Q4EsXmlxkMv_BKuK_qxqJ7JXbCE7_X9_H/s320/14.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677487397279163058" /></a><b>18. How good a real hug feels</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>19</b>. <b>When teenagers seek me out for personal advice</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>20. Peruvian baby cheeks and deep brown eyes</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKcBJ8MudGd8Iw7QC7Qzt7oCgK3VZRfQgjnabno8lJKxJYA08pKeVkRXcT5XGRkYhXK9dAFTkFCzh8LZaNzeNcNa4lGLcRbfTl5D_zAV1aAO0djH4EhSv7W4CdoMoUun9FFb70LGNRfdO/s1600/20.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 201px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKcBJ8MudGd8Iw7QC7Qzt7oCgK3VZRfQgjnabno8lJKxJYA08pKeVkRXcT5XGRkYhXK9dAFTkFCzh8LZaNzeNcNa4lGLcRbfTl5D_zAV1aAO0djH4EhSv7W4CdoMoUun9FFb70LGNRfdO/s320/20.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677487395410230834" /></a><b>21. Hearing my name echoed through the streets as I pass by</b><br /><b>22. A juicy Porotina pineapple</b><br /><b>23. Cooking and eating delicious baked goods with people here</b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aht9rlKXCE5QjAiv94BlpAVFh4rbjNKqFoareBxyQNhxzInsmlnLb1Jz31vwzWvY2LNxM7LwbuVYeV-anok0VJBeX9v47q6tnjuqXa8vW4LHWyXiuSJd65mcj8qBBdgaOTPSJ8mGljPJ/s1600/21.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aht9rlKXCE5QjAiv94BlpAVFh4rbjNKqFoareBxyQNhxzInsmlnLb1Jz31vwzWvY2LNxM7LwbuVYeV-anok0VJBeX9v47q6tnjuqXa8vW4LHWyXiuSJd65mcj8qBBdgaOTPSJ8mGljPJ/s320/21.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677487374014178626" /></a><b>24. The sun setting over the distant mountains as I run along the sugarcane fields</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>25.</b> <b>Losing all embarrassment over dancing at any and all occasion</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbIav6N4tVfhl-zm4xcWxLFWZVwE9qjI8uAUyNlPhJxh8dXWOrkNK5-rqWLpIwcUbUvW14kSJ8GpQVK7rl4ur0WbTODFhl4JLT1-fiPoBH2ZcOwWskQAGMOS_j5MPAj5k6y4pG2ORG-nR/s1600/25.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbIav6N4tVfhl-zm4xcWxLFWZVwE9qjI8uAUyNlPhJxh8dXWOrkNK5-rqWLpIwcUbUvW14kSJ8GpQVK7rl4ur0WbTODFhl4JLT1-fiPoBH2ZcOwWskQAGMOS_j5MPAj5k6y4pG2ORG-nR/s320/25.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677487371107965650" /></a><b>26. Being told that I “dominate” Spanish</b></div><div><b><br />27. Climbing a tree and being tall enough to reach the perfect fruit</b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aGkG4szDRk0-IO3Rlk4VCRFaM2J31-hrhciUyVix0IkYbbix1fLb3L_Bga_OzgCDp2UWNkKtRNjB1I9pi-v7UvxFI3ezC4MaF4eC79xgebpC5s_1qhcHT7s1fe7gjp4MkpIullyl-htd/s1600/27.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aGkG4szDRk0-IO3Rlk4VCRFaM2J31-hrhciUyVix0IkYbbix1fLb3L_Bga_OzgCDp2UWNkKtRNjB1I9pi-v7UvxFI3ezC4MaF4eC79xgebpC5s_1qhcHT7s1fe7gjp4MkpIullyl-htd/s320/27.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677487363181500978" /></a><br /></div></div></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-59371247814187694052011-10-29T16:39:00.000-07:002011-10-29T16:48:46.550-07:00Up Close and Personal<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghemO366eJs3mmUzSxFZIsSWXR4kwd_4VeK_qmVnNaGnGNbfnxDRKDYhnFb3w_Gwnp9CkkxkagGOyIfDZwnNv2RKO48Kpu9mL3jv_wJ_gylewPW8j_Ef2-yynGkxAOjEIbjswiL1ulHFr2/s1600/P9223014.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghemO366eJs3mmUzSxFZIsSWXR4kwd_4VeK_qmVnNaGnGNbfnxDRKDYhnFb3w_Gwnp9CkkxkagGOyIfDZwnNv2RKO48Kpu9mL3jv_wJ_gylewPW8j_Ef2-yynGkxAOjEIbjswiL1ulHFr2/s320/P9223014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669065167434104834" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z3jr2GoKS10nOueQcjmp50Cu-yNavhh6HvFEdMhmxS3syjpHI-6N3qrZf4EOzBxD7rJ5rb2mVifqwKMck4cZMixscV7aQE2gV6QLr6WxHNtue_ppzy_AAfvTYCODchd989vxcjYaihfd/s1600/PA220228.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z3jr2GoKS10nOueQcjmp50Cu-yNavhh6HvFEdMhmxS3syjpHI-6N3qrZf4EOzBxD7rJ5rb2mVifqwKMck4cZMixscV7aQE2gV6QLr6WxHNtue_ppzy_AAfvTYCODchd989vxcjYaihfd/s320/PA220228.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669065156401418002" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNE6K_ZsqS9-oHw1ZArvwxW67yCnC5CJyxd9xioQ7qmoJZ7TDkzKix5jMxqPRD06Dyfrg6FGYYY2jSVpHlEeNnx7r4PBtOsa5DQdxuuJ9dYL2YiGhMl28ZMbL4eFZ2HQZhGRjfJGO3NUp/s1600/PA230257.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNE6K_ZsqS9-oHw1ZArvwxW67yCnC5CJyxd9xioQ7qmoJZ7TDkzKix5jMxqPRD06Dyfrg6FGYYY2jSVpHlEeNnx7r4PBtOsa5DQdxuuJ9dYL2YiGhMl28ZMbL4eFZ2HQZhGRjfJGO3NUp/s320/PA230257.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669065151820984946" /></a><br />I’ve been living in Poroto for over a year now, and with each passing day I find myself more immersed in the daily life of our community. Upon arriving in Poroto, I was quickly able to identify the typical adolescent issues- teen pregnancy, domestic violence, alcoholism, etc. However, during the first few months these community problems were evident only through simple observation or second-hand stories. The initial months were full of sensory-overload; new experiences, a foreign language, constant realizations, and cultural clashes. I was thrown into a completely foreign environment and did my best to embrace it, but I’m just now beginning to fully process it all. During the last 13+ months I’ve been able to form meaningful relationships with the members of my community and come to better understand the dynamic of their daily life. Poroto has become home, and simultaneously the intricacies of town politics have revealed themselves. I feel that I’ve earned the trust and friendship of many community members, which grants me greater access into the realm of local life. <div><br />Although I relish the deepening relationship with my town, this connection has opened my eyes to deeply personal troubles I was previously shielded from. It is one thing to recognize that alcoholism, teen pregnancy, malnutrition, and domestic abuse exists in your town, but it is an entirely different experience to witness the repercussions first-hand on people you’ve come to care deeply about. In the last several weeks there have been various encounters where I’ve been shocked by the information disclosed to me. It can be disheartening to realize how difficult it is to change deeply engrained societal problems. The cyclical nature of teen pregnancy, alcoholism, or even poverty as a whole can be daunting, especially when these issues are no longer statistics, but the faces of your neighbors, friends, and students. </div><div><br />Peace Corps is an incredibly unique opportunity because we are given the chance to live among a foreign community for two years, truly sharing in every aspect of their lives. Peace Corps volunteers understand how large-scale problems affect individual community members, offering powerful insight into development work in the most basic form. Unlike many other development agencies, Peace Corps volunteers are able to see and experience their community’s advancements, challenges, and downfalls first hand. Although seeing personal struggles first-hand is incredible opportunity, it can also be overwhelming and discouraging. Although we are living among our community members, we are still outsiders and our scope of assistance and true understanding will always be limited. </div><div><br />As these deeply-rooted societal problems become personal I think we have two choices. At times it can be tempting to resign to the power of poverty, corruption, or limited opportunities and grow cynical about the ability for change or to make even a minimal impact. However, we also have the option to embrace the situations we are given, taking advantage of our unique position as foreigners living as locals, and utilize the relationships we’ve formed and the trust we’ve gained to incite even the smallest positive changes in the community around us.<br /></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-25529642986929185122011-10-24T14:01:00.000-07:002011-10-29T15:47:01.242-07:00Gladys does the Great Amazon River Raft Race<div align="center">On the Bote, Ready to Raft the Amazon!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYOL9v4oHk7-9rUKXQfgG4kf1uaM8ysHK3bvOaHp1Rtqnvo9tF9L7zx9p-BU-h_FLlhBv33NjsXqhgAIy3TfxaGXBjvc3_i70LUrswdnwi4G_6fRizWx2qpAUpJlHaMHW4NziYMdQpQ7S/s1600/23.jpg"></a></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYOL9v4oHk7-9rUKXQfgG4kf1uaM8ysHK3bvOaHp1Rtqnvo9tF9L7zx9p-BU-h_FLlhBv33NjsXqhgAIy3TfxaGXBjvc3_i70LUrswdnwi4G_6fRizWx2qpAUpJlHaMHW4NziYMdQpQ7S/s1600/23.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667172568602242082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYOL9v4oHk7-9rUKXQfgG4kf1uaM8ysHK3bvOaHp1Rtqnvo9tF9L7zx9p-BU-h_FLlhBv33NjsXqhgAIy3TfxaGXBjvc3_i70LUrswdnwi4G_6fRizWx2qpAUpJlHaMHW4NziYMdQpQ7S/s320/23.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The Real Adventure Begins…<!--?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Early Thursday morning a hodgepodge group of about 200 gringos and Peruanos gathered in a plaza in Iquitos armed with oars, chairs, snacks, foam, rope, and other building supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Collectively we were quite a sight to see. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>We all piled in buses and traveled to Nauta where we had a celebration for the commencement of the 13<sup>th</sup> annual “Great Amazon River Raft Race” complete with jungle dances, a toast with jungle liquor, and a bienvenidos from the tourism director of the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After a chaotic scramble to buy last-minute supplies (my favorite purchase being an enormous reed sombrero) we piled in boats and were transported across the river to the bank where we could be constructing our rafts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The sun was incredibly strong and the humidity made the air thick, but the views were gorgeous.</span></span></p><p>Lord of the Flies- Raft Building Chaos<br /></p><div align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667172567184064162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ8_ptX8KUE6DJSueAJbGAa_MDDVshMkNK-_HvoefjSn8iF3MCxfxyXyjA2F6VlEkg56HWdsp0NZU8jSWXPjC3Gf3K6pyIKjCX-Vu8okPi7LIEAFYWZ0eN-FTE9HurNr3MvcTPGlF21KR/s320/24.jpg" /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We assembled on the bank of the river and in an extremely haphazard way we were released to begin the construction of our rafts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Given little warning or direction, we scrambled to select our 8 balsa logs- choosing only the ones we could lift (later we were informed the largest logs are the most buoyant).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Materials for construction were extremely scarce, and no rope was to be found until it was already dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Luckily we were able to rely on some locals for help, because without their guidance we surely would have sunk within minutes of entering the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The entire day was a heat induced delirium surrounded by a chaotic haze of machetes hacking, chainsaws buzzing, and short tempers flying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The collective mood was not improved when our promised lunch and water didn’t arrive until 5pm. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Despite the Lord of the Flies-esque environment, we managed to have fun building and decorating our raft, chopping down trees with machetes, and hanging out with the dozens of other Peace Corps volunteer participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As darkness settled in we completed our raft by the light of headlamps and a campfire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>An evening downpour soaked our already make-shift tent and sleeping conditions, so we slept uncomfortably close as water dripped over us.</span></span></p><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Team Gladys, Ready for an Adventure</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiVNUQpNassxyUgvKsSsGkoaQZX6Yw4tlGbs0IUoKZ7ts-tKpP3Z5L8WgoAtZz4tRXKxl3LrXKuiM4IZoX66wCANcxP_74dHcaZwREov_VkItIfsDUA4XjtBenc05jNwbfXy0AGk3k_gY/s1600/25.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667172561790848146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiVNUQpNassxyUgvKsSsGkoaQZX6Yw4tlGbs0IUoKZ7ts-tKpP3Z5L8WgoAtZz4tRXKxl3LrXKuiM4IZoX66wCANcxP_74dHcaZwREov_VkItIfsDUA4XjtBenc05jNwbfXy0AGk3k_gY/s320/25.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Hacking down support poles with my machete<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-SQZqBS4fCDxgGXdf0C6RQIwhwk59w9UMi-V0wcQLWEhl_v936KgSscEHSnxjDmdBgrG69lJN6xyDDsooWmj8hmaxDB6LEg4mBbVegoUUR6Nl8CfGlYxCMXSftuLeD8bWAvOn8aOypIr/s1600/26.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667170710911787026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-SQZqBS4fCDxgGXdf0C6RQIwhwk59w9UMi-V0wcQLWEhl_v936KgSscEHSnxjDmdBgrG69lJN6xyDDsooWmj8hmaxDB6LEg4mBbVegoUUR6Nl8CfGlYxCMXSftuLeD8bWAvOn8aOypIr/s320/26.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center">Enjoying the beautiful Amazon riverbanks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77vH7szYWCFoSMGL0iufWvtOtlLdwRxqacXKO58RA8RYtnH373pMzsk3uxgSB7FDSoAGMQ8_xcGWmynHZJcMnK6X9PZMpQ2f6GlMhpWSq2rPnKuxKAFeBrPx3Q0iZn05J-KLZ9LMtagy_/s1600/27.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667170706990398722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77vH7szYWCFoSMGL0iufWvtOtlLdwRxqacXKO58RA8RYtnH373pMzsk3uxgSB7FDSoAGMQ8_xcGWmynHZJcMnK6X9PZMpQ2f6GlMhpWSq2rPnKuxKAFeBrPx3Q0iZn05J-KLZ9LMtagy_/s320/27.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Gladys is finally constructed, by the light of headlamps, after an incredibly long day<br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcPEjzgLVXFvPVR9h3LDXgnzIwlh2OGlR7PqRygCum-AaRfARauqfuQf3m5C-0_TEbDlLAmh4ixL5UD3AD0E_yOz5azafFlN9vIK2Mqzm390C8ouaKKN2dpkXBwEKseYNFVxS3HhZqlpm/s1600/28.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667170702618558034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcPEjzgLVXFvPVR9h3LDXgnzIwlh2OGlR7PqRygCum-AaRfARauqfuQf3m5C-0_TEbDlLAmh4ixL5UD3AD0E_yOz5azafFlN9vIK2Mqzm390C8ouaKKN2dpkXBwEKseYNFVxS3HhZqlpm/s320/28.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We awoke Friday morning and “Gladys” (our affectionate name for our raft) was ready to take on the Amazon River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She may not have been the most quality constructed raft, but with the pink roof, convenient bag holders, and shiny flower decorations I think she was the prettiest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With lots of help, we moved the raft to the river and so began the voyage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We got off to a rough start and in the first 10 minutes I think we were all wondering what we got ourselves into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I imagined the Amazon River to be a narrow, fast-moving current; instead, it was an enormous wide body of water that seemed to move naturally in every direction but forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, after a bit of strategic rearranging and in-sync paddling, we found our rhythm and were able to enjoy the rest of the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was pretty exhausting, but a midday torrential downpour actually served to lift our spirits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No other rafts were in sight as the rain started pouring down, but we embraced the cooling shower with laughter and continued on our way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The heavy rain turned the current into a crazy maze of whirlpools, so we spent the following several minutes paddling like maniacs only to turn in circles and zigzags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The rain was quickly replaced with sunshine and we finished our first day of paddling after 6+ solid hours, happy with our progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We spent the night in a tiny village along the riverbank, arranged in refugee-camp style accommodations crowded in make-shift tents and a school. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Team Gladys, Ready to Rock</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzI3ctmmGTdtTDLP-oMoQMqBs60z-DlIHAwtG-jTqieuP9rN1GpDEZRRO8PIha7mfChUBD3YEYaGtzHL39mDIEtOlrDVXL5EwfD-omp09wNrw4EqZVojKZl1VC3euhwd-GoswyGKNA1Oj/s1600/29.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667170694396473842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzI3ctmmGTdtTDLP-oMoQMqBs60z-DlIHAwtG-jTqieuP9rN1GpDEZRRO8PIha7mfChUBD3YEYaGtzHL39mDIEtOlrDVXL5EwfD-omp09wNrw4EqZVojKZl1VC3euhwd-GoswyGKNA1Oj/s320/29.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Embracing the Downpour and Upcoming Whirlpools<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyQ7nUBd_GPbWxBZTmHjrTLeeTt8QV4HDgFt4TFpNF98Lk9gVDrl5ffcO21-zJh5To5npLfwjP1Bp50-D-yu7aWhssKnK4aKevIY0fKQPQoWcgfLRhu8s5WMUAhfPj4f0w-fJ4OizH_bi/s1600/30.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667170689285329234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyQ7nUBd_GPbWxBZTmHjrTLeeTt8QV4HDgFt4TFpNF98Lk9gVDrl5ffcO21-zJh5To5npLfwjP1Bp50-D-yu7aWhssKnK4aKevIY0fKQPQoWcgfLRhu8s5WMUAhfPj4f0w-fJ4OizH_bi/s320/30.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The following day the organizers informed us that the course was significantly longer than the previous day and it should take about 8 hours to complete (which meant much longer for us).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If this were true, there’s no way we would finish before dark, but the race directors assured us that if we weren’t near the finish by 4:30 they would tow us in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We drug Gladys back into the water and began the day in high spirits; singing, joking, playing games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were in a pretty good rhythm towards the beginning of the day, paddling hard and enjoying the wildlife and dolphins swimming alongside us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, as the day went on we managed to find every obstacle, floating tree, and whirlpool to guide us off track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Around 3:00, after almost 7 hours of paddling, we were exhausted, hadn’t eaten lunch, and were trying to figure out where we were along the course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The support boat passed and told us we had 2 hours to go, so we mustered up our energy and continued on our way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>At around 5:00 we were in the middle of what seemed like an enormous lake with no signs of the finish in site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We assumed the support boat would soon be towing us in, but continued paddling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At 5:30 we saw dark storm clouds, thunder, and lightning in the near distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Time passed and there was still no sign of the mysterious rescue tow-boat that was supposed to arrive at 4:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We started to get a little nervous and picked up our pace as the sky grew darker and waves began to form in the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The banks of the river were lined with steep, muddy cliffs so stopping seemed like an unlikely decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, as the sky grew darker and it started to rain and lightning over the river we decided abandoning ship was our only option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We paddled furiously to shore and by God’s grace there was a tiny little village on the bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We jumped out of the raft just in time and the townspeople literally pulled us up the muddy cliff banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They led us to the tiny school as lightning bolts hit the river we had just escaped from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The people of San Jorge, a village of only 10 families, were the kindest, most hospitable people I’ve met. As we crowded in the school a group of small children immediately huddled around us, their deep brown eyes staring up at us in curiosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After our racing hearts and nerves calmed down we learned the names and ages of the children and laughed together as the flashes of lightning illuminated their faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can only imagine what these little kids thought of us: giant, super-white gringos who washed up off the bank of the Amazon River and into their tiny little village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After awhile we saw a light in the distance and ran to the bank of the river, waving frantically to get attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally, 3 hours after they indicated, the rescue boat arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At this point the search and rescue coastguard boat was in full emergency mode, making us all even more panicky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We ran to the riverbank and the coastguard was screaming into a megaphone “ONE AT A TIME, DESCEND THE CLIFF, QUICKLY!” as an enormous flashlight and emergency lights lit the riverbank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At this point the cliff was basically a mudslide, so we put on our lifejackets and slid down the bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As we boarded the coastguard boat we were greeted by a crowded mess of other race participants who had also been picked up by the rescue crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We piled on the crew bunk beds and began the rocky ride back to safety. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><br />Finally Back to Safety, Thanks to the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Boat<br /><div align="center"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0MYe46E808gS8MPzkEmgltdia27-bPbdYuDI-msvcu0HJ1Ane1JPgKc8wH0ZLrWz8Ln4Df2W6VXWM-7mzAAfPtMTah_Xh0xD3uVk1vHwRtravVvOg84xpBga_U3NosJdAUgeN5R5dXRg/s1600/32.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667168601741995442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0MYe46E808gS8MPzkEmgltdia27-bPbdYuDI-msvcu0HJ1Ane1JPgKc8wH0ZLrWz8Ln4Df2W6VXWM-7mzAAfPtMTah_Xh0xD3uVk1vHwRtravVvOg84xpBga_U3NosJdAUgeN5R5dXRg/s320/32.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Needless to say, Gladys was abandoned off the coast of San Jorge, but I’d like to think the little kids are now parading around with glittery leis around their neck and a pretty epic story to share. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Since we were raft-less (along with 7 other teams) we were barred to the support boat for the last day of the rafting race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, with hammocks and free cerveza, life could be worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We also got to cheer on all the other rafting teams, including the incredible Peruvian teams who flew past us before we could even catch a good glimpse of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>All in all, the “Great Amazon River Raft Race” was quite an adventure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I’ll leave you with the ridiculous but entertaining rap/chant/pep-up song Team Gladys created while rafting down the Amazon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The chant began on day 2 and we repeated it every time we passed another team (or better said, they passed us) or needed some entertainment. As you can see we added extra stanzas to reflect the conclusion of our river rafting escapade.</span></span></p><br /><div align="center">Watching the Non-ShipWrecked Rafts Begin Rafting Day 3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YBoeDDQGzSCVSltTbwfrBQoDy9jN1u7YsA5eJYtfcfriGh7jbl7tzIc9bFB0bT4lMpqsMhs_Q4PfB9t2482_m2ioFtJBa7L3QwlCqwAXaO_F5RuMXYNAMofcwbGKdqZtsfgkfkkeJ-Do/s1600/33.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667168603041878418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YBoeDDQGzSCVSltTbwfrBQoDy9jN1u7YsA5eJYtfcfriGh7jbl7tzIc9bFB0bT4lMpqsMhs_Q4PfB9t2482_m2ioFtJBa7L3QwlCqwAXaO_F5RuMXYNAMofcwbGKdqZtsfgkfkkeJ-Do/s320/33.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center">Day 3- Trading the Raft for the Support Boat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMi76HLSV0HEzHb0rAxp2TIGYLmZyXAjBsGf5GCvodurNkFhI2-isAACryn0VWaWZ7q1m71YYlaanuQgtwYUF0RrlWGaEaxVBW4CLswzCwisinisujnc4gwOp3ov_LPROJc2K1YmG1Rz1/s1600/34.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667168590688432338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMi76HLSV0HEzHb0rAxp2TIGYLmZyXAjBsGf5GCvodurNkFhI2-isAACryn0VWaWZ7q1m71YYlaanuQgtwYUF0RrlWGaEaxVBW4CLswzCwisinisujnc4gwOp3ov_LPROJc2K1YmG1Rz1/s320/34.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We the girls with the pink roof<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We gonna float, we don’t need to proof/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">I ain’t gonna lie, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We might not fly/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">But at least our boat,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Is still afloat/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Circlin’ in whirlpools is what we like to do<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">But that’s just cause we’re more fun than you/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Erin is the captain o’ mine<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">She likes to keep us in line/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Kim likes to rock the life vest<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Maybe cause we ain’t the best/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Kelsi is team cheerleader<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Singin’ and rhymin’ is why we need her/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Beth forgot her gloves, sista’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Now she’s got a nasty blista’/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Paddle hard, we did try<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Til lightning filled the sky/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We thought the rescue boat was near<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">But we had reason to fear/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Abandon ship in San Jorge<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Otherwise we’d be swept away/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Against the shore the waves were crashing<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Coastguard’s lights were flashing/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Down the muddy cliff we did slide<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The rescue boat took us for a ride/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">It’s not that we weren’t tough enough<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">But the water just got too rough/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">World’s biggest river we’ll never forget<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">It was an adventure we won’t regret/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Gladys was lookin’ for action<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Amazon River provided satisfaction<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></p><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Team Gladys- Celebrating the Survival, Post-Race<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcE_VLqXDsByFceDgwrjLXg5VEf6r3Savh2J3H6wNoBMnAzcRC537Lpu2-rPs06k1fOPEwVNF8x-UzVuTahnxo2sO0qRALaF2qT4yWcg48Tex3WtX0yAjzmek3XN1uTjHPNJrT5cmIVM6/s1600/35.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667168584591815378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcE_VLqXDsByFceDgwrjLXg5VEf6r3Savh2J3H6wNoBMnAzcRC537Lpu2-rPs06k1fOPEwVNF8x-UzVuTahnxo2sO0qRALaF2qT4yWcg48Tex3WtX0yAjzmek3XN1uTjHPNJrT5cmIVM6/s320/35.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-92203650542993804232011-10-24T12:33:00.000-07:002011-10-29T15:43:56.262-07:00Adventures in the Amazon!<div style="text-align: center;">Ready to land in Iquitos, the Amazon River beckons</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa_3MARNwqvQuS04t1gIl77hyPRD26gdzPmhyphenhyphenPv9GiM0IvV0l223Ln5MIBXUH86IUcjv2GWUC0iwyviWSdpeiR8gBhFHw0tJUx7EFJ-yMp650p9K-ym4gnAkDJOWNlnkEHyL3EqKGngSG/s1600/1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa_3MARNwqvQuS04t1gIl77hyPRD26gdzPmhyphenhyphenPv9GiM0IvV0l223Ln5MIBXUH86IUcjv2GWUC0iwyviWSdpeiR8gBhFHw0tJUx7EFJ-yMp650p9K-ym4gnAkDJOWNlnkEHyL3EqKGngSG/s320/1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669048200827675122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the city of Iquitos</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLehYkuu0DH0jmwv7-1BpNvYvAfM2j0IMhxOtncvLPomDfXGsPXjT5zgPOFFVofA5UyrG9v96jfpVjGs8aHezZnA_EiXUUvZ5RcJ2YeWVkjenhSPaS8EH4xYPSbRFXhb9SlUckUaarWvBK/s1600/2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLehYkuu0DH0jmwv7-1BpNvYvAfM2j0IMhxOtncvLPomDfXGsPXjT5zgPOFFVofA5UyrG9v96jfpVjGs8aHezZnA_EiXUUvZ5RcJ2YeWVkjenhSPaS8EH4xYPSbRFXhb9SlUckUaarWvBK/s320/2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669048195205897762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ready to board the bote</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJA2mtq_B0D6YE5cOComsYvvX9omazGhwMPuK4MDXjGfTMDgfK1SIHEiGMzB3Z5iF58Msqcczfd8aEczy0rHJr9rmy1NG47HOR-ooTq7NkRHcsBMd4lhpt1UKM91LwmOCz0akkU5Dh604o/s1600/3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJA2mtq_B0D6YE5cOComsYvvX9omazGhwMPuK4MDXjGfTMDgfK1SIHEiGMzB3Z5iF58Msqcczfd8aEczy0rHJr9rmy1NG47HOR-ooTq7NkRHcsBMd4lhpt1UKM91LwmOCz0akkU5Dh604o/s320/3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669048190352889282" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Cruising down the Amazon for our jungle adventure</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NnhgJzFOzcFDesLW6-Rm1GXS5Y8v6vNcKtXL0kOZYN7g3Z8d_wY4DGeq3etX0oUAfFRduMut5Dtd_S1qS_s0WsW0-c6RDTk-fjCabxUJ8A0WjDPXPTRargu3NYs6RnMD-uDFSenk1gMf/s1600/4.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NnhgJzFOzcFDesLW6-Rm1GXS5Y8v6vNcKtXL0kOZYN7g3Z8d_wY4DGeq3etX0oUAfFRduMut5Dtd_S1qS_s0WsW0-c6RDTk-fjCabxUJ8A0WjDPXPTRargu3NYs6RnMD-uDFSenk1gMf/s320/4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669048171838992498" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our selva home for a few days</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6cIHNw_ZnGwkzg_In2uPfdbNUcD4xXFqhPipln91-6wDGiS3YPVdPWiuDOLlxIPiGw4uSQvHWj9kVY0YmhLDgU29UnA_wLguRFFDtITkUfA7O8L49uM6yN4EU8_6rH1RjatOMobD8Bnl/s1600/5.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6cIHNw_ZnGwkzg_In2uPfdbNUcD4xXFqhPipln91-6wDGiS3YPVdPWiuDOLlxIPiGw4uSQvHWj9kVY0YmhLDgU29UnA_wLguRFFDtITkUfA7O8L49uM6yN4EU8_6rH1RjatOMobD8Bnl/s320/5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669048164443200034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our mosquito net beds</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBMOyZXSY9F_QxZgOPcTM7XSA6SwknqeEG4ogPtJrksSy8naNTSZ8uKTF-bJ4g9jVcMAwysNnuyz5Ym1Allro1Wg0NcneDYOcEwy7UPkQ_rtKe-27Ag7BKj88WxBZoGLkNDgKfi0COd2c/s1600/6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667192975442447666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBMOyZXSY9F_QxZgOPcTM7XSA6SwknqeEG4ogPtJrksSy8naNTSZ8uKTF-bJ4g9jVcMAwysNnuyz5Ym1Allro1Wg0NcneDYOcEwy7UPkQ_rtKe-27Ag7BKj88WxBZoGLkNDgKfi0COd2c/s320/6.JPG" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lunchtime! Anaconda?</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1K2QeJxoXL9Qn6MZKSmAX2SaVnfjTJZPetADFXZFBrJi68VvS_iQ7VAEgfByiNMHR_pO8OeMCPnYjGGltbs7mYaf9yHk9j4qEkGoFHGNJzwZ9arCJitSi2U-XqnohZCIA_qo3dTFwPtI/s1600/7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667192974345892994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1K2QeJxoXL9Qn6MZKSmAX2SaVnfjTJZPetADFXZFBrJi68VvS_iQ7VAEgfByiNMHR_pO8OeMCPnYjGGltbs7mYaf9yHk9j4qEkGoFHGNJzwZ9arCJitSi2U-XqnohZCIA_qo3dTFwPtI/s320/7.JPG" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boating through lily pads and making friends with spiders</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-AiukbO5_x-8zKrBtdxb550pwAJwC7C8CADy9wp4WpKUX7wjkUiMJDpIVyU_EFMTPWnlHAeirWvu9OYi_FbTEcdXm4cgQMNA1PqFp0CDYRPgwb1VwWXm5TyijnZwJj-HUpZdzXE2psd9/s1600/8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667192961706062546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-AiukbO5_x-8zKrBtdxb550pwAJwC7C8CADy9wp4WpKUX7wjkUiMJDpIVyU_EFMTPWnlHAeirWvu9OYi_FbTEcdXm4cgQMNA1PqFp0CDYRPgwb1VwWXm5TyijnZwJj-HUpZdzXE2psd9/s320/8.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hoping for a prince</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiA7Ed2P8-lOitGGS6bt5YNYmhX1lx7pJEAMx0FCUv4RDq-7E3R5EXD_2qs-m9fZ2v8ueZZPBgY7XM9MygAyYtN5VwGfw4HkdQ3Sml3tRo4fDGLgRINhi48r0IFu49INx99N8dE5cF6Rt/s1600/9.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667192954878960626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiA7Ed2P8-lOitGGS6bt5YNYmhX1lx7pJEAMx0FCUv4RDq-7E3R5EXD_2qs-m9fZ2v8ueZZPBgY7XM9MygAyYtN5VwGfw4HkdQ3Sml3tRo4fDGLgRINhi48r0IFu49INx99N8dE5cF6Rt/s320/9.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our entire jungle expedition group, ready to enter the selva</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCKOwQHnqsM-pl90MT5CpnO-1Nru3z3Cui4xDj0rBCAKdw6DGQLBOp6wfLFF_CDUKuQUH0jR31s816geTY_ecqFR3Uc5F3qtl9iag5PRS-knyGOTWYOdsOfH8jjGYIkRt6t1Czn_OxC6O/s1600/10.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 215px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667192953633915874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCKOwQHnqsM-pl90MT5CpnO-1Nru3z3Cui4xDj0rBCAKdw6DGQLBOp6wfLFF_CDUKuQUH0jR31s816geTY_ecqFR3Uc5F3qtl9iag5PRS-knyGOTWYOdsOfH8jjGYIkRt6t1Czn_OxC6O/s320/10.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">I have experienced many “firsts” during my time here in Peru. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I am continually amazed by the plethora of breathtaking sites, invigorating adventures, and new experiences I am exposed to during my travels throughout this country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Peru is famous for its coast, mountains, and jungle, and these three distinct geographies are woven together to form an incredibly diverse and beautiful country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve explored the coast and mountains significantly during my first year in Peru, and recently experienced my most epic adventure yet: the jungle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span><br /></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">It all began several months ago when former volunteers were describing a crazy vacation in the Amazon jungle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Their experience sparked our attention and we were immediately intrigued by their stories of a 3 day rafting race down the Amazon River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We immediately decided we also had to be a part of this monumental competition, and signed up months ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Despite the detailed anecdotes and candid warnings of last year’s escapades, we could have never expected what was in store. I’ll begin by sharing the more tranquil part of the trip, and the fact that this “tranquility” also involved piranhas, jungle hiking, vine-swinging, tree-climbing, Amazon-river-exploring, and alligator-hunting is an indication of just how ridiculous this rafting race was.</span></span></p><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">As our flight descended over Iquitos we could see the winding Amazon River surrounded by green masses of trees, and as we stepped off the plane we were greeted by a wave of intense humid heat. The adventure began early as we were carted off to our hostel in a “taxi” that seemed like it was about to explode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Fortunately our hostel was a step up from the transportation provided, and even had a pool we immediately took advantage of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Iquitos has a very different feel from other cities I’ve visited in Peru and I truly felt like I was on vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The city swarms with motorcycles and mototaxis weaving through the streets and the dense heat penetrates the city and seems to impact the laid-back feel of this jungle town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We explored Iquitos, strolling by the river and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>trying local cuisine; fried banana balls, roasted fish and vegetable skewers, exotic fruit juices, and lots of frozen treats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span><br /><br /><br /></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The following day we began our jungle expedition with our fearless tour guide, Wilson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My friends and I had the entire tour to ourselves, so we were able to monopolize Wilson’s attention with our questions and special requests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We departed from Nauta, a small port town South of Iquitos and boarded a “bote” that carried us 3 hours down the river to our jungle lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As the river narrowed we were surrounded by unique jungle plants, birds, and animals.</span></span><br /><br /></p></div><div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Our jungle home for the next 3 days was a rustic wooden lodge built on stilts and carefully protected with nets to avoid mosquitoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We each claimed our beds, which were thin mattresses on the ground surrounded by princess-style mosquito-net canopies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We enjoyed a delicious welcome meal of what we thought was Anaconda (Wilson later told our gullible-selves that it was really just fish) and departed on our afternoon boat tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We traveled along the narrow river enjoying monkey howls, colorful birds flitting against the trees, and strange insects joining us in the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We took a brief break from the boat to trek around the jungle a bit and then began our nighttime alligator hunting expedition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Wilson took his alligator hunting very seriously, but as usual I had quite a hard time maintaining the requested silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Despite Erin and my suppressed laughter we were eventually able to find a mini-alligator along the swampy brush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After playing with our squirmy alligator friend for awhile we returned back to our lodge, enjoying the brilliant stars overhead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We enjoyed dinner and cards illuminated by kerosene lanterns and retired to our mosquito net beds, greeted by malaria-medicine induced dreams as we drifted off to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /><br /></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The following day we awoke ready to trek through the heart of the selva.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As we wondered through the dense vegetation we saw enormous 400+ year old trees, long lines of tiny ants carrying leaves 5 times their size, medicinal plants claimed to cure everything from diarrhea to cancer, winding vines for Tarzan swinging, and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After hours of trudging through the muddy jungle trails in the intense heat and humidity, I happily jumped in the river, regardless of what creatures may have been swimming with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the afternoon Wilson took us to the pueblito where he was from, which featured small, open, bright colored houses constructed on stilts to sustain the heavy rainy season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Local children played soccer in the grassy streets as adults kept cool in the hammocks on their front porches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After our brief tour of Puerto Miguel we continued on the river where we found the famous pink dolphins jumping and swimming along our boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were able to swim in the warm river water, admiring the grayish-pink dolphins as they gallivanted past. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>As the afternoon progressed we could see dark storm clouds advancing and powerful rain hitting the water in the distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We managed to return safely and enjoyed the heavy rain storm from the comfort of our jungle lodge.</span></span><br /></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The last day of our jungle expedition began with an early morning boat trip to fish for piranhas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Wilson guided us through the morning mist to a piranha cove and we commenced with our high-tech fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Armed with wooden sticks, fishing line, a hook, and fish meat we were able to catch dozens of piranhas without too much trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Their sharp teeth were intimidating at first, but I ended up having way too much fun playing with my little piranha friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When we ran out of bait, we chopped up the littlest piranha and used him to lure more of his buddies to our line- just a little cannibalism in action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After our morning fishing trip we relaxed for awhile while the chef fried up the fresh piranhas for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Piranha meat is quite delicious, and the ferocious-looking piranha heads provided some serious entertainment.</span></span><br /><br /><br /></p></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">After an epic nighttime search, we finally found our guy!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJlYTzdxMVlopDfEm6IJEt6Pb4kMisHx4ErgwB6TUxsYFCXae4U8N1etbR2uvyXhN4xbkVjte97wRqRaEqI5P96wVSyQTN00DjUDfBysDsg49NSDTLqnU0J_Tq-OwoLOOR0SOsfTgH80S/s1600/11.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667187951715115058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJlYTzdxMVlopDfEm6IJEt6Pb4kMisHx4ErgwB6TUxsYFCXae4U8N1etbR2uvyXhN4xbkVjte97wRqRaEqI5P96wVSyQTN00DjUDfBysDsg49NSDTLqnU0J_Tq-OwoLOOR0SOsfTgH80S/s320/11.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; " class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span></span></span>Dinners by candlelight in our jungle lodge</p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWolCRtn-vBv8IKGx92Nc8DQWr5Vpse65fUXO-Abru6ueFuokFyElFrvdwTVin29l_ud1SQu7qnZjzZvKZmOhAPzHtq6aUswk_tTUnGrdkkbqB8LaiRdkYeeLxF-9o4urhLesGAZkZuxhF/s1600/12.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667187953715323234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWolCRtn-vBv8IKGx92Nc8DQWr5Vpse65fUXO-Abru6ueFuokFyElFrvdwTVin29l_ud1SQu7qnZjzZvKZmOhAPzHtq6aUswk_tTUnGrdkkbqB8LaiRdkYeeLxF-9o4urhLesGAZkZuxhF/s320/12.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Trudging through the mud- I had to be literally lifted out of my boots more than once</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR-EjEXUGJDnMObSiMsge3FfdoifKN2pdFttydchTyTrdNbara3Txnu5DiVQbYKTdfzprAJwPH3cvjnZb2cBLRyG2z2OxQ9uiObwuSEx4HOmsPg8nf4h02leVy4KvDPJ23jk5NnQu3i97/s1600/13.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667187946503313714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR-EjEXUGJDnMObSiMsge3FfdoifKN2pdFttydchTyTrdNbara3Txnu5DiVQbYKTdfzprAJwPH3cvjnZb2cBLRyG2z2OxQ9uiObwuSEx4HOmsPg8nf4h02leVy4KvDPJ23jk5NnQu3i97/s320/13.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Climbing 400+ year old trees</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eZ3DeRR6OAQkYTkZAgT8qBEV9rIgbMf8vzk-9IEcy9goT948EyGqCuK9ZynJoCKj7IO5tu1jBsLPIcn_iSA8CFHEqb7jCzYgye1vCgWH4ub_sbdlKNXGaX3jIwYsdREbo0wemsRpYEUJ/s1600/14.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667187939547650962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eZ3DeRR6OAQkYTkZAgT8qBEV9rIgbMf8vzk-9IEcy9goT948EyGqCuK9ZynJoCKj7IO5tu1jBsLPIcn_iSA8CFHEqb7jCzYgye1vCgWH4ub_sbdlKNXGaX3jIwYsdREbo0wemsRpYEUJ/s320/14.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tarzan!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69LSnKgmdDYLiMNaou5xianFaLtkRZWW_gNuhK1_1Y2x2koz_nwSulHrVF6zmWopbJQGnQYR__uM92qGA1FHeuPUPATQWMuhipk6WvlPpNXQyJ3QaY55dJgyl0ptu79gMhZ5lSkkmpY0V/s1600/15.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667187936345032290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69LSnKgmdDYLiMNaou5xianFaLtkRZWW_gNuhK1_1Y2x2koz_nwSulHrVF6zmWopbJQGnQYR__uM92qGA1FHeuPUPATQWMuhipk6WvlPpNXQyJ3QaY55dJgyl0ptu79gMhZ5lSkkmpY0V/s320/15.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Exploring Wilson's pueblito... in the rainy season, you have to access all the houses by canoe!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtenlCrhKGyYTnk9mkq8xPTowQrqtFvwIEFoE0xUkBaLQmkApoVsVzqVPUBMXCF4roMFUCehFJidalsD2reX8VosScTBawDuxQlP6t_D4OHvA7rnJ7Z-yt8PWX9GpeS9oFPIRPgpnOrkc/s1600/16.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667182266949663922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtenlCrhKGyYTnk9mkq8xPTowQrqtFvwIEFoE0xUkBaLQmkApoVsVzqVPUBMXCF4roMFUCehFJidalsD2reX8VosScTBawDuxQlP6t_D4OHvA7rnJ7Z-yt8PWX9GpeS9oFPIRPgpnOrkc/s320/16.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Local kids outside of Puerto Miguel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs17QS7HqvkbIBzcY8zcBbGTryjD_IVyVCAg5Kaq0F9XnGywfvoNsFSN-K_XNj3cJI5mdGvuEg2N9YjkX1p96u9Yku303hWqDoE9B2oNDZY2c7SxEg4ids1VyMkswINfR8oL_vwVmgRb4K/s1600/17.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667182260438277826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs17QS7HqvkbIBzcY8zcBbGTryjD_IVyVCAg5Kaq0F9XnGywfvoNsFSN-K_XNj3cJI5mdGvuEg2N9YjkX1p96u9Yku303hWqDoE9B2oNDZY2c7SxEg4ids1VyMkswINfR8oL_vwVmgRb4K/s320/17.JPG" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Swimming in the Amazon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAcNPR0fayr9vr6omYbQAOBKPn8yabK7g_RcPa_7UirRrGNhfWYJ5zK2goTE9tvfgSsj9GygN9p5otbVQGGkQCvgYSXXhta3A6McvNGtgK91_D1GnZZ_IgU55nb8S8HHiS0y0pyJ3eDpz/s1600/18.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667182245947810386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAcNPR0fayr9vr6omYbQAOBKPn8yabK7g_RcPa_7UirRrGNhfWYJ5zK2goTE9tvfgSsj9GygN9p5otbVQGGkQCvgYSXXhta3A6McvNGtgK91_D1GnZZ_IgU55nb8S8HHiS0y0pyJ3eDpz/s320/18.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Post swimming with the pink dolphins</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3l5tBqqdH4lRZWzp9PIRPfI28m2mqePpj3C2XcbXOIuyfowkdB-QLOGu0CqWAyeSI8zThLaSdeXC_DkoE3V6zwTJC6L_18iviLEF4Y7kui3_RJc9mjeEBMpUiSctGeptE-aDDxrrj2zC/s1600/19.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667182238588303042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3l5tBqqdH4lRZWzp9PIRPfI28m2mqePpj3C2XcbXOIuyfowkdB-QLOGu0CqWAyeSI8zThLaSdeXC_DkoE3V6zwTJC6L_18iviLEF4Y7kui3_RJc9mjeEBMpUiSctGeptE-aDDxrrj2zC/s320/19.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fishing for Piranha is surprisingly easy.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-Gv-nooCoBO8vsX5i-Sz1omJBQ6yUxJydbFmLcNpfwWitJ7-wM7XyJ2qpDu688rSCfOpW5EBQtNES8LRtPGP37_4vYT2jg9SUy8e91tFKrDfBKOsj5fhzpm3YiSK7bdRMCD7e1iqL7XX/s1600/20.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667182241319938242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-Gv-nooCoBO8vsX5i-Sz1omJBQ6yUxJydbFmLcNpfwWitJ7-wM7XyJ2qpDu688rSCfOpW5EBQtNES8LRtPGP37_4vYT2jg9SUy8e91tFKrDfBKOsj5fhzpm3YiSK7bdRMCD7e1iqL7XX/s320/20.jpg" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center">I was brave, look at those teeth.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawy6RujL_0v2PIsM3-aOKn5ihVZxJ65u-2LhncDXMVM7xOAYsLTJKLRVdBR6KY_pqndMs2oMVBCgLxzMpIPG88XL_kNsARJCTUBJXYafvYugm1gXPdSb2Q-BMZ-tJfcU3lw8SBcomilf1/s1600/21+%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667178259605768306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawy6RujL_0v2PIsM3-aOKn5ihVZxJ65u-2LhncDXMVM7xOAYsLTJKLRVdBR6KY_pqndMs2oMVBCgLxzMpIPG88XL_kNsARJCTUBJXYafvYugm1gXPdSb2Q-BMZ-tJfcU3lw8SBcomilf1/s320/21+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center">Mmmm, Piranha.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe5_LUm3UD8T-hbg6HN1VkTE-qR-EOROfYc87J6fKN4skfdJjlnJktmUbcybRp7EfpBb-qlYdCZoEpsj6dReciiO_z4ebXXdOVbghcOTRVFYDGr87o1r39K3oOMEYXUL-OqzdUtbOcwct/s1600/21.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667178247736923586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe5_LUm3UD8T-hbg6HN1VkTE-qR-EOROfYc87J6fKN4skfdJjlnJktmUbcybRp7EfpBb-qlYdCZoEpsj6dReciiO_z4ebXXdOVbghcOTRVFYDGr87o1r39K3oOMEYXUL-OqzdUtbOcwct/s320/21.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Eating our fresh-caught piranhas and having too much fun with their heads<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhSWbU4g_SmBovNGnKx1Eh7CKrQYKnUZc80miu22mnebvaRay6ku68hIZdjQ9rXJj-O760GjhhiPA-NQibkWLsiWG1T93BPpNTpyFGjly5q7aPTM9AHDoe-WzgjaLN2YC2z93X9T1XlZt/s1600/22.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667178247379796514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhSWbU4g_SmBovNGnKx1Eh7CKrQYKnUZc80miu22mnebvaRay6ku68hIZdjQ9rXJj-O760GjhhiPA-NQibkWLsiWG1T93BPpNTpyFGjly5q7aPTM9AHDoe-WzgjaLN2YC2z93X9T1XlZt/s320/22.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-23242887834865187772011-09-18T16:48:00.000-07:002011-09-18T16:50:01.779-07:00Eat Local?<p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The local food movement seems to be sweeping the United States; the prevalence of farmer’s markets and the consumption of local produce is on the rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Shopping locally is much more “in style” than frequent trips to Wal-Mart and other enormous food chains where food is imported from all over the globe and tracing the origin of your meal is near impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, consuming organic, locally produced food is primarily available to those of the upper and middle class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Organic meat and produce continue to be much more expensive and much more difficult to find than hormone-filled, chemically manipulated food at your average chain grocery store or fast food joint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Various studies have indicated the severe lack of even basic grocery stores in the US’s poorest neighborhoods, where fast food restaurants overpower the number of markets or grocery stores selling food for preparation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Cheap, unhealthy, mass-produced food is often available in poverty-stricken areas of our nation’s cities, where local residents are hard-pressed to find a store selling even the most basic food items. </span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Considering the food consumption patterns and nutritional deficiencies between the US and Peru is quite interesting, and the influences are quite different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While local food consumption is a “hip” middle/upper class trend for many living in the US, local consumption is the only option for many of the poorest residents living in rural communities in Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While it is tempting to glamorize the simple, back-to-basics consumption of local products, there are many complicated issues in the production and consumption of Peruvian food products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One may assume that because a community produces a high quantity of healthy agricultural products, such as quinoa, they also consume these products in their families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, this is simply not the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Quinoa offers enormous nutritional benefits- not only is it a complex carbohydrate, but it also offers protein and other vitamins and minerals in its natural composition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Previously, Peruvian families consumed quinoa as a key part of their diet, but as the popularity of quinoa has grown in other parts of the world, the prices have risen and communities are exporting the entirety of their quinoa crop without local consumption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This pattern holds true for many other locally produced goods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For example, the department of Cajamarca is famous for their milk and dairy production.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One would assume that the mass availability of milk would ensure infants and children are nourished with local milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, in speaking with volunteers living in this region, I’ve found that families tend to sell their milk directly to the large enterprise, Gloria, without saving even enough milk to provide for their small children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Here in Poroto we produce an enormous supply of fruit and a substantial quantity of vegetables, but the average family consumes very little of these crops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It appears to be a combination of lacking education, custom, and opportunity for profit that limits the consumption of healthy local products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Availability of quality nutritional food is also a key factor in malnutrition and poor nutrition habits among Peruvian children and families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Many of the communities in which Peace Corps volunteers live are isolated from capital cities or areas where fruits and vegetables are produced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For example, yesterday I traveled to my most isolated Caserio, Huayabito, to do an educational session about nutrition and cook with a group of the local women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We talked extensively about the role of food in child development and the need to eat a balanced diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, simple availability often hinders the consumption of a healthy diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This particular caserio is located over 2 ½ hours walking from Poroto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is extremely dry and produces minimal produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Water is available only a few days a week, so families save water in empty soda bottles and buckets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You don’t realize the vitality of water until you spend a day without it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Washing your hands, cleaning out animal insides, bathing, giving water to livestock, watering crops, drinking, etc... all is much more complicated without the availability of running water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This compounds the problem of lacking fruits and vegetables, because without water it is difficult to grow produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If this important element of your diet is simply not available, it is hard to change behavior and habit to consume more fruits and vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">So where does this leave us in the quest for the consumption of healthy, local food? It’s a toss-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most Americans have access to clean, running water and a relatively wide selection of food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, although the US has the luxury of a convenient food, the majority of the meat is mass-produced and loaded with harmful preservatives or hormones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The local and organic food market is still primarily available only to small sub-sections of US citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, here in Peru many isolated communities simply do not have access to the components of a healthy diet and even fruits and vegetables consumed locally are loaded with harmful pesticides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think the main difference between American and Peruvian food consumption is the knowledge of where our food comes from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Few Americans consider the entire process of food preparation, while most Peruvians living in small, rural communities have no other option to confront the sources of their diet on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To illustrate this point I’ll compare my experiences of consuming a chicken in Peru and in the United States. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 0cm" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">What I ate yesterday for lunch-<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Like I said, yesterday I was visiting the caserio of Huayabito to give a nutrition session and cook with the community members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Meat is a luxury for most of the households in Huayabito, but Mariela insisted on killing a chicken for our visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’d never seen the entire process of killing and preparing a chicken, so today was a learning experience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Initially Yesenia, the 5 year old daughter, protested at the thought of killing the chicken she had named “PioPio” but quickly resigned to the fact that PioPio would be lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Without much hesitation she brought her mom a large, sharp knife and helped secure PioPio against the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Mariela asked Lindsey to hold the bucket for the blood as she slit its neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Blood squirted into the bucket as the chicken continued to jolt around for several moments before going limp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Mariela reminded Lindsey to continue stirring the blood because it would serve as an iron-filled snack later on, when cooked and prepared with onions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When PioPio was good and dead we took him inside and began to pluck out his feathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was trying not to be squeamish, especially when the 5 and 7 year old daughters were ripping out feathers without a second thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally the hen was completely naked and it was time to cut its nails which was Cecelia, the 5 year old daughter’s job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Next, we slit the hen down its back, cracking through its vertebrae and revealing all the internal organs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Mariela dumped water over the organs, removing the intestines and excess fat lining the inside of the animal but saving the stomach, heart, liver etc. to eat with lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There’s no running water in Huayabito, so each step of the process was complicated by bringing water from nearby bottles and buckets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally each part of the hen, including the head and feet, were cut up and ready to cook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When asked her favorite part of the hen, Yesenia happily replied “la cabeza!” (the head) and her mom informed me that she especially enjoyed sucking out the eyeballs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">In the US-</span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Go to the grocery store, select your choice of pre-packaged, pre-cut chicken and drive home to prepare it, or even better… drive through McDonalds and place your order. Also, if you asked a 7 year old American girl her favorite part of a chicken, she would probably say the fingers. </span></span></p>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-50044332322595899062011-08-28T16:30:00.000-07:002011-09-18T16:47:56.795-07:00¡Recicla, Ya!<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Environmental consciousness is slowly beginning to grow here in Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although the streets are often lined with garbage and conservation is a foreign concept to most people, small groups are beginning to recognize the wealth of resources within Peru and taking action to protect them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The garbage and general apathy towards cleanliness and environmental protection is frustrating, so I wanted to begin environmentally focused efforts at my school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After various conversations with teachers and students, we decided to start a recycling program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve given educational sessions highlighting the importance of recycling with all elementary and high school students (almost 500 students total).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Many students have never even heard of recycling, so we discussed the most fundamental ideas related to reusing materials, environmental protection, and how the process of recycling actually works. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">I formed an environmental committee within the school with 3 teachers from the elementary school and 3 teachers from the high school and we came up with a work plan for a school-wide recycling competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In order to incentivize students to bring recyclable materials, we formed a competition between all the different classrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Each classroom elected an environmental president to help encourage their peers’ participation and was in charge of monitoring progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In an effort to involve parents, we also sent home notes to families explaining the competition and requesting their active support and participation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The teachers are animated about the project, and we have been collecting a substantial amount of plastic bottles and used papers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s been several months since we’ve begun the project, and it’s had its fair share of struggles along with successes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The elementary students have been participating actively and are excited about their contribution to their classroom’s collection of recycling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When I see them at their homes or in the street, little children are always asking me about the details of recycling and how they can help out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, high school students have been much more reluctant to participate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve been told various times (with your best whiny voice), “but Senorita Kelsi, it’s just not cool to come to school with a huge bag of gross plastic bottles… how embarrassing!” I’ve been trying to change their minds and run with the idea that “green” is cool, but it’s a battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">During the first phase of our recycling program we accumulated well over 400 kilos (about 1000 pounds) of recycling and filled up an entire room with the contents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I coordinated with the local municipality to transport this recycling to Trujillo to sell. When the mayor agreed to offer transportation<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was concerned we wouldn’t be able to fit all the recycling into one vehicle; however, when the enormous municipality dump truck arrived <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>my fears were relieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Working with some school staff and youth we loaded the entire dump truck to the brim with our recycling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The following day Max (my host brother) and I woke up at 5am to meet the driver and go to Trujillo to sell our recycling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After an hour of sitting in the dark waiting for the truck to come, we’re finally relayed the message that the battery had died in the truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Fortunately we were still able to go, just several hours later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The recycling center is not in the most beautiful area of Trujillo, so I did my best to look like a boy, rocking a baseball hat and old clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We piled in the front of the dump truck and made our way to “El Milagro”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The recycling center appeared to buy anything and everything- old shoe soles, creepy doll heads, rusted car parts… you name it and you could most certainly find it here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I felt like I was trapped in some Peruvian version of that bizarre animated movie about “ The Little Toaster.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">After separating and weighing our recyclables we were handed S./540 in cash for our efforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was really excited about this profit- to put it perspective, a teacher or nurse typically earns about S./700 per month, so this was a substantial amount of funds raised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We plan to use these funds to improve our recycling program and benefit the school, focusing particularly on environmental programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Environmental consciousness is a slow process, especially when so many other issues are confronting a developing community, but I think this success is a testament to what will hopefully incite interest in further environmental projects here in Poroto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-71773354006957943772011-08-16T14:27:00.000-07:002011-08-21T14:40:52.237-07:00Local Resources, Local Growth<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">A few months ago I was talking with one of the teachers at the school about our ideas for upcoming projects with the students.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve worked with her extensively in various classes before, and together we formed an environmental committee at the school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I wanted to plant student gardens in order to increase access to nutritious vegetables and provide the students with a a hands-on opportunity to grow their own crops without using harmful fertilizer etc.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In talking with Profesora Marita she told me she’d heard something about “Hidroponia” and was interested in trying it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She asked if I knew anything about it and if I’d partner with her on this project.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To be completely honest I had no idea what hidropnia was, but typical of my personality I gave her an enthusiastic “Si, por supuesto!”response <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and then ran home to do some research.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve found it is incredibly important to capitalize on preexisting interests and ideas of community partners if you want a project to be successful, so I latched on to this casual comment about “hidroponia” and ran with it. <o:p></o:p></span></b></b></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">After some research I found out that hidroponia is hydroponic gardening in English (which honestly didn’t clarify anything). However, after a bit more investigating I became really excited about this potential project and thought it would be perfect for our students.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Simply, hydroponic gardening is growing plants without the use of soil.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is an innovative approach to agriculture and has been used in areas where the climate and soil are typically unable to produce vegetables, areas where food security is an issue, and in science classrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hydroponic gardening allows you to grow different types of plants that wouldn’t typically grow in a particular environment, because you have the opportunity to manipulate the nutrients available to the plants.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll explain the process…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">First of all, I began by giving educational sessions about the process of hydroponic gardening and its benefits to all 220+ high school students at Virgen del Carmen.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I worked with the science teachers to organize our action plan, and they contributed substantially to the development of this project.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As a whole the students were enthusiastic about the project and after seeing my photos and presentations they were excited to make their own hydroponic tables. We contracted a local carpenter to construct 8 simple tables- they’re about 3 feet tall, 4 feet long, 3 feet wide and about 6 inches deep.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wXSXM_EhHz1DlIbLAsLbpDv1aC_Io1tRTY-Jj7rUxORy1X43vgrIowQZSGjSpkTtkFol3gkSg64uXdEMjT0GR5p2SWk3EcyjnHj5ah3KBFOk3FXVyjCM1Iny4Vb4E6f7J1-CR95HBxWV/s1600/P7072132.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wXSXM_EhHz1DlIbLAsLbpDv1aC_Io1tRTY-Jj7rUxORy1X43vgrIowQZSGjSpkTtkFol3gkSg64uXdEMjT0GR5p2SWk3EcyjnHj5ah3KBFOk3FXVyjCM1Iny4Vb4E6f7J1-CR95HBxWV/s320/P7072132.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643427076894351266" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSh73tRUG-XQDIssutwa0YY4obHT4UIRWK5SG96Wtd_1HhXS6zEJ7iOTdC6d0bNYtjKMDkaOeGMpseZx1ErA10NK7m4o_qNPpQ_tPL9wSRee-NZXtaJvGrmmshOsnAUiwqsG2gya3xhSn/s1600/P7072127.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSh73tRUG-XQDIssutwa0YY4obHT4UIRWK5SG96Wtd_1HhXS6zEJ7iOTdC6d0bNYtjKMDkaOeGMpseZx1ErA10NK7m4o_qNPpQ_tPL9wSRee-NZXtaJvGrmmshOsnAUiwqsG2gya3xhSn/s320/P7072127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643427073224176658" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBP-RNIm75JTQHwiULkb0XGXcvxawHcyCQDOT3qCeZjfNNXI1TIq4O0ANL52YOHXrbeoGYSaX87W8-35SsZLjY16NtAJ0yyVAwIjA0cOSQx4MwU1BjhHEIJKn060z0d6M8ToD6IT5f-x2/s1600/P7072134.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBP-RNIm75JTQHwiULkb0XGXcvxawHcyCQDOT3qCeZjfNNXI1TIq4O0ANL52YOHXrbeoGYSaX87W8-35SsZLjY16NtAJ0yyVAwIjA0cOSQx4MwU1BjhHEIJKn060z0d6M8ToD6IT5f-x2/s320/P7072134.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643427069797322482" /></a>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">After the tables were constructed we lined each one with sturdy black plastic and stapled it in place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Afterwards we heated 1 inch diameter pipes in order to burn holes into large sheets of Styrofoam.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The sheets of Styrofoam are the same dimensions of the tables we’re using, and each sheet of has 32 holes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Meanwhile, each student was given lettuce seeds which they planted in small plastic containers filled with fine gravel.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When the lettuce seeds had small roots, we transferred each small plant into a small sponge resting in a Dixie-cup with the bottom cut out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCx8hiirWFGX_odN9kK-c77-b0O42HDDU34-OyzRbAtHSSptVrAKgVVaaWDEICsWNMvOYerSkxEAUui9LhX1bLH1qLAmVZPrwCVE4a-uFEv71wvR24LutgSt2nxTIy304QOVR0ENC7k9U/s1600/P7072137.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCx8hiirWFGX_odN9kK-c77-b0O42HDDU34-OyzRbAtHSSptVrAKgVVaaWDEICsWNMvOYerSkxEAUui9LhX1bLH1qLAmVZPrwCVE4a-uFEv71wvR24LutgSt2nxTIy304QOVR0ENC7k9U/s320/P7072137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643427064318882626" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsd66tzLqGQpZBf04D8gUfSkwTVApfLyWXR-psYjupdYrBdrrcnLaeZJBja1g_M75_IplNFcm-y7P0HAfHBv57sb_WlJNPREuW1hpm4ltXIwNaxpWtAA-adXqqOzVfQSIogvLFOZFuL5i/s1600/P7072138.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsd66tzLqGQpZBf04D8gUfSkwTVApfLyWXR-psYjupdYrBdrrcnLaeZJBja1g_M75_IplNFcm-y7P0HAfHBv57sb_WlJNPREuW1hpm4ltXIwNaxpWtAA-adXqqOzVfQSIogvLFOZFuL5i/s320/P7072138.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643427056987488514" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyzIFQR_N5mQBkyPs3mXG-VYIEeQRdZqXUx9VWDrUbASoU60KMWfQR8ipXQjgJV52kOzeqVDN-cfP5YxhKM1O2xlBmZFR9HhUrWDbylaHNUmwWNj2_f6ifHSHlpU4lLAWRIJKMdPbEwo3/s1600/P8162657.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyzIFQR_N5mQBkyPs3mXG-VYIEeQRdZqXUx9VWDrUbASoU60KMWfQR8ipXQjgJV52kOzeqVDN-cfP5YxhKM1O2xlBmZFR9HhUrWDbylaHNUmwWNj2_f6ifHSHlpU4lLAWRIJKMdPbEwo3/s320/P8162657.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643425905232767474" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFy5buj5-4EYmsE9PFQPrp4qiGYNBNhfGeOr0xmB4Vc0Mw9-m0OloWNjLfmEX45fiJZdQW4Vz07SD7dKT_iLNnh8GTa0mSd6ISkDoI6JTKMgnHRBq1PgZooeOheiQ4x50PlD0OqWBRjfS/s1600/P8162654.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFy5buj5-4EYmsE9PFQPrp4qiGYNBNhfGeOr0xmB4Vc0Mw9-m0OloWNjLfmEX45fiJZdQW4Vz07SD7dKT_iLNnh8GTa0mSd6ISkDoI6JTKMgnHRBq1PgZooeOheiQ4x50PlD0OqWBRjfS/s320/P8162654.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643425901082864610" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT96po60SH0L75PhvecFIqk9UOmnPDzpBx8RPAXd0K57azLeGv_9Td4s5WQYmFCqzzUtTl-xODyx5IIxUqZDOtHYkFfgDG-MkHYmeFeZ_iRgEY4RLYuMwghLXfS0KWdZXP583Pw6s8RP-/s1600/P8162647.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT96po60SH0L75PhvecFIqk9UOmnPDzpBx8RPAXd0K57azLeGv_9Td4s5WQYmFCqzzUtTl-xODyx5IIxUqZDOtHYkFfgDG-MkHYmeFeZ_iRgEY4RLYuMwghLXfS0KWdZXP583Pw6s8RP-/s320/P8162647.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643425895960193410" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNe7zPoV6CvXZ5Hpddd2w0R3_dQ2KL6k3jXgRKD4r4kWqNdQydtAdCK0RknhKqtuALuaTr-VkWN9GyNjkGYLw-tlrErFlPbLh61p6R5JIlKQm0aYC1dBogOvtIK4c7YY5eXfz12yrtphi/s1600/P8162634.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNe7zPoV6CvXZ5Hpddd2w0R3_dQ2KL6k3jXgRKD4r4kWqNdQydtAdCK0RknhKqtuALuaTr-VkWN9GyNjkGYLw-tlrErFlPbLh61p6R5JIlKQm0aYC1dBogOvtIK4c7YY5eXfz12yrtphi/s320/P8162634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643425889342080114" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">I applied for a grant through the World Connect organization “Kids to Kids” program, presenting my project “Environmental Entrepreneurs: Local Resources for Local Growth.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This project includes recycling, hydroponic gardening, and a youth entrepreneurship class.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The hydroponic gardening projects have been supported by the students themselves and this grant will allow us to continue and expand the project. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB2p1-I9_NnKumd5OzGfb-FMQYDE9f6UQPadiiAxqkVg6PbYVHYkmNVDDOPve1hQctvO9ykYkHIFmfHl6737EFKQyP0fqP6rdnePxALaXZpEiR_VWf2y8Ipboplv5sX0xqy0A5mcgqLUx/s1600/P8162658.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB2p1-I9_NnKumd5OzGfb-FMQYDE9f6UQPadiiAxqkVg6PbYVHYkmNVDDOPve1hQctvO9ykYkHIFmfHl6737EFKQyP0fqP6rdnePxALaXZpEiR_VWf2y8Ipboplv5sX0xqy0A5mcgqLUx/s320/P8162658.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643424799053308002" /></a>
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<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Poroto is dedicated to agriculture, so learning innovative gardening techniques will provide the community and youth with new methods to integrate into their farming.<span> </span>Traditional methods of agriculture here in Poroto utilize an atrocious amount of pesticides and other harmful chemicals, which not only harm the body and local environment, but also dramatically decrease the nutritional value of produce.<span> </span>The organic lettuce is an opportunity to improve local nutrition as well as provide local students with an innovative agricultural tool that can be used on their own.<span> </span>The “organic” craze has been popular for years in the US, and Peru is beginning to catch on, so students could capitalize on this emerging market in the future by considering selling organic lettuce or other vegetables to vendors in Trujillo.<span> </span>More than anything, hydroponic gardening has been an excellent hands-on learning tool, and the students have been actively involved in each step of the process. We recently had our first “harvest” of hydroponic lettuce and it was quite a success! Although there is room for improvement, the vast majority of lettuce worked out quite well. In fact, I shared a delicious hydroponic lettuce salad with my host family for lunch today!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBIoElOmpLs2bJBUR8-mUhRUlWfqXnlna92IRbgI8_baR2xBH-rP4UWo-P7ksURv-SpiYpR_wGUoAzrlJqDC0tFlhJvoV6Qn-nQDDyVGNFKj6HnOJeaMJKmvxj9Zquz6sLAZ4G832Gsuv/s1600/P8162639.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBIoElOmpLs2bJBUR8-mUhRUlWfqXnlna92IRbgI8_baR2xBH-rP4UWo-P7ksURv-SpiYpR_wGUoAzrlJqDC0tFlhJvoV6Qn-nQDDyVGNFKj6HnOJeaMJKmvxj9Zquz6sLAZ4G832Gsuv/s320/P8162639.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643424412891604306" /></a>
<br />kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-8549991213779736252011-08-12T14:22:00.000-07:002011-08-21T14:27:51.154-07:00Namesake<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">As I live out my days here in Peru, I often find myself wondering what kind of impact I will leave.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Will the relationships I’ve formed with the youth, my host family, and other community members last? Will the programs or projects I’ve tried to implement be sustainable? Will the students from the colegio remember anything I taught? Will people still talk about Senorita Kelsi after I’m gone? If they do, what will they say?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My personal legacy here in Poroto is yet to be determined, and I have a feeling it will include more about my cake-baking, running, and shared laughter than it will with my “work”, but that’s ok with me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, I have recently been informed that my legacy will be remembered in a very tangible way.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">Before I tell the story of my Porotina legacy, I’ll start with the first “namesake” experience I had here in Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A few weeks ago I get a call from a fellow volunteer who lives in Arequipa, nearly 30 hours by bus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He seemed a little flustered when he expressed that he had to ask me something.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Concerned, I told him to go ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our conversation went something like this…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Well, you know how I’m always talking about how I spend a lot of time milking cows with my host family?” <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Sure…”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Well… one of the cow’s is about to have a baby. Guess what they want to name it?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“I have no idea.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Kelsi.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Interesting… they haven’t met me.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“I know… do you mind?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Well, I guess not… I’ll choose to take it as a complement?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Ok, I’ll let them know. I think the cow’s going to be called Kelsi regardless of what </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">I say anyway.”</b></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z70kHvxfy3vsRkhSzmNvpMmCB1IjnHQDznaXl4dBhXij9SypECbbhKJACQh30azbIH1lXgop1pXBWruABvxrlyFpUJfQGZFRfnSt4F8cOEKNvx4X05xEqRzsvDMCa2xleIyTWKSHEaVj/s320/P7272359.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643423448489237842" /> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">So now there is a cow living i</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">n Arequipa named Kelsi.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I even met her… she’s quite cute.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I thought having a cow named after me was a pretty big deal until I had the following interaction…</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">I was on my way to the health post early last week when a young pregnant woman stops and asks if I have time to talk.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t know this woman well, but we’ve chatted before and I believe she’s attended my nutrition/cooking classes for the women at the health post.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our conversation went something like this…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Senorita Kelsi, I need your help.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Umm ok, let’s sit down and talk. What’s up?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“I just found out I’m having a baby girl. I’m due in October and I need help choosing a name.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Hmm… well I don’t have any kids so I don’t know if I’ll be of any help, but I’d be happy to try.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Ok perfect. I want something unique, that no one has here. Something that’s not traditional. Maybe an American name?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Ok… do you have anyone important in your life who you want to name her after?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“No”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Ok… do you have any names you’ve heard that you like?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“No.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Ok… do you have a favorite letter?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“No.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Ok… “(I continue to name dozens of names, literally every possible name I can think of… and she says no, no, no, until finally interrupting my pathetic attempts ...)<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Well, actually I just want to know how you spell your name.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Umm, my name? K-e-l-s-I”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Oooh, how pretty. I like that. That will be perfect.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Wait, wait, you want to name her after me?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Yes… if that’s ok.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Umm, well… I guess?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Yes, that’s perfect. Now she has a name… but wait, she needs a middle name! What’s your middle name?”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Really? <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Umm… well, it’s Amber.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Ahh, ya… Kelsi Amber, that’s it. That’s perfect. Just like you.”<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">With that, she smiled contentedly, getting what I think she wanted all along, and happily continued on her way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My legacy here in Poroto still remains unsure, but there will be a little girl with my full name to help the entire community remember my 2 year presence here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-55093879426766756062011-07-30T16:52:00.000-07:002011-08-15T17:13:29.706-07:00Harnessing Peruvian Pride<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ob9uZ9F1J489bjEfGvoXhz5iZXp82hkDZaNcLKU-Q3s-lQ8Oi-SP0yjK5tT8bZpsCsyIHE_Np20toE9phv7VNJ57t_-Yun7TUMs-tE2tEhPp1vQGi7UTyO9le0NhcXV_7Ye_OVrk_boC/s1600/P8072540.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641240018744014258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ob9uZ9F1J489bjEfGvoXhz5iZXp82hkDZaNcLKU-Q3s-lQ8Oi-SP0yjK5tT8bZpsCsyIHE_Np20toE9phv7VNJ57t_-Yun7TUMs-tE2tEhPp1vQGi7UTyO9le0NhcXV_7Ye_OVrk_boC/s320/P8072540.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Peru is a country with an enormous wealth of resources and Peruvians are well-aware of the universal appeal of their land. I think one of Peru’s most substantial opportunities for advancment is the sense of pride among its citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You can ask any Peruvian and they will undoubtedly agree that Peru has the best gastronomy, the most inspiring landscapes, the richest history, and the most appealing tourism destinations in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Any Peruvian will convince you that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">cuy</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">ceviche</i> are the most delicious foods in the world, small school children will happily inform you of the mountain, coast, and jungle destinations in their country and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">ancianos</i> will brag about the beautiful sites and distinct culture of their communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
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<br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">This pride is something that should be harnessed and utilized to support the development and advancement of Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">orgullo</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Peruano</i> is something that could not be otherwise fabricated or externally manufactured, but rather an intrinsic strength that unifies a large and diverse country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Few Peruvians in our small towns have traveled outside of their own regions, but they’re able to share facts and details about the entire country as if they’d seen it all with their own eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Prior to visiting Machu Picchu I spoke with many Peruvians in my community and they described in immense detail the diameter of the rocks forming the ruins, the way the sun hits the mountains and clears the morning fog over the town, or how the strength of the Incas is evident in the impressive architecture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Their descriptions and obvious love and pride for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>their country is enough to make any tourist jump on a plane, but when asked if they’d personally visited this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">maravilla del mundo</i>, they most often laugh and say of course not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
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<br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">This Peruvian pride has emerged in many of my work interactions since arriving in Poroto, and is often most evident among youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When I arrived to my site a year ago, teenagers were the first to offer a tour of their town, proudly highlighting the delicious fruit, green fields, impressive landscapes, and year-round sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Their love for Poroto was not forced or artificial, but rather a genuine sense of pride in their hometown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As I explored my new home during the first few months, everyone’s favorite questions was, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Estas acostumbrando</i>? (Are you adjusting/getting used to life here/ feel at home?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When I responded that yes, in fact I felt quite comfortable and happy here, they always gave me a satisfied, knowing smile, and responded, “Of course- we do have a fabulous climate.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
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<br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">As I’ve spent my first year here I’ve had countless candid conversations with people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Regardless of education, opportunities, or resources, one thing ties these people together: pride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although the Peruvians I’ve talked to can identify countless problems, deficiencies, or opportunities for improvement in their communities and country, they almost always finish their dialogues with a comment on the positive attributes of their homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These people are not delusional; they’re e certainly not blind to the rampant poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and continued exploitation of their resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, a certain sense of pride emanates from their conversations and evaluations of their situations, no matter how bleak they may seem to the outside eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
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<br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">What is it that breeds this sense of unified pride in their community? In my conversations and observations, I think one of the most significant contributors is a sense of belonging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In Poroto, for example, people can trace their roots back to the founders of the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Everyone here is someone’s “tio” or “abuelito” or “hijo” by either blood or familiarity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These ties form strong connections between the community and give people a sense of ownership over their town, its history and its future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Additionally, people are connected to the land and the fruits of their labor are quite tangible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Over 90% of my community works in agriculture, spending long hours on their family chacras, carefully tending the crops on which their livelihood depends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The connection between their work and their sustenance is clearly defined, which seems to contributes to the pride in their local environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
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<br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Although Peruvians are proud of their country’s heritage and wealth of resources, their pride doesn’t always translate into action, conservation, or advancement. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>The vast majority of resources here are exported in the simplest form for extremely low prices to external country markets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These resources are then manufactured to finished products and sold at a substantially higher value, boasting huge economic advantages for the countries importing raw Peruvian goods but very little for the country itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Often Peru will then import these finished products, spending a great deal of money on products that originated within their own country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Innovation and creativity are traits not inherently enforced in the educational system in Peru, and this deficiency remains evident in the Peruvian economic market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although people are proud of their country and work hard to produce its resources, very seldom are final goods prepared within the country, depriving Peru of enormous potential economic growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Instead, foreign markets exploit the natural resources of Peru, provide packaging, marketing, and other finishing touches, and sell these products at huge profit margins. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
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<br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The question remains; how can this collective pride be harnessed to contribute to the advancement of both the local community and Peru as a nation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think the answer lies in innovation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Youth of Peru love their country and have strong ties to their local communities, so this enthusiasm and sense of belonging should be utilized to encourage the creative use of their native resources and local products. Infusing the school system with a more interactive, entrepreneurial way of teaching would help students seek creative solutions to existing problems; whether that be how to successfully market a new pineapple product or decrease teen pregnancy rates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The sense of unity among Peruvians should be strengthened to improve coordination between local and national authorities to grant greater autonomy over local decisions and products through decentralization of the national government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If citizens are given ownership over their resources, decisions, education, and future, they are much more likely to take an active interest in the future of their towns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Engaging youth in meaningful opportunities to express their creativity and showcase their talents will improve their self-esteem and open doors for educational and vocational advancement in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Instilling a sense of value is integral in the advancement of Peru; value in the local environment and resources, value in the local authorities and governing bodies, and most importantly value in oneself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If this sense of Peruvian pride is harnessed to breed creativity, unity, and innovation among Peruvian youth, I believe the future will be bright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<br />kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-91706163764103101882011-07-27T16:46:00.000-07:002011-08-21T16:15:34.790-07:00Gringos Invade La Libertad- Field Based Training for Peru 17<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">A few weeks ago the newest group of Peace Corps Peru volunteers arrived in country and have been completing their training in Lima.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These volunteers are 17ers, which indicates they are the 17<sup>th</sup> Peace Corps group to arrive in Peru since the program was reopened in 2002.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(My group is Peru 15).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As “veteran” volunteers, Ian and I were selected to plan a week long field based training trip for 12 new trainees.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">The trainees arrived on Sunday, fresh off their first experience on an overnight bus from Lima.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Looking lively, we introduced ourselves, braved the frantic line of screaming taxistas, and introduced them to our usual hostel in Trujillo.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After a brief period of recuperation after the chaos that is night buses, we shuffled to breakfast and began our week.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">
<br /></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB58iqCFz57jjRoMEJiNS1mrBTabeRzkvfs6fs6rqzBSckqEQfH9deHXwJmkrfuommrna8leZESVTnmCGroCqLKWbjmVgIZTB_2MfhbMGNfKNFyttRAomCudYH8lr8ID6EUT5QG33SO24W/s320/P7182166+%2528450x600%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643447922674467442" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We enjoyed a beautiful ocean-front lunch of fresh fish and then organized a beach cleanup with a local youth group.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>During Erin and Keith’s time in Puerto Malabrigo they’ve worked extensively at a surf school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tough life, right? The trainees were fortunate enough to don their own wet suits and help the little surfistas with their lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2ZbSWnarH8W9_swAI99U0XDZ5Wbl8wZpm2ZqyV01xTODmfQ9aN45bqF45dwNB6ZUJY4ENUs-zqtWYc7XtKMssqutJbzKGEh_R178ynYKqpENfCyjuSdFZeTjm5XoJNOcKryBTvTYVXw4/s320/P7182179+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643447924527734738" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">The following day we visited Bello Horizante where the trainees embraced their first opportunity to brave a classroom all to themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Following the English classes the trainees observed Ian and I give a charla about effective communication with your parents.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The afternoon consisted of futbol Americana, Frisbee, and other games with the kids at a local orphanage where Ian works. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">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!).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you haven’t seen a tippy-tap, you should ask one of the new 17ers how to prepare this amazing hand-washing gadget.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In Otuzco, trainees were also exposed to the wonders of Peruvian street food- salchipollo, papas rellenas, tamales, anticuchos, you name it… we tried it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgQGJE4ol8v6mWQeUmjuYy0dmAgEOVqSsVCAWJfj7_tmfs0LV7RYhfh1HZXd8Qnw-uYLQAzJUUtgZbpc6cjDNbeZZ5HGmZ_D3sjhs11Wilf-AGh-5osBTvKwRLl0JRgueGsj4jCEPcWNq/s1600/P7202208.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgQGJE4ol8v6mWQeUmjuYy0dmAgEOVqSsVCAWJfj7_tmfs0LV7RYhfh1HZXd8Qnw-uYLQAzJUUtgZbpc6cjDNbeZZ5HGmZ_D3sjhs11Wilf-AGh-5osBTvKwRLl0JRgueGsj4jCEPcWNq/s320/P7202208.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643447926958870866" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">
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<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6k6aXHmfM8UfkFtdHmVQj_1YMuxkZGnIFE7uo3dT7WLHVxqNeKmoSPqUmasvrnqJ0CV-J-wUAmfZYTjVDdD2sfU03gjVBrb8xjTCcXOnrQAQUYR9YOT3LfOpZix3-X1kZElHPWivIKhf/s1600/P7202234+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6k6aXHmfM8UfkFtdHmVQj_1YMuxkZGnIFE7uo3dT7WLHVxqNeKmoSPqUmasvrnqJ0CV-J-wUAmfZYTjVDdD2sfU03gjVBrb8xjTCcXOnrQAQUYR9YOT3LfOpZix3-X1kZElHPWivIKhf/s320/P7202234+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643447917687339058" /></a>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">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.)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After working with the secondary students in Poroto we headed to Mochal, a caserio located just outside of Poroto.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I wanted the trainees to see what it’s like to work in both a large central school and a tiny caserio school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When we arrived to Mochal we were greeted by the principal and all the students in formation with a microphone announcing our arrival.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There are less than 50 students total at this school, from kindergarten to 6<sup>th</sup> grade, but our welcome was quite the event.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Peruvians have a tendency to give long-winded, overly formal introductions and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">palabras</i> commemorating an event, and this was certainly no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The trainees facilitated games and dinamicas with the kids, who were also thrilled to have visitors.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Before we left we elected one of the trainees to give the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">palabras de agradecimento </i>or closing words of thanks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc_iV_850SBzNdbjRW1u80WVJj6TK9CEHbslCre9eEh70IL4VjkAkNEbQAHYBTvVcXSkU4wCKzRI64b65lhVGjqMuhS-pvLGW_O1oeDRSHEAdkOTu6qmZKlE2AtaT5lJvK3Dy7fkKW6n2/s1600/P7212253+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc_iV_850SBzNdbjRW1u80WVJj6TK9CEHbslCre9eEh70IL4VjkAkNEbQAHYBTvVcXSkU4wCKzRI64b65lhVGjqMuhS-pvLGW_O1oeDRSHEAdkOTu6qmZKlE2AtaT5lJvK3Dy7fkKW6n2/s320/P7212253+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643447920329703698" /></a>
<br /><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >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.</span></span><div><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH-YNgrY4o771CeGQU2hTB8k3_j5kBwn9dYOcArJkoDRvSXrWxJwAwoxxk-nw9WlZsi3SVN08quMGidAQuffTWtizEdzJm6cqE3hlffychu99LVMQH20rF3N987FDCSm-zq8IfLZ-kr7T/s1600/P7212262+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH-YNgrY4o771CeGQU2hTB8k3_j5kBwn9dYOcArJkoDRvSXrWxJwAwoxxk-nw9WlZsi3SVN08quMGidAQuffTWtizEdzJm6cqE3hlffychu99LVMQH20rF3N987FDCSm-zq8IfLZ-kr7T/s320/P7212262+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643415284375270786" /></a>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLrbq0qF-Jb19qOi7WMcPCQ7cnFGUSdsceHDlPvMnXS8Kimg5Tns-jZxiltefwnIFyos0xCz24bLOR968N1FMTPfrzj8pJg3YMG0uDGideqcFZiIGmlLycNu_kNrZvUPSCQYjpOdNnJJ0/s1600/P7212275+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLrbq0qF-Jb19qOi7WMcPCQ7cnFGUSdsceHDlPvMnXS8Kimg5Tns-jZxiltefwnIFyos0xCz24bLOR968N1FMTPfrzj8pJg3YMG0uDGideqcFZiIGmlLycNu_kNrZvUPSCQYjpOdNnJJ0/s320/P7212275+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643415285915833282" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshWmkRUuk-qwbsFQHHDY7H8ZkoHWhRKf4KZSeMXL9uHSJIwcbqbQInZnoq2wkaD9xiHbe-mNiiXwvTqqpzir2n62VDasAPvtgxajKGxJX6WZPMosesCFvcX-4g00Ip3UI1PULNbuQ73-L/s320/P7222302+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643414450872467666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>
<br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">On Friday the groups of my health promoters and trainees delivered the health education sessions for the primary kids.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtii2Cfdv6nI5Oc7BRKAQZiOWwCMFT1Q6DArMWBlPWB7QOvDTyYXFHhW9P_wJVP_OowoE79mT7p5q1n6vnHKkMztvdok31rcMU3VZrawcq2D5NudE_J43RWRa-fuEcUUq4P6PILkmAC8h/s320/P7222290+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643415277708808722" /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>
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<br /></b></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ei8HesoeJmr8Wlx4L_EzsvYVXDx2siUIqcdb-r3wjKASk0LBK5QaWcf6IXsfwflHjm8n6m88hvkT7tK5Nk0EM9SQvkeRJVnNV36ZAn5eb-p4OW0AWfpslHers8LSU9cjxN4Tn1fynWN9/s320/P7222305+%2528600x432%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643414446902748594" /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >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. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1Df31prPu8QBqW2gILt7wYJzq7CcvB0y2-UYBbvsm5hDWzHdgDU4oA8lDB6DiIBwfV1_djS6z1Wah0N0mdg-j6vxyZ3sqwEMTQ-RBKYOQz22UTcYnhHY7Ev74jde7v6Lz4dndUjl8f8A/s320/P7232313+%2528600x452%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643414448858146130" /></span></span></span></b></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>
<br /></b></span></p></div></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-26783465600202361362011-07-16T09:50:00.000-07:002011-07-26T09:56:03.086-07:00Peace Corps Volunteer or Party Planner?<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">I’ve recently participated in quite a spectrum of events here in Poroto.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If I can’t think of a future profession, I think I may have sufficient experience to take up party planning.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As Peace Corps volunteers we’re completely integrated into the community, and become an integral part in community events and celebrations. I’ll fill you in on my most recent celebrations here in Poroto… a wedding, quincinera, and first communion.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">A Very Peruvian Wedding… I’ve been to several weddings within the last month or so, which are always a fun occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m typically invited to be on the decorating committee, so I arrive early or the day before and adorn the locale with flowers, balloons, and sparkly decorations.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After 2 years here I’m beginning to think my own wedding is going to be filled with flower balloon formations and glittery letters announcing “Kelsi and Groom” in a giant heart.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll also need an enormous cupcake-style wedding dress with lots of sparkles and lace.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The obvious choice for our wedding dinner will also be a huge plate of rice, potatoes, and goat on a Styrofoam plate served with a spork.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>At weddings, guests are seated in a large circle on plastic chairs surrounding the dance floor and hand-delivered an enormous plate of food.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>99% of the time it is rice, potatoes, and goat.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now, eating such a large plate of food off your lap in formal attire is hard enough, but eating a tough piece of goat with a spork is just impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After everyone’s finished with their meal the dancing begins and doesn’t end until the dozens of “cajas” of beer are finished and most people seem to have trouble standing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCq9n_q8z2jPwPlKQ8Mn1m78kXqssnn_lupZZ0n1l9b22yqwCG945Ka-WhREgNj66AO0GWGma8ws8u9SSKu2l8-RqZMdEjYXuNN5ySkXDMUACqke08s8lwWiNf56zYWysUFgMFk_lab-T/s320/P5271167.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633705075160369122" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My Super Sweet Quincinera….I was sitting in my house the other day when I heard a knock on the door and someone yelling my name.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I open the door and it’s Saydi, one of the girls who lives nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She explained that tomorrow she is celebrating her Quincinera, a very important 15<sup>th</sup> birthday celebration for girls here in Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She shyly asked if I would be able to be the “MC” for her birthday party.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This may not seem like an important role, but quincineras are extremely important events, and the MC is responsible for guiding the activities and introducing each formal stage of the party.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I agreed and spent the evening with Saydi planning out the script for the following day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I arrived early and helped decorate with pink and white balloons, glittery letters, and ribbon before the guests arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Holding true to my responsibilities, I happily announced the entrance of the family, friends, and the quincinera herself for this special day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Peruvian festivities follow a formal sequence, so as I was saying something along the lines of “A very good afternoon to all, esteemed parents, godparents, family and friends of our beloved quincinera, Saydi, who have joined us here on this very important day to celebrate a monumental occasion…” into a booming microphone.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Don’t forget la “hora loca” which features a clown on stilts, whistles, disco-lights, balloons, and loud cumbia music. Gotta love Peruvian parties…<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgialTCuDb8xJcc4ZjS8iaeYBvmCpGDv4eyvclj6pbUzu55DppyjVjHuJu4k4qxXL5LCSNHhR99CvN_nqoYAPaGcBag7vYUfLu8VzkOshcBfdasm_kyqPEao7g1bkj9Pk8BOTkgy9JWw3al/s320/P7102007.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 201px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633705070496090386" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Fairy Godmother… Madrinas and Padrinos (godparents) are an integral part of Peruvian society.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Each child has padrinos who are responsible not only for serving as a second parent, but also funding many of the aforementioned monumental occasions in one’s life (weddings, quincineras, promociones, etc.).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Beyond this main set of padrinos, Peruvians also use madrinas and padrinos for other occasions.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Early in Peace Corps training we were warned against agreeing to be named madrinas or padrinos for Peruvian children because the expectation for financial support can be a burden.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve jokingly been asked to serve as madrina for countless things in Poroto, but I typically shrug it off with a laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, the other week Paola and her mom approached me and asked me to be the madrina for her 1<sup>st</sup> communion.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Although my initial instinct was to decline, I know this family well and enjoy spending time with them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After clarifying there would be no gifts or money necessary, I agreed to accompany Paola for her 1<sup>st</sup> communion festivities.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We woke up early and I left with her whole family to a church in Trujillo.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Although Paola is typically pretty shy, she was evidently excited about having me join her for this special occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The service was nice, and we enjoyed a delicious lunch and even snapped some pictures with the “Padre.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now that I’m a “godmother” I’m still waiting for my magical powers, Cinderella style. I’ll keep you posted on that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf9OihJWmvUFjdji518HJV4K-2LbKeb8V2_POMq1WvehiAmdj3cf0hLS-MPi4scWQoGWldhGi5-6wg5lHEf0y6scGQtUe_86_0KayeJPCGQ0NJHV6jW9rg_2ksOC0-MselqvJXDDLUEBe/s1600/P6261970.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf9OihJWmvUFjdji518HJV4K-2LbKeb8V2_POMq1WvehiAmdj3cf0hLS-MPi4scWQoGWldhGi5-6wg5lHEf0y6scGQtUe_86_0KayeJPCGQ0NJHV6jW9rg_2ksOC0-MselqvJXDDLUEBe/s320/P6261970.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633705072819634226" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-36998974429183435972011-07-06T16:31:00.000-07:002011-08-21T14:48:29.550-07:00A Peruvian 4th of July, Round 2<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Its hard to believe I just celebrated my 2<sup>nd</sup> Fourth of July here in Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Last year’s celebration of dancing and an American potluck spread in Chaclacayo seems recent and the laughter and memories from that night remain fresh in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I spent this Fourth of July in Pacasmayo, a beach town in the northern region of my department.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Several years ago a Peace Corps volunteer began the international marathon of Pacasmayo with his local community members.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The race has grown and Jim, the new Peace Corps volunteer living near Pacasmayo, has adopted the race and helped continue its success.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NmDT8KqALaoku5RB_-zruehwJLn3aIuGD9AnCTfyEw-OvCpJYi8JZSnb0cEsQ3B6whprgFvY97GVF-sIqQPkT9FoAyGomkccFFVj3_cCgQKucAvg9MsHM2Q80-StaV2tXAB9WNOQPIlB/s320/P7032074.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643428526028181826" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzjMOXSweFtzxqTkuBfC7WlNQKbe8cWm9KLMHI1l76kCV33iIYNJUkCChjso6mFKy59dg-bqck59R8NXbH1Q0BMlhqFHE9gjVoiYHltbo7F5FM4dwtrgNwQHZkfJG06ben9IQ_SYu33s/s320/P7032043.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643428521059943330" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">I’ve run lots of road races, some more successful than others, but I was truly impressed by the organization of this event.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The details were impeccable, everything was planned: pre-race events, music, water stops, jersey t-shirts, prizes, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The race was divided into 5K, 10K, ½ marathon, and full marathon, with hundreds of participants running these races.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The race began along the boardwalk and continued along the beach, providing a pretty (yet windy) course.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Dozens of Peace Corps volunteers from both Peru and Ecuador participated in the races, along with runners from many countries.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The water along the way was distributed in a truly Peruvian fashion: tied baggies (think goldfish-from-a-carnival-type bags filled with water).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here in Peru vendors distribute soda, juice, and other beverages in little baggies, so this was quite an ingenious means of handing out water.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Unlike the little cups used in traditional races, these baggies could be held easily without spilling. I was impressed; just bite a little hole in the corner and instant hydration! At the finish of the race all participants were given medals made out of local stones and carved by artisans from Pacasmayo.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzxQOB_UeFDvR98NCnjm6o-TBXzLnNYlxzcwhm123mMswlATRvgfh6LSiLJhP2TViN8axFhGtZa4CkxwLO941qbsH9uNWE03x8L4rKr47yXEuV5MO9llpDWMJuNZrpqyjkMV_7WWL3Z21/s320/P7032057.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643428521240476370" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXPn6hSDjUXp5LhjgHIUcxRGRxtXKzmqBuODngIBQcxmDleZlMED6LP1e6M1Vow0DEOTwE2nrXd7sLb-jIvyLfhb35zDlp_V9Toa32wTbVWKE9_e51yuWJE0h4iVHXFwoJzGCpkQiMN_C/s320/P7032060.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643428524976256018" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">The weather was beautiful and the post-race celebrations were particularly enjoyable in the sunshine along the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>True to our American roots we prepared a big barbeque in the evening, complete with guacamole, hot dogs and hamburgers, and other American goodies. The day was perfect- early morning exercise, delicious food, sunshine, and great company.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Despite being far from America, spending the day with Peace Corps friends at the beach made me feel truly patriotic.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfzLasQ8TcA0crutG-HtJYuiJYSUnZ7o4_N2p6jXbNd1hXyW_-rsgffwdNaIrLDOHTtFty_8ArksPqz6TGaYNj6BRl9ZkuNUKjd8Qhyphenhyphene-kAAqNRC-zl-OmCDd0_2LXS09llHJ0MHm9ZBU/s320/P7032088.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643428531291246370" /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></b></span></p>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-5825680476467301272011-06-26T09:41:00.000-07:002011-07-26T09:49:26.388-07:00The Celebrations Continue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_swDi8ieEPu8zbLq37jQ6rNEQ_-TfFOfeJIBWjSH4QVvPQXz-WBkNKIewXy1NVPclpaUEO096aWskyYnYyIX2rux0KHILS8k6dKVK7kuUdYGL9ZfzEqh2NqRJKbBzUIM_oYr2Ed-_dP6/s1600/P6151819.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_swDi8ieEPu8zbLq37jQ6rNEQ_-TfFOfeJIBWjSH4QVvPQXz-WBkNKIewXy1NVPclpaUEO096aWskyYnYyIX2rux0KHILS8k6dKVK7kuUdYGL9ZfzEqh2NqRJKbBzUIM_oYr2Ed-_dP6/s320/P6151819.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633702696443613490" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">As I’ve indicated repeatedly, celebrations here in Peru are not taken lightly. In addition to national holidays, each town has its own local festivities to mark the anniversary of the school, town, and other important dates in its history.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This week marked the anniversary of Virgen del Carmen, the main school in Poroto, so students, teachers, and community members were all deeply involved in the execution of anniversary celebrations.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I helped decorate for the events and plan the activities with the teachers and students.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Elaborate dances, poetry readings, and marching were all portions of the show to honor the school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Students voted on queens to represent their peers in the school-wide parade and students wore costumes to join in the fiestas.<o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjbxHlO3br3L1wuiYYegs_vHoNoZfdrGkrMzl2EBfwOtqqM1qKIKCatmKEiSeN9kQNu_DsywWZqr92JmSV5mwlmGBl4evvWcBw24fNSIih7FKSSVKmanOjQgVjBwhTEKsC2ynwA4tqtlK/s320/P6171850.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633702691812775330" /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Although these celebrations can be fun, I can’t help but notice how much class time is wasted on celebrations and anniversaries instead of math, science, and reading.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Countless days each year are dedicated to preparation for parties; cutting out letters and decorations, preparing complex dances, planning costumes and speeches, etc. Although I believe it is important to organize community events, the amount of time and energy decorated to fiestas is just absurd.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If the same effort was applied to quality education or opportunities for town development, I think Poroto would advance much quicker.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, while I’m here I’ll still give my speeches, help decorate, and clap along to the dances for the town festivities.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is important to celebrate culture and local events, and maybe in time education will also be taken more seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></p>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-49669994394558877702011-06-14T09:06:00.000-07:002011-07-26T09:41:28.060-07:00Celebrating One Year<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">I’ve officially been in Peru for one year, and the last 12 months have been filled with innumerable memories, challenges, and new experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Poroto has become a 2<sup>nd</sup> home to me, and the intricacies and abnormalities of Peru have become part of my daily lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I continue to embrace the opportunities presented to me here in Peace Corps Peru, I was fortunate enough to celebrate my “one year” mark with an incredible visit from some of my best friends from home.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Seeing them was a much needed reminder of how much I love about home and the incredible network of friends and family I have in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I can sometimes forget that Peace Corps is a 2 year experience rather than my entire life, and seeing my friends reminded me of not only how fortunate I am to be here, but also how many things I have to look forward to upon my return.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Machu Picchu is the iconic image of Peru and is considered one of the 7 modern wonders of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve seen pictures, watched documentaries, read books, and heard stories of friends who have visited.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I tend to have high expectations, but somehow after all the buildup I was still incredibly impressed by this ancient Incan city.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Our trip began with an epic reunion in Lima with lots of jumping and screaming, as you may expect.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Keep in mind that Gibbon, Kera, and Jordan are all blonde, so their presence was especially notable here in Peru. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We briefly explored Lima before heading to Cusco the following morning.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmxB2SFNLpPr43xTb2SWpyg3e8thRuclm01WnB0HmVsERW3qrsLNudz7iRLKEZg5VhoKTMlN4TQdBbpwLPmoVV3pdyHCSS_BnsBtR2OeLVTWAy1T9NC2yYSrjb-s3T7Pi69q5ylKP44xC/s320/IMG_2127+%2528600x400%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633695013499052418" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">As we descended by plane through the fluffy white clouds and the crisp blue sky, Cusco awaited us below.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We arrived in the city and immediately began to explore the impressive plazas, churches, and other sites of Cusco.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We wondered through the streets, enjoying the artisan crafts and introducing my friends to the most popular Peruvian foods and drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We shared stories from the past year over tres leches cake, chicha morada, alpaca meat, and exotic fruits. We wondered around the San Blas neighborhood with its quaint cobblestone streets and red roof houses, enjoying incredible views of the city.<o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCX8476g4kxYwnXefuu1NCm23aTSfiluXgjn3FOJB-w6St7Zsxa8V0HvXt9SggXXZ6kLo0ZuHILtcajO6yR434cu6O7UCRt4N0oKnESbP7EEuFgmdtF2dYD9eKQJ8_P00GWsEn42LpCk-/s320/P6081189+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633698733905255922" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93pjvQBVx05KREK8VAYsdskZTN1rqh8WSZwcjHKGRhG9-p9QHD0ATuOcNCYqD0N9AiiXufhFFMYwg6e7r0VBU6X7EHvZgU41jPwAILo2tL6hRt9-il_59Qq5PgISn4SPdUf5d_vHEOuAR/s320/P6091291+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633698731344335874" /><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">Sacsahauyaman, impressive ancient ruins constructed of enormous stones, overlooks Cusco from above.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We hiked up to the ruins and were dwarfed by the gigantic rocks that composed the fortress.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These formations are especially impressive because they were built without any modern machinery or tools.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In order to move the rocks they were wrapped with rope and dozens of men would pull in unison to transport them from one location to another.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A few years ago local members of the community attempted to recreate this “building technique” and were unable to successfully move the rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMDvqlIxiq4zJh34HrH5Jxe53IcjW6Xi82bHij3Sjvnt8eYJIXINGrKkqsa-9mHVAb3tTKcOlZGfXOChasbA7KqWSAUNAl7DA6-QQvXMRrp9yVAcfsjOLTJhC1fUF73pzvCW3LJfFWayI/s1600/P6091300+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMDvqlIxiq4zJh34HrH5Jxe53IcjW6Xi82bHij3Sjvnt8eYJIXINGrKkqsa-9mHVAb3tTKcOlZGfXOChasbA7KqWSAUNAl7DA6-QQvXMRrp9yVAcfsjOLTJhC1fUF73pzvCW3LJfFWayI/s320/P6091300+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633698407714063458" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">The following morning we began our “Inka Jungle Tour,” a 4 day trek leading to Machu Picchu.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The adventure began with mountain biking beginning at an altitude of 4350 meters.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The air was cold and crisp with the glacier Abra Malaga dramatically contrasting the bright blue sky in the near distance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We put on ridiculous safety gear including knee pads, elbow pads, enormous helmets, and electric yellow vests and began our ride.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The views were remarkable; the trip started with harsh cliffs and glacier views at the high altitude climate but we could see the gradual changes in the vegetation as we descended.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The dry cliffs transformed into lush green mountains as we wound along the curvy roads that led to the small town of Santa Maria.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The majority of the roads were smooth and easy to ride on, but the last portion was extremely rocky and dusty.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was coming around a curve on this portion, when I began to pick up speed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Losing control I kind of panicked as my wheels skidded on the rocks and gravel.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Before I knew it I had wiped out hard, and to my embarrassment the entire group was looking on.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think this little spill may have been karma for making fun of our safety equipment, but I had scrapes and several grapefruit size bruises to remember the first day’s activities.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORQeaMWlVo8gyht99hagj1rQtMXNClV8qxJ7adBoRyUeSLy6p04sOp2IppKa6jIQgKDi3P6uAA_NeQ5iCZTuDRcVWb8OIA0CMxbgZfHDQGE-F5_CMksGTDlgrxkPz3og4fKpHLC8V9idZ/s1600/IMG_2476+%2528600x400%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORQeaMWlVo8gyht99hagj1rQtMXNClV8qxJ7adBoRyUeSLy6p04sOp2IppKa6jIQgKDi3P6uAA_NeQ5iCZTuDRcVWb8OIA0CMxbgZfHDQGE-F5_CMksGTDlgrxkPz3og4fKpHLC8V9idZ/s320/IMG_2476+%2528600x400%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633698403477918402" /></a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0ifaEXZDzcVngjAIp531D03QSSa5IZHKrWUVptaXE1Cf9aVwCPviD_ydlKcQAKkEoJB1GxTaq4ZfZkWSsNZueAJCjS10rb7mPdIwWauOP9fL-vnx6f1HwO0Fk59Ar6EWFgUvTIurZXm0/s320/P6101360+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633698404059914018" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">After reaching Santa Maria we were all tired and hot, but happy after a full day of biking.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Although we were running behind schedule we decided to continue with our white water rafting portion of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Safety standards here in Peru aren’t quite on par with those of the US, so our safety lesson consisted of being thrown a paddle and helmet and told a few quick directions in Spanish.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We piled on the rafts and began to ride down the river.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our guide didn’t speak English, so our group’s reaction to the key commands “Forward, Stop, Left, Right, etc.” were somewhat delayed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We followed the course of the river as the sun began to set over the surrounding mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As darkness slowly filled the canyon, we finished our rafting, left exhilarated and content from a full day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMXGlxlSjcJuz2sJ7FzgryCr8YlrYe_81EtwC47GB9TcriUxMJW_qYVE4ynV1_ZPTgL5GhlyCzBQLwrc2Hrst4D9ch0_E6D-NYv45HC-K3NyFFl5JFcVb37li-u5zV4MU0G0dd7zIEoBG/s320/P6101397+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633697527359993026" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">The following day we followed along the river admiring the surrounding greenery and beautiful mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We began hiking up narrow jungle paths, lined with banana trees, coffee plants, and other vegetation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This area produces a substantial amount of organic coffee beans, so we were able to see small family-run farms harvesting, drying, and packaging coffee beans along our path.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After a demanding morning of hiking we stopped for lunch at the “Monkey House” which afforded incredible views of the river and jungle below.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We sampled fresh fruit juice, coffee and coco beans, and even tried on traditional Peruvian garments.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We continued along the Inka Trail, climbing narrow stone paths overlooking a 1000 meter drop-off.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was an incredible experience, and the adrenaline pumping through our bodies was evident as we carefully chose our footing on the narrow paths.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When we reached a resting point on the trail we learned about Incan traditions and history as we participated in a traditional ceremony using coca leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Coca leaves are a significant part of Peruvian culture, used to combat altitude sickness and provide additional energy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The hike continued for several more hours as we bravely crossed swinging bridges, narrow planks, and river walkways.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Towards the end of the day we piled in cable cars and used the pulley-system to cross the river.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Once again darkness came earlier than anticipated, and we completed our day’s hike in complete darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Luckily, we finished our hiking at natural hot springs, so we were able to relax in these natural stone swimming pools filled with hot water from surrounding springs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VypZsh71SXSl93Xfb-RGyTAQDFFjhmvlNbh67pcpZfnPEt4J8uWqsuC0ZrjiXGQjwqR_FDCVnL4XaP3A0DiT2fqYioFSiH2gt4VhhyphenhyphenzP6qZMXSdYNmU13u0fqm7ZJ7-sNGVIK8rLjW6S/s1600/P6111462+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VypZsh71SXSl93Xfb-RGyTAQDFFjhmvlNbh67pcpZfnPEt4J8uWqsuC0ZrjiXGQjwqR_FDCVnL4XaP3A0DiT2fqYioFSiH2gt4VhhyphenhyphenzP6qZMXSdYNmU13u0fqm7ZJ7-sNGVIK8rLjW6S/s320/P6111462+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633698399936152994" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVSWtBzCfp1kd6Wx8cvpzL0lmRQMvv3HVy82G67vJPIxSpKMWvKJk8ojfpNw6Ps2TVA3Pqf2IrfVT2SSM-i12V1I0ycGej-Y40MgB5C_FrXm2pM-shTNBg_NjyQGV4taKWwR6BggJKUzZ/s1600/P6111478+%2528450x600%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVSWtBzCfp1kd6Wx8cvpzL0lmRQMvv3HVy82G67vJPIxSpKMWvKJk8ojfpNw6Ps2TVA3Pqf2IrfVT2SSM-i12V1I0ycGej-Y40MgB5C_FrXm2pM-shTNBg_NjyQGV4taKWwR6BggJKUzZ/s320/P6111478+%2528450x600%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633698381068703266" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilx31R_IgS7C6fzzRnOrJSV7U2CTSliCJ5GVGc8yOZ8mFE2Dze9M_i_aPLbygNACvpP13ZJ9OJY8BiaklFU-Kwf2uhNEKHQ1JKLvmD3tuI9fUmlljdmdD0K-BoKvqN5eszOslMRA-nS_gR/s1600/P6111445+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilx31R_IgS7C6fzzRnOrJSV7U2CTSliCJ5GVGc8yOZ8mFE2Dze9M_i_aPLbygNACvpP13ZJ9OJY8BiaklFU-Kwf2uhNEKHQ1JKLvmD3tuI9fUmlljdmdD0K-BoKvqN5eszOslMRA-nS_gR/s320/P6111445+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633697523444019170" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitprpg6G03dtgk0R-5xdizf837neFX5-js5lsEIr2-qRAAeRmdn6chajacHnErhLoXjivG-aNyolyxxVdyvmS44d4lBw6PR3bEwo2fb-cOXcMjzIoy5j3GFdcx3rBO8C8dUSxJsphDBbMP/s1600/P6111485+%2528450x600%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitprpg6G03dtgk0R-5xdizf837neFX5-js5lsEIr2-qRAAeRmdn6chajacHnErhLoXjivG-aNyolyxxVdyvmS44d4lBw6PR3bEwo2fb-cOXcMjzIoy5j3GFdcx3rBO8C8dUSxJsphDBbMP/s320/P6111485+%2528450x600%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633696461869509890" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYw8WztAsggM8VTJH5DfFAWzt-H-IsVoJ-ZwWv0TOJ5M6p5Ft18ao3h7d2hcaF4azcobydBhe9camoRzyDUKqpnu9vL9htZLYg6frMqDOLOsQJqLRyDgrMeEdB7dr0CdD1Td_halS6qcp/s1600/P6111489+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYw8WztAsggM8VTJH5DfFAWzt-H-IsVoJ-ZwWv0TOJ5M6p5Ft18ao3h7d2hcaF4azcobydBhe9camoRzyDUKqpnu9vL9htZLYg6frMqDOLOsQJqLRyDgrMeEdB7dr0CdD1Td_halS6qcp/s320/P6111489+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633696460270581890" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">The next morning we were able to begin the day with an incredible zip-lining adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We hiked deep into the “canopy” and prepared ourselves for the thousands of meters of cables that lied ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I strapped myself into the pulley, overlooking the surrounding mountains and canyon below.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On the count of “tres” I was launched forward and flying through the air, over 1000 meters off the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The views were incredible and the experience was unlike anything I’ve done before.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In between the six cables we hiked up steep cliffs and continued along the picturesque zip-line route.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We spent the rest of the day hiking, stopping for lunch at a quaint little restaurant nestled in the forest.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After several more hours of hiking we arrived in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The hiking and trekking had been fabulous, but we were quite excited to arrive and prepare for the following day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We enjoyed the night eating some delicious food and relaxing in our hostel overlooking the river below. <o:p></o:p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHLkljYV8MwKzqT9ugX5Nj2Ih6PH2wea7EkQeAtYu-AUICsnNQbThxa4wXtHritmxMNse5HR9EfBjS2hXLlwmdjfvWR8jlTmQwPB06qezQ7QOipJLd_0HAFvmu0E7h3aARNAuGRtk9Wl5/s1600/P6121582+%2528450x600%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHLkljYV8MwKzqT9ugX5Nj2Ih6PH2wea7EkQeAtYu-AUICsnNQbThxa4wXtHritmxMNse5HR9EfBjS2hXLlwmdjfvWR8jlTmQwPB06qezQ7QOipJLd_0HAFvmu0E7h3aARNAuGRtk9Wl5/s320/P6121582+%2528450x600%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633696456216537730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58oHUKk0t5iceoFe-qiGERBI3Tas2KaKsuRunB1OCiJbdqQ4Owt3PnnAqW5ibdfjvKcERCVLsuGnGM-0bBHb-vQ-tcRW9OuoeOS93d13a4L-5pY_SAx63UVkZL-orerT4JECpghzfefmw/s1600/P6121594+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58oHUKk0t5iceoFe-qiGERBI3Tas2KaKsuRunB1OCiJbdqQ4Owt3PnnAqW5ibdfjvKcERCVLsuGnGM-0bBHb-vQ-tcRW9OuoeOS93d13a4L-5pY_SAx63UVkZL-orerT4JECpghzfefmw/s320/P6121594+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633696453577070162" /></a><br /><span style="line-height: 115%; " >We woke up before dawn to go to Machu Picchu.<span> </span>I’ve heard so much about this iconic landmark, I was afraid my expectations would be too high.<span> </span>However, as we slowly climbed the winding roads over the early morning clouds to reach the entrance of Machu Picchu, I knew the experience would be incredible.<span> </span>The early morning fog rested casually on the backs of the mountains, blanketing the village of Machu Picchu in a hazy mist.<span> </span>After a few minutes the sun began to rise and slowly burn off the fog, revealing the expansive ruins below.<span> </span>We explored the ancient city, marveling at the creative and impressive architecture laden with history and meaning.<span> </span>Llamas wondered the grounds, lazily gnawing at the green grass and providing life to the ancient buildings.<span> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-fDGBJx9SHYzEJuktAJHQwzuxeb9E3ab9GyyoCVycI81xsJ9h9waxylMajMdSw-O1QhicHmWZvScuYj6mLmpw6CVQ_1JF1dCWTG-eU91cxQXsgZqhltgIorVc8RHUNt9JFROisJNGG7d/s1600/P6131709+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-fDGBJx9SHYzEJuktAJHQwzuxeb9E3ab9GyyoCVycI81xsJ9h9waxylMajMdSw-O1QhicHmWZvScuYj6mLmpw6CVQ_1JF1dCWTG-eU91cxQXsgZqhltgIorVc8RHUNt9JFROisJNGG7d/s320/P6131709+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633695762762494642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygr2k5sg1SPFIHyH8Tbyh48XGBCZ_N09GlsQ84BriRLjPhEzRlkeZVhWFrTEq1aW71hxmGBj5cGB64gugd36dAndlc0KSBUUKKWNhyphenhyphenUQYWdbZ5GsisASE6766-b_P4_mp8-2URPc_iqT3/s1600/P6131737+%2528452x600%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygr2k5sg1SPFIHyH8Tbyh48XGBCZ_N09GlsQ84BriRLjPhEzRlkeZVhWFrTEq1aW71hxmGBj5cGB64gugd36dAndlc0KSBUUKKWNhyphenhyphenUQYWdbZ5GsisASE6766-b_P4_mp8-2URPc_iqT3/s320/P6131737+%2528452x600%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633695761142949922" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="line-height: 115%; " >After our tour Gibbon and I decided to climb Machu Picchu Mountain, which summits at a height of 3200 meters.<span> </span>The trek was extremely steep and narrow, but the intense hike led to an incredibly rewarding view.<span> </span>From the peak of this mountain we were able to see Huayna Picchu Mountain behind Machu Picchu which became nothing more than a miniature village from such a height.<span> </span>Deep green mountains and stark white glaciers contrasted with the blue sky as we looked out at the landscape below.<span> </span>Machu Picchu was incredibly impressive, and despite my high expectations I was in awe of the history and beauty of this ancient</span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "> </span><span style="line-height: 115%; " >civilization.</span></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSnqq25ScoHBNU7Lar6wNIsfmpRsJJoezZsk17ZmSDfjTknQ1tHSkIUnZSv9vx9NVxs1OofbAyAROeLTYcE0jtpuqWdFXus7jaUkDvPi0sd7v6pZyUKAuyupXabpk6I3kVVE-N3aZ5YJs/s320/P6131761+%2528600x408%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633695755834247778" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK6MYpsDwFRgPjmFCuSGoTN9kS5-nWKtgm0moMB9gqFnFHXEC0LYYLBFx8-H5BI5VC-vE0yQYHXyI0NL7966otSgfK2aFDMThR1c_AWhvs4tsvaBIedW407KDDrfiJBGi1gVAn2HmDkxp/s320/P6131739+%2528600x450%2529.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633695757716130210" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;line-height: normal; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><br /></p>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5613929694051317180.post-44258616892926454632011-05-26T15:00:00.000-07:002011-07-09T15:02:45.720-07:00Health Promoters- Youth Leading Youth<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">One of the most effective ways to internalize information or truly learn new material is teaching that information to other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Through our youth health promoters in Poroto, we utilize this idea to facilitate not only the transfer of information, but also the development of leadership practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The idea of youth health promoters is to train adolescent leaders in important teen-related health issues including teen pregnancy prevention, sex education, drugs and alcohol, and HIV/AIDs prevention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I work with the nurse and other staff from the health post to address these topics during our weekly meetings and the health promoters use this information to plan their own activities and replicas with their peers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The health promoters function as a youth group, facilitating community activities and events, but also transmit this important health information to their peers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">This past month we began health “replicas” with each high school classroom; the health promoters were divided into pairs , chose themes to research, and prepared presentations for their peers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In a survey I administered previously, less than 20% of students indicate they receive adequate health information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When sex-ed or other touchy topics are addressed in schools they often include very limited information or are skimmed over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Teen pregnancy, alcoholism, and other adolescent health issues are extremely prevalent in Poroto, so it’s imperative to distribute health information that will truly impact youth lifestyles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Utilizing peer-to-peer distribution of health knowledge, youth health promoters are able to hone their own leadership skills while serving as role-models for other students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The health promoters have a significant degree of autonomy over their presentations to insure the Information is presented in a way that is relevant and interesting to their fellow students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Confidence and self-esteem are often lacking among Peruvian youth, but the adolescent health promoters demonstrate a significant degree of self-confidence during these presentations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not only are they speaking publicly in front of their peers, they are addressing issues that are often considered taboo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Through these sessions a dialogue is being opened about various topics that affect their own personal development, family lives, and future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Together we decided the themes for the replicas, and in addition to the usual (teen pregnancy, STDs/HIV&AIDS, drugs/alcohol, etc) they also chose “love and illusion” which was quite a popular presentation as teenage boys were forced to share their ideas of love with the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although there is definitely room for improvement, these initial replicas were a good indication of the growing skills acquired by the youth health promoters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If these kids can stand in front of their peers and confidently talk about sex and other touchy issues, I think they’ll be able to stand up for themselves and their community as leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>kelsiamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874984796193873466noreply@blogger.com0