Hello all! I apologize for my huge lack of posts during my trip. I've just been quite busy and haven't felt like sitting in front of a computer with such a beautiful beach just outside.
Well it's my last day, I leave tomorrow, and figured I need to at least say goodbye! It's been quite a trip and I still have lots to say and even more to figure out once I get home. Everything will be much easier I think, once I'm back. I will be back to post pictures of course, as well as a few of my thoughts once I've processed it all.
I have a very busy next 48 hours, but I hope it will go by quickly and easily, but we shall see! I have my last day at work tonight and then a group of volunteers here are taking me out to dinner and drinks at Mamacha's, the best vegetarian burger place I've ever been to. Plus amazing mango daiquiris! It should be a great last night in Huanchaco.
Well my only free hour is right now, so I better go pack! Wish me a safe trip and I'll see you back in the states! Ciao!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tour of Otra Cosa Projects
This past Tuesday, I had a wonderful opportunity to go on a tour of a few of the Otra Cosa projects in Trujillo and surrounding areas. The tour was led by Senora Juany, one of the directors of the Otra Cosa Volunteer Agency.
After a taxi ride into Trujillo to visit the university where she teaches, we picked up her entire class--around 25 Peruvian university students--and loaded a bus to head to the first project. The tour focused mainly on poverty, a topic that many upper class Pervian families do their best to hide from. Pretty much anyone that goes to the university is from one of these families, so for the students on the tour, this was all quite new to them as well.
The first place we visited was the local elementary school for extremely poor children. The whole school is run off of donations and volunteers, and you can definitely tell. For most children that go there, this is the only opportunity for them to have any sort of education as well as food. Everyday, they provide at least one meal for the children, usually the only food they will eat all day. None of the classrooms have floors, just dirt, and the roofs are barely there, mostly falling apart. All of the children were amazing though, so happy and seeming to have no worries at all.
If that was a shock, it was nothing compared to what we saw next. Next, we headed to the dump, where a community of around 1,000 people live and work. It was incredible. I've never seen anything like it. We walked through a neighborhood of houses, if you can even call them that, and felt completely overwhelmed. The people live there, surrounded by trash and a smell I can't even begin to describe. Everyday, they walk over to the new trash pile and dig through it, looking for cardboards, plastics, anything to recycle. Juany told us, that on average, for around 3 hours of work, these people collect around 80 cents work of stuff, and that's Peruvian cents, which equals less than 30 American cents. Ten cents an hour. You can't even begin to comprehend that level of poverty.
After that, we headed to the local YMCA, definitely an upper after seeing the dump. Any kids are welcome here to get help with homework, a small meal and general stuff to do. A really great program.
Lastly, we visit the school for disabled children where several volunteers work. Here, they focus on teaching students a skill of some sort, whether that be woodworking, knitting, crocheting or sewing. Another great program that has without a doubt helped tons of children that wouldn't have had any means of income otherwise.
It was an eye-opening experience. Before this, I had never seen actual poverty. You really just can't comprehend it. But it's thanks to programs like Otra Cosa, that are able to help a few people out of such an unthinkable existence.
After a taxi ride into Trujillo to visit the university where she teaches, we picked up her entire class--around 25 Peruvian university students--and loaded a bus to head to the first project. The tour focused mainly on poverty, a topic that many upper class Pervian families do their best to hide from. Pretty much anyone that goes to the university is from one of these families, so for the students on the tour, this was all quite new to them as well.
The first place we visited was the local elementary school for extremely poor children. The whole school is run off of donations and volunteers, and you can definitely tell. For most children that go there, this is the only opportunity for them to have any sort of education as well as food. Everyday, they provide at least one meal for the children, usually the only food they will eat all day. None of the classrooms have floors, just dirt, and the roofs are barely there, mostly falling apart. All of the children were amazing though, so happy and seeming to have no worries at all.
If that was a shock, it was nothing compared to what we saw next. Next, we headed to the dump, where a community of around 1,000 people live and work. It was incredible. I've never seen anything like it. We walked through a neighborhood of houses, if you can even call them that, and felt completely overwhelmed. The people live there, surrounded by trash and a smell I can't even begin to describe. Everyday, they walk over to the new trash pile and dig through it, looking for cardboards, plastics, anything to recycle. Juany told us, that on average, for around 3 hours of work, these people collect around 80 cents work of stuff, and that's Peruvian cents, which equals less than 30 American cents. Ten cents an hour. You can't even begin to comprehend that level of poverty.
After that, we headed to the local YMCA, definitely an upper after seeing the dump. Any kids are welcome here to get help with homework, a small meal and general stuff to do. A really great program.
Lastly, we visit the school for disabled children where several volunteers work. Here, they focus on teaching students a skill of some sort, whether that be woodworking, knitting, crocheting or sewing. Another great program that has without a doubt helped tons of children that wouldn't have had any means of income otherwise.
It was an eye-opening experience. Before this, I had never seen actual poverty. You really just can't comprehend it. But it's thanks to programs like Otra Cosa, that are able to help a few people out of such an unthinkable existence.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Long Overdue!
I apologize for the long break in between posts, but I've been a bit under the weather. After nearly a week of stomach cramps and other not so pleasant things, I finally decided to make a trip over to the local doctor. I got right in and had the doctor look me over right away. Prognosis: intestinal parasite. Don't worry, it sounds a lot more disgusting than it feels.
I'm now on antibiotics, some other medicine to kill the critters in my gut, and on a strict diet for the next 3 days. After that I should be way better. My diet? Toast, soup (broth only!) and bananas. And I can only drink this strange drink locals swear by, called Frutti Flex (not the most professional sounding medicine) for the next 24 hours. Not even water is allowed. Geez, and I was worried about gaining weight on this trip!
But other than that, the trip has been great!! No, honestly!
Just today, after my visit to el doctor, a friend here invited me to visit the mall in Trujillo, the city about 20 minutes drive from Huanchaco. The mall is the newest addition to Trujillo, known better now as "gringo heaven." And that it is. I'm not much for malls, but after being here for a week and a half with so little to chose from in terms of food and stuff to buy in general, seeing a mall, I was without a doubt, one gringa in heaven. Honestly, I had a bit of culture shock walking into all the bright lights, advertisements and poppy music. But it was a really fun change of pace and kept my mind busy from thinking about the word, "parasite."
Because of the trip to the mall, I also got my first experience in a "combi", a bus that runs in between Huanchaco and Trujillo. And by bus, I mean mini-van. It's quite an experience. First you wave one down, you jump in and squish in with about 12 other people. There's the driver, who you never have to interact with and the doorman, who sits by the sliding door, opens it when you wave him down, pulls you in and collects your money. When you want to get off, you say, "Esquina baja," (I think!) which means, "I get off at this corner," then come to a sudden halt and you jump off. Pretty fun actually.
When we got back, we made our way to the beach to finally soak up some rays. It was sunny all day and we were able to watch a beautiful sunset. A little bit of everything today, huh?
I'm now on antibiotics, some other medicine to kill the critters in my gut, and on a strict diet for the next 3 days. After that I should be way better. My diet? Toast, soup (broth only!) and bananas. And I can only drink this strange drink locals swear by, called Frutti Flex (not the most professional sounding medicine) for the next 24 hours. Not even water is allowed. Geez, and I was worried about gaining weight on this trip!
But other than that, the trip has been great!! No, honestly!
Just today, after my visit to el doctor, a friend here invited me to visit the mall in Trujillo, the city about 20 minutes drive from Huanchaco. The mall is the newest addition to Trujillo, known better now as "gringo heaven." And that it is. I'm not much for malls, but after being here for a week and a half with so little to chose from in terms of food and stuff to buy in general, seeing a mall, I was without a doubt, one gringa in heaven. Honestly, I had a bit of culture shock walking into all the bright lights, advertisements and poppy music. But it was a really fun change of pace and kept my mind busy from thinking about the word, "parasite."
Because of the trip to the mall, I also got my first experience in a "combi", a bus that runs in between Huanchaco and Trujillo. And by bus, I mean mini-van. It's quite an experience. First you wave one down, you jump in and squish in with about 12 other people. There's the driver, who you never have to interact with and the doorman, who sits by the sliding door, opens it when you wave him down, pulls you in and collects your money. When you want to get off, you say, "Esquina baja," (I think!) which means, "I get off at this corner," then come to a sudden halt and you jump off. Pretty fun actually.
When we got back, we made our way to the beach to finally soak up some rays. It was sunny all day and we were able to watch a beautiful sunset. A little bit of everything today, huh?
Saturday, November 8, 2008
First Day in the Kitchen
After a week in Peru I finally had my first day of work last night at the Otra Cosa Restaurant! What an experience! Where to start?
Well, if you don't already know, the restaurant is completely vegetarian and has mediterranean cuisine. For Huanchaco, the restaurant is a bit more expensive than normal--still less that $4 for a giant plate of food--and is definitely viewed as being a bit strange due to the absence of meat from the menu. It is also very small. The kitchen is about the size of mine at home and there are only three people working at a time--the head cook, the assistant cook (that's me in this case) and a waiter.
The cook I'm working with is Rosa, a super sweet older Peruvian woman who speaks maybe 5 words of English. I have to say though, I'm quite proud of my Spanish. It's not even close to perfect, but I got by just fine last night. Rosa even complimented my Spanish, saying she was happy to have a volunteer that could understand her. It sounds like volunteers are usually just an added stress for the workers there because of communication barriers. Working with Rosa, I will definitely learn A LOT of Spanish!
My tasks included chopping vegetables and washing dishes mostly, but I also got to learn how to make guacamole--the Peruvian way, which isn't nearly as good as the New Mexican way!--as well as falafel! And I have to admit, the falafel at Otra Cosa is incredible! During my shift, I get to eat whatever I want for free, and last night Rosa made me a giant plate of falafel. Best meal I've had yet. I might just gain a few pounds on this trip!
Well, if you don't already know, the restaurant is completely vegetarian and has mediterranean cuisine. For Huanchaco, the restaurant is a bit more expensive than normal--still less that $4 for a giant plate of food--and is definitely viewed as being a bit strange due to the absence of meat from the menu. It is also very small. The kitchen is about the size of mine at home and there are only three people working at a time--the head cook, the assistant cook (that's me in this case) and a waiter.
The cook I'm working with is Rosa, a super sweet older Peruvian woman who speaks maybe 5 words of English. I have to say though, I'm quite proud of my Spanish. It's not even close to perfect, but I got by just fine last night. Rosa even complimented my Spanish, saying she was happy to have a volunteer that could understand her. It sounds like volunteers are usually just an added stress for the workers there because of communication barriers. Working with Rosa, I will definitely learn A LOT of Spanish!
My tasks included chopping vegetables and washing dishes mostly, but I also got to learn how to make guacamole--the Peruvian way, which isn't nearly as good as the New Mexican way!--as well as falafel! And I have to admit, the falafel at Otra Cosa is incredible! During my shift, I get to eat whatever I want for free, and last night Rosa made me a giant plate of falafel. Best meal I've had yet. I might just gain a few pounds on this trip!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
A Bit About Huanchaco
I realized a description of Huanchaco would be helpful, right? Where to start! I could write a book, just trying to explain this place. I'll give it a shot though.
So Huanchaco is located just outside Trujillo, the largest city in northern Peru. Huanchaco is known as a "sleepy fishing village", which describes it pretty well. About the size of Telluride, CO you can easily walk from one end to the other in about 25 minutes. While the town is small, it's unusually nice for such a small town in Peru, due to its high volume of tourists. There is clearly much more money here than in other towns.
The whole town lines the coast, a beautiful beach known for great surfing and great fishing for locals on their caballitos, traditional reed boats that are the classic symbol of Huanchaco. There is a market every morning, where you can get a bit of everything, from fruits I've never seen before to chickens and fresh fish. For a small town, it's really nice that you can get everything you need here, without having to go to the city, Trujillo.
Walking down the streets, it's easy to get turned around for a second, since every road looks the same. I also wouldn't be suprised if there are as many stray dogs here as there are locals. Just a ten minute walk down the road, you will pass at least 4 or 5 dogs, passing you just like any other stranger, off on their own mission. For people that own dogs, most people leave them on their roofs during the day, as somewhat of a security measure. It can be pretty freaky to suddenly hear loud, close barking while walking down the road, and realize it's a german shepard staring at you from above.
While this is a quiet town, there's always something to do due to all the volunteers here. I feel like I've never been so social! I still haven't started my job, but I'll let you know my first impressions as soon as I do. Ciao for now! And I hope that helps you get a better idea of my current home!
So Huanchaco is located just outside Trujillo, the largest city in northern Peru. Huanchaco is known as a "sleepy fishing village", which describes it pretty well. About the size of Telluride, CO you can easily walk from one end to the other in about 25 minutes. While the town is small, it's unusually nice for such a small town in Peru, due to its high volume of tourists. There is clearly much more money here than in other towns.
The whole town lines the coast, a beautiful beach known for great surfing and great fishing for locals on their caballitos, traditional reed boats that are the classic symbol of Huanchaco. There is a market every morning, where you can get a bit of everything, from fruits I've never seen before to chickens and fresh fish. For a small town, it's really nice that you can get everything you need here, without having to go to the city, Trujillo.
Walking down the streets, it's easy to get turned around for a second, since every road looks the same. I also wouldn't be suprised if there are as many stray dogs here as there are locals. Just a ten minute walk down the road, you will pass at least 4 or 5 dogs, passing you just like any other stranger, off on their own mission. For people that own dogs, most people leave them on their roofs during the day, as somewhat of a security measure. It can be pretty freaky to suddenly hear loud, close barking while walking down the road, and realize it's a german shepard staring at you from above.
While this is a quiet town, there's always something to do due to all the volunteers here. I feel like I've never been so social! I still haven't started my job, but I'll let you know my first impressions as soon as I do. Ciao for now! And I hope that helps you get a better idea of my current home!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Huanchaco!
Ok, wow! I feel like I've already been here a week and it's only been a few days! After 8 hours in a bus--first class no less--and a short cab ride after, I finally arrived in Huanchaco!! And to my relief it's way cuter than I would have expected, having already experienced Lima and the surrounding areas. This place is very touristy and there are TONS of volunteers all over the place, many American and all of them in their early twenties. Perfect.
I've already met lots of people and had to really brush up on my Spanish quick! There are very few locals here who speak English, so any interaction with a peruano is a Spanish lesson in action. I still haven't had my first lesson at the restuarant, but hopefully by Friday I will know my hours and what exactly I will be doing. I was supposed to have my introduction yesterday, but in classic Peruvian fashion, the main cook there forgot we were having a meeting and went out of town. According to locals, that's quite normal and I should not take offense. Getting used to "Peruvian time" will be interesting.
The volunteer house is... good. Different, I guess is a better word. It's interesting to live in a house where everything is done differently and takes a bit more effort. For example, showers. First you turn on the water, if you have enough water pressure, then turn on the heating filament in the shower head, take your shower (keeping it as short as possible), dry off your hand, turn off the electricity then turn off the water. If the heating element is on without water passing over it, it will burn out.
And that's just the showers. Everything is like that! I'm definitely not complaining, but it is just different. I'm living with 4 other volunteers, all really awesome, two of which are Americans. Last night we went to a local bar here, called My Friend, had some drinks and got to watch the election results come in. It was really great to be able to do that while I'm here. This morning I bought a local paper with Barack Obama on it (since every paper in the world seems to have the same thing on the cover this morning!) as a little keepsake of this historical event.
Well, today is the first day I've seen sun since I've been here. For the past two days it's been foggy and a bit chilly, which I guess is very unusual. It's usually never-ending summer weather here and I'm finally experiencing that today! I'm going to live it up and put on some shorts!
I've already met lots of people and had to really brush up on my Spanish quick! There are very few locals here who speak English, so any interaction with a peruano is a Spanish lesson in action. I still haven't had my first lesson at the restuarant, but hopefully by Friday I will know my hours and what exactly I will be doing. I was supposed to have my introduction yesterday, but in classic Peruvian fashion, the main cook there forgot we were having a meeting and went out of town. According to locals, that's quite normal and I should not take offense. Getting used to "Peruvian time" will be interesting.
The volunteer house is... good. Different, I guess is a better word. It's interesting to live in a house where everything is done differently and takes a bit more effort. For example, showers. First you turn on the water, if you have enough water pressure, then turn on the heating filament in the shower head, take your shower (keeping it as short as possible), dry off your hand, turn off the electricity then turn off the water. If the heating element is on without water passing over it, it will burn out.
And that's just the showers. Everything is like that! I'm definitely not complaining, but it is just different. I'm living with 4 other volunteers, all really awesome, two of which are Americans. Last night we went to a local bar here, called My Friend, had some drinks and got to watch the election results come in. It was really great to be able to do that while I'm here. This morning I bought a local paper with Barack Obama on it (since every paper in the world seems to have the same thing on the cover this morning!) as a little keepsake of this historical event.
Well, today is the first day I've seen sun since I've been here. For the past two days it's been foggy and a bit chilly, which I guess is very unusual. It's usually never-ending summer weather here and I'm finally experiencing that today! I'm going to live it up and put on some shorts!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Aqui Estoy!
Here I am, in Lima, Peru! I made it safe and sound, with my baggage and a ride to my hotel for the night. I got in at 4:30AM, got to the hotel at 6:00AM and slept for 2 hours. What a day! Lima is way bigger than I expected, and I´m definitely in a bit of culture shock. It´s just so different here.
Right now I´m in a little convenience shop that also has internet, and it´s only a block away from where I´m staying. I´ve met some really nice people so far, all willing to help me through this insane journey I´m on! I have my ticket for Trujillo tomorrow morning, and I´ll be in first class! It´s so cheap, might as well right? After 8 hours in the bus, and a short taxi ride, I should end up in Huanchaco, where I will be living and working for the next month. That sounds so wierd to say that! Wish me luck and I´ll see you next time in Huanchaco! Unless I get bored later today and come back here to post again!
Right now I´m in a little convenience shop that also has internet, and it´s only a block away from where I´m staying. I´ve met some really nice people so far, all willing to help me through this insane journey I´m on! I have my ticket for Trujillo tomorrow morning, and I´ll be in first class! It´s so cheap, might as well right? After 8 hours in the bus, and a short taxi ride, I should end up in Huanchaco, where I will be living and working for the next month. That sounds so wierd to say that! Wish me luck and I´ll see you next time in Huanchaco! Unless I get bored later today and come back here to post again!
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