My First Site Visit

As I return to Lima with thoughts of future service, I would like to share my site visit. First of all, I now have one more year under my belt with this whole “life” thing in general...that means I had my birthday, and am now 25. My quarter century celebration included a morning view of Huascaran (Peru's tallest mountain), as my overnight bus arrived in the departmental capital of Huaraz on my birthday...a priceless gift.

Huaraz is an incredible city...with a range of snow capped mountains colliding with a black range. However, I was very eager to get out to my site...in the third range called the Cordillera Huayhuash, where I am the only Peace Corps volunteer...in my own world. More so, I've been too patient waiting to become acquainted with my future living arrangements.

This part of Peru is only known to those who truly want to wander off the beaten path. It is filled with incredible views of snowcapped mountains, rolling hills, iridescent green valleys, and turquoise glacial lakes.

My new family is very nice and seem very hospitable. Although the food got a little dodgey...as I can explain later (a tale not for the weak stomached), everything went great. I got a good grip on my community. I met my future co-workers. I was recruited (and will be playing) on our local soccer team. I saw a gnarly bull fight. Basically, I got a taste of life as I will live it for the next two years, and loved it.

To get to my site, you pretty much take a bus to the middle of nowhere. Then, you hike out of that city about an hour to get to my little village. It isn't long before you receive an aerial view of my entire village in the valley. It's beautiful!

Upon closer inspection, you would notice that all of the buildings are made out of adobe. Also, there aren't any streets. However, there is one paved sidewalk...which I don't really understand why. Additionally, there is a bright blue rivier that flows right in front of my village filled with trout waiting to be pulled out. The people are ridiculously nice, and seem thrilled to have me living in their city.

My family there is great. The welcomed me by handing over a sombrero and a the poncho most worn in our valley. The scenery is spectacular. There are plenty of work opportunities to keep my busy and to make me feel productive. Also, I am enthused to hike three to five hours a day in one of the world's most amazing mountain ranges! My only concern is the food.

I ate some pretty gross stuff...I'm not really sure where to start. Well, we had a pachamanca my first day (where you cook a bunch of meet underground). We had lamb, beef, goat, and pig. It was good. Well, the head of the pig was sitting out on the kitchen table for the rest of the night. Apparently, it was going to be used to cook up some chicharones for breakfast. The next morning, with the head still there, I ate a little moldy bread with breakfast (not that big of a deal). Later, I had some potatoes that were a little too old as well (still not too big of a deal). All throughout, the pig's head remained on the kitchen table. When was I going to get these chicharones? I grew somewhat accustomed to this extra “head” at the table. However, by the third day, I noticed that worms/magots were starting to grow in certain parts of the head. But still, we didn't eat the head!

As I roled out of bed three days after my arrival, into the brisk morning mountain air, I saw my future host dad separating the pig's jaw with a small axe. Then, he rinsed the bugs off with tap water. That morning, we FINALLY had our chicharones!

Gross? Well, kind of. However, I didn't get sick. Personally, I found trying to chew and swallow my rice while looking at a swarm of maggots throbbing on a three day old pig's head much more disgusting than actually eating it. It's a new normal. More so, I also ate a rotton piece of chicken that had been sitting out to dry for 2 days for lunch that day. Actually, I took two bites, noticed that my future brother and sisters weren't touching theirs, and threw in the towel.

Yes, I have many things I will need to adjust to in the next couple of years. Some things I will have to bend to fit. Others, I will have to learn to stay away far from. Either way, I will find and test my limits. Now, you'll have to excuse me...I'm back in Lima and could REALLY use something to eat!