Falling Into The Andes

Ah yes...as those of you stateside are baring witness to the divine iridescent glow of the enchanting trees changing, carving your pumpkins, watching baseball playoffs and football kickoffs, we too are engaging in our own October behavior.  The agrarian wheat fields have been cultivated, and are being primed for the next batch of produce.  The mountainous fields have turned to golden brown and are being set afire in order to further fertile the land for the next batch.  Teeming opaque smoke fills the air in the daytime; obstructing visibility but providing magnificent reflections during the close-of-day twilight.  In the interim, providing an engaging kaleidoscopic of dazzling purplish-red and orange-yellow movement under the clear midnight skies.  

Now, comes the relentless rain.  It's heavy.  I've been forewarned of its steadfastness.  However, so far it has been ill in comparison to the deluged downpours of the Costa Rican rainforest.  My altruistic parents have sent me a pair of overshoes to cover my hiking boots as I am unable to purchase a pair of rain boots to fit my hulking feet.  I trudge up and down the paths in full rain gear, smirking at the precarious stares of wonder.  “What's this 'gringo loco' doing in this part of the world?”  and “What the hell is he wearing?”.

If that rain wasn't so staunch, I just might stop and explain myself. 

In addition to the inquisitive daily occurrences, I've also begun to encounter other duties.  Peace Corps Peru has decided to launch a “Peer Support Network” in following the example of other programs abroad.  It's goal is to train Peace Corps Volunteers in every department (the equivalent to a state in the U.S.) so that they may act as a resource for other Peace Corps Volunteers who would like assistance in coping with the tribulations of the Peace Corps in Peru.  With pride, I am the volunteer representing my department.  I will be attending a meeting in December down in Lima to begin construction of this program; establishing goals, guidelines, missions, and aims.  It is my privilege to be part of this new program.  Unfortunately, we are all to regularly saying goodbyes and farewells to volunteers who have decided to return to the US to seek other pursuits.  Those are hard times.  In fact, I just parted way with one of my best friends down here.  I wish him (and the other 6 that have left from my training group) the best in his (their) future endeavors.   

Things are moving along...slowly and dithering.  I fill my days with productive efforts; uncertain of potential successes.  Day hikes with friends and family members have provided me with gasping sites and sometimes not so admirant conclusions.  For instance, one Sunday, I spent the entire day rambling upstream to get to a church where legend states a miracle has left the face of Jesus in a rock.  To my lack of bewilderment, I found little more than what appeared to be a rock painted to resemble the son of God in which a church had been constructed 

around.  Without dismay, I proceeded to enjoy the brisk clean mountain air combined with the rippling clamor of the river as I ungrudgingly meandered home.  Happy to be learning as I go, as we all should be.