Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Working Hardly

Things have finally settled down since the climbs, the traveling, and the visit from my friend.  Well, actually, things have finally picked up!  Yes, I've been VERY busy these past couple of weeks with a variety of projects...quite the variety, indeed.


Towards the end of August, I had the idiosyncratic pleasure of helping the local hospital with a breast feeding promotion campaign.  Indeed, this was something far beyond my conventional realm of knowledge...and a little outside my comfort zone, as well.  Seeing a crowd of young children marching through the hospital with signs exclaiming the importance of their mother's breast milk was most definitely a unique experience.  A personal highlight of the exploit was when I noticed a crowd of women giddily congested near the sitting area.  One of my counterparts in the hospital also seemed very enthused as she waved me over so that I could partake in the commotion.  Being that I stand at least a foot taller than most people in my community, I had an eagle eye view at the pother.  Upon approaching the mob, I immediately saw what all the fuss was about.  A young woman was breast feeding her twins...at the same time.  Yes, I suppose that that is an impressive feat.  Nonetheless, my retreat was swift; as it suddenly became all the more obvious just how out of my element I had become.



I also agreed to assist in doing some tourism development with the local tourism union in a very small community (of about 30 families) about an hour out of my site.  This small community rests high up on the mountainside, and is the start-off point for a nine day trek that winds around the mountain of Alpamayo (declared the most beautiful mountain in the world).  The community had decided that they wanted to construct a building for tourists to use as lodging.  Not only could this make life a little easier for passing trekkers, it could also bring some money into the community.  So, I spent some time up in the community with a few other people doing land surveys and preparing for the construction.  Of course, because I am a rather large gringo, the townspeople thought that I was the engineer.  They couldn't have been more mistaken.  In fact, it was my first time using this type of equipment.  Nonetheless, I did end up impressing them with my Quechua speaking abilities...or, maybe I just confused them further.


I had also been very excited to finish a garden project I have been working on in a local school.  However, when I showed up, I encountered a rather large problem.  It turns out that the adobe wall separating the school grounds from the neighbors had collapsed, which resulted in two fairly large trees being cast upon the area we had prepared to plant our vegetable garden.  Luckily, the parents had expressed great interest in the project, and a fairly large number of them showed up to assist in the planting that day.  Since our agenda had abruptly changed, the parents quickly ran home and returned with machetes to cut up the trees.  So, rather than finish the project, we spent the day hacking at trees with machetes.  How's that for unexpected events?


Working with the obstetrician and the local psychologist, I also have formed a youth group which is compiled of local students who have social disorders.  Unlike the aforementioned breastfeeding campaign, this is a little more in my realm of experience.  This type of support group is very new to this area, and I am very much looking forward to our meetings in the next few months.  


I also assisted with the planning, preparations, and execution of a fundraising activity for the local school for children with special needs.  The school will soon be celebrating it's anniversary; and, like any such even in Peru, a party is absolutely mandatory.  Therefore, we made fried deserts (picarones) and sold them around town.  Perhaps it was due to intimidation, but I sold the most.  The event was such a success that we did it again a few days later.



In addition, I've been working a great deal on a "Healthy Schools" campaign.  You see, September is the month  for children here in Peru.  I found out while doing some work in the hospital that the two big schools in the area were going to be receiving special treatment from a few hospital workers throughout the month.  Mildly outraged, I decided to organize a series of events for students in a school about 45 minutes outside of town.  These students are far more disadvantaged, and have a much greater need for such activities.  Therefore, I have been orchestrating a variety of events with numerous counterparts in that school.  We've covered themes such as self-esteem, nutrition, recycling, and sexual responsibility.  Thus far, things have been going great; and I'm happy to report that this program is far superior to that being conducted in the other schools.


In my free time, of which there is little these days, I have been preparing for the next Peer Support Network meeting in our Lima office.  As you may recall, I have been a coordinator for this group since its establishment in late 2007.  Our goal is to act as a pilar of support for fellow volunteers who may be undergoing difficulties in their sites.  In fact, I have even made a manual which is to act as a resource for volunteers and other Peer Support Network representatives.  It has taken quite a bit of work, but is basically a compilation of information regarding how to deal with the typical problems that Peace Corps Volunteers encounter; such as depression, loneliness, and even sexual harrasment and assault.  I am very enthusiastic about this group, as I believe that looking out for the well-being of fellow volunteers is a vital component in providing a positive experience for both the volunteer and their community.  



So, yeah, as you can see, things have been pretty busy.  For that, I am grateful.  I'm also really grateful for the delicious homegrown coffee that some fellow volunteers living nearby bring me.  Although, falling asleep on the job wouldn't really pose a big problem in this line of work.  Afterall, my neighbors' roosters seem to be inclined to cock-a-doodle-do all day long...so I might as well join them.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Good Days

I woke up in a bit of a funk today.  I guess that just happens when you live by yourself so far away from loved ones.  There was nothing particular to blame, nor nothing specific to chastise.  Rather, it was one of those rainy days you have even when the sun is shining.  A desolate day in the doldrums.  


As i-tunes shuffled through the songs, I took my time completing the morning routine; trying to find the melody that would carry me out of the trough.  To my benefit, I had nothing scheduled early today, and didn't wake to the blaring beeps of the alarm clock.  No, today I slept until the roosters crowed (which definitely doesn't count as "sleeping in".  

Without resolution, I finally hit-the-streets; entering the commotion that is the conglomeration of rurality kissing modernity.  Rick-shaw moto-taxis honking as they pass a women leading her burro through town.  The yells of the street vendors fused to the passing blurbs of electronic cumbia music.  Gurgles, crows, and doodle-dos from the poultry heard through the cloud of exhaust from the dump truck's diesel engine.  Just like any other morning.


First on my agenda was to make my way down to one of the larger public schools to meet with the director in regards to starting a vegetable garden.  We spent a few hours last week together in meetings; discussing the details.  Today was to be the day that we finalized our  plans.  Without a great deal of shock, I discovered that she was out of the office today.  Thus, postponing the project and also perpetuating my current state of mind. 


I then zigged and zagged through the labyrinth and arrived at another school where I am scheduled to wrap up a decent sized vegetable garden in two days.  I was greeted with embraces and screams of all the students out at recess.  More so, a handful of young boys were stretching their heads through the gates' entrance to watch the working men in the street repair to water tube which was destroyed a few weeks prior, and crippling the completion of this particular project.  


To smooth things over, I was surprised to find that we are still on schedule to complete the project this week.  To add to the excitement, there was a very strong interest by many of the parents to volunteer their time to finish the garden.  Already in smiles, I cheerfully wandered on down to the hospital to meet with a few other community partners to chat about yet another project.


I've been planning a series of participatory health-related lectures in a rural school about a 45 minute hike out of town.  Coordinating so many dates with a variety of people has proven to be extremely difficult, and today was the day to finalize all the dates and hope for confirmations.  


As I entered the hospital, I encountered the usual display of people in the waiting room.  There's the crying baby, the agog elderly woman, and incongruous eyes of perplexed persons staring at the gringo in bewilderment.  I entered the office of Social Services to discover all five women there and in elation with my arrival.  Our meeting was brisk, and all available dates were quickly confirmed.  Then, I made my way to the nutritionist to discover that she was just as unchallenging.

Then, I made my way to the psychologist to find that she too was available at the solicited times and dates.  Things were going smoothly, and all these positive encounters had long ago changed the tone of my day.  In fact, I had already begun to reflect on just how rapidly my day had switched gears.


Finally, I was on my way to meet with the fourth person who had previously agreed to participate in giving lectures to the high school students this month.  On the walk, I received a phone call from an old friend I met while volunteering in Costa Rica a few years back.  He currently resides in Singapore and was in Columbia visiting is in-laws.  His only business was to call and say hi as we once again found ourselves on the same continent...and it was spectacularly unexpected.  


As far as project planning goes, things had been going much more smoothly than expected.  And, at this point, a speed bump was expected.  As I coasted into the municipality, I was well received, and continue to the office of my destination.  Once again, things went according to plan!  With a sense of accomplishment, I began to make my way home.


As I meandered home, feeling like the jewel in the crown, I was stopped by a man pushing his three-wheeled rickshaw cart up hill.  He introduced himself to me, and we spoke briefly.  As I began my departure, he expressed his wishes that I have fortune with my projects.  More so, he said that I have one more friend (a rough translation).  They were very kind words and really gave me something to think about.


Now, as I sit around slowly typing a ramble, and as the sun fades and darkens the glass on my windows, I contemplate on how I will get out of bed tomorrow.  I suppose that it is completely acceptable to start off a morning with woes and lacking ambition.  However, you never know how the day will change its course.  Things may evolve, and you may find shelter under unexpected successes.  Or, perhaps things will go down hill.  The point I'm trying to get at is that it is unfair to make predictions the first time your feet hit the floor in the morning.  Take a breath, and wait.  That smile from a stranger may make all the difference.  Don't be afraid to be the person that donates that day-modifying salutation  and surrender to happiness.