Today marks my 10th day in Ancash. I posted my first thoughts and impressions of my new site that I wrote on day one, and while I still have internet access, I guess I should try to update a bit. Since then I've felt both worse and better. I went to GLOBE training with two professors from Olleros and Willa. That was fun, as was the going-away party for the Peru 15ers. Everyone of the volunteers I met was great. I have a whole new family of individuals to learn about and support. Shortly before leaving for that though I received some calls from people in Vicco or Cerro de Pasco, which really sent me for a mental spin. It was depressing, and I had to really work to get myself moving forward again. I'm trying not to dwell on the abandonment of them. This week, I taught several classes in the school of Olleros (which is both elementary and high school, there being no middle school in Peru). I taught two English classes to the second grade of Secondary (high school), and the kids of that grade are really sweet. It was fun being back in the teaching mode, spotting the kids who are more interested, and remember more. You learn so much about the individual kids even as you teach the class as a whole. It's fascinating to me, and keeps me busy.
        
              I also taught 6th grade of Primary (elementary school) a class about Climate Change. That felt really good, in that it was more directly related to our program goals, but I could tell the kids were still a bit young to be understanding or interested much in the science. I'm hoping to capture their interest when we start a small climate monitoring study. I want to start a mini-science project thing with them. First, to teach them, we'll have a basic question about the average temperature. Then I hope to provide them with individual thermometers so they can design and carry out their own mini-experiment. They can all present their findings at the end of it. After that, we might have them carry out a long term study study collecting data as a team. We'll see how that goes. Another really cool class I taught (assisted in really), was the swimming classes Willa started yesterday. Olleros has a Municipality-owned pool down near the river, and so we took 3rd grade of Secondary class down to teach swimming. The water was pretty cold, but it was so great to be swimming, especially when it so clearly fascinated the students. I think one of them was able to swim, but he was clearly an exception. It was also excellent exercise, including doing some yoga and other basic exercises to warm up after getting out. I would say that was one of my highest points in my new site so far. I also really enjoyed playing soccer in the dirt street with 3 young kids, and making boats out of the bottoms of plastic bottles littered around to race down the mini-stream running along the dirt road outside my house.

             As of right now, I think I'm really wondering about how my host family situation is going to work out. I really hope I don't have to deal with a dirt floor my whole service, so thinking of solutions. Carpeting, putting in concrete, or perhaps just a tarp are some of my ideas. The family is so sweet; I really am trying to walk on my tippytoes for right now. Santa, who I can't decide if I should call my host mom, or sister, has a sort of tourism thing where tourists visit her from Huaraz to learn about how she makes natural dyes and knitted products. I'm very excited to think about ways I could help her improve it. I think right now, getting the word out there is the biggest thing, so I'm thinking of ways I could get her connected to guided hikes or something similar. Any ideas from out there in internet land would be most welcome though!

My first Impression of Olleros, Ancash

July 10th, 2012

 

I’m going to miss my friends in Vicco. But I’m also going to love my new site. I may have only spent half a day here so far, but all the signs are great. It’s gorgeous for starters. There are rolling hills, snow-capped mountains in the distance, trees, fields, horses, and children running everywhere. We’re still decently high, at 3500m or so (11,500 feet or so), and they say it gets pretty cold. But I was outside at 8pm in one pair of pants, a single cotton t-shirt, and a cotton sweatshirt. I didn’t feel cold at all. I’m sure it will get colder, but this is nothing compared to Vicco.

                I met my host family, and they seem wonderful. My host mom is Santa, and she seems like a really sweet lady. Her one son is 13, and also pretty cool. He made an origami frog during lunch today, as well as a hat to put on his dog. The poor dog, Bobby, had tortured tolerance written all over his face. We also have a cat with a weird short face that I’m just going to call Micchi (cat in Quechua). Later in the afternoon I met Santa’s mom; her name is Rosa. I also met Santa’s brother who lives in Huaraz and visits occasionally; his name is Manuel. I’m trying to make sure I write their names so that I don’t forget.

                After taking a short nap after lunch, I met back up with Willa, the volunteer who lives in this site. I’m sort of invading her site; she has 4 months of service left and then I’ll be her replacement. Until then, we get to work together on stuff. Anyway, met up with her and walked around with my host brother, Ronaldo. We eventually ended up playing soccer on their soccer field, taking penalty kicks at each other. A young boy joined us part way through, his name is Roberto or just Rober (with an o like in Row). It was really fun, and I’m excited that I’ll be more active here. I’ll definitely go hiking, walking, and playing soccer or volleyball. I didn’t feel too tired or cold to do things.

                I showed my host family some photos of my life and family from my laptop, and we ate bread with some tea. The tea was from cedron, which I should figure out what that is, because I liked the tea. The bread was actually really yummy, waaaaay better than bread in Vicco (sorry Vicco!). It will be perfect to make sandwiches. While we ate, I tried to learn some Quechua. Apparently, “are you well?” is something that sounds like Al-le ya-chu. You would answer that with OHmi, or something that sounds like that. That means yes. Manam is no, but there’s another word that you’re supposed to say with it if you want to answer negatively. Thus…I’ll just stick with OHmi.

                Tomorrow I’ll head down with Willa (Constansa in site, because willa in quechua means fat) to Olleros, which is our main center. I think she has meetings or something with the school. I’m super excited for the days to come, as I learn people’s names, more Quechua, and start work here.