Its truly incredible that I've been here more than a year now. So I guess this is a good time to do some reflection. Overall, I'd say that I'm glad that I'm here, and that I've been here. It wasn't what I thought it would be, but its been so much more. I've learned another language, integrated into a small town with an entirely different culture, participated in strange parties, sat through long, formal meetings in Spanish. I've meet incredible people, both from the country and my own. I'd say my motto for my time has definitely been "poco a poco", little by little. First, it was little by little to learn the language, adjust to the food, adjust to the bathroom situation, adjust to the climate, adjust to the pace of work, adjust to the system of government and teaching, adjust to their customs. Then, it was adjust to starting over, living with a new family, a new place, learning a third language, adjusting to the hiking up and down between my two distinct work areas. Everywhere I heard "poco a poco", and yet it seems like its been a mountain of things now that I write it all out. I did it all little by little, but somehow it's turned into a whole lot.
I'm sad that I still haven't seen as much of Peru as I would like to have. I want to go on more vacations with people. I'm super happy that my mom is coming to visit me in December, although I'm nervous for what she'll think and how it'll be for her. Will she eat the food? Will she be able to relate to the people who are my friends now, not just strangers in a foreign land with a foreign language? The host family that the other Volunteer, Willa, lives with are super awesome. They're a young couple with a store, the husband being a carpenter. The wife tends the store and her 2 sisters, mom, and dad live not far away, so they're always visiting. I spent both Saturday and Sunday at their place, and it was wonderful. They asked about when Willa's family was coming (Nov. 1st and 2nd after she has closed her service), and what to make them. They then asked me about my family. They wanted to know if my mom would eat picante de cuy (guinea pig). It made me realize I'm pretty nervous about making sure my mom enjoys her visit.
I should hear within a week whether my grant has been approved. If it is, I will be starting classes in October about Climate change and how to conduct a small science project. Actually, I'll do the classes anyway, but they won't be going on the fieldtrip I have planned for the end for those who participate the most. After the series of classes in October, they will have all of November to measure the temperature to collect data for their project. Then, the first week of December I'll help them analyze and write up their results, and they'll have to present them the second week, the week right before final exams for them. As long as the grant is approved, I think the first or second of December will be when the good students get to go see Pastoruri, a nearby glacier that's melting in the National Park. I've arranged free entrance for them, and the park guard will talk to them. Also, the Park Service has promised to help me make a tree nursery with the two schools. After that, I'll get to plan with the teachers about utilizing the weather monitoring boxes for the new year and planning classes for the whole next year.
I want to make sure to plan to teach one grade of high school English on a regular basis for the new year, but I'm sad realizing that it will only be one year. Which makes me think about extending. But...I don't know if I want to do a third year in my site. I'm also interested in the coordinator position in Lima, don't know if I could do that as a fourth year, or if that would be fair to the group 20ers who would be finishing their 2 years and applying for coordinator. Anyways, that's enough thinking ahead, and I think I've reflected enough. Time to wrap up and head to a hot shower (thank god for hot showers in Huaraz!)
