1 year down, 1 year to go

Peace Corps life is like a bowl of tomato soup- a bowl of soup that you tried to cook from scratch using two separate recipes and without all the right ingredients, in the dark, over a flaming pile of firewood, and without the blender that both recipes mandated. In other words, it's not quite as smooth as you'd like it to be. But you learn to lower your standards and enjoy it anyway.

This week I decided that after nine months, it was about time I made a legitimate effort to get my ecoclub started with the school kids. I talked to the school director, who made an announcement in front of the entire school, but neglected to tell me that Wednesday, the day of the first meeting, the entire school was going to the next town over for a fiesta. So at 3PM I went out to wait in the plaza with my book, pretty certain that no one would show up, but around 3:30 a couple of kids appeared in the plaza and came to hover around my bench. Not daring to believe it, I tried to sound totally casual as I asked, "Sooo... what are you guys here for?" They looked at me as if I were a total idiot. Um, duh, that thing you told us about? So against ALL odds, the ecoclub meeting actually happened, and I held their attention for at least 20 minutes before the boys decided that the hot potato circle was really better as a wrestling ring.

Some of my girls on a visit to the nearby pre-Incan ruins

Work at the recycling center has taken a turn away from my interests. After bringing one of the workers to a workshop in Chiclayo about planting Tara trees, we were both totally stoked to plant some native species. When we got back, however, we found out that the mayor had sudden plans to plant 20,000 invasive, nutrient-sucking Eucalyptus trees. So I watched with growing despair as the little black bags full of dirt multiplied over and over to fill every empty space in the tree nursery. It's taken me 9 months to plant 200 trees because no one sees the importance of planting native species, but with one word from the mayor 20,000 seeds are planted practically overnight. It's amazing how quickly things can get done, and makes it all the more frustrating to see my own projects develop so slowly.

Even with the little stuff, you can't count on things to go the way you expect. For example, I wanted to do laundry yesterday, but it's kind of tough when there's a 200lb dead pig on top of the sink. Turns out yesterday was pig-slaughtering day. Fortunately when it comes to killing and cooking a pig, I am only slightly more useful than the 4-year-old, so I mostly got to watch and shell peas and I was TOTALLY ok with that. Anyway, that's why I'm wearing a dirty t-shirt. I swear it's not my fault.

My host dad with the pig.

In other news, the trip to Cusco with my parents was amazing. If you want all the details, don't be afraid to ask them. They seem to love talking about it. For me, the best part was when they came to visit me at my home. The host fam got a kick out of my dad's moustache, especially when it turned orange while eating guinea pig. My sisters still giggle about it. So thanks for the laughs, pops.

Gringos in the kitchen

Now I'm off to dinner with my friends to celebrate the our 1-year-in-country anniversary. One year ago today, I was having a heart attack in Washington DC wondering if I was somehow deranged for actually choosing to move to Peru. Now I know that yes, indeed, I am a little crazy. But I'm ok with that too. Hasta la proxima...

Me and host sister Mayeli