13junio2010

my room
notice: my sweater is wet because I have not yet remembered to purchase a towel.


Today began with yest another early wake-up call only to be greeted by more hours of juvenille preparation. No one could see the steam flowing from my ears, it was delicately covered by a smile from my lips and attention from my eyes and absorption from my ears. Only the observant bystander could see the frustration releasing through the twitch of my right foot. I am ready to go!
I just have to remember that the Peace Corps has been doing this for 50 years, I am trusting. I am trusting oh so much.

Then, this afternoon happened. After a lovely evening of yoga and a hot shower we packed our bags and our new host families picked us up from the retreat center. I will be living with this family for the next 10 weeks. They live in a small neighborhood just outside of Chaclacayo called Chaclasana. My family consist of mi mama Rosa, mi papa Caesar, mis hermanas, Shayla y Angela, 4 dogs, quite a few cats, a parrot, chickens, and doves. Needless to say, I love it. There house is mostly plaza surrounded by a lovely rose garden with rooms under construction. My room is disconnected from the main house with one of the younger sisters. We are by the chicken coop. I was warned by the pervious volunteer who lived here the the father is protevtive of the women of the house, including myself. I am not going to let that threat to my independence worry me, presently, I appreciation the pretection.
The girls are extremely kind and welcoming. Angela is 21 and Sheyla is 24. Fortunately, we all speak in Spanish to eachother, unless I help Sheyla with her English homework. I am hoping that my spanish speaking capability improves quickly with this. 13 others live in this neightborhood too, and it is nice to see the familiar faces.

With my deepest respect to my host family, this is poverty. The stucco walls and tin roof are the first glance. The father is unable to provide hot water for his girls to shower in or proper cabinets for food storage in the kitchen.
None-the less, the hose is lovely and everyone has a fabulous sense of humor and patience with me.

Following dinner we headed to the market for a few things for tomorrow. It is incredible how busy the streets are in the park and market area in the neighboring small town. My sisters didn´t seem to notice everyone's eyes staring at the tall (yes, I am tall here) white girl. But the gringa did enjoy the market. I found a battery powered alarm clock for 4 soles that is ticking away loudly in competition with the cricket outside my door as I lay in bed.


I love this. The walks were I need to go, the cold showers, the small dirty kitchen. They all pose real challenges whose embrace I am adoring. It feels real. It feels like living.