1 Marzo 2011

I arrived in Lima early this morning with bad breath, a crook in my neck, and a really bad hair-do then headed straight to the convention center for Peru 15’s Project Design Management training. My social counterpart from Madrigal had gotten in the day before and met me at the center. The Center is called Atinchik (which means working together in quechua). I was unbelievably impressed with this organization. This Peruvian-power couple that is cuadra-lingual built this mini-compound/cooperative/training method. The center is designed for conventions, but in a very…. Holistic… way. They are chefs that also grow all the herbs and vegetables they use in the dining hall. They are a brilliant couple with a fabulous eye for art and hearts for teaching. People from the area they hire and teach, and they really treat everyone as a team. They also give talks on how to teach and organize to other organizations. I even found myself in the kitchen washing my coffee mug myself because I wanted to chat with them and try to absorb some of their techniques/brilliance (like serving a celery and herb soup for dinner after a pork-based lunch to sooth the stomach after the hard work it had to do all day digesting). We talked about a lot of traditional herbs she grew and used and different foods she pairs them with. I loved every minute with them. I want to be them. I was walking around their garden breathing in what I want for my future. I could smell my beautifully designed garden and house built by myself and my partner that is optimal for a loving, healthy, self-sustaining lifestyle.

The most beautiful part is I am learning the knowledge in my life right now to form a base to make this possible whenever and where ever I decide to make a home.

Tonight, we will put on the high heels and the nicest clothes we have in Peru for the national 50^th Anniversary celebration in the Emassador’s house in Lima. The PC Chief of staff Stacey Rhodes of Peace Corps will be here in Peru, as well as the Peace Corps director of InterAmerica- Carlos Torres. I am so excited my stomach hurts, I need some celery herb soup.