16 Agosto 2011

Today was an exemplary Peace Corps day.

At the end of the day, I walk away feeling tired and lonely, but successful. Very successful.

The morning was spent doing the weekly clean. Scrubbing the stove, washing the sheets, and taking a layer off the dirt floor and everything else.

Then, as laundry was taking away the hours of the day Elvis arrived from the estancia with his father. For the first time, ever, his father was sober. And, surprisingly, quite a gentleman; Respectful, keeping well out of my personally bubble, and speaking to me in the formal Usted Spanish conjugation. That’s a first. Guests from the estancia means fresh meat!

I made some black tea and headed to the library to set up for VALE. The kids arrived only about 5 minutes late, and we began.

The class was heavenly and advanced quickly. We covered all the goals I had for the day in 45 minutes. Earth’s multiple rotations and how those form days, years, and seasons. The moon. The Sun. They did the day’s art project. They did the physical activity. We reviewed. And, I still had their eyes and ears for 15 more minutes. So I opened up an activity that I had planned for the older classes and modified it in about 30 seconds for them. We got on my computer and looked at the planets in relation to one another and discussed what satellites are. Every single topic, today, was new to over 90% of the class. They had some sort of understanding of night and day and seasons, but it wasn’t complete. They were missing the visualization of the spinning at the rotating which we did, today, not only on paper, but with Styrofoam balls and flashlights, bodies, and finally digital images.

Over half the class was there well past the hour mark finishing their solar system diagrams. I encouraged them to make the planets however they wanted, and it was incredible to see the creativity balled up inside them. Often, in this Catholic educational system, they are encouraged to copy, and learn to want to copy. Somehow, today, we started to see a spark of individuality and excitement for it. Copying still took place, but one could see the potential for this to break in the not-so-distant future.

As we finished cleaning up, I ran into Marcos. He is a mentally disabled individual that does some really great woodwork under the instruction of my yoga buddy and friend. Veronica was hired by the government to come here 4 days a week to teach wood work and sewing on machines also provided by the government. I hired Marcos to make the library pencil, pen, and paintbrush holders, I just needed to get Marcos wood. Last week when returning for Arequipa I had stopped the car to hop out and get lumber from a local organic farming NGO. They politely provided me with a trunk perfect for the project. Today, I handed over the wood to Marcos and Veronica made plans with him to do the project together.

I had barely stepped out of meeting with them when a little one saw me walk by her front door and asked for homework help. In a round about we headed back to the library. I flicked the lights on again and we sat down as a stream of kids poured in the room.

Can we come in?

To do what?

Read?

What books? We don’t have any books yet. Do you have books you can bring?

Silence and wondering eyes… No.

Would you like to color?

Unanimously, yes!

I turned on the classical music that is always playing quietly in the background in the library, and the group sat and colored away while Elizabith and I discussed the different locations for a ‘subject’ in a sentence as she completed her homework.

There was one beautiful point where these normally trouble-making boys were sitting in silence coloring away and Beethoven’s nocturne in eflat minor came on. I could have cried.

They all helped clean up, and the girls and I headed to the street hand in hand.

When I got home, the idea of cooking was exhausting. And, I officially decided I absolutely did not bring enough back from Arequipa this last trip. Too distracted and tired from VALE project shopping, I never did any grocery shopping for myself.

This is when my host mother’s telepathic capabilities swooped in and saved the day.

“Did Roxana offer you food? Are you hungry? I cooked fresh meat!”

My Lord I love that woman. Fresh spicy alpaca meat with her version of caramelized onions and rice. She served me my usual small portion, realized I was hungry as I gobbled it down and served me another plate. Roxana wasn’t feeling well, so Doña Juana and I sat and chatted for a while in their room.

The whole day was so comfortable. It had a rhythm. It felt in sync. I felt in sync with the community. I fit here and it feels good. I wish I could share the experience.

My belongingness concluded with nurturing Roxana as she wasn’t feeling well. Bringing her tea and natural remedies from my part of the world as her mother encouraged her to try them. There are no words for the trust there.

Now, I can only hope that the next 4 months of the VALE program are as successful and rewarding as today was, even if it did feel a little lonesome.