Why do you have a blog post called
“FAQs 2”?
Because I already had one called “FAQs”
so I wanted to differentiate between the two.
Well I kind of assumed that. Let me
rephrase my question: Why do you think you need a second blog post
with FAQs?
Because there're that many frequently
asked questions, duh? Ok, I'll stop being a jerk (for now).
My first blog post was FAQs, because I
had just arrived in Peru and a lot of people had similar questions
about what life was like down here. I'm doing another one because
I've now moved from Lima (where my training was) to Huallanca (where
I'll be working for the next two years). A lot in my life has changed
because of this. So, ask away!
So what's this new town,
Hu-...Hu-...Hual-...Gahhh! I can't even pronounce that!
Well I can't really blame you for
having a difficult time pronouncing it. Its a Quechua word with
Spanish spelling. Anyway, Huallanca (why-YAHNK-uh) is a town of about
4000 in the middle of the mountains of Peru with an elevation of
about 2 miles. There are two colegios (High Schools) where
Kendra and I will be doing a lot of work. But we'll also be working
with just about anyone who wants to help the youth in Huallanca.
Mauricio and Daniela with Huallanca in the background.
Who's Kenrda? Your sister? Your
wife? Your...
Hahaha, no, no, no! But its funny you
ask that, because everyone in Huallanca asks the exact same things.
Kendra is another Peace Corps - Youth Development volunteer from my
training group who will be living and working in Huallanca for the
next two years. I usually tell them that she's my daughter.
Kenrda and I on swear-in day.
So are you finally working now?
Well my first three months at site (in
Huallanca) I am doing a “community diagnostic”, research on the
resources, capacities, needs, problems, etc. in the community. After
I'm done with this, the community and I will be able to identify
projects that are needed, useful, practical, and doable for the
community. But I already have two successful projects under my belt
since I got here! (1) I downloaded anti-virus on a few computers at
the Health Center. (2) I helped pick dead leaves off of plants in the
garden at the Alternative High School in preparation for festivities
for “The Week of the Adult Student”.
The staff of the CEBA (Alternative High School) and I on Literacy Day.
When I was listening to Peruvian
radio the other day I heard someone talking about the Peace Corps.
Was that you?
Well, it might have been! Kendra and I
had a radio interview on one of the two local Huallanca radio
stations. I know at least two households listened to it, because when
I got home my host family was all excited about having heard me on
the radio and the next day in the plaza a lady approached us with a
youth development idea because she'd heard us on the radio. One of
the advantages of being the only two gringos (Spanish
word for foreigner or white person) in town is that even if
someone has only heard you on the radio they'll still recognize you
when they see you for the first time!
Radio celebrities
So you live with a host family in
Huallanca?
Yes, I live with a
local family. I think I've mentioned them some in other blog posts,
but I'll go over it again real quick. My host-mom, Lizzy, is
huallanquina (means she from Huallanca), but my host-dad, Marco, is
originally from Tujillo (a coastal city). Lizzy is a primary school
teacher and Marco is a policeman. I also have three host-siblings.
Antony, 13, Mauricio, 8, and Daniela, 2. Our tia (aunt) also
lives with us.
My host dad, sister, and I. I'll add more pics of family in the future.
What's the climate like?
The weather is an
interesting combination of being near the equator and being at an
altitude of about 2 miles. There's 12 hours of daylight because we're
near the equator, but the weather is far from tropical. The sun is
pretty hot and burns really fast (especially a gringo like me,
haha), but in the shade it's actually pretty cold (I haven't actually
checked temperatures but in the shade I'm guessing it can get down
into the 40's). I'm getting used to the air being thinner at the
higher altitude, but trying to keep up with my little brothers
playing soccer is still difficult. There's also a rainy season which
starts in full force decemberish, but its already starting to rain
more now (almost every day). There's also been hail a few times since
I got here (which incidentally is extremely loud on a tin roof).
Why don't you have any FAQs about
food in this post?
I plan on having a blog post
exclusively about food in the future. (Notice what I did there?
Increased the anticipation about future blog posts. Increasing the
likelihood that people will keep watching it. Yeah, I know...pretty
slick.)
