Hasta luego,
Lauren
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Rally Vicco
The end of June celebrated the “world-renowned” event, the 2nd annual Rally Vicco, highest Rally car race in the world! (Peruvians from the department of Pasco will take any opportunity to brag that it has an event that is the highest in the world…highest city, highest marathon, highest Rally car race…you get the idea). From day one at site (actually day zero? during our field based training/site visit before the end of pre-service training), I heard people from the town of a fellow PCV, enthusiastically advertise their version of Rally car racing. As with any Peruvian celebration, it was a multiple day event with variations on car racing, including a extreme off-road race track. When I attended the event with the other PCVs, we staked out a location for prime-viewing of the long distance race through town and onto the nearby highway. We held our breath every time a car approached because we had a view of the ridiculously dangerous section of the race where the drivers speeding down a straight highway had to skillfully make a 90 degree turn onto a narrow bridge. It was honestly a disaster waiting to happen. Fortunately as far as I know, there were no deaths. I never in my life expected to see this during my Peace Corps service, in a small rural town where a fellow PCV was placed, but hey, there are always surprises.
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Cosecha de Maca: Fotos!
1. Me with the maca (I will admit while I harvested some maca, that large pile of maca was not my work…), 2. Harvesting maca is more time consuming then harvesting potatoes (instead of digging up the hole soil and then searching for potatoes, with maca you can see the small stem/leaves and pick them out little by little), 3. MACA (you can see the diversity just in one small plot of land in my town, yellow, purple…) 4. Difference between fresh and sun-dried maca
Maca: Cosecha y Festival
The weekend of June 19-20 my community harvested maca. You are probably wondering, what is maca? Only the most incredibly nutritious tubular plant in the world, native to the highlands of the Andes (aka Junín, Peru at 4100 meters)!
According to an information sheet I received at the Maca Festival in Junín:
Maca, Lepidium meyenii, originated from Junín, is a vegetable cultivated at over 3,800 meters above sea level, mainly in the central Andean region. It has the following benefits:
1) Raises energy levels, and combats physical and mental fatigue and stress.
2) Strength the immune system because of the specially proline, lysine and vietamin C synergic action.
3) Balances the diet avoiding malnutrition with its high and varied content of carbohydrates, aminoacids, minerals, vitamins and fatty acids. (Thank goodness, something to combat the diet heavy in white potatoes and rice!)
4) Increases endurance in athletes promoting mental clarity.
5) Slows the aging process, reduces unpleasant side-effects of menopause.
6) Helps to control osteoporosis.
7) Stimulates the endocrine system in both men and women.
8) Stimulates a balanced hormonal climate.
9) Helps with menstrual irregularities
And most important!...
10) Increases fertility and sexual functioning.
Maca in other words is the miracle “Viagra” vegetable, something that Peruvians are not uncomfortable mentioning ALL of the time. In fact, I have been explained on more than one awkward occasion (including by a teacher in front of the high school students) the significance of our plaza’s maca monument and other structures (mushroom inside of a pool structure…use your imagination).
Harvesting maca is tedious, but in my opinion more interesting and rewarding, than harvesting potatoes. To harvest potatoes, you basically blindly tear apart the soil and then scope out whatever treasured potatoes you can find. With maca, you can clearly see the little patches of leaves and carefully pick at the soil to find the small vegetable. I quickly learned, harvesting a small plot of maca is a lot more time consuming than a plot of potatoes.
July 9-11, the city of Junín had a festival celebrating the Maca. It was basically a fair displaying various maca products and some organizations had information describing and advising visitors on the process of maca production (see photos). There is a surprisingly large variety of maca, mostly named by colors (white, yellow, gray, black, pink, purple, mixed). Most of the maca products use maca in the dried state; so after harvesting, the people leave the fresh maca outside to dry (often times under a white plastic covering). Examples of the creativity of maca products at the fair: tea, juice, yogurt, ice cream, hard candy, liquor, cake, hot chocolate with maca, etc.
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Photos:
1. My town invested a large amount of money into rebuilding the plaza with a lovely statue “homenaje a la maca,” while attention grabbing, it takes a prompting to realize it is a maca, not a beet, 2 and 3. Display of the large variety of maca at the Maca Festival in Junin, 4. The collection of maca seeds, 5. Poster explaining the complete process of maca production from collecting seeds, planting, harvesting and drying.
According to an information sheet I received at the Maca Festival in Junín:
Maca, Lepidium meyenii, originated from Junín, is a vegetable cultivated at over 3,800 meters above sea level, mainly in the central Andean region. It has the following benefits:
1) Raises energy levels, and combats physical and mental fatigue and stress.
2) Strength the immune system because of the specially proline, lysine and vietamin C synergic action.
3) Balances the diet avoiding malnutrition with its high and varied content of carbohydrates, aminoacids, minerals, vitamins and fatty acids. (Thank goodness, something to combat the diet heavy in white potatoes and rice!)
4) Increases endurance in athletes promoting mental clarity.
5) Slows the aging process, reduces unpleasant side-effects of menopause.
6) Helps to control osteoporosis.
7) Stimulates the endocrine system in both men and women.
8) Stimulates a balanced hormonal climate.
9) Helps with menstrual irregularities
And most important!...
10) Increases fertility and sexual functioning.
Maca in other words is the miracle “Viagra” vegetable, something that Peruvians are not uncomfortable mentioning ALL of the time. In fact, I have been explained on more than one awkward occasion (including by a teacher in front of the high school students) the significance of our plaza’s maca monument and other structures (mushroom inside of a pool structure…use your imagination).
Harvesting maca is tedious, but in my opinion more interesting and rewarding, than harvesting potatoes. To harvest potatoes, you basically blindly tear apart the soil and then scope out whatever treasured potatoes you can find. With maca, you can clearly see the little patches of leaves and carefully pick at the soil to find the small vegetable. I quickly learned, harvesting a small plot of maca is a lot more time consuming than a plot of potatoes.
July 9-11, the city of Junín had a festival celebrating the Maca. It was basically a fair displaying various maca products and some organizations had information describing and advising visitors on the process of maca production (see photos). There is a surprisingly large variety of maca, mostly named by colors (white, yellow, gray, black, pink, purple, mixed). Most of the maca products use maca in the dried state; so after harvesting, the people leave the fresh maca outside to dry (often times under a white plastic covering). Examples of the creativity of maca products at the fair: tea, juice, yogurt, ice cream, hard candy, liquor, cake, hot chocolate with maca, etc.
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Photos:
1. My town invested a large amount of money into rebuilding the plaza with a lovely statue “homenaje a la maca,” while attention grabbing, it takes a prompting to realize it is a maca, not a beet, 2 and 3. Display of the large variety of maca at the Maca Festival in Junin, 4. The collection of maca seeds, 5. Poster explaining the complete process of maca production from collecting seeds, planting, harvesting and drying.
Inseminación – Ovinos Mejorados
One of the major institutions in my town is the “Unidad de Producción Comunal,” which is basically a livestock farming cooperative. Early June, I watched the insemination process firsthand as they inseminated a total of 17 sheep. One lady who has studied the process in university is in charge of the procedure working with other young university students to genetically breed better quality community sheep. Starting 5 or so years ago, they have selected the best community sheep (various traits signifying health and the quantity/quality of wool production) and isolate these male and female sheep to prevent mating. They collect semen of the high quality male sheep and then using microscope determine which samples will have a high success rate (choosing healthy sperm by their movement speed). Starting May 24 this year, the insemination lasted for 20 days; the timing is important as the birth of the offspring will be the end of the year during rainy season when the pasture is the healthiest (green and rapidly growing with the abundance of rain). This community of shepherds is quite advanced!
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Photos:
1. Equipment for genetic insemination, 2. Cleaning the light probe, 3. Extracting semen with the pipet, 4. Sheep lined up for genetic insemination
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Photos:
1. Equipment for genetic insemination, 2. Cleaning the light probe, 3. Extracting semen with the pipet, 4. Sheep lined up for genetic insemination
Monday, June 14, 2010
La Cosecha de Papas
The end of May/early June is when my community harvests potatoes, the main substance farming crop. Although some nearby towns sell their potatoes, almost all of the people in my community grow potatoes for themselves, to eat ALL year in the variety of potato based dishes!
My host family has two small plots of land (technically community land but they bought the use of it to grow potatoes for this year), one on each of the small valley’s surrounding the central hill. We spent the weekend harvesting, one day on one side, the next day on the other side.
We spend the whole day (8:30am until 5:30pm close to when the sunsets) harvesting potatoes. Using a small hatchet, some people were in charge of loosening the soil and sifting out potatoes. Others were left in charge of collecting them. As you can see in the picture, I am now a professional having learned the proper technique to collect potatoes in a cloth tied around the waist. Since we were out in the field all day, we prepared Pachamanca lunch using the freshly harvesting potatoes and meat that we brought with us. Pachamanca utilizes natural resources (stones, hay, and soil) in a process cook the meat in heated pile of stones covered by paper and soil (see picture).
The majority of potato farm land is on the hill, making it a little tricky climbing, harvesting and bringing down the potatoes. We had a great time figuring out how to slide the heavy sacks of potatoes down the hill and carrying them across a small stream to a place where the truck could pick it up. Two men in my host family showed off their strength by individually carrying sacks that the rest of us lifted onto their shoulders. Apparently those sacks hold 100 kilos of potatoes (or 220 pounds!), pretty incredible. My claim of strength is being one of four carrying and lifting it onto their shoulders…not quite as impressive but I did my part.
Finally, having harvested 20 sacks from the farm (14 from the first day and 6 more the next day in the other side), my host mother and sisters have been spending days sorting the potatoes (those fit to store for the year, those that broke a little during harvest and that need to be eaten sooner than later, those for next year´s cultivation and the rest that are only fit to give the pigs). Now I can sleep well be assured that we have an abundance of potatoes to eat during the course of this year.
Pictures for next time since they didn´t upload...
Hasta luego,
Lauren
My host family has two small plots of land (technically community land but they bought the use of it to grow potatoes for this year), one on each of the small valley’s surrounding the central hill. We spent the weekend harvesting, one day on one side, the next day on the other side.
We spend the whole day (8:30am until 5:30pm close to when the sunsets) harvesting potatoes. Using a small hatchet, some people were in charge of loosening the soil and sifting out potatoes. Others were left in charge of collecting them. As you can see in the picture, I am now a professional having learned the proper technique to collect potatoes in a cloth tied around the waist. Since we were out in the field all day, we prepared Pachamanca lunch using the freshly harvesting potatoes and meat that we brought with us. Pachamanca utilizes natural resources (stones, hay, and soil) in a process cook the meat in heated pile of stones covered by paper and soil (see picture).
The majority of potato farm land is on the hill, making it a little tricky climbing, harvesting and bringing down the potatoes. We had a great time figuring out how to slide the heavy sacks of potatoes down the hill and carrying them across a small stream to a place where the truck could pick it up. Two men in my host family showed off their strength by individually carrying sacks that the rest of us lifted onto their shoulders. Apparently those sacks hold 100 kilos of potatoes (or 220 pounds!), pretty incredible. My claim of strength is being one of four carrying and lifting it onto their shoulders…not quite as impressive but I did my part.
Finally, having harvested 20 sacks from the farm (14 from the first day and 6 more the next day in the other side), my host mother and sisters have been spending days sorting the potatoes (those fit to store for the year, those that broke a little during harvest and that need to be eaten sooner than later, those for next year´s cultivation and the rest that are only fit to give the pigs). Now I can sleep well be assured that we have an abundance of potatoes to eat during the course of this year.
Pictures for next time since they didn´t upload...
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Día de la Tierra
Earth Day (aka “Día de la Tierra”) is the 22nd of April. All of the Environmental PCVs were required to organize some activity for community awareness. I decided to show a viewing of part of the movie “Earth” (the new Disney movie that came out for last year’s Earth day) and prepared a small talk about the significance of Día de la Tierra for the students of the middle and high schools, but also wanted to have some sort of hands on activity. Taking the lead from the Peruvians, we decided to have a parade in honor of Día de la Tierra – a generalization of course but Peruvians LOVE their parades and have plenty experience with organizing them!
It went smoothly, all the students from the two schools participated with signs they had made, and then lined up in the plaza for some animated speeches by the teachers. Knowing that I had prepared a speech and knowing that my voice does not carry (anyone who knows me understands that my “loud, speaking voice” is appropriate for everyone else’s quieter “inside voice”), they decide that I should speak from the loudspeaker microphone on top of the Municipality building in front of all the students lined up in the plaza. A little unexpected and intimidating, given that I had expected a mellow little presentation inside before watching the video…but you have to go with the flow in Peace Corps, right?
Afterwards, we all entered the Municipality building to view the first 30 minutes of the movie. The kids really enjoyed it – when I got up to cut it short as the high school principal had recommended, everyone was very disappointed that we weren’t going to watch the full video, but more for the next occasion
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Middle school students and teachers participating in the community parade for Earth Day.
The view of me presenting from top of the Municipality building in the Plaza.
The high school students, with their beautiful signs, listening to my speech.
The middle school students, also with their signs, sitting in the other side of the Plaza to listen to my speech.
It went smoothly, all the students from the two schools participated with signs they had made, and then lined up in the plaza for some animated speeches by the teachers. Knowing that I had prepared a speech and knowing that my voice does not carry (anyone who knows me understands that my “loud, speaking voice” is appropriate for everyone else’s quieter “inside voice”), they decide that I should speak from the loudspeaker microphone on top of the Municipality building in front of all the students lined up in the plaza. A little unexpected and intimidating, given that I had expected a mellow little presentation inside before watching the video…but you have to go with the flow in Peace Corps, right?
Afterwards, we all entered the Municipality building to view the first 30 minutes of the movie. The kids really enjoyed it – when I got up to cut it short as the high school principal had recommended, everyone was very disappointed that we weren’t going to watch the full video, but more for the next occasion
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Middle school students and teachers participating in the community parade for Earth Day.
The view of me presenting from top of the Municipality building in the Plaza.
The high school students, with their beautiful signs, listening to my speech.
The middle school students, also with their signs, sitting in the other side of the Plaza to listen to my speech.
Hace 5 Meses en Mi Comunidad
So I realized the other day that I am approaching 6 months at site…aka ONE FOURTH of my 2 years of service! I remember when people told me how fast 2 years would fly by, I nodded in naive agreement, but seriously it has! What have I been doing all this time?
Well as expected the two years goes in waves of excitement with overwhelming busyness and lulls where you feel like you haven’t been doing anything. In the beginning of this year I was happily overwhelmed working on interviews and writing my community diagnostic (which will also be used to contribute a section of the community’s updated Plan of Development, and hence will need to be more “formal and scientific”), organizing a month of summer school classes (environmental education but also a mix of English, health and computing classes), helping SERNANP carry out a week’s worth of activities for Día de los Humedales (see earlier blog post) and accompanying someone from ECOAN (a NGO, “Ecosistemas Andinos”) on his monthly migratory bird monitoring near my community.
Unfortunately, recently has been one of my “lulls” where I have been doing far more planning and brainstorming than actual activities…but hey that’s how it goes right? Currently I have been coordinating a lot with the high school in my community. I am very fortunate to have very supportive director and teachers, and for this I am trying to take full advantage of the opportunity to incorporate “prácticos” (hands on/practical educational activities) into their curriculum. The second semester starts in the middle of May and the director agreed to start a recycling campaign. Originally, I viewed this as an opportunity to pilot a recycling campaign that I would love to extend to the municipality and the whole community, but in recent conversations with the director, I discovered that she is very enthusiastic to expand the project into more of a “healthy, environmentally conscious school” activity – separation of trash into recyclables, organics for worm composting, the rest to be deposited in a small landfill (“microrelleno”) and the construction of a greenhouse which will utilize the compost produced to grow flowers and trees…basically includes all of the aims the Community Based Environmental Management PCV program (education, trash management and forestation)! So if this goes as planned, the project will begin in the next month or so, and in time, the students will share their acquired knowledge with their families at home and the students’ work will provide a model that could be elaborated to include more of the general community.
As for activities that are more definitely established: with ECOAN and SERNANP, we will be giving a series of 8 monthly environmental talks in the middle and high schools on themes pertaining to conservation of the lake and the national reserve; I was invited to help with Club Ciencia (Science Club) in the high school which will be participating in a regional Science Fair competition for the first year, and starting the end of this week I will be helping administer the first bimonthly English oral exam with the English teacher in the high school.
Well that pretty much sums up the highlights
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Well as expected the two years goes in waves of excitement with overwhelming busyness and lulls where you feel like you haven’t been doing anything. In the beginning of this year I was happily overwhelmed working on interviews and writing my community diagnostic (which will also be used to contribute a section of the community’s updated Plan of Development, and hence will need to be more “formal and scientific”), organizing a month of summer school classes (environmental education but also a mix of English, health and computing classes), helping SERNANP carry out a week’s worth of activities for Día de los Humedales (see earlier blog post) and accompanying someone from ECOAN (a NGO, “Ecosistemas Andinos”) on his monthly migratory bird monitoring near my community.
Unfortunately, recently has been one of my “lulls” where I have been doing far more planning and brainstorming than actual activities…but hey that’s how it goes right? Currently I have been coordinating a lot with the high school in my community. I am very fortunate to have very supportive director and teachers, and for this I am trying to take full advantage of the opportunity to incorporate “prácticos” (hands on/practical educational activities) into their curriculum. The second semester starts in the middle of May and the director agreed to start a recycling campaign. Originally, I viewed this as an opportunity to pilot a recycling campaign that I would love to extend to the municipality and the whole community, but in recent conversations with the director, I discovered that she is very enthusiastic to expand the project into more of a “healthy, environmentally conscious school” activity – separation of trash into recyclables, organics for worm composting, the rest to be deposited in a small landfill (“microrelleno”) and the construction of a greenhouse which will utilize the compost produced to grow flowers and trees…basically includes all of the aims the Community Based Environmental Management PCV program (education, trash management and forestation)! So if this goes as planned, the project will begin in the next month or so, and in time, the students will share their acquired knowledge with their families at home and the students’ work will provide a model that could be elaborated to include more of the general community.
As for activities that are more definitely established: with ECOAN and SERNANP, we will be giving a series of 8 monthly environmental talks in the middle and high schools on themes pertaining to conservation of the lake and the national reserve; I was invited to help with Club Ciencia (Science Club) in the high school which will be participating in a regional Science Fair competition for the first year, and starting the end of this week I will be helping administer the first bimonthly English oral exam with the English teacher in the high school.
Well that pretty much sums up the highlights
Hasta luego,
Lauren
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