After leaving my blog for some months, I have a series of old blog posts from the last 6 months or so that have passed. The following two are ones I wrote in March but didn´t have a chance to post.
As some of you may already know, March 1 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps (translated to Cuerpo de Paz in Spanish). It was very exciting to be serving as a Peace Corps volunteer during this historic event. As VAC (Volunteer Advisory Committee) member, I was able to attend the big celebrations February 28th in the Peruvian foreign ministry’s house (an absolutely gorgeous historical building) and March 1st in the U.S. ambassador’s house. It was touching to hear how much the Peruvian guests appreciated our work here. The Peace Corps Peru staff put together a beautiful video displaying volunteers’ work over the years and highlighted a few current volunteer’s stories. It is posted on YouTube (a version in English as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CigNMT-Sgwo), so check it out!
March 1st before the party, Stacy Rhodes, Peace Corps´ Chief of Staff, spoke to us in the US embassy. I learned a lot more interesting Peru specific Peace Corps information. Turns out we are the largest Peace Corps program in all of Latin America and one of the most successful programs in the world, thus confirming I won the “Peace Corps jackpot” being placed in Peru!
Exciting guests at the celebration: 1) First Lady Pilar Nores de Garcia, wife of the current president Alan Garcia. 2) Alejandro Toledo. Toledo is former president of Peru (and current candidate in this year’s elections) who has a touching connection to Peace Corps. Story has it that when he was 18 years old, a Peace Corps volunteer lived in his house and he took advantage of the opportunity to learn English. Inspired, he went on to study in the United States and returned to become the president of Peru in 2001! The Peace Corps Peru program started in the very beginning of the history of Peace Corps, volunteers arriving 1962, but there was a period of time when the program was shut down (political tensions). Peace Corps was invited to return in 2001 from Toledo and to this day working smoothly.
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
¡Feliz Cumpleaños Abuelita!
Monday March 14 was my “host grandmother’s” 85th birthday. Now to back up, I have witnessed all sorts of birthday celebrations here in Peru, from barely acknowledging the day, to “torta” (cake) and “Pachamanca” or “cuy” as traditional food for celebrations. But this was something else!
Apparently important birthday milestones such as turning 85 years old, merits a much larger celebration. The whole family came together last Saturday (all of her children and grandchildren, including those living in Lima) and made it a very special day. Days in anticipation, my host family was busy buying decorations, preparing an enormous Pachamanca including slaughtering and skinning 2 alpacas (which unexpectedly took place in the middle of our patio one morning) and de-kernelling “choclo” (a type of corn), organizing for the Church mass and contracting a band (yes a band!).
First, the family got together at my host grandmother’s house to socialize and eat “patasca” soup (basically, intestines and corn – not my favorite but it seems to be breakfast at every party so they must enjoy it!) and then went to the church for a special church mass ceremony. The band waited outside to start the festive dancing in front of the church and marched with us back to the house. Incredibly my host grandmother, who doesn’t walk well, managed to dance just fine with her children. Next Pachamanca lunch was served – alpaca, potatoes, sweet potato and “humitas” (corn treat) – and to this I agree it is delicious!
Later, we listened to toasts from the immediate family, presentation of gifts, cake and other treats and… a piñata! The rest of the afternoon was more dancing and drinking with the 50 or so people that attended. Quite a celebration!
I apologize to my real grandparents. Shall we celebrate this way for your next birthday?
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Apparently important birthday milestones such as turning 85 years old, merits a much larger celebration. The whole family came together last Saturday (all of her children and grandchildren, including those living in Lima) and made it a very special day. Days in anticipation, my host family was busy buying decorations, preparing an enormous Pachamanca including slaughtering and skinning 2 alpacas (which unexpectedly took place in the middle of our patio one morning) and de-kernelling “choclo” (a type of corn), organizing for the Church mass and contracting a band (yes a band!).
First, the family got together at my host grandmother’s house to socialize and eat “patasca” soup (basically, intestines and corn – not my favorite but it seems to be breakfast at every party so they must enjoy it!) and then went to the church for a special church mass ceremony. The band waited outside to start the festive dancing in front of the church and marched with us back to the house. Incredibly my host grandmother, who doesn’t walk well, managed to dance just fine with her children. Next Pachamanca lunch was served – alpaca, potatoes, sweet potato and “humitas” (corn treat) – and to this I agree it is delicious!
Later, we listened to toasts from the immediate family, presentation of gifts, cake and other treats and… a piñata! The rest of the afternoon was more dancing and drinking with the 50 or so people that attended. Quite a celebration!
I apologize to my real grandparents. Shall we celebrate this way for your next birthday?
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Cruz de Mayo: Más Fotos
One of the two competing neighborhoods parading into the plaza with their band.
The other neighborhood entering the plaza.
One of the costumes worn for "Danza de los Negritos."
Presentation of the dance in front of the community.
Even some children participated!
Cruz de Mayo: Fotos
Men taking down the cross to start the celebration the first week in May.
Lowering the cross down the steep, rocky hill to the center of town.
To finish the celebration, the community brought the cross back up to the top of the hill. Members of the band were excited to get into a picture before their tiring climb carrying their heavy instruments.
At the top of the hill, we took a break to listen to the band, dance and finish the traditional celebration.
View of everyone returning down from the top of the hill.
Campamentos Ecologicos: Fotos
In the spirit of the eco-camp, we braved the cold weather to sleep outside in tents.
Participating campers having fun after an intense water collecting competition.
Campers enjoying their first time experience entering the lake in a boat.
Campers learning and practicing methods of bird monitoring.
The participants of the girls' eco-camp after triumphantly climbing to the top of the hill near the campsite.
Fotos de la Canela
My Peruvian dog "Canela" (Spanish word for cinnamon) thoroughly enjoying our long walk through the scenic countryside of my town.
Canela loves playing in the lake!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Kids-to-Kids: Join and Vote!
One of my current projects is looking to built a greenhouse at the high school to promote hands-on-experience with growing vegetables, trees and flowers - something that is very difficult given the climate without the use of a greenhouse. The principal of the high school tried to get funding unsuccessfully in previous years, so I looked for a grant opportunity. I came across a really interesting organization called Kids-to-Kids, which is a World Connect Program that connects children in the US to enable them to support projects for children in developing countries. Members of Kids-to-Kids fundraise and donate money to be complete proposed projects of various Peace Corps Volunteers in a number of different countries, deciding which project to support by a bi-annual voting process.
I decided to apply and my project is in the running for the voting process in December. If you would like to support me and my community, become a Kids-to-Kids member by visiting their website www.kidstokids.org and vote for my project "The Green Thumb Project" by searching the list. This voting cycle ends December 31st. Thank you! The children and members of my community would be very appreciate of your help!
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Project: The Green Thumb Project
Grant Request: $494
Country: Peru
Status: Vote Now
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Our community is located above the tree-line in the Andes Mountains at 4100 meters (14,000 feet) above sea-level, meaning it is extremely challenging to grow trees and vegetables without a green-house. As a result, the nearly tree-less grassland leaves no escape from the strong solar rays in the high elevation site near the equator and there are problems with malnutrition in a community that solely grows and consumes a large amount of potatoes.
The "Green-Thumb Project" aims to build a greenhouse in the high school in my community to provide the students an fun, educational opportunity to work on forestation projects and to promote health by growing a vegetable garden for a more nutritious diet.
I decided to apply and my project is in the running for the voting process in December. If you would like to support me and my community, become a Kids-to-Kids member by visiting their website www.kidstokids.org and vote for my project "The Green Thumb Project" by searching the list. This voting cycle ends December 31st. Thank you! The children and members of my community would be very appreciate of your help!
Hasta luego,
Lauren
Project: The Green Thumb Project
Grant Request: $494
Country: Peru
Status: Vote Now
Sponsor more Kids to Kids projects like this one!
Vote for more projects Logout
Donate Now
Our community is located above the tree-line in the Andes Mountains at 4100 meters (14,000 feet) above sea-level, meaning it is extremely challenging to grow trees and vegetables without a green-house. As a result, the nearly tree-less grassland leaves no escape from the strong solar rays in the high elevation site near the equator and there are problems with malnutrition in a community that solely grows and consumes a large amount of potatoes.
The "Green-Thumb Project" aims to build a greenhouse in the high school in my community to provide the students an fun, educational opportunity to work on forestation projects and to promote health by growing a vegetable garden for a more nutritious diet.
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