Integration is a key to Peace Corps. Why? Without being integrated
people don’t trust you, and you won’t be able to get any work done. Without
integration people don’t know you and it’s lonely. Without integration people
don’t like you, and it’s dangerous. So in our first few months, our job is to
integrate. And I did that. I was trusted, known, and liked in my first few
months. But now, after 18 months, I feel like I’ve reached another level of
integration.
My “next level is integration”
is what I feel like I have reached because I no longer feel like the guest of
honor all the time. Instead of being tip toed around I’m been spoken to like a
local. I don’t receive special treatment, I get pushed to the back of the line.
Instead of being asked nicely, I get ordered. Yeah, it sounds bad writing it
out, but I guess being a stranger in a foreign place, I have a different
perspective!
I realized it when taxi drivers
no longer cared so much that I was comfortable, always offering me the front
seat, even if it meant moving another passenger back. That happened pretty
soon, after my first 3 or 4 months I’d say. And as much as I’d like that special
treatment when my leg is going numb sitting squished in the back seat, it feels
nice to be treated like any other Peruvian!
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| Mothers Day lunch with the teachers |
More recently, it was Mother’s
Day. The male and single female teachers prepared lunch for the mother
teachers. Last year, no matter the occasion, if there was a lunch, I was
invited and not asked to do anything. This year however, I am expected to
collaborate for the lunches, and in this Mothers Day case, to help cook, and
serve the food and drink. Yeah I guess it seems nicer to sit back and not be
expected to help out, but I love being included and feel like a part of the
staff, not a visiting tourist! I also took on Mother’s Day lunch at my host
family’s house. My host niece and I did all the cooking and serving. It felt
awesome to be trusted with that! And I got tons of complements on my chicken!
I’ve also been included and am
kept in the loop in a lot of town gossip now, which isn't always good. It
feels good to be included and trusted to be confided in, but sometimes I don’t
want to listen to who stole whose chicken or which family dissed which. And in
a small town, it’s important to stay away from talking bad about another person
because si or si (yes or yes) that person will hear about it. So I listen, nod,
and avoid circles where gossip is constant.
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| ceremony puting on stoles |
Yesterday was a ceremony in
the elementary school when kids received special stoles to distinguish those who
received special roles in their classroom (class police to keep order, class environment
rep, etc.). Last year during this ceremony I watched from a far, took a few
pictures of the group... A few bold parents asked politely, “señorita would you
mind taking a picture of my son to print and sell it to me?” This year I was
invited to stand up front as a town authority, I was asked to put on stoles for
4 or 5 kids, and I exhausted myself taking pictures of everyone. After the
ceremony I was hounded with parents calling out to me: “Miss, take pictures of
my daughter!” “ale, take this picture with my son and sell it to me!” “gringa
take my picture!” “why are you calling her gringa? Her name is miss alexis!” “no
her name is alexis, “miss” means señorita in English! Dauh!” It was exhausting
tending to all of them, but made me chuckle and smile.
People respect me, take care
of me, but they aren’t afraid of me anymore. They aren’t afraid to ask favors,
speak frankly, joke around. When people lose their distanced politeness, it makes
me feel more comfortable. And if someone gives me attitude, my level of Spanish
is enough now so that I can give it right back!
