My Peace Corps Marathon

Our beloved Toby was put down yesterday. If you weren´t fortunate enough to know him he was my family´s loving, bed-hogging, cucumber-eating, clothes-wearing, big yellow lab. When I left for Peru I figured he wouldn´t make it 2 more years, as he was getting old, so I said goodbye with that in mind. But with only 9 months left I had begun to hope he´d be there when I got home. Alas, Mom called me with the news. Afterwards, I went walking to Cruzpata for an errand and took the long way home. As I was walking, contemplating how much I missed home, how much it has and will change before I finish my service, and reminding myself why I came, a thought came to me and I decided to sit down and write it out:

My 27 month service in Peace Corps it a lot like my 26.2 miles in the OC Marathon.

I started out both full of energy and anticipation wondering how I would feel, how I would do on this test of endurance. The first halves of both had ups and downs but flew by with relative ease. Starting the second 13 miles, the second year, is when stuff gets real, when I start feeling it. When I think I can´t go on, I get a burst of energy in the form of a pack of pink gel cubes or a successful completion of a project. When I get lonely on the streets of the OC, Aunt B appears or I site my cheer crew (Amy, Hailey, Linda, Melinda, and Jason love you guys); being lonely in the streets of Chocta, Mom calls, or I get a nice facebook message from a loved one.

During the marathon I remember feeling muscles ache that I never knew existed. As a PCV I´m feeling emotions that I never knew could be felt so strongly. I have moments of bliss like when that angel from heaven in an orange t-shirt uses his magical spray to cure my numb ass or when someone tells me how much they appreciate my presence here. My poor bowels suffer equally: in the marathon I wanted to poop so bad but couldn’t, and here I am pleasantly surprised if I have a solid poop or my stomach isn´t bloated and cramped.

Both undertakings are marked with milestones. Make it up that hill, just get to mile 20, almost at the next water station… Make it through rainy season, just 4 more months till Hailey and Linda come to see me. Without setting those little goals, 26 or 27 of anything is just too much.

 I have people counting on me to finish, as seen by their posters of encouragement (run lexi run) or an email saying they care. And even if I can´t see them, I feel their support as I stride on. I will gladly take advice from someone who has done it before or is doing it, but I am hesitant to take advice from someone who has never experienced this distinct escapade.

I´m trying new things like maybe this new stride won´t hurt so much and actually after 15 miles those weird packets of sweet concentrated calories are actually yummy or this is how you dig up potatoes and these fresh bull testicles in fact taste pretty good.

I am not alone but surrounded by people on the same journey. Some fall but we help them up. Some stop and leave before it´s over but we don´t blame them. Some move through with ease and other struggle to make it.  We all have different reasons for participating but more or less the same ultimate goal.

I am proud of myself each step of the way, I am impressing myself at every turn, and I am so happy to be partaking in this unique experience. I know when the undertaking is all over I will be pleased to say I did it but I don´t think I´ll be doing it again anytime soon… Never say never?

Déjà vu (but not really)

As I started moving through my second year here, I realized I’m repeating some experiences that I’ve already been through. Chirstmas, New Years, Seis de Enero (see blog post from last year)… I remember experiencing those fiestas thinking I need to take advantage of this experience because I won’t get to experience it again! After all, a “once in a lifetime” experience is Peace Corps they told us. And it is. But it’s also a two year engagement, so some of the cultural experiences become twice in a lifetime experiences. It’s bizarre thinking that some of the most memorable times I had last year I get to go through (or have to put up with) all over again this year! Dancing as pastoras. I did that twice. At the Seis de Enero party in Luya with the Health Center, I had tons of flash backs to the same party last year. We partied that party twice. I’m remembering from last year how quiet and lonely these months of vacations are as people leave to travel and my teacher friends don’t come around. I remember how fun and challenging it is to have rein over your own classroom. But I learned from last year. I’m not as bored as I’ve found activities and scheduled work to keep my busy. I definitely feel more in control of my students and found ways to keep it interesting. First day of school, meeting new teachers: I feel more ready to tackle that. Holy Week is next, that three day party, I remember thinking, I’m gonna push through the sleepiness cause I won’t be doing this again! Silly me. Then comes our town fiestas- that week of party was a lot of fun, I’m glad I get to do it again! Like I said, it’s cool that I get to do a lot of stuff all over again with knowledge and experience to improve it! Watch out Chocta, Alexis has a year under her belt and is coming at you strong!

Seis de Enero 2015

Seis de Enero 2016

A Year of Yes: From Hollywood to Chocta

Back in September a fellow PCV in Peru wrote a really great blog about the importance of saying yes during our service. Here’s a link to that blog: read it! http://humandenominator.com/the-power-of-yes/, And as I was browsing books on my Kindle the other month, I saw one titled “A Year of Yes” with great reviews so I bought it and just finished reading it! It’s a really great book, very funny, light and yet thought provoking. Ya’ll you should read it too! It is written by the brilliant, hilarious, famous TV writer, Shonda Rhimes. She wrote Greys Anatomy and is writing Scandal now. It’s about her deciding to change her life after finding herself antisocial, overweight and unhappy. She decides to say yes to everything that is asked of her for an entire year.

Initially I wasn’t sure how this book would relate to me and my life at this point because Shonda writes about saying yes to making a speech at Dartmouth College, attending big fancy dinners for powerful women in entertainment, speaking on Jimmy Kimmel. She’s a women who through her TV shows breaks down racial and other minority’s barriers. She’s a mom. That doesn’t sound very similar to the life of a recent college grad who’s volunteering two years in an 800 person village in norther Peru picking potatoes and giving health education in broken Spanish. But it turns out, besides me laughing out loud loads of time, I found myself relating to a lot of what she writes and being able to use and apply some of the ideas in there.

Pretty much every chapter is themed in something she is now saying yes to. For example, yes to the whole truth, yes to her body, yes to people, yes to difficult conversations, and yes to “dancing it out” (which is what her favorite character, Christina Yang, and Meredith Grey do in Grey’s Anatomy if anyone out there catches that). I’m going to write reflections on my favorite chapters.

Yes to the question “wanna play?” Shonda wrote this about saying yes to her kids when they asked that to make sure she was always making time for them. Obvi don’t have kids. (Although you all wouldn’t know for sure, seeing as I’ve been gone almost long enough to have had 2 secret pregnancies! Hehe weird joke, sorry). But she talks about saying yes to 15 minutes of uninterrupted play time. Which could be indulging in some personal pampering time, reading a book, painting, all without being distracted or on your cell phone. For me it’s a trip to Chachapoyas to eat a pizza or have a drink with another English speaking American. It’s about loving yourself enough to give you that “me time” and not feeling guilty about it. Cause we work, we live better when we’re happier and we’re happier when we play.

Yes to Compliments. Shonda decided to accept compliments with a “Thank you” instead of an “oh no, really I’m not all that.” She talked about how negating someone’s compliment is like telling them they’re wrong, wasted their time, and in fact it’s insulting them. And you don’t appear cocky like some may think, but confident, and confident people are attractive. We are all great. I’m great. Sometimes I feel guilty about my successes and opportunities. Getting into a great college while others didn’t. Being a Peace Corps Volunteer while others can’t. But the thing is, I work hard. Those things aren’t given to one without cost. So when someone says I’m so amazing for doing when I’m doing, I’m gonna appreciate it without feeling guilty, but feeling proud and thankful that someone reached out and showed me that kindness. And vice a versa. We should compliment more. How often do we think something nice about someone, like his hair looks nice, or she gave a really good presentation. We shouldn’t be afraid to tell them so. A compliment makes people feel good. Do it. Whoever is reading this back home, you are amazing and caring and important to me because you are thinking of me when I’m not there. And don’t insult me by saying you aren’t all that great, because, really, you are.

Saying yes to no. This was an interesting chapter. What came out of it more was saying yes to yourself. Saying yes to me. Growing up, I remember my mom telling me, after finding out I agreed to something I didn’t want to do, “you’re too nice, you need to learn to say no.” She was absolutely right. No is not only extremely power, it is extremely important. If you’re offered drugs say yes to you and no to the joint. If a stranger comes up to you in a white van and offers candy, say yes to you and not to the creeper. If you’ve been drinking and are begged by friends to drive them home, say yes to you and no to your phony friends. If you are a truly self-aware person, you can make those decisions with ease. I may not have been self-aware or very self-confident as a teenager. But all this time out here being alone with myself and my thoughts sure makes me both of those things!

Yes to more year of yes. Shonda says although her year is up, she felt so good that she won’t go back to how she was before, in fact she can’t. No is no longer in her vocabulary. This is true for Peace Corps Service. After being so open minded to trying new things as we do daily for two years, and seeing the immense benefits, how can a person leave their service and not be like that forever? We are changing and will be changed for the long haul. We have become people who can overcome obstacles and defeat after defeat, people who understand that we can’t understand others if we don’t understand where they came from, people who want the world to be more connected, people who say yes.

Teaching English as a Community Health Volunteer, as a Nurse

Even though it’s always highly requested from our communities, a lot of volunteers avoid teaching English as a secondary project because it’s easy to get trapped into teaching a lot more than planned on, because it’s something that everyone wants to learn and wants you to teach them. I also thought I would avoid getting sucked into it, but upon arriving here last year I did Summer school English classes because it was an easy theme with where my level of Spanish was at, and the principle of the school really wanted it for the kids. And it was an awesome experience, it tremendously helped my Spanish skills, taught me about maintaining a classroom, making lesson plans, and allowed me to get to know the community. So because I enjoyed it and was begged to keep teaching once school started, I did. Every Monday during this last school year I had my English class in the elementary school. Whenever I had time I made my way to the high school to help their English teacher (who speaks maybe 2 words with terrible pronunciation) with his classes. But because that was the first thing I did, and something I continued doing, everyone in town immediately pegged me for the English teacher. Even after explanations of my main work during town meetings, after constantly correcting people when they introduce me as “profesora”, after explaining my background over and over again, after people seeing me work with the health post, and after participating in my health educational sessions, people still think I’m just the English teacher. It’s something I’ve corrected the whole year I’ve been here and I’m sure I will have to continue in the year ahead. Because on top of my health promotion, I do teach English. So I can see why people resort to saying I’m the English teacher when asked by outsiders what a gringa is doing in Chocta. It’s easiest for them to cognize and simplest to explain. If I’m not in the health post doing check-ups and giving vaccines, how can I be a nurse, right?

And as a nurse, with a bachelor’s degree in nursing science from a really great university, with 100s of hours of clinical experience, it was sometimes hard to swallow that everyone saw me as an English teacher.  I’m proud to say I’m a nurse and want to be recognized as such. So at first, I kind of regretted teaching so much English. As my service goes on, however, I realize the value in teaching English more and more.

Peace Corps has three goals: 1. Bring technical assistance to host countries to promote sustainable social and economic development and human capacity, 2. Promote friendship and understanding of the US culture to the host country, and 3. Bring an understanding of the host country’s culture to the people of United States. One goal focuses on the technical assistance we bring, and two of the three goals are cultural exchange. People here want to learn about the United States, they want to learn about me, they want to learn about my language. And when I tell them about my country, my hometown, my family, they are intrigued and leave a little more worldly, a little more aware, with their minds a little more open. And when I spend time with their kids teaching English and the kids show off at home naming their foods and greeting their grandma in a language she never had the opportunity to be exposed to, they are proud that their child is being cultured  and hopeful for their future with this admirable skill. And when people from out of town are told I’m here to teach English and thank me with complete sincerity for coming all this way to use my time and skills to make a difference in the lives of children, I don’t bother correct them and say I’m actually here for a different reason and English is just a side job.

 I hope babies will grow taller and teenagers will practice safe sex because of the technical assistance I’ve brought. I also hope this random, wonderful village in the mountains of northern Peru will have a better understanding of the people from the United States because of the knowledge I’ve shared with them and friendship I’ve shown them.

me with some students at the end of the year:))

Trip with my parents!

Last week I spent probably my best two weeks since coming to Peru! I started out leaving Amazonas on a Friday and after a 24 hour ride arrive in Lima on Saturday morning. My parents weren’t expected to arrive until Sunday at 6am so I called a friend from Chocta who had recently moved to Lima and spent the afternoon with her. We ate ceviche but mostly just hung out in her house as I was tired from the long bus ride. In the morning I got into a taxi for the airport where the travel agency my parents had used had sent a person, Carmen, to meet us. We chatted in Spanish until the flight arrived and we switched to English for my parents. From the airport we went to our hotel where they took a nap and I used some incredibly fast internet (even in the capital city of Amazonas you never find internet like they have in Lima, those lucky ducks). After the old man and lady were rested, we went walking to eat lunch and shop. That first lunch of ceviche, soups, and salad was our first indication that the food in this city would be one of our favorite parts of Lima. We went out for dinner later for delectable meat and potato dishes. The next day was more of the same, eating and shopping, then eating some more. We marveled at how cheap food was even at fancy restaurants where we felt way underdressed. Our last day in Lima was, appropriately, a “food adventure.” We had a chef take us to a local market and then teach us how to prepare a Peruvian cocktail (Pisco sour) and three typical Peruvian food dishes: ceviche (fish cooked with lime, red onion, pepers), papa causa (mashed potatoes with avocado, olives, tomato), and loma saltada (beef sautéed with pepers and tomato).

The next leg of the trip was in Cusco, an hour flight from Lima. We arrived in the early morning and our guide for the next few days took us to the hotel. We showered and rested and then were off for a city tour. We learned about how to tell if the textiles sold everywhere in Cusco were “baby alpaca” which just means the first shear of the alpaca, or “adult alpaca” any other shear, which isn’t as nice and soft. We went to a gorgeous view point of the city and then walked around stopping in churches and museums. I loved Cusco! It’s almost all stone cobbled, the streets as well as the buildings, keeping true to the mysterious Incan culture. Our guide was very passionate as he had spent many years studying the Incans. The next day he took us to the Sacred Valley tour. We first stopped at a house where a few traditionally dressed women explained how they prepare, dye, and weave their gorgeous alpaca textiles. Then we stopped at a salt mine. This is pretty much a huge chunk of mountain fitted with little shallow pools of salt water that are fill up from a streaming salt water lake. Then we went to crop circles which were used by the Incans to gradually accustom desired crops from the jungle to the highland climate. That’s when we started to believe that that Incans were aliens with special powers because these structures were impressive if built with modern tools, however no tools besides simple picks and hammers were ever found. We ended our day in a cool town called Ollantaytambo where our bus for Machu Picchu would leave in the morning. And at 6 in the morning we headed off to one of the Word Wonders. After 2 hour train ride and a 30 min bus ride, we were there (along with a thousand other tourist from all over the world). It was quite cool to hear all the different languages and see the variety of people crawling all over the Incan ruins. The ruins seemed so randomly plopped in the midst of vast, steep, thickly forested mountains. We walked around with our tour guide who was an expert, having lived in Machu Picchu for a year studying every rock and structure looking for answers he never really found. After lunch we walked up to a view point about an hour and a half up from the base. From there we could see the main ruins as well as other structures up and down the mountain ranges indicating that maybe the city was A LOT bigger than it appears now. We headed back to catch our 4pm train that took us back to the city of Cusco. Back in our hotel we ate light room serviced dinner and then slept like babies.

The third and final leg was up in my neck of the woods, AMAZONAS! But between us and this northern region of Peru stood two flights and an overnight bus ride over the unpredictable roads of Amazonas region. We had a few hours to kill in Chiclayo where we met our guide for the next 4 days. Mister Oscar didn’t take a breath talking at us for those few hours, and as we’d find out, wouldn’t be taking a breath from speaking for the next four days. And on the bus ride we of course ended up getting stuck in a minor land slide. In our essentially seamless trip so far I was not surprised we’d have at least one bump in the road, or in this case, mud in the road (hardy har har). So after the 12 hour instead of 8 hour bus ride my parents were a bit cranky, or mostly just caffeine deprived as we arrived to Chachapoyas. After unnecessary difficulties we got our coffee ordered, put food in our bellies, and felt 100 percent better. I called a friend who lives in Chachapoyas and told her we were now in Amazonas. She told me “now the real adventure starts”. It’s so true. After Lima and Cusco, heavy tourist populated areas where everyone knows how to cater to foreigners, Amazonas travel would be a bit different. Only the most adventurous of travelers (as some call them hippies and backpackers) make their way up here to the north. We handled a landslide already and I knew we’d be facing long drives on unpaved roads, no English speakers, unreliable hot water and wifi, and food that just can’t keep up with Lima/Cusco’s standards; but I had faith my parents would be just fine, and more, enjoy themselves in this region that I, for now, call my home.

That first day was low key as we visited a famous ceramic maker, went to an outlook of the valley, then to an outlook of the city, and after walked around the streets of Chachapoyas. Although Oscar sometimes made you want to scream, if we were able to listen and not tune out his seemingly endless babbling, he taught us some really cool things about Chachapoyas that I didn’t know after living here for a year. We ate at a restaurant where Dad tried guinea pig and they learned that service isn’t the same as in Cusco as in even the nicest restaurants in Chachapoyas. The next day we headed to Kuelap, “the Machu Picchu of the north” or as we call Machu Picchu, “The Kuelap of the South.” That’s a huge ruin from the Chachapoyan people who were later conquered by the Incans. We had a nice lunch of “cecina,” dried meat which is a famous and common dish in Amazonas, but my parents joked about how we ate beef jerky for lunch. At least they appreciated the view from the table we ate at! Later that day we did some shopping, getting some last minute things before we had to pack up, as it’d be our second and last night in Chachapoyas. In the morning mom woke up with a cold, just like Grandma, her mom did for our last few days in Peru. She didn’t know if she’d be able to do the waterfall hike on our agenda as we headed off to the town of Cocochimba, I think it’s called. From this town you can see the Gocta Falls, “the Third Tallest Waterfall in the World.” They only recently built a path to the waterfall in 2006 because all the locals thought it was haunted. But once they went and measured its height, it became a huge thing and the town got suddenly rich and busy off of tourism. It was a beautiful day and the falls were calling to her, so mom pulled herself together and we started out on the 2 hour walk to the base of Gocta. This was an incredibly beautiful hike through lush green jungle but on a clear and easy to walk path. It poured rain only as we were eating a packed lunch under a roof, and cleared up for us as we were ready to leave. This whole trip we could not have asked for better luck with the weather. Every time we arrived to a new place they’d tell us we just missed a rainstorm and when we left it’d start to rain again! After the hike we rested at the beautiful hotel where “every room has a view of the waterfall”, and we slept our best sleep, showered our best shower, and ate our best free breakfast of the trip.

Waking up that morning, we headed off to Luya, and from there, Chocta! I’d been waiting for this day for so long and now it was here! In Luya it was market day and a bunch of my friends from Chocta were there. I introduced a few to mom and dad and mostly enjoyed the stares from everyone. After a brief tour of Luya we headed straight up the tomb site of Karajia, only passing through Chocta. As mom and dad fell silent, I prayed that the driver would drive more smoothly on the terrible roads up to Karajia. Because I had done the hike to Karajia probably more than 10 times by now, a few times in sandals, many times in jeans, I forgot that it is actually kind of a hard hike, straight down and back up. So I made it seem easy and my parents were underprepared in their jeans and without water as, of course, it was sunny and clear. But they made it with just minor complaints and we were off to Chocta to meet the host family. The first hour, consisted of mostly my host family marveling at the height of my dad. The kids couldn’t keep from cracking up as Dad crouched through their doors, dodged laundry lines, and filled up the bed he laid down in. We ate huge plates of freshly slaughtered-just- for-us-pork and rice. Then we sat outside entertaining all the little boys that followed us around. Afterwards we went up to the plaza where I introduced mom and dad to a few friends and we showed them the two schools, health post, and played a bit of soccer at the soccer field. Afterwards we came back to the house and ate dinner. Afterwards my parents gave my host family presents. Rosary beads for my host parents, a picture book, and a framed picture of Jesus to hang in their room. I’m glad I gave Mom the religious hint because those gifts were such a hit! We prepared for bed, Dad looking like a giant in a tiny bed and Mom in bed with me.

In the morning we made coffee using the last three of my Starbucks instant coffee singles. A friend invited us for breakfast and my parents learned how much they eat in the mornings and how sweet they like their coffee and tea in Chocta. Afterwards we met the high school teachers and then visited the elementary school where we ended up spending a good couple hours. We were invited to a sweet milk drink (mom had me secretly drink hers) and chatted with the principle. The kids swarmed us clinging to my mom and gawking and laughing at my dad as I frantically translated questions and answers. When we finally got free of the children we visited my host sister in law, Bremi, whose baby Marlleli is my god-daughter. After drinking more tea and bananas my parents learned about how you’re constantly invited almost forcefully to food in Chocta. Then we went down to the house where lunch was almost ready. As dad rested and mom played with Marlleli I made an agreement with my host mom that I’d plate the food to save my parents from having to stuff themselves again. During lunch in hushed Spanish (as if my parents would understand anything) Bremi and my host mom asked if we’d be ok with cutting Marlleli’s hair after lunch. Although I’ve never actually been to a “first hair cut party” I knew it was a big deal and agreed it’d be fun for my parents to be here for it. So the kids ran off to gather more family members and my host brothers bought a case of beer. Marlleli sat so calm as I chopped of a lot more hair than I intended. My host mom instructed mom and dad to cut a few pieces too. Then she made a speech about how since I am her granddaughter’s godmother we are co-padres (like co-parents) and since Mom and Dad are my parents she’s also copadres with them (if that makes sense). Now I can see why half the town goes around calling each other copadre and comadre. And now she always asks me “have you talked to my copadre? How is my comadre?” It’s actually really sweet. Anyways, after the hair was cut, we went out front and took tons of pictures and drank some more beer. I was nice and buzzed when our private taxi rolled up to take us to Chachapoyas where we said goodbye as they got on their night bus to Chiclayo to catch a flight to the Galapagos. I left the bus station to look for a hotel room for the night feeling a tad more homesick than I’d felt before the visit, but also refreshed and thankful for the trip of a lifetime we had just spent together. 

Life Changes

Since I last blogged, I have had two major life changes. The first is that I have two new friends here in Chocta! Two teachers were hired a few weeks ago and they are renting rooms here in town (unlike most teachers who comute from Luya or Lamud). The first reason it is really good is that they are my age! It has been nice hanging out with women who arent teenagers or old ladies. Two, they are single and happy. I dont have to explain why I am still single or why I am currently not looking for a boyfriend or feel awkward as the only 20-something without a child. The gossip and dating stories is fun too. Three, they arent from Chocta. I love the people here but conversation with people who have never left this little town gets old. With these girls, we can talk about going out, what restauants are good, where weve been and where we plan on going. And lastly, they like to work out! We have been jogging and exercising at the concrete soccer field almost every morning for the last 2 weeks and I feel great. People dont think I am so weird when they see that Peruvians also like to work out! So at my year mark, Ive had a little refreshment to my life in Chocta.

Second life change: I am now cooking my own breakfasts and lunches and only eating dinners with the host family. I have been wanting to do this for a while, but the bottom line is that i have been lazy. Even if the food is pure potatoes and rice, you cant beat someone cooking for you! Shopping for groceries is not an easy one stop at Safeway, and making lunch is not as simple as pulling lunch meats from my fridge and making a sándwich! But the lack of variety finally got to me, and Ive been busier and cant always wait for whenever the food will be ready. Ive been cooking since the start of October and love it. My host mom almost cried when I told her and it took them a while to get used to it. They kept asking me to eat. They get the message now and I told my host mom a white lie that it isnt because i dont like her food, its that i want more Independence and to learn to cook! And i do like the food, i just cant eat it every meal every day. Ive been eating lentils, meat, veggies and fruit everyday and its amazing. I have plenty of money to buy those things with the money i used to pay the family to feed me rice and potatoes. But its not their fault. They like their diet, its what theyve always eaten. And when there isnt money for everyone to eat meat itd be awkward if they cooked it just for me. So I found a solution and Im very happy with it. I still get to spend time with them at dinner time when I get my daily dose of potato soup!!

My breakfasts before and now :))
On the left my rice and potato soup with a hard boild egg and on the right oatmeal with banana and raisons

Santa Rosa

I mentioned before that every city and town has their own patron saint. Well this past week we celebrated Saint Rose (Santa Rosa) in Chocta. I thought it was a funny coincidence that I was also born in Santa Rosa. Funny how things like that happen! Anyways it was a fun filled week where no one worked. My host dad said the fiestas is the work. An engineer with whom I am working with, came to survey materials that he had brought. I accompanied him to the plaza where we asked to see the materials. They flipped out and soon half the town that was in the plaza had grouped around us demanding why we would come during fiestas and that he needs to come back in 4 days when the fiestas are over. Wow. This week of fiestas is no nonsence!

Starting Monday vendors came and set up their tents in the plaza. Tons of clothes, shoes, house supplies, you name it. Also a few carnival type games and 5 or 6 cantinas where you could buy salchi pollo (fried chicken with french-fries) but more importantly beer. These tents were full of people all day and into the nights/ early mornings! People came from all over Amazonas! It was funny to get weird looks again after being so well known here for the past 6 months. The majority of people kept an even buzz throughout the week, including myself. I was constantly offered chicha (refreshing, not strong thank goodness) and food from the “party committee” the whole week. My host mom said it is because I collaborated in all of their fundraisers.

Monday and Tuesday were just “novenas,” or gatherings in the church to tell the history of Saint Rose and pray to her. Afterwards, the institutions (the schools, health post, me, etc.) would take turns serving coffee and bread. These went on for 8 nights. Wednesday night was the “Reinado,” or the beauty pageant. And yes, I participated as one of the candidates. It was super fun! The community members had a blast dressing me up like their doll and teaching me how to walk. TJ came to support me and we had tons of laughs. But, al fin, I lost. Unfortunately the winner was the person who had raised the most money and I only ended up with just under 100 soles (35 bucks). The winner supposedly put down 1,820 soles, which is incredibly hard to believe but that’s what they tell me! One of the judges/ high school teachers told me I had won with points and my question response. I was confused why they tallied points and had judges if in the end they just need to count up the cash! But after a few tears, I left with good memories and laughs. From Wednesday on, the winner of the beauty pageant became the Reina, or the Queen of the fiesta and had to accompany the band that arrived Thursday afternoon wherever they went.

Thursday was scheduled to have a tournament of womens soccer and mens volleyball between the neighborhoods. But in the end no one coordinated. (surprise surprise) In the night there was a festival of dance at the high school. Professional dancers came to perform, and I was very impressed! Each grade of the elementary school also put on a typical dance. I especially loved the costumes that the dancers wore from long skirts for the marinera to tribal outfits for a jungle themed dance!

Friday we hosted elementary and high schools from the area to play in a volleyball and soccer tournament. That was fun and I even joined in on a few bets on the teams. I lost 6 soles ($2) betting on Chocta to win, but it made the games more exciting and the crowd more animated. How they loved taking my money!! Friday night was my turn to bring coffee and bread to the novena and also to put on a movie. Unfortunately the band was also playing that night so most people were dancing and drinking and only a few came to watch my movie (the biblical story of the creation of the world). But it is all good, I am used to that by now ;).

Saturday was eventful! It started off with my host family hosting the breakfast for the band at 5am! We woke up at 3am to start cooking and preparing the house. They came, ate, we danced, and then were gone by 8am. It also was the tournament of volleyball and soccer between adults of the surrounding areas. That was fun. Tons of people united at our soccer/ volleyball court including vendors selling food, sweets, and tons of beer. The band came and I danced of course. I am quite famous for loving to dance. But it is true! I love dancing to cumbia! Plus its so cold here lately you have to dance to keep warm! Later that night TJ and Hilary arrived spend the night. The band played some more in the plaza and we danced some more. We burned the castle of fireworks like the one in Luya but smaller. Then everyone headed over to the high school where Besito SENSUAL (yes, “sensual kisses”) was performing a consert. So much fun! The blacktop was packed with people dancing their bahokis off even when it started to rain! The group was super interactive and Hilary and I even got a dance with them on stage for a bit. I love . cumbia groups because they will have a line of dancers (always with tight pants, usually white or a bright color) in the front with the singers. “Gracias a las bonitas gringitas” they said as we left.

Sunday we slept in until 9:30 then went to a mass followed by a parade. After that TJ and I hung out with our friend who works in the health post in Cohechan. We danced a bit, had lunch… I tried to sneak in a nap but my friend Shaka found me and pulled me out to the plaza. Once the sun went down the kids brought out these really cool lit up lanterns they had made. The designs ranged from geometric shapes to horses, to a model of the high school. Really beautiful! We paraded through Chocta and ended in the plaza where I was unexpectedly elected to judge which one was best. The winner (the high school) won 30 soles. After that, we danced some more with the band and then called it a night.

Finally Monday, the last day, was the cutting down of the Humisha (a tree). The person who cut it last year needs to bring all the food that was under it back and provide lunch for the whole town and pay the band for that day. He brought the food but unfortunately no lunch nor band. Everyone was very upset that he “ruined the fiesta,” but in the end got over it. A new person cut down the tree and took the food under it with him, to return next August. Without the band, I went to a friend’s house to take a nap (so no one would find me) and went out again at night to dance one last time.

Tuesday I was in bed almost all day. I had come down with a cold and generally just really exhausted from the week. When I was reading in bed around 7pm, a member of the party committee came down and invited us to a dinner. And I thought it was all over! But all the vendors and out-of-towners had left and only a handful of people were invited to this dinner. It was quiet and peaceful, and we all agreed that although the fiestas were fun, it is nice to have our town back.