Clouds Over Ancash

The usually blue skies over the cordillera blanca are not so blue these days. Ancash is Quechua for the color blue, a fitting name to a place with snow capped peaks and blue blue sky. The mountains, however can't ever be completely hidden, and they share their splendor through the fog and rain. It's true that winter, whether in the northern hemisphere or southern (here the rainy season is considered "winter" although it really is summer) is a time for reflection. More time indoors, cold weather, and the use of fuzzy socks get you thinking. There's a lot of pain and suffering in the world right now. What can we say to ourselves in order to stay grounded and positive? It's a tough question.

I think that we have an opportunity to look at ourselves in these tough times and really ask, what are we here for? What are we meant to contribute. With so much uncertainty I would say that it is not time to short change ourselves or mute our true calling. Inside each of us we have an intuitive voice that knows whether or not we are putting our energy in the right place, time to listen! For a young person this is a good time to figure out what makes me really happy. Better to start early than go through all that mid-life crisis chaos.

So, step by step, time to put aside what I "should" do, what's expected, and take some breaths to find that which makes me say, "yeah, this is me."

These are the Times

Ok, so I probably won't be posting every day, but I'll shoot for "more often." This morning it is sunny and hot, already at 8:30am. This will be a difficult transition to deal with whenever I head back to the Northwest, or any northern country for that matter. I was sad to realize that I missed the showing of the 2012 Oscars, although the other unfortunate truth is that I had hardly heard of any of the films and actors nominated. While parts of Peru are certainly and open vein to all things global and new, that channel becomes increasingly narrow out in the mountains. Plus, as in the US, you have to be paying attention. Maybe I can watch it on Youtube...

I have, however just discovered the Huffington Post website. It's a god send! Great news in a very attractive format, at least for my eyes. With this I can follow the last fighting between Romney and Santorum, Michelle Obama's Oscar dress, and fun commentaries on all interesting subjects.

As far as work, today is a "jovenes hunting" day, meaning I'll be hitting the streets to get the interest of the young people in joining a health promoters group. Plus I get a visit from my friend Beth and her pup Gulliver.

Lots to look forward to.

The Daily Post

My new objective with this blog is to do a daily post (since I now have internet at my site), the goal being a short stream of consciousness, on whatever subject:

Post 1:

Cannot wait for February to be over. The shortest month has appeared to take the longest. Things are slow in the community, as summer vacation comes to an end. This last week we've had ceaseless rain. Rose for this month: going to the beach only 3 hours away, who new!

Thorn for this month: Getting Giardia.

Books that I've Read Since Being in the Peace Corps

1) The Post Birthday World-Lionel Shriver-517 Pages

2) Once Segundos-Paulo Coehlo-288 Pages

3) Peony in Love-Lisa See-320 Pages

4) The Last Season-Eric Blehm-384 Pages

5) Light at the Edge of the World-Wade Davis-180 Pages

6) Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance-Robert Persig-373 Pages

7) The Bean Trees-Barbara Kingsolver-256 Pages

8) The Poisonwood Bible-Barbara Kingsolver-576 Pages

9) The Grapes of Wrath-John Steinbeck-473 Pages

10) When Things Fall Apart-Pema Codron-148 Pages

11) Shanghai Girls-Lisa See-336 Pages

12) The News from Paraguay-Lily Tuck-272 Pages

13) Turn Right at Machu Picchu-Mark Adams-352 Pages

14) Born to Run-Christopher McDougall-304 Pages

15) Empire Falls-Richard Russo-483 Pages

Currently Reading: A Walk in the Woods-Bill Bryson

Total Number of Books: 15

Total number of Pages: 5,262

Favorite Book: The Bean Trees

Least Favorite: The News from Paraguay

Most Informative: Turn Right at Machu Picchu

Most Inspiring: Born to Run

Best book to read while in the Peace Corps: The Grapes of Wrath (we got it good compared to the Jodes)

NEW YEAR'S 2012

I am ready to ring in the New Year with a group of great new friends. After spending the holidays in the land of mustaches, aka Mexico with close and extended family, coming back to Peru felt like coming home. I am feeling excited to be in this country and to finish my service in Amashca-there are new prospects on the horizon. The coming of a New Year is always like the shedding of a skin, leaving behind the unnecessary and carrying forward the new lessons learned and the strength to put our growth into action.

At this point there are many unknowns, but I welcome them as I welcome the sunshine.

La Chocolatada

This title refers to Peruvians favorite pastime during the holiday season: hot chocolate with paneton, a type of Christmas bread that comes in a box. In the mountains the weather has become rainy and the morning fog and evening clouds cover the snow capped peaks for most of the day, it's all very "North-Westy."

Many volunteers are traveling for the holidays visiting family and friends back home. I too, am fortunate to be traveling to Mexico for a visit to the familia. I look forward to seeing my grandmother and eating copious amounts of tortillas.

The last several weeks have proven to be fairly productive, with the close of the "Amigos y Libros" program with the local high school seniors in my school. For our finale, they put together a puppet theater production for the elementary aged kids. On December 21st they celebrate their graduation and release into the wide world. Some will continue their studies, some will stay and work the family land, others will head for the cities in search of work...usually in a factory of as a domestic. I'm proud of these kids.

Come New Years I will have about 7 months left of service, which will go by fast. These are the last 7 of the 27 total months. I will have many decision to make. Should I stay a 3rd year? If not, what next? Grad school, NGO work? Where to live? There are many uncertainties, and the situation in the US right now is somewhat scary economically. I think of all my friends back home and wonder how they are doing a midst all the unknowns that they also face.

Missing home is definitely a feature of the holiday time, so this goes out to all of you in Oregon, in Canada, in the Ukraine (I know someone out there is reading) and wish you a happy holiday season. I'll be ringing in the New Year back in the Peruvian Sierra and will send a big shout out from the mountain tops.

Elke

P.S. Papa, I made stollen again!

Awesome Photos by Katie Halasz

Back in July the newest group of Youth volunteers cam to my site, Amashca for their "Field Based Training." One of those volunteers took these amazing photos. I hope you all enjoy!