From an Internet Cafe in the Foothills of the Andes
Dear Constant Readers,
The flights from Washington DC to Miami and afterwards from Miami to Lima, Peru were slightly uneventful. Our plane from Washington was an hour and a half late from departure, and for a while some of us wondered if we would arrive a day late, but we landed with 35 minutes to spare (in fact the plane was delayed…for 47 people one figures they would take that into account). I have no idea how so much luggage (Peace Corps doesn’t travel light) was transferred from plane to plane in only 35 minutes.
The next day we were interviewed by our project directors, placement people (to find out which family we would live with during training), our language assessment people, and the medical director.
Here something remarkable happened.
One of the main reasons, if not the main reason, I came was to learn an indigenous language, in Peru’s case, that would most likely be Quechua, spoken in the highlands. However, in my assignment, there is little to zero chance that will come to pass, as our assignments are spread along the coast. I was very disappointed, and I was envious of the people in the environment program, which was what I wanted when I originally applied almost a year ago.
I spoke with my friend Erica about this, and she helped me realize something that has been a factor in me since I was a little child. I get my hopes up; I expect too much in that I get preconceived notions and then am crushed when they aren’t met.
This was my major misstep when I went to Mexico.
I decided that night to adapt a new outlook to life. I decided to steer clear of making plans for myself when there is so much that happens I cannot control. It is usually the case that no matter what I have planned, the course life takes on its own is more fulfilling and exciting. I was reminded of when I wanted to go Japan to study but ended up having to wait a year and instead made some of the best friends I’ve ever had, something that would not have happened if I was away. Life cannot be controlled, only attitudes.
After that I decided to get married, in a sense at least. To stick with this commitment through the good and bad, for better or worse, for richer and especially for poorer, which will certainly be true.
That was the first day.
And this will be a very rewarding challenge. I am having a hard time adapting to the food. Here there is a lot of rice, almost with every meal, and other foods very rich in carbs. I have a hard time ingesting so much food (and it really is a lot, Peruvians chow down on boatloads of food like they were born with a fork in their hands). Consequently I still don’t have an appetite, which has me a little worried. But I have plenty of time to work on that.
Attitude is everything. I’ve decided to just feel my way along, my new goals being complete these two years, see the world, try to help some people, and find contentment with that. Spanish is perhaps the number two skill needed here; a sense of humor, even a twisted one like my own, is numero uno. The support of friends is also vital during this very challengeing time. Lucky me that I have the friends here I do have.
My family is nice. There is a mom, dad, four sons (I think, although one of them doesn’t live at home), a niece, and I think the mom’s nice or cousin – I think cousin – who came by last night and I think is probably a frequent visitor. Plus, there is a month old Pekingese puppy that likes to chew on my hand. So far everyone here seems to have a great sense of humor.
Tonight, after taking a bucket shower – the only way hot water can be had for bathing – I’m going to go to bed sooner. I’m exhausted from the changes and the stress, from not getting a nice 8 hour sleep since I don’t even know last when, and I’m sore from getting two vaccination shots (several more to go during training), I think I’m coming down with a cold, the air is constantly white with smog (or something) as we are in a valley surrounded by arid mountains, I have a headache probably from not eating enough. I don’t mean to say these things in a negative light, because I don’t feel negative about them. I’m just making a huge transition right now.
I hope all is well, state side.
Tristan
PS – Those who want to know of the water flushes the opposite direction, I say to you, I guess so. I haven’t really looked that closely, and I wouldn’t have noticed a difference.
The flights from Washington DC to Miami and afterwards from Miami to Lima, Peru were slightly uneventful. Our plane from Washington was an hour and a half late from departure, and for a while some of us wondered if we would arrive a day late, but we landed with 35 minutes to spare (in fact the plane was delayed…for 47 people one figures they would take that into account). I have no idea how so much luggage (Peace Corps doesn’t travel light) was transferred from plane to plane in only 35 minutes.
The next day we were interviewed by our project directors, placement people (to find out which family we would live with during training), our language assessment people, and the medical director.
Here something remarkable happened.
One of the main reasons, if not the main reason, I came was to learn an indigenous language, in Peru’s case, that would most likely be Quechua, spoken in the highlands. However, in my assignment, there is little to zero chance that will come to pass, as our assignments are spread along the coast. I was very disappointed, and I was envious of the people in the environment program, which was what I wanted when I originally applied almost a year ago.
I spoke with my friend Erica about this, and she helped me realize something that has been a factor in me since I was a little child. I get my hopes up; I expect too much in that I get preconceived notions and then am crushed when they aren’t met.
This was my major misstep when I went to Mexico.
I decided that night to adapt a new outlook to life. I decided to steer clear of making plans for myself when there is so much that happens I cannot control. It is usually the case that no matter what I have planned, the course life takes on its own is more fulfilling and exciting. I was reminded of when I wanted to go Japan to study but ended up having to wait a year and instead made some of the best friends I’ve ever had, something that would not have happened if I was away. Life cannot be controlled, only attitudes.
After that I decided to get married, in a sense at least. To stick with this commitment through the good and bad, for better or worse, for richer and especially for poorer, which will certainly be true.
That was the first day.
And this will be a very rewarding challenge. I am having a hard time adapting to the food. Here there is a lot of rice, almost with every meal, and other foods very rich in carbs. I have a hard time ingesting so much food (and it really is a lot, Peruvians chow down on boatloads of food like they were born with a fork in their hands). Consequently I still don’t have an appetite, which has me a little worried. But I have plenty of time to work on that.
Attitude is everything. I’ve decided to just feel my way along, my new goals being complete these two years, see the world, try to help some people, and find contentment with that. Spanish is perhaps the number two skill needed here; a sense of humor, even a twisted one like my own, is numero uno. The support of friends is also vital during this very challengeing time. Lucky me that I have the friends here I do have.
My family is nice. There is a mom, dad, four sons (I think, although one of them doesn’t live at home), a niece, and I think the mom’s nice or cousin – I think cousin – who came by last night and I think is probably a frequent visitor. Plus, there is a month old Pekingese puppy that likes to chew on my hand. So far everyone here seems to have a great sense of humor.
Tonight, after taking a bucket shower – the only way hot water can be had for bathing – I’m going to go to bed sooner. I’m exhausted from the changes and the stress, from not getting a nice 8 hour sleep since I don’t even know last when, and I’m sore from getting two vaccination shots (several more to go during training), I think I’m coming down with a cold, the air is constantly white with smog (or something) as we are in a valley surrounded by arid mountains, I have a headache probably from not eating enough. I don’t mean to say these things in a negative light, because I don’t feel negative about them. I’m just making a huge transition right now.
I hope all is well, state side.
Tristan
PS – Those who want to know of the water flushes the opposite direction, I say to you, I guess so. I haven’t really looked that closely, and I wouldn’t have noticed a difference.
posted by Tristan | 4:48 PM
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