tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38768624740980974572024-03-13T17:17:36.566-04:00Poco a PocoI don't always join Peace Corps, but when I do, I blog about it. Youth Development in Peru.Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-55037074598862133292015-01-17T09:19:00.001-05:002015-01-17T09:46:32.846-05:00PROJECT: PAINTING A MURAL<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CLUB VIP is a youth group that I had for the second half of last year. I trained them on Sexual Health and Reproductive topics and now they are "health promotors" that will do replications of educational sessions in their classrooms this school year which starts in March. As an end-of-the-year project, in conjunction with World AIDS Day activities, we decided to paint a mural on the hospital's exterior wall, where many people pass by daily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It started out ugly, covered in cobb-webs, paint peeling off, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We drew, outlined, taped, and painted. It was coming along.</span></div>
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Working on the mural. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigorcRxwO4r-ZHGZBYqNwTFWg85R6tgoc4bN_9B6A90A9APFvga6icmYS-gFpbhbEQDgfDkhxXx5sZ2Mla-aKHLRJKldTeP59hMr9cU6tstTpU582CZc2aCr1wKHJWkisBIzLw6XBO4I0/s1600/21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigorcRxwO4r-ZHGZBYqNwTFWg85R6tgoc4bN_9B6A90A9APFvga6icmYS-gFpbhbEQDgfDkhxXx5sZ2Mla-aKHLRJKldTeP59hMr9cU6tstTpU582CZc2aCr1wKHJWkisBIzLw6XBO4I0/s1600/21.JPG" height="356" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is true that Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was this mural. Off and on, we finally finished after a month and a half of work. We have another wall primed and ready to go for another one, so we'll see what the rest of this year brings!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Cheyenne</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-22464261088788281842014-12-15T14:27:00.000-05:002014-12-16T07:13:17.161-05:00That's a Wrap!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To catch you guys up a bit, I have been working with a group of students since August in a youth group called CLUB VIP. It's a youth group for specifically chosen students (thus the VIP part) that want to learn about sex-ed topics and be leaders for their communities by doing replications of certain charlas (educative sessions) to their peers. Our objectives are to create youth that have healthy lifestyles, make intelligent decisions, and are proactive. My kids learned about self-esteem, sex and gender stereotypes, STDs and HIV AIDS, and condom use (and other methods of pregnancy prevention including abstinence) while also participating in radio shows and even painting a mural. For me, this project was one of my first "good ones," and so I am very proud of my small group. In March when the new school year starts, my kids will have earned the title of "Health Promotores" as they start replicating the same charlas they once received to their fellow peers (peer education is powerful) in their schools. We also want to extend our knowledge into the community as we have the opportunity to pair up with profesionals from the hospital's own health promoters. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra6J7531_GzZEJPcvmG5MrHa0Di_dODjqwY-pAwEAFwUFc9TgVK0eOvVGguFV-xP4hl7jlwhnA6sz6cklUD5IlVnj26Pr_AbVn5mtnFQ9RKeZsmJ1ZUtKJwz4ge0RHHUHoOWivCVFw0Y/s1600/IMG_20141124_092134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra6J7531_GzZEJPcvmG5MrHa0Di_dODjqwY-pAwEAFwUFc9TgVK0eOvVGguFV-xP4hl7jlwhnA6sz6cklUD5IlVnj26Pr_AbVn5mtnFQ9RKeZsmJ1ZUtKJwz4ge0RHHUHoOWivCVFw0Y/s1600/IMG_20141124_092134.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, November 25th marked International Elimination of Violence Against Womens Day for Huamachuco. Every year there is a comite that works on planning different activities in and around this day in order to better spread the word about women's violence. The comite is comprised of many profesional institutions from the community such as the local government, the school board, etc. CEM is the Emergency Women Center that also works alongside these same goals, and therefore with the rest of the comite in honoring this day. With CLUB VIP, we had a debate regarding themes of self-esteem, positive communication, and gender equity. We selected these themes because they are at the base of the problem of violence against women. Attacking the base we can make change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We painted hands and did handprints to signify "STOP THE VIOLENCE," we were on two television stations talking about selfesteem, and handed out a lot of flyers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For World AIDS Day on December 1st, CLUB VIP designed and painted (well, we're still painting) a mural. On it will be different myths and statistics about HIV and AIDS. Yes, that is a superhero condom. He can fight against STDs and HIV and help protect and save your life you know. It's fun, and we sure get a lot of stares when we're painting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, CLUB VIP is done for this year but in March they will start promoting what they have learned by doing session replications in their high schools. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BRpH95WN0x0xzTByofkvbTapqEmXzq38rWdjxNUc7dNgTPHdb8-qv61rZmnIiRhH_nW_zaoM5nPQoeW46STsfAXjW5ELIWsw3nmHbSuwhMW_BkduOiXTcVUdet9zpWvZIRQua61zLDE/s1600/10847966_10152910408164414_7234427068561229044_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BRpH95WN0x0xzTByofkvbTapqEmXzq38rWdjxNUc7dNgTPHdb8-qv61rZmnIiRhH_nW_zaoM5nPQoeW46STsfAXjW5ELIWsw3nmHbSuwhMW_BkduOiXTcVUdet9zpWvZIRQua61zLDE/s1600/10847966_10152910408164414_7234427068561229044_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To all of you, I wish you the very best Christmas and holiday season. I am heading to my regional capital this Friday and then to Lima on Monday to spend Christmas with Oscar's family. I am very grateful for him and his support, and I am excited to get to know more of his family. I am also very grateful for my 18 months of living in Peru and 16 months of being an official Peace Corps volunteer. This time truely has flown by and I'll be home visiting before I know it! I only have 7-8 months left of my "contract" as I call it, but I am looking foward to what I can acomplish in 2015. Thanks to all of you beautiful people who have helped me along the way with letters, cards, packages, stickers, Crystal Light packets, etc. You don't know how amazing you are, and how special you are to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So for 2014 that's a wrap! We'll be seeing each other soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With love from Peru, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheyenne</span></div>
Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-35021571355417524092014-11-26T07:41:00.001-05:002014-11-26T07:41:18.574-05:00Mom meets Peru<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
So Ms. Awannah Buelterman came to el Peru! I honestly never thought that would happen. Mom has never even been outside of the US! (If you don't consider going literally "across the border" to Canada when she was younger). It was so weird (yet satisfying) to be able to show her my reality; what I live every day. We started out by meeting Oscar in Trujillo and doing some city tours. I myself enjoyed learning some new things about my regional capital.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oscar helping mom across a glass-top walkway.</td></tr>
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We went to the famous "Huanchaco" and Mom tried CEVICHE, a traditional Peruvian dish with raw fish ("cooked" in lime juice) paired with white rice and a salad of purple onions and tomatoes. Mom was trying all sorts of new foods in her two-week stay (including cow heart, guinea pig, and sheep's intestines).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oscar, mom and I in Huanchaco<br />
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After about 4 days in Trujillo we went to my site, Huamachuco, which is about 4.5 hours into the mountains from Trujillo. We visited where Oscar works (an ancient archelogical site called "Wiracochapampa") and got an unofficial tour from an archeologist. Mom just kept saying "Wow, bonita bonita."</div>
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The weekend that we were there, Huamachuco was celebrating their patron saint, Saint Francis de Asis. Thousands of St. Francis patrons line the streets barefoot, carrying a red carnation in their mouths, honoring their Saint. They also color sawdust and make intricate "paintings" depicting their Saint in different stages of his life. You can see the deeply-rooted tradition of the Huamachuco people and the high-importance of their religion in holidays like this. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patrons of St. Francis walking through the paintings made by sawdust.</td></tr>
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We spent a relaxing day in thermal baths about an hour and a half from Huamachuco. After opening our pores in our private baths, we messed around on the jungle gym and took a short hike to explore. </div>
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My mom also got to meet my Peruvian mom and dad. I had to translate everything, but it was nice seeing my two "families" mesh together. Mom's invited back to their house even if I don't live there. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julio, me, mom, and Margarita </td></tr>
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My mom left mid-October and says she can't wait to come back. She says she'll be back to Peru within two years. I finish my contract with the Peace Corps this upcomming August (yes, two years has FLOWN BY!) and I'll be able to visit her and the rest of my family for a little bit. </div>
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Mom's three words to summarize her trip to Peru: LAND OF CONTRAST</div>
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And let this be an official invitation to ANYONE who wants to come to Peru to visit me. You will not have to pay to stay at my house and you will eat so much food! (Don't worry, I have PeptoBismol).</div>
<br />Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-90168452597187911912014-11-06T13:34:00.000-05:002014-11-06T13:34:47.343-05:00Bringing "Sexy" Back<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, it's not sexy I'm bringing back, that's for sure, but it's a blog update with pictures. *Cue the "YAYYYY" It's been too long. Let's just call it one of those fancy TV "hiatus" where it breaks off mid-season and the plot is too good to wait till fall and you look for any clues in online gossip blogs and stalk the celebrities Instagram acounts hoping for a sneak peak. Just like that, right? I have to say I had a sliver of hope you'd stalk me for Peace Corps life updates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm doing a brief overview of the 'haps in August, September and October. Day-to-day life isn't that exciting so it's best to review the highlights and update on the generals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In August, I helped the Municipality with their first annual Job Fair. To be honest, a job fair was one of my main project ideas coming to Huamachuco. A lot of youth get stuck in the mentality that anything beyond highschool is unreachable (due to lack of money, lack of motivation, lack of experience/skill, etc.) Peace Corps set up a booth amidst the other colleges and universities (representing Huamachuco and Trujillo, our region's capital). We had over 250 juniors and seniors stop by our booths to listen to our mind-blowing information on about how to set and achieve goals, things to keep in mind when picking a career, and where to find scholarships. Some of them came to stare more than listen (and to steal our candies), but at least they came. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our little Peace Corps booth! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alejandra and I </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alejandra is my new site mate. She's a Business volunteer and she came to Huamachuco mid August, 2014 and will be here working until August 2016. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September rolled around and Youth Day did too. Peace Corps participated by helping out in the day of competitive games. Different high schools participated in these games in order to win points and ultimately computer tablets they could raffle off for their end-of-the-year celebration. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Games included sack racing, carrying eggs on spoons, popping balloons, etc. It was all to celebrate the day of the "joven" or "youth." Peace Corps led the "Marshmallow Challenge" game (check out the challenge here: </span><a href="http://marshmallowchallenge.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MARSHMALLOW CHALLENGE</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) Groups had to build the tallest free-standing structure with ONLY 20 spaghetti sticks, 3 feet of masking tape, 3 feet of yarn and 1 marshmallow that goes on top. Whichever team measures the highest (from the base of the structure to the marshmallow) wins. The students were frustrated because we didn't give them instructions on how to build their structure, and that was the point. They had to use critical thinking and team work to come up with a base that would not only hold the weight of the marshmallow but be high enough to outwin other schools. First go-round was a little rough and only 2 of the 8 schools' structures withstood the final measurement so we did it again and we had 6 structures standing at the end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mid October we had CAMP ALMA which is a camp for youth girl where we focus on strengthening their leadership skills while developing skills in topics such as self esteem, sex ed, and career building. I brought three of my youth leaders from my youth group. They did extreemly well and I'm proud to be their Peace Corps volunteer! It was an exhaustive 4 day camp (I felt like a zombie by day 3) but I always personal get a lot out of camps. I feel like I can be my crazy wacky self but all with purpose of motivating and energizing others so they can get more out of their experience. Call me crazy (you probably already have) but it's what I enjoy the most of being a Peace Corps volunteer. </span></div>
Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-23894140512865605892014-07-10T19:11:00.000-04:002014-07-13T19:33:39.949-04:00La Batalla de Huamachuco<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, it's been 131 years since the Battle of Huamchuco took place in a pampa (field of land) between two mountains that surround the area. "It was originally fought on July 10th, 1883 was the last major battle of the War of the Pacific. The Chilean soldiers led by Colonel Alejandro Gorostiaga decisively defeated the Peruvian army commanded by General Andres Avelino Caceres near the town of Huamachuco. This Chilean victory effectively eliminated Cáceres' <i>Ejército de la Sierra</i>, (Army of the Mountains) ending any real threat or resistance in the Peruvian Andes. The Peruvian defeat paved the way for the Treaty of Ancon that finally put an end to the war. Also, one of Peru's greatest heroes, Colonel Leoncio Prado, died as a consequence of this battle. The Peruvians lost 800 men, about 1/3 of their forces." (WIKIPEDIA). Huamachuco's hospital is named after Leoncio Prado. </div>
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Students (a lot!) from all over the Huamachuco urban and surburban area took place around the obelisk to celebrate the victory of the Battle and to pay tribue to those who lost their lives. The Peruvian flag was flown at half-mast. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elementary school (primaria) kids waiting to march</span></td></tr>
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I work a lot with the UGEL of Huamachuco. From there, I see what the needs are on a city-wide basis and together we work on projects that support the entire education system. I marched with them in the parade. (Picture below)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When in Peru, you have to march like a Peruvian! (Which takes some getting used to)</span></td></tr>
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Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-22624507948759335932014-06-06T20:23:00.000-04:002014-07-13T18:38:37.844-04:00Year 1, DONE!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow, a year has FLOWN! They say your first year in the Peace Corps goes by so slowly.... that the days never seem to end but the weeks start to pick up speed. They also say your second year, in comparison to the first, passes faster. At that rate, I'll be finishing my service in what will seem like 2 months!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What have I done in my first year?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my first year, I had a LOT of ups and downs (the downs being more common) and I have learned a lot about what really is "development" work. For me, my first year was hard because I was fighting <em>something</em>. That <em>something</em> is a bit complicated to get into here on a blog post, but just trust me when my year mark hit (June 6th), I about had a nervous breakdown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have realized that things that bother you will always bother you if you let it. The stuff you can control, control it and fit the problem. For the stuff you can't control, <strong>LET IT GO.</strong> Many times I've told myself "Cheyenne, does this bother you? Yes? Okay, can you change it? No? Recognize that it bothers you, put it behind you and move on." This phrase alone has saved me from many tears... literally. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quickly after the June 6th mark, things began to change. I had a long deep conversation with myself where I got myself into shape and realized I need to work harder and smarter... putting my efforts in the right places. It's all about making intelligent and thought-out decicions. I began to see patterns in the way things work, and I began to be more direct and honest with my socios about how sometimes I felt left out or second priority. Likewise, I had to show them that I was changing, too, not just pointing out how their work (or lack of sometimes) affected me. My socios and I's relationships improved and projects started to get going. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sitemate left last week to go home to the USA. She is part of the Peru 19 group that came in June of 2012, so one year before me. I'll receive her replacement in August. I realized that in just a very short year (is next year a leap year?) I'll be in my old sitemate's place... finishing my Peace Corps service (or at least looking at extending a third year as a leader). I think that's part of the reason I (and other people helped me to) kick my butt into gear. Signing up for Peace Corps back in July of 2011, I thought "Oh my, 2 years (technically 27 months) is a LONG TIME! And when I first got here to Peru, I was saying "Oh, but I have two years for that." Well not anymore. I can't even say I have a year left, because things should be long well wrapped up 365 from now. I have less than a year, and pretty soon single digit months that I can count on my fingers alone. I don't want to get to July 15th, 2015 and ask myself, "Cheyenne.. are you proud of your service?" And tell myself "No." </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another volunteer from Peru 19, Mandy. I'm gonna miss her!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Side note: To those looking to join the Peace Corps. Do not take it lightly. And don't take my stories for your success. Every single volunteer in every single Peace Corps country has an un-comparable experience as a volunteer. What bothers me won't bother someone else, and what someone else will eat I certainly won't. Even my sitemate who worked in the same city as me, had a different experience. Talk to RPCVs (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) and current volunteers and they'll tell you the same. It's a life-changing (butt-kicking at times) experience, but for the amount of humility, patience, and self-control I have learned, I wouldn't trade it for anything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, year one is done and year two ... what will I do? I saw a Facebook (FACE as Peruvians call it) thing that I adopted as my year two motto:</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You don't always need a plan.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes you just need to breathe...</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trust...</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let go...</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And see what happens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">My work doesn't always coincide with a plan, but more of a guide. Things change so rapidly and what I think should be done in a week sometimes takes two. I keep in mind at the end what I'd like to get done, start out on the right foot, and let Peruvian craziness take it for the journey. That breathing part got me through my year mark. I'm trusting in my potential and what that will bring me in year 2, I'm letting go of stupid things that bother me and I'm seeing what happens as of July 15th, 2015.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As always, thanks for keeping up with me and reading my blogs. I'd like to know that someone out there gets something out of them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let's go year 2!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My center Plaza de Armas of Huamachuco</td></tr>
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</span>Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-62621121693250648572014-05-21T22:13:00.000-04:002014-07-11T22:14:03.592-04:00Let's go camping!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About twice a year, each Peru region that has volunteers tries to have a camp for youth. Usually one for all boys and one for all girls. This past May, my region (La Libertad) held Camp V.A.L.O.R. (VALOR in English means "Values") for more than 70 youth from across the region, both coast and sierra. The youth learned about basic values that make up a true "Ironman" (yes like the movie): Respect, honor, maturity, etc. They also learned about leadership and Sexual Health. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">The students visited a few technical schools to learn about future careers and also scholarships that can help them get there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here, the boys are learning about techniques of working out without the use of weights. They really enjoyed it. (Plus, we were able to see the "tough kids" sweat a little bit!) In the background are our red and blue tents we camped in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We use a lot of non-formal education in Peace Corps. This is game we use to build teamwork and critical thinking skills. SO FUNNY to see some of the positions they had to come up with. You could see their competitive nature come out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's me and my 3 kids from Huamachuco. (I was a team leader on the yellow team... and we won most spirited!) It's nice bringing youth outside of their normal learning environment and see them flourish/break their personal limitations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those of you who helped donate to our camp, THANK YOU! Because of you, we were able to reach a lot of youth in a unique, fun, and yet educational atmosphere. In October or November, we're looking to put on Camp ALMA (soul in English), which targets youth girls and teaches them how to be strong, independent women that value themselves. </span></div>
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Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-49799657605295125522014-05-10T13:03:00.000-04:002014-05-10T13:03:07.212-04:00It's gonna be MAY<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Trying to be more frequent with my updates. Here we go:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you come up into the mountains from the coast, there's a distinct difference in the climate. Within 184 kilometers (112 miles or so) the terrain changes from sea level and dusty, humid, flat, and dry (never rains harder than a mist really), to more than 10,000ft above sea level, frequent torrential downpour, mountainous (switchbacks), and a sun so intense it can almost dry clothes faster than a dryer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so if you come up to the mountains during the day, you usually pass through a "cloud layer" is what I call it. And when you think you've seen it all, you keep going up and up and up. And then you can't breathe. And let me just mention that even though my site is only 112 miles from the coast (I'm thinking an hour and a half drive on I-10 at 75 miles an hour, right? Because of switchbacks, curves, round-a-bouts and the general amount of altitude you gain from the drive, it takes a little over 3 hours. When the road wasn't paved or only partly paved (as recent as last fall) it took about 5-6 hours. Years before, I've heard it would take over 8 hours at times... I think I would have requested a site change at that point. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've got to throw in an Oscar update of course. I met his mom back in February and pretty soon she is leave to move back to Spain. I think she wants to move back, which would be great to get to know her more. From what Oscar has told me, and what I have seen, she is strong and admirable for her character. I'm really glad to have met her during her visit back to Peru. I hope to learn some recipies from her in the future :-) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a weekend visit, I went to Cajabamba, which is in the region of Cajamarca. It's only about an hour and a half from where I live, and it's a nice weekend-get-a-way. Above is a picture of their cemetary. It reminded me of Louisiana where we bury many people above ground due to lack of space below. Believe me, at 10,000 feet, they're not lacking any space here but it's nice to see something familiar so far from home. I was looking for the oldest grave, but I only saw back to 1915... maybe there's an older part of the cemetary I didn't find. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Above is the central market in Cajabamba. It's organized and each vendor has their apropriate space. What I like is that each meat/fish/etc. stand is set up the same, and has its own sink and workspace. My site's market leaves a bit to be desired. It doesn't have a proper roof because it's a bunch of stands bunched together. It smells, vendors are all over the place, etc. I'm not saying it's not great, but compared to this one in Cajabamba, it's nice to know my mayor is planning on converting ours into something like this one. Yay for progress!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you live in Peru, it is known to be true that you can learn to sleep anywhere. This man was fast asleep atop a motorcycle on May 1st, Peruvian's labor day. About 30 people were passing by him and he never woke up. I snapped a picture to share. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, to leave you with this beautiful double rainbow I caught on camera earlier in May. Even when I'm freezing and damming the rain, it's nice to be reassured that beautiful things can still happen when you're negative on the world. It just kisses you right back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until the next time! Hasta la proxima!</span></div>
Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-36848771931283151342014-04-29T17:07:00.000-04:002014-04-29T17:07:17.149-04:00There's work to be done...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm starting to think that instead of you guys following me here, you just need to hop on a plane and visit me.. because it is honestly so hard to describe to you what I do... especially the mundane (but interesting to you) things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK. Now on to pictures!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to America in early April to visit family and friends (above, cousins Natalie and Emily). Some things were really nice: hot water, indoor plumbing (and being able to throw the toliet paper in the toliet!), on-time meetings, Diet Coke, Gold Fish (and any other food item), driving, but some things weren't so great: constant stomach aches, overwhelming huge stores (like Sam's Club), the feel I needed to buy EVERYTHING, the lack of hand-made whipped cream topping, etc. After the first 10 days or so, I wanted to go back to Peru. I knew there was more work to be done, and I felt a little unproductive being in the "Land of the Free and the Brave" just eating everything in sight. After a 22-hour return to the land of the Andes Mountains and the Incas, I enjoyed a nice chicha-morada and arroz chaufa and settled back into site. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's a Michigan winter without some snow? Snowed about 3 inches one day, and was 65F the next. Got my snow gear and my sandals out in the same vacation!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPx1s5yV-rWY9h0UgPd8U2UGHh4I1pMGpNO-8HD1BHtrEycKLS1ovQKGfq06rODXYH95oIazqcbqsgAYIK_mQVChcfB2f2KRMCKiBCj9iW_dSNDtiB6akBn2e8yqZda59qo8m2uSqOWh4/s1600/2014-04-25+13.07.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPx1s5yV-rWY9h0UgPd8U2UGHh4I1pMGpNO-8HD1BHtrEycKLS1ovQKGfq06rODXYH95oIazqcbqsgAYIK_mQVChcfB2f2KRMCKiBCj9iW_dSNDtiB6akBn2e8yqZda59qo8m2uSqOWh4/s1600/2014-04-25+13.07.08.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Getting back into the schools: Friday assembly, going over important details of the week, sorting out the lost and found box, etc. This is the school's "Secundary" section (like high school) with ages 11-16 (they graduate at 16). I work with 3rd and 4th year students, ages 13-15. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Que lluvia!! We're still in rainy season (winter) here in the mountains, believe it or not. Gosh, I can't wait until the day I can walk without having to waterproof my outfit for the day. It's a rainy day experience that's for sure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To celebrate their Anniversary, Florencia de Mora (school I work with) had a parade around the plaza. Students noticed me watching and waved and winked, while students from my other school (N 82115) made guest appearances with their honor squad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to make your day better: BABY DUCKS!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2caZq-DC-O-aRXMwnphpTIJb7GuXfzZZrgYcnbNAnnHtmlmlM02Nap6V1AYtkvTIXiRN0ZTrC_SYjIpoh3untnswpiAFPRbzQYMZ8QmfB34HmcY_Yi4y0vI37TzbSI-hsQm2v381lQoU/s1600/2014-04-26+14.37.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2caZq-DC-O-aRXMwnphpTIJb7GuXfzZZrgYcnbNAnnHtmlmlM02Nap6V1AYtkvTIXiRN0ZTrC_SYjIpoh3untnswpiAFPRbzQYMZ8QmfB34HmcY_Yi4y0vI37TzbSI-hsQm2v381lQoU/s1600/2014-04-26+14.37.31.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The school year is in full swing and my Sexual Health group is coming along nicely. We're working on Tshirt designs as we speak. Until the next time!</span></div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yj7rw-d6c5s%2FU2AOrmyuHbI%2FAAAAAAAAAWw%2FlXw8al1mHhA%2Fs1600%2F2014-04-27%2B16.41.31.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7Vx-EWnJPy7XCQOy11sfOl-APDqJClX6RGNiVdxE81_-fypF5vLFjGnjTZUUK1ZwYWKYw7UtY8MlVrMmMnkMPQWSM_i9tkJVpJdXOr1pJLHyR6QJPmITmcGKBob5OrryJA3dMNw3W5o/s1600/2014-04-27+16.41.31.jpg" -->Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-77398670630186417732014-04-22T13:54:00.002-04:002014-04-22T13:54:36.576-04:00Dia Internacional de la Madre Tierra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or in English... Happy Earth Day!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oGLKx3jF3uR0uABHIdasU9sHhMQTtbt03-TbFAscKOg00ynaDkexHAUmpMQk3tHLdSyVzmSSqoBRm8WznYTm5OinlTsOcNizvGfLKkHgl4x6HewVeCfwvtMGvosGJitpC-NQTmgt5FM/s1600/10268692_10152202638020914_1546754841135102296_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oGLKx3jF3uR0uABHIdasU9sHhMQTtbt03-TbFAscKOg00ynaDkexHAUmpMQk3tHLdSyVzmSSqoBRm8WznYTm5OinlTsOcNizvGfLKkHgl4x6HewVeCfwvtMGvosGJitpC-NQTmgt5FM/s1600/10268692_10152202638020914_1546754841135102296_n.jpg" height="640" width="376" /></a></div>
<br />Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-14709463371854928282014-03-17T12:28:00.000-04:002014-03-17T12:28:35.878-04:00"I'll make a man out of you"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear family and friends,</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">The
volunteers of La Libertad in coordination with many local agencies in the
community will be putting on a three and a half day camp for a total of 60
adolescent boys from our towns across the region, from rural, semi-rural, and
urban communities. Our focus will be promoting the "well-rounded
IRONMAN"- through activities in vocational orientation, future planning,
volunteerism and gender equality (fighting the ever-dominant machismo).
So, in order to achieve our goal we need to raise money, about $2,400 in
the next month. A little goes a long way here in Peru! Read more about
our project and to donate follow the link below. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Here in Peru, sleepovers are not a thing and Peruvian
teens in our region have very few opportunities to attend overnight camps.
Camp VALOR is a valuable opportunity for both young leaders and
boys-at-risk to learn and be inspired by each other, and have a safe space to
talk honestly about relationships, health, and other topics with their
peers and Peace Corps Volunteers. The boys will take vocational exams and
learn from exemplary young male professionals about different careers, they
will visit university in the department’s capital, learn the importance of
volunteerism and giving back to their communities. They will also learn about
gender equality (fighting the ever dominate machismo mindset) and respect for
others with disabilities or differences. Keep in mind this is all
benefitting boys from communities that often don't have the human or financial
resources to offer these kinds of high-quality trainings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">As with all of our projects, a significant portion
of the budget (50%) is coming from local community contributions and donated
support. All donations made through this link are secure through the Peace
Corps website and tax-deductible.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p>Thanks for all of your support!</o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheyenne</span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">LEARN MORE HERE: </span><a href="https://donate.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=14-527-003" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CAMP VALOR: IRONMAN</span></a></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><a href="https://donate.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=14-527-003">https://donate.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=14-527-003</a></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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</span>Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-12835186030113941522014-03-10T13:10:00.001-04:002014-03-10T13:10:11.626-04:009 months due / WOMEN!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They tell us in training that we should celebrate the small things, including "benchmark days" such as 30 days in site, 30 days in Peru, 6 months in site, 6 months in Peru, 1 year in site/Peru, etc. etc. So, March 6th marked my 9 month in Peru. Peace Corps service is a big committment, so much so that being here almost 9 months, I feel that I am at full-term with this "baby." It is a responsiblity that everyday, I have carried (and still do). This is a 24/7 job because when I'm not "in the office" teaching class or writing a report, I am always representing my country. So, don't mind the aukward 9-month reference, but Peace Corps, <strong>my job</strong>, is an every-day, in-it-to-win-it type of situation. Speaking of 9-months and babies, I have a new cousin Piper that was born about 2 weeks ago and a friend of mine just had her baby as well. CONGRATS!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">March 8th was International Women's Day. On the 7th, we celebrated with a ceremony in the Plaza de Armas, a parade around the Plaza, a speech from the mayor, and free lunch for those in attendance (over 2,000). The week before, we also had inspirational talks from different members of the commnunity, a radio show (in which I participated!), free health clinic for women at the hospital, and educational sessions on gender vs. sex, women's rights, and other topics. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mayor, the governer, me, and the military doctor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing Huayno (tradtional Sierran dance)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How about dancing infront of 2,000+ women <br />a dance I've never attempted? And is kinda tricky!</td></tr>
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Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-79338111296521635862014-03-10T12:45:00.001-04:002014-03-10T12:45:09.386-04:00January and February, 2014: Summer School!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">January came and I started Vacaciones Utiles (literally translates to "Useful Vacaciones," but it's simply "Summer School"). Unlike in the states, summer school isn't for students who have failed a grade or need remedial help.... it's a chance for them to get prepared for the next grade and also to relax and learn something interesting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Vacaciones Utiles is also the first opportunity for a volunteer (who just finished three months in site, like me) to put that Community Diagnostic (that document that covers everything about your site from culture to child labor that you spend your first 3 months putting together, in Spanish) to work. From my investigations, I realized that the youth of Huamahcuco lack creative thinking and critical thinking skills. As a result, I formed a class of 15 students that focused on Arts and Crafts with Recycled products. (Littering/throwing trash on the ground is a huge issue in Huamachuco as well). The students had to critically think about the every-day household products we were using and what we could make new with them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here, Annabel has folded/doubled old magazine pages into a reed/stick. She then rolled the reed into a circle, developing base the size of a drink coaster, in which she will later start forming the sides/walls of a basket or small bowl. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here, Edith has cut a toliet paper carton into circle strips. She is painting them and forming them together with glue to make a flower. The girls made many variations in colors in sizes and they really turned out great. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bryan is making a picture frame from rolled tubes made from recycled newspaper (you can also do this with recycled magazines). He glued them onto a cardboard box we cut to his liking and then cut a hole in the middle for a picture. He painted them to give it design, and added a string to the back so he can hang it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The "boys" explaining their crafts to passerbys.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My students showing off their projects. (It's normal for Peruvians not to smile in photos.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A sampling of our crafts from the class. We made cards that listed the materials so passerbys could marvel at how easy it is to replicate: (CLOCKWISE, starting at cans, top left) Lanterns from milk cans, bowls from coiled recycled magazines, decorative flowers, picture frames from tubes of recycled magazines/newspapers, baskets made from weaving recycled paper/magazines, and decorative flowers (different design) from toliet paper cartons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Team picture after the exposition!</span></div>
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Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-11309566506365417942014-01-28T13:24:00.003-05:002014-01-28T13:24:51.374-05:00Why 27 months?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why do volunteers serve 27 months? Whynot 25, make it a nice square-root number? There are reasons... and it actually makes a lot of sense. Click the link below to find out why. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Post by Peace Corps January 28th, 2014: </span><a href="http://passport.peacecorps.gov/2014/01/27/why-do-we-need-27-months-of-pc-service/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why do we need 27 months of Peace Corps service?</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PS. I've had this blog for over a year now. That's a life-time first! Here's to finishing year #1 in the Peace Corps and all that year #2 has to bring!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thanks for the support.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheyenne</span></div>
Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-54074192502701021252014-01-23T12:25:00.000-05:002014-01-23T12:25:48.923-05:00Off on the right foot... <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First day of the new year, 2014... and it's raining hard in Huamachuco. Here's my Plaza de Armas (main square) and even though the weather is feo/ugly, it's still a beautiful site. Huamachuco has one of the largest plaza de armas in Peru. There are topiaries in different shapes (including a cuy/guinea pig) and beautiful flowers, some of which I have never seen before. Way to go, Peru. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For New Years, went climbed in the back of a neighbor's pick-up truck and spent the next two hours coughing and getting covered in dust as we off-roaded it to Yanasara, a small town about 2 hours outside of Huamachuco. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention their main attraction is there hot-springs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel guilty describing the thermal baths... they were hot and relaxing and I felt rejuvinated for 2014 needless to say. We also did some siteseeing in the town, and Oscar took me by an old Hacienda house (like a Plantation), which I really apreciate seeing these old buildings that still maintain their antiqueness/integrity. We had lunch and then headed back to Huamachuco (and real life, boooo).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">January 7th was my birthday, and we had about 11 people over at my house. Of course snacks were involved. And cake. Let me tell you about this cake. I know they have delicious cake in the States, but I was never a fan of the too-sweet frosting, and here it's like a fluffy pillow of amazingness. And I am being modest about this cake, too. Sweet (not sour) lemon filling, delectable creamy white cake with a texture to die for. And it had my name on top.. how could you not love it? Sorry, I don't have a picture :-(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say, my host mom and dad were missing from my birthday celebration. My host mom fell down the gap between the staircase of a flight and a half of cement stairs in our house. She had a lot of bleeding from her head and she broke her collarbone. She went to Trujillo, our regional capital, and waited in the waiting room for <span style="color: red;">(GET THIS) 10 days. </span><span style="color: black;">No joke. Ten days. There were no beds in surgery. After 10 days, the doctor came and said "Well you know, this will heal itself, there's nothing I can do." I had to hold my tongue when they told me the story. I didn't agree with ten days waiting (and still don't), but there was nothing I could personally do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a lighter note, my regional coordinator and one of my doctors Suni (yes, we have a team of 3 amazing doctors who take care of us), were in town and stopped by. Good times were had by all (and too many cheesetris to count). Here's to year 26!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer school starts in a few days... I've got a neat program put together making recycled crafts (weaved basket using old newspaper, making our own paper, etc.) while secretly working on critical thinking and creativity skills. Wish me luck!</span></div>
Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-87671622861318871072014-01-23T11:32:00.000-05:002014-01-23T11:32:30.800-05:00Feliz Navidad<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where to begin? In early December, I the school year ended and I was stuck being super bored, also trying to organize my summer school details for mid-January. Remember that after-Christmas vacation in Trujillo? MAGICAL. Not really, it was just nice to be in the hot, humid heat for a few days, while the rest of the US was experiencing some sort of #PolarVortex. Sorry about that. That's why I don't have any pictures of the beach... I just felt too guilty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, Christmas was tranquilo/quiet. A bit before midnight on the 24th, we made our way over to a family member's house. I was trying so hard to remember "OK it's Christmas... feel warm fuzzies," but it was difficult. Christmas in Peru is just not Christmas in the States. I was a little "over the whole thing," until the kids starting arriving, squealing with joy looking at all of the presents under the tree, just for them (Christmas in Peru focuses more on the youth). My host newphews and niece arrived, and I was in a better spirit. At exactly midnight, we hugged everyone (even the dog) and then sat down to a small dinner (oven-bbq chicken, apple sauce, and rice, and potatoes). After that, we opened presents. I got a nice towel and a warm fleece blanket for my bed (thanks Oscar). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Christmas day, nothing much was going on, just a lunch with everyone at my house. I think the menu was chicken, rice, potatoes and some sort of wine. I partook in the first 3. I got to SKYPE with my aunt and grandpa (from my dad's side) who I never get to talk to. They met Oscar, too! Overall, it was a successfull first Christmas in Peru. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friends Donald, Jamie and I went to the mall and had some delicious pizza. Sometimes you just have to indulge!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feliz Navidad (Merry Christmas) from Peru!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A week or so before Christmas, Oscar's work had a live nativity scene in which he was one of the 3 wise men (he brought the incense). This took place in Wiracochapampa, a "suburb" if you will of Huamachuco. A lot of the campo people came out (dressed traiditionally, lives in the smaller cities, populations as small as 300) and the kids really enjoyed (adults too) seeing two white Gringas (me and my volunteer friend Julia) in attendance. </span><br />
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<br />Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-90424101441607354652014-01-23T11:12:00.001-05:002014-01-23T11:15:32.671-05:00Don't Join the Peace Corps (repost)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Stole this from another volunteers blog. Wanted to share it. PC volunteers are thought to "change the world," when in fact we change more of ourselves. We plant seeds that we will probably never see grow in our service. Everyday we see different things. Amazing, awesome, awstruck things. For those hard moments, I wouldn't give it up for anything. I know it might be hard to relate if you're not part of the PC family, but just here this volunteer out. Enjoy.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 42px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t join the Peace Corps</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You heard me. Don’t do it. I’m telling you, it’s going to break your heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Core Expectations for Volunteers states you are expected to “serve where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under conditions of hardship, if necessary…” What it doesn’t state however is just what hardship means.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now you’re thinking, “Oh. There’ll be no flush toilets or showers. I can handle that. I might have to squash a few spiders, but for the high calling of changing the world, I think I can put up with those things.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the truth is, hardship isn’t the quirky and fun hardship you’re expecting, where each new day brings adventure upon crazy adventure, more wonderful than the next. True hardship is much more sobering.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During your service you might have to bury a neighbor. Or watch helplessly as your host family is torn to pieces by corruption. You might show up to school to learn one of your students was killed by a classmate. Your host sister could be kidnapped and forced to marry a man she’s never met. You might witness abuse, violence and mistreatment. You may see your best student lose to a kid from another school because his bribe was the biggest. Your dog might be fed a needle, just to quiet it down, forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if none of that happens, then something else will. There’s just no knowing how hard it will be or it what way. It could be dealing with other volunteers is your biggest challenge. Or that you can never live up to the expectations of your host organization. Or that the Internet is so accessible you spend your entire day trolling Facebook, jealous of all the lives continuing on back home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And what about all the things you’ll give up? Your boyfriend might not wait two years for you. You’ll put your career on hold. Your familiar support networks probably won’t be around – there’ll be no gym, no fast food joint, no car to drive, no family to visit. The stress and diet could make you lose thirty pounds—or gain thirty—whichever you don’t want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Peace Corps uses phrases like, “Life is calling. How far will you go?” and in a breath you’re ready to sign your name on the line. But two years is a long, long time and in the middle you find the world you wanted to change is a confusing and complex puzzle of which you are just one, tiny piece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So please, if you’re not ready for the heartbreak in the hardship, don’t join the Peace Corps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because you might just find that all your blood, sweat and tears are worth it – worth the pain, worth the time and worth the investment in the people for whom your heart breaks. Because you might learn some of the most important lessons of your life – that a broken heart can heal stronger than it was before, that a softened heart has more compassion for the world, and that in between its cracks and fissures is the only place where true beauty and grace can grow.</span></div>
Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-73456273800537283832014-01-02T11:15:00.002-05:002014-01-02T11:15:53.271-05:00Reaching out<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, we all that have special someone that we miss when we're long distances away. For me, it's my mom. She's my rock and my inspiration, and I down right miss her a ton. I want to her to come and visit me in Peru, but with this economy and her lack of a sustainable income due to medical bills, etc. she's set up a page on GO FUND ME to raise money for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Peru to visit her one and only child, me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't say how much this would mean to me for her to come here around October, 2014. She's never been outside the US and I want to share with her my Peru. I want her to know what she has helped me achieve, being a Peace Corps volunteer. Below is the link. If you could donate $10, that would be super amazing. It's been 7 months since I've seen her, and it'll be a year and a half by the time if she comes in October, 2014. She's a blessing in my life and I want to share this experience with her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, thanks to everyone who reads this blog and keeps up with me and my journey. Couldn't do it without you all.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">LINK: </span></strong><a href="http://www.gofundme.com/60cr0k" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Help my mom come visit me in Peru!</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Milllllllllllion gracias,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheyenne</span>Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-39474634408832336552013-12-18T14:24:00.000-05:002013-12-18T14:24:17.895-05:00Long time, no see (with pictures!)<div style="text-align: justify;">
I know, I know. I am aware that it's been over 2 months since my last blog posting. Partly because I am a procrastinator and it's always, "tomorrow, tomorrow." Most of the other part is because it is quite impossible to share what I live. This isn 't a vacation. This isn't a 1 month mission trip. This is my JOB. And while I am quite familiar with what I do and experience, it's sometimes hard to relate that to other people, let alone in words in a language I don't use most days. Ok, apology done. </div>
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This is one of the Lagunas that we have close to my site (about 30 min by car). It's one of the largest trout-producing lagunas in the area, too. (Pretty much the only seafood you should eat in the mountains) A group of us went here late October and had a picnic lunch. There are also restaurants nearby of which the boys took advantage of because my "American lunch" of "pan con huevo/egg sandwhich" was just not enough to <em>llenar/</em>fill them up. </div>
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In November, we came back to the Laguna for a "Fight against Women's violence" committee activity. We got members of the community together to form a <em>laso</em>/<em>ribbon</em> of the white fabric to represent that we say <em>ALTO A LA VIOLENCIA!/STOP THE VIOLENCE! </em>Overall, it was great to work with Enith, one of my main socias (community counterparts, with white scarf in front of <em>serenazgo</em>/<em>security guard</em> on the right). Can we give some PROPS to the wind that day making our <em>bandera/flag</em> super Peruvian?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2cUjlKD3kcAUm0_NOEExPqANYSpleMTQ_YbOQmq6X5YteNF0R0VfWqR27IDO-NcCvfnboZtc-6KhvVwIg67D3JNBR4wMyi_suHufP4ZnJqVlc02XEPesRbeHi05-0L3RWIyHIdMSuho/s1600/MEET+THE+MAYOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2cUjlKD3kcAUm0_NOEExPqANYSpleMTQ_YbOQmq6X5YteNF0R0VfWqR27IDO-NcCvfnboZtc-6KhvVwIg67D3JNBR4wMyi_suHufP4ZnJqVlc02XEPesRbeHi05-0L3RWIyHIdMSuho/s1600/MEET+THE+MAYOR.jpg" height="212" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nov 25th was International Fight Against Women's Violence day, and even GOOGLE was celebrating! We had a <em>desfile/parade</em> around town and even the <em>alcade/mayor</em> showed up. Can I get 5 high-fives for great photo taking skills above? We had over 500 women from the casarillos (smaller communities that lay around Huamachuco), a band or so, and tons of balloons. Tons. The sun was fierce, and of course I didn't bring my sunscreen to the event, so I was off running to the nearest <em>farmacia/pharmacy</em> to grab a <em>sachet/smallenvelope</em> of sunscreen. It was a successfull mission (sunscreen attempt and the event overall) and we raised a lot of awareness to the 60,000+ people in my site. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiNi9vdnf4CuaSoNuhmgFdBude5a1zdaohEphIZ1EjsFfpj3vAu0vdiLoTIUDaSTC1jjstnTupv1e2zTlDnaOPdq1eDdg1XjrnOcNjfOn6ukc2Ip_UdMI_EFY6dHJz4g1ssT1Wc54dHk/s1600/IMG_1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiNi9vdnf4CuaSoNuhmgFdBude5a1zdaohEphIZ1EjsFfpj3vAu0vdiLoTIUDaSTC1jjstnTupv1e2zTlDnaOPdq1eDdg1XjrnOcNjfOn6ukc2Ip_UdMI_EFY6dHJz4g1ssT1Wc54dHk/s1600/IMG_1914.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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In October, a group of us went to Markahuamachuco, an ancient archelogical site about 30 minutes away by car (and up a big mountain to an even-higher elevation, 3500 meters/11,300 ish feet) Breathing was a struggle, and the lack of oxygen made me feel a little sick, not going to lie. Others in our group are from the area, so they had no problem scampering around the rocks and darting up steep inclines. I, on the other hand, was breathing in, but nothing was reaching my lungs. Needless to say, it took me a bit longer. I would say "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," but here in Peru the saying is, "What doesn't kill you makes you fatter." I definietly feel that doesn't apply to my excursion. Overall, it was nice to see where people lived so many years ago. It's this culture that is embedded in Huamachuco's current culture that makes its traditions so rich. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the view.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47Vm94GFDum_0rodvZBADcJ_u6znQ6MkOBuM6w_3BBbJoJY-NyccPaXlh8ccBt52OqZvGS-1bI8EENri4RV9qfsXgnbMfdUxIdxs9hOCJFmb9hf9uFdogqENp3XJh1LVvFEM4sl6M-NU/s1600/IMG_2262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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In December, we visited Wiracochapampa, another archelogical site (and also where Oscar currently works, but more on him later). Again, it's just so amazing seeing stones that were put into these formations so long ago. It's INCREDIBLE and so enriching!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMIQsJvt4HpWQV5msgHdLxoPVJsacFxC3i8C7xh7-AOt9ciU_Js7uOl_9zQc5S1V0eRjPjgOKucwP6BOE7KIpvgvjHn3OWpkPondhsrwRWmlPcIpluyqGI6gDdu3mXFez_wqHVJZ2lI8/s1600/IMG_2323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMIQsJvt4HpWQV5msgHdLxoPVJsacFxC3i8C7xh7-AOt9ciU_Js7uOl_9zQc5S1V0eRjPjgOKucwP6BOE7KIpvgvjHn3OWpkPondhsrwRWmlPcIpluyqGI6gDdu3mXFez_wqHVJZ2lI8/s1600/IMG_2323.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the main plaza of Wira(cochapampa), on the principal stage</td></tr>
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Passing through Wira, we continued walking through Payapampa until we reached the end of the road where it was nothing but down-hill slopes. (IE. PHOTO BELOW). We then continued (against my gut reaction) to scale down this (hill they call it, but I call it mountain), which had extra-slippery mud and no <em>camino/road/pathway</em> and we were literally BUSHWACKING it through the Peruvian Andes. Once reaching the bottom (after 1.5 hours), we crossed a river (formed by the waterfall we orginally came to see) by foot and began our journey climbing back up the other side. I know, it all seems a little tarzan to me, too. To be honest, this picture doesn't do it justice, and I still can't believe I made it. I have a cut on my foot, a nice 9-inch wide bruise on my left hip, and sore knees, but it was a great adventure, especially with good friends by my side (who I am very thankful for pushing me to continue). Seriously, I was looking for my helicopter rescue. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The backside of these jeans don't look too nice.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6Jpg9JP-zi8fU3ekAnftIEI1ZKOcp9_nNOIUfNAI93XoNFEOP8u0PJtWfwBqIsTZAWiDLuW1IzoPJ_9mM0KM7hyYNEIVq3GtwuY6ntHrVplq6DpshIqWegsrFE4c6VhJ_sFx56BeZ9g/s1600/IMG_2803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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And now, I will introduce my very supportive and all-around good-hearted boyfriend, Oscar Ubillus. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBrFgEu2QAR2tDTzDwwLkEKh6wXZ0and-7oMfZ1NhumpIoQg-h1YPv_iE3FeRz1jXbFYagmYNTbbIAUQkmfewOCHgx0ZaeCV6IjLV4dItFFbasv5A5cBYxPowPKI3XWQXSHVjnEX3C6s/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBrFgEu2QAR2tDTzDwwLkEKh6wXZ0and-7oMfZ1NhumpIoQg-h1YPv_iE3FeRz1jXbFYagmYNTbbIAUQkmfewOCHgx0ZaeCV6IjLV4dItFFbasv5A5cBYxPowPKI3XWQXSHVjnEX3C6s/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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I met Oscar in my site, Huamachuco, in mid-August. Another volunteer who lives on the coast has a host brother (Calo) who works in my site. Oscar is Calo's friend. I joked with this volunteer to have his host brother send me Coke Zero by way of Calo, and to my disbelief, he did it! Oscar tagged along that night, and we ended up talking, hanging out, etc. etc. etc. </div>
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Oscar is orginally from Lima, (notice those beautiful green eyes and favorable skin complection?) and recently turned 27. He has worked in Huamachuco for the past 3 years in different archeloegical sites (Marcahuamachuco, Wira) drawing the ancient walls before they are excavated. He is really passionate about what he does, and puts his Bachellor of Plastic Arts to use. In his spare time, he likes to collect <em>antiguidades/antiques</em>,<em> </em>sculpt, draw, etc<em>. </em>I've only seen a bit of his work, but he is very talented. </div>
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Oscar is one of those people who give give give give and give, and he gives me so much joy in how he is so supportive of my work here in Peru. He really understands my role as a Youth Development volunteer, and is always looking for opportunities to help me advance my projects. We also both know in two years I finish my contract with Peace Corps, but we are open and honest with each other about the future and where we see ourselves going. A lot can happen in two years!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made 3 months on December 17th, 2013<br />
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Until the next time! Which hopefully won't be another 2 months. :-) Let's hope not.Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-80552524063411593622013-10-18T12:07:00.000-04:002013-10-18T12:07:14.971-04:00Time Keeps on Slippin' <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwW94Y8DLTnA-nZsxrEinoU3e1dDrZHqjw1G0YzJA2kMnHUG3Ra413qGpqA9qo6tCREhsnExDjc71HVN6fgAxf7WFLg1CKNjvAeOJG7pD-csvNE3o16s2Cqxdv-RxIPXsTdsBSrC1x9UU/s1600/800px-Bienvenidos_a_Huamachuco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwW94Y8DLTnA-nZsxrEinoU3e1dDrZHqjw1G0YzJA2kMnHUG3Ra413qGpqA9qo6tCREhsnExDjc71HVN6fgAxf7WFLg1CKNjvAeOJG7pD-csvNE3o16s2Cqxdv-RxIPXsTdsBSrC1x9UU/s400/800px-Bienvenidos_a_Huamachuco.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to Huamachuco</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How does a month slip by so easily? These days seem to drag by (the productive and the not-so-productive ones) but the weeks, months, (and soon to be years) keep on slippin' slippin' slippin'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm rounding about two months in site. 22 more to go, right? 4 months ago, when I was fresh off the boat, 24 months in site seemed like an eternity. Now, I'm wondering if I'll have time to start, monitor, and finish all the projects that keep popping into my head. Huamachuco needs apoyo (support), and everyday I ask myself, <em>how in the world is this gonna happen?</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 months in, however, I'm starting to gain a bit of confidence. I'm starting to get to know my community and when I come back after a couple of days at the regional meeting, my feelings are warm and fuzzy. This is my site. I wish others could come visit (6 hrs from the coast/regional capital tends to do that to you), but for now I'll settle for the 5 chickens that always escape their pen and surprise me at my door. You have to take the early wins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as projects... Not too much has changed. I'm still teaching my Tutoria one hour a week to 40 students. We touch on topics such as self esteem and making good decisions. It's a challenge, definitely. Their learning styles are different than what I'm used to, so every class, I have to figure out how to adapt to that, without freaking them out too much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I help out with two English classes and another Tutoria class during the week as well. Mainly just observing in those classes. It's amazing how much you can take in when you just sit and listen. Oh I can imagine my mom doing a hard head nod in agreement right about now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A future project I'm interested in would be the new library. The municipality (muni for short, like the local government) has a brand new space to move the library into, but they have no action plan and quite frankly, the whole project lacks a lot of pilas (literally means <em>batteries</em>. more like OOOMPH/GUSTO). I feel like I am the sole person who has an interest in it, but that's just the way it works. I've been designated (thanks to my sitemate, Lindsay) to create an action plan complete with design examples and research articles to present to the muni to prove to them I can make this space AWESOME but still functional. Change is hard... and it seems especially so in the Sierra.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rainy season has begun in Huamachuco. Meaning it is partly/mostly cloudy all day with some serious downpour in the afternoons that sometimes lasts into the night. Temps during the day average around 65 or so (it's hard to say, really), but at night I can see my breath and often go to bed in multiple layers. Traditionally in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite that of the northern sphere (including good old Amuurrica), but in the Sierra, it's opposite of Peru's "normal" and more like what I know. So while the coast is now entering the season of "summer," Huamachuco is creeping into "winter." It doesn't bother me too much, but I'll be requesting my flannel pajamas and bedroom slippers for Christmas.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3O1oMkDxvf6FsRi_wCycoHS1rxMeXxtpVil20PRhDc4Qtu7w0-xxs17i4ACB_QSUOXHD1Kk6f_xPrHkHAlmt5esxUCxLQih2RaEF6t_apwdmMZ5_dSu2B4YPnTHlV9ZAtVsWSSd0Ba6M/s1600/1384134_368351653295585_1990301327_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3O1oMkDxvf6FsRi_wCycoHS1rxMeXxtpVil20PRhDc4Qtu7w0-xxs17i4ACB_QSUOXHD1Kk6f_xPrHkHAlmt5esxUCxLQih2RaEF6t_apwdmMZ5_dSu2B4YPnTHlV9ZAtVsWSSd0Ba6M/s320/1384134_368351653295585_1990301327_n.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently in my site, they discovered an ancient water canal system underneath my plaza de armas. Sorry, the site is in Castellano (what Peruvians call Spanish), but it's still worth the read. </span><a href="http://www.rpp.com.pe/2013-10-16-descubren-antiguo-canal-de-agua-en-la-plaza-de-armas-de-huamachuco-noticia_639790.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DESCUBREN ANTIGUO CANAL</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In early October, my town celebrated Dia de Los Negritos, which includes people decorating the plaza de armas with tinted sawdust such as below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In honor of San Francisco de Asís, barefooted walkers wear a maroon cape with a white collar, and a matching maroon hat. Carrying red carnations in their mouths, they dance interpretively to classic Huayno music. The procession is compiled of women, men, and children, all of whom are devotees of the Saint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, it seems strange to summarize a month in less than 800 words, but these are just the highlights. I could tell you of all the NCIS and CSI marathons I have had, but that won't be important to remember in two years. :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love to everyone in the US of A and everyone abroad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheyenne</span></div>
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Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-1070207842282522912013-09-11T13:43:00.000-04:002013-09-11T13:43:59.700-04:00Peruvian Pensivity <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peru is awkward... down right uncomfortable. Why did I sign up to be gawked at, not taken seriously, under appreciated, misunderstood, etc. etc.? Why do I have to be so far away from the capital up here in my mountain? Where are there no coke zeros? No movies? No McDonalds? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll tell you why. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because life is all about taking chances. It's about doing something you haven't done before. If you're getting the same result, it means your doing the same thing. You have to change up your approach and realize that it's not all about you sometimes. So what if you step in cow poop on your daily commute, or if you have to repeat yourself 8+ times just to get a simple point across. "It is what it is," says my site mate. If you keep the mentality that "wow this sucks," then yeah, it's going to suck. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>We are </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>given a life to </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>push limits, test</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>ourselves, move mountains, </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>and create something better for the future.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You might expect me to always say that Peru is fantastic, surprising, beautiful, fulfilling, and all those other superlatives. Don't get me wrong, Peru is all of those things, but it wouldn't be as such if the "less than perfect" things were there too. That's why we have happy moments, because we know what it feels to have sad moments. There is no light without dark. The two coexist. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here I am in Peru... coexisting. Sure many things get on my nerves daily, but things are beginning to change. I get up to the 4th time of repeating myself before I get a little upset. <a href="http://cheyennepeacecorps.blogspot.com/2013/08/say-what-swearing-in.html" target="_blank">"Poco a poco,"</a> remember? For those of you who think I repeat myself just fine enough as it is... just you wait till I return to the US! :-) Until I do, I'll keep moving along, trying different approaches to this new life I have in Peru. For as many negative things I can think of about Peru, there are just as many if not more positive things! I mean, I am so amazingly blessed to be here doing this. Everyday I wake up, open my curtains, behold the beautiful Andes mountains, and think, "THIS IS MY LIFE?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those of you on the verge of something that you don't know if it's great or not, just do it. Try. You have no idea how you'll succeed if you don't even give it a shot. If all fails, at least you'll learn something about yourself along the way. Take it from me. I've only been in Peru 3 months, but I <strike>feel</strike> <strike>think</strike> KNOW that I have changed and grown. Yeah sometimes I miss my coke zeros, but it's life... and those things aren't really important.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take care, take it easy, but also remember to take it to the next level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Cheyenne</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go and Grow.</td></tr>
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Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-68532496305095804962013-08-29T16:50:00.003-04:002013-08-29T16:50:50.541-04:00Say what? & Swearing in!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to shift my focus in posts from my everyday doings to things that showed the culture/Peruvianisms more. Here's some vocab/phrases I have learned being in el Peru for the past 2 and a half months. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Aprovechar [a-pro-veh-CHAR]:</strong> take advantage of (I need to aprovechar my time in Peru to better my Spanish.) Life is about taking advantage of what you are given. Don't let it be filled with regrets. When I am in my regional capital, I aprovechar and drink an ice cold (with ice)** Coka Cola Zero (no diet coke here in Peru). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">** Refrigerators seem not to exist in Huamachuco. Also, there is an issue with drinking anything cold (ever) and taking showers (which are normally cold bc most people don't have hot water heaters) at night will make you sick. This is a very prevalent belief/custom (costumbre) in Sierran culture. I'll make sure to address this in another post. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plaza de Armas, Huamachuco, La Libertad, Peru</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Todavia [toe-da-VEE-ya]:</strong> not yet/ still (Have you done your community diagnostic yet? Todavia, no. Todavia, I haven't done it.) The first 2 weeks in site, this was my answer to everything. It's 8am, have you woken up yet? (Todavia). Are you teaching any classes yet? (Todavia). Are you feeling better? (Todavia, no). Site is so different from training and honestly the first two weeks I just want to decompress. I've been productive, but remember that sometimes taking personal time IS productive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Polvo [POLE-voh]:</strong> dust (There is a lot of polvo in Lima) Basically, running along the coast of Peru are mountains that block moisture from getting to the other side. That's why in Chaclacayo, where I was for training, the mountains (they call them "cerros" here which are more like hills) were pure rock and the wind blows the fine dust around, coating everything. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0IflNXyDmYIGppO5jrEz652SDCU6V7gBfXE5R7cCraq80iIXB-p8zDXCi3SaJoYaMYQ64t2Gx06P89E3Px4c1RtV_cud5acDbIRs1987vb6cwAaKpmMA98i5lj1eWfbiaFkoODs6QZE/s1600/1002256_10101494222902242_732749278_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0IflNXyDmYIGppO5jrEz652SDCU6V7gBfXE5R7cCraq80iIXB-p8zDXCi3SaJoYaMYQ64t2Gx06P89E3Px4c1RtV_cud5acDbIRs1987vb6cwAaKpmMA98i5lj1eWfbiaFkoODs6QZE/s1600/1002256_10101494222902242_732749278_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Example of dry mountains in Chaclacayo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>De repente [deh rey-PENT-ehh]:</strong> unfortunately (I went to the post office 11am on a Thursday, de repente, it was closed) More specifically speaking about holidays (feriados) in Peru, there are so many! I have seen here that when a feriado falls on a weekend, the vacation extends into the prior week. For example, I went to visit a school on a Thursday and (de repente) they had chosen to cancel classes for Thursday and Friday to add on to the feriado already planned for Saturday. Sometimes the local government also gives "optional" feriados and who's not going to say YES to that? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Poco a poco [POH-coh a POH-coh]:</strong> little by little (Poco a poco, I might (might not) learn to love soup with fish heads.) Really though, this whole Peace Corps experience I am taking little by little. How do you eat an elephant? Bite by bite. You can't jump into a culture and not expect to chocar (literally means to crash, like with cars, but here it means to have a problem with). With time, things plan out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And just to sum up previous weeks, I swore in as an Official Peace Corps Peru Volunteer (PCV) on Friday, August 16th, 2013. Less than 2 years to go!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-VzwFbz25PNm7vFgh0a-U3a8uRUOm3PHOrrt75Gs8kKpJDCya0ldg4V8a5BfdHNbkEd_pZ6jZWfRGcmUlkkbDRXs8jhOKxkVwvKrYCAT0b4HT0VweNDLtJx4E8J4M4btxz1s5HgDl9w/s1600/1209050_10201818651493830_1332618741_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-VzwFbz25PNm7vFgh0a-U3a8uRUOm3PHOrrt75Gs8kKpJDCya0ldg4V8a5BfdHNbkEd_pZ6jZWfRGcmUlkkbDRXs8jhOKxkVwvKrYCAT0b4HT0VweNDLtJx4E8J4M4btxz1s5HgDl9w/s1600/1209050_10201818651493830_1332618741_n.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August 16th, 2013: Officially a PCV</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJakwAI51UDnJcBsbLAqo1vjRUxGTR92MFl9S6RC-LvLSHSRa-NA3P0jWySPj9WCyiXRzOc-yTaq2r-s2xeGQecaA1uj0SrgzfC_1-czYX1f8Zxrga-ulVJtgkuDse-wmyz9-2VH1luX0/s1600/1157429_10151780745372777_2143159277_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJakwAI51UDnJcBsbLAqo1vjRUxGTR92MFl9S6RC-LvLSHSRa-NA3P0jWySPj9WCyiXRzOc-yTaq2r-s2xeGQecaA1uj0SrgzfC_1-czYX1f8Zxrga-ulVJtgkuDse-wmyz9-2VH1luX0/s1600/1157429_10151780745372777_2143159277_n.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PC 21 with US Ambassador in Peru Michael Fitzpatrick (8th from back left) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and country director Sanjay Mathur (9th from back left)</span></td></tr>
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Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-78249783283690072282013-08-05T22:13:00.002-04:002013-08-05T22:13:54.505-04:00MAIL: Get it?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd like to get some, that's for sure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I move to my final site soon so here's my new mailing address for two years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Packages/small envelopes under a pound usually gets through customs just fine, but anything larger and you should follow a few trucos/tricks: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write "Christian-related" words/phrases on the package. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dios te bendiga (God bless you)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dios te ama (God loves you)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus (Jesus)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stickers with crosses, Jesus faces, etc. usually ward off greedy custom agents</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing in red is sort of TABOO so they don't want to mess with that. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Address it to "Hermana Cheyenne" (Sister Cheyenne) makes less likely to get stolen</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NEVER NEVER, I REPEAT NEVER say that its value is over $100. I'll never see that box.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When stating what's actually IN the box for customs papers, put things like "office supplies, shoe insoles, etc." because come on, who wants to steal boring stuff?</span></li>
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<span class="null"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MAILING ADRESS:</span></strong></span></div>
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Hermana Cheyenne Buelterman
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<span class="null"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cuerpo de Paz - Peru
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<span class="null"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SERPOST Huamachuco
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<span class="null"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sánchez Carrión, La Libertad
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<span class="null"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peru, S America</span></span></div>
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<span class="null"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I eagerly await your palabras! (words) </span></span></div>
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<span class="null"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheyenne</span></span></div>
Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-36135883780396278162013-07-25T19:24:00.000-04:002013-07-25T19:24:09.458-04:00And my final site placement is...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Huamachuco, La Libertad! Read more here: </span><a href="http://www.huamachuco-peru.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Huamachuco, La Libertad</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow wow wowwwwwww.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quick note about Field Based Training (FBT) It went well. We did charlas just about every day, did a LOT of traveling, witnessed a road-blocking pueblo strike where police had to throw tear gas and use rubber bullets to get protestors to back down. I had the opportunity to teach an English class, and am starting to see my teaching style show. I got a lot of ideas on what I can do in my final site.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kept thinking I was going to Ancash, and after FBT I was digging it A LOT! Monday after chats, from subtle hints, I found out I wasn't going there at all, and I kinda freaked out. I think what happened is that I didn't know what I wanted. I thought I wanted Ancash and therefore I put this "title" on what my final site was going to be (little did I know). I held onto this as if it were the only thing that was going to make my time in Peace Corps successful. Let's just say Monday was kinda rough. I was realizing that I had to let go of this notion I had created (an unfair prejudice I might add), and it was tough coming to terms with that. In the following days, however, I was glad I had that opportunity and in the end, I got exactly wh</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">at I wanted (and never knew). I was excited to go somewhere that I had never been before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reading about my site and what its needs are, etc., I am feeling <strike>good</strike> <strike>great</strike> AWESOME. (Shout out to Sarah on that one). Things are falling into place and now, I have a SITE, a HOST FAMILY, a SITE MATE, a place that belongs to me and will be my home for the next two years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm about 5 hours from my capital city so unfortunately, I'll only be going there about once a month. That's when I can get my mail, and soon I hope to be getting that set up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About everything, I have to be honest, I couldn't be more happier... even if my English grammar is starting to slip. :-) </span></div>
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Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3876862474098097457.post-30045408504968817572013-07-07T17:14:00.000-04:002013-07-07T17:14:08.806-04:002 Second 2 Cents<div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's my second album on facebook with my Peru pictures. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10101521696554822.1073741831.12125447&type=1&l=63ff4759fe">Photos!</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have been doing some practicum teachings in schools... getting more and more comfortable with last minute adjustments (welcome to Peru).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have redefined how I view "effectiveness," as it means something totally different here in Peru.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Washing clothes by hands is something I really enjoy. The hour and a half "chore" brings me great joy on the weekends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow, we find out our final site region: sierra (highlands/cold(er)) or the coast. I'm hoping for the sierra.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have field base training July 14-21st, and that is dependent on if we get coast or sierra. Coasters go to various sites within </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Libertad_Region"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">La Libertad</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and the sierrans (I'm just making up words here) go to </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancash_Region"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ancash</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Secretly, I would like Ancash as a final placement site. Thumbs up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July 4th we had a Olympic day at the training center, and then we had delicious hamburgers at the director's house in Lima. A. Maze.Ing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've decided to do a cool video project. Each day, I'll take 32seconds of video and after a month, or whatever time period I decide, I'll compile it with music. Sounded cool... here's a friend's sample: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o8WqeC3Uaw" target="_blank">2 seconds per day</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Letters and packages le</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ss than one pound can be sent to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cuerpo de Paz - Peru</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheyenne B. PCT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calle Los Cedros 447</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chaclacayo, Lima 8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peru, South America</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Packages greater than one pound can be as well, but it should NEVER be sent priority mail. Better just wrap it in a brown paper bag and write things like "Dios Te Bendiga" (God Bless You) on it. Also, on the customs forms, NEVER say its worth over $100 even if it is. Lastly, list articles within the package as normal boring stuff (notebooks, thread, etc.) This throws off customs officials who might try and steal the goodies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheyenne</span></div>
Cheyennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02359478720201178716noreply@blogger.com0