Hola desde Lima!

My Peace Corps adventure officially started on Thursday morning when my parents dropped me off at the airport in Kansas City (after very little sleep). I flew to Washington DC and joined 77 other trainees and about half a dozen staff at a hotel. We turned in documents, proofed our passports and airline tickets, got loan deferment certification, and did about 6 hours of socializing, team-building, logistics and other preparations. We even got a surprise visit from the Peru country director and a couple of other staff. Finally at 7pm we were free to find group to walk with to go out to dinner, and then I showered, sent an email to my parents, and crashed by 10:45.

Friday morning we had to be up at 5:30, checked out by 6:30, and loaded onto the buses with our luggage by about 7:30. Our flight was supposed to leave at 12:40. It ended up being delayed by about an hour, which would have put us into Miami right before our flight to Lima would have left. However, with 78 of us we weren't too worried about missing our flight. We arrived in Lima 9:30 Peru time (which is technically Eastern time, but is Central time during Daylight Savings Time). By the time we got through immigration and customs, and then were told that there were problems with our bus reservation, we didn't get loaded onto mini-buses and out of the airport until 11:30. We finally got to a retreat in the far outskirts of Lima by 1:00.

Today, Saturday, we were up at 7:00. We spent most of the day learning more information about the different programs, getting our medical kits and money to pay our host families, giving our preferences about host family arrangements, and doing an interview in Spanish to determine in what level of class we should be placed. I can generally read Spanish pretty well, but I struggled a little trying to converse on the spot, especially when conjugating past tense verbs. I'm curious to find out what level I'm in. During our free time before dinner, several of us got to pick the brains of two volunteers that are almost done with their two years and have signed on for a third.

Tomorrow we will head out to our training centers. My group, Environmental Education, and the Water and Sanitation group will be doing our training at a new center in a suburb about an hour outside of Lima, while the Health group will be doing their training at the original center in a suburb about 30 minutes outside Lima. Then we will meet and go home with our host families...I am excited but nervous about this. I will be the only trainee in my family. I am very interested to meet these people, but I don't know what kind of family it will be (older couple, family with kids...) or anything else about the food or living situation. Mostly I am concerned about my level of Spanish and whether or not we will like each other.

So far I am enjoying myself. All of the other trainees seem nice, smart, and interesting, and I think the staff are even more excited to have us here than we are to be here. The weather here is beautiful, especially outside the smog of Lima, though I was surprised to have the sun set at about 6:30. I've liked most of the food, though it is a little different than what I am used to. I miss my family, friends, and familiar surroundings of course, but it is hard to feel lonely with so many like-minded people around.

Hasta luego para ahora!

Fun Facts about Peru and the Peace Corps

1. Guinea pig is considered a delicacy in the Andes. I am actually looking forward to trying it.

2. Riding or driving a motorcycle during my service is considered grounds for "administrative separation".

3. Peru is 3 times the size of California; nearly the size of Alaska. It has mountains, highlands, coastal desert, and tropical forests.

4. I will be doing 3 months of training in the capital, Lima. During that time I will find out where my host community for the next 2 years will be.

5. I will live with a host family for my entire service. I am guaranteed my own room, but I may have to use a latrine. I may or may not have access to running water, electricity, internet and cell phone service.

6. I am limited to 2 pieces of luggage, totaling not more than 107 inches and 80 pounds, and a carry-on. Many items can be obtained in Peru, but it is still tough to know what to pack!

7. Peru is where the potato was domesticated. It is still a staple, along with pasta and rice, and seafood on the coast.

8. Llamas are used as pack animals while alpacas are used for their wool.

9. The population of 28 million is 70% urban, with about 8 million in Lima. About 46% of the population (especially those in rural areas) live below the poverty line. About 85% of the population is either indigenous or mestizo. Spanish and Quechua are the official languages, though many other indigenous languages are common depending on the region. The vast majority practice Catholicism.

10. Peru and surrounding areas (northern Ecuador to central Chile) were home to the Inca empire. Spanish invaders captured their capital, Cuzco, in 1533. They subsequently founded Lima, which became the center of Spanish power in South America until Peru proclaimed independence in 1821. I am really looking forward to visiting the ruins of the Incan city Machu Picchu high in the Andes.

Thanks to the Peace Corps Peru Welcome Book, my new guide book, and various websites for this helpful information!

I got a huge packet of information and paperwork last Wednesday. I've been hard at work on my passport application, visa application, aspiration statement and custom resume which are all basically due this Friday. Thank goodness my mom has been able to help me brainstorm ideas, and will be making a special trip to Manhattan to bring me my passport. But, it's still all a bit overwhelming, so I'm procrastinating by working on the blog!

My First Blog

Hi Everyone!

This is my first attempt at a blog, and a blog post, so I'm just trying things out. Let me know what you think about how everything looks and if you can read it.

I finally got my official Peace Corps invitation and volunteer assignment today! I will be leaving in September to work as an Environmental Educator in Peru for the next 2 years. No promises on how often I will be able to update this blog, but I hope it will make it easier for me to share my Adventures in Environmental Education with all of you. More to come soon!

Sara in Peru