In case you thought I decided to live full time in Peru, don't worry, I am now safe and secure back in the United States of America. However I did consider the option. . . I arrived Wednesday night with only a slight delay leaving Atlanta. My parents were ecstatic to greet me in the Des Moines airport. They were full of questions and comments about my trip. Most comments I have heard are about my tan. The last couple days in Peru were lazy days so I took the opportunity to soak up as much sun as I could and ended up getting a little color from it.
Anyways, I wanted to try and sum up my trip as best I could on here but for some reason I am finding it hard to think of words to explain it. I feel like I have experienced a lifetime of adventures in only a few weeks in South America. I seen some of the most magnificent sights, heard some of the best music, and definitely ate some of the best foods imaginable. But most of all, I have formed friendships that I know will last for a lifetime. Nothing surpasses the importance of the people and the breath of humanity I experienced in my short time in Peru. Even after learning how different the culture is compared to the one I grew up in, I was still able to realize that we are very similar people. Speaking different languages, singing different music, or eating different types of food are so infinitesimally small compared to the real aspects of people that if you can focus on what really matters for only a brief moment, the differences you have with someone else soon disappears and all that is left are the things we all have in common.
Kindness, hope, anger, passion, gratitude, happiness, sadness, disappointment, and love are just a few of the similarities we all have as people of this earth. No matter what continent, or what country, or what city we live in, we are all the same in these aspects. We all need something or someone. We all have wants and desires. We all hold the power to help or to hurt. It doesn't take a language degree, or even a passport, to help someone in another country, to give someone something to eat, or give a Christmas gift to a child living in the dessert. All it takes is the realization that we are not alone in this fight we call life.
So instead of writing about my experiences any more than I already have, I have decided to put together a short video showing the highlights of the trip and hopefully explaining things in a way that's going to be interesting! So keep checking back for links to the video once I get it done. It won't be long! Until then, let me explain what this Realife stuff is all about.
So what is Real Life? The logo Realife is found on the brochure for "Brighten Their Christmas", it is found on this website, and it has even been referenced in previous posts. But what is the Real Life that I am speaking of?
Assume for a second that Realife was an authentic English word found in a dictionary. After opening up the dusty Websters dictionary, what would the explanation be for Realife? Some may guess that Realife is freedom, prosperity, a good life . . . you know . . . Realife. Others would look from a financial perspective arguing that Realife could only mean nice clothes, a big house, financial stability, retirement, or that 1968 Chevrolet that has long been dreamt of. But since the writer of this blog has none of those things then logically it would have to mean something else. Maybe Realife is finding that special someone in life, having a child to teach, or a loving Mother. Or maybe even yet, Realife is something much more simple like a good cup of coffee or a conversation by a camp fire. But come on, I can't stand it anymore, just tell me! What is Realife?!?!
Ok so maybe to me, Realife is unexplainable. But let me try. Realife is more than material objects, money, or things. Realife is something that can't be seen or touched and especially not bought. Realife is instead something you get only when you ask for it. Realife is something you find when only you look for it. Realife is something given to you but at the same time it is not free. Realife is not majestic but at the same time it is unexplainable. Realife is not breathing life itself but it is life. Realife is not experiences but let me tell you, you haven't lived until you experience it. Realife to me is simply this . . . knowing what I live for.
To me, life is only a second, but Realife is eternity. Once you experience Realife you will know that nothing else matters. Realife to me is knowing why I am here, where I am going, and what is expected of me in between.
Please, if you want to experience Realife, then don't hesitate to send me an email, call me on my phone, or if you are reading this after I have passed, then simply say the prayer below because this is how I found REAL LIFE and I have a feeling it witll work for you too. This will lead you to eternal life and give you a relationship with the giver of Real Life. This will, maybe slowly or maybe quickly, open your eyes to what life is all about. If you think this idea of helping others was something I thought up myself then I must point out to you that you are mistaken. Instead I learned from someone who is more giving than I can imagine.
Prayer for eternal life:
Dear God,I believe in you and I want to live for you. I have sinned and I want your forgiveness given to me through your Son, Jesus Christ. I believe that because Christ died and rose again He has overcame sin and can give me eternal life along with purpose in this life. I want to experience your Holy Spirit as I turn from my sins and focus my eyes on you. In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen
If you say that prayer and truly mean it then I promise you will soon realize what I am talking about. I hope that this blog has found you well. I hope it has stirred up the internal chemicals that drive for goodness and giving and that you have found your meaning in life. I hope it has somehow helped you.
But wait, don't go just yet . . . . you will be hearing more from me in the very near future so please keep an eye on this site. . . . you won't believe what I have waiting for you!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Welcome to the Jungle
Welcome to the jungle, or maybe I should say welcome home from the jungle as I arrived back in Lima, Peru today after a weekend exploring the jungle and mountains of Peru. I think this trip was the first time I experienced so much humidity, cold thin air, snow, and blistering heat all within only a few hours of each other.
We began our journey at 8:00 p.m. leaving Lima, Peru on a 12 hour bus ride destined for Tingo Maria which is a city deep in heart of the jungle. The city, with only a few roads leading in and out, has only been accessible by road since the 80's.
The bus ride was a little long. Since the roads going up and down the mountains are bummpy and VERY curvy, the bus ride is more like a swaying boat in the middle of a storm out at sea. So needless to say, sleep was a little difficult. There was a couple hours of straight road where I caught some sleep though.
We arrived in Tingo Maria early the next morning and found our hotel to get some much needed sleep. Around noon we meet up with Chano and the rest of his family to spend some time with them. I am going to leave out the details of this part until later for good reason. You will hear this story in much more detail when the time is right :)
After our time with Chano, Rosa, and the family it was back to the hotel for a good nights rest! I think I feel asleep around 8 o'clock I was so tired! I felt good, but still groggy, as we woke early to get a ride to Tarma. (Tarma was our next destination in the Mountains)
This is about a 6 hour trip on bus but because of the holidays the bus we needed was full! So the plan changed from a bus ride to a taxi drive. This is a little more expensive but it was better than the alternative which was not to go at all. And I must admit, traveling by taxi was MUCH more interesting than traveling by bus.
As we left, the rain really started to come down hard. This was the first time I saw rain in Peru. Since Lima is located on the other side of the moutains, it never rains. The closest thing Lima gets to rain is dense fog. So to see the rain was a little shocking but not as shocking as how the taxi driver drove through it!
Maybe it was because he was young, or maybe it was because he was used to it, but for whatever reason the taxi driver must have thought that rain and curves gave him more traction because he seemed to speed up through puddles and around corners. Knowing a little bit about physics I know it isn't so bad to accelerate moderatly in a curve. But to accelerate exessivily BEFORE getting to a corner is something else!
But even with the 3 taxi drivers it took to get from Tingo Maria to Tarma, we were able to arrive just in time for lunch at maybe the best resturaunt in Tarma: The Pollo Stop.
For those who are like me and don't know a lot of spanish, Pollo means chicken and stop means stop. I think the owners of this resturant were trying to get two birds with one stone with this name.
Anyways, the chicken was great and made me feel like I was sitting at KFC. Me, Pat, and Garry all downed our chicken quickly as we missed breakfast in the early morning rush. Garry called their friends, and former missionaries from the city of Tarma, and told them we arrived. So Jr Crouse, his wife, and two daughters met us for lunch there at the Pollo stop. It was a great opportunity to meet some other missionaries in Peru and learn about their lives. Jr is an agriculture expert along with a bit of an entrepenure. He is doing wonders starting microenterprises within the country of Peru. One of his specialties is coffee. Being a fellow coffee drinker myself, I found it fascinating to hear how much of a science coffee beans can be! It was also really nice because they spoke perfect english! They are from the U.S. so this wasn't unexpected.
The time flew by in Tarma and soon the sun went down and it was time for the Sunday night service at the local Church. Pat and Garry, along with JR and his family, knew a lot of people from the Church including the Pastor and his wife. Garry, being a director over many churches and pastors in Peru, actually has a lot of connections so that was yet another benefit traveling with Pat and Garry.
Not long before the service, Pat told me that they might want to hear my testimony. Just as in Comas, the people in Tarma are very interested in vistors and are always inviting them to speak and give their personal story to the church.
I am not the greatest speaker so it always makes me nervous to talk in front of crowds. But since I already has some practice I had a bit more courage this time. Also, since my spanish is only at the introductory level, Pat had to tranlate for me. This also helped since I knew I could mess up a little and Pat could correct it in her spanish.
The speech went great and everyone seemed very receptive to my story. Afterwards, many people came up to me and told me how touched they were. Even the pastors wife brought tears to my eyes as she explained her emotion. I was very touched by the people of Tarma and the love that they shown to a complete stranger.
It was hard to leave but it was getting late and the traveling was starting to catch up to me. It wasn't hard to get some sleep that Sunday night.
I couldn't believe it was Monday morning already and time to head back to Lima. I wasn't dissapointed though. Actually I felt somewhat accomplished as I thought about all the sites I had seen and realized that I had just travled to the three regions of Peru i.e. coast, mountains, and jungle.
The ride back to Lima was much more intersting as we travled during the daylight hours. This gave me more opportunities to snap some pictures. I am not sure where exactly we were at any give time but Garry informed me after the trip that at one point we were close to three miles above sea level at the summit of Ticlio which is 15,685 feet high! This is actually the location of the worlds highest railroad. We also traveled over the smaller, but still impressive peak of Cerro de Pasco at 14,212 feet.
We arrived back in Lima with no problems early in the afternoon. It was good to see the sunshine of Lima and know we had done it! It was also interesting to reflect on how I felt in Lima. When I first arrived in Lima from the U.S. just a few days earlier, I was nervous and felt out of place. But after traveling to Pisco, Tingo Maria, and Tarma, Lima felt just like home. At times, it's amazing how my perception depends solely on the position from where I am looking.
We began our journey at 8:00 p.m. leaving Lima, Peru on a 12 hour bus ride destined for Tingo Maria which is a city deep in heart of the jungle. The city, with only a few roads leading in and out, has only been accessible by road since the 80's.
The bus ride was a little long. Since the roads going up and down the mountains are bummpy and VERY curvy, the bus ride is more like a swaying boat in the middle of a storm out at sea. So needless to say, sleep was a little difficult. There was a couple hours of straight road where I caught some sleep though.
We arrived in Tingo Maria early the next morning and found our hotel to get some much needed sleep. Around noon we meet up with Chano and the rest of his family to spend some time with them. I am going to leave out the details of this part until later for good reason. You will hear this story in much more detail when the time is right :)
After our time with Chano, Rosa, and the family it was back to the hotel for a good nights rest! I think I feel asleep around 8 o'clock I was so tired! I felt good, but still groggy, as we woke early to get a ride to Tarma. (Tarma was our next destination in the Mountains)
This is about a 6 hour trip on bus but because of the holidays the bus we needed was full! So the plan changed from a bus ride to a taxi drive. This is a little more expensive but it was better than the alternative which was not to go at all. And I must admit, traveling by taxi was MUCH more interesting than traveling by bus.
As we left, the rain really started to come down hard. This was the first time I saw rain in Peru. Since Lima is located on the other side of the moutains, it never rains. The closest thing Lima gets to rain is dense fog. So to see the rain was a little shocking but not as shocking as how the taxi driver drove through it!
Maybe it was because he was young, or maybe it was because he was used to it, but for whatever reason the taxi driver must have thought that rain and curves gave him more traction because he seemed to speed up through puddles and around corners. Knowing a little bit about physics I know it isn't so bad to accelerate moderatly in a curve. But to accelerate exessivily BEFORE getting to a corner is something else!
But even with the 3 taxi drivers it took to get from Tingo Maria to Tarma, we were able to arrive just in time for lunch at maybe the best resturaunt in Tarma: The Pollo Stop.
For those who are like me and don't know a lot of spanish, Pollo means chicken and stop means stop. I think the owners of this resturant were trying to get two birds with one stone with this name.
Anyways, the chicken was great and made me feel like I was sitting at KFC. Me, Pat, and Garry all downed our chicken quickly as we missed breakfast in the early morning rush. Garry called their friends, and former missionaries from the city of Tarma, and told them we arrived. So Jr Crouse, his wife, and two daughters met us for lunch there at the Pollo stop. It was a great opportunity to meet some other missionaries in Peru and learn about their lives. Jr is an agriculture expert along with a bit of an entrepenure. He is doing wonders starting microenterprises within the country of Peru. One of his specialties is coffee. Being a fellow coffee drinker myself, I found it fascinating to hear how much of a science coffee beans can be! It was also really nice because they spoke perfect english! They are from the U.S. so this wasn't unexpected.
The time flew by in Tarma and soon the sun went down and it was time for the Sunday night service at the local Church. Pat and Garry, along with JR and his family, knew a lot of people from the Church including the Pastor and his wife. Garry, being a director over many churches and pastors in Peru, actually has a lot of connections so that was yet another benefit traveling with Pat and Garry.
Not long before the service, Pat told me that they might want to hear my testimony. Just as in Comas, the people in Tarma are very interested in vistors and are always inviting them to speak and give their personal story to the church.
I am not the greatest speaker so it always makes me nervous to talk in front of crowds. But since I already has some practice I had a bit more courage this time. Also, since my spanish is only at the introductory level, Pat had to tranlate for me. This also helped since I knew I could mess up a little and Pat could correct it in her spanish.
The speech went great and everyone seemed very receptive to my story. Afterwards, many people came up to me and told me how touched they were. Even the pastors wife brought tears to my eyes as she explained her emotion. I was very touched by the people of Tarma and the love that they shown to a complete stranger.
It was hard to leave but it was getting late and the traveling was starting to catch up to me. It wasn't hard to get some sleep that Sunday night.
I couldn't believe it was Monday morning already and time to head back to Lima. I wasn't dissapointed though. Actually I felt somewhat accomplished as I thought about all the sites I had seen and realized that I had just travled to the three regions of Peru i.e. coast, mountains, and jungle.
The ride back to Lima was much more intersting as we travled during the daylight hours. This gave me more opportunities to snap some pictures. I am not sure where exactly we were at any give time but Garry informed me after the trip that at one point we were close to three miles above sea level at the summit of Ticlio which is 15,685 feet high! This is actually the location of the worlds highest railroad. We also traveled over the smaller, but still impressive peak of Cerro de Pasco at 14,212 feet.
We arrived back in Lima with no problems early in the afternoon. It was good to see the sunshine of Lima and know we had done it! It was also interesting to reflect on how I felt in Lima. When I first arrived in Lima from the U.S. just a few days earlier, I was nervous and felt out of place. But after traveling to Pisco, Tingo Maria, and Tarma, Lima felt just like home. At times, it's amazing how my perception depends solely on the position from where I am looking.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Feliz Ano Nuevo!
Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you all had half as much fun as I did. I had no idea what I was getting into when I decided to spend New Years Eve in Peru this year. But I gotta say it was a blast and I would recommend it for everyone!
Let me tell you a little about my experience. New Years Eve just happens to be the birthday of Chano (the now 20-year old who helped with our project) So Me, Pat, and Garry made plans to attend his birthday party at his house in Comas, Peru. Peruvians don't start parties until about 9:00 or 10:00 so we knew it was going to be a long night. But before going to the party we got hungry and went to a restaurant that happened to be serving Guinea Pig! This was a yet another great opportunity to try an authentic Peruvian dish. Guinea pigs are prevalent here since a lot of farmers raise them. They are quite a bit smaller than the home grown Iowan pigs though. More like a squirell than a pig. But the taste is nothing like pork. My pig was deep-fat-fried so the taste was very similar to chicken. I would recommend this to anyone who likes chicken and likes trying new things. It was very good!
By the time I finished my Guinea Pig it was time to get to Chanos party. The party was really fun besides the fact that I could only understand bits and pieces of the conversations. This gave us yet another chance to eat! haha It was really fun seeing a Peruvian birthday as they are a little different from American birthdays. I didn't see any birthday cakes or presents. I know that Chano received a gift from his parents but gifts here are more of a personal thing rather than a public thing. So instead of giving a gift in front of everyone, it is more custom to give the gift in private. But really, the party was quite similar to other parties I have been to in the states. Lots of food and lots of pop. The raging pop here in Peru is called "Inca Cola" which is a lot like Mt. Dew except made with much more sugar. I also believe it has more caffeine so after a couple cups of that everyone became very talkative even though it was almost midnight! We sang some songs together since someone brought their guitar. Then came another part of the party that differs from those in the U.S. On birthdays it is common for everyone to say something to the birthday boy (or girl) which can be either good or bad depending on who's birthday it is. It was really interesting because everyone in the room, one by one, said something to Chano. Some gave encouragement while others gave advice. When it was my turn, I told Chano how special it was for me to know him and to know how good of a person he was for helping so many children and for caring for everyone he knows. He is truly a man of God and I look up to him. He is definitely a great person and I am honored to call him my friend.
After the family time and birthday music, it was almost midnight so everyone made their ways to the front of the house. Little did I know I was in for the show of a lifetime!
One thing the Peruvians do for a New Years celebration is to take their old clothes, put them together in the form of a person (picture a scarecrow made of old clothes) and light it on fire in the middle of the street! This might seem crazy to a foreigner driving by in a moto-taxi, but this symbolizes the person's old life. It means they are destroying the person they used to be. It means the New Year brings new opportunities to become a new person and they want to make sure they get rid of the old person they used to be. I found this very interesting, and at the same time, very entertaining! Nothing beats a street fire in the middle of the night.
But burning clothes isn't the half of it! Fireworks are 100% legal here in Peru! And I'm not talking about bottle rockets and sparklers. I'm talking about fireworks that only firemen are allowed to set off. Fireworks that you would see at a 4th of July celebration. These are real fireworks and I am convinced every Peruvian who had fingers to light a match bought about 10 of these. From 11:50 to 12:10 it was nothing but lights, fireworks, bangs, and bombs for as far as an eye could see. I've never seen anything like it! You could look in any direction and see fireworks shooting into the air, hear people yelling at the top of their lungs, and smell the smoke from hundreds of fireworks being set off simultaneously!
I will probably never see a celebration like that again unless I decide to spend another New Years Eve in a country like Peru. . . . which might just happen :)
I have added a short video of the fireworks. Make sure to have your volume up for this. Listen closely to the background. That isn't sound distortion, that is the sound of hundreds of fireworks going off all at once!
I will leave you with this for now. Tomorrow, we are traveling to "Tingo Maria" which is a town in the heart of the jungle. We will be leaving around 7:30 to embark on the 12 hour bus ride. I hope they have comfy seats! I am interested in seeing the Mountains and seeing the jungle for the first time. I am also excited at the chance to partake in yet another Chocolatara. As I explained in previous posts, the children in this part of the jungle have never received Christmas gifts. And since the women who plans to give gifts to these children for the first time was moved by my story just as I was moved by hers, she wants to celebrate Christmas with the children while I am there. Such a great opportunity to celebrate with even more deserving children! I can't wait.
Let me tell you a little about my experience. New Years Eve just happens to be the birthday of Chano (the now 20-year old who helped with our project) So Me, Pat, and Garry made plans to attend his birthday party at his house in Comas, Peru. Peruvians don't start parties until about 9:00 or 10:00 so we knew it was going to be a long night. But before going to the party we got hungry and went to a restaurant that happened to be serving Guinea Pig! This was a yet another great opportunity to try an authentic Peruvian dish. Guinea pigs are prevalent here since a lot of farmers raise them. They are quite a bit smaller than the home grown Iowan pigs though. More like a squirell than a pig. But the taste is nothing like pork. My pig was deep-fat-fried so the taste was very similar to chicken. I would recommend this to anyone who likes chicken and likes trying new things. It was very good!
By the time I finished my Guinea Pig it was time to get to Chanos party. The party was really fun besides the fact that I could only understand bits and pieces of the conversations. This gave us yet another chance to eat! haha It was really fun seeing a Peruvian birthday as they are a little different from American birthdays. I didn't see any birthday cakes or presents. I know that Chano received a gift from his parents but gifts here are more of a personal thing rather than a public thing. So instead of giving a gift in front of everyone, it is more custom to give the gift in private. But really, the party was quite similar to other parties I have been to in the states. Lots of food and lots of pop. The raging pop here in Peru is called "Inca Cola" which is a lot like Mt. Dew except made with much more sugar. I also believe it has more caffeine so after a couple cups of that everyone became very talkative even though it was almost midnight! We sang some songs together since someone brought their guitar. Then came another part of the party that differs from those in the U.S. On birthdays it is common for everyone to say something to the birthday boy (or girl) which can be either good or bad depending on who's birthday it is. It was really interesting because everyone in the room, one by one, said something to Chano. Some gave encouragement while others gave advice. When it was my turn, I told Chano how special it was for me to know him and to know how good of a person he was for helping so many children and for caring for everyone he knows. He is truly a man of God and I look up to him. He is definitely a great person and I am honored to call him my friend.
After the family time and birthday music, it was almost midnight so everyone made their ways to the front of the house. Little did I know I was in for the show of a lifetime!
One thing the Peruvians do for a New Years celebration is to take their old clothes, put them together in the form of a person (picture a scarecrow made of old clothes) and light it on fire in the middle of the street! This might seem crazy to a foreigner driving by in a moto-taxi, but this symbolizes the person's old life. It means they are destroying the person they used to be. It means the New Year brings new opportunities to become a new person and they want to make sure they get rid of the old person they used to be. I found this very interesting, and at the same time, very entertaining! Nothing beats a street fire in the middle of the night.
But burning clothes isn't the half of it! Fireworks are 100% legal here in Peru! And I'm not talking about bottle rockets and sparklers. I'm talking about fireworks that only firemen are allowed to set off. Fireworks that you would see at a 4th of July celebration. These are real fireworks and I am convinced every Peruvian who had fingers to light a match bought about 10 of these. From 11:50 to 12:10 it was nothing but lights, fireworks, bangs, and bombs for as far as an eye could see. I've never seen anything like it! You could look in any direction and see fireworks shooting into the air, hear people yelling at the top of their lungs, and smell the smoke from hundreds of fireworks being set off simultaneously!
I will probably never see a celebration like that again unless I decide to spend another New Years Eve in a country like Peru. . . . which might just happen :)
I have added a short video of the fireworks. Make sure to have your volume up for this. Listen closely to the background. That isn't sound distortion, that is the sound of hundreds of fireworks going off all at once!
I will leave you with this for now. Tomorrow, we are traveling to "Tingo Maria" which is a town in the heart of the jungle. We will be leaving around 7:30 to embark on the 12 hour bus ride. I hope they have comfy seats! I am interested in seeing the Mountains and seeing the jungle for the first time. I am also excited at the chance to partake in yet another Chocolatara. As I explained in previous posts, the children in this part of the jungle have never received Christmas gifts. And since the women who plans to give gifts to these children for the first time was moved by my story just as I was moved by hers, she wants to celebrate Christmas with the children while I am there. Such a great opportunity to celebrate with even more deserving children! I can't wait.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
A Visit to the Jungle???
So after the initial fast pace of travel, bus rides and Christmas celebrations the pace of things were able to slow down for a few days. This was actually a good thing because even though I have been excited, my body really needed a rest. So for a few days over Christmas, I have been able to rest here in Lima but that hasn't kept me from checking out the city.
Things actually worked out well because a group of college students planned a trip to arrive here in Lima while I was still around. So I was able to go with my Aunt and Uncle as they show the students around the town. We all attended a Church service, visited an old Inca ruins, and ate some authentic Peruvian food (which by the way is some awesome stuff! I think leaving the food here in Peru will be harder than anything)
Since we had some free time, we decided to travel with the group while they visited the Church in Comas. (Comas is basically a suburb of Lima an hour away from where I am staying) Their main objective was to interview a woman who had many stories about the previous communist party of Peru called "The Shining Path". I didn't think this was so special at first but after hearing her story I was very moved. She explained how the group initially because funded mainly from coca plants (those used to make cocaine) and how the group was able to grow at a tremendous rate. Before anyone could tell what was happening, the communist group was so large that they were fighting the government. At this time it was so hard for the people of Peru because the government was also corrupt. So first, the communist group would come into the villages and accuse the people of befriending the government. To flex their muscle they would kill a few of the locals, a lot of times women or children, in order to scare the people. But after they left, the government would come in and accuse the people of befriending the communists. So to flex their muscles, they would cut off fingers or toes. It was so hard for the people that a lot of them fled to find saver villages.
The woman telling the story was very good and able to give a lot of detail. Of course we had to translate her Spanish since most of the group only spoke English. But I could tell that the stories hit a lot of hearts. She continued to say how this affected her and has changed her as a person. She has since learned to trust God and feels that He is calling her to do work here in Peru. Her and her husband have since decided to do their part in cleaning up the drug business. They currently live in the Jungle of Peru where fields of coca plants can be found in large numbers. Since they believe that drugs was the cause for so much evil in the past, they have decided to purchase a field of coca, take out the coca plants, and replant other agriculture such as corn. They want to show their neighbors and other locals in the Jungle that other fields can bring money as well and that you don't have to grow coca in order to make a living. I thought this was extremely interested and that her work was very noble. It can be a dangerous thing trying to covert coca fields as usually the owners have a lot of money in this type of field. Since coca can be harvested 4 times a year and has a higher value than most other crops, it is a very lucrative business.
Another cool fact, is that this woman who wants to convert the coca fields is also the mother of Chano. Chano was the Peruvian student who traveled with me and helped with the Christmas celebrations for the children in Pisco. He is to be 20 years old soon and is an awesome translator. It is amazing that he and his family is so interesting.
But converting fields of drugs is not the only thing Chanos parents do. Chano's mother, Rosa, also is in the process of starting a Sunday school for children in her area. She has 60 children already who come to participate! She has such a love for these children and has promised to bring them back a Christmas celebration "Chocolatara" just for them. These are the same children I briefly explained before that have never received gifts for Christmas. This will be the first time they get anything for Christmas.
Being a spoiled brat myself, I was very touched by this fact. Riding the bus back home that night I kept thinking about her and her story. I felt such a strong feeling and desire to somehow help this woman who was so courageous to help the people around her. She has seen the horror with her own eyes and knows what dangers lay ahead for the children in these areas. I couldn't stand it anymore, I wanted to know more about her, her family, and the children she lives by. So that night I told Pat and Garry how I felt. They agreed that she was a loving person and that it would be neat for me to learn more about her. "So how about you travel back to the Jungle with her and her family when she goes?" Pat and Garry said. They explained that Chano would be going with so I wouldn't have to worry about the language barrier. I could spend a few days with them and make it back to Lima to catch my flight. I thought this would be a great idea! I was so excited to go. I was so excited, that it didn't take long for the excitement to rub off on both Pat and Garry. Soon they decided that they could move things around just enough to give them the same opportunity to go. I thought this was great! A chance to see the jungle, a chance to see the mountains, and a chance to see how the woman plans to help so many children, not only in her own area by giving gifts and being a mentor, but helping children all over the world by eliminating a whole field of coca.
But wait! In the jungle there are many mosquito's and some carry diseases such as Yellow Fever. And what about Malaria? I did not get these vaccinations in the U.S. as I did not plan to go to the Jungle. So no trip?
Don't think so fast. The government here sells vaccinations and I have money to buy them. But how much do these vaccinations cost? Well we were going to find out. So this is where my New Years Eve adventure begins.
New Years Eve
The plan was to walk down the street about 2 blocks and hopefully pick up vaccinations for both Malaria and Yellow Fever. The Malaria vaccination comes in pills while the Yellow Fever comes in a shot. So at the worst, we would have to make a quick trip to the hospital to pick up the shot. Well the plan is always easier than what actually happens.
After walking the two blocks, the clinic says that they don't sell the vaccinations there and that we will need to go to another clinic in another part of town. They are courteous enough to give us the address and tell us which bus to take. So we thanked them and left. This was around 9:15 a.m. After waiting for the bus and riding it to the area, we were able to find the clinic. But once again we were left empty-handed. The woman at this clinic said that they too do not sell the vaccinations and that I would have to go to an actual hospital. Again she gave directions but informed us that we must hurry because it is New Years Eve and the clinic closes at 11:00. It was now 10:00 so we had an hour. The man working at the office was nice enough to get us a taxi but he must not have known we were in a hurry. He kept telling the taxis to go on after hearing how expensive they were. He wanted to get us a good price which was nice but also annoying knowing that we only had an hour. Finally we get a taxi. It was 10:10.
Most taxis drive like the world is coming to an end but this driver had a brand new 2008 car and was acting like it wasn't going to get a scratch on it. So instead of going 95 mph, flying past children, and missing oncoming traffic by centimeters, he was taking his time and driving like we had time to kill. He also must have been confused on the importance of getting me vaccinated. He even took a longer route so he could drive in 2 lanes of traffic instead of 3 or something. I think this is the only time I have been annoyed at a taxi driver going too slow the whole time I have been here in Peru.
Finally, we arrived at the hospital. It was now 10:37. Now I know what you are thinking. A hospital: one building, a main entrance, signs to tell you where to go right? Wrong. This hospital was more like a college campus with a different building designed for each department. We walked by a laboratory, a bone specialists, and a few other departments that I could not understand in Spanish. Finally we were able to find the building we were told to go to all the way in the back. But this was pediatrics? Could the lady been confused and thought I was a child needing a vaccination instead of an adult? I only had a matter of minutes now so there was no time for confusion. I thought for sure I was in the wrong place. But the desk explained that I was in the right place and that the vaccinations were done in the same place as pediatrics. So I was relieved. And with 10 minutes to spare! This was great. I showed them my passport, smiled as the teenage nurses starred at me giggled at me(I am guessing because I had white skin), and sat down in line to get my shot. 10 minutes later, almost at 11 o'clock sharp, I got the prick and was vaccinated for Yellow Feve. Don't worry anyone, we made sure the used new needles. Actually, I feel that I was treated better than the locals. Sometimes this happens because the locals are so excited and proud to have an American at their business.
So now this was over but was about Malaria? We still didn't have the pills. So after lunch, and some other errands, we made it over to another hospital that would surely have malaria pills right? Wrong again. The only things open were the Emergency room and the drug store. After talking with the nurses and doctors in the Emergency room, we were discouraged to find out that they did not sell these pills. They promised us they were not in the pharmacy and that we would have to go somewhere else. We asked several times just to make sure but the answer was always no. Me and Garry walked out of the building hanging out heads. I just knew that I was going to get bitten by that one Malaria carrying mosquito.
"Well you want to ask the Pharmacy just to make sure?" I asked Garry. "Sure, it's work a try" he said. So we went directly next door to the pharmacy and asked if they had the pills. Guess what? They did! We couldn't believe it. We had just been told by doctors and nurses that none were available. But now we had as many as we needed. But that's not the best part. I thought the cashier said 50 soles (which is about 15 to 20 U.S. dollars) so I started to whip out my wallet, but Garry said no, that what he really said was 50 centimos which is less than 33 cents. Really? That cheap? Yes that cheap. I was able to get 5 pills for less than 7 cents a pill. Isn't that crazy?
Just to put icing on the cake. The shot was free since it was from a government hospital. How is that for living in Peru?
Things actually worked out well because a group of college students planned a trip to arrive here in Lima while I was still around. So I was able to go with my Aunt and Uncle as they show the students around the town. We all attended a Church service, visited an old Inca ruins, and ate some authentic Peruvian food (which by the way is some awesome stuff! I think leaving the food here in Peru will be harder than anything)
Since we had some free time, we decided to travel with the group while they visited the Church in Comas. (Comas is basically a suburb of Lima an hour away from where I am staying) Their main objective was to interview a woman who had many stories about the previous communist party of Peru called "The Shining Path". I didn't think this was so special at first but after hearing her story I was very moved. She explained how the group initially because funded mainly from coca plants (those used to make cocaine) and how the group was able to grow at a tremendous rate. Before anyone could tell what was happening, the communist group was so large that they were fighting the government. At this time it was so hard for the people of Peru because the government was also corrupt. So first, the communist group would come into the villages and accuse the people of befriending the government. To flex their muscle they would kill a few of the locals, a lot of times women or children, in order to scare the people. But after they left, the government would come in and accuse the people of befriending the communists. So to flex their muscles, they would cut off fingers or toes. It was so hard for the people that a lot of them fled to find saver villages.
The woman telling the story was very good and able to give a lot of detail. Of course we had to translate her Spanish since most of the group only spoke English. But I could tell that the stories hit a lot of hearts. She continued to say how this affected her and has changed her as a person. She has since learned to trust God and feels that He is calling her to do work here in Peru. Her and her husband have since decided to do their part in cleaning up the drug business. They currently live in the Jungle of Peru where fields of coca plants can be found in large numbers. Since they believe that drugs was the cause for so much evil in the past, they have decided to purchase a field of coca, take out the coca plants, and replant other agriculture such as corn. They want to show their neighbors and other locals in the Jungle that other fields can bring money as well and that you don't have to grow coca in order to make a living. I thought this was extremely interested and that her work was very noble. It can be a dangerous thing trying to covert coca fields as usually the owners have a lot of money in this type of field. Since coca can be harvested 4 times a year and has a higher value than most other crops, it is a very lucrative business.
Another cool fact, is that this woman who wants to convert the coca fields is also the mother of Chano. Chano was the Peruvian student who traveled with me and helped with the Christmas celebrations for the children in Pisco. He is to be 20 years old soon and is an awesome translator. It is amazing that he and his family is so interesting.
But converting fields of drugs is not the only thing Chanos parents do. Chano's mother, Rosa, also is in the process of starting a Sunday school for children in her area. She has 60 children already who come to participate! She has such a love for these children and has promised to bring them back a Christmas celebration "Chocolatara" just for them. These are the same children I briefly explained before that have never received gifts for Christmas. This will be the first time they get anything for Christmas.
Being a spoiled brat myself, I was very touched by this fact. Riding the bus back home that night I kept thinking about her and her story. I felt such a strong feeling and desire to somehow help this woman who was so courageous to help the people around her. She has seen the horror with her own eyes and knows what dangers lay ahead for the children in these areas. I couldn't stand it anymore, I wanted to know more about her, her family, and the children she lives by. So that night I told Pat and Garry how I felt. They agreed that she was a loving person and that it would be neat for me to learn more about her. "So how about you travel back to the Jungle with her and her family when she goes?" Pat and Garry said. They explained that Chano would be going with so I wouldn't have to worry about the language barrier. I could spend a few days with them and make it back to Lima to catch my flight. I thought this would be a great idea! I was so excited to go. I was so excited, that it didn't take long for the excitement to rub off on both Pat and Garry. Soon they decided that they could move things around just enough to give them the same opportunity to go. I thought this was great! A chance to see the jungle, a chance to see the mountains, and a chance to see how the woman plans to help so many children, not only in her own area by giving gifts and being a mentor, but helping children all over the world by eliminating a whole field of coca.
But wait! In the jungle there are many mosquito's and some carry diseases such as Yellow Fever. And what about Malaria? I did not get these vaccinations in the U.S. as I did not plan to go to the Jungle. So no trip?
Don't think so fast. The government here sells vaccinations and I have money to buy them. But how much do these vaccinations cost? Well we were going to find out. So this is where my New Years Eve adventure begins.
New Years Eve
The plan was to walk down the street about 2 blocks and hopefully pick up vaccinations for both Malaria and Yellow Fever. The Malaria vaccination comes in pills while the Yellow Fever comes in a shot. So at the worst, we would have to make a quick trip to the hospital to pick up the shot. Well the plan is always easier than what actually happens.
After walking the two blocks, the clinic says that they don't sell the vaccinations there and that we will need to go to another clinic in another part of town. They are courteous enough to give us the address and tell us which bus to take. So we thanked them and left. This was around 9:15 a.m. After waiting for the bus and riding it to the area, we were able to find the clinic. But once again we were left empty-handed. The woman at this clinic said that they too do not sell the vaccinations and that I would have to go to an actual hospital. Again she gave directions but informed us that we must hurry because it is New Years Eve and the clinic closes at 11:00. It was now 10:00 so we had an hour. The man working at the office was nice enough to get us a taxi but he must not have known we were in a hurry. He kept telling the taxis to go on after hearing how expensive they were. He wanted to get us a good price which was nice but also annoying knowing that we only had an hour. Finally we get a taxi. It was 10:10.
Most taxis drive like the world is coming to an end but this driver had a brand new 2008 car and was acting like it wasn't going to get a scratch on it. So instead of going 95 mph, flying past children, and missing oncoming traffic by centimeters, he was taking his time and driving like we had time to kill. He also must have been confused on the importance of getting me vaccinated. He even took a longer route so he could drive in 2 lanes of traffic instead of 3 or something. I think this is the only time I have been annoyed at a taxi driver going too slow the whole time I have been here in Peru.
Finally, we arrived at the hospital. It was now 10:37. Now I know what you are thinking. A hospital: one building, a main entrance, signs to tell you where to go right? Wrong. This hospital was more like a college campus with a different building designed for each department. We walked by a laboratory, a bone specialists, and a few other departments that I could not understand in Spanish. Finally we were able to find the building we were told to go to all the way in the back. But this was pediatrics? Could the lady been confused and thought I was a child needing a vaccination instead of an adult? I only had a matter of minutes now so there was no time for confusion. I thought for sure I was in the wrong place. But the desk explained that I was in the right place and that the vaccinations were done in the same place as pediatrics. So I was relieved. And with 10 minutes to spare! This was great. I showed them my passport, smiled as the teenage nurses starred at me giggled at me(I am guessing because I had white skin), and sat down in line to get my shot. 10 minutes later, almost at 11 o'clock sharp, I got the prick and was vaccinated for Yellow Feve. Don't worry anyone, we made sure the used new needles. Actually, I feel that I was treated better than the locals. Sometimes this happens because the locals are so excited and proud to have an American at their business.
So now this was over but was about Malaria? We still didn't have the pills. So after lunch, and some other errands, we made it over to another hospital that would surely have malaria pills right? Wrong again. The only things open were the Emergency room and the drug store. After talking with the nurses and doctors in the Emergency room, we were discouraged to find out that they did not sell these pills. They promised us they were not in the pharmacy and that we would have to go somewhere else. We asked several times just to make sure but the answer was always no. Me and Garry walked out of the building hanging out heads. I just knew that I was going to get bitten by that one Malaria carrying mosquito.
"Well you want to ask the Pharmacy just to make sure?" I asked Garry. "Sure, it's work a try" he said. So we went directly next door to the pharmacy and asked if they had the pills. Guess what? They did! We couldn't believe it. We had just been told by doctors and nurses that none were available. But now we had as many as we needed. But that's not the best part. I thought the cashier said 50 soles (which is about 15 to 20 U.S. dollars) so I started to whip out my wallet, but Garry said no, that what he really said was 50 centimos which is less than 33 cents. Really? That cheap? Yes that cheap. I was able to get 5 pills for less than 7 cents a pill. Isn't that crazy?
Just to put icing on the cake. The shot was free since it was from a government hospital. How is that for living in Peru?
Friday, December 26, 2008
Merry Christmas to all!
Merry Christmas!!! Ok so I know it's a day late but I am sure you can all understand. I hope everyone got what they wanted from Santa this year as I know I did! I also hope no one was too worried reading my last blog describing my travel problems with flying. Since then a lot has happened so let me give you all an update.
Takeoff - Arrival - Off to the races
I will begin right where I left off last time. I had just posted my first blog updating all of you that I missed my plane by 5 minutes and was waiting to see if I could get on the flight going from Atlanta to Lima. This flight left a day later than my original flight so I had already stayed one night in Atlanta and even though my first experience eating grits went well, I didn't want to spend another day eating them for breakfast.
So right after writing my blog I walked over to the gate to inquire about my flight. My Mother had called and informed me that online it showed that my gate had changed so I was interested in finding out if that was true. So I went and asked the Delta attendant who was working at the time if my gate had changed. She informed me that it indeed did. I said thank you and started to walk away but stopped and thought it was worth a try to see if I could get off "stand-by" status which meant I would only get left over seats on the plane. So I said "What does it mean on my ticket when it says seat-requested? What is the chance I will actually get a seat?" I asked. She said it looked likely that I could get a seat and not to worry. Well, by this time I learned out airlines worked so I didn't give up that easy. I said "ok, well what is the chances? Are they good? I mean, is it 1 out of 100 or 1 out 50? How many seats are open?" I learned that being persistent was the only way to get answers. She smiled cautiously and realized that I wasn't going to leave so easily. She said, almost under her breath, "well I could get you confirmed but you can't tell anybody . . ."
I almost starting jumping at the chance to get confirmed. I said "Oh trust me, I won't tell anyone" smiling a smile bigger than people standing in line for free grits. So she took my ticket and as I waited patiently, watching her hit keys and press buttons, I could barely keep my excitement in. She gave me a new ticket with an actual seat number assigned! 43D on Delta 349! Now I was set! I almost hugged her but didn't want to press my luck.
So after waiting in the airport for a few more hours I finally boarded my plane destined from Lima, Peru. The flight went well and I can really say I like the bigger planes much more than the smaller ones. Much more room and a lot less swaying.
We touched down in Peru in the middle of the night but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that I had landed safely in the country of Peru! However the excitement was soon drown out by more lines. I stood in line for about another 45 minutes and then made my way to pick up my luggage. As I watched bag after bag pass me I started to wonder if my bags were stolen or if they were still in Atlanta. Well I didn't know which one happened but by the time the bags quit coming around I was still holding an empty cart wondering where my luggage was. I don't know which thing I hated most, the fact that I didn't have my luggage or the fact that I had to stand in line for yet another hour to tell them I didn't have my luggage.
I knew that my Uncle Garry was waiting for me outside though so before trying to tell a Spanish speaking Peruvian that I hated everything about flying and only wanted my luggage because it was 2:00 a.m. I thought it would be a good idea to call Garry and let him know I was only going to be an extra hour. But after trying my cell phone and only hearing Spanish recordings telling me that I was a stupid American and that the number didn't exist, I figured I would try the pay phone. But Peruvian pay phones don't take quarters so I needed to exchange my "dolares" for "soles" (the currency of Peru) Thankfully there was a place to do this at. This is where I got my first foreign speaking experience. I went up to the counter and said "I need coines for the pay phone please." The lady looked at me and said in perfect english "I do not speak English. Sorry." haha So I said ok "necessito coins" as I couldn't remember the spanish word for coins. She smiled and said "necessita monedas!"
"Ah yes! monedas! monedas!" I said remembering that this was the correct word for coins. After getting the monedas I was able to make the call to Garry and finally get back in line to get my luggage. Turns out that the luggage wasn't there but they could deliver it tomorrow if it happened to show up. So I said I would call them later and left the airport. I met Garry and Chano (Chano is a friend of Pat and Garry who is 19, soon to be 20, years old) I was so glad to have the security of fluent spanish speakers. Off we went back to Garry's house where we made it to bed around 3:00 a.m.
Monday December 22nd
6:00 a.m. came very fast. Garry woke me and Chano up and said we needed to get ready so we could catch the bus. Everything seems weird at 6:00 a.m. anyways but with only 3 hours of sleep and a 6 and 1/2 hour plane ride, it really seems like a daze.
We made it to the bus and were now on our way to Pisco, Peru where Pat was already helping start the program. It felt great to relax on the bus. It was a really nice bus too, they even served us some food. I had a pork sandwich with a slice of Camote (Camote is sweet potato and is common to be eaten with sandwiches in Peru)
I was so tired on the bus but I didn't want to sleep because there was so much to see. The 4 hour bus ride to Pisco went through interesting cities, and a lot of beautiful dessert so it was hard to fall asleep but I was able to force an hour or so to quickly rest as I knew my body needed it.
As we arrived in Pisco I could tell this city was much more poor than Lima (the Capital of Peru). The roads were all dirt and the city was basically all the same color: color sand.
There were very few large buildings, the biggest were probably only 2 stories high. I was able to see wreckage from the earthquake even a year and a half after it had happened. While some places cleaned up quickly, others buildings had yet to be attended to.
As we made our way through the city, the thing that surprised me the most were the people and the excitement. Hundreds and hundreds of people filled the main streets of Pisco where the markets where. Market stands selling everything from raw chicken to baseball caps to wrenches to fish nets filled the streets. Walking through the streets I felt like I was at a fair. The only difference was the dusty smell and the spanish language. Oh, and how could I forget car horns! This is probably one of the most interesting things of Peru.
Instead of stopping for pedestrians, using turn signals, or driving cautionsly, car drivers here simply honk. And if they don't get what they want, they honk louder. Everyone honks. It's almost like a constant horn bouncing around from car to car. However, no one gets made. While car honking in the U.S. reminds me of a lot of yelling and middle fingers, the people here simply honk and continue driving. No one gets mad. It's just a way of communication for the cars.
After making it through the crowd we found Pat waiting for us at the hotel. It was so good to see her and final be all together as a group. The hotel was very nice with real floors, flushing toilets, showers, and even cable TV. It was definitely top-noch for Pisco.
Next we went to eat at a restaurant where I got my first taste of an authentic national dish of Peru. Ceviche (raw fish marinated in lemon juice) is a popular dish in Peru so I had to try it. I was nervous at first but after trying it I have to admit I really liked it. I would compare it to a sweet tasting shrimp but I wouldn't want to make any Peruvians made for making such a comparison so I won't.
After taking a long nap, Pat and Garry woke me and Chano up (we stayed in the same room) and showed me some new shirts that I could wear along with Garry's socks. I was already wearing Garry's shirt. (Remember I lost my luggage and had already stayed one day in a hotel with only my carry-on luggage.) I was pleased with this but still needed underwear! Me and Garry were able to buy some on the market. There is a funny story about this but I will leave that for later. Ask me if you want a laugh :)
The next day was the day of Chocolataras! This was what I had worked so hard for and was most excited about. I couldn't wait to see all the children and to give out presents, Paneton, and chocolate milk. But since the first program didn't start until 2:00, and the second didn't start in 4:00, we had some time to kill. So for only 10 U.S. dollars me, Chano, and Garry took a boat ride to the islands of Paracas, Peru. This was the first time I ever floated across the Pacific Ocean and I have to say it was beautiful. I saw penguins, dolphins, sea-lions, and many many fish all on the same trip. This was a great time to catch my breath and also see some fantastic sights.
From here we took off to the first Chocolatara in the village called "Neuvo Amanecer" which means New Dawn. This is kind of ironic because this is probably the poorest place in Pisco. Picture a village of houses build of cheaply woven plants or plastic tarps wrapped around posts stuck in the ground. There were probably 50 of these so-called "homes" at the bottom of a hill. In order to get to the village we had to drive down a steep, bumpy, dirt road that led into the dessert. No playgrounds, no drinking fountains, no stop signs, no Christmas lights could be found. No water supply or electricity were around either. Water was brought a few times a week so I guess it was imperative not to run out in between deliveries.
Once we pulled in with out cars and cameras it didn't take long for the children to come out and see what was going on. The adults seemed a little less curious or maybe they were simply being cautious. I know they have seen cars before, but I am sure they were still wondering what we were doing.
As I started to figure out how to act around the kids, I soon realized that all I had to do was get down on their level and give some attention to them. I knelt down on one knee and started asking them their names. It wasn't long and the crowd of children surrounded me. I had my sunglasses so when the kids came up to me they were fascinated that they could see their faces from the reflection. They liked this but next they asked me to take them off so they could see my face. Of course I took the glasses off. Next the focus went on my camera. "Mira!" (Look) says the children as they point at my camera. They could see the picture on my digital camera and were more fascinated with this then they were of my sunglasses. They all gathered around and almost buried me to get a look. I had to give my camera to an adult to change the focus. haha
Next we all went into the tent where the event was going to take place. I sat on a bench with probably 20 kids surrounding me asking questions and wanting to play games. I can't remember how it got started but one child came up to me and wanted me to count her fingers. I remembered a funny joke I had learned as a child where you put your hands together, one clasping the other, but in a way where one finger is hiding beneath the others. Then if you count the knuckles of your clasped hands and you can only get to nine since one is hidden. I don't know what made me think of this but I thought it would be neat. So I showed my trick to one of the children. After I taught one child the new trick, it was like setting a field of dry grass on fire. In a matter of seconds every child was lined up around me begging for me to count their fingers. "Cuantos Son! Cuantos Son!" I did my best to count each of the nine fingers that were shown and laugh with each child as he or she tricked me with the joke. It was an amazing thing. These children were so smart and so interested to learn whatever I had to show them. I could have taught them calculus with that kind of attention.
The children were so happy to accept the gifts and were probably still in shock when we had to leave. I really didn't want to go but it was time to go to the next village named "Vista Alegre" which means "Happy View" in Spanish. Still another ironic name considering the village was in the middle of the dessert located directly next to a cemetery. The Chocolatara event here was very similar to the other yet the children were just as unique as could be. I saw so many faces and so many smiles it was really hard to hold my own emotions back. Once young girl I caught on camera looking at her new shirt, holding it, and showing her family and friends. She was so proud of her new gift I could just tell that we had given her a gift of a lifetime. She was so excited. Her Mother, or maybe Grandmother, saw me taking a picture of her and pointed me out to the little girl. The girl ran over to me and thanked me personally. The sparkle from her eyes was enough to melt me heart right then and there. I asked her for a picture and she was more than willing to show off her new shirt. I have posted the picture in this blog to show you.
I am not sure how I will thank everyone who has helped Brighten the Christmas' of these little children. But for me, this smile is thanks enough.
Takeoff - Arrival - Off to the races
I will begin right where I left off last time. I had just posted my first blog updating all of you that I missed my plane by 5 minutes and was waiting to see if I could get on the flight going from Atlanta to Lima. This flight left a day later than my original flight so I had already stayed one night in Atlanta and even though my first experience eating grits went well, I didn't want to spend another day eating them for breakfast.
So right after writing my blog I walked over to the gate to inquire about my flight. My Mother had called and informed me that online it showed that my gate had changed so I was interested in finding out if that was true. So I went and asked the Delta attendant who was working at the time if my gate had changed. She informed me that it indeed did. I said thank you and started to walk away but stopped and thought it was worth a try to see if I could get off "stand-by" status which meant I would only get left over seats on the plane. So I said "What does it mean on my ticket when it says seat-requested? What is the chance I will actually get a seat?" I asked. She said it looked likely that I could get a seat and not to worry. Well, by this time I learned out airlines worked so I didn't give up that easy. I said "ok, well what is the chances? Are they good? I mean, is it 1 out of 100 or 1 out 50? How many seats are open?" I learned that being persistent was the only way to get answers. She smiled cautiously and realized that I wasn't going to leave so easily. She said, almost under her breath, "well I could get you confirmed but you can't tell anybody . . ."
I almost starting jumping at the chance to get confirmed. I said "Oh trust me, I won't tell anyone" smiling a smile bigger than people standing in line for free grits. So she took my ticket and as I waited patiently, watching her hit keys and press buttons, I could barely keep my excitement in. She gave me a new ticket with an actual seat number assigned! 43D on Delta 349! Now I was set! I almost hugged her but didn't want to press my luck.
So after waiting in the airport for a few more hours I finally boarded my plane destined from Lima, Peru. The flight went well and I can really say I like the bigger planes much more than the smaller ones. Much more room and a lot less swaying.
We touched down in Peru in the middle of the night but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that I had landed safely in the country of Peru! However the excitement was soon drown out by more lines. I stood in line for about another 45 minutes and then made my way to pick up my luggage. As I watched bag after bag pass me I started to wonder if my bags were stolen or if they were still in Atlanta. Well I didn't know which one happened but by the time the bags quit coming around I was still holding an empty cart wondering where my luggage was. I don't know which thing I hated most, the fact that I didn't have my luggage or the fact that I had to stand in line for yet another hour to tell them I didn't have my luggage.
I knew that my Uncle Garry was waiting for me outside though so before trying to tell a Spanish speaking Peruvian that I hated everything about flying and only wanted my luggage because it was 2:00 a.m. I thought it would be a good idea to call Garry and let him know I was only going to be an extra hour. But after trying my cell phone and only hearing Spanish recordings telling me that I was a stupid American and that the number didn't exist, I figured I would try the pay phone. But Peruvian pay phones don't take quarters so I needed to exchange my "dolares" for "soles" (the currency of Peru) Thankfully there was a place to do this at. This is where I got my first foreign speaking experience. I went up to the counter and said "I need coines for the pay phone please." The lady looked at me and said in perfect english "I do not speak English. Sorry." haha So I said ok "necessito coins" as I couldn't remember the spanish word for coins. She smiled and said "necessita monedas!"
"Ah yes! monedas! monedas!" I said remembering that this was the correct word for coins. After getting the monedas I was able to make the call to Garry and finally get back in line to get my luggage. Turns out that the luggage wasn't there but they could deliver it tomorrow if it happened to show up. So I said I would call them later and left the airport. I met Garry and Chano (Chano is a friend of Pat and Garry who is 19, soon to be 20, years old) I was so glad to have the security of fluent spanish speakers. Off we went back to Garry's house where we made it to bed around 3:00 a.m.
Monday December 22nd
6:00 a.m. came very fast. Garry woke me and Chano up and said we needed to get ready so we could catch the bus. Everything seems weird at 6:00 a.m. anyways but with only 3 hours of sleep and a 6 and 1/2 hour plane ride, it really seems like a daze.
We made it to the bus and were now on our way to Pisco, Peru where Pat was already helping start the program. It felt great to relax on the bus. It was a really nice bus too, they even served us some food. I had a pork sandwich with a slice of Camote (Camote is sweet potato and is common to be eaten with sandwiches in Peru)
I was so tired on the bus but I didn't want to sleep because there was so much to see. The 4 hour bus ride to Pisco went through interesting cities, and a lot of beautiful dessert so it was hard to fall asleep but I was able to force an hour or so to quickly rest as I knew my body needed it.
As we arrived in Pisco I could tell this city was much more poor than Lima (the Capital of Peru). The roads were all dirt and the city was basically all the same color: color sand.
There were very few large buildings, the biggest were probably only 2 stories high. I was able to see wreckage from the earthquake even a year and a half after it had happened. While some places cleaned up quickly, others buildings had yet to be attended to.
As we made our way through the city, the thing that surprised me the most were the people and the excitement. Hundreds and hundreds of people filled the main streets of Pisco where the markets where. Market stands selling everything from raw chicken to baseball caps to wrenches to fish nets filled the streets. Walking through the streets I felt like I was at a fair. The only difference was the dusty smell and the spanish language. Oh, and how could I forget car horns! This is probably one of the most interesting things of Peru.
Instead of stopping for pedestrians, using turn signals, or driving cautionsly, car drivers here simply honk. And if they don't get what they want, they honk louder. Everyone honks. It's almost like a constant horn bouncing around from car to car. However, no one gets made. While car honking in the U.S. reminds me of a lot of yelling and middle fingers, the people here simply honk and continue driving. No one gets mad. It's just a way of communication for the cars.
After making it through the crowd we found Pat waiting for us at the hotel. It was so good to see her and final be all together as a group. The hotel was very nice with real floors, flushing toilets, showers, and even cable TV. It was definitely top-noch for Pisco.
Next we went to eat at a restaurant where I got my first taste of an authentic national dish of Peru. Ceviche (raw fish marinated in lemon juice) is a popular dish in Peru so I had to try it. I was nervous at first but after trying it I have to admit I really liked it. I would compare it to a sweet tasting shrimp but I wouldn't want to make any Peruvians made for making such a comparison so I won't.
After taking a long nap, Pat and Garry woke me and Chano up (we stayed in the same room) and showed me some new shirts that I could wear along with Garry's socks. I was already wearing Garry's shirt. (Remember I lost my luggage and had already stayed one day in a hotel with only my carry-on luggage.) I was pleased with this but still needed underwear! Me and Garry were able to buy some on the market. There is a funny story about this but I will leave that for later. Ask me if you want a laugh :)
The next day was the day of Chocolataras! This was what I had worked so hard for and was most excited about. I couldn't wait to see all the children and to give out presents, Paneton, and chocolate milk. But since the first program didn't start until 2:00, and the second didn't start in 4:00, we had some time to kill. So for only 10 U.S. dollars me, Chano, and Garry took a boat ride to the islands of Paracas, Peru. This was the first time I ever floated across the Pacific Ocean and I have to say it was beautiful. I saw penguins, dolphins, sea-lions, and many many fish all on the same trip. This was a great time to catch my breath and also see some fantastic sights.
From here we took off to the first Chocolatara in the village called "Neuvo Amanecer" which means New Dawn. This is kind of ironic because this is probably the poorest place in Pisco. Picture a village of houses build of cheaply woven plants or plastic tarps wrapped around posts stuck in the ground. There were probably 50 of these so-called "homes" at the bottom of a hill. In order to get to the village we had to drive down a steep, bumpy, dirt road that led into the dessert. No playgrounds, no drinking fountains, no stop signs, no Christmas lights could be found. No water supply or electricity were around either. Water was brought a few times a week so I guess it was imperative not to run out in between deliveries.
Once we pulled in with out cars and cameras it didn't take long for the children to come out and see what was going on. The adults seemed a little less curious or maybe they were simply being cautious. I know they have seen cars before, but I am sure they were still wondering what we were doing.
As I started to figure out how to act around the kids, I soon realized that all I had to do was get down on their level and give some attention to them. I knelt down on one knee and started asking them their names. It wasn't long and the crowd of children surrounded me. I had my sunglasses so when the kids came up to me they were fascinated that they could see their faces from the reflection. They liked this but next they asked me to take them off so they could see my face. Of course I took the glasses off. Next the focus went on my camera. "Mira!" (Look) says the children as they point at my camera. They could see the picture on my digital camera and were more fascinated with this then they were of my sunglasses. They all gathered around and almost buried me to get a look. I had to give my camera to an adult to change the focus. haha
Next we all went into the tent where the event was going to take place. I sat on a bench with probably 20 kids surrounding me asking questions and wanting to play games. I can't remember how it got started but one child came up to me and wanted me to count her fingers. I remembered a funny joke I had learned as a child where you put your hands together, one clasping the other, but in a way where one finger is hiding beneath the others. Then if you count the knuckles of your clasped hands and you can only get to nine since one is hidden. I don't know what made me think of this but I thought it would be neat. So I showed my trick to one of the children. After I taught one child the new trick, it was like setting a field of dry grass on fire. In a matter of seconds every child was lined up around me begging for me to count their fingers. "Cuantos Son! Cuantos Son!" I did my best to count each of the nine fingers that were shown and laugh with each child as he or she tricked me with the joke. It was an amazing thing. These children were so smart and so interested to learn whatever I had to show them. I could have taught them calculus with that kind of attention.
The children were so happy to accept the gifts and were probably still in shock when we had to leave. I really didn't want to go but it was time to go to the next village named "Vista Alegre" which means "Happy View" in Spanish. Still another ironic name considering the village was in the middle of the dessert located directly next to a cemetery. The Chocolatara event here was very similar to the other yet the children were just as unique as could be. I saw so many faces and so many smiles it was really hard to hold my own emotions back. Once young girl I caught on camera looking at her new shirt, holding it, and showing her family and friends. She was so proud of her new gift I could just tell that we had given her a gift of a lifetime. She was so excited. Her Mother, or maybe Grandmother, saw me taking a picture of her and pointed me out to the little girl. The girl ran over to me and thanked me personally. The sparkle from her eyes was enough to melt me heart right then and there. I asked her for a picture and she was more than willing to show off her new shirt. I have posted the picture in this blog to show you.
I am not sure how I will thank everyone who has helped Brighten the Christmas' of these little children. But for me, this smile is thanks enough.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Travel Details
As I start my journey, I thought it would be a good idea to try and document as much as my trip as possible. I would love to be able to get on and post an entry every couple days but not sure if that is possible. However, with 5 hours to spare right now I can at least start. So here is the story. Very eventful so I encourage all to read :)
Day 1 - Leaving Des Moines 1:10
So my plane was scheduled to leave Des Moines at 1:10 p.m. and arrive in Atlanta with just 1 hour to switch my direct flight to Lima. Never flying before I thought this was PLENTY of time. Looking back, I can see that I was wrong. But before I get to Atlanta I need to get out of Des Moines right?
Since my parents were stuck in Muscatine because of the snow and ice storm that pounded Iowa the days before, my roommate agreed to take me to the airport. He assured me that he had traveled to the airport many times and was very familiar with the area. So that made me a little less nervous but I was still only able to get a couple hours of good sleep the night before. I was just so excited!
The night before we agreed to leave at 8:30 and arrive to the airport MANY hours ahead of time. Actually, my roommate (Scott is his name) kind of looked at me funny when I said I wanted to go so early but out of kindness he agreed to take me to my flight almost 4 hours early.
After loading his truck and driving to Des Moines I felt good knowing that everything was working so good. No flat tires, no road closures, and I didn't forget anything . . . or at least that's what I thought.
Scott was kind enough to walk me into the airport and help me with my luggage and also wait for me to get my tickets. This was very kind of him but I didn't want him to wait around too long so I hurried to the counter and gave them my confirmation number to print my tickets. "Can I see your credit card used to purchase the tickets please" says the Delta Airlines agent. "Oh sure!" I said as I open my wallet and begin to look for my card. As I looked and looked my heart pounded faster and faster and I almost fainted when I realized that I didn't have it. The night before I had cleaned out my wallet to make it lighter for the trip. I took out everything I didn't need and one thing I did need. It was on my desk at home 1 hour away. I begged and pleaded but it is regulation that you show the credit card for international flights. I asked when the latest time I could check in would be and was told that 12:30 would be the absolute latest.
So me and Scott ran out of the airport and burned rubber getting back to my apartment. Since the snow was now coming down I decided to call and have my apartment manager go and unlock the door for Scott's roommate who happened to be in Ames. He was then able to get the card, and meet us part way between the airport and the apartment. This saved me some very important time.
To make a long story short, Scott and his brother Jason were able to help pull off this miracle of getting to the airport and on my flight to Atlanta.
But that's not the end of this story. My plane ended up getting delayed by an hour and 15 minutes because of the snow. This was not good. Remember, I only had 1 hour in between flights in Atlanta. So what do I do now? Sitting on my plane to Atlanta I asked if I could have my plane held in Atlanta but I guess they don't do those types of favors unless your the president of a foreign country or something. haha
So I walked off the plane with my head down and a frown on my face thinking I had missed my plane when I got a text from my mother. "It shows your flight is delayed in Atlanta too!" This is great I thought! I might be able to make it! I ran into the airport and found the closest Delta representative available. I gave them my ticket and asked if my flight was still on the ground. They looked at the screen, gave me a weird face, and said "You better start running." haha "Run?" I said, "where do I run to?"
"Just go down that way and find the escalators and follow the signs" the Delta agents said. "What escalators? Where are they? Where is my gate? Where do I go exactly?" I kept asking frantically.
"Listen sir, you are wasting time here asking questions. You better just start running!!!" They yelled.
So with that, I took my ticket and started running down the Atlanta airport wearing a hooded sweatshirt, a winter coat and pulling a carry-on luggage. I was surprised as I ran by signs. I was actually able to figure out where I needed to go. I just kept running, reading signs, and following arrows. So I continued to run around hallways, up escalators, down escalators, bumping into policemen with guns, policemen on bikes, around strollers, through gates, all while sweating like a marathon runner.
As I finally made it to my gate, which turned out to be the farthest possible gate from my arrival gate, there was only one person in front of me in line. Now in line I waited patiently, catching my breath and trying to gather as much spit as I could to swallow and quench my thirst. 5 minutes passed and it was now my turn. Still breathing heavy and drenched in sweat I asked if I could still get on my plane. "No sir, the doors have been closed."
"Well open them!" I said, "Please, can I still get on."
"No sir, the doors are closed and have already been open for 2 other late passengers 10 minutes ago."
This was bad news. I missed it and there was nothing I could do.
Now the only thing I could do was wait in line for 3 hours to talk with someone to try and reschedule.
Anyways, to wrap this up quickly, I was able to reschedule for Monday but am on a stand-by status for one today (Sunday) leaving at 5:10. I am told I have good hopes for making the plane so I pray that I can get a seat and arrive only a day late.
I will keep everyone posted as what happens as soon as I can. If you get this before 5:10 p.m. on Sunday December 21st, please pray! :)
Day 1 - Leaving Des Moines 1:10
So my plane was scheduled to leave Des Moines at 1:10 p.m. and arrive in Atlanta with just 1 hour to switch my direct flight to Lima. Never flying before I thought this was PLENTY of time. Looking back, I can see that I was wrong. But before I get to Atlanta I need to get out of Des Moines right?
Since my parents were stuck in Muscatine because of the snow and ice storm that pounded Iowa the days before, my roommate agreed to take me to the airport. He assured me that he had traveled to the airport many times and was very familiar with the area. So that made me a little less nervous but I was still only able to get a couple hours of good sleep the night before. I was just so excited!
The night before we agreed to leave at 8:30 and arrive to the airport MANY hours ahead of time. Actually, my roommate (Scott is his name) kind of looked at me funny when I said I wanted to go so early but out of kindness he agreed to take me to my flight almost 4 hours early.
After loading his truck and driving to Des Moines I felt good knowing that everything was working so good. No flat tires, no road closures, and I didn't forget anything . . . or at least that's what I thought.
Scott was kind enough to walk me into the airport and help me with my luggage and also wait for me to get my tickets. This was very kind of him but I didn't want him to wait around too long so I hurried to the counter and gave them my confirmation number to print my tickets. "Can I see your credit card used to purchase the tickets please" says the Delta Airlines agent. "Oh sure!" I said as I open my wallet and begin to look for my card. As I looked and looked my heart pounded faster and faster and I almost fainted when I realized that I didn't have it. The night before I had cleaned out my wallet to make it lighter for the trip. I took out everything I didn't need and one thing I did need. It was on my desk at home 1 hour away. I begged and pleaded but it is regulation that you show the credit card for international flights. I asked when the latest time I could check in would be and was told that 12:30 would be the absolute latest.
So me and Scott ran out of the airport and burned rubber getting back to my apartment. Since the snow was now coming down I decided to call and have my apartment manager go and unlock the door for Scott's roommate who happened to be in Ames. He was then able to get the card, and meet us part way between the airport and the apartment. This saved me some very important time.
To make a long story short, Scott and his brother Jason were able to help pull off this miracle of getting to the airport and on my flight to Atlanta.
But that's not the end of this story. My plane ended up getting delayed by an hour and 15 minutes because of the snow. This was not good. Remember, I only had 1 hour in between flights in Atlanta. So what do I do now? Sitting on my plane to Atlanta I asked if I could have my plane held in Atlanta but I guess they don't do those types of favors unless your the president of a foreign country or something. haha
So I walked off the plane with my head down and a frown on my face thinking I had missed my plane when I got a text from my mother. "It shows your flight is delayed in Atlanta too!" This is great I thought! I might be able to make it! I ran into the airport and found the closest Delta representative available. I gave them my ticket and asked if my flight was still on the ground. They looked at the screen, gave me a weird face, and said "You better start running." haha "Run?" I said, "where do I run to?"
"Just go down that way and find the escalators and follow the signs" the Delta agents said. "What escalators? Where are they? Where is my gate? Where do I go exactly?" I kept asking frantically.
"Listen sir, you are wasting time here asking questions. You better just start running!!!" They yelled.
So with that, I took my ticket and started running down the Atlanta airport wearing a hooded sweatshirt, a winter coat and pulling a carry-on luggage. I was surprised as I ran by signs. I was actually able to figure out where I needed to go. I just kept running, reading signs, and following arrows. So I continued to run around hallways, up escalators, down escalators, bumping into policemen with guns, policemen on bikes, around strollers, through gates, all while sweating like a marathon runner.
As I finally made it to my gate, which turned out to be the farthest possible gate from my arrival gate, there was only one person in front of me in line. Now in line I waited patiently, catching my breath and trying to gather as much spit as I could to swallow and quench my thirst. 5 minutes passed and it was now my turn. Still breathing heavy and drenched in sweat I asked if I could still get on my plane. "No sir, the doors have been closed."
"Well open them!" I said, "Please, can I still get on."
"No sir, the doors are closed and have already been open for 2 other late passengers 10 minutes ago."
This was bad news. I missed it and there was nothing I could do.
Now the only thing I could do was wait in line for 3 hours to talk with someone to try and reschedule.
Anyways, to wrap this up quickly, I was able to reschedule for Monday but am on a stand-by status for one today (Sunday) leaving at 5:10. I am told I have good hopes for making the plane so I pray that I can get a seat and arrive only a day late.
I will keep everyone posted as what happens as soon as I can. If you get this before 5:10 p.m. on Sunday December 21st, please pray! :)
Friday, December 19, 2008
Adios Amigos
It's hard to believe that tomorrow I will be flying across the border for the very first time! But it's true and I'm more than ready. I have only a few more things to pack and I'll be ready to go get that passport stamped! But wait, this is winter right?
I'm not sure where you are but here in Iowa we just got 5 inches of snow covering the already icy roads. This makes traveling a little more difficult but Delta Airlines were still on schedule today so I have faith my plane will leave on time tomorrow. The chance of snow tomorrow has went from 30% to 40% to 50% and now to 80% so it looks promising to see the nasty white stuff.
But like I said, I believe I can make it through, so the only one's left to convince are the captains . . .
I'm not sure where you are but here in Iowa we just got 5 inches of snow covering the already icy roads. This makes traveling a little more difficult but Delta Airlines were still on schedule today so I have faith my plane will leave on time tomorrow. The chance of snow tomorrow has went from 30% to 40% to 50% and now to 80% so it looks promising to see the nasty white stuff.
But like I said, I believe I can make it through, so the only one's left to convince are the captains . . .
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