Author Archives: erinlc

09/07/2012
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chosica, family, food

chooky.

family time at norkey’s!

yesterday, my family and i made a special outing to chosica for lunch. we got pollo a la brasa at a peruvian chain, norkey’s. honestly, it was fantastic. in fact, the food left for full for the rest of the night. while there, there were some clowns performing (peruvians love their clowns). in the background, i could hear them announcing that their clown friend “chooky” was going to join them…come to find out that what they were trying to say was “chuckie.” you know, from the horror film franchise that never ends? anyways, they had “chooky” (a kid in a clown costume wearing a “chuckie” mask) going around the restaurant handing out balloons to all the kids. surprisingly, i was the only person in the restaurant bothered by this…my family got a kick out of it though.

chooky.

the best part was when they had chooky dance to los watchitorros (please see my la musica. post). i am telling you, they love that song here.

09/07/2012
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musica

la musica.

i have been loving the music here lately. additionally, i am loving the dance moves here…particularly of my hermanito, victor. the other night, we spent the evening making up crazy dance moves and he totally one-upped me. check out his moves:

pardon my butchering of the spanish language, but i typically talk in weird voices with victor…yeah, i know it’s strange…BUT AWESOME. also, that is me butchering the beat to this totally awesome song:

other songs i have been loving:

09/07/2012
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chosica, relax

CHOSICA PART DOS.

this past weekend was my last weekend to myself for a couple of weekends. next saturday, we have a day of training in lima, and then we all hop onto different busses and head to different parts of the country for the week for field based training. so, after finishing a morning of hand-washing my clothing i opted to get out and explore. i have been really wanting to check out the mercado of chosica. mike and i headed out around lunch time, and you know, for it being such a large city, we ran into plenty of volunteers.

jesse, kyle and mike enjoying lunch.

the boys momentarily before entering the mercado with the lovely view of chosica behind them.

kyle and mike at the market.

the boys working their way through.

another market in the town…well these are the roofs of the other market…let’s just say that this market had the same smell as my grandpa’s pigeon barns. yum.

this country loves its statues.

we ventured to the town’s statue of jesus.

jesse and i.

not pictured:

  • my amazing new plaid, linen aladdin pants. i am seriously going to wear these suckers everyday…so i suppose they will be included in future pictures.
  • mike and i being stopped couple of times today to pose in other people’s pictures. ha.
  • i found a karaoke place that opened at 6 pm. mike and i walked in, and in his broken spanish mike said “i am going to drink a lot and she will sing a lot.” and then i straight up did back-to-back journey numbers in a completely packed bar of peruvians. back bends and all. i had others join me in my dancing, high-fives and declarations of love from other patrons. so if all else fails when i get to site, i will start a karaoke place or find one and build bridges from there. back up plan formed.

but really today was a blast. i got to do what i love. karaoke, baby.

08/07/2012
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chaclacayo, relax

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.

a little different than the fnl in texas, but it was a nice relaxing evening last night. it was just a really busy and stressful week. we had our second school presentations, our youth clubs started, we had the independence day celebration, and our 4th week language interviews. needless to say, i welcomed friday with open arms.

after training, a big group of us headed to a local park where many played basketball, a few of us tossed the frisbee, and everyone just hung out and enjoyed not having training for a few days.

basketball crew.

brad and anel are always ready for their picture to be taken.

me, mike and andrea holding down the fort. also look closely and one of these things is not like the other…

a helpful hint. apparently, this week proved to be extra exhausting for sam.

08/07/2012
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independence, training

CUATRO DE JULIO.

the event’s announcement.

i suppose a delayed announcement to my readers would be that a couple of weeks ago, i was nominated and elected president of my training class. don’t worry, it does not entail planning a ten-year training class reunion, but rather organizing activities for the class. for instance the cuatro de julio celebration.

if you know me at all, you know that my all-time favorite holiday is the 4th of july. i was a bit sad that i was going to miss this year in the states, especially the fireworks. last year, mike and i attended four days straight of fireworks…i seriously mean business when it comes to independence day, but do not fret, this year turned out to be plenty of fun.

in the morning hours, the language facilitators at the training center organized a “peace corps olympics.” it was quite fun and included traditional field day games.

the orange team doesn’t mess around (cw: kathleen (our training program director), nico, kyle, tekala, chris, starla, emily, me, mandy y alyson).

nico, starla and emily getting ready for business.

¡READY!

some competition on the black team: jenny (a language facilitator), tyler and mike.

nico and chris showing how it’s done…

watch out. (also best photo bomb shout out to brad)

nico betting on which box the cuy will run into. this is a traditional peruvian betting/party game called “cuy loco.” you try to scare;/yell at the cuy into a box and if it is the box you bet on, you get the prize that was on that box…and some dinero.

kallan and robert showing what happens when water balloon fights go too far…

team orange got the gold. seriously though, should you be surprised?

after the friendly competition, the juntos directivos and i planned a bbq and community vegetarian potluck. there was also a neighborhood soccer tournament, and music aplenty that only included all-american artists. this has been the first day since we have all met in DC that we have had time to just relax and have fun with one another. it proved to be much needed and just a blast. there was also an impromptu dance party. i may be biased, but we are a pretty rockin’ solid group of trainees, soon-to-be volunteers.

our training director, kathleen donated an all-american chocolate cake to the celebration…yum!

soccer practice.

michelle, jessica and starla enjoying their afternoon.

 

08/07/2012
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training, yanacoto

TEACHING PART DOS.

this past week i had another teaching practicum, where i taught another class…on my own…for 45 minutes…might i also mention that i was still sick from the week before and was without a voice. in order to explain to the students why they not only could not understand me because of my poor pronunciation, but also because i, literally did not have a voice, i prepared a story for them to read aloud. it proved to be quite the success and the students loved it.

each papalote has a new part of the story…be impressed by my drawing skills…

for our activities, i had us have a “hammer or nail” ice breaker to recognize both the differences and strengths amongst their classmates, and then followed it with a silhouette self-esteem activity.

beginning the first discussion.

listening to their classmates’ answers.

handing out the materials needed for the silhouette activity.

typically, peruvian students do not have any sort of arts program in their schools. and the peruvian education system does not promote creativity, but rather order and efficiency. needless to say, the students were quite excited that i was giving them a chance to be creative and draw during their class time. they got really into it, and it was difficult to tell them that the time was up, but their drawings were quite impressive, and they were able to fill in their current knowledge, skills and values, and additionally adding their aspirations and dreams at the end.

sharing his silhouette.

the class with their posters.

08/07/2012
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chaclacayo, family, fiesta, happiness

MY FIRST QUIÑCE.

last week i attended my first quiñce celebration. needless to say, it was quite the party. the party was for a friend of my sister, norma. we had a blast, though to be honest, i was far from having my health renewed. the best part was probably having my mom ask me to go dance with my sister, which meant i essentially joined a few dozen 14-year-olds on the dance floor. let’s just say that i showed that middle school dance who’s the boss.

also, it is peruvian quiñce tradition that the birthday girl be presented at midnight…which made this night my latest night out since being in peru…partying late with the sis and mom.

quite the formal setting in a local restaurant.

mi máma y hermana, norma.

the grand entrance.

her first dance…which lasted about 20 minutes and she danced with every male figure in her family. this was followed with additional speeches given by every single male in her extended family.

so much clapping was involved. also, i love that kid on the right’s flock of seagulls hairdo.

mi hermana and sus amigas.

throw your hands up in the air like you just don’t care.

01/07/2012
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hauscaran, home

mi casa es su casa.

the hill i walk up everyday. i walk down it sometimes too.

mi casa.

my room. with verb practice charts. awesome.

the other view in my room. never mind in my inability to draw the human body.

01/07/2012
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ceviche, family, food

ceviche on the beache.

ceviche.

the above is a little peru 19 “inside joke” from staging, but last sunday i did get to indulge in my first helping of ceviche. if you know me, then you know this is a big step forward for me, as i am not a seafood person. the good news is that there was enough raw onion to over power any fish flavor and that i love raw onions…and i didn’t get sick from it.

my family getting ready to dine. clockwise: victor (8), claudia (17), alejandro (my cousin-14), norma (14), virgilio (43), nelly (43). please notice the heaping pile of food nestled next to very full plates of ceviche.

30/06/2012
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adventure, combi

today.

today. i am sick. actually, i have had a sinus infection for the past 3 days. awesome. the funny part is that my mom has required me to wear a scarf everywhere i go…because that makes a lot of sense. proof of my sickness:

this is where i use the internet. in a cave. with a peruvian man singing in the background.

while all the other volunteers headed back to lima for another adventure, i opted to stay home where i could readily blow my nose without embarrassment. however, i could only stay in my house for so many hours. so i went on a solo excursion to the plaza vea in santa clara (read: mediocre outdoor mall with a movie theatre). one of comforts from the states was going to the movies when i was sick…so this was my feeble attempt, however i did not receive the memo that movies don’t start until 3pm…womwomwom. however, i did enjoy independently riding the combi and taking in the sites. i have decided that riding in those makeshift vehicles, are the times when i feel most in peru and a part of their culture and daily lives.

inside the combi.

the view from the combi.

here is a quick video of the combi ride…i am sorry that you can’t here their clown horns…but the delightful music is brought to you by my combi chofer:

 

 

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