Category Archives: happiness

08/09/2012
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church, happiness, karaoke, musica

karaoke.

that’s it. i am fully and unequivocally convinced that karaoke builds culturally bridges that would not be there otherwise. for my branch’s friday night activity last week, we did karaoke. given that i am sole non-peruvian in my branch, and gringa to top that, they downloaded Justin beiber’s “baby, baby” for me to sing.

though, i have heard this song plenty of times in the past, it was the first time i ever sang it aloud, let along by myself at karaoke. the good news is that peruvians love the beib’s, so everyone sang along to the chorus with me…including the branch president. and even through i was far from getting the other parts of the song right, i figured, “who cares? i am the only one who knows what i am saying and that i am getting it all wrong anyways…”

this evening also included my favorite moment thus far in peru. my branch building is in a town called, mochumi, about 5.5k from my town to be exact. it ended at 10, which was a little too late for me to be taking the combi by myself and walking alone on the streets. a member offered to give me a ride home on his mototaxi. as we drove back with the stars clearly lit above us and the blue moon, and i was accompanied by the branch president, three new lady friends, and their kids. the owner of the moto and his wife riding next to him in the front. there was an overwhelming feeling of joy. of untainted, euphoric happiness. it left me in tears.

20/08/2012
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adventure, happiness, lds temple, lima, miraflores, relax

a day of rest.

miraflores coast line.

saturday while everyone was recovering from the night before, michelle and i walked along the coast line in miraflores. followed by going to a bike training meeting, with only 2 other people. and then she and i ventured to la molina and i got to finally go to the temple. it was a much needed day of rest and recuperation from a n exciting week.

the coast.

coast.

the lima temple.

i went there saturday!

 

 

 

20/08/2012
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fiesta, food, happiness, lima, swearing-in

swearing-in.

i did it. on friday, i became a real, true peace corps volunteer. we were lucky enough to have our swearing-in ceremony hosted at the ambassador’s house, which was beautiful and ornate. we all were able to mee the ambassador, as well as the mayor of lima (which is he south american equivalent of meeting the mayor of nyc), as well as other mayors from nearby municipalities. i also got to meet with old pcv’s from the 60’s in which one of them told me about all of the dysentery he experienced during his time in peru. talk about words of wisdom.

overall the ceremony was beautiful. the part wear we stated the oath was really incredible. it made this entire process worth it. saying goodbye to my host mom was the hardest part. it was such a mix of emotions. as well as saying goodbye to the training staff. they were such an important part of my support system here that it was hard to go, but it is because of their support and determination for all of us that i even feel ready to go and concur. so thank you for that.

my host mom and i ready to head to the ambassador’s house.

michelle and i at the training center.

peru 19. our last and first official photo.

we should all be taken very seriously. (and who knew my mouth was that huge???)

we couldn’t bring our camera’s to the ambassador’s house for obvious security reasons, but there was an official photographer there. maybe one day i will receive the pictures from it…after our ceremony, our country director threw peru 19 a welcoming reception at his house. it was fantastic! there was a small fire pit, buffalo chicken wings, anticuchos (beef heart on skewers) and a dance floor. it was a blast!

party time setup.

steven, me and sam.

anticuchos (beef heart) on the grill!

andrea and me.

the lambayeque crew ready to head out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19/08/2012
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chosica, fiestas patrias, happiness

fiestas patrias.

july 28 is independence day here in peru. students here get a two week break from school to celebrate, as it would be the equivalent to winter break in the states. my training center hosted a celebration where all the trainers performed traditional dances from all the variou regions. on saturday, i made french toast with my family, and victor and i watched “where the wild things are” together. later on in the evening he began building forts, which he has never done before, so i am going to go ahead and give credit to us watching and reading all about max as his inspiration for his forts.

my family and i went and celebrated fiestas patrias by going out to pollo a la brasa. we went to a different restaurant in chosica this time, but being the pollo a la brasa connoisseur i have now become, i can confidently say that my favorite a la brasa is at norkey’s with their delicious fresh garlic concoction. anyways, after we had a fun and yummy lunch, we then went to the dress shop for norma to try on her dress for her upcoming birthday party.

dress shopping.

norma in her dress for her quince.

after dress time, i went to my friend’s host mom’s birthday celebration. i love this family. i spent a lot of time with them, mainly using the internet, but also just practicing my conversation skills with them. also, they have really, really cute puppies.

too cute to be true.

cutiepatootie!

the party was a blast. it included more eating for me, and in peru you can never say no to peru, as this is how they show their love. and of course, DANCING!

the birthday girl with her wonderful family.

after this birthday celebration, i then attended another birthday celebration in my neighborhood. it was a surprise party for another friend’s grandpa. it was great. it included more food and A LOT more dancing. i left this celebration around 11, but i was told that it lasted until 5am. that is pretty early by peruvian standards…they sure know how to have a party down here.

SURPRISE!

the band.

i would say that the top thing i took away from both parties was the love that existed in all of the families. there was an apparent love that each family member had for the others, and it was so tangible. it is something that is not seen at many us parties i have been too. if anything, peruvians have so much love to share that i cannot wait to share more of that with them.

09/08/2012
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family, food, happiness, hauscaran

french toast.

french toast with churimoya syrup.

a couple of weeks ago, i decided that i would try to make an american dish for my family. understanding that we have two very different tastes, i opted for a sweet one, as peruvians love sweets. i made cinnamon french toast. they do not sell syrup here, so i was going to make a banana one, but my family does not like bananas. so i was going to try to make a strawberry one, but all the markets were out of strawberries, so i decided to just go local (as this should have been my first choice…oh well…). i made it with churimoya, which is a very, very sweet fruit. honestly, i can only usually take a couple of bites it’s that sweet, but it went nicely with the food.

however, i am also not used to the cooking style here, and the lack of utensils made it quite a challenge for me, so much so that my host mom came to save the day. so much for making breakfast for them…but the bright side, is that now she knows how to make it for the family in the future!

26/07/2012
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family, happiness, hauscaran

an unrelated note.

but entirely related to me at this moment. i am going to miss my current host family so much. i know that i will see them again when i visit with mike in december, but they have been so patient and supportive. i missed them even while i was just gone for a week at fbt. i received delightful facebook messages from my sister, norma, which only made my heart grow fonder.

i love this picture of my mom.

i have the best host mom, who not only exhibited patience, but also a nurturing hand when i had the world’s worst sinus infection and when i was most recently sick to my stomach. she also waits up for me when i am out late, and watches me walk down the street when i leave for training in the morning. she readily gives her living space for me to have haphazard youth group meetings, and even buys inca kola as a refreshment for the kids. she knows that i have a love for palta and reminds me each week that they are available at the market.

mi mama y yo (i feel/look so tall next to her).

needless to say, i have the world’s best host family. seriously, there is no beating them. it’s not possible.

 

victor y yo.

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.

30/06/2012
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adventure, happiness, lima

heaven on earth.

the usual.

thank you wilson phillips. and thank you lima. while in miraflores, i happened upon a pinkberry, and it made me the happiest girl in the whole, wide world. see???

pure. joy.

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