I´m Back!
Hello again (and at last!). I hope you all will forgive the long pause between significant entries - I have been on a much needed vacation and settling back into Jocos. That - settling back into Jocos - has proven much more difficult than I ever expected. Between an amazing vaction (more on that shortly) and the "almost-to-a-year-but-not-quite" slump, I ran head first into a massive brick wall. I´ve been back in Jocos for several weeks and am just now feeling comfortable here again. The tears, the frustration, the questioning why I´m here, the heart-wrenching homesickness have finally lessened to normal levels. I had to make a shift in my priorities - putting some of my personal goals ahead of work goals. I realzied that much of my frustration was coming from a feeling of uselessness and ineffectiveness where my work was concerned. So, in accordance with that shift, I am concentrating on personal goals and projects that are completely within my power to accomplish - gardening, photography, writing, taking better care of myself emotionally and physically, and improving my spanish. I am, of course, still knitting!
I have started my own garden near the Health Post. Now, when I say "started", I mean I have dug up about 1/3 of the area I set aside (using a pick axe no less!). This is proving to be more painful than I expected. I might have to brib some of the kids in town to finish it for me. Oreos anyone? I am also carrying a camera with me everywhere I go now. I am trying to capture life here in Jocos as it happens on a daily basis.
I have to say, this shift has made all the difference in the world. I feel that I have some accomplishable purpose here; that I´m not just hanging out talking about the weather and staring at the sheep.
But don´t think I´ve given up on all my work projects. I´m still working on getting the roof tiles for the school kitchen in Shocorco before the rainy season starts and I am still teaching English. Its definitely not my favorite thing to do (I´m not a teacher at heart), but it fills 2 hours a week. All in all, I´m doing my best to stay busy (or busier than I was) and to take advantage of the opportunities I have here.
And now, without further ado, my vacation (happy now, Sean?)! What can I say about my vacation? It was fabulous!! One of my best friends from Home came down for about 10 days and we split our time between Lima and the adventure capital of Perú, Huaraz. The Lima part of the trip was mostly for me as 1) its just like any big city in the States with Starbucks, movie theaters, good restaurants and even a mall so doesn´t offer much in the way of experiencing Perú and 2) I hadn´t been into Lima since swearing-in back in December so wanted some time to "de-campo". I hadn´t realized how much of myself I repress while in site. Its a necessary part of life in Jocos, but oh! to be normal again! To be constanly clean, to wear my contacts and clothing that didn´t involve hiking boots or a fleece, to go to the movies and to restaurants that don´t serve potatoes and rice with everything. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Lima!
And Huaraz? Huaraz is stunningly beautiful. Unlike my little section of the Andes, the mountains there are rugged, sharp-peaked and snow-capped. The town itself has the feel of the small mountain town it is. I have not yet seen such a mix of people - from gringos in zip-off pants and North Face jackets to Peruvians in traditional hats and skirts to international tourists and residences alike. But the best part? Bacon. Real, American style bacon. I ate 7 pieces in one sitting! Yum!
And while my vacation made me feel the separation from that life more acutely than ever before, it also made me realize and appreciate what I have to go back to once my time here is done.
I have, however, discovered an unfortunate side effect of my vacation. I constantly daydream about food from Home! And I do mean constantly! Chili, Aunt Sindy´s spaghetti sauce, chicken enchilada cassarole, Grandma´s fried fish, BBQ, SOS (Sh*t On a Shingle - if you don´t know, you can´t understand). And thats just the homemade stuff! Never mind the restaurants - HuHot, Crown Pub, Casa Bonita, Elliots, Toy´s Thai. My daydreams will start out as usual (i.e. completely outlandish) but before long my mind (and stomach) gets stuck on food! I find myself daydreaming about cooking or enjoying a meal with friends and family. And its not just eating food, its the preparation and circumstances leading up to a particular meal. I´ll send 1/2 an hour going over how to make something in my head before moving on with the daydream. While its. . .engaging. . .to think about the foods I miss from home, it definitely makes enjoying my uncooked Ramon noodles with mustard much harder to do!
Chau for now!
I have started my own garden near the Health Post. Now, when I say "started", I mean I have dug up about 1/3 of the area I set aside (using a pick axe no less!). This is proving to be more painful than I expected. I might have to brib some of the kids in town to finish it for me. Oreos anyone? I am also carrying a camera with me everywhere I go now. I am trying to capture life here in Jocos as it happens on a daily basis.
I have to say, this shift has made all the difference in the world. I feel that I have some accomplishable purpose here; that I´m not just hanging out talking about the weather and staring at the sheep.
But don´t think I´ve given up on all my work projects. I´m still working on getting the roof tiles for the school kitchen in Shocorco before the rainy season starts and I am still teaching English. Its definitely not my favorite thing to do (I´m not a teacher at heart), but it fills 2 hours a week. All in all, I´m doing my best to stay busy (or busier than I was) and to take advantage of the opportunities I have here.
And now, without further ado, my vacation (happy now, Sean?)! What can I say about my vacation? It was fabulous!! One of my best friends from Home came down for about 10 days and we split our time between Lima and the adventure capital of Perú, Huaraz. The Lima part of the trip was mostly for me as 1) its just like any big city in the States with Starbucks, movie theaters, good restaurants and even a mall so doesn´t offer much in the way of experiencing Perú and 2) I hadn´t been into Lima since swearing-in back in December so wanted some time to "de-campo". I hadn´t realized how much of myself I repress while in site. Its a necessary part of life in Jocos, but oh! to be normal again! To be constanly clean, to wear my contacts and clothing that didn´t involve hiking boots or a fleece, to go to the movies and to restaurants that don´t serve potatoes and rice with everything. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Lima!
And Huaraz? Huaraz is stunningly beautiful. Unlike my little section of the Andes, the mountains there are rugged, sharp-peaked and snow-capped. The town itself has the feel of the small mountain town it is. I have not yet seen such a mix of people - from gringos in zip-off pants and North Face jackets to Peruvians in traditional hats and skirts to international tourists and residences alike. But the best part? Bacon. Real, American style bacon. I ate 7 pieces in one sitting! Yum!
And while my vacation made me feel the separation from that life more acutely than ever before, it also made me realize and appreciate what I have to go back to once my time here is done.
I have, however, discovered an unfortunate side effect of my vacation. I constantly daydream about food from Home! And I do mean constantly! Chili, Aunt Sindy´s spaghetti sauce, chicken enchilada cassarole, Grandma´s fried fish, BBQ, SOS (Sh*t On a Shingle - if you don´t know, you can´t understand). And thats just the homemade stuff! Never mind the restaurants - HuHot, Crown Pub, Casa Bonita, Elliots, Toy´s Thai. My daydreams will start out as usual (i.e. completely outlandish) but before long my mind (and stomach) gets stuck on food! I find myself daydreaming about cooking or enjoying a meal with friends and family. And its not just eating food, its the preparation and circumstances leading up to a particular meal. I´ll send 1/2 an hour going over how to make something in my head before moving on with the daydream. While its. . .engaging. . .to think about the foods I miss from home, it definitely makes enjoying my uncooked Ramon noodles with mustard much harder to do!
Chau for now!
posted by Kellie | 12:00 PM
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