I'm in Peru and my mission is clear.
My eyes are open.
My heart is open.
Every day, I am to help someone. I will not change the world, but I will change lives. It doesn't matter how many, it just matters that I do.
This simple hope comes with immense responsibility. It comes with living under conditions that not many can live in, not to mention I have fleas and it's the second day of training and I've already had diarrhea on accident when I coughed. New bacteria, people - that's what happens. I'm not ashamed one bit - I was told it's normal and all the volunteers will have the joy of experiencing poop in their pants. Thank God for senses of humor, right?
Back to the point - yesterday I got to help Emelie, a new friend that I can tell will be a dear friend of mine. She came over and used my computer to go on the internet. She started to cry reading a loved ones e-mail and I gave her a hug. Sometimes, that's all a person needs. Help person - check!
She helped me too though. We went running slash fending off stray dogs with rocks on the dirt roads of Yanacoto and afterwards when we stopped in front of my host mom's house, she said, "Wow we really live in Peru." For the first time, it hit me a tiny bit that I was in another country far away from home. For a millisecond, my mind rushed with anxiety and fear, then another millisecond passes - "Get it together Gia! You're breathing! You're fine!" Then the next millisecond, "Hey...Emelie's here too." And finally, comfort. My mind settled down because I knew I had someone there with me...and that was simply all I needed as well. If you can help, you must. Helping doesn't have to mean discovering new scientific research or donating thousands upon thousands of dollars. Helping is a hand willing to open and a heart willing to give.
Watching my world here in Peru, I can't help but think of these things. What drives us as human beings?
I think the answer is very simple.
The human spirit is fragile and only becomes strong with love. Love courses through our bodies to strengthen our ability to be great, to be ourselves (flaws and all), to be happy, what-have-you. Love moves not only mountains, but us, in ways we can't take for granted. My love will move me to sacrifice hot showers (cold water at least wakes you up in the morning!), my bed for cardboard basically, frequently getting spider bites, catching fleas, and I don't have the comfort of having friends and family close to me when I feel lonely or get sick. Love has brought me here to Peru to help families suffering from disease. What will your love do?
Anyways, all Peace Corps volunteers have many funny stories. Here's one from yesterday:
Emelie was over eating dinner with my family. The conversation became very interesting very fast. My mom told me about a dog they used to have...named "Donde estas?" (Where are you?). I can't tell you why. You know what she gave him though? Glasses. Legit reading glasses. Did he need correction or was the sun too strong? Neither. My mom just liked the way they looked. Now, imagine a dog walking around a dirt road town in the middle of nowhere, Andes mountains, Peru, with glasses on? Donde estas is famous to this day. If that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will! Hasta luego, amigos!
My eyes are open.
My heart is open.
Every day, I am to help someone. I will not change the world, but I will change lives. It doesn't matter how many, it just matters that I do.
This simple hope comes with immense responsibility. It comes with living under conditions that not many can live in, not to mention I have fleas and it's the second day of training and I've already had diarrhea on accident when I coughed. New bacteria, people - that's what happens. I'm not ashamed one bit - I was told it's normal and all the volunteers will have the joy of experiencing poop in their pants. Thank God for senses of humor, right?
Back to the point - yesterday I got to help Emelie, a new friend that I can tell will be a dear friend of mine. She came over and used my computer to go on the internet. She started to cry reading a loved ones e-mail and I gave her a hug. Sometimes, that's all a person needs. Help person - check!
She helped me too though. We went running slash fending off stray dogs with rocks on the dirt roads of Yanacoto and afterwards when we stopped in front of my host mom's house, she said, "Wow we really live in Peru." For the first time, it hit me a tiny bit that I was in another country far away from home. For a millisecond, my mind rushed with anxiety and fear, then another millisecond passes - "Get it together Gia! You're breathing! You're fine!" Then the next millisecond, "Hey...Emelie's here too." And finally, comfort. My mind settled down because I knew I had someone there with me...and that was simply all I needed as well. If you can help, you must. Helping doesn't have to mean discovering new scientific research or donating thousands upon thousands of dollars. Helping is a hand willing to open and a heart willing to give.
Watching my world here in Peru, I can't help but think of these things. What drives us as human beings?
I think the answer is very simple.
The human spirit is fragile and only becomes strong with love. Love courses through our bodies to strengthen our ability to be great, to be ourselves (flaws and all), to be happy, what-have-you. Love moves not only mountains, but us, in ways we can't take for granted. My love will move me to sacrifice hot showers (cold water at least wakes you up in the morning!), my bed for cardboard basically, frequently getting spider bites, catching fleas, and I don't have the comfort of having friends and family close to me when I feel lonely or get sick. Love has brought me here to Peru to help families suffering from disease. What will your love do?
Anyways, all Peace Corps volunteers have many funny stories. Here's one from yesterday:
Emelie was over eating dinner with my family. The conversation became very interesting very fast. My mom told me about a dog they used to have...named "Donde estas?" (Where are you?). I can't tell you why. You know what she gave him though? Glasses. Legit reading glasses. Did he need correction or was the sun too strong? Neither. My mom just liked the way they looked. Now, imagine a dog walking around a dirt road town in the middle of nowhere, Andes mountains, Peru, with glasses on? Donde estas is famous to this day. If that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will! Hasta luego, amigos!
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