Extraordinary days

Today was not like every other day, like most of my Peace Corps days are.

I started sleeping with the fan on all night. Summer is coming back and with a vengeance. So many mosquito bites already. The early morning sweating will usually wake up a volunteer at 6am because we usually live in houses that make good ovens but I’m adamant about my sleep and slept/kept my eyes closed until 7am.

Strapped on the Teva’s, t-shirt and shorts. Inhaled my coffee, cereal and yummy egg and platano breakfast my host mom always makes me and rushed to school. Walked with the herd of late kids. Helped teach a couple science classes. One turned out to be me showing pictures of the flora and fauna/biodiversity of Peru, since I’ve gotten the chance to travel now to the three regions: coast, sierra and jungle (“costa, sierra y selva”). All the kids loved the jungle photos, mainly because there’s one with an anaconda on me and I am about to burst into tears.

This is the silliest thing I could be doing but I have a choir of middle schoolers here. We’re going to do a Christmas show for the parents, help unite the community a bit. Today we practiced “Silent Night.” They really like to sing the high parts, nice and loud. I have little control over them but I kinda like them that way. It’ll make for a good show.

Lunch time arrived finally. I am always so hungry at this hour. I attempted to make beans for the first time - frijoles ballo, my favorite. Left them overnight in a bowl of water and everything. I ate them, mixed some onion and garlic and didn’t get sick, so that’s a win in my book.

After lunch I prepared for my Pasos Adelante class and drew a bunch of “papelotes”/informative posters because our projector broke…loving the extra work. NOT. There are sweat marks on the posters from where I’m DRIPPING. Anyways today we were talking about HIV/AIDS. We did a lot of fun activities and it makes me feel good when the kids are having fun and learning at the same time. Helson always tells me how much he loves the class. He’s the only one that comes early and helps me set up the class, but that’s better than nothing. The other kids are smart cookies and like to participate as well and that’s all I can ask for. Two of my Pasos students and I are going to Pasos camp on Zorritos beach this weekend. I can’t wait for them to have this experience! Everyone always loves camp!

As the sun was going down, I sat in the hammock to write my friend back home, Sarah, a letter. I ended up being called into the neighbors house to play that board game Candyland that the lacrosse coach at my university so kindly mailed me. Ended up talking with the parents for hours, and am finally calling it a night.

Feeling fulfilled.

I am making very little big change, but I am doing something. And I thought to myself, is it worth it to stay for two years if I maybe change two lives by the end of my service? Well, it’s really hard to change a life. I don’t know if you know. So in my opinion, yes, it’s worth it. Also, even if I tried and failed, how many other people can say they’ve REALLY tried to change a life?

Feeling comfort.

My life is good.