Now the Real Fun Begins

Taking our Foreign Service Oath

It's official! Last Friday, August 19, all 51 of Peru 17 were sworn-in by the US Ambassador to Peru as Peace Corps Volunteers.  This marks the first time since 2005 that a training group has had 100% swear-in!

On Saturday, I said goodbye to my training host family, and there were lots and lots of tears.  The most bittersweet part was them telling me that there would be a real vacancy in the house without me, especially because of the way that I cared for the 4 year-old.  They said she (Angeline) had never gotten so close to a volunteer, that I really made an impact on the family in the cariño I gave her, and that they knew she was going to miss me a lot.  I tried my best to explain to Angie why I was leaving and that I would be back to visit, but it was still really hard to leave, especially when I became very accustomed to her hugs and declarations of "Kin! Mi amiga por SIEMPRE!"

My despedida (going-away party), with Angie and her parents, Omar and Marilyn

Sunday, I attended my first regional meeting in Chiclayo so got to meet most of the other volunteers in the region- they took us to an awesome restaurant where I had chaufa con mariscos, fried rice and seafood, yummy.  Today was my first full day at site as a PCV.  My Regional Coordinator knew that I didn't meet the mayor or any other important authorities during my site visit (in general, the Municipality is supposed to reach out and I am supposed to be introduced to everyone then), so this morning she had scheduled a 10am meeting for me at the Municipality, to meet the mayor and all of her staff.  It was great to hear that she (the mayor) had a good idea of what Peace Corps was (thanks to my Regional Coordinator, Program Director, and another Volunteer closeby).  So it was a bit of a relief to feel like I wasn't starting from zero, and the mayor made sure her staff knew that I would be coming in and probably asking for their help in finding documents, records, etc.

So, reality starts now.  I am mentally prepared to take this experience day-by-day and task-by-task, focusing on the little victories, but still the anxiety is setting in.  I am starting to miss my training friends, especially those who won't have cell phone service at their sites.  Also, my host father doesn't want me leaving the house by myself (I'm hoping this will change soon), and especially since I have internet at home, I am worried that I am going to spend too much time in the house.  Hopefully my restless anxiety will propel me towards the door, and with the help of my host family and socias (who came to find me today and also accompanied me to the mayor's office), I'm hoping to get out into the community as much as possible and get my face known.  It's a weird sensation to be in a town where everyone knows each other, and where I stick out like a sore thumb and don't know anybody- definitely a different experience then training.  Anyway, here's my personal to-do list for this first week, which will hopefully keep me busy and non-anxious:

• discuss money matters with my family- how much I will be paying them for food & rent
• deliver oficios (formal letters) to the important authorities, to introduce myself
• get document signed by the mayor to approve my work visa
• get business cards made
• find a detailed map of the city to use in my community map and encuestas (surveys) parts of my community diagnotistic
• meet Paulina's artisan group and hopefully others
• find contact info for PCV Charles who set up my site, and meet with him
• meet the German volunteer who also recently arrived here to work with the church
• get an interview printed with the local newspaper
• present myself in the colegios (high schools), possibly recruit some "interns" for my community diagnostic
• find and buy ingredients to make my breakfast granola
• explore around town for a potential place to run and work out

So, that's my life right now.  As my friend Lucas just put it on the phone, it really feels like we have just been given a completely impossible job.  But I'm hoping that by taking it task-by-task, I'll keep myself busy = happy.