Munay (Love & Beauty): Stories of Life in Peru: I understand what you’re saying but I have no idea what you are trying to say…

My first month in Huallanca has been the start of countless meetings with the teachers at the high school, meetings at the government office, and meetings at the health center. I leave 8/10 of these meetings wondering what the heck just happened, what decisions were made, and what the plan is for accomplishing what we discussed in the meeting. It’s not that I don’t understand Spanish or what they are saying. I understand perfectly well what they are saying in Spanish, yet it’s the “organization” of the meeting and the way Peruvians generally go out making plans that tends to leave me completely confused and lost, wondering what the heck is going on. My site mate and I attend most of the meetings together and it makes me feel a little better to know that it’s not just me because he also feels the same way. Right now Tyler (my site mate) and I are collaborating with the local health center to start giving health sessions to the students at both high schools in Hullanca. These sessions will ideally be weekly and will go December. Things could get complicated though because a nationwide teacher strike has just begun due to a new law implemented for Peruvian teachers. We had our first meeting to begin organizing and planning how we are going to go about doing this and Tyler and I left the meeting completely lost and confused about how in the world they plan to go about doing this. Peruvian meetings and decision making are gone about a completely different way than we do it in the US and so I suppose that is why Tyler and I get so confused and lost. Sometimes it seems like Peruvians talk and talk without ever getting a clear point across. Despite not really knowing how the organization of these health sessions will be implemented, I am really excited to start working with the youth in the field of health J

I went to a baptism here in Huallanca for a ten year old girl and there was a party to follow. If it’s one thing I’ve learned in South America it’s that people here love to party and dance and they will use any excuse to do so. This includes baptism parties in which people drink and dance which to me is very interesting because I feel like in the states would usually NOT drink at a baptism party. I always feel awkward when Peruvian men ask me to dance because everyone in the room stares at me (the only gringa) while I dance with an unknown older man who is usually always at least 3 feet shorter than me and I really don’t know how to dance to Peruvian music. I guess I better get used to it!

With the girl who got baptized and my cousin on the right

Also my little sister Melany turned 11 last week and we had a little birthday celebration with most of the extended family in which of course a lot of dancing took place. We are still waiting for my host mom to have her baby! It should be any day now!!