Munay (Love & Beauty): Stories of Life in Peru: Mom comes to Huallanca! (my lil' town)

After traveling to various parts of Peru, my mom returned "home" with me to my village up in the Andes. She spent five days in my site and basically did every day things with me that I do for work and every day life. She ran around with me and did all that encompasses my crazy job including teaching classes and leading various other activities at the schools and health center, she slept in my bedroom with me and froze to death, especially at night and she didn't bathe all week like I never do (we have no hot water where I live), she spent time with my amazing Peruvian family and tried lots of new (and scary) typical Peruvian food from where I live. My mom has said numerous times that she can't deny that it was a difficult week and that she was put out of her comfort zone in many ways (just like I was at first) but she says that it was a very eye opening experience for her. She loved meeting the Peruvians in my site; every one was so kind to her and happy to meet the mother of the gringa in Huallanca. She also says that she will now never complain about anything again back home after seeing some of the real poverty that exists where I live and how so many people truly live with nothing and are constantly freezing in their own homes with no heat or insulation, how there is literally very little to no sanitation and because of that people get sick all the time, how people have to wash all their clothes by hand in ice cold water, and seeing all the "interesting" food that people eat that often has very little nutrition.

It was SO much fun to have my mom in my site with me. I loved introducing people to her and showing her how I live and what exactly I do for work. I was reminded of the unending love that my mom has towards people in poverty and that she is the one who inspired me from the begining to help those in need. To share my current reality with my mom and all the struggles and joys in the life that I live here in the Andes of Peru was beautiful.

Thank you for coming mom! It truly meant the world to me. I am so sad to see you go but you will always be in my heart as I continue my job serving with the Peace Corps. You are my biggest inspiration mom and I love you mom!

Waking up on the first morning after arriving to Huallanca-freezing!

My beautiful and amazing Peruvian mother. My mom LOVED her!

Having a big sunday family lunch with my Peruvian family.

My host family raises guinea pigs for food-my mom thought that was very interesting...

Holding one of the many adorable Peruvian babies in my life.

Teaching the kids how to use the kites that she brought them!

Just hanging out with my Peruvian fam.

My mom was amazed that people wash their clothes by hand in the literally freezing cold water that leaves your hands aching and burning from the ice cold mountain water.

We were blessed with this beautiful rainbow after rain on the first day.

My mom froze every night!

She came to class with me to watch me teach!

She loved my school and the beautiful mountain setting.

She spent an afternoon watching me paint a section of my world map with my students.

She loved all the beautifu views of the mountains.

She was a bit disgusted by some of the daily sites that I see...

We went to the market to buy food for lunch with my host family and I got to show her all the million different types of potatoes.

Spending time with my wonderful Peruvian family.

My host family prepared Pacha Manca so that my mom could eat the traditional dish of Huallanca.

To feel a bit more clean she wanted to rinse her hair.

She loved seeing me teach and meeting my students!

Introducing her to one of my favorite families in Huallanca and was shocked when she asked if what she thought was the kids playhouse (the home pictured behind us) was actually the house that they lived in.