Re-enty

I left Peru for my vacation back to the states on a major high. The two months before I left in early August, were some of the most memorable months of my life. Everything was going great. I was having incredible success at work, I was traveling to awesome places, I had the best social networks in Peace Corps and in Lima, I even managed to find time to run a marathon. I was actually really sad to leave Peru, even for two weeks. Why then, did I feel so afraid of returning after spending 6 weeks in California?

I arrived in Lima late after almost 24 hours of traveling. It was cold, dark (obviously, it was night) and even though I was in a city of 8 million people, I felt alone. I spent my first night back at my friends apartment. Her roommate, my best friend, returned to the states the same day I came back to Peru and the apartment felt strangely empty, quite and cold. Did I mention it's really cold and gray here! I couldn't pin point the source of my gloomy feelings. I settled on the notion that it was probably normal and the feelings would pass after a good night sleep and getting back to my routine.

The next day, I went to the Peace Corps office. All of the Peace Corps volunteers who had been evacuated from Bolivia were there, and it was a zoo. My doctor was so busy with all the Bolivian volunteers that she gave me a hug, asked how I was and then I didn't see her again. Coming off of medical evacuation, it seemed like I should have talked to some one about being back, but I was lost in a sea of more pressing matters.

Going back to Lurin and my host family was not something I was looking forward to, but I was surprised by how good it felt to see them. I sat and talked with them over lunch for a long time and got caught up on what I had missed since I'd been away. Apparently, I'd missed a lot. 3 of the 6 members of the family I lived with had had surgery. My hosts moms youngest son, who's 28, had left his girlfriend and 2 month old baby and moved back into our house. My host mom explained to me the reason that he had left was because “the man is in charge of the relationship and his girlfriend didn‘t know her place and was trying make decisions for herself“. Viviana had told me earlier that he is an alcoholic who would get drunk and beat his girlfriend, even when she was pregnant.

It made me really sad that the family I live with not only excepts this behavior, but actually blames the girlfriend. Well, I only know that my host mom blames the girlfriend. Viviana surely doesn't agree with what is happening and if I had to guess, my host dad probably thinks it's wrong as well. I have to decide how I feel about living with an abusive alcoholic.
Going to visit the homes where I work and see all the kids was really wonderful. There's nothing like a 100 girls and boys that adore you and are thrilled to see you, to cheer you up when you're feeling a little out of it.

Peace Corps informed me that I would be taking on a Bolivian volunteer to train. The evacuated volunteers have the choice of closing their service early or transferring to another country. Peru is taking on as many new volunteers as it can, so in October I will have a volunteer living and working with me for a few weeks to learn the ways of Peru before being sent out on their own. I'm looking forward to this and my host family is really excited to have another American moving in. I hope I get along with this volunteer, I will basically be spending 24 hours a day with them.

As I'm re-establishing my living and work situation, I have found solace in the place where I've always found solace; my friends. I went to a party last night with my friends in Lima. Over the past few months, the Lima crew has been shifting. People come and go all the time in our crowd. While I was gone a few new faces arrived and a few old ones said goodbye. Going out Saturday night was fantastic because it reminded me of all the good times I‘ve had and all the ones yet to come. Not only is our group constantly changing, but it's constantly growing and I find that each week, I have more and more friends. They were all so happy to have me be back and it finally felt good to be back.

Although, I'm still adjusting to the big things. It's cold, the streets are noisy, I look different and everybody stares at me. Things are a bit tougher than I expected them to be upon my return, but isn't that why I love this lifestyle after all, because it's challenging? I know things will get better as I get settled, especially this coming week. There will be tons of volunteers in Lima for several PC meetings, including some of my favorites: Danielle, Rachel and Jah to name a few. I will be in the office a lot working on the training I have this weekend. I'm going to Piura in northern Peru where it's sunny for a workshop. Then on Sunday, it's my birthday! Two Lima friends are flying (obviously they're Lima friends not Peace Corps friends as they are flying where I will be taking an overnight 15 hour bus ride) to Piura to spend my birthday with me. We are going to Mancora which is Peru's most popular beach destination. We get to stay in a nice place right on the beach (thanks mom) and have a really relaxing trip. My birthday last year was kind of rough so hopefully with another week I'll be feeling back to my old happy self. And eventually, I’ll get back to being on that major high I had before I left.