I've been at site for just over three weeks now. I haven't been really busy or anything, but somehow the time has gone by fast. The first three months at site are meant as an adjustment period in which we learn about our community and start to get some ideas about projects we would like to complete. We are also supposed to do smaller projects that should be pretty easy. That is where I am now.
Although I initially thought living with a host family would be annoying, I have come to see how beneficial it really is. I sometimes feel like a teenager again - like being told when and what to eat - their utility has really shown itself. Most recently, as I begin working on these smaller projects. I have just come back from the library that my dad runs. Him and I brainstormed for about a half hour and came up with some very exciting projects.
First, we will be holding a weekly movie night at the library. It will start next Friday with The Pianist. I thought this movie might be a little too mature for a younger audience (though I admit I haven't seen it), but my dad thought it would be fine for them. Since I haven't seen it and he knows the kids better than I, I trust him. My dad works for the municipality so he can borrow a projector from the municipality that we can use.
Another project will be a chess club. This was my dad's idea. I don't know much about chess, but he says the kids will love it. Apparently they had one last year, but it kind of fell off. He already has the chess boards and everything.
We are also going to start a book club. Some complain that kids in the States don't read enough, well they should see Peru. Practically nobody here reads for fun. To exacerbate the problem, books are very expensive and libraries are few (that's why I'm so lucky to have a librarian as a host dad). I'll start this project a few weeks after the movie night so that I can get to know the kids and gauge their interest. I'm really excited about this one. I myself love to read and I think it's immensely important that kids start this habit early.
The final project we came up with will require a bit more work. We want to hold a womens marathon. They held a mens marathon here a few years ago, but never one for the ladies. Because there exists a lot of machismo culture here in Peru, it would be great to hold an event just for women in which they can display their physical talent and discipline.
So all this has got me very excited. I've already bought supplies to make signs for the movie night to post around town.
Later today, I have a meeting with a group of high school students who are going to perform a play about teen pregnancy as part of a department wide competition with other schools. Our group won the first part of the competition which was to make a poster for the prevention of teen pregnancy, so hopefully we can carry the momentum over into this play.
I'll let you all know how everything goes!
Chau,
Roberto
