One of the hardest parts about being away from my home and family is missing holidays and special occasions. Last year, Thanksgiving went ignored, Christmas was barely celebrated, and holidays like Memorial Day were completely forgotten. However, a wonderful part of living in Peru is that every other week there seems to be something to celebrate….
Category: Culture
Mother’s Day Edition
Happy Mother’s Day, Moms! In honor of this day, I want to take a moment to recognize all of the motherly love I am blessed with in my life. I have always been surrounded by strong and supportive women. My dad passed away when I was just 10 years old and my mom was left…
Mater Elevations
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: food is love. I believe the best way to start to understand a new culture is to try all of the local foods and experience the biodiversity through the combination of rare and exotic flavors. This may be why I have dedicated quite a bit of…
A Year in Perú
I arrived in Perú April 28, 2016 and here I am April 28, 2017! A large reason I wanted to join the Peace Corps was to learn about myself and life through an experience of independence. I wanted to be around people who live and think differently than I do so that I could gain…
Lessons from Summer School
Teaching summer school, known as Vacaciones Útiles, is my favorite project that I have tackled, so far. In site, I am definitely most happy when I am working, and vacaciones útiles filled my February with 98 kids with amazingly unique personalities from all over the province of Asunción, Ancash. That means I got 98+ hugs a…
State of Emergency
All over the world, there have been news broadcasts showing the horrible flooding and landslides that have officially put Perú in a state of emergency. More than 70 lives have been claimed, hundreds are left missing, and over 100,000 people are now without homes. The situation is devastating to say the least, and I am…
When Culture Requires that You Cut Down a Tree
Carnaval is upon us! In Ancash, this is the time for dodging flour bombs and dancing to the constant beat of the Huayno drums. Sheer happiness clouds the air as people dance and laugh and drink to celebrate this time. Everywhere celebrates Carnaval slightly differently, but this year, I spent the celebration in one of…
My Cusco Top 10
Happy New Year, Everyone! The end of December and the beginning of January were a complete blur and have been super busy. I was fortunate enough to get to take a vacation with my family over the holidays and it was a trip of a lifetime. Having my mom, sister, and brother in one place…
A Visit with Carrie Hessler-Radelet
The Peace Corps has been full of unexpected and humbling experiences. Daily, I have to pinch myself to remind myself that this is my life. I’m living in Perú. In fact, right now, I’m writing this blog post while sitting outside and watching the most incredible bright orange sun fade into dark blue wisps of clouds…
Top 10 Culturally Acceptable Things to Do and Say in the Sierras of Perú
Overall, I would say that the difference between life in Perú and life in the United States is not terribly huge. Especially if we are talking about Lima, which is a very modern city with a similar, busy lifestyle that the US is known for. However, I live in the sierras of Ancash and there…
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