We are now all recovered from days of celebration and long hikes to ancient ruins. It has been a couple of weeks since our adventure to Machupicchu, our hiking friends have moved on to other adventures while we have stayed behind in the small, semi-isolated town of Oropesa. We are now one and a half weeks into straight volunteering at the school, with only a few lapsed trips to Cusco. Adapting to rural (I know thats a hard word to pronounce but you can do it) life can be a challenge at times and never fails to surprise.
Now looking back on my JV year, I realize my ideas of simplicity were a joke. I tried to shorten my shower time to less than 10 minutes everyday, with hot water. I only rode my bike for non-work related activites, and spent very little money, only visiting the local watering hole (coffee shop) once or twice a week. And only sent about 300 text messages a week, give or take.We also tried to buy local food.
Here in Oropesa if I want to set up a meeting with friends, it must be prearranged, as cell phones generally do not exist. Looking back on life, it´s really hard for me to remember the days of pre-arranged meetings. Maybe those were the days of elementary school when I walked to my friends house and see if he was around to play, or used a can on a sting. Our showers are with only cold water and are always less than 10 minutes. There is no coffee here, and all meals must be prepared with food grown nearby the town, within walking distance (mind you this is walking distance for we fit folk of South America). Peru also has a huge advantage, with soils and climates that can grow about anything. We do not have bikes and our cell phone is mostly used as a kinda-fancy clock. What is really the amazing thing of this rural lifestyle is that its not a simple life, its just life, and I enjoy the peacefulness of it. I challenge everyone to take just one evening, shower with cold water, make a simple meal, light the house with a candle, and turn the power off on American life.
Similar story of a different kind. Sara has started teaching some English classes, leaving me along to dwindle my time. Yesterday, I braved the plaza of Oropesa and started to draw the buildings surrounding me. I was off to a good start, semi-alone to make some progress with my drawing. Then, two Peruvians from a ways southwest of here were visiting Oropesa to buy bread and sat their items next to me to take some photos. I was listening to my ipod, in the drawing zone, until I realized I was being asked to have my photo taken with each of the travelers (I should have said for one sol). They left town, leaving me with a little breathing room again. Then I was swarmed by kids looking over my shoulder asking me questions about my drawing, where I am from, how much my ipod cost. I respond, I am from Illinois, do you know Illinois, they say no, Do you know Chicago? they say no, Do you know Obama, they say no, Do you know of the United States, they say no. I am surprised and end up saying I am from north of here. I never thought I would be living in a town with residents who have never heard of the United States. By the time I completed my drawing, kids were asking me for my signature.
On a completely seperate note, Check out this mustache. Its pretty wicked I think.
No comments:
Post a Comment