Check It

Look where I went! AWESOME. Come visit me and you could see it too ;) It's magnificent.

And a note to Sara Stremikis- This was supposed to be a jumping picture. The jump wasn't captured, but I like what I got instead ;)

New Pet?

Check out who my host dad brought home from the field today! I'm really not sure what will happen with our new friend, a new addition to the farm perhaps?

UPDATE: Marathon Training

So, I'm not sure if any of you are interested in this, but as a motivator to keep myself going, I want to talk about the marathon training I've recently started. Being the cocky idealistic person I am, I figured training for a marathon in a desert summer would be tough, but nothing I couldn't handle. I was wrong...shocker. How do I say this without sounding like a whiny bitch? It's hot as balls in the desert. This is a less than pleasant task I have embarked on. 

In case you care to know more about this, I'll take you to one of the many lists that my head conjures up during runs in response to my body's wanting to stop. This list gets created and revised every time I run... 

Positives

>Exercise 

>Alone time 

>Relaxation

>Great scenery (seriously, I have these little mini-mountains that take on a gorgeous blue tone around twilight, it's beautiful)

>Progress toward a goal

>Wellness

>Being an example to the kids I work with

>Having a reputation in the community as the "girl who always runs and never gets tired." That's a lie that I will just leave alone ;) 

>I have a Garmin, good shoes, my nerdy running belt, my nerdy running hat, and Gu--- these are many things most others here don't have to help them train.

>I have somewhere safe to run: feel safe on the roads and for short runs, the groundskeeper at the stadium opens the track just for me :) 

>Running a marathon in Peru is something I really really want. Missing out on this opportunity would be a shame and something I would regret. 

Negatives

>Shin splints

>Heat rashes (despite my overpriced allegedly "dry-fit, sweat-wicking," Nike pants. Thanks for nothing you silly corporation I used to trust). 

>Rabid dogs (I had to kick a puppy in the face the other day to get him to stop biting my foot. Still feeling guilty for that one. His owner told me to do it :/ )

>Dehydration (regardless of how much water I drink) 

>Having to go without a post-run shower on days we don't have water (don't judge. I'm not a dirty hippy, I just care about wellness and live in the desert... sometimes I really am like a real Peace Corps volunteer ;) 

>Running in 90 degree + heat, with no option for anything longer than about 20 minutes in a cooler temperature. 

So if you were wondering, that's how training is going for me so far. My times are slow and I'm being a whiny baby about the heat. But, I'm getting my miles in and have found some pretty nice/ safe routes to use for the coming months. There is also a group of neighbors that is always outside when I finish my runs. I've gotten into the habit of chatting with them after running, and that's something I can look forward to mid-run when everything sucks. I think it will get easier, and at this point, I just look forward to making it through training injury free. I'm already convinced that if I finish this marathon, I will have an awful finishing time. I'm not after speed here, as that doesn't seem like something I will be able to offer in this race. The goals are just to train and to finish. This is harder than I thought it would be. I'll keep you updated on how it goes, for better or worse. 

If anyone is interested in supporting this cause, Gu packets can be sent to the address on the right -----> 

I'm spoiled enough as it is, so I don't need mail, but if you were wondering if there was anything I wanted in a package, it's Gu ;) 

Anyway, there's your update on marathon training. Whine as I might, running in the desert is still better than running on a treadmill or those wet, icy WI sidewalks. Knowing this fact alone keeps me going. To all of you training for spring races: keep it up, you are an inspiration. 

Mom Disclaimer: This is not me. I could never wear this while running here, nor am I getting skinny. This is a random internet find, worry not. 

Mr. Mango!

Piere and I get bored. He put the mustache on upside down. I didn't fix it. Mr. Mango is more charming that way. 

A Different Kind of Party

On the morning of Valentine's Day, I watched a party tent go up at my neighbor's house. I was curious to know what they were celebrating, so later that day, I poked my head in the tent and read the banner on the back wall which read, "Jose's First Year of Death," surrounded by stars, doves, and angels. I asked my host family about this and they explained that it is normal for families to hold a party at their home after a mass that is held on the 1 year anniversary of the death. I watched this unfold throughout the day and fell asleep to the music that was blasting from the 4 speakers they erected. Around noon, there was a crowd at the church; at about three when I went to my afternoon class, there was a small procession heading towards the cemetery; around dusk when I ran past, dinner had just been served and everyone was dancing and drinking. I found this all very intriguing. 

A custom here that I've always found interesting is that family members who lose a loved one do not dance for 1 year from the date of death. This often means that they don't even go to parties during that first year. An older tradition that is less common is that survivors wear only black clothing for one year, no colors. So, at the end of this year, it is common for the family to hold a gathering in which they dance again for the first time. From what I gather, it varies on family and situation, but it seems to follow the same general pattern. No dancing for one year, then on the anniversary, there is a mass, a cemetery visit, then a gathering which can be anything from a somber meal to a big loud Peruvian party. 

This is kind of a random thing, but it's interesting (and sort of new) to me so I thought I'd share. 

HOT HOT HEAT

NOTE: This entry is not a complaint, but an observation. 

It is HOT. AS. BALLS these days. Ascope is in the middle of the desert with just a tiny breeze to move around the ridiculous heat we are getting right now. I don't think it's been less than 90 degrees all week. I can't be sure on the actual temperature, because everyone gives me different numbers- including the internet, but I know that it is hotter than anything I have ever seen, especially for this amount of time. I'm pretty sure I've only lived through a few really hot days a year at a time... and that when it comes to heat, I am a baby. I'm adjusting, sure. But this is rough on my hardened Wisconsin skin which is used to being frozen dry this time of year instead of burnt to a flaky crisp. Don't worry Mom, I am wearing sun screen. I've never hoped for the end of summer until this year. Sure, it's nice to have fresh fruit and sun and beach weather. Don't get me wrong, I love summer and I'm enjoying getting to know a new climate. But hell, it's hot. I think my brain is melting it's so hot. My motivation is zapped. I want to sleep all the time. I sweat just sitting in my room doing no physical activity whatsoever. The other day, I literally slipped on my own sweat. At the end of the day, my clothes are soaked in sweat and feel heavy to wear. I'm not exaggerating. It's not just me, it seems like everyone in my town feels this way to some degree. The heat is all we talk about. I feel for my pcv friends who are farther north than I am, it's a lot worse for them I am sure. I keep that in mind, that it could be worse. I could be farther north, or worse yet, I could be in the Wisconsin cold right now ;) I'll take this over a Wisco winter while I can. 

To cope, I am doing what the locals do- eating ice cream and popsicle treats (of course); sitting in the dark (often because the power goes out, which I'm told is also because of the heat); drinking cold soda (even though I don't like soda, and I know it's dental suicide for me); and stripping down (which for me just means walking around my room in a sports bra and shorts, as I can't be seen in anything less than professional around town). I have seen a little less of my host fam this past week because we're all hiding out in our 'summer outfits.' lol. Piere keeps a towel near him to wrap up in when I come around. Otherwise, he's a little captain underpants all day. I'm really happy I brought some big hippy skirts. It's too hot for pants and skirts look better professionally than the 2 pairs of shorts I have here. I take a lot of shit for these skirts, but they are all I can wear these days. To the towns folk, my host fam, and a few special volunteers friends- a message: No I'm not a gypsy, no I don't read palms, no I've never been to India, and no I'm not wearing a bed sheet. I just don't want to sit around with swampass all day in sweat soaked jeans rolled up to my knees for ventilation. 

Baby as I may be, I'm certainly not the only uncomfortable one around these parts. The heat has caused my numbers to go down in the summer classes I'm teaching. And for the kids who come, the heat has stolen their concentration. I don't blame them at all so I let them go to the water fountains frequently, when there is water. Something all the kids here do is completely soak their heads in water to cool off. I've copied them a few times while I've been running and I think it's brilliant. Unfortunately, living in the desert, we don't have water all the time, so the little mini-bath sessions are more of a treat than anything and only happen once in a blue moon. 

And speaking of mini baths, I happened along a good one yesterday. Early afternoon, while in my room preparing for my art class, I could hear Piere singing- which is nothing but normal. It was coming from a different part of the house than usual though, so I went to make sure he wasn't up to anything too Piere-like for his own good. I found him in a self-drawn bath in the laundry basin. First I heard the splashing, then I saw the chair propped up to the basins with his shorts on them. And there he was splashing around singing. I tried sneaking up on him, but instead I got the "Ayy Breeeett! You found me!" I'm so used to hearing by now. Shortly afterwards, my host mom came outside to see what I was doing and she was just as surprised as I was to see Captain Underpants sitting in the lavanderia all wet. We then staged an attack photo shoot and took a little splashing before I left for my afternoon class. Never a dull moment when you live with a 6 year old. His only response as to why he would climb into the laundry sink and swim around was the obvious one, "it's too hot to do anything else and my pool deflated." If only I could fit in a laundry sink. 

Side Note: I don't know what happened to the bottom of this photo, but I will do what I have been doing all month and I will blame the heat. It takes like an hour to load a photo, so you're stuck with this one. Apologies. 

Piere Quotes for the Week

Upon hearing of my new niece, my host mom asked if the baby could come visit. This is what happened next-

Grandpa- Maybe we could trade Piere for the gringa baby.

Piere- (wihtout missing a beat of course) If you trade me I'll go to the US and sell all of your land. 6,000 soles per hectare. 

Piere on Valentine's Day- 

Me- Happy Valentine's Day, Piercito. Have an ice cream sandwich. 

Piere- That was a good idea Britt. It's too hot to eat anything else. It's as hot here these days as it is where the camels live.