In choosing to spend time abroad volunteering, I knew I wanted to have an experience that would challenge the way I viewed the world and myself, and I found that experience with CapCorps. I am most appreciative of the Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps and the Capuchins of the St. Joseph Province for providing me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of God and myself while in service to others.
Living and working with people from a very distinct background and situation than my own, seeing how their faith inspired them, and understanding we are really similar regardless of our differing social and economic situations has taught me the common desire of the human heart--the search for happiness.
This opportunity could not have been possible had it not been for the Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps. I must send my deepest thanks and appreciation to the Capuchin Franciscans of the St. Joseph Province for providing me this opportunity to serve abroad with CapCorps. I hope now that through my experience with CapCorps I may better assist in transforming the world through reverence.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Prologue
My time in Peru, however short lived it was, was an experience filled with new encounters and lessons which I will carry with me for the rest of my life. As with many of my endeavors, I had attempted, but failed, to maintain a blog throughout my time in Peru. I did begin by logging highs and lows, new experiences and feelings I had at the beginning but did not follow through. I truly regret that I was not able to maintain that blog, however I do have a few posts from it which I will share here.
This blog will be a compilation of memories, reflections on new experiences I had, and anything else that I would like to add that relates to my experience in Peru. Even though I am now back in the United States, Peru continues to live with me, as I attempt to maintain contact with the friends I had made there.
The title of the blog, "Otro Mar, Otro Lugar," are lyrics to a popular (and terribly sappy) latin pop song, which is ridiculously over-played. I had almost memorized this song by listening to the radio while working with the boys. It means "another sea, another place," referencing the search of happinees that often leads us to foriegn, unfamiliar places. I chose this title for a variety of reasons. First, I had left behind the waves of the great plains in Nebraska, to go to another sea, Lima, Peru with its idealic vistas from the Malecon (coast), and its 8-10 million inhabitants, an ocean of humanity in itself. I suffered through tearful goodbyes to family and friends in order to forge unlikely friendships that will last for years to come. All of this endured for what? To challenge myself, to continually dig deeper into the person of Michael, to better understand myself. To search out for that which will make me happy in life.
This blog will be a compilation of memories, reflections on new experiences I had, and anything else that I would like to add that relates to my experience in Peru. Even though I am now back in the United States, Peru continues to live with me, as I attempt to maintain contact with the friends I had made there.
The title of the blog, "Otro Mar, Otro Lugar," are lyrics to a popular (and terribly sappy) latin pop song, which is ridiculously over-played. I had almost memorized this song by listening to the radio while working with the boys. It means "another sea, another place," referencing the search of happinees that often leads us to foriegn, unfamiliar places. I chose this title for a variety of reasons. First, I had left behind the waves of the great plains in Nebraska, to go to another sea, Lima, Peru with its idealic vistas from the Malecon (coast), and its 8-10 million inhabitants, an ocean of humanity in itself. I suffered through tearful goodbyes to family and friends in order to forge unlikely friendships that will last for years to come. All of this endured for what? To challenge myself, to continually dig deeper into the person of Michael, to better understand myself. To search out for that which will make me happy in life.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Beginning of My CapCorps experience
This post has two entries I had written at the beginning of my Cap Corps experience for a blog which unfortunately fell to the wayside and I did not maintain.
September 2010
I have now been in CapCorps for one entire month, and it has provided me with many new experiences. Looking back on it now, I realize how difficult it was to let go and trust, which is a lesson that I am still continuing to learn. When my grandma and grandpa and Doug and Joan left me at St. Conrad's in Milwaukee, all I wanted to do is to cling to the van and go back to Nebraska with them because they were security, the familiar, the family, which I knew I had to let go of.
Then came orientation, where fourteen strangers from all over the United States came together and bonded, paved many great and lasting friendships, and became family. I had to eventually let go as everyone left eachother to move to their repective service sites. Milwaukee and St. Conrad's at that time became my new home, which I had to leave behind, to make the biggest transition I have had so far in my life--moving to Peru.
This new experience of Peru has already been one of many transitions and challenges. Although race and ethnic classifications are superficial and lead to steretyping, I have had to come to the realization that I am a "minority" here, which has been a completely new experience for me. Yes, I realized this fact before I moved here, but I have never lived this fact, which is true about many aspects in my life--I know much, but I lived little (ok, I am only 22).
Next, and probably the most difficult challenge thus far--the language. I have developed a metaphor for describing my experience of immersing myself in a new language: It is liking hanging from a cliff and not wanting to let go. English has been the language of my experiences so far in my life. I have had the experience of needing to let go of English, which here in Peru, is my security. To really learn Spanish and immerse myself in it, I will have to let go of the cliff which is English and inundate myself in Spanish. Thus far, I have eased my way into it and I am becoming more comfortable with speaking it, but as of now I have not completely let go, which has been and will continue to be extremely difficult.
I believe that the reason why I have been experiencing this difficulty with letting go of English is not because I lack the knowledge of Spanish, but because I am afraid to be humble. It has been so frustrating for me to let go of my pride and my desire to communicate myself as I would like. When I speak some people may laugh because I stumble over my words, or become frustrated because I take a long time to think about what I want to say, or because I say something that is completely incorrect, but I have realized that this is a part of the process. Jeanette and I have talked about how when you are in stressful situations or in situations that are most foreign to you, your true self shines most brightly, without any of the fasades that you may construct for yourself or how you project yourself into society--all of that crumbles away like a house built on sand. This has been difficult for me (I think it is, in fact, difficult for anyone), because our true self, which we want to hide from others, is usually our faults, our weaknesses, our insecurities. I believe that it is in this space, in these times, that we come to realize our true dependency on God. I have had this experience at least two times since I have arrived in Peru.
Ok, not only have I had to transition into a new culture and a new language, but also my entire life has been lived in a rural environment, from home to Conception, MO, and now I am living in a metropolis of approxiamately 8 million people (some say that there is more like 12 million people, whichever, it is inconsequential to what I want to say). I have had to make a big transition from the quiet, solitude of farm and monastery to the cacaphony , griminess, and chaos of big city Lima. So far my only repose has been to go for walks along the Malecon/beach where there are not many people and where I can get the sense of wide, open expanses. The other day (Monday or Tuesday), I was feeling homesick (I had missed my brother, Bill's, wedding, which was the cause of some depressive feelings) and needed to get away, and so Jeanette and I went for a walk along the beach. This definitely helped me in overcoming these feelings and letting go of things that I could not control. Sitting there on the beach meditating and praying definitely helped me get a grasp on this entire sitaution and where I have been and where I am going.
(Also, as we were sitting on the rocky beach looking out over the foggy horizon, I saw a small fishing boat, all alone bobbing up and down with the waves. Is was interesting to look at and wonder who was in there and the story of that solitary boat (it reminded me of The Old Man and the Sea)).
October 2010
I have now been working at La Ciudad for one month, and this month has definitely given its fair share of new experiences. I will begin by describing so of the highs and lows of this first month. I think that it is best to begin with lows and to end on a positive note.
Lows: The first week here was extremely difficult for me, and I felt ready to quit and go home. I did not feel welcomed and felt that many people did not want to talk to me. There was also the physical exhaustion that pouring cement in the schools amphitheater caused my body. Not being able to communicate myself like I would want is still a source of frustration. Because they are teenage boys, they don’t necessarily enjoy working, which means that they can be rather lazy during their work time, which is very frustrating.
Highs: Connecting with the boys in my pabellon (the house where the boys live and where I work. Its patron is San Felix), has been a source of great joy. I am starting to enjoy the manual labor of pouring cement and the exercise it provides my body. Helping with the talent night and seeing the boys perform and show off their talents has been entertaining to see. Seeing the ways in which the boys will attempt to dodge work is entertaining. Helping in the bakery, making paneton and turron (sweet bread and a cookie dessert covered in honey and hard candies) was very enjoyable, and I also met some great people. All the great people that I have met in this past month have been overwhelming, exhausting, joy-filled, and energizing!
September 2010
I have now been in CapCorps for one entire month, and it has provided me with many new experiences. Looking back on it now, I realize how difficult it was to let go and trust, which is a lesson that I am still continuing to learn. When my grandma and grandpa and Doug and Joan left me at St. Conrad's in Milwaukee, all I wanted to do is to cling to the van and go back to Nebraska with them because they were security, the familiar, the family, which I knew I had to let go of.
Then came orientation, where fourteen strangers from all over the United States came together and bonded, paved many great and lasting friendships, and became family. I had to eventually let go as everyone left eachother to move to their repective service sites. Milwaukee and St. Conrad's at that time became my new home, which I had to leave behind, to make the biggest transition I have had so far in my life--moving to Peru.
This new experience of Peru has already been one of many transitions and challenges. Although race and ethnic classifications are superficial and lead to steretyping, I have had to come to the realization that I am a "minority" here, which has been a completely new experience for me. Yes, I realized this fact before I moved here, but I have never lived this fact, which is true about many aspects in my life--I know much, but I lived little (ok, I am only 22).
Next, and probably the most difficult challenge thus far--the language. I have developed a metaphor for describing my experience of immersing myself in a new language: It is liking hanging from a cliff and not wanting to let go. English has been the language of my experiences so far in my life. I have had the experience of needing to let go of English, which here in Peru, is my security. To really learn Spanish and immerse myself in it, I will have to let go of the cliff which is English and inundate myself in Spanish. Thus far, I have eased my way into it and I am becoming more comfortable with speaking it, but as of now I have not completely let go, which has been and will continue to be extremely difficult.
I believe that the reason why I have been experiencing this difficulty with letting go of English is not because I lack the knowledge of Spanish, but because I am afraid to be humble. It has been so frustrating for me to let go of my pride and my desire to communicate myself as I would like. When I speak some people may laugh because I stumble over my words, or become frustrated because I take a long time to think about what I want to say, or because I say something that is completely incorrect, but I have realized that this is a part of the process. Jeanette and I have talked about how when you are in stressful situations or in situations that are most foreign to you, your true self shines most brightly, without any of the fasades that you may construct for yourself or how you project yourself into society--all of that crumbles away like a house built on sand. This has been difficult for me (I think it is, in fact, difficult for anyone), because our true self, which we want to hide from others, is usually our faults, our weaknesses, our insecurities. I believe that it is in this space, in these times, that we come to realize our true dependency on God. I have had this experience at least two times since I have arrived in Peru.
Ok, not only have I had to transition into a new culture and a new language, but also my entire life has been lived in a rural environment, from home to Conception, MO, and now I am living in a metropolis of approxiamately 8 million people (some say that there is more like 12 million people, whichever, it is inconsequential to what I want to say). I have had to make a big transition from the quiet, solitude of farm and monastery to the cacaphony , griminess, and chaos of big city Lima. So far my only repose has been to go for walks along the Malecon/beach where there are not many people and where I can get the sense of wide, open expanses. The other day (Monday or Tuesday), I was feeling homesick (I had missed my brother, Bill's, wedding, which was the cause of some depressive feelings) and needed to get away, and so Jeanette and I went for a walk along the beach. This definitely helped me in overcoming these feelings and letting go of things that I could not control. Sitting there on the beach meditating and praying definitely helped me get a grasp on this entire sitaution and where I have been and where I am going.
(Also, as we were sitting on the rocky beach looking out over the foggy horizon, I saw a small fishing boat, all alone bobbing up and down with the waves. Is was interesting to look at and wonder who was in there and the story of that solitary boat (it reminded me of The Old Man and the Sea)).
October 2010
I have now been working at La Ciudad for one month, and this month has definitely given its fair share of new experiences. I will begin by describing so of the highs and lows of this first month. I think that it is best to begin with lows and to end on a positive note.
Lows: The first week here was extremely difficult for me, and I felt ready to quit and go home. I did not feel welcomed and felt that many people did not want to talk to me. There was also the physical exhaustion that pouring cement in the schools amphitheater caused my body. Not being able to communicate myself like I would want is still a source of frustration. Because they are teenage boys, they don’t necessarily enjoy working, which means that they can be rather lazy during their work time, which is very frustrating.
Highs: Connecting with the boys in my pabellon (the house where the boys live and where I work. Its patron is San Felix), has been a source of great joy. I am starting to enjoy the manual labor of pouring cement and the exercise it provides my body. Helping with the talent night and seeing the boys perform and show off their talents has been entertaining to see. Seeing the ways in which the boys will attempt to dodge work is entertaining. Helping in the bakery, making paneton and turron (sweet bread and a cookie dessert covered in honey and hard candies) was very enjoyable, and I also met some great people. All the great people that I have met in this past month have been overwhelming, exhausting, joy-filled, and energizing!
The main street in La Ciudad de los Ninos
The chapel
My Jobs at La Ciudad
Much of my time at La Ciudad was spent rummaging through garbage in the recliclaje. Every Monday and Wednesday garbage trucks would bring us giants loads of trash which the boys of San Felix had the joy of organizing into to cardboard newspaper, magazines, glass bottles, plastics, etc. This was probably my most frustrating job because it was disgusting, it never ended, and it didn't seem like we were working towards any sort of end--just a never-ending cycle of garbage. I joke with the other volunteers that my purgatory would be just this, rejuvenating piles of garbage which had to be sifted through. Of course, things were made interesting by the boys when they would stumble across some of the more interesting items, old pieces of clothing, sun glasses with a broken lens, things that they would immediately try on.
I also spent much of my time working with Hermano Delso pouring cement or lay brick. The two main projects that I worked with him was in the amphitheater and the patio for the volunteer's apartment. Hermano Delso was a short, stocky man with leathery skin and a toothless smile. His eyes seemed to tell more about him then the few words he spoke. They were bright, full of life, and caring. If ever there was a person who worked hard his entire life, it was him. And throughout all the difficult work he did, the jocular grief that the boys gave him while working with him, he always said "Anything for the Lord." While working with him, there were very few words exchanged, but every much learned, from pouring cement and laying brick to more valuable lessons like hard work and patience.
Below you will see the boys' favorite thing to do in the recliclaje, nothing! They would take their time in doing the work in order to read, nap, goof around, or just about anything to avoid actually finishing the job.
I also helped on the chicken farm, where I learned chickens must be the ugliest, least intelligent creatures. They start out as cute, soft, and fluffy, but then grow into ugly, stupid, awkward monsters. After feeding and watering these creatures for several months, I had the opportunity to help butcher 400 chickens with the boys. After that I never wanted to eat chicken, which is unavoidable in Peru.
Christmas at La Ciudad de Los Ninos
Christmas is always an emotional season, and this year that was especially the case for me and the boys of San Felix. The Peruvian school year begins in March and ends in December, which means that December, rather than May, is the typical season for high school graduations. Well here at Ciudad, the oldest boys have their graduation in mid December, but then remain at Ciudad until Christmas day. This is customary for all the boys at Ciudad, because of their backgrounds many of the families cannot provide a Christmas celebration at home for the boys. And so Christmas is a time of celebration and joy, but it is also a time that looms with the grim reminder that many emotional goodbyes are soon to come. This was so for my experience. I was celebrating Christmas away from my home and family, in a foreign country, without any snow (which I was missing), and on with this I was also saying goodbye to the boys with whom I had forged great friendships.
Christmas celebrations began on Noche Buena (Christmas eve), with Mass being celebrated around 9:00 pm. Following the Mass, all the boys went to the comedor for supper, where all the tables were set and decorated. Amist the tables were nine giant piles of packages for the boys, each pile for a respective Pabellon. It was a festive evening of good food (lomo saltado) and laughter. Boys will be boys, and as such, they were rambunctuous and filled with energy. This evening seemed to me to be the only evening where the boys were able to relax and enjoy their time.
Another tradition in Peru on Noche Buena is to light off fireworks at midnight. There was a gradual crescendo of fuegos artificiales, and at midnight the sky was illuminated by fireworks, lighting up all of San Juan de Miraflores and neighboring suburbs. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of that beautiful sight because I gave my camera to one of the boys in my pabellon to take pictures. This is was I got....
Christmas celebrations began on Noche Buena (Christmas eve), with Mass being celebrated around 9:00 pm. Following the Mass, all the boys went to the comedor for supper, where all the tables were set and decorated. Amist the tables were nine giant piles of packages for the boys, each pile for a respective Pabellon. It was a festive evening of good food (lomo saltado) and laughter. Boys will be boys, and as such, they were rambunctuous and filled with energy. This evening seemed to me to be the only evening where the boys were able to relax and enjoy their time.
Another tradition in Peru on Noche Buena is to light off fireworks at midnight. There was a gradual crescendo of fuegos artificiales, and at midnight the sky was illuminated by fireworks, lighting up all of San Juan de Miraflores and neighboring suburbs. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of that beautiful sight because I gave my camera to one of the boys in my pabellon to take pictures. This is was I got....
Cristian, Joe, and Yoel
Brothers Cristian and Jonathan (the photographers for the night)
Jose Zapata and Jonathan
Christmas Eve at about 11:30 the lights went out cutting short the party. Usually gifts would be opened at midnight, but due to the lights going out, we waited to the next morning.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Chiclayo, Pimentel, and Lambayeque
The six of us, Alyssa, Michael and Laura, Tania, Jeanette, and myself, made a trip to Chiclayo to see the museum of El Senor de Sipan, which houses royal vestments and accoutrement of the Senor de Sipan, of the pre-Incan Moche culture. Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed inside. This museum is truly world class!
Streets of Lambayeque, Peru.
I love Latin American streets. They are gritty and full of life and character!
Christmas decorations in Peru are truly classy and elegant, for instance the picture below. Can anyone find the Santa Claus in this picture?
What you see below is the Plaza Mayor of Chiclayo which was decorated by the city's 6-year olds.
Random elves hanging from the trees.
A trashcan dressed as Santa Claus
Our creations at the beach
My mermaid attracted this jovial group of woman picking up trash on the beach. They called my mermaid Medusa and commented on certain aspects of her physique.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Pisco, Paracas, and Ica
A few days after I returned from my adventure to Trujillo, Jeanette and I traveled south to the costal resort town of Pisco. This port city is named after the potent Peruvian liquor produced in Ica then exported out of Pisco. In 2007 Pisco suffered a devastating earthquake that left the city crippled and unable to support the thriving tourist industry it had previously enjoyed. Walking through the city, one notices that altough severely damaged, Pisco is still a thriving city; enjoying the town square during a fresh summer evening, one can almost feel the living pulse of the people rebuilding their beloved home. Tourists are now coming back to Pisco on their way to enjoy another resort town, Paracas, and the natural wonders of Las Islas Ballestas.
If you are not afraid of Peruvian buses, traveling within Peru is very easy. Pisco is about a 3 hour drive from Lima. One can simply take pick up a bus from a stop along that Panamericana and for 15 soles can be in Pisco in 3 hours. Jeanette and I took a Perubus from our bus stop on the Pan Americana. As we were walking along to highway with our backpacks, looking like obvious tourists, a truck with a loud speaker, shouting out advertisements, warmly blared at us: "Welcome gringos to our beautiful country. Thank you for coming to Peru!" The bus was hot and, of course packed with people. I wedged myself into a seat next to a father and sleeping baby. I had put my bag above my head in the rack, but when the attendant came by and warned me to watch my bag. I immediately took it down and put it on my lap. Traveling in the "commoners" bus (i.e. the economical busses), is always far more fulfilling experience. Being able to rub shoulders with the common Peruvian, being able to start conversations with little old ladies, who are interested in where you are from, your story, and being able to then talk to them about their lives is always fulfilling to me. This type of experience reminds me of the commonality that is present in the diversity of peoples.
We found our way to Pisco and settled into our hostel. We had the evening to relax, so we naturally made our way to the plaze de armas (main plaza) of Pisco. On our way there we passed streets of houses that where literally being built from the rubble of the earthquake. We went to eat at a nice restaurant off the plaza, where we had delicious, fresh seafood. When we were finished eating, we relaxed in the plaza, doing as the locals, chatting, eating ice cream cones, and people watching. The plaza is like the towns living room. Carefree children roam and play freely, while elderly men and gossipy women chat on the benches. And amongst all this are the gringo and gringa who constantly catch the furtive glances and blatant stares of the locals.
Las Islas Ballestas the next day were quite impressive. This visit was probably the first real touristy thing I did since I arrived in Peru. We arrived at the dock with a bunch of other tourists from all over the world and boarded tour boat to see the islands. We were able to see seal lions, the Peruvian penguin, pelicans (which are the most unattractive birds). The islands are also notorious for their stench. The amount of birds that live on the islands produce quite a bit of guano which is then collected and used as fertilizer.
After Pisco and Paracas, we went to Ica. Everyone at La Ciudad said it was hot in Ica, and they were right. It was hot! We went to a Bodega to learn about the process used to distill pisco. It was interesting the and the samples were a enough to "put you in."
I will post pictures soon.
If you are not afraid of Peruvian buses, traveling within Peru is very easy. Pisco is about a 3 hour drive from Lima. One can simply take pick up a bus from a stop along that Panamericana and for 15 soles can be in Pisco in 3 hours. Jeanette and I took a Perubus from our bus stop on the Pan Americana. As we were walking along to highway with our backpacks, looking like obvious tourists, a truck with a loud speaker, shouting out advertisements, warmly blared at us: "Welcome gringos to our beautiful country. Thank you for coming to Peru!" The bus was hot and, of course packed with people. I wedged myself into a seat next to a father and sleeping baby. I had put my bag above my head in the rack, but when the attendant came by and warned me to watch my bag. I immediately took it down and put it on my lap. Traveling in the "commoners" bus (i.e. the economical busses), is always far more fulfilling experience. Being able to rub shoulders with the common Peruvian, being able to start conversations with little old ladies, who are interested in where you are from, your story, and being able to then talk to them about their lives is always fulfilling to me. This type of experience reminds me of the commonality that is present in the diversity of peoples.
We found our way to Pisco and settled into our hostel. We had the evening to relax, so we naturally made our way to the plaze de armas (main plaza) of Pisco. On our way there we passed streets of houses that where literally being built from the rubble of the earthquake. We went to eat at a nice restaurant off the plaza, where we had delicious, fresh seafood. When we were finished eating, we relaxed in the plaza, doing as the locals, chatting, eating ice cream cones, and people watching. The plaza is like the towns living room. Carefree children roam and play freely, while elderly men and gossipy women chat on the benches. And amongst all this are the gringo and gringa who constantly catch the furtive glances and blatant stares of the locals.
Las Islas Ballestas the next day were quite impressive. This visit was probably the first real touristy thing I did since I arrived in Peru. We arrived at the dock with a bunch of other tourists from all over the world and boarded tour boat to see the islands. We were able to see seal lions, the Peruvian penguin, pelicans (which are the most unattractive birds). The islands are also notorious for their stench. The amount of birds that live on the islands produce quite a bit of guano which is then collected and used as fertilizer.
After Pisco and Paracas, we went to Ica. Everyone at La Ciudad said it was hot in Ica, and they were right. It was hot! We went to a Bodega to learn about the process used to distill pisco. It was interesting the and the samples were a enough to "put you in."
I will post pictures soon.
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