I. Hate. The. Attention. From. Men. Here. Hate. I was told about, read about it, and thought I prepared myself for it, but, of course, it’s a whole different plate of objectification when you get here. And, please, let me explain exactly what it is: The most common cat-call is quite distinct - like an inwards suck-hiss. Hiss..yes, there’s a definite hiss to it. And I must say, this hiss-like sound adds to the charm of the calls… There’s also the “Allo-allo!, mi precioooosa [View Full Entry]

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So I made a survey for the youth in El Porvenir -- something to collect information about the youth population. The survey is meant to collect a bit of everything: basic personal info to personal attitudes on education and future dreams. And, hopefully, also pick up on any similarities/differences in attitudes between those in the youth group and those not (as this would be the basis for further qualitative, evaluative research on the impact Kallpa has had in El Porvenir.) Recently, we just finished up meetings about the plan of action for this research, and when/how the surveys should be d [View Full Entry]

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A confession for your reading pleasure: I love Iquitos. I love the people I work with. But sometimes (like today) it’s just really friggin’ hard. Before I came I really thought I anticipated every possible challenge I would face for the next five months, and, thus, be able to better approach these challenges ….but looking back, that was a pretty arrogant thing to assume. I knew communication would be hard. So, I made plans of speaking through my personality and with physical language, and, of course, accompanied by daily studying. I’m doing all of this, [View Full Entry]

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OK. I certainly do realize the fluffy extent of my blog so far....but I'm here on an internship! I swear! And I just kinda love it. A lot. Stephy and Jesus have been working with a youth group, El Juventud en Progreso in El Povenir for about a year now - helping them to organize their group and organize community and environmental initiatives in El Povenir. So what am I doing? Whatever I can to help support: - environmental initiatives the group is doing for the community - brainstorming for leadership and facilitation activities - helping out in the organization of [View Full Entry]

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Yesterday morning myself, Stephy and Jesus were in El Povenir to help the kids in a community project - a community sports day event. Pretty much the same thing for any kind of community sports day - relay races, team events, mini-competitions, and eating contests… But with a cultural twist. Twist #1: Eating Contest…where’s the pie? In planning the day, the kids wanted to have a papaya-eating contest. However, due to premonitions of belly-cramps and the afterward mess of papaya-induced cramps, Stephy steered them towards some bannaners and apples. So, no pie. My [View Full Entry]

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Happy friggin' birthday...to me! I'm a pretty lucky girl. Two years ago I got to celebrate with new friends in Harlow, England. Last year I got to party in our new place on Prescott. This year I got the aforementioned...junglebirthdaydanceparty! The whole day was awesome. It began with a workshop with the kids out in the El Povenir community centre - a mask-making and design session. After three hours of balloon-popping, gesso-exploding craziness and hilarity, we had some lunch and I assumed we would be on our way home...but...alas, no! Yanki (?) (the group's president) asked [View Full Entry]

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OK. First weekend in Iquitos, we all get a long holiday. I didn't ask any questions. Friday, myself, Stephy and Stephy's friend Gilberto got a moto-taxi to Quiste Cocha - (for everyone I know on the Avalon Peninsula, the Salmonear Nature Park of the Jungle...with a beach). It was kinda heart-breaking the whole time to see leopards and pumas and magnificent birds all in cages, but I was told this was the best-kept zoo in the whole area... I was more interested in Gilberto's side notes about monkeys and random insect nests, such as: - the topical healing effects of a [View Full Entry]

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Hola! This is my first ever attempt of a blog. So bear with me. So far, I love Peru. My first experience was with Lima, and because of that, I could easily forgive the fog, the drizzle, the cold and the bustle of big cities I am generally uncomfortable with. However, the language isolation and the dislike of the bustle of the big re-entered...and the dreadful flu I contracted made my last four days kinda rotten. But then....ILEFTANDCAMETOIQUITOS! This city is awesome. Although still a busy city, it's motos instead of cars, and there's sun, and it's along a lovely river [View Full Entry]

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