Vida Cotidiana en Chimbote

Greetings once again, thanks for checking in. We have had a bit of a change in the schedule of our house, as Nicole and Emily have rotated to work within the hospice itself for the next two months. This entails eight-hour shifts, so that two people are on duty to care for patients around the clock. Emily has been on mornings (6-2) and afternoons (2-10), and Nicole primarily on nights (10-6). I think the schedule and lack of sleep has worn her out a bit, as yesterday she came down with the stomach flu of some sort, but is feeling slightly better today.

To start, a few things about daily life in Chimbote:
- We are appreciating a steady supply of water, as during the last part of December our pump was working only sporadically. Water comes into a cistern from the city system in the morning and the afternoon, and then our pump lifts it to a water tank on the roof, which provides pressure (a mini-version of those small town water towers in the flat plain states). Our landlord came to fix the pump (a problem with the pressure), so we now have a steady supply.
- Showering -- initially it was the race to beat the ´click´, which meant that the electric showerhead (sounds dangerous, I know) had shut off after its five minute limit and the rest of the shower would be cold. Also, if you put your hand or head too close to the shower head, a slight electric shock would remind you not to do so. This description is in the past tense because a couple weeks ago the electric shower heads stopped working altogether, so we join the many here who have no hot water at all. We are actually getting used to it, and find that are showers take less time :). When I commented that at least it was summer, so the cold showers wouldn`t matter so much, Nicole said that she was not so optimistic. The sun, though, because the tank is black, does warm the water somewhat during the middle of the day.
- Running `The Cerro` (hill, mountain). I`ve begun running 2-3 times per week with a 2-4 friends from the parish -- Roger, Mariela, Milagros, and a former volunteer here from Germany named Sebastian. The run involves a fifteen-minute run to a big sand dune, which we climb for a beautiful view of farms, mountains, etc. Next, a series of up-and-back forward-backward sets on top of a neighboring sand hill before returning home. There are a lot more people running in general than when I arrived with the warmer weather (and people wanting to get in shape to go to the beach).
- The daily harvest of trash. Most days, after running, I practice for a job in Disneyland by sweeping up the trash in front of our house with one of those dustpans with a handle, then sweep the sidewalk, then water the road in front of the house to help keep the dust down. If they ever paved the streets here, they would save a lot of water and people would have to come up with another early-morning ritual.
- It is a good idea to bring a rag to meetings at the parish, so as to wipe the dust off the chairs and benches before the meeting starts. When I forget, I sometimes use my hat :). No need to arrive early, though (except for our English class), because if I arrive on time I will likely be the only person there.
- Maybe because so few people write letters, the envelopes here do not have that handy lick-seal strip. Not to fear, though, as the post office provides a jar of a rubber-cement type substance with a pen for spreading. Careful not to put too much though, so that the Christmas cards you send will not stick together.
- In the US it is legally risky to touch a female young person at all -- here you kiss them all on the cheek. All women you meet, actually, expect this as a greeting and farewell, even if you only exchange a few seconds of dialogue. Women also greet each other with a kiss, though men seem to have dropped the habit and make do with a handshake upon greeting each other. In meetings this can be a bit disruptive, as when someone comes in late (after the meeting has begun), they often will not sneak in the back but still may make the rounds to greet everyone.
- A general confusion about Mass protocal seems to exist here, for example when to sit, when to stand, when to kneel -- likely to be all three at any given time during the Eucharist (and kneeling is a bit of a sacrifice, with padless kneelers). Also, even more than in the US, the Our Father is recited at about 20 different rates. Most confusing is the kiss/handshake/arm grab/shoulder tap/two-arm shoulder tap of peace. Required is flexibility and reading the intended actions of the other, since its hard to know what`s coming. :)
- At government offices (as when we went to have our dental records taken and the police station), they give you a form and you have to leave to make your own copies down the street and bring them back.
- We think that its in the Peruvian genes to be able to whistle loud and long, with no help from your hands. This ability (or a sharp hissing sound) can be put to good use to call out to a friend in the upper window, to an acquaintance down the street, or the waitress serving your table in a restaurant.


In other news...
- I am continuing with one of the choirs here, though not with the guitar -- just a member of the base section. We went on a paseo (outing) to a local park all day Sunday, where we played soccer, walked around the lake, ate lunch, and played a number of impromptu youth-ministry type games. It was a lot of fun, though I was quite dusty, hot and tired by the end. I will likely actually sing with them during Mass for the first time this coming Sunday.
- We have begun the big job of visiting and attempting a survey of parish youth, with a couple pairs of helpers to start with. This is always interesting work for me -- very `inefficient`, but rewarding and a great opportunity to learn. Also, we are preparing for a trip to Lima January 27-February 8 with 15 youth and young adults (already involved in or leaders in parish groups) from the parish for youth ministry leadership training/workshops. Thanks to several of you who have responded to my or Michi`s request to sponsor this experience for one or more youth. None of them have ever had this sort of opportunity, and they are excited. The job of arranging a two-week trip to a city of 8 million people in a foreign country is at times a bit daunting, though the IW sisters in Lima are helping me coordinate lodging and food down there. Legal paperwork for the trip, unlike for a similar trip with US youth, is nearly nonexistent. I will likely not write while we are there, but will attempt a short update before we leave.
- Our English class is going well, and several of the students are becoming good friends. The end of our first term we will celebrate with a class trip to the beach on the 26th. There is a huge desire to learn English here, especially among folks who are studying at the university or are young professionals. I have been struck by the thought that even my ability to speak English, now the international language, is an advantage that many people don`t have. Offering to share this ability with others here is one way that I am uniquely qualified to serve while I am here.
- Our post-Confirmation youth are organizing and putting on four-week summer classes for youth (called Vacaciònes Ùtiles, Useful Vacation), in such subjects as computers, chess, art, dance, and first aid. I and one of our students are also offering a twice-weekly English class for kids -- all of this is scheduled to begin next week.
- After a three week break over the holidays, I returned last week to accompanying hospice workers one day during the week. I sometimes feel initially that I don`t have enough time, but am always happy to have had the experience after it is over.

Well, I think I`ll sign off now -- until next time.

¡Felíz Año!

Greetings and happy new year! The days seem to have gone quickly since I last wrote, but in the meantime we have welcomed a new year -- one that I will spend entirely in Peru. As usual, some updates, notes, and random thoughts about the celebration of the new year in Peru:

- The most dramatic is the making and burning of muñecos, which are life-sized dolls roughly sewed together out of old clothes, stuffed animals, rags, etc. and then stuffed with wood shavings, small fireworks, and maybe more old clothes. As midnight approaches, the muñecos (literally ´dolls´) are set on chairs or propped up in the street with sticks and doused with gasoline or kerosene. At midnight, the dolls are lit on fire and additional fireworks are set off. As I looked down the street from the house of friends who had invited me over, I could see a series of dolls in the street burning away, giving off smoke that surely was at least a little toxic. The motivation behind the act is actually sound -- the doll made of worn out clothes symbolizes the negative things of the previous year that are now burned away to make room for what hopefully will be a brighter year to come.

- The parish holds mass at 9:00 pm on new year´s eve, and people were surprised that we didn´t do the same. A joint choir sang, and attendance was quite good. After mass, about 20-25 youth/young adults gathered outside the parish to burn the muñeco that the post-confirmation youth had made, a project which I had helped with (and even contributed a shirt to). One of the guys had his guitar, and we sang in the warm glow of the burning doll, giving off smoke from the synthetic jacket it was wearing. It was another very memorable moment in my experience thus far. A family that I have gotten to know invited me to dinner and a party at their home after the burning, and we ate dinner at about 11:30 pm, interrupted at 12:00 to go out in the street to see the burning dolls, the fireworks, and to greet with ´Felíz Año´ the various neighbors and relatives that lived nearby. At dinner we followed the custom of eating twelve grapes, one for good luck in each of the coming 12 months. Afterward, we danced with the family and a few friends that came by. A difference here from the US is that the parties begin after 12:00, at about 1:30 (I received two invitations to additional parties that began at this time, but left the gathering at 3:30 very tired and ready for bed. Many people return home at 7 or 8 am and just sleep the whole next day.

- One custom that I didn´t participate in was that of wearing yellow underwear (on the 31st I saw piles of it for sale in the local market). The few folks here I asked about it, however, didn´t know the reason or history behind the practice.

- It is becoming very hot here during the days, and trips to the beach are on everyone´s mind. There are a few beaches within a half hour of Chimbote, so I am sure that we will soon be making trips there with friends. At the least, our English class will take an end-of-cycle trip there on January 26.

- As I mentioned a while back, we are gathering involved youth of the parish to attend a youth ministry leadership course in Lima from January 28-February 8. There should be a group of about 10 of us, which should be a great learning experience for all of us and excellent practice for my Spanish. Some of you have already indicated your interested in sponsoring youth ($70 all told for the course, travel, lodging) --you can contact me at tschmidt19@hotmail.com if you want more information. We would have the participants write you afterward to share about the experience.

-- My arm is much better -- I played a fun game of full-court basketball two days ago with no damage. :)

It´s time for me to go -- God bless!