Where to Begin?

This is a question that seems to be popping up a lot. Where to begin? Where do I begin getting to know the area? Where do I begin getting to know the people? Where do begin to get to work? Where do I begin to start making my mark? And where do I begin to tell you about my first three weeks in my site?

So let´s begin by going through the other questions and how I have started to tackle them.

How have I begun getting to know the area? - In short. Walking. First up and down and up and down and around and around the hill that is our town. The school is at the top of the hill but I live at the bottom, by the plaza, municipality and just inside the gate. That´s right, gated community but don´t be fooled, the gates are in place 1. to keep the cows, sheep and goats out of the fields and 2. to charge the mining trucks as they use our road to get to and from the mine. There are about 4 main ¨streets¨ I would say though a car can only drive on 2 of them. Houses are of adobe, cement, wood or brick and are roofed by cement, tin or grass. Aside from wandering the town, I´ve taken to the hills to wander. There are a whole lot of paths and I can go up, down or across the two mountains between which our pueblo lies.

How have I begun getting to know the people? - Well, the walks through the town have definitely been helping. Sometimes I just go out for a walk with the only purpose of finding someone new to talk to. It works so far and actually, that´s how I met the woman who is now helping me knit my sweater. I also listen, attentively to the loudspeakers just down the street to try and catch the community events. So far this has led me to attend a few committee meetings, 2 town parties, 1 election and one wool dyeing workshop. Also because of this, I participated in the townwide trout harvest from the lake where I helped gut, clean, tag and package 5.2 tons of rainbow trout. And in these events I of course have met and chatted with more than a few people. Another thing I do is occasionally eat at the super cheap restaurant. For 4 soles I can get soup and entree and a hot beverage. If you´re unfamiliar with the conversion, 4 soles is about 1.30 dollars. The cook there, Silvia, is looking to be a good friend and later today I plan to make Christmas decorations with her.

Where have I begun to get to work? - Tough question. Technically, the walking, talking and hanging out is considered my work. Still, I can direct the conversations to ask about trash, trees and awareness. I´ve found out a good deal from the people including what they identify as problems and where they would like to see their town go. Garbage in the streets is an agreed-upon issue. I also rode with the garbage truck yesterday to see how their system works. The real getting to work will probably have to wait until the new mayor and new community board take office but until then, I am working with the kids over their ¨summer break.¨ In fact, tomorrow I will have my first meeting with the eco-club that the former volunteer began. I am excited to see what they can show me of what they´ve been up to and to hear what they would like to know.

Where to begin making my mark? - Way too early to tell but this is a question that I will continue to have in the back of my mind. Maybe so far, I have made my mark and will continue to do so as an example of an American to Peruvians and by the fact that now a small group of kids knows how to throw a Frisbee.

Blessings.