First Month in Peru: Finding My Rhythm
It has officially been a few weeks since I arrived in Peru, and somehow I already feel like I have experienced so much. My first week here was filled with orientation activities designed to introduce us to Peru and prepare us for the months ahead. Since then, I have moved into my apartment, started settling into my placements, met people who are quickly becoming part of my community, traveled outside of Lima for the first time, and, most importantly, started figuring out what everyday life here might actually look like.
If my first few weeks have taught me anything, it is that there is a big difference between preparing to live somewhere and actually living there.
Learning by Doing
Our Peru orientation was a little more challenging for me than our orientation in Louisville, mostly because I was finally experiencing the language barrier firsthand. In Louisville, I could communicate without thinking twice about it. However, in Peru, even something as simple as asking a question can require a little more courage.
A lot of our orientation was designed around exactly that.
One of our first activities was much less intimidating: a pottery class. I made a bowl with a cutesy bow in the middle, which was a fun way to start the week before we moved on to activities that required a little more independence.
One of those was our local market challenge. Ella and I were separated and paired with the Peruvian volunteers, and our task was simply to go to a local market and purchase fruits using soles while speaking Spanish. I was paired with Milagros and Mateo, and I decided to buy a pineapple and some bananas.
I cannot pretend that I suddenly became fluent in Spanish during this challenge. I definitely let Milagros and Mateo lead and repeated after them when I needed to. 😂 But that was part of learning too. In return, I taught them how to say what they wanted to buy in English.
One of my favorite moments happened while I was buying my pineapple. After the woman helping me realized I spoke English, she responded to me with “you’re welcome.” It was such a small interaction, but I appreciated that she was willing to step outside of her language comfort zone for me while I was trying to do the same.
And I left the market with my pineapple, my bananas, and a little more confidence than I had walking in.
Our next challenge took things a step further: public transportation.
Once again, Ella and I were separated. This time, my group had to figure out how to travel from San Isidro to Miraflores so that we could visit the beach. It was my first time navigating Lima's public transportation, but Milagros and Mateo were with me again. Having them there made the experience much less intimidating because I could observe what they were doing and learn from them rather than trying to understand an unfamiliar transportation system completely on my own.
Orientation also included conversations about cultural differences and practical things we needed to know while living here. Some of the lessons were simple but important: being more aware when handling money, paying attention to how I carry my purse, being cautious about having my phone out in public, and generally becoming more aware of my surroundings.
I am realizing that intercultural learning is not always some huge, profound moment. Sometimes it is learning how to buy a pineapple. Sometimes it is figuring out which bus to take. Sometimes it is simply learning when not to pull out your phone.
Getting a Preview of My Placements
Orientation also gave me my first opportunity to experience some of the organizations and communities that would soon become part of my regular life.
We attended CEDEMUNEP's anniversary celebration, where I met Cecilia for the first time and tried ceviche for the first time. (And yes, it is worth the hype!)
I already knew that CEDEMUNEP would be one of my placements, so getting to see the organization in action before officially beginning my work there made the experience even more meaningful.
Later that week, we traveled to Comas for community work at the same church where I now serve every Sunday. During orientation, we deep-cleaned classrooms and helped prepare the space for the youth. At the time, it was simply one of our orientation activities, but now that same space has become part of my weekly routine.
On Sundays, I work alongside Jes with a group of young girls during their youth classes. And since I’ll probably mention her quite a bit throughout these letters, I should properly introduce her.
Jes is our hostess while we’re in Peru, but she wears many hats. She works at AETE, helps make sure we’re taken care of, and has basically become our everyday guide to navigating life here. From answering our questions to helping us adjust to our new surroundings, she has quickly become an important part of our experience in Peru.
My role is pretty simple right now: I assist the teacher and help the girls with whatever project they are working on that day. Sometimes that means helping them with their crafting projects or teaching them words in English.
There is something satisfying about returning every week to a place that I was first introduced to as an orientation activity. It does not feel like another stop on a schedule anymore. Slowly, it is becoming part of my routine.
We ended orientation with what was easily one of my favorite experiences of the week: Brisas del Titicaca.
We watched performers showcase traditional Peruvian dances while wearing beautiful traditional clothing, and the entire experience was EPIC. Brisas del Titicaca is actually a cultural association dedicated to preserving and sharing cultural expressions from Puno and throughout Peru. Its folklore shows incorporate music and dances representing different regions of the country, with more than 50 artists participating in the performances.
After spending the week talking about Peruvian culture, it felt like the perfect way to end orientation: actually getting to see some of that cultural diversity expressed through music, movement, and clothing.
Making Lima Feel Like Home
Then orientation ended.
Suddenly, there was no hotel to return to and no orientation schedule telling us where we needed to be every hour. It was time to actually live here.
Ella and I moved into our apartment in Comas, and I love it! One of the first things I did was fix up my space and make it feel more like mine. It is amazing how much of a difference that made. Being thousands of miles away from everything familiar can feel strange enough, so having a space that actually feels comfortable and personal has helped make Peru feel a little more like home.
We have also gotten closer to Jes and her family, who are essentially our support family here. They help provide us with meals, take us on fun outings, and help us navigate life in Peru.
CEDEMUNEP has already given me opportunities to jump in. Much of my work there so far revolves around marketing, assisting with workshops, and helping with presentations. And recently, that work took me outside Lima for the first time.
From Lima to Chincha
On Tuesday, I traveled to Chincha with Cecilia from CEDEMUNEP and returned Wednesday.
Cecilia was leading a workshop focused on empowering Afro-Peruvian women who own small businesses. I helped document the workshop by taking photos and videos, and I also helped with setting up beforehand and cleaning afterward.
It was a short trip, but one thing immediately stood out to me: I saw noticeably more Afro-Peruvians in Chincha than I typically see during my everyday life in Lima. That made being there with CEDEMUNEP particularly meaningful. Instead of only hearing about the organization's mission or helping with marketing materials about its work, I was able to be physically present while that work was happening and contribute, even if my role was mostly behind the scenes.
That is something I want more of during this year.
I am excited to continue using skills I already have, especially marketing, but I also came to Peru to serve. I want to participate in more workshops, community events, and opportunities where I can interact with and support the people CEDEMUNEP serves.
The Chincha trip gave me a small glimpse of what that can look like, and it left me wanting to do more.
Somewhere Between Service and Salsa
Of course, my life here has not been all work. I've been exploring Lima, dining out, trying new foods, and attempting to have a social life while adjusting to everything else.
One discovery that deserves its own recognition is the empanada de pollo.
That's it. That's the review. It's SOOOO good.
I've also made my first appearance at a salsa bar, which naturally means I should know how to salsa now.
I do not.
I recently observed a salsa class, and I plan to actually start taking classes soon. If I had to rate my current salsa ability, I would give myself approximately a 2/10, so there is plenty of room for character development here.
Maybe by the end of this year I will be able to come back to this post and laugh at that rating. Or maybe I'll still be a 2/10. Only time will tell.
Becoming Part of the Routine
When I first arrived, everything felt like an experience.
Going to the market was an experience. Riding public transportation was an experience. Hearing Spanish everywhere was an experience. Traveling across Lima was an experience.
Now, little by little, some of those things are just becoming life.
I have my room. I have people here I can turn to when I need help. I am learning my placements. I have a church community that I return to every Sunday. I am beginning to recognize places and routines that were completely unfamiliar to me only a few weeks ago.
There is still so much I do not know, and there is still so much of this year that has not even begun.
But after traveling to Chincha and seeing CEDEMUNEP's work happening beyond an office or presentation, I think I have a clearer idea of what I hope the next several months bring. I want more opportunities to serve directly, to learn from the communities around me, and to become involved in work that pushes me beyond what I already know how to do.
For now, I am still finding my rhythm.
And apparently, if my salsa skills are any indication, I have a lot of rhythm left to find...
Comments