I´M BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER...

I'M BACK!! After a more than a one year hiatus I am back to write about the major experiences that have occurred in the past year starting in February with my birthday in Mancora. After spending 10 hours in a car I finally arrived in Mancora ready to celebrate my birthday. Although celebrating your 24th birthday has no rewarding benefits like 21 nor 25 (rent a car baby!) it was a nice opportunity to see some friends like Melissa, who I had not seen in ages. For my birthday night my friends and I went to this amazing steak and burger place that would have satiated even King Leonides from 300. Following dinner we all went to a bar/dance place on the beach. While the night seemed to be going well I did not realize that the 3 stooges would be in control of the local police force that night and would be hell-bent on messing with foreigners...Consequently, when the local police force entered the bar like SWAT members I knew I was in trouble, especially since I was sitting down with 3 girls (they must have thought I was gay or a narcotraficante). After doing their occular examination of the crowd they scoped in on me and came over asking to see my identification. Now to tell you, in Peru, going out with your passport is as smart as taking a ride from a stranger in a gang neighborhood. You are just asking for trouble! Accordingly, I said a remark to the police officer, explaining why none of us had our real passports with us at the club. I did not realize this would be taken as lip and would result in me spending 2 hours of my birthday in the Mancora police station along with other foreigners whose only crime seemed to be their light skin and lack of passport (in hand). Now I know why N.W.A was so mad at police..

Following my birthday ordeal I was really hoping for no hiccups in Tumbes for Lindsey's Birthday. However, true to the flow of this writing something was bound to make it interesting. While the afternoon passed blissfully, spending time on the beach and drinking wine together, we did not realize that mosquitoes were gathering forces to bring a night assault on our room. Consequently, we spent dusk to dawn killing the recently fattened mosquitoes who splat against the walls creating a crimson canvas. After the massacre had subsided, we had to make a quick exit to her site in order to meet her family who unbeknownst to her was planning a surprise birthday party. The surprise party, which entailed my best efforts of distracting Lindsey from wanting to go back to her house, was largely a success (other than my acute dehydration and her raging migraine) and truly showed the mark she has made on her family.

In April Lindsey and I went to Arequipa, the one department that I could definitely see myself residing in without too much difficulty. Not only does it have decent mexican food but also amazing crepes, which made me not want to make fun of French people so often. After eating spaghetti without sauce in site for such a long time, crepes and burritos were heavenly. In addition to the food, the city of Arequipa and surrounding countryside are very picturesque...reminds me very much of the European countryside. Wow I am so cultured.

Following our trip to Arequipa it was time to get back to Sicchez in order to celebrate my sister's Quincinera. While the Quincinera seemed doomed for failure it past without a glitch. The only issues I had with the party was some of the kids provocative dancing. I now understand why some parents demand space "for Jesus" at school dances. Man some of these kids were dancing so seductive that I was not sure if I should turn away or give them protection. This one kid in my town Alexis danced so close to my sister that I could not help thinking do I need to be the over protective adult in this situation and ask him to back off a little. However, thankfully I did not say anything and my urge to go sleep prevented me from seeing too much more...

In June, Sicchez celebrated the High School's Anniversary and the festival of San Pedro. The High Schoolh anniversary, which occurred in Lambeau Field temperatures, was very entertaining and made me realize how little time left I had in the country. While shivering and trying to gain warmth by drinking hot cañaso (pure alcohol-death) I could not stop thinking how time had gone so fast and how in a matter of months I would be back in my house by a fire instead of drinking want amounted to fire in my mouth. After the school anniversary, I had time to be a Siccheño and make conserva, a combination of yuca, sweet potatoes and some other ingredients that are completely evading my mind. While the process of making conserva seemed simple, stirring a pot with all the ingredients in it for a unspecified amount of time, it definitely was not. Not only do you have to deal with the repetitive nature of stirring ingredients around and around for 5 to 10 minutes but you also have to persistently shield yours eyes from the vapor, which can only described as the sensation brought on by cutting onions for a banquet of 50 people (not that I have done that but that's what I imagine is the feeling). NOT A WALK IN THE PARK! However, as a proud man I could not stop stirring or complain for fear that my manhood would be put into question. One can not think of many things worse...

After preparing conserva for San Pedro I headed off to Chachapoyas with a bunch of volunteers in order to see the Kuelap fortress and the 3rd highest (supposedly) waterfall in the world, Gocta. Both sites were amazing and definitely worth the 10 hour drive through narrow/steep passes. Thankfully I never had to experience a bus crash like some volunteers on their way back to Chiclayo...apparently they got rear-ended by a drunk driver and luckily hit the guard rail instead of flying off the cliff. I think that is why I always prefer to fly here in Peru...a lot safer. Following my trip to Chachapoyas I headed back to site unaware of all the craziness that was coming up ahead for me. Not only did I have to deal with a maestro that abandoned my project after only finishing one but also a breakup with my girlfriend that was not expected. Thankfully, however I have at least resolved my kitchen stove project issue, which actually seems to be working better with a new maestro. Hopefully this continues to be the case and the rest of my service ends without anymore glitches... I can only hope.