Peru Is The New USA

I started this adventure with one goal: to finish. I wanted to put myself through a challenge and come out stronger on the other side. I don't know if I am stronger, but I'm definitely weirder and more patient and I can (kinda) speak Spanish!

I've been spending the last week reflecting on these past two years. Was it what I expected? Absolutely not. I've made myself try to process these last 2 years. Near impossible. I think I've learned more than I've taught, especially from my host mom. She has this amazing way about her where she is calm, kind, and level headed-but pulls out the Mama Bear card when necessary. She has stood up for me, protected me, and put fried guinea pig in her purse when I didn't want to eat it. She's awesome and I'll never forget that woman. She's also the Mom of the cutest child in the world: my host sister.

I will say that this past week of surprise wine, goodbye parties, forced lunches, and packing and repacking, I've gone through the full range of emotions available to humans. I already miss my host family like crazy, and at the same time am counting down the hours until I can buy an iPhone.  I'm super excited to go back to the states, but also super nervous about acting like a normal US American again. But to be honest, I'm glad I'll come back a little different; a little less materialistic and a little more affectionate. This experience has definitely been amazingweirdwonderfulhardremarkablechallengingawesome (yeah, I couldn't pick one word).

Con cada pricipio, hay un final. With every beginning, there is an end.

After the typical amount of waiting, calling, stalking, and rescheduling, I got 2 of my Youth Leader kids and the town's Obstetrician to a day camp in the city put on by the Perú ministry of education and the hospital. It was a pretty cool deal.

I brought two students to this camp based on an essay contest. The boy and girl that I brought were not who everyone wanted me to bring. They aren't the obviously top students and they aren't the same 3 kiss-asses that win every award. The director even told me "be careful of that girl, she's lazy and never on time". What a rude thing to say about your student, so rude. I brought two super smart kids that I think are over-looked by the school and complained about by the teachers and I'm proud of that choice. These 2 kids have awesome personalities and great leadership skills and I wanted them to experience this camp. I've only got a month left, may as well ruffle some feathers for the good of the kids.

So, the camp was full of sex Ed and stuff but even cooler- future planning and inspirational stuff. It was awesome to hear what the kids wanted to do with their lives. One girl said she wanted to "travel in a plane and learn English". That really stuck with me. It was yet another reminder of how lucky I am. My students wanted to become a psychologist(what they think I am) and a Construction Engineer (what they know my brother is). I'm not saying I convinced them to have high goals based on my life but.... you can't prove I didn't.