Hello, Dear Readers!
I am writing to you from my bed, where I am becoming so cozy that I may fall asleep quite soon, even though it’s only 8:51 PM. Although Cusco in winter is much warmer than New Jersey in winter, it still gets dark very early at this time of year, so I tend to feel tired much earlier. It’s going to be nice to enjoy the last days of summer at home, eating late dinners outside while it’s still warm and somewhat light out. The last few days have been occupied with various administrative activities on my part. Now that all of the July interns and volunteers are here, Eliza, Laura, and I have been spending time checking in on how everyone is doing and making sure that internships and volunteer placements are going as planned. Tomorrow, we’ll all be traveling to the community of Occoruro to work on various development projects. I think it’ll be a nice change of pace. A few updates, highlights, and thoughts since my last blog…
One of my recent tasks has been to create a document listing all of the possible activities that are available within a day’s travel from Cusco. In compiling this list, I have begun to realize just how much of Peru I still haven’t seen! The northern part of the country has just been too far a journey, and the south is accessible, but I still haven’t gotten there. And even in proximity to Cusco, there are tons of things that I have yet to do! I learned, for example, about a town called Oropesa, which, despite its small size, has been called “the bread capital of Cusco.” The town even hosts an annual two-day bread festival every October! A mere 30 minutes from Cusco and I had no idea! Then there’s this activity called “via ferrata,” in which you scale a super steep mountain face using a system of connected steel ladders and bridges (while attached to a cable that prevents falling to your death). And paragliding. And even simply exploring more of the Sacred Valley! I’ve realized that I have much to do! I think that by actively seeking to see more of the country in my last several weeks, I will become more appreciative of Peru. I think such adventures will also make my date of return to home (sweet home) arrive that much faster.
This evening, I finally got to visit dear Agripina, the homestay mom who hosted weeknight dinners for the St. Scholastica students and me. When I had first met her, she had told me about how much she wanted a new Vera Bradley bag like the one that one of her prior volunteers had given her. I was so excited to give her the bag that I had ordered and asked Andrew and Brian to bring along with them when they came to Peru! It was worth every penny to see her excitement and that of her daughter-in-law, Pilar, both of whom just love Vera! Agripina insisted that I join her, her grandson Giordano, and her two current homestay students (Sarah and Nicki, of the U of Iowa) for dinner. She made some very delicious elbow macaroni with pieces of meat and vegetables and potatoes, and as we ate, we had some nice Spanish conversation. It having been six years since my own study abroad semester in Spain, I had forgotten how much Spanish practice can take place in a homestay. It was a delightful challenge to converse over dinner in Spanish. It was a reminder of how much I still have to learn, but also a great opportunity to practice! Agripina and I made tentative plans to go to Pisac together for the Fiesta of the Virgen del Carmen, which takes place on July 16th. I don’t know if we’ll really end up going, but I think we’d have a ball, so I’m hopeful!
Last night, I had an interesting domestic adventure. I attempted to cook arroz con verduras, which translates to “rice and vegetables” and ought to be the simplest thing in the world to make. And it probably is, for a Peruvian. But for those of us who tend to consume most meals rice-free, the process of rice making can be a bit of an ordeal. Determined to
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Ok, everyone, take a deep breath and imagine that about 21 hours have passed. Because that’s how long it’s actually been since I began this blog entry. It is now Friday, a little after 6 PM, and last night as I typed in my cozy pajama pants, Laura came into my room and convinced me to go out to the Plaza de Armas for the centennial celebration of Machu Picchu. We ended up having quite a delightful time. We met up with Eliza and her roommate, Jenny, and the four of us hung out in the plaza, where there was a band performing live and lots of people and stalls selling beer. I was pretty super excited to have some Quara, which is this fruity beer that tastes like lots of fruit (and not much beer), but by the time we got there, they only had Cusquena, so I shared with Eliza. (This was actually sort of a good thing because I had already eaten more than my fair share of calories in the form of Twizzlers that Paul and Eileen had left behind for me…)
Anyway, I’m back. Let me continue from where I left off. Rice cooking. The act is much more difficult than it seems! Because of the altitude, water boils very quickly here, so I probably should have used a higher ratio of water to rice, but I did not, so when the water had boiled off, the rice still wasn’t fully cooked. So I threw in some more water and some vegetable bouillon and waited for that liquid to evaporate. Which it did, resulted in a very mushy rendition of arroz con verduras. By the time all this had taken place, I was quite hungry, and was therefore quite able to enjoy the mushy mess I had created. However, I am actively seeking a Peruvian who will teach me how to make rice properly. I shall report back upon my success!
Also, I bought my plane ticket to Oaxaca, Mexico this week! Oaxaca is not only a ProWorld site, but also the culinary capital of Mexico, which means I am going to eat lots of delicious things (all of which will, obviously, be sin queso and sin crema)! I’ll be there for five days, along with the rest of the ProWorld marketing team, to discuss strategies for the upcoming year and also to help train the soon-to-be-hired new University Relations Advisors! I’m excited to have some new colleagues with the same role as me, and am also quite keen on giving a few of my (maaany) states to a fellow rep. There are a LOT of colleges on the east coast, and now we can give them all more attention.
Laura and I were walking along one of the main streets in Cusco a few days ago, and we saw a banner advertising the Russian ballet. We discussed our feelings about the ballet, and I said to Laura, “I’m not particularly into the whole ballet thing, although if they were doing ‘Swan Lake,’ I’d probably go to that after having watched ‘The Black Swan.’” Seconds later, we looked up at the smaller print on the sign to see what was to be performed in Cusco, and we read “El Lago de los Cisnes”! It was a sign! So we decided that we’re going on a roommate date to the ballet! Last night, we found out that Eliza is also planning on attending. Hopefully, the dancers will enthrall us!
Today, I went with Eliza, Lalo, and the 33 students from Cal Poly to the community of Occoruro to work on two projects. We divided into two groups; my group, led by myself and Jnan, a Cal Poly professor, was assigned the task of sanding and priming the community’s meeting room in preparation for painting it. Along with a lovely Cal Poly student named Grace, I became one of the chief sanders, which ultimately resulted in my entire face turning green from the dusty paint chips that came off of the wall as we sanded. The best description of our skin color would be to compare it to the color of a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. Kind of gross…kind of awesome.
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And another deep breath if you will. It is now Saturday, and again last night, I again interrupted my blogging for social purposes. I am such a party animal! Laura and I were invited to dinner at Eliza and Jenny’s house last night, and we were very excited both to hang out with them and to see the adorable puppies recently had by Jenny’s dog, Chaska. On our way to their apartment (which is adorable, I might add—complete with real fireplace!), we bought some vino and then decided to buy a chocolate cake. I wasn’t expecting anything amazing regarding the cake, but it turned out to be fabulously rich, and—dare I use my least favorite word—moist?! Jenny made us an amazing dinner called pequay (I know I spelled that wrong), basically a meat, potato, and vegetable mixture that was really well seasoned. I told her that she has to teach me to make it before I leave this country. I will then make it for you fine readers in the US of A! As we ate, we watched the soccer game between Peru and Mexico, which turned out to be pretty super exciting. Peru won by one awesome goal, and we—both the ladies and the puppies—were quite beside ourselves. (To be entirely honest, I wasn’t “beside myself.” I don’t really follow such things, but I will say that it was a pretty awesome moment when the goal was scored!).
Today, I accompanied three interns to a community close to the town of Izcuchaca, where we were to build stoves for two households. We were joined by a professor, Dr. Silva, from Georgia, and also his daughter Briana. Dr. Silva is interested in bringing students from his university to Peru, and wanted to experience one of our projects. It turns out that my team of stove-builders was also a team of perfectionists, so we didn’t finish a great number of stoves, but the ones that they did complete were top notch! It was fun helping to supervise them and watching them meet the community for the first time!
And now, friends, I must be off. A ProWorld student is sick, and I have offered to accompany her to the clinic. I am excited to see many of you in a few short weeks, and expect to write again very soon!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Happy Tuesday, Dear Readers!
I am feeling quite hopeful that I've made it through the worst of my illness and am on the road to feeling casi normal! I'm currently enjoying the presence of some lovely ladies from the state of Iowa, all of whom are presently being studious in my office. In a few hours, they're going to come over to my apartment, where Laura and I will be rewarding their hard work with some warm brownies. (We're so nice! :-))
The office has been a-bustling lately with new interns, and it's kind of neat to have so much activity in the name of sustainable volunteerism! That said, the internet is rather slow due to the quantity of people online in the office at any one time, and Laura and Eliza and I have lots to do! Today, I got the lovely job of escorting Miss Meredith to Manos Unidas, where she'll be interning for the next month. It was great to see Claire and Mercedes and the students again, and I sort of wish I could go and intern too! Meredith will be working in the adult life skills class, helping kids with everything from handwriting to dancing to cooking. I think she's going to enjoy her experience very much.
Yesterday, in honor of Independence Day, I did the most American thing I could do in Cusco, which was...drumroll please!...to watch the movie "The American." I would like to say that it was not only dismally un-American, but also a pretty bad movie! I had high hopes for George Clooney, and he let me down. Poo.
I also had the lovely joy of getting to chat with my sister Julie today! She just got back from a weekend at the beach, and I know that I'm homesick because even the beach sounds appealing right now! Normally, I am not a fan of such overtly sunny climes due to concerns regarding sunburn and heat exhaustion (we pale people have to be careful!), but the idea of being in Ocean City with my family is appealing at present. (Not as appealing as Friends Lake, but appealing nonetheless!)
I posted some photos of my parents' trip to Peru on facebook today, but for those of you who don't have fb, below is a link to the Google album. Enjoy!
https://picasaweb.google.com/whitmanse/PaulAndEileenInPeru?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMGBr4yP7dKYywE&feat=directlink
And now, I am off to relax before the craziness of the Iowa ladies enters the house!
Later, friends!
I am feeling quite hopeful that I've made it through the worst of my illness and am on the road to feeling casi normal! I'm currently enjoying the presence of some lovely ladies from the state of Iowa, all of whom are presently being studious in my office. In a few hours, they're going to come over to my apartment, where Laura and I will be rewarding their hard work with some warm brownies. (We're so nice! :-))
The office has been a-bustling lately with new interns, and it's kind of neat to have so much activity in the name of sustainable volunteerism! That said, the internet is rather slow due to the quantity of people online in the office at any one time, and Laura and Eliza and I have lots to do! Today, I got the lovely job of escorting Miss Meredith to Manos Unidas, where she'll be interning for the next month. It was great to see Claire and Mercedes and the students again, and I sort of wish I could go and intern too! Meredith will be working in the adult life skills class, helping kids with everything from handwriting to dancing to cooking. I think she's going to enjoy her experience very much.
Yesterday, in honor of Independence Day, I did the most American thing I could do in Cusco, which was...drumroll please!...to watch the movie "The American." I would like to say that it was not only dismally un-American, but also a pretty bad movie! I had high hopes for George Clooney, and he let me down. Poo.
I also had the lovely joy of getting to chat with my sister Julie today! She just got back from a weekend at the beach, and I know that I'm homesick because even the beach sounds appealing right now! Normally, I am not a fan of such overtly sunny climes due to concerns regarding sunburn and heat exhaustion (we pale people have to be careful!), but the idea of being in Ocean City with my family is appealing at present. (Not as appealing as Friends Lake, but appealing nonetheless!)
I posted some photos of my parents' trip to Peru on facebook today, but for those of you who don't have fb, below is a link to the Google album. Enjoy!
https://picasaweb.google.com/whitmanse/PaulAndEileenInPeru?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMGBr4yP7dKYywE&feat=directlink
And now, I am off to relax before the craziness of the Iowa ladies enters the house!
Later, friends!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Homesickness, A Thankful Heart, and Being A House
That is probably my most ridiculous blog entry title to date, but I thought that by referencing the three things I wanted to mention, I might actually manage to stay more on task than usual. Obviously, staying on task isn't exactly one of my personal talents, but I only have half an hour before I have to go and complete a bit of ProWorld business, so I am forced to avoid my normal tendency toward digression. :-) With that in mind, I offer what I hope will be a succinct and informative bit of blogness.
Homesickness. I feel it. Cusco has gone a little cuckoo these last few days, and the city has been rainy and muddy and gloomy. I am normally not one to judge rain too harshly. On the contrary, I like to embrace it, with a book and a cup of tea, from some cozy nook inside of my house. Ideally near a fireplace. Sadly, in Cusco, my apartment is not only devoid of "cozy nooks," but also FRIGID and the rain seems to make it more so. And there is no fireplace in sight. And when the weather isn't exactly beautiful, it's much easier to fall into a bout of homesickness, and to long for beautiful Friends Lake, and Scrabble games, and music around a campfire, and the ones I love most. So, while I like to always put on a happy face, I would like to announce that I am homesick. Still maintaining my inner joy, but definitely homesick. New Jersey is going to get a lot of love from me upon my return!
"A thankful heart is a happy heart." Not only does this come straight from the title of a "Veggie Tales" video, but also straight from the B-I-B-L-E. And it's oh so true. This morning, I was thinking about my college days (long, long ago) and the gratitude journal that I liked to keep during that time. Each night, I would spend a few minutes writing down the people and things for which I was particularly grateful that day. It's an exercise that I think I'd like to begin again, and to start it off, here are some of the gifts for which I am especially thankful today... for my roommate, Laura; for safe water to drink; for good bread; for a bed to sleep in; for Meredith, one of the interns here who always makes me smile; for my friend Matt Taylor; for the church I have found here in Cusco; for hot tea; for my body's strength and flexibility; for my friend Jayme; for the opportunity for my parents to relax at the lake; for a home wonderful enough to make me as homesick as I am; for the promise of sunshine; for the power of prayer; for happiness-producing e-mails; for chubby babies; for difficult times that cause important personal growth.
That's just a start, but I'm already excited at the prospect of reading over this list and being reminded of the many blessings God has given me. Are any of you readers feeling discouraged or lonely? I encourage you to make your own list! And if you want to share it with me, I'd love to read it!
Finally, being a house. At church this morning, we read about living lives that are not carnal, but spiritual. It's kind of neat to think that not only has God prepared a place for us in heaven, but also that we are meant to prepare our bodies as a house for Him during our lives here on earth. I know we've all heard the saying, "Your body is a temple," but if it's really true, do we really treat our bodies that way? I mean, if we really view our bodies as houses for GOD, the One who made us and gave us eternal life, then we probably all need to make some changes! These changes can be as superficial as the things we eat and the things we wear, and as profound as the way we speak to others, or the time we take to think before acting out of anger or pride. I know that there are times when I eat gluttonously, and times when I pull the steering wheel out of God's hands and try to set the course for my life, but I think that it might help in the future to remind myself that my body really and truly is a temple. And not just any temple, but a temple for God. Pretty awesome!
Well, folks, I hope I haven't digressed too much. I'm thinking that perhaps I stayed on task because it's 6:24 and I still have six minutes until my designated completion time of 6:30. WOOT. I hope that you all had a restful Sunday!
Love love love from Peru!
Sarah
Homesickness. I feel it. Cusco has gone a little cuckoo these last few days, and the city has been rainy and muddy and gloomy. I am normally not one to judge rain too harshly. On the contrary, I like to embrace it, with a book and a cup of tea, from some cozy nook inside of my house. Ideally near a fireplace. Sadly, in Cusco, my apartment is not only devoid of "cozy nooks," but also FRIGID and the rain seems to make it more so. And there is no fireplace in sight. And when the weather isn't exactly beautiful, it's much easier to fall into a bout of homesickness, and to long for beautiful Friends Lake, and Scrabble games, and music around a campfire, and the ones I love most. So, while I like to always put on a happy face, I would like to announce that I am homesick. Still maintaining my inner joy, but definitely homesick. New Jersey is going to get a lot of love from me upon my return!
"A thankful heart is a happy heart." Not only does this come straight from the title of a "Veggie Tales" video, but also straight from the B-I-B-L-E. And it's oh so true. This morning, I was thinking about my college days (long, long ago) and the gratitude journal that I liked to keep during that time. Each night, I would spend a few minutes writing down the people and things for which I was particularly grateful that day. It's an exercise that I think I'd like to begin again, and to start it off, here are some of the gifts for which I am especially thankful today... for my roommate, Laura; for safe water to drink; for good bread; for a bed to sleep in; for Meredith, one of the interns here who always makes me smile; for my friend Matt Taylor; for the church I have found here in Cusco; for hot tea; for my body's strength and flexibility; for my friend Jayme; for the opportunity for my parents to relax at the lake; for a home wonderful enough to make me as homesick as I am; for the promise of sunshine; for the power of prayer; for happiness-producing e-mails; for chubby babies; for difficult times that cause important personal growth.
That's just a start, but I'm already excited at the prospect of reading over this list and being reminded of the many blessings God has given me. Are any of you readers feeling discouraged or lonely? I encourage you to make your own list! And if you want to share it with me, I'd love to read it!
Finally, being a house. At church this morning, we read about living lives that are not carnal, but spiritual. It's kind of neat to think that not only has God prepared a place for us in heaven, but also that we are meant to prepare our bodies as a house for Him during our lives here on earth. I know we've all heard the saying, "Your body is a temple," but if it's really true, do we really treat our bodies that way? I mean, if we really view our bodies as houses for GOD, the One who made us and gave us eternal life, then we probably all need to make some changes! These changes can be as superficial as the things we eat and the things we wear, and as profound as the way we speak to others, or the time we take to think before acting out of anger or pride. I know that there are times when I eat gluttonously, and times when I pull the steering wheel out of God's hands and try to set the course for my life, but I think that it might help in the future to remind myself that my body really and truly is a temple. And not just any temple, but a temple for God. Pretty awesome!
Well, folks, I hope I haven't digressed too much. I'm thinking that perhaps I stayed on task because it's 6:24 and I still have six minutes until my designated completion time of 6:30. WOOT. I hope that you all had a restful Sunday!
Love love love from Peru!
Sarah
Saturday, July 2, 2011
And in the mornin'...I'm makin' WAFFLES!
Greetings, lovely readers.
I promised a more positive post, and I will now attempt to deliver. I wouldn't say that I'm feeling chipper and delightful quite yet, but I am definitely feeling better thanks to a relaxing Saturday. I slept in, ate some gross oatmeal, watched "The Reader" (a greeeat movie--highly recommend), and am now with Laura at The Meeting Place, a cafe in San Blas, where we both just ate some delicious waffles. I'm a bit of a waffle snob, so I don't usually expect much of restaurant waffles, but The Meeting Place turns out an excellent product. Airy, flavorful, and extra great when topped with bananas. I figured that a waffle would be a safe item to eat considering its qualities of meatlessness, plainness, and banana-topped-ness.
Also this morning, I did some housekeeping around my room. I organized the gifts that I've currently accumulated (I think I may have to leave all of my clothes in Cusco...heh), cleaned out my purse, changed the trash bags, painted my toenails, and got a shower, primarily to breathe in some steam in the hopes that it would soothe my sore throat. It seems that when it rains, it pours, and I speak both literally and figuratively. Yesterday and today, Cusco was offered the unexpected gift of a prolonged rain shower! While rather gloomy and muddy, it was definitely a good thing for the plants. In a more figurative sense, I think I am fighting not only good poisoning, but also the start of a headcold. I think I might stop by the pharmacy and find myself some cough medicine. Or maybe just breathe lots more steam. :-)
I must cut this short, however, as The Meeting Place has closed, and Laura and I are still here! Until next time, dear friends, have a happy Saturday!
I promised a more positive post, and I will now attempt to deliver. I wouldn't say that I'm feeling chipper and delightful quite yet, but I am definitely feeling better thanks to a relaxing Saturday. I slept in, ate some gross oatmeal, watched "The Reader" (a greeeat movie--highly recommend), and am now with Laura at The Meeting Place, a cafe in San Blas, where we both just ate some delicious waffles. I'm a bit of a waffle snob, so I don't usually expect much of restaurant waffles, but The Meeting Place turns out an excellent product. Airy, flavorful, and extra great when topped with bananas. I figured that a waffle would be a safe item to eat considering its qualities of meatlessness, plainness, and banana-topped-ness.
Also this morning, I did some housekeeping around my room. I organized the gifts that I've currently accumulated (I think I may have to leave all of my clothes in Cusco...heh), cleaned out my purse, changed the trash bags, painted my toenails, and got a shower, primarily to breathe in some steam in the hopes that it would soothe my sore throat. It seems that when it rains, it pours, and I speak both literally and figuratively. Yesterday and today, Cusco was offered the unexpected gift of a prolonged rain shower! While rather gloomy and muddy, it was definitely a good thing for the plants. In a more figurative sense, I think I am fighting not only good poisoning, but also the start of a headcold. I think I might stop by the pharmacy and find myself some cough medicine. Or maybe just breathe lots more steam. :-)
I must cut this short, however, as The Meeting Place has closed, and Laura and I are still here! Until next time, dear friends, have a happy Saturday!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Parasite Free!
No Parasites, Amigos and Amigas, but I do indeed have some narsty food poisoning. I've stocked up on Gatorade and prescriptions (They actually prescribe Gatorade here like it's medicine--fun fact, right?) and bread and rice and other bland food items. I plan on making a full recovery as rapidamente as possible! I feel like crap, but I remain glad to know that I have loving friends and family and a cuerpo sin parasitos!
The Departure
Well, dear readers, Paul and Eileen Whitman are en route to the USA, scheduled to land in Newark tomorrow morning. It was sad to say goodbye to them, although now I feel better about lying around in my current state of illness. I've developed the recent fear that perhaps I have contracted a parasite, and as a result, I plan on visiting one of the clinics in Cusco this afternoon (aka upon completion of this blog entry!) On the upside, I'm pretty sure that my two-day consumption of only water and about 10 saltines has caused my stomach to become attractively flat. :-) I've been trying to view my current state of illness as an opportunity to pray for peace. Although I'm definitely more inclined to pray when things are rough than when all is running smoothly, I don't know how much trust I truly place in the effectiveness of my prayers. Which I guess is all the more reason to pray! I've been particularly comforted by a song by one of my new favorite singers, Laura Story. The song is called "Perfect Peace," and I highly recommend listening to it! I'll put the lyrics at the end of this post.
This morning, I had the opportunity to see Emily Durham, one of my classmates/colleagues from the Penn Graduate School of Education. Emily did the same master's program as me one year after I completed it, and we had a few opportunities to interact over the summer between our programs to talk about working in international higher education and study abroad. What a small world that she now works for the Duke Engage program, which happens to have sent a group of students to Cusco, Peru through ProWorld! Emily had the great opportunity of visiting Duke Engage groups in Ecuador and Peru, and it was funny to greet her no longer as a fellow student, but as an international education colleague! She's delightful, and always a pleasure to see.
ProWorld will be busy in the next few days as we're expecting the arrival of most of our July semester and intern students. I'm excited to see them, and hopeful that I'll get to form some lovely new friendships. I'll be introducing a few of them to their places of volunteer work starting on Monday. This will involve my serving as instructor in "how to ride a combi," which I haven't exactly mastered yet myself. It will be interesting for sure! Meredith, one of my favorite interns ever, will be taking on a second placement at Manos Unidas, which excites me firstly because I love Meredith and I get to be the one to introduce her to the school, and secondly because it's a chance to get back to Manos Unidas and see what's going on there! I know that they're currently engaged in a pretty important fundraising campaign, which can be seen here: http://www.manosunidasperu.net/
As it tends to do, being sick has made me realize some of the things that I miss most about home. Obviously, saying goodbye to my parents was tough, and I miss them already. I also miss my siblings, my Grammom and Pop Whitman, and, of course, the Queen of the World/Grammy P. I can't wait to see my dear friends at home...my beautiful Diplomats everywhere from Hershey to Allentown to Vermont to NYC to D.C., and my beautiful Rachel Sage and Merry and everyone else around Haddon Heights. And the thought of making a chocolate chip cookie in a US oven at SEA LEVEL...oh, I can't even BEAR it. The cookie longing translates, as well, to all baked goods...you can't imagine what I would pay for a legitimate scone! And TAP WATER. It will be like drinking from the rivers of Eden.
Is it sounding like I hate Peru? Because I don't--really. I just love home. And not even home so much as what waits for me at home. Loving family. Dear friends. Not-as-scary food. It will be sad to leave, but joyful at the same time. Once I've determined what sort of crazy diseases are now crawling through my veins and eradicated them, I'm determined to make the most of my final 30 days in Peru. I will see Lake Titicaka, do a bit more hiking, and maybe even buy the beautiful poncho I've been eying for weeks!
Thank you all for your continued prayers and concern. You cannot even begin to know how much it means to know that not only do I have God "close by my side," but all of you as well!
"perfect peace"
stay close by my side
keep your eyes on me
though this life is hard
i will give you perfect peace
in this time of trial
pain that none sees
trust me when i say
i will give you perfect peace
and you'll never walk alone
and you'll never be in need
though i may not calm the storms around you
you can hide in me
burdens that you bear
offer no relief
let me bear your load
cause i will give you perfect
stay close by my side
and you'll never walk alone
keep your eyes on me
and you will never be in need
though this life is hard
know that i will always give you perfect peace
i will give you perfect peace
This morning, I had the opportunity to see Emily Durham, one of my classmates/colleagues from the Penn Graduate School of Education. Emily did the same master's program as me one year after I completed it, and we had a few opportunities to interact over the summer between our programs to talk about working in international higher education and study abroad. What a small world that she now works for the Duke Engage program, which happens to have sent a group of students to Cusco, Peru through ProWorld! Emily had the great opportunity of visiting Duke Engage groups in Ecuador and Peru, and it was funny to greet her no longer as a fellow student, but as an international education colleague! She's delightful, and always a pleasure to see.
ProWorld will be busy in the next few days as we're expecting the arrival of most of our July semester and intern students. I'm excited to see them, and hopeful that I'll get to form some lovely new friendships. I'll be introducing a few of them to their places of volunteer work starting on Monday. This will involve my serving as instructor in "how to ride a combi," which I haven't exactly mastered yet myself. It will be interesting for sure! Meredith, one of my favorite interns ever, will be taking on a second placement at Manos Unidas, which excites me firstly because I love Meredith and I get to be the one to introduce her to the school, and secondly because it's a chance to get back to Manos Unidas and see what's going on there! I know that they're currently engaged in a pretty important fundraising campaign, which can be seen here: http://www.manosunidasperu.net/
As it tends to do, being sick has made me realize some of the things that I miss most about home. Obviously, saying goodbye to my parents was tough, and I miss them already. I also miss my siblings, my Grammom and Pop Whitman, and, of course, the Queen of the World/Grammy P. I can't wait to see my dear friends at home...my beautiful Diplomats everywhere from Hershey to Allentown to Vermont to NYC to D.C., and my beautiful Rachel Sage and Merry and everyone else around Haddon Heights. And the thought of making a chocolate chip cookie in a US oven at SEA LEVEL...oh, I can't even BEAR it. The cookie longing translates, as well, to all baked goods...you can't imagine what I would pay for a legitimate scone! And TAP WATER. It will be like drinking from the rivers of Eden.
Is it sounding like I hate Peru? Because I don't--really. I just love home. And not even home so much as what waits for me at home. Loving family. Dear friends. Not-as-scary food. It will be sad to leave, but joyful at the same time. Once I've determined what sort of crazy diseases are now crawling through my veins and eradicated them, I'm determined to make the most of my final 30 days in Peru. I will see Lake Titicaka, do a bit more hiking, and maybe even buy the beautiful poncho I've been eying for weeks!
Thank you all for your continued prayers and concern. You cannot even begin to know how much it means to know that not only do I have God "close by my side," but all of you as well!
"perfect peace"
stay close by my side
keep your eyes on me
though this life is hard
i will give you perfect peace
in this time of trial
pain that none sees
trust me when i say
i will give you perfect peace
and you'll never walk alone
and you'll never be in need
though i may not calm the storms around you
you can hide in me
burdens that you bear
offer no relief
let me bear your load
cause i will give you perfect
stay close by my side
and you'll never walk alone
keep your eyes on me
and you will never be in need
though this life is hard
know that i will always give you perfect peace
i will give you perfect peace
Thursday, June 30, 2011
I'm Siiiiick...
And I just wanted to vent about it. Feel bad for me, readers, and say prayers for a speedy recovery. My mom was sick last night too, and we haven't figured out the cause. In Cusco, there are so many potential causes of sickness...argh.
On another unfortunate note, my parents are off to the US tomorrow in the early morning. It will be sad to see them go, but I'm glad that they'll be returning to a place where sickness is less of a constant fear! It was such an absolute joy having them here. I'm very blessed to have parents who love me enough to come visit me in a place that would probably never have otherwise made their list of top destinations, AND where they have no knowledge of the language! I think they've come to appreciate the joys of Peru, and they have definitely been a taste of home that I'd been longing for.
More, and hopefully happier, updates soon!
xoxo
Sarah
On another unfortunate note, my parents are off to the US tomorrow in the early morning. It will be sad to see them go, but I'm glad that they'll be returning to a place where sickness is less of a constant fear! It was such an absolute joy having them here. I'm very blessed to have parents who love me enough to come visit me in a place that would probably never have otherwise made their list of top destinations, AND where they have no knowledge of the language! I think they've come to appreciate the joys of Peru, and they have definitely been a taste of home that I'd been longing for.
More, and hopefully happier, updates soon!
xoxo
Sarah
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