Orange Country

So, here´s the news...I will be living in Palpa, Ica for the next two years! My stomach is happy to hear that because it is known for it´s fruit - specifically for it´s oranges. There are a lot of ruines situated around the community. They are similar to the well known Nasca Lines, but can be seen after hiking a mountain and not necessarily by plane. There are farms all around the community as well, which is where the majority of the work I will be doing is situated. The community itself is in a desert, as all of Ica is known for, which means HOT HOT HOT! Honestly, I never expected to be placed in a desert, so this will be quite an adventure! My first night here I met my family which is Felix and Laura. Both an older couple who never had kids, but they have hosted other people in the past and also run a private hostle, and are well known around the community. I call them my grandparents, and they call me their ´hija´ which means daughter. Laura is a crafty lady who is totally on the ball and doesn´t let anyone mess around with here.

I had an exciting morning today going to the market with her. After I said ´buenos dias´to someone on the street she told me not to do that, and to only greet people if I knew them or they greated me. All this custom stuff I am not familiar with. So, she proceeded to demonstrate to me how to do it correctly when we walked by the next person. Then, we passed a group of men who were chillin on a bench outside a store. She told them goodmorning and they didn´t do anything, so she offered them her hand and they gave her a weak shake. Hah! From here she made fun of them for not being strong enough to give her a good greeting. After teaching them how to properly greet, and laughing it off we continued. Then she told me about the machistic community that is throughout all of Peru, and which I was already well familiar with. So, my grandma is assertive and one of a kind. Quite good to know. She doens´t take crap from people and is totally doing a great job teaching me the ropes around the town. The different people, the different places. But, she is still my grandmother and has an instict to grab my hand when we cross the Pana Americana highway, which is a little embarrasing. Well, guess her intentions are good.

Felix is a fabulous grandfather who is a master cook! Currently they are remodeling the kitchen so it is bigger and I will be able to cook whatever meals I want there. Felix said he would teach me how to cook, which is great! He has given me pointers also on places to go around town, what to look for, who to and not to talk to...

Oh, and last night I was on the local TV station, Cadena Sur Noticia, with another volunteer who happens to be 5 minutes away in the town of Rio Grande. Being interviewed was an interesting experience! I was sooo nervous, because ALL of Palpa had access to watching it, and there I was, trying to look calm and speak in Spanish. In all honesty, I think it went well and I was so surprised to see myself talking spanish so fluently when I watched the tape...but I still have more to learn for sure. My interview consisted of answering questions such as why I was in Palpa, what Peace Corps is, what I plan on doing, what my home is like...ect. Then my friend got up there and did his interview which is great. In the end they told us we could return whenever we wanted which will be a fabulous resource for getting news out!

So, that´s the story! I will update you on my address, but I haven´t got it yet. Let me know how you all are doing! I miss you all!

p.s. Here is an interesting article about Ica, Peru which is the Department provence the Palpa is located in. It talks about deforestation which is something that is a problem here as well and I want to try and address in a project. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/world/americas/08peru.html?_r=1&ref=energy-environment