Off to the Amazon!

When I signed up for the Peace Corps and received Peru as my placement country, I immediately began thinking about going to the Amazon. Peru is an amazing country with lots to offer, including some of the highest mountains in the world, decent beaches, and lots of ruins…though; you can find that stuff in other parts of the world as well.

But…there is only one Amazon and this Friday I’m off to check it out! It’s hard to imagine just how expansive the Amazon is…but there is 1/5 of the world’s fresh water in the Amazon basin. The river is so big at some points you can’t see the other side. It’s the most biodiverse spot on the planet with all kinds of stuff we still don’t know about…including native tribes of humans. Six countries share the Amazon...though they treat their parts differently.

Peru’s jungle is about 50% of its landmass with 5% of the population, and has some of the best preserved areas of rainforest in the world. To get to the launching off point, I have to travel by bus for about 28 hours, assuming the rain won't be bad. I’ll be traveling 9 hours over night, then waiting 8 hours to catch another bus for 17 hours. After that, I’ll arrive in Tarapoto, a town on the edge of the Andes and the jungle, on the outskirts of the really crazy stuff. From there, traveling with 5 friends, we’ll head to a town farther in the jungle on road and from that town, we’ll take a boat even farther in the jungle. I’ll then be spending 5 days canoeing through the largest jungle reserve in Peru, famous for pink and grey dolphins, all kinds of birds, amphibians, and reptiles, monkeys, whacky but delicious fish (including piranhas), and all kinds of other stuff. Maybe I'll get lucky and spot a jaguar or anaconda. In the Amazon you can't pee in the water if you're swimming because there are things that will swim up your urethra...

After those 5 days, we’ll be catching a banana cargo boat and we’ll float down the Amazon River for 3 days, sleeping in hammocks, to a town called Iquitos, the largest city in the world that doesn’t have a connecting road – only by river or air can you reach it. We’ll spend some time there, and then fly back to Lima and back to site (muchas gracias to mom and dad for buying my plane ticket from Iquitos to Lima!).

Once I’m back I’ll be sure to put up a bunch of pictures and stories. With the group I’m going with we’re bound to have some interesting things happen…stay tuned. Also, I've been growing a big, hippy Peace Corps beard for the past couple months...so you might not recognize me in the photos when I get back. I can't wait to shave it off...so I'm glad the trip has finally arrived.

Here are a few recent pictures:
- This kid told me my name is not Jake but Gringo.
- Yes…that’s a huge steel knife that is longer than her head and she’s 3 years old and her mom is right next to her. When I was 3, I got toy cars. Like whoa…
- The night of the election, most of the volunteers came into Huaraz to watch the election. My shirt was given to me by my friend, John Dundon when he visited back in June. I don't really wear it (sorry john) because I don't like walking around with some dude's face on my chest...especially when he hasn't proven himself yet to be the president I want. But, for this night, it was appropriate. GianCarlos is holding a shot of Pisco.
- Virginia voted for Obama! My friends bought me a tequila shot to celebrate.
- After the announcement that Barrack won, we went to party and we all took turns wearing the Obama shirt. We danced like idiots until 2:30am. So, while I certainly missed the parties and atmosphere back home...we made our own.

- Some more Halloween pics...this is Jen and I. I went to the Peruvian discoteca with her for a bit, where no one dressed up, now everyone asks her about the caveman.
- When walking through the streets, we already receive a lot of attention...this night most just stopped whatever they were doing, mouths open and watched...and of course, we played it up. Yup, that's a police car in the background.

Much love,

Jake

Loneliness Factor

Something Peace Corps is really good at doing is teaching someone what loneliness really feels like. I think loneliness is one of the main causes for people to quit. In all reality, I have friends within a couple hours that I can visit and we do. But I’ve been a pretty social guy most of my life and in the town where I live, once 6 or 7pm rolls around, I’m pretty happy to be in my room where I can truly relax. Before I came here I lived in a group house with a great bunch of guys in Washington DC. When I lived in New Zealand I had one of my best friends in the same flat (and it was really small) – so while we were far away, it was never lonely – not to mention we worked at a very popular bar. During college I was in a bubble world of friends.

The friends where I live are just simply not the same and I do not mean anything bad by that, they are great people and I spend a lot of time with them. I grew up in a very different culture and they grew up in the Andes where plastic didn’t arrive until the 70’s. They see this crazy foreign world through their TV and that’s how a lot of them see me because that’s the only white people they know, through their TV with the twist knob to change the channel. I grew up with cars and running water and toilets and tractors and constant electricity. Most people here have grown up where only the richest people have cars, running tap water is still a pretty cool thing, toilet seats are novel, and you plow a field with oxen.

Hence, I spend a lot of nights with the company of myself and nothing more. There is a lot of time for introspection as well as the reverse. There is a lot of time to read and listen to music. Basically, there is a lot of time. I don’t have a TV (but I have this laptop to write with and watch movies). I work where I live so my commute time is 0 minutes…unless you count a 5 minute walk to the artisan center. Most food I cook can usually be bought from the house on the corner, part of their house is a little store, the 7-11 of the Andes rural village…though their hours are more like 6am-1pm; 3pm-9pm. They love asking me what I’m cooking (although it’s a repeat of about 5 or 6 things) and I’ve been teaching them how to incorporate more vegetables into their diet while cooking them properly.

My friends Vishal and Frank and I have earned quite the reputation in Huaraz (the city we live near) because when we get together to go out at night, about once every 5 to 6 weeks, we have a lot more to let loose. So we’re usually on a high throttle and have a good time…and I think a lot of other people do too as a result.

Being alone can be a beautiful thing. In our lives, it’s truly hard to be alone. Sometimes it’s easy to feel alone even when surrounded by people you’ve known for a long time. And in cities we might be closer in proximity, but the psychic distance is often greater. Actually being alone (as in the only foreigner in my town) adds a different twist to feeling alone. There is no way around being alone, so you better accept it or you won’t make the 2 years of Peace Corps. Being alone for me doesn’t mean feeling alone – although when that emotion comes on it is a lot stronger. I enjoy learning different perspectives; I think it makes me a more whole person. Learning the value of loneliness is certainly a benefit of Peace Corps that I can bring with me after my service.

At times, living out here in Peru, away from friends, family, and news, can really be a downer. But for the most part, I’m enjoying the experience – even the bad parts. Now that I’ve rounded the corner on my service and have less than 10 months, I’m trying to get as much done here while taking advantage of my situation and having fun. I hope everyone back home is doing the same thing, albeit in a different environment.

With love,
Jake

Trick or Treat?

Hello friends,
This Halloween was classic. Last year, there was good participation...but this year a lot of people got into the spirit and had a great time. I was out dancing until 6am...and when I left there were still a good amount going strong. The bar actually had to tell people to go home around 7am. When thinking about a costume, I don't think what is the best idea...but what is going to be the most fun to act out...and cavemen is right up there with the best. All night Vishal, Frank, and I jumped around and grunted like crazy people. So...here are a few photos...enjoy.

- Pregaming...Peace Corps is very similar to college in this sense - you see, we don't have any much money to spend at bars...so we have to drink before going out.

- Still pregaming.

-This is Vishal getting his uni-brow...and Frank being a caveman...

-This is what a nordic caveman looks like...

- Meet Tim and AnaLuz...they are health volunteers about 2 hours from me.
- Out at the bar...Rambo...urgh, I mean Charlie is grooving. He's a Brit that owns a lodge up in the mountains and it's very, very nice.

-Here is GianCarlos and Stephanie shaking behind the bar. He's the DJ and she's one of the bartenders.

- The guy with the tamborine is Lucho - owner of the bar and really cool guy. We usually stay at his house when we're in town.
-"More liquor? Okay, well...see you guys tomorrow." - The morning after Frank tried saying, "I didn't take tequila shots." I replied, "Uhh, Frank, I have evidence."

- After every tequilla shot...Vishal sends out his mating call...

- Picture of the bar...there was a costume competition, we won last year...perhaps again this year...we've yet to hear.

doing the helicopter...how a caveman would know that dance move, I don't know.
- I captured a couple Peruvian ladies...they don't really dress up...but they see all the fun we're having and more and more are dressing up each year. A good amount of little kids dress up and stores give out candy...the kids yell out, "Halloween". The one in the yellow is Jenifer, the girl I'm dating.

- "What is this mischief?"

Hope you enjoyed the pictures - I certainly enjoyed them getting taken.

Love,

Jake