Volunteering at the center for homework help and preschool, Deporte y Vida, in Villa El Salvador has been and extremely impacting and influential experience for me during this semester.
I've continued to help the kids with their homework twice a week. One thing that seems really unfortunate to me is that although some of them really want to learn, they do not have the resources. Either they have poor teachers, do not have books, or lack the time to do the work. Sometimes kids come to Deporte y Vida and drop off their homework, while they go home to cook for their family or care for younger siblings or such and return later hoping that someone has completed it for them. While the children are silly like other kids that I know and love to play, they seem to be more aggressive and also they are wise beyond their years. It is a bit odd to see children acting like adults a such young ages, but I believe that is the result of their environment.
We were asked to paint a mural of nature on the the outer walls of the "baño seco" (dry bathroom) of the school. We drew a picture with a pond, bushes, a tree, mountains, flowers, a dragon fly, fish, butterfly, bird's nest, and chickens. The colors are quite vibrant. The children were so impressed and just watched us with enthusiasm the whole time. We wanted to let them help, but we were lacking in supplies and if we let one help they would all have wanted too and that would not have worked. Possibly they can each paint a flower the last day if they want to or something like that. Unfortunately after we finished for the day and were cleaning up, some of the kids' excitement and curiousity got the best of them, causing them to run up to the wall and touch the paint leaving handprints in our work or peeling off nearly dry paint.
I went to a hardware store the evening before, and bought several colors of paint, paint thinner and a few brushes. We didn't have containers to mix paints in, nor did I think to purchase stir sticks. I'll have to get a few other things for this next week to finsh the project. My hands are green and blue and it is really awkward doing things in public with hands that look like the Hulk's. People look at me wierd, as if my hands are really dirty, which I understand, but they are just stained.
We have only painted one day so far. When we finished painting, the teachers and Señor Victor who maintains the place, so very kindly wanted to share their food, Papa a la Huancaina, with us. They dug a pit, built a fire, and cooked the food for us. It was such a kind gesture that even though it caused us to leave 1.5 hours late (making me quite a bit late to class at the university) we handled the situation in a peruvian manner, not worrying about time but about the people, the kindness of the gesture, and food.
The generousity I see as these people will do anything to help out a neighbor ("vecino") and will give anything and everything they have astounds me. They continue to demonstrate that those who have hoard, and those who have not give. The notion of giving when one can and that one will never be in need, continues to be reenforced in my mind each day that I go. I am amazed at how much the people of Oasis, Villa El Salvador a sector that just 4 years ago was desert and now is sprawling in homes have taught me and will continue to do. Although they are not rich monetarily they are rich in spirit.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Food and Health...
Despite the many wonderful things I've been able to enjoy in Peru, I've also had my bouts of illnesses, all or nearly all quite-likely to things I have consumed. Some may consider it vulgar or impropper to discuss digestive issues, but for me as well as many other exchange students, it has become a common topic of discussion.
In general, Peruvians tend to pride themselves on their food (however as discussed in my social Peruvian reality class, many people especially children under the age of 5 suffer from malnutrition). The staple in the Peruvian diet is rice. Most people consume this product which was introduced to the country as a result Chinese immigration more than 150 years ago. This leads to the majority of the population having a little bit of a belly, even those who are skinny have a gut. I find it humorous when I am served a meal, with potatoes as a side dish, rice as a side dish, and a giant heep of noodles along with a salad and soup! It seems like multiple meals to me with the portions out of control. Peru is a country extremely rich in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, however meat is present in almost every dish. This is frustrating sometimes as a vegetarian; however, one of the things that I find most aggrivating is that most people cannot grasp the idea of not eating meat and don't understand that vegetarians eat more than "just vegetables". I've had numerous conversations in which I have been asked questions along these lines: "So you're vegetarian. That means you don't eat meat? So you eat chicken right? No? But surely you eat pig? Oh I see. But guinea pigs? They're really healthy, you know. Fish? Wow, you eat nothing but vegetables. I would die!"
Although some foods are different and have a different flavor, it seems that one would adjust rather quickly to the food. I like much of it, but other things needed a bit of adjusting. I wasn't fond of the cup of vegetable oil dumped on top of my salad at ever meal as a salad dressing or the heap of mayonaise that accompanies many dishes.
Interestingly enough, after all this discussion about food, I must say that food care sometimes seems to be lacking, such as always storying eggs at room temperature even when it is 80 degrees is something that struck me as something that should maybe be changed. Also, food is rarely covered when placed in a refrigerator, allowing it to dry out quickly or diffuse its scent to other foods. Water is of course boiled, which is a good thing.
As I mentioned before, I've had my fair share of digestive related sicknesses. I have recently recovered from my most serious one. I would like to think that after being here for several months, I would not get sick anymore, but that is not the case. I do not believe that it is an issue of diet change, as to one of bacteria and viruses that foods can contain. I literally slept nearly a week of my life away, between going to different doctors and the ER. Among various issues, I suffered from swollen intestines which were possibly thought to be the somewhat common result of infection by salmonella, e coli, or brucelosis. After several blood tests, it was determined that I didn't have any of these bacteria in my system and that I had probably gotten sick from a virus or parasite from some food that was not well washed or was spoiled. I am still amazed at how non-chalantly the doctor said, what the problem may have been and did not seem concerned.
Also, I find it interesting that the majority of the time when someone is sick, someone asks if it is the stomach or if it was the food, and the expected and probable answer is yes. Unfortunately, sometimes these germs take the enjoyment out of trying new foods.
In general, Peruvians tend to pride themselves on their food (however as discussed in my social Peruvian reality class, many people especially children under the age of 5 suffer from malnutrition). The staple in the Peruvian diet is rice. Most people consume this product which was introduced to the country as a result Chinese immigration more than 150 years ago. This leads to the majority of the population having a little bit of a belly, even those who are skinny have a gut. I find it humorous when I am served a meal, with potatoes as a side dish, rice as a side dish, and a giant heep of noodles along with a salad and soup! It seems like multiple meals to me with the portions out of control. Peru is a country extremely rich in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, however meat is present in almost every dish. This is frustrating sometimes as a vegetarian; however, one of the things that I find most aggrivating is that most people cannot grasp the idea of not eating meat and don't understand that vegetarians eat more than "just vegetables". I've had numerous conversations in which I have been asked questions along these lines: "So you're vegetarian. That means you don't eat meat? So you eat chicken right? No? But surely you eat pig? Oh I see. But guinea pigs? They're really healthy, you know. Fish? Wow, you eat nothing but vegetables. I would die!"
Although some foods are different and have a different flavor, it seems that one would adjust rather quickly to the food. I like much of it, but other things needed a bit of adjusting. I wasn't fond of the cup of vegetable oil dumped on top of my salad at ever meal as a salad dressing or the heap of mayonaise that accompanies many dishes.
Interestingly enough, after all this discussion about food, I must say that food care sometimes seems to be lacking, such as always storying eggs at room temperature even when it is 80 degrees is something that struck me as something that should maybe be changed. Also, food is rarely covered when placed in a refrigerator, allowing it to dry out quickly or diffuse its scent to other foods. Water is of course boiled, which is a good thing.
As I mentioned before, I've had my fair share of digestive related sicknesses. I have recently recovered from my most serious one. I would like to think that after being here for several months, I would not get sick anymore, but that is not the case. I do not believe that it is an issue of diet change, as to one of bacteria and viruses that foods can contain. I literally slept nearly a week of my life away, between going to different doctors and the ER. Among various issues, I suffered from swollen intestines which were possibly thought to be the somewhat common result of infection by salmonella, e coli, or brucelosis. After several blood tests, it was determined that I didn't have any of these bacteria in my system and that I had probably gotten sick from a virus or parasite from some food that was not well washed or was spoiled. I am still amazed at how non-chalantly the doctor said, what the problem may have been and did not seem concerned.
Also, I find it interesting that the majority of the time when someone is sick, someone asks if it is the stomach or if it was the food, and the expected and probable answer is yes. Unfortunately, sometimes these germs take the enjoyment out of trying new foods.
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