Let talk about bathing:to preface this topic, I would like to point out a fact that few people associate with the desert... It gets cold at night. Very cold. Which means that in the morning, I wear a jacket and long underwear, or sweatpants if they're clean. So being outside, naked, with a bucket of cold water is something I do NOT look forward to in the morning. Usually, I try and convice myself that its not so bad, and that shivering is the most efficient wa...

Hey everyone! Lets talk about water. Living in the desert, and being a PCV desert rat that I am, you'd be surprised at how well we can conserve water, but yet let it go to waste in this region. I can wash my hands in 100 mL efficiently using a tippy tap-peace corps invention. But, for some reason, peruvians feel the need to water the dirt infront of their house. Not with used water, but fresh, clean, groundwater. They wash their clothes in the river, the sam...

Hey all! Hope things are going well in the states. Now that I fully accept and understand the concept that I am leaving, basically, forever in less than 4 months, I have been trying to live up my peace corps experience to the fullest. Two weekends ago, I traveled to Ingenio in Nazca to play in the oasis(THE PICTURE POSTED) and climb some mountains, and this last weekend, I went camping in the mountains of Ica, 3 hours from Palpa. I have noticed some friends be...

Hey everyone! We should talk about phones in peru. Ha yes, phones. As a Peace Corps Volunteer on the coast, this is my number one means of communication. PCVs have unlimited minutes for calling each other and people working in the Peace Corps office, and buy credit to call people in our community. I can spend anywhere from 5 to 20 soles a week on credit! Depending on who I am calling and what I am trying to organize. If its a parade on not burning trash, theres...

Hey everyone! Hope you are all well in the states. Lets talk about attitudes: I have noticed that in the past few months, my attitude towards peruvians has been so negative! For someone who is positive most of the time, its hard to admitt to yourself that you have a bad attitude. The funny thing is, it sneaks up on you so slowly, then one day you realize that you are a drag to be around. I usually dont vocalize my distaste for peruvians. But I definitely h...