Alabanza

                                   

Entrance to Santisimo Sacramento

In keeping with Kathleen and my theme of “In the Heights,” I’ve affectionately and appropriately titled my last blog “Alabanza.” According to Lin-Manuel Miranda (aka the reason I’m getting Twitter), “alabanza” means to raise this thing up to God’s face. This trip is unlike any other I have experienced. I have such mixed feelings about my experiences that will take me quite a while to sort through. This is my attempt to raise this trip, both the good and bad, to God’s face.

 

According to my mother, sister, father, previous roommates, and several co-workers, I’m not the most organized person. My thoughts and reflections on my Peruvian adventures have added to this disorganization as I feel challenged in several ways. In attempt to improve my organizational habits, I’m going to try to explain what I mean this way:

 

Challenge:

Physical- No surprise here. I’m not the world’s most physically fit person. My first full day in Peru, I helped build walls for someone’s home. My mother told me before how physical it would be and how much I would feel it the next day. I completely blew her off.

Lesson learned: Always listen to your mother.

 

Emotional- My mother, sister, and I went on a home visit to deliver food one day and our first
stop was a mother who had a severely mal-nourished 2 year old daughter. Her ankles and wrists looked like those of a 5 month old. The mother had taken her daughter to see several doctors but couldn’t afford the formula, which turned out to be Pedialyte. I stood there listening to this conversation between the mother and the social worker with us bracing myself not to cry. Then later, I was frustrated- why shouldn’t I be allowed to cry? Crying proves that you care. To clarify- I didn’t allow myself to cry. No one else was telling me not to.

Lesson learned: You can’t save all the starfish in the sea, but you can help that one.

 

Spiritual- I do not agree with the priest at Santisimo Sacramento in regards to anything except his commitment to the poor. I do not normally attend mass everyday. I do not remember the last time I went to confession. I believe in birth control. I do not sit down and read the bible each year. I believe in gender equality, like letting women drive (for crying out loud!) How can I reconcile our differences and still respect him?

Lesson learned: Focus on the greater good. The people of Piura are better off because he is there.

 

Familial- I come from a family of large personalities. To quote West Wing, “in my house, anyone who used one word when they could have used ten just isn’t trying hard.” Also, please see above for organizational difficulties.

Lesson learned: Shower quickly. Make your bed in the morning. Clear each other’s plates after meals. Be sure to play Bananagrams as much as possible. Don’t accidentally lock anyone in the bathroom (Mom- this is directed at you.)

 

Intellectual- Despite what my mother will tell you, I am far from fluent in Spanish. I struggled so much with my Spanish. I was also asked by the staff and other volunteers to translate for them. Please stop and picture a dear in headlights when I was asked to translate “laxatives” in Spanish and then having to describe what it meant when I realized the family had no idea was that was.

Lesson learned: Keep up on my Spanish skills

 

Personal- There are still more than a few moments from Piura that I won’t share on purpose. Some things are hard to explain and that is okay. Selfishly, I want to keep those memories to myself.  They are special to me.

Lesson learned: Take time to reflect and steal the moment.

 

Sunset over Piura, Peru

Apologies for the long post. I am currently on my back porch and listening to Pandora’s “Hamilton” station this beautiful morning. I’m also watching the apartment building behind mine go up and I’m considering asking if they need help. Maybe they’ve heard of my mad plywood skills.

 

Alabanza,

Erin