Jenny Chapman, Peace Corp Volunteer in Peru

Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 5:50 PM
Subject: The PRESIDENT!!!!

WOW!!!! Where do I begin??? This has been the most incredible, emotional and inspiring couple of days! First of all, it is now official. I am a Peace Corps Volunteer. 27 of the original 29 were sworn in on Monday, Feb 3rd. The exciting part of the swearing-in ceremony is that John Dawson, US Ambassador and Alejandro Toledo, President of Peru, came to the ceremony! We are all sitting in an auditorium with a ton of press setting up when all of the sudden we heard it! It was a helicopter. President Toledo choppered in for the occasion. First our Country Director Kate Rafferty gave a speech and welcomed everyone. Then the Ambassador said some very moving words and even mentioned my name in his speech!!!! He said that he thought he had the coolest job being Ambassador, but that he realized we had even a greater job working in the communities. And as he is "Ambassador for the United States, in Monterrey Jennifer Chapman will be the Ambassador!" I was so shocked! Then one of our fellow volunteers Christean Cole said a couple of words and then finally President Toledo came up to deliver his speech. He rearranged his whole schedule to come to our swearing-in ceremony. He is a wonderful speaker. His speech was very moving, inspirational and personal. We are the first group of Peace Corps to be in Peru after 28 years. But back in the 60's when Peace Corps was in Peru, 2 volunteers were stationed at Alejandro Toledo's house when he was a young boy (he is one of 16 children (only 7 are living now)). The Peace Corps Volunteers changed his life. He used to be just a shoe-shiner and due to their inspiration he is now the President (of course after studying at the University of San Francisco and Stanford and teaching at Harvard). He said that speaking with President Bush and inviting the Peace Corps back after its long absence was one of the first things he did as the President. He said that we are an "Army of Peace" and he thanked us for coming to help the people of his country. But he certainly did put the pressure on us and said that he would be checking in with our progress and would like to talk to us again at the end of our service. Afterwards, we all got on stage with him and took pictures. That night we were on the Peruvian National news! I also heard that our swearing in was on the CNN ticker yesterday!

The next day, which was Tuesday, we had a meeting at the US Embassy. We met with USAID (Unites States Agency for International Development). They work in the areas of diplomacy/democracy, alternative development (in countries where the cash crop is cocaine like Peru and Colombia for example), economic development, education, health, etc. Then that night 3 other volunteers and I had dinner at the Health Director for USAID's house. We had shish-ka-bob, salad, quinoa and more. It was a wonderful meal and an exciting night. They have lived all over the world including Mexico, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Egypt and Peru (their favorite being Egypt)! Their house was spectacular.

But the story gets even better. Being the first Peace Corps group in Peru definitely has its advantages and we really have been treated like dignitaries. Today, Wednesday, we had lunch at the Presidential Palace! Not only did we have lunch at the Presidential Palace but also we had lunch with the President!!!!! First we were escorted up a red carpet into the magnificent palace. We went into a conference room where they had tables, microphones and some press set up. We all sat down. The President came in walked around the table and shook all of our hands. It really looked like a scene at the UN. He then sat down and addressed all of us again in a wonderfully heartfelt speech. He also asked the ambassador to provide us with anything we needed including coffee when we felt sick! Again he expressed his gratitude towards our tremendous contribution to his country and to the world. He thanked President Bush and talked about us being "sister countries". There was someone filming the encounter and taking pictures. Then he invited all of us into the dining hall to have lunch with him. The Minister of Health and the Exterior were also present. Lunch was wonderful. We had jumbo shrimp as an appetizer. Then we had fish stuffed with asparagus, rice and carrots that were cut into the shape of flowers. We also had white and red wine. It was just amazing to think that we were eating in the Presidential Palace, with the President, on the presidential China where so many other dignitaries have eaten before us. He then invited us for coffee out in his courtyard where we all stood around and joked and chatted with him in a more informal atmosphere. The whole experience was truly quite amazing and surreal and really showed us how important the work we will be doing is to this country and to the President.

Well that is pretty much all for now (as if that wasn't enough). Tomorrow I leave for Huaraz (where I will be living at least initially. My official sites are Santa Rosa and Monterrey (small Andean communities)). I have also been selected for the regional position of Emergency Action Plan Coordinator for the Huaraz group. I will be kind of responsible for us volunteers' where-abouts and gathering during emergencies or disasters.

Anyway, it's hard to believe that my training is now over and my adventure/work is about to begin. It is very intimidating and everyone is pretty nervous about heading out into the unknown by ourselves. I don't even have a place to stay yet! Well, I miss you all.

Love,
Jenny
Love you Habibi!