Jenny Chapman, Peace Corp Volunteer in Peru

Update: June 7, 2003
Subject: Looking for lice can be a pastime too!

Well hello everyone! The riots have settled down here in Huaraz and rumor has it the school will start back on Monday (after a month!!). So it has been awhile since I last since an update (besides the tear gas email). I will make it quick.

I am now a God mother! A woman in my town, Gloria, was pregnant with her first child. Well for some reason unknown to me or any others of civilization, she decided to give birth in Santa Rosa. Again, Santa Rosa is a town of only 180 people... no phones, no hospital, no doctor, no toilets etc. Her mother insisted on her coming to give birth at her house. Her philosophy is that since she gave birth to her 8 children at home with no doctor so could her daughter. Of course once Gloria started having labor pains she got a little panicky and they called me over to see if I could help. So trying to maintain calm and pretend to act like I knew something, I took her pulse and tried to feel if the baby was in the right position. I happened to notice that her hands and feet were pretty swollen (a sign of danger). I urged her to go to the hospital but her mom said no. So then I convinced them to at least see an obstetrician. I went to the Center of Health in Monterrey and got the obstetrician and another nurse to come to Santa Rosa. As it turns out she had really high blood pressure and needing to go to the hospital. So I convinced Gloria to go and escorted her to the hospital. Finally she gave birth to a baby girl around 3 am. I went to see her the next day and asked her the normal questions. So what did you name your baby? Well in Peru they have the strange habit of not naming the babies for about a week after they are born, whereas in America I think most women have a list of names picked out since the age of 10. Anyway, she thanked me for convincing her to go to the hospital because the doctors said she would have died giving birth at home. So she asked me to be the baby's God Mother. A week later I asked what she had named the baby.... Jennifer! So she named her baby after me. Crazy, huh?

Most of the month of May I was not in my site. I had "reconnect" in Lima with all the other Peace Corps volunteers where I had to endure never-ending Quechua classes. Only thing of note was a 5.1 earthquake. It really didn't feel like much. It was about the same that I experienced in Mexico back in 96. Then I went to visit Mo in the states for an amazing 2 weeks. We met up with my parents in Charleston, WV for Mother's Day. It was so good to see everyone. Back in Ohio I took his kick-boxing class and had a private self-defense lesson with him. We went to the mall. I bought chapstick, jeans, shampoo. I watched TV. I ate Mexican. I took a shower everyday sometimes 2x a day. It was great. It was really hard to come back.

I have to admit that I was really depressed my first week back in Peru. The fleas came back with a vegenance. I guess I left them in a lurch for 3 weeks. I found many "S's" upon my return and even a baby Tarantula (at least that is what one woman in my town called it, but she is know for exaggerating a bit).

Since I've been back I have spent most of the days trying to get readjusted again. Some of my favorite past times of late: reading, reading, reading, sleeping, playing volleyball and actively watching mothers pick lice out of their children's hair. Literally I spent an hour one day talking with Manuela as she preened her daughter Angelica. Oh the excitement when she got one of those nasty little creatures and popped it between her fingernails!!! I also came back to find 6 chickens in my patio. At first I was excited about the prospect of having animals. But now... I have changed my mind! They have taken over my whole backyard including my toilet. There is chicken poo everywhere. They squawk and peck at my door and I literally have to fend them off with a stick when I go outside for water for fear that they my peck at my toes (which one of them has done).

This past week I have been going out with the Center of Health staff for a Vaccination Campaign. I have been hiking and hiking and hiking to several communities to convince them of the need for the Tetanus and Measles & Rubella vaccine. I have even been reunited with the crazy drunk woman from Churap who I danced with until 5am that one night. Her name is Catalina. She is 50. She has had 13 children but only 6 of them are living. She lives in Churap the town up the mountain that I have started visiting regularly. She feeds me every time I go up there. I think we are going to be great friends!

So, there it is... my exciting life in Peru. Hope everyone is doing well.

Love,

Jenny