Día de Gracias

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

I know that I just updated the blog a couple of days ago, but this is a special edition for a special day. This will mark the first time I have spent Thanksgiving outside of the great U.S. of A. It’s a tough one, considering A#1: Thanksgiving is just about the most American holiday out there (save Fourth of July, but with all due respect to our Nation’s Birthday… it doesn’t have pumpkin pie); and B#2: This is without a doubt my favorite of the holidays. I love it mainly because it is all about the food. No flash, no flair, just food. Plus it has a sort of understated dignity; it doesn’t even complain when radio stations start playing Christmas carols the first of November… although I certainly do. So to pay homage to the best day on the calendar, I decided to stop harping on all of the things that I cannot get here in San Miguel (mail, hot water, cold beverages, etc.) and give thanks for all that we do have. Here goes; top things that I’m grateful for this year:

Disclaimer: This list excludes the obvious blessings: great town, awesome host family, fulfilling vocation, lack of weird/uncomfortable disease to date. These are the more overlooked, though equally important, blessings.

6. Flannel sheets. As I kid, my mom always tried to push flannel sheets on us, claiming they were, “so warm and comfy!” I hated them; no matter what, I’d end up in a pool of my own sweat. When the Bon offered to mail a set to me here, I accepted out of desperation (add “no heat” to the list of do-not-haves), although I was incredulous that I would actually use them. Oh how wrong I was! These sheets have totally redeemed themselves, and are now the best thing since sliced bread (oops, we don’t have that here either). Not only do they keep me nice and toasty all night, but I miraculously haven’t had bed bugs since their arrival. Just don’t ask me how many times I’ve washed them….

5. My thick foreign accent. This is going to sound really awful, but being from the United States opens A LOT of doors in Peru. I have dark hair, so I can sometimes blend in the crowd, but as soon as I open my mouth to speak, all heads turn. This allows me to basically get whatever I want, as people think I know things. My favorite example of this is when a group of us went to our first Grupo Cinco concert in Cajamarca. Grupo Cinco is probably the most famous band in Peru… pure Cumbia… pure fun. Anyhow, we paid for the cheapest tickets available, then sauntered up to the guards in the VIP section and said we were foreign journalists. Yes, yes, of course. Come right in foreign journalists. Boom… just like that. As I said, literally opens doors.

4. Cheerleaders. I’ve heard so many complaints from my Volunteer friends living in coastal towns about the constant cat-calls from guys. This is especially true when they go running. Although I do get the occasional harassment, my mountain-dwelling neighbors are pretty polite. I run 4 or 5 times per week, and I run into quite a few country folk along the way. At first they were extremely confused as to what I was running from. The idea of running for enjoyment and exercise doesn’t exactly resonate with people who walk four miles, uphill, barefoot and with 60 lbs. of rice on their backs to sell in town. After awhile, however, they started to get the idea, and now they actually cheer me on. I get anything from “Run, gringa, run, you can do it!” to “don’t stop skinny girl, you’re almost up that hill!” Talk about motivation; I can’t let me adoring fans down! I just might reach that marathon goal after all.

3. My electric kettle. If you’ve never had the joy of owning one, you may think it just a device that boils water. But it has become oh-so-much more than that to me. I purchased it on my first day in site, and never regretted the $12 decision. It boils water for my safe consumption, prepares the essential element for my bucket bath, steams the wrinkles out of my clothes and even cooks the perfect hard-boiled egg for snack-time (teaser: this involves panty hose and an old toothbrush). I know I sound like Vince Shlomi, trying to push the Sham Wow on you… but seriously. This thing is amazing.

2. The guinea pig colony in my kitchen. My feelings toward the guinea pigs living on my kitchen floor have gone full circle: from humor, to annoyance, to absolute amusement. I have come to adore my furry companions, as they offer non-stop entertainment during my meals… sort of like dinner theatre. You never know what those little rascals will be up to. I don’t think I’ll ever truly enjoy lunch again unless I’m watching two baby guinea pigs fighting over a banana peel.

1. Support Network. This is technically a tie. I am so fortunate to be surrounded by the greatest group of people serving as Volunteers here in Peru. Thanks to them, and to the free inter-network calls that we all have, I manage to stay sane. I also rely on the emails, cards, letters and packages that I receive from friends and family back home. They all mean more to me than you will ever know. So for those of you keeping me afloat here in Peru and State-side, I am forever grateful. Happy Thanksgiving / Feliz Dia de Gracias to you all!!