Field Based Training: Ancash

I spent five days in the region of Ancash for Field Based Training and have returned run-down and sick. I got in Friday night and have spent the last three days wallowing in my own filth and trying to stay hydrated. I have a head cold that started off with a sore throat on Friday, and while I was in Ancash I ate some mysterious 4 sole burger that gave me the liquid diarrhea of a lifetime… I am still recovering and it has been five days since I ate that cursed burger.

La Pachamanca

Handwashing demo in Obreja

Science Classroom in Acopampa

Las Torrecitas

Field-based training kicked my ass, every day we were giving presentations, sharing our insights in Spanish, and being evaluated even when they say we are not being. We are under constant scrutiny and observation and the pressure to compete is ON. I got altitude sickness for a couple of days when we got to Carhuaz which did not help my stress levels. I was dizzy, dehydrated, and sick to my stomach at 11,000 feet. Each day of the week we were split into groups of 6-8 and sent to different small towns around Carhuaz. My group worked in Acompampa all week. Each group went to a school and taught a lesson about strength building (in Spanish of course), observed a current volunteer do house visits to pregnant mothers, and toured the health centers and municipalities of each town. Every evening we gave presentations on what we did that day to the larger group of 22. Our days went from about 8 am-7 pm for four days.

I’d say the highlights were: seeing the glorious Andean mountain range, breathing fresh air, eating Pachamanca straight out of the Tierra, bonding with my community health cohort friends, sharing some much-needed beverages after our twelve hours work days, and learning about traditional Andean dance practices at the local school in Acompampa.

During these last few days sick in bed, I have been drawing on the roof of my house a fair amount which makes me feel a little better since I can’t go running. It’s not like I am an avid athlete but running every other day makes me feel like I am at least not getting any fatter from the carb-heavy Peruvian food. My host mom wanted to give me leche caliente this morning, but I did not have the words to say that I am lactose intolerant and the milk would coat my throat with mucus so I just requested some tea, which worked out well. It’s weird being sick in another country without the comforts of home; chicken noodle soup, my dad, Darcie, or Jesse around to take care of me, cozy slippers, and a cold clean rain outside my window.

Ancash was gorgeous, and it is one of the five regions that volunteers will be sent to once our three-month training is over in December. But, it has already been made pretty clear from current volunteers and the vibes from the PC staff that only advanced Spanish-speaking trainees will be sent to Ancash. It is the most sought-after region of the five: Junin, La Libertad, Cajamarca, Amazonas, and Ancash. Personally, I have no faith that I will be sent to Ancash, and I would be okay with any site as long as it is close enough to other volunteers and as cold as possible. The best I can hope for is somewhere that is not extremely polluted and not hot as all sin with a host family that appreciates my company. And I’ve got a snowball’s chance in hell of going to Ancash with my Spanish level. Plus, I am not the happy-go-lucky outgoing type of person who kisses up to my superiors. Never have been a kiss ass, never will be. The best I can do is be respectful and have zero expectations for the future and for my site placement.