With my Ladies

not the sunglasses....

Susan and Feesh!!!

i feel home.

Homeward Bound

Wrote you this
I hope you got it safe
It's been so long
I don't know what to say
I've travelled 'round
Through deserts on my horse
But jokes aside
I wanna come back home
You know that night
I said I had to go
You said you'd meet me
On the sunny road
- Sunny Road, Emiliana Torrini

I´m in Arequipa right now... my bus for Lima leaves tonight. I can´t believe the time has finally come! I can´t stop smiling and I don´t think I´ve ever been this excited for Christmas before, which is saying a lot if you know me.

I´m off... into the great wide open.

Still Here

¨As long as we can love eachother, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on- in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.¨
- Tuesdays with Morrie

We will never forget you.

Things I´ve Learned Since Coming To Peru

- How to speak Spanish. I am definitely not fluent but I can speak it all day everyday.
- How to eat things I wouldn´t dare to touch in the states and pretend to like it.
- That you can rent really sweet costumes for the equivalent of $5 a night.
- That you apparently need to be a little bit crazy to join the Peace Corps... crazy in a good way, of course. The other volunteers here are a little bit of amazing.
- How to be alone... and not go completely insane.
- All about Catholicism... I´ve been to too many confirmation classes.
- How to drink beer... probably not the best thing to have learned but it is cheap and safe.
- That strangers don´t automatically high-five you, if you run towards them with your hand up. They just think you are insane.
- How to sit through a telenovela, which is even more painful than American soap operas.
- That care packages or letters can brighten the saddest of days.
- How to knit a scarf and make super awesome friendship bracelets.
- You can find peanut butter, oreos, pringles, and snickers in Peru... for a price.
- How to do my eye makeup... even though I still choose not to, usually.
- That recycling has been so strongly instilled in my character that I have about 50 giant plastic water bottles under my bed because I just can´t bring myself to throw them in the trash.
- How to put all of my faith in God.
- How to deal with piropos (guys that whistle, make kissing noises, or shout ¨Melody my love¨or ¨Hello you drive me crazy baby¨)
- How to take freezing cold showers. Although, I´m pretty sure I´ll never learn to enjoy them.
- How to bargain for everything... and in Spanish none the less. I get seriously upset if the taxi driver tries to cheat me out of 50 centimos.
- That it is culturally normal for everyone to tell you that you´ve gotten fatter and to smile in spite of it all.
- How to attract gym teachers from far and wide... Not that I try to.
- They don´t know how to make jeans in this country.
- How to dance to cumbia, huayno, salsa, and reggaeton. Peruvians love to dance... and they love to watch gringas dance even more.
- To never again take Mountain Dew or good pizza for granted.
- How to cry regularly. It just doen´t feel like a normal week if I don´t cry at least twice.
- That some people are willing to open their homes and lives up to a complete stranger.
- That I am truly blessed to have so many incredible supportive people back home. Thanks guys.

Everything happens for a reason

Awhile back, I programmed this into my Peruvian cell phone as a welcome message. I rarely turn my phone off but somewhere along the journey back to Arequipa it died. After an hour of charging yesterday afternoon, I turned it on to find ¨Everything happens for a reason¨ sprawled across the screen. Not more than a few hours later, I called home to tell my mom I´d made it back safely to the capital city. Instead of my mom´s voice on the other end of the line it was Tara and she was sobbing. Apparently, she was just told a friend of ours had been seriously injured and is in the intensive care unit right now. I don´t know anything more than that.

Sometimes awful things happen and it is very hard to make sense of why they do. Why right now? Why so young? Sometimes all we can do is pray. Even though most of the time we don´t even know what to pray for.

Please pray for Sean Weed, his family, and his friends.

Billboard Sign

I think I can make an umbrella statement and say that, at least once in our lives, we have all doubted God. Even if you don´t belive in God, I´m sure you´ve doubted yourself. For me, self-doubt is practically interchangeable with God-doubt. When I feel worried, scared, or nervous I am not putting my faith in God like I should be. This past weekend has been an insane journey of discovery across Peru. I left Huanchaco on Friday morning and had been having major regrets as I boarded a bus in Pacasmayo that night, alone and in tears.

PS- A nice man named Fidel Castro helped me find the bus station in Trujillo. That is really his name... he let me check his ID.

I was able to talk to my mom for over an hour while I waited in the Pacasmayo bus station, which was God´s work right there. The operator connected her without a time limit because her calling card was not functioning correctly. In times of trouble, my mom is such a voice of reason; my rock, my solid ground when I am surrounded by quick sand. All I could think about was that I needed Tara. We could get through anything together. As I closed my eyes that night on my comfortable reclining seat in the safety of a Cruz del Sur bus, I prayed over and over again for God to give me ¨billboard¨ signs.

PSS- At this point in time, I am flat broke.
I have...
1 bus ticket to Arequipa
3.20 soles (enough for a cab ride to the hostel)
and 9.43 soles in my bank account, which I can´t take out at an ATM

Like I said, it was the poorest I´ve been in my whole life and I was traveling 24 hours across the country. So to continue, God didn´t give me a billboard sign. He gave me a small sign above a door within walking distance of the Lima bus station that said Banco Continental. I entered and, like a loser, I asked the woman behind the counter for 9 soles. (I wanted to ask for the 43 centimos too but I just didn´t have it in me.) With a smile on my face, I grabbed the reciept and almost fell over when I saw I had over 1,000 soles in my account. (2 days early!)

PSSS- Next to the bank is a KFC and across the street is a Metro (the Peruvian equivalent of Target).

PSSSS- They sell Dunkin´Donuts in the Metro.

I had tears in my eyes for the first hour or so, as I wandered around the store. My mom called to see if I was alright, at some point, and I think she was almost as happy as I was. (Which is almost physically impossible) To conclude, God is amazing. Kelly (my volunteer ¨neighbor¨) is right when she says spirituality is magnified down here. I don´t believe all of this was just good luck. I am absolutely certain this was another message from God... ¨Silly Melody. I am always with you and I will always take care of you. Just have a little faith.¨

P (who knows how many S´s)- I am still in Lima and I just witnessed a high school gang fight or mob or something... I still have half of this trip ahead of me.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is my first thanksgiving on a beach. I was sad this morning knowing that I wouldn´t get to wait on hundreds of people at Haag´s today... the sick thing is that you all know I´m not lying about that. 7 years ago, I remember throwing a fit that I had to work on a holiday and couldn´t spend it with my family. Over the years, though, my coworkers became my family. Today, I miss them and I miss running around like a nut with a tray full of 20 pennsylvania dutch style dishes. We got to eat turkey yesterday but it definitely isn´t the same as my fabulous re-heated dinner with the family. I really do miss them too, obviously. Much love and happy thanksgiving to all!!

Long Journey

I´m sitting in the Cruz del Sur bus station right now using the majorly over-priced internet. One 15 hour bus ride down... another 12 or so to go tonight. I went back to Huascaran today to visit my first host family. It felt like I was going home again. I couldn´t stop smiling while I walked up the hill from Chaclacayo. I will always love that dirty little town.

I think I´m finally excited about reconnect. Tomorrow we´ll be in Pacasmayo. Can´t wait!

Alone

but surrounded by people. It is funny to find that I am not alone in feeling alone.

¨To be alone is to be different. To be different is to be alone.¨
-Suzanne Gordon

Sometimes life is just plain hard.

Tolerance

tol·er·ance [ tóllərənss ] (plural tol·er·ances)
noun
1. acceptance of different views: the acceptance of the differing views of other people, e.g. in religious or political matters, and fairness toward the people who hold these different views
-MSN Encarta Dictionary

With humility comes tolerance. Tolerance does not mean you need to support something you do not believe in. It is neither condoning nor condemning but, rather, an agree-to-disagree mentality. We are all flawed. We are all human. If we are focused on fixing our own mistakes, we have no time to judge others based on their´s. I write this because sometimes I get so upset with Christians and their ¨holier than thou¨ attitude that I am ashamed to call myself one. Shouldn´t we be the shining example of tolerance? of peace? of forgiveness? I firmly believe that we should be examples of what we believe but we should not push those beliefs on other people. It never works. It ends up pushing them away.

Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have recieved from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

This entry might make some of you angry. I´m sorry if it does. It´s just my opinion.

i

I Am...
sassy, sometimes a little strange, spontaneous, and totally in love with life.
I Want...
mountain dew. always.
I Have...
an amazing family, incredible friends, the best dog in the world, a roof over my head, and a God who never disappoints me
I Wish...
always for something magical to happen. i know it will anyway, with or without my wishing for it. that way it always comes true.
I Hate...
responsibility.
I Fear...
failure.
I Search...
constantly for more knowledge and inspiration.
I Wonder...
about the future. but i always try to live in the present.
I Regret...
nothing. my mistakes were all much needed experiences to learn from and shape me into who i am today.
I Love...
too many people to name.
I Ache...
physically, because i fell into a concrete ditch. in general, to see the world and to be with the people i love.
I Always...
am up for an adventure. just call me.
I Usually...
drive. but not anymore.
I Am Not...
a label. good luck finding one that would fit.
I Dance...
all the time. it helps me forget any problems i might have.
I Sing...
even though my voice isn..t great. i was born for karaoke.
I Never...
let go of friendships. even though we might not talk much anymore they will always have a place in my heart.
I Rarely....
get really angry. it happens sometimes but in general i..m a pretty mellow person.
I Cry...
because i feel alone even though i am surrounded by people.
I Am Not Always...
perfect but nobody is.
I Lose...
my mind, after being awake for a week straight working on design projects. luckily, that is no longer a part of my life.
I'm Confused...
about what i should do after the peace corps. the good thing is that i can just put one foot in front of the other and have faith that by the time i get there the path i need to take will be a little bit clearer.
I Need...
to continually remind myself that i am blessed and need nothing.
I Should...
write my CDS report but then i wouldn..t be able to consider myself a master procrastinator.
I'm Thinking...
too much about the past. it..s always been one of my faults.

Update

I put some pictures on the myspace, since it has been forever.

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-T.S. Eliot

I have been doing a LOT of soul searching lately.

Fuzzy

“There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.” –Ansel Adams

The truth is that, after 4 years, I am a little sick of the word concept. In design, we always needed a concept. It was the foundation of our projects. All that we did was based on it and at the end (when we took a step back) it was amazing to look at the journey we had taken without even realizing it. It was beautiful to see that it was all related and could be traced back to a single idea. The same is true with photography. You want someone to look at your picture and get it. You want them to understand the thought process behind it all. You want it to evoke a specific feeling.

I wonder, though, if this quote can also be translated to describe a person’s life. Meaning that, what is the point of living without a good concept? Someone can live a good long life without a purpose; a life based on money and material things, good acts but wrong intentions, and superficial relationships. Why? They are all fuzzy, worthless things to live for. My image may not be perfect but I at least want people to be able to see that my concept is good.

Inspirational Anonymity

“But few have spoken of the actual pleasure derived from giving to someone, from creating something, from finishing a task, from offering unexpected help almost invisibly and anonymously.” –Paul Wiener

I just got off the phone with Mommom and Grumps. It was refreshing to talk to them. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve heard their voices. We talked a bit about my mom and I mentioned that I had been thinking about her the other day. For the longest time, she has been in the heroes section of my myspace but did I really understand exactly why I put her there? Could I put into words what makes her an inspiration? I don’t know if I ever thought about how amazing and indispensable her life is to certain people. Obviously, I needed her in my life but there are other people that she has impacted and with no obligation whatsoever. In my opinion, to be a server is to help others with a humble heart, to think of yourself second, and to be perfectly fine “giving help invisibly and anonymously”. My mom is a server. From cutting my great-grandmother’s toe nails to cooking meals for needy families to helping an elderly woman clean her house every week. She does it and she doesn’t get the recognition she should for it. The thing is that I don’t think she needs or wants recognition. Perhaps the quote above is correct. Perhaps this is how actual pleasure is derived. All I know is that I can only aspire to be like that. We all can only aspire to be like that.

15 Memories

Christmas has been on my mind a lot lately, since I found out I am going home and after watching Elf the other night with my family, I wrote a list of my 15 best Christmas Memories...

15. Danielle Manfred and I were some crazy girls. We always came up with the most ridiculous ideas but the Christmas of eighth grade may have topped them all. With the permission of the principal and the help of a few other friends, we dressed up as Santa (yeah that was me), elves, and reindeer. We visited all the other classrooms handing out candycanes and wishing everyone a merry christmas. Come to think of it, perhaps it was wearing that big white beard that triggered my obsession with wearing artificial facial hair.

14. I awoke with a start in the middle of one Christmas Eve night. In the doorway to my room was what appeared to be part of Santa´s coat. It was not moving but I only had to take one look at it to realize that I could ruin my chances of getting any presents. It was a torturous night with little sleep, only to realize in the morning that what I had seen was part of a decoration. I will always remember that night because I was really scared Santa would put me on the naughty list for being awake in bed.

13. Bridget, of course, had decorated her tree with pink and purple ornaments. It was sophmore year and Bridget was still living in the magical Alden Park Apartment Complex. There was something so serene about that night with all the candles lit, a fire in the fireplace, and the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. We watched a movie and giggled about ¨elevator boy¨but it was no ordinary night. It was the first night that I began to feel at home in Philadelphia.

12. Tara and I ran into the living room at the crack of dawn and there it was... our first set of wheels. A shiny red jeep wrangler with a huge eagle decal across the hood. It wasn´t your average ¨Barbie Dreamcar¨ but we weren´t your average little girls. Man we loved driving that thing around- I think we felt like it gave us some kind of freedom, even though it never left the backyard and our mom always made us wear helmets.

11. I don´t think we will ever get tired of watching a helicopter lift baby Jesus from the manger scene. Mr. Bean´s Christmas is a much loved tradition at Mommom and Grumps´house. I´m not sure what I would do if we stopped watching it, even though I know that movie like the back of my hand.

10. I was in such a rush that I didn´t even have time to drink some of the ¨Mel´s magical punch¨before I was shoved up the the kareoke machine. Of course, I still had to put on a great show and I pretty much blew all my beloved coworkers away with my rendition of Janis Joplin´s Piece of My Heart. Since every other year I was still at college, this was the one and only Haag´s Christmas Party that I ever made it to. That place and those people will always have a ¨piece of my heart¨. Sorry that was corny, I know.

9. In front of me sits a plate with a giant beligian waffle topped with mounds of delicious strawberries and whipped cream. I am sitting around a table at Arner´s surrounded by a group of my most ¨fabulous¨friends (Tara, Jamie, Felicia, and Susan). Christmas Eve breakfast with the five is becoming a much cherished tradition.

8. At first, it seemed like this day would go down in history as one of my least favorite, although I had gotten my wish for a white Christmas. It snowed so much on Christmas Eve that we were unable to drive to Aunt Heather´s house for lunch and the electricity had gone out. We ended up spending a quiet day at home huddled around the woodstove listening to Dad´s jazz tapes. Normally, this drives me insane but now I can look at it as quality time I may never again have with my amazing family.

7. The Pagoda always flashes to signify that Santa has been spotted flying over Reading, Pennsylvania. Every Christmas Eve Tara, JD, Katie, Aunt Rose, and I set out to catch a glimpse of the once-a-year phenomenon. One very exciting year, we made a pitstop in the WalMart parking lot where Aunt Rose let me drive her car for the first time. My mom never found out (until now when she reads this blog, of course). I guess that was part of the excitement, too.

6. I am so lucky that my house only lies 10 minutes from the most amazing Christmas display in the world... that´s right, Christmas Village is right there in my backyard. It´s actually quite a site to behold; thousands and thousands of lights and figurines, scenes of Santa in the jungle and a peacock in a cage. We didn´t go every year because my family didn´t really have the money for it but we used to drive up over the hill to look at the lights from above (which is actually the best view of it). Anyway, there is one particular year that I remember going. It was such a long time ago that it is hard to remember details but, if I´m right, I went with my sister and my dad because my mom was feeling sick. I was awestruck and I remember buying an ornament as a surprise for my mom. It was moments like that that make me realize how lucky we were to have such a great dad.

5. I finally had evidence that Santa was real. Every year we put out milk and cookies but one year we should include something for Rudolph. That night we left a carrot on the table, too and we awoke to find a half eatten carrot in front of the house. I really do miss the magic in believing.

4. For our first time going to New York City, Nanny and Grandad sure did it right. It was the perfect time of year to visit the city (right before Christmas). We slept in a fancy old hotel, took a carriage ride through Central Park, went ice skating in Rockefeller Center, and visited FAO Schwartz (the world´s largest toy store). We even saw Cats on Broadway. I will remember that trip for the rest of my life.

3. If you have never played Now You Have It, Now You Don´t, you do not know what you are missing. Throughout the year, Mommom collects enough random objects for my entire crazy family to play about three hilarious games. There is nothing like watching Grumps and Walt fight over a pair of women´s dress socks or Mom and Taylor arguing about who has a better use for pot holders. Gosh do I have a great family or what!?

2. Some may wonder why this memory is all the way here at number 2. Compared to others, it sounds relatively insignificant but it warms my heart to think about it. I can remember my mom turning on the old radio (which was also a record player) and tuning it until we could hear Paul Harvey´s voice. Tara and I were trembling with excitement that Christmas Eve night as he announced that Santa had been spotted flying over Reading. It felt so real!!

1. We were all under the impression that it was going to be the last Christmas in that house, which put a little bit of a damper on the mood. Just as we thought all of the presents had been openned, Grandad came out holding three small boxes. He then began to explain that, before Nanny died, they had planned that one Christmas Grandad would give each of the grandaughters a ring. Each ring had a story behind it (because these were the very same rings that we used to take out of Nanny´s desk drawer and admire when we were younger) and they had a reason for deciding why each of us got the ring we did. Of course we were all in tears by the end of the night. Part of my ring actually belonged to my great-grandmother and Nanny had it altered. It was a gorgeous antique diamond ring and, regardless of the value (which I am sure is very great), it is the best Christmas present I have ever gotten.

Mental Pictures

Today, I went to the beach with my family to go clam digging... Yes, I dug up two clams and a whole lot of crabs that kept freaking me out. So, I quit. The real story is that, upon arriving to the beach, we found about 20 guys pulling on two huge ropes. My host dad, brother, and cousin immediately jumped into help. I was not expecting it but in came a huge net full of about two thousand fish. I felt like I was in a bible school story or something. I´ve never seen anything like it and I didn´t even have my camera with me to get the evidence. There were even a few seals that came in pretty close to the net for some food. It was pretty incredible and sad all at the same time because I stood there and watched them all flopping around dying. The guys appreciated my family´s help so much that they gave us like 20 fish of our own.... Which I suppose means I´ll be eating fish all week. ¨At least its not guinea pig. At least its not guinea pig.¨

Somewhere You Feel Free

You belong among the wildflowers
You belong in a boat out at sea
You belong with your love on your arm
You belong somewhere you feel free
-my favorite Tom Petty song

I was thinking about my journey home for Christmas and realized that this will be my first time traveling so far by myself. Immediately, I was overcome with the fear that something awful could happen but, the more I thought about things, the more I realized that I have been alone for over 4 months now. Most of the time, I don’t feel alone. On this crazy Peace Corps journey (that in reality has only just begun) I have made some new friends. I want to say that my experience with friend-making, though, has been a little bit different than everyone else’s. I didn’t get very close to anyone during training. Don’t get me wrong, I went through training with 37 of the most amazing people I have ever met. I just didn’t feel like I fit in very well. Making friends has never been my forte and, just like in college, it has taken me time to find my niche. I don’t want to get ahead of myself but I think I’ve found it. The volunteers that I’ve ended up with in Arequipa are amazing. Keeping friends, however, IS my forte and I think I want to keep these ones for a long time.

My sister and I went to an Armonia 10 concert the other night. They are a Peruvian cumbia band and they sing one of the few songs I can actually recognize on the radio (hasta seis en la manana). From the very beginning, the guys on stage had me targeted. After throwing posters into the crowd, they specifically had someone give me one and kept pointing me out as the girl in the hat. My sister, cousin (more like the age of an uncle), and I kept putting up 6 fingers so that they would play our song but apparently you need to write down song requests with your name for them to actually play them. My cousin handed in a paper with our names and the song on it and I immediately regretted letting him do that. From then on every song was dedicated to me… “Melody, baby, this is for you!” or “Melody, I am crazy for you, baby!” they would shout in English. Among the crowd were students I work with from the high school, teachers, and doctors from the health center. Besides standing out with my whiteness, I can’t think of any other reason for becoming such a sensation. Don’t get me wrong, though, I think the whole situation was pretty hilarious. It takes much more than that to get me embarrassed.

I get to dress up for Halloween this year!! I didn’t think I was going to get to and I think I gave everyone a heart attack with my crazy reaction when I found out. It turns out the regional meeting is the day after Halloween. So, we are going to go out in the city that night. I don’t know what I am going to be yet. I think my costume options are a little bit limited here without a Goodwill or Salvation Army. I wish I had brought my pink, puffy prom dress with me to Peru. I can use that for any occasion. It was such a good buy.

And about Christmas, it feels surreal. I don’t think its going to hit me that I’m going home until I step off of the plane in Philadelphia.

Wednesday Adventure

Feeling rather amibitious this morning, I headed out on a journey in search of a secret beach. I had been hearing (from multiple people) about a beach that I could find at the end of a long path which starts at the big white Jesus on the mountain. I set out with high hopes, wandering through a desolate ¨ghost town¨of woven shacks along the side of the cliff above La Punta. As it turns out, these mountains above me are literally a desert. I walked for about an hour with a view of the ocean to my right and a full blown desert to my left. This was my first time walking through sand dunes. I can now understand why people go insane alone in the desert. It makes you feel small and insignificant and it never feels like you are making any progress. I know these are sad words from someone who someday hopes to thru hike the AT but I find it much more enjoyable walking on a path surrounded by trees. I never made it to the beach and, in fact, I am not even sure that this path leads to a beach. It looks like it only goes farther and farther into an endless desert with no hopes of connecting with the coast. I think perhaps I will try walking along the base of the cliff next time. That was my first time walking for hours without encountering another person in Peru. It did feel good to be alone.

Sometimes, I like to feel like we did in Japan. Meaning that, it feels good to know that your legs can take you just about anywhere.

I´ll Be Home For...

Christmas.

It was just approved by my country director and I purchased my tickets today!!

Such great news.

Weekend in the City

I just had a delightful meal at Burger King and I am in the company of friends. I feel pretty alright right now. Pretty alright.

Santa Maria of Something

You´re never too old to become younger.
-Mae West

I´ve been dancing around town in a fabulous outfit of every color and pattern imaginable. This is a week of fiestas, not much different than any other week in Peru. There are always fiestas. This week we are celebrating Mary. I´m not sure which one. Apparently, in the Catholic Church, there are quite a few versions of the same people.

Yesterday, the whole school was sitting in the church and they started singing this song with the same tune as Bob Dylan´s Blowin´in the Wind. Which is quite possible, as I have just researched, that the tune could be borrowed from Dylan, which he borrowed from an old slave song. Who knew? Either way... I sang it in my head instead of worshiping Mary. Catholocism in Spanish is hard to follow.

I´m about to leave for Mollendo to meet up with Kelly.
I hope we find something good to eat.

Peace Out.

Everything

I have become obsessed with knitting, one of many new hobbies I´ve decided to try.

I don´t know if this could be considered a problem, but I want to...

be everywhere.
see every place.
have every hobby.
study everything.
meet everyone.

I want to experience it all.

Also, I´ve decided to add Visit the 7 new wonders of the world to my list which include...
The Great Wall of China, China
Petra, Jordan
Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
Machu Pichu, Peru
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Roman Colosseum, Italy
Taj Mahal, India
Great Pyramid, Egypt (honorary candidate)

Just Another Monday Night

Actually, I wish it was just another Monday night. I miss them. Right now I would be going to my yoga class at LA Fitness (I really miss that gym considering what I have to work with here). Jenn would always be there, too. We would meet up after our workouts and hang out in the pool and hot tub till we were good and wrinkly. Afterwards, we´d grab some food and head over to her house to watch movies and chat. I would like to spend just one more Monday night doing that.

Quick Announcement

I, finally, have an address for everyone who´s been asking...

Melody Turner/Cuerpo de Paz
Casilla Postal 84
Arequipa, Peru

It´s that easy.

I´m in the city and I´m spending the night. So for anyone expecting phone calls, you´ll have to wait till tomorrow night. I´m finally gonna see Batman in english!! Love you all and miss you tons.

In a Room of Yellow

A fellow volunteer proposed an activity with our youth group that required us to fold a piece of paper into 3 parts. He told us to write love, like, and hate in each of the sections and, below them, to write the things in our lives that fit into those categories. He, then, had us fold the paper so that only the lists of love and hate were visible. “These are the things you should write about,” he explained.

It’s true. As much as I like Mountain Dew and soccer, they don’t make for as good of a story as a passionate love affair or a bitter dispute. I am keeping this in mind as I finally sit down to start the novel I have talked so much about writing. It seems to me that I will have no problem coming up with insanely interesting material from that which I call my life. I’m thinking of calling it In a Room of Yellow. I joked about how I am living in a room that is completely yellow inside a house that is completely yellow, with Bridget the other day, and so came this name.

I have the paper out that I wrote all my ideas on during church one day, all the chapters of my life; funny times, serious times, sad times, happy times, ridiculous times, memories that are almost forgotten, and things long ago that feel so recent they could’ve taken place only yesterday. I must’ve shown this to my mom, although I don’t remember, because there is a question scribbled down the side in her handwriting. Good question, Mom.

“What would you be if you didn’t go? If you stayed home, the easy way?”

I would’ve spent more than just one night curled up in a ball on the couch crying. I wouldn’t have put all my faith in God, like I did. I would’ve been open to apologies that I am too wise to listen to, today. I wouldn’t have met the rebound guy, as much as I didn’t believe him to be the rebound guy at the time. I wouldn’t have realized how much I love to travel and how much of the world I have yet to see. I wouldn’t have grown as close to my sister as I did on that fateful journey. I wouldn’t have had the guts to be right here right now. I would’ve settled for a boring life of safety because, truth be known, one trip changed my life forever.

On the back of the paper, is the church service that I had barely listened to while I was working out my thoughts. How ironic that the gist of the message was…

Recognition of God as Sovereign Lord brings peace.

It occurred to me, today, that the world is not standing still, while I am here for 2 years. I know it is fairly obvious, but people are growing older. Some people are growing old so fast that they may not even be there when I get back. This is the hardest part of being here. It’s not the culture shock or the fact that I have to learn a whole new language. It’s not the food I choke down or the giant workload I have awaiting me. It’s not being able to visit one of the most important people in my life before theirs comes to an end. I recommend not taking time with a loved one for granted before it is too late.

It has been a day of extreme emotional highs and lows… eating pizza next to the ocean with a grin I could not wipe off of my face and sobbing into the telephone on a long distant call to my mother. Such is life.

La Punta

My second night here, I was talking to Tara about how lonely I was feeling. I was saying that I really miss home and that I didn´t even feeling like trying to begin work. When I hung up the phone and walked into the living room, I was surprised to see my community partner sitting there. He was eager to discuss ideas for the future and plans for my week. It was a gift from God because since then I have been too busy to unpack, let alone think about being alone.

I have met all of the teachers and the director of the high school, attended a youth group meeting at the health post, and been introduced at a parent teacher meeting. I was invited to join the juniors and seniors on a field trip to the district capital to watch a soccer game. Afterwards, a few of the girls invited me to go running on the beach and we have plans to eat desserts and chat this afternoon. I had dinner with my extended family for my grandmother´s birthday on Friday and yesterday I went to a wedding.

The only down side is that I am having to exercise a great deal of patience with my new family. They are having a hard time allowing me my independence. Which, in turn, is making me feel trapped and overwhelmed. I´m sure, with time, we will work this out.

I got sunburn on my face... I think everyone liked me better when I was whiter. haha.

Here I Sit

in my site... After all that training, I´ve finally made it. I´m not going to lie, a part of me really wants to go back to the safety of Chaclacayo. It´s a scary thing to start all over again from scratch. I have a good family, though. I´m sitting next to my new host sister right now who also likes to use the internet. At least I won´t be coming here alone. I have a cell phone for the first time in 3 months. Its a strange feeling... and I have yet to really use it. I guess I didn´t make such close friends in training that I feel like I can call just to chat. It was quite a trek getting all of my crap here but I fell in love with Arequipa in the process. I really lucked out. This place is amazing.

I don´t have so much to say, yet. All I did today was unpack, watch the Sex in the City movie, and accompany my mom and sister to a dance class. Tomorrow is another day... I don´t even know where to start here!

I think my homesickness was a little bit magnified today.
I love you and miss you all!!

Last Bit of Training

Life right now is a bit crazy. All I can think is slideshow slideshow slideshow and these are my last couple days here. I suppose it keeps me from getting sad about leaving. I'm pretty sure, I'll be pulling an all-nighter tomorrow night. Maybe I'll do it just for old-times sake. Last night, we had a party at our APCD's apartment. We sat around and read a "fortune quote" and we really bonded. It was almost a surreal feeling of closeness that I've only ever felt a couple times before in my life. My quote...

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”
-Seneca

I haven't figured out how this applies to my life, yet.

I just had a really weird coincidence with Jesica. Someone started singing 2pac, Go On Keep Your Head Up on the bus last night and I told them about the memory I had involving that song... Jes and I were sitting in her car behind the old design studio right before one of our final crits. I was in shambles and so upset about something trivial (but horrendous to a person that has only slept 5 hours in 1 week). I was crying and, all of a sudden, that song came on the radio. I remember Jes saying, "Just listen to Tupac." haha. It was perfect timing. If you go on my myspace right now you will see that Jes just said she was telling Jeremy about the significance of that song and the day that it came on the radio. It's a funny world we live in.

It is going to be a big weekend.

Pray for them

I copied this from my sister´s blog on myspace. Hopefully, she doesn´t mind. It is a tragic thing that has happened to someone from my childhood. I feel a similar hurt to that which Tara expresses...

death
unfortunately, a text message at work today from kara has thrown me visciously into reality. and i cant help but to think about what was.
every once in a while something happens, good or bad, that causes me to think about when i was young. today i think about growing up with the kids in church. we were a small, tight knit group. our parents had play dates, we saw eachother in sunday school or childrens church, then finally (because it took us forever) got to jr high youth group. the days of melody and me, kelly and heather palmer, aimee kugel, austin hess, colt weiss, lindsay and brad mensch, and dj and zach innocent. by default according to our age and our circumstances, we were friends.
it's funny to think of the days when we were constantly together. and how far we've all come from sitting in Aimee's mom's sunday school class, or listening to Rosy and Bob teach in childrens church, or playing at dj and zach's dad's car dealership. all of us have gone through good times and trials, some of us have lost touch, others became closer throughout the years. most of us have let the friendships slip away throughout the years and settled into being mere acquaintences. however, we'll always have the memories (and pictures!) of our younger years, and they will always bring a smile to our faces. we will always have our childhoods to bring us together, and we will always know we can find a friend in eachother if we need it.
well, the point of my blog. last night we lost one of our own. dj innocent died in a motorcycle crash. i dont know the details, i simply got a text message stating the tragic event. i feel overwhelming sadness, especially for zach.. because i can sympathize so well. i can't imagine what i would be feeling if i lost melody. i cant imagine what karen is going through, to lose her oldest son at the young age of 22.
but we will always have the memories. whether it's the times of being crammed into a van together and me telling dj every time we pass a call box (every mile for the 150 mile or so trip), calling him at midnight on new years from new jersey just to yell into the phone, playing soccer after youth group, or writing notes during childrens church. nothing, not even death, can take away the memories.
please keep the innocent family in your prayers.
rest in peace dj

All You Need is Love

You have been my friend. That, in itself, is a tremendous thing. I wove webs for you because I liked you. After all, what’s a life anyway? We’re born, we live awhile, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.
-Charlotte, “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White

I remember my mom crying when she read this book to me and my sister. The truth is that we can all be inspired by the words of a fictional spider. Which tend to lead my thoughts toward the question: What is our purpose in life?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Matthew 22:37-40

Love is the answer
At least for most of the questions in my heart
Why are we here? And where do we go?
And how come it’s so hard?
-Jack Johnson

My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.
-Maya Angelou

Life is love.
Life is smiles.
Life is people.
Life is trials.
Life is not here to be wasted being mild.
-Brian Rowe

So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.
-Tuesdays with Morrie

Sometimes that mountain you’ve been climbing is just a grain of sand. And what you’ve been out there searching for forever is in your hands. And when you figure out love is all that matters after all, it sure makes everything else seem so small.
-Carrie Underwood

It is not that magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.
-Mother Theresa

They all say it a little bit differently but there is the same underlying concept of love in each quote, song, or excerpt. All of these people come from different backgrounds and have different belief systems but they manage to agree on the same very important thing- we are here to love each other.

As it is, my Peruvian life is a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions. It is when I am in the “valleys” that I need to remind myself of this. To be selfless is not to wallow in loneliness. It is to focus on showing love to others no matter your own situation.

And if you’ve never read Tuesdays with Morrie, I highly recommend it. There is definitely wisdom in years.

Much Love.

Washington Street

I've been informed that Mommom and Grumps are moving into a different house. It would be so unlike me to not write a nostalgic blog entry about all the memories we had there. So, here goes...

My Favorite Memories from Mommom and Grumps' House
-Playing Barbies in the black and white shag carpeted game room with the manly "Tammie" doll that, due to a lack of males, we used as a Ken
-Dressing up and putting on shows to entertain the adults (that time we impersonated everyone was such a hit)
-Summer days in the swimming pool (throwing detached barbie heads onto the beams overhead. Clearly, we were strange children)
-Eating celery and peanut butter
-Watching thunderstorms on the front porch swing
-The brown and white nativity scene that Mommom sets up on the chest near the front door every Christmas... and the boots that hang up the stairs
-Shoefly pie hiding in the old microwave
-All the nights that we had Tony's pizza set up on a card table in the middle of the kitchen... followed by someone blowing out candles on Mommom's famous chocolate cake
-Capturing ants on the brick driveway that we would try to keep in plastic butter containers but they always ended up dead
-Watching Anne of Green Gables on the old TV (her hair looked green even before she tried to dye it black)
-Playing Now You Have It, Now You Don't every Christmas and watching Mr. Bean even though we've all seen it a thousand times
-Grumps clearly falling asleep on his chair while we are watching a movie but claiming to be "resting his eyes"
-Throwing keys into the pool to dive for... and all the boxes of keys in general
-The magnificent, giant weed that grew in the bricks
-Grandma always watching her Gianni tape and Laurence Welk
-The scary set of stairs in the bathroom closet that led nowhere
-Bead hunting for the leftovers at the playground
-Feeling completely happy surrounded by the best family any girl could ask for

I'm sure that there are plenty more memories that I can't think of off the top of my head, but this list will suffice.

Much Love.

Dime porque lloras

Over the course of the average lifetime you meet a lot of people. Some of them stick with you through thick and thin. Some weave their way through your life and disappear forever. But once in awhile, someone comes along who earns a permanant place in your heart.
-The Wonder Years

First of all, Maureen is probably estatic that I used a Wonder Years quote... Afterall, she did force us to watch it all of final crit week (not that I minded). Also, you must know that every little thing is reminding me of people from home.

The reason I used this quote, and the same reason I cried last night, is because I am really going to have a hard time saying goodbye to my host family in Huascaran. I´ve only been living there for 2 months but they are amazing people. I can´t express in words how it feels to have people open their home to me like they have. I wish I could live with that family for the next two years. It´s almost harder to leave them than it was to leave my real family... only because there is not the promise of seeing them for the rest of my life. These are the people that will disappear forever except for in my heart.

On a happier note, my site is literally a paradise. I have huge rocky mountains, green fields, and a beach. I live in a town that has everything, not too far from a very accessible capital city, surrounded by rural farm country, with a very caring family and a supportive community. I spent the afternoon riding around in a car with the alcalde (local municiple officials) chewing on sugar cane and enjoying the surroundings. I´m not too far from the famous Machu Pichu or Lake Titicaca. There are horses to ride during summer on the beach! I´m a short ride away from Kelly, another volunteer (about 20 km). The tiny barrio nearby is known for alfajores (really fabulous cookies) and, for a coastal town, this place is really safe. Can someone pinch me?

Much love

Blessed

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Yesterday, I was given my site assignment for the next two years. For those of you who did not know, I was given an opportunity to voice my opinion on where I wanted to go. As usual, I was okay with anything and so I told my APCD that I could go anywhere and have absolutely nothing, if need be. As it turns out, I will be living on the beach for 2 years with a cell phone, internet, running water, and a toilet. I was willing to "rough it" but, instead, I was blessed with everything I could possibly dream of in a site. I've always wanted to live right at the shore. To be more specific, my site will be La Punta de Bombon in Arequipa. I am the southern-most volunteer in all of Peru which, sadly, makes me far far away from a good number of the people in our group. There are already a few people there from about a year ago, 6 of us from Peru 11 going there, and I am only about half an hour from another volunteer... So, I'm definitely not completely alone.

Tomorrow, I am leaving for a week to visit my capital city (Arequipa) and my site. So, I'll tell you a lot more about it when I know more about it. Also, I'll work on having some visual aids, too.

Just Plain Old...

Average.

Sometimes, I feel like I am not exceedingly good at anything. At the same time, though, I am not exceedingly bad at anything. I am average at everything; doomed to a future of ambiguous anonymity. Not that it's so awful.

Inspiration for your day:

Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow.
-Dorothy Thompson

I find out where my site is on Friday... I'm freaking out a little bit!

Rock Star

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to get a standing ovation after a kick-ass performace? I'm no singer, song writer, or musician and, therefore, assumed I would never experience such a thing. Last night, though, my friend Elizabeth and I were rock stars.

Today is the Peruvian Independence Day and yesterday was my host mom's birthday. The family went to Lima and we walked around in the Plaza de Armas. Only in Peru would they fill the entire fountain with Pisco (a Peruvian liquor) for everyone to drink. I have to wonder how many pigeons were drunk yesterday, too. Anyways, we had lunch at Norky's (the Peru KFC) and then we watched Wal E at the movie theater. It was a fabulous day and not 10 minutes after we got home, a couple of friends were knocking on my door wondering if I wanted to go out in Chosica with them. We ate dinner at a Chinese restaurant, ice cream down on the street, and we continued on to a hole-in-the-wall kareoke bar.

McDonald's Kareoke Bar, as it was named, was filled with tables full of people singing sappy spanish love songs and passing a microphone around so that no one would need to stand up in the front. There were about 15 of us that went and the other half of the table picked out some songs they wanted to sing. After about an hour, 10 of our group decided they were too tired to wait it out for their turn and went home. Which means that the rest of us were left to sing whatever english songs they had picked. The waitress handed Elizabeth and I microphones and we anxiously watched the screen to see Madonna's Like a Prayer appear, a song we both knew. To our credit, we did start off sitting in our chairs at the table but as the song continued, it was impossible to sit still. We got up and danced up and down the room. The people were going absolutely wild... It was as if we really were Madonna. Thank gosh Kelly got a video of it all. Maybe I can work on posting that on the Myspace.

Sometimes my life is ridiculously hilarious.

Much Love.

Filters

We were warned at Peace Corps Staging that we would enter our host countries wearing a filter and that, no matter what, we will never be able to competely take it off. Filters are the way you see the world based on where you grew up and how you have lived your life so far. All of us have filters that vary in differing degrees, some more alike than others. They used an example of colored sunglasses... A man comes from a place where everyone wheres blue sunglasses and he moves far away for a long time to a place where everyone wears yellow sunglasses. After awhile he says, ¨I no longer see the world as blue. I have changed filters and now I see green like everyone here.¨ He could never fully erase how his past effected him even though he, finally, could see with a different filter.

There are small children here that will beg for money everywhere; on the street, in stores, even restaurants. When I say small I mean maybe 7 years old and most of them do have parents who have sent them out to do this. You all still have perfectly blue filters and can see that this is incredibly wrong. In most cases, our filters have a negative effect on how we view other people and other cultures. In this case, I am worried that my rapidly greening blue filter is not seeing this situation as I normally would. All throughout field based training, we had these children begging us and I took my cues from the volunteers that have been here for awhile. I ignored them and it slowly became easier after a couple more tries. After all, we are volunteers and we don´t make money anyway, right?

Last night, a bunch of us went out for dinner in Chosica (about half youth development and half small business). Somehow, we ended up splitting the table directly in half with youth on one side and business on the other. At about the same time everyone was finishing up, a boy came to our table asking for money. He came to the youth development side first and, ironically, we all did our best to ignore this poor child. Although, I felt I should at least try to talk to this boy in my broken spanish, I did not and that makes me no better than anyone else. It was a business volunteer that, actually, tried to make friends with him (not by giving him money but by simply acknowledging his existence). I really don´t think the situation had an effect on anyone else quite like it did on me. We left the restaurant and walked around a bit. We bought ice cream and took funny pictures. The night went on for everyone but it stood still in my heart. Why am I here? Have I completely lost sight of that? That boy was ¨the Peruvian youth¨and am I not here to show them love? I need to stop focusing on the ¨bigger picture¨and start throwing the starfish in one at a time.

An old man walked up a shore littered with thousands of starfish, beached and dying after a storm. A young man was picking them up and flinging them back into the ocean. "Why do you bother?" the old man scoffed. "You're not saving enough to make a difference." The young man picked up another starfish and sent it spinning back to the water. "Made a difference to that one," he said.

Green Mountains!!

So, our bus didn´t fall off the edge of a cliff and here we are in Cajamarca. There were points throughout the journey, though, that I had my doubts we´d make it. The bus, in itself, was a magnificent experience... it was like first class (not that I would know what that is like). I had my first ¨altitude sickness¨ experience. I was super dizzy at first but now things are getting better. We´re up pretty high here and it looks amazing!

Patty and I are currently sitting in a sketchy internet cafe in the plaza. We have a hostel with hot water!! You have no idea how exciting that is! There are 10 of us here. Its strange being in a smaller group than usual.

I´ll try to update more as the week goes on and I´ll take tons of pictures. I love you and miss you all!

Melody

A Quick Little Something

So, here we are at the end the end of week 5. That puts us exactly half-way through training and time is flying by. Right now, we are preparing to depart for Field Based Training. I am going to Cajamarca (a mountainous department in the north of Peru) to observe the work of a few volunteers currently out there in the field. Hence the name field based training. I'm excited about getting to see a new beautiful place... I'm told there are hot springs there. Which is pretty exciting cause I've only ever gotten to put my feet in them before. Skinny dip in a hot spring is on my list of things to do before I die... Although, I'm not sure what the Peace Corps policy is on public nudity and it might make for an awkward situation with my fellow volunteers.

I've been selected to design the group's t-shirt... thank you design school. Good thing I used Photoshop like everyday. I'll post pictures of the design on myspace. Well, the design I have so far. Design projects are always in a state of transformation and the finished product is usually what you have when you run out of time. At least for me anyway, I am never fully satisfied. So, I'll be working on it right up to the deadline.

In general, I'm doing really well. I miss everyone (as usual). I'm not sick right now ((knock on wood)) and I feel overwhelmingly happy ((for no reason at all))

Adios dudes,
Melody

One Month

It's officially been one month since we made our way to this fascinating country. I had no idea what to be expecting and I must say things are turning out much better than I had ever anticipated. I'm really making friends with tons of new interesting people, Peruvians and volunteers alike. This is the ultimate "not knowing what will happen tomorrow" experience- which are most definitely my favorite. Also, this place is beautiful!! I spent a good hour just sitting in front of my house on Friday night trying to take it all in.

Friday was the 4th of July, as everyone knows. Peru 11 started the day off with some ridiculous field day games and HAMBURGERS!! Following the Peace Corps celebration, I went to a store called Plaza Vea with Erin, Marian, and Margaret. It's basically like Peru's WalMart... and it was a little bit of amazing! We bought stuff for the lunch we are making for all of our families today and I found a can of Mountain Dew for 2.95 soles (a crazy high price but well worth it). That night, there was a fiesta for Nicole's birthday here in Huascaran where I live. I felt so American with straightened hair and Mountain Dew... consider it a tribute to my country's independence.

Yesterday, we went to La Agraria again and learned about composte and more plant stuff. Having a garden like Mommom's is on my list of things to do before I die but I don't forsee that happening while I am here in Peru. I can't say all this stuff isn't interesting and it gives us a chance to be outside. After that Kelly, Nicole, Erin, and I went to Jockey Plaza (a mall that reminds me of home!) for lunch... and we were so tired that we went right home to sleep. I'm such an old lady these days with my 9pm bedtime!

Life is good here... I hope things are well at home too! I miss you all big time.

Peace out,
Melody

Romantic and Sustainable

It's a funny title, I know, and only the lovely design girls will understand the inside joke behind it. The reason I've used this particular joke as my title is because sustainablity is, apparently, an underlying theme in my life. We had an entire semester of sustainable design at good old Philly U. We learned about the importance of creating something that will sustain itself after you are no longer there... projects that use location, green energy, and recycled products to create a much healthier built environment. Here, sustainablity has the same basic methodology. We need to go into these communities and create programs that will remain functioning long after we are gone: self-sustaining programs. It's actually a great way to live life in general. It's one way a part of us can stay on this Earth long after we are gone.

The romantic part of the title does not hold much truth. The only relationships I have going on right now are secret ones. Most of you remember that I have secret boyfriends wherever I go... and its a secret because the guy has no idea. So, of course I have a secret Peace Corps boyfriend and he, of course, has no idea. It sounds a little creepy but I swear its just to be funny and I'm not actually a creepster!!

I have been spending quite a lot of time in Photoshop Land. How ironic considering I hated using it for all those crazy design projects. I'm actually thinking it might not be a bad idea to get my family to send me my portfolio stuff... maybe I've reached the point of motivation. Yet, I still have no idea what I'm going to do with myself after all this. Maybe, I will try this scary world of design out for a little while. Maybe, I'll go to grad school in Denver (I really liked Colorado). Maybe, I'll find some other crazy way to stay clear of a career path and travel the world. I do have two years to figure it out and search for inspiration.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. It will be my first time celebrating US Independence outside of the US. We do have some interesting festivities planned... fun little relay races, hamburgers (the highlight of the day), and I think there will be some musical entertainment. I can't say enough that I'm so lucky to be here with this group of people. Peru 11 is pretty much amazing. I am sad, though, to be missing out on the grand firework extravaganza of that which is the Shillington Community Days... first 4th of July without fireworks (they are my favorite!!) Enjoy them for me. Can you send sparklers in the mail?

The lover of fuegos artificiales,
Melody

Living Up To My Name

Yesterday, we went to an agricultural college to learn how to plant vegetables. It was interesting to spend the afternoon working in a field. When we were finished there, a group of us went into Lima to buy some guitars. Yes, I bought a guitar. No, I don't know how to play it. I do plan on learning in these 2 years, though... which is how I will be "living up to my name".

Randomly, after purchasing our guitars, we became emersed in a gay pride parade. It was crazy... tons of drag queens dancing on trucks, rainbow banners everywhere, and a giant vagina on top of a car. It took us forever to get back because there was traffic everywhere. The hilarity of this entire situation made this one of my favorite days here. I live for those moments.

Today, also, ranks high on the favorites list. My host mom really likes me now I think. We had a really long conversation the other night about our faith and she told me more about herself. We really bonded and so now she is trying to teach me to cook. A daunting task because, as most of you know, following a receipe is not my forte. Who forgets peanutbutter in peanutbutter blossom cookies and makes crumbly fudge? Yeah, that's me. So, we shall see if I become a master chef in these next couple months. After my cooking lesson, I went up on the roof to hang up my wet laundry. Believe it or not, this was actually my first time on the roof of my house here and I fell in love immediately. I now have a favorite spot here... where I fully intend on sitting in the evening to write journal entries and practice my newly devloping guitar skills.

The Next Top Chef,
Melody

The Sickness

It's been a rough couple of days. I offically got sick on Monday morning... Welcome to Peace Corps Peru. Ironically (or maybe not "ironically" based on the theory that there are no coincidences) I recieved a glorious package from home that very same morning. I was pretty much on an emotional rollercoaster all of Monday. Don't get me wrong, the package was very much appreciated but it made me miss home REAL BAD. Who could blame me for missing the people that filled that package with all those amazing things...

Sidewalk Chalk -Apparently, this is a staple in care packages from home sent to me. I do recall recieving some during final crit week at college and making the dean very unhappy with references to "design hell" scribbled all over the sidewalk

Inspirational Quotes from Mommom and Grumps- If you know me, you know I LOVE quotes. I have a book full of them and quotes given by loved ones mean even more than ones I've just found.

Scribbles from Skylynn- Cutest thing ever... enough said.

Crazy pictures of friends from long ago- Thanks Susan... I really wanted pictures of you, Feesh, and Megan looking all "pre-teen" haha

Letters from Feesh, Susan, Tara, and Mom- This needs no explaination. Everyone loves letters!

Season One of the Office- Favorite show ever! Thanks dudes. I watched it all on Tuesday when I spent the whole day in my bed.

Random CDs- Based on my last post, it's pretty obvious why this part was so important to me. Thanks for making me cry to Backstreet Boys and Kid Rock... it sounds sad when you don't know the memories behind them. Oh and Butterfly Kisses? Seriously?? This makes me cry at weddings nevermind alone in my room in Peru!

I'll leave you with a lovely "coincidence"...

quote from Mommom...
"Be careful of the words you speak. Make them soft and sweet. You never know from day to day. Which ones you'll have to eat."

and a postcard from Jenn...
"If you can't say anything nice- don't say anything at all." -Thumper from Bambi
"I encourage- like the Bible in the book of James (my favorite book)- to guard your tongue. As you face challenges know the importance of this valuable lesson." -Jenn

I've become a soft-spoken person in Peru and not by choice. Because of the language barrier, I need to think long and hard about what I want to say before it comes out of my mouth. Its definitely a whole new concept.

Much Love From the Southern Hemisphere,
Melody

For Serious

“Because a song can take you back instantly to a moment, a place, or even a person. No matter what else has changed in you or the world, that one song stays the same, just like that moment. Which is pretty amazing, when you actually think about it.”

It’s a quote I wrote down a year or so ago that Susan had in her profile. I don’t know who said it or where it came from. I do, however, know how true it is, especially for me. My name is Melody because my dad is a musician and has a deep love for good music. Maybe it’s a genetic trait. When I close my eyes and listen to an acoustic guitar, I am back to the age of 5. I’m laying on the couch in my living room and the sweet sound of my dad playing lulls me to sleep.

Bluegrass music takes me back to long family road trips in the Bronco towing our little Scottie trailer behind us. We drove past the plantations of the south, through the black hills of South Dakota, in the mountains of Montana, and the beautiful scenery in Wyoming. We took a coastal route north up to Prince Edward Island, Canada. We stopped at every Indian reservation we would pass and took every scenic path that lead to a waterfall or some other wonder of the natural world. Other kids took planes to vacation destinations with their families… not us. We were lucky even though we didn’t know it at the time.

Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and all the other jazz greats remind me of nights at Nanny and Grandad’s house. I hear Nanny singing the little yellow basket song like it was yesterday. I remember Dad and Grandad watching the PBS jazz series over and over again hoping that they would find something they had missed during previous viewings. Once again, I remember complaining about having to listen to such “uncool” music. I had no idea I’d look back on those times with such fond memories.

Punk rock. Of course, I’m thinking of the Spike… that fabulous invention credited to Jeen and Brett. A Christian punk rock venue in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It was at the Spike that I came to befriend quite a few local bands throughout my teenage years. My favorite bands no longer exist... Last Tuesday, Emberfall, and Torn Perfection (of course I couldn’t forget the boys’ band!) but the Spike is still going strong. It’s becoming the music of a whole new generation… of course, I’ll still show up whenever I get the chance.

Country music was the last two summers. Western World… a country western club we went to in Japan the summer of 2006 with our newly found Marine Corps friends. Yes, I did ride a mechanical bull for the first time in Japan. Then there was my zany post-graduation road trip with Tara and Jamie last summer, 2007. We listened to country music as I drove my little VW through the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky and down Rt. 40 to Nashville. Beautiful Nashville had live music in every bar and free concerts on the river… thinking about it puts a smile on my face.

((There’s nothing like keeping a tent in your trunk all the time. I spent like half the summer camping in various places.))

Rap music makes me think about Evelyn and Washington, NJ; trying to write our own rap songs inspired by Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Eve. It is sad but true. We were only 13.

Classic rock makes me think of my time spent with the ex-boyfriend… he was pretty much the biggest classic rock fan in the world. It makes me think of camping in the State Gamelands and driving all the way to Philly just to see Across the Universe. It makes me think of Friday nights at the drive-in movie theater, camp fires at Assateague, and the road trip to NC. I’m not a fan of the ex, anymore, but I am still a fan of the Beatles, CCR, Bob Dylan, the Stones, the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Lynard Skynard, Janis Joplin, and Eric Clapton.

Hip-hop and 80’s dance music represents many a night danced away throughout my college education… whether it be in Philly with the design girls or in the hometown with Kara. Dancing is the best stress-reliever… as we may have proved, going out with no sleep to subside the pain of so many all-nighters. I miss watching the crazy moves of Jes B and Wendee. I miss nights at the Pourhouse with Bridget, Maureen, Jesica Simpson (when we would force her), Angie, Melissa, Jamie, Amy, Megan, H-Bomb, and the architecture boys. Those were some darn good times.

90’s rock and Y102… the music of my childhood. We always had the radio on at Mommom and Grump’s pool. It makes me think of afternoons in the sun with Tara, Toni, Ashley, Taylor, Allisa, Aunt Heather, and my Mom. It makes me think of summer thunderstorms on the porch, swimming in the dark, popsicles, and Tony’s pizza.

Now, of course, salsa music will make me think of Peru and my new comrades here. I’ll look back on all the crazy dancing we did at these fiestas just like I’m looking back on all these other memories.

I don’t associate techno with anything. I don’t like it and I refuse to consider it music.

I wrote this whole thing because I heard Rock Me Amadeus playing today at a restaurant in Peru with my family. I laughed a little to myself. Bridget, Angie, Maureen, Alexa, Curt, Adam, and Ryan would understand the humor in it and its association to a game of Name That Tune we played one weekend at Woodloch Pines in the Pocono’s.

This is my tribute to the world of music… and a little glimpse into the love affair that I have with it. It’s random like everything else I write about.

I miss you all like whoa,
Melody

A Sunday of Reflection

I'm doing that thing I do sometimes, I'm missing home. I can't help but thinking that right now I'd be at C&C's with a bunch of people after church. Sunday's were pretty much my favorite. We'd hang out at Kara's or go over to the boys' house. Occasionally, we'd pass the time by going on a hike or driving a tractor (well that only happened once). I will, obviously, be alright... it's just one of those days.

I went to two fiestas this weekend. There are fiestas all the time here. One on Thursday night and another on Friday night. Dancing is pretty much my favorite... I love turning off my brain for a couple hours every now and then.

Yesterday, the group went into Lima. It was pretty fun, I suppose. I got to eat at Pizza Hut (I would say that was probably the highlight). We did get to see the ocean, at Miraflores, and beautifully colorful houses on the hillside behind the Palacio de Gobierno. Hopefully, I can get the pictures from people who had their camaras with them. I'm super tired these days so we came home pretty early and I fell asleep at like 8 haha. I'm fully aware of how lame it sounds to fall asleep at 8pm on a Saturday night. Definitely out of my character.

I think that people need to convince my parents to get an exchange student. I just feel the need to pay it forward in this situation.

Like I said, I miss you all very much!

Melody

My arm hurts

It hurts because I had to get a Typhoid vaccine today. No me gusta las vacunas. Today was rather dull. I'm used to having excitement everyday of the week and nothing happened. I'm super tired and I really want to eat a cheeseburger from McDonalds.

Interesting Fact: There aren't any stop signs here. Cars slow down and honk their horn at intersections and if their honk is unreturned they continue through. Its pretty dangerous.

Interesting Fact: My dog really hates me. I give him bologna in the morning and he still growls at me when I come home. I'm only trying to be his friend. I miss Hunter :(

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Hopefully something exciting happens tomorrow, so I have something good to write about.

Much love,
Melody

No Coincidences

I finished reading the Celestine Prophesy yesterday. This is a fiction book and I'm definitely finding it hard to believe it is based on facts. However, the general message of it is something I already believed... there are no coincidences in life. Everything happens for a reason. Everyone we meet serves a purpose in our lives and, likewise, we serve a purpose in theirs. For these past 2 years, I have lived my life day to day, completely present in every moment... soaking it all in. I've never felt so at peace.

The words "Everything happens for a reason" take me back to a time and a place in my past. Sobbing and curled up in the fetal postion on the couch in my parent's living room. I remember my mom saying this over and over again to me, while I layed there in her arms. This was my lowest of lows. At a person's lowest of lows, everything happens for a reason is never something you want to hear. Of course, it's the only thing that can be said (at a lowest of lows, that is). It's all a mother could say to a daughter with a broken heart ready to fly off to Japan.

Last night, I went to a fiesta for my friend's host mom's birthday. A bunch of other volunteers were there and one of the girls asked me why I was in Japan... Who hasn't heard the story that follows this question? It's pretty epic. Last night was the first night in a long time that I expressed just how far I've come in the past two years. It was the first time in a long time that I even thought about Brandon with any emotion.

"Coincidentally" today in a small store in Chosica with my host family, an all too familiar song came on the radio. (I tend to relate songs to moments in my life... as I'm sure a lot of other people do) I had two "break-up" songs, one being the bad day song by Daniel Powder. I actually bought that CD on the marine base in Japan. In addition to that, the song 3am by Anna Nalick is my other one. I must ask what the odds are that directly following the bad day song, 3am came on the radio in this tiny store in this obscure city in Peru. I was a little bit blown away. I am not sure what this sign pertains to. When i figure it out I'll let you all know.

I hiked to the top of the mountain behind my house today with a bunch of friends. I'm pretty sure that there is no place on this Earth that is not beautiful. This area is nothing more than piles of dirt and rocks, yet on that mountain it was beautiful. (I posted pictures on the myspace) There is beauty in everything and everyone, no matter how hard it is to see at first.

I ate pizza tonight... a sad representation of pizza, but pizza none the less.

Your bosom friend,
Melody

In a small internet cafe

Today was our mission impossible. I walked around all morning with my friend Erin trying to find a supermercado. Sadly, there are no supermercados in our town and we were faced with the grueling task of answering a trick question. We had fun and Erin thankfully speaks el español much better than i do. I´m killing time right now before our mission is over. Things are still going well here in Perú. I´m working really hard on my language skills and, hopefully, they are improving. My little hermana is the best! She is so cute and she is always excited to see me. I´m going to try to post my pictures but it takes forever here. When I do, I´ll take a picture of Diana so you all can see how cute she is for yourselves. Bridget´s comment on myspace makes me laugh... ¨You can take the girl out of design class but you can´t take the design class out of the girl.¨It is waay too true! I find myself uncontrollably talking about design related things. Maybe I will give design a shot when all this is done and overwith. Who knows. I´m liking where I´m at right now... Even though every other day I look around and wonder what in the hell I am doing here. I´m fully aware this is the adventure of a lifetime and I fully intend on enjoying it! Oh and I can´t put that Celestine Prophesy book down. It´s a good read regardless of how true it may or may not be. I miss you all very much!!

Señor Panda es mi amigo,
Melody Turner

First of Many

Here I am… in a Peru. It seems muy ridiculoso but I’m actually living here. I’m actually happy too. I miss home a lot but everyone here is very nice. I’m living with a family about 30 minutes outside of Lima in a small village. Our village is “quaint”. My house appears unfinished from the outside but inside it is clear that my mama cares about it very much. Everything is clean. We have electricity and running water… running water but the shower is freezing. The bathroom has tile, as does the kitchen. They have a computer and a television… All things we take for granted at home but they are rare commodities here in Peru.

My host mom’s name is Silvia and she is a 3rd grade history teacher. My host dad’s name is Jorge and he does electrical work. I have a 3 year old sister named Diana and an 18 year old brother that lives with his grandparents and is going to college to become a lawyer. He’s always here to visit though. My host uncle is here a lot too. He drives a truck for a living. I have been having intense conversations with him about US politics, our relationship to Puerto Rico, and spiritual energy at Matsu Pichu. (apparently its true, Evelyn) Oh and we have a little gato, named Mechito, that Diana carries around by the neck and tortures… Reminds me of the good old days with Ruby.

I wish I knew Spanish better. It is torturous trying to talk to everyone only in Spanish. I should’ve took Senora Roebuck’s class a little more seriously. A lot of the other volunteers speak Spanish really well. So, I’m feeling a little behind. They all studied it in college or studied abroad in Spain or Latin America. Either that or they grew up speaking it. It’s such an unfair advantage to adjusting in the culture. I’m usually good at learning stuff quickly… Hopefully I can catch up.
Speaking of the group, they are all amazing. I couldn’t ask to be down here with better people. Of course, you have to be a kindred spirit to do something this selfless with your life. It’s that feeling of friendship you get on a missions trip with people. There are 38 of us. 20 are youth development like me and 18 are small business development. (If you weren’t married to Ryan you could’ve come with me, Jamie!) There’s a guy from Allentown and another guy from New York that went to college at St. Joseph’s. We had a talk about how we could’ve both been out at the same time in Manayunk. Another guy is from the town in South Dakota where the Corn Palace is located. Thank gosh my Mom and Dad took us there instead of the Mall of America… It gives me something to talk to him about. He actually had his prom there. Haha. I’m not especially close with anyone in particular yet. You all know it takes time for the real me to come out. I give totally wrong first impressions.

Peru is beautiful. I’ve only seen a small part so far. I will upload my pictures on here for you all to enjoy. I have some pictures of Miami, too, because I ran off to South Beach with a couple guys from the group on our last night there. South Beach was pretty neat with all its Art Deco architecture going on and the ocean was sooo warm! We were only there for a couple hours… long enough for them to smoke some Cuban cigars and for me to enjoy the surroundings. (and the cigar smoke since I’m a second-hand addict) They totally had us spoiled in Miami.
I haven’t had to eat anything gross yet. I really like my host mom’s cooking. I keep stressing that I love chicken in hopes of never having to eat guinea pigs.

I miss you all very much. I listen to Brian Rowe and look at all my pictures from home and it make me sad to be so far away. All of Friday night I could only think about how I was missing Tom Petty. Saturday night, however, was a different story. We all went to the discoteca and danced the night away to salsa music. It was pretty amazing… one of my favorite nights in life.

Anyways, to summarize, Peru is great but will never compare to home. My real parents will always be my favorite and you guys will always be the most kindred of spirits in my heart. I can’t wait to hear from you! Much Love :)

Your favorite wanderer of the earth,
Melody