Some photos...but they take sooo long to load!

Isak, my favorite second grader! Never seen him without that grin on his face

Harvesting corn in the chacra with my grandma...(the lady laying down by the red sack), her sister (the lady next to her), my host mom (blue shirt), and the people hired to help out with the "cosecha"

Swine Flu

It has been determined that swine flu thrives in cold places, and thus all children in town have been prohibited from consuming popsicles. HA!

La Granja Porcon

La Granja Porcon is a coop community outside Cajamarca that attracts many tourists (mainly for its zoo).  Its inhabitants do not pay for food, electricity or water.  Most dedicate themselves to weaving, carpentry, and the production of dairy products.  They still dress very traditionally and are strict Evangelicals.  There is no alcohol or dancing allowed in Porcon.  I went to visit last month.  Here are some photos:

Wool waiting to be dyed

Dying the wool

Making fertilizer

They let you get really close to the animals in the zoo

Me overlooking the town

More photos will be posted to my facebook account...

Photos from Computer Class

Playing Simon Says

This is a video of my 4th grade class playing Simon says...except we say "Patty says"

Video from my English Class

Aren't they cute?  I never got them to actually sing it but they sure are proud of this song and beg me each week to let them sing.  I don't always feel like I'm getting anywhere with my English class but students certainly have dominated the parts of the body.

Some Quick updates..

I have been busy this past month.  I ran a half marathon in Pacasmayo, traveled to Lima to take care of some funky skin disease that's been plaguing me, worked at a girl's leadership camp, and had a week-long training session with the newly arrived volunteers (10 trainees, 2 trainers, and 4 volunteers all came to my site).

Running the half marathon was...interesting.  I have never been much of a runner so motivating myself to train for a 13-miler took a lot of discipline.  It was difficult to run in site because of all the dogs, the hot sun, and the altitude.  Fortunately on race day I didn't die and crossed the finish line still running, albeit slowly but running nevertheless--slow and steady wins the race (I didn't actually win, but completing the 13 miles without walking was a personal victory).

The new trainees are amazingggg.  Their sites will be announced next week and I cannot wait to find out who will be placed in Cajamarca.  I know they will all make fantastic volunteers.

Back in training I wrote a blog entry about how much I hate Lima.  That is no longer the case.  It has many charms and is slowly growing on me.  I have 5 days of vacation coming up at the end of the month for independence day and I plan to spend them exploring Lima with my friend Kat.

Kat and I celebrating the end of the Marathon

Kids from the preschool dancing for the dia del maestro

My girls at Camp ALMA, the 3 day leadership camp for adolescent girls that we held in Cajamarca