So I’ve been noticing lately the difference in how people treat each other.  I’ve decided that perhaps there is something to be studied here.  From customer service to driving, from riding the bus to walking down the street, lets face it; we’re going to have to interact with each other.  I believe that each interaction is an opportunity to, at least, improve someone’s day at, on some level, improve the fabric of society.  I’m going to start this study with the simple act of saying please and thank you.

 

First, how hard is it to say these words.  “Please” – it’s one syllable, takes about half a second and doesn’t hurt at all.  You don’t even have to make your tongue do anything strange.  And how much does this simple word make a difference?  It’s incredible really.  Let’s try it shall we: “hand me my towel” vs. “hand me my towel, please.”  Very similar phrases, yet the first implies an order and the second implies gratitude and a realization that this person did not have to hand you the towel.  Granted, most times when you’re asking for a towel you would be on close terms with a person and may not need to say please but why not. 

 

Thank you is even better.  OK, it is two words and two syllables and takes maybe a full second to spit out, but man is it valuable.  It should be mandatory for people to say after anyone does anything for you.  From moving out of your way to picking you up at the airport.  It simply acknowledges that other person has acknowledged your existence and altered their existence in favor of yours.

 

Now some may say that if we say these things all the time that it will dilute the meaning.  I say that if you mean these words, that meaning will come across.  You don’t have to grab someone by the shoulders, look them in the eye, tell them thank you, and then hug them if they just passed you the ketchup, but a simple thanks is certainly in order.

 

 I work with a lady who never says please or thank you.  It kills me.  After two years of working with her I almost don’t want to lift a finger for her cause it seems like she demands everything and appreciates nothing.  In fact, some days it makes me want to undo some of the things I’ve done just for the opportunity to glean some gratitude from her.  It makes the work environment stressful and I believe is at the same time the cause and symptom of more serious problems.  Our work place would be a more unified and caring environment if she would simply say “thanks” once in a while.

 

This philosophy can extend to our neighbors, the coffee girl, other people in traffic, and makes a large difference for a small effort.  If we all treat each other as equals on this planet and with some respect, that respect will grow into caring and if we all cared about each other, there is nothing we wouldn’t do for each other and therefore we could accomplish anything.

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Í´m currently waiting for a collectivo to take me from Tarapoto to Yurimaguas.  A collectivo is a car or van that waits until it is full before it takes off.  These are a very cheap way to get around but one has to be flexible.  So I´m sitting here sweating.  Its hot.  Wet hot like you want to jungle to be.  Like you want the jungle to be until your about to spend 2+ hours in a cramped van that is.  The good news is, now that they´ve paved the road, the trip only takes 2+ hours as opposed to the 8 it used to take.

Once we arrive in Yurimaguas I will have to arrange a cargo barge to transport me down the amazon to Iquitos.  I´ve purchased my hammock and mosquito net here in Tarapoto because they are cheaper here.  The trip should take anywhere from 3-5 days depending on the water levels and God only knows what else.  I imagine lazily floating down the Amazon while eating bananas and watching monkeys.  I have a feeling I may be sweating while hiding under my mosquito net for 4 days.  Either way it should be an interesting story...

So I recently realized that it might be interesting to relate a typical day here in Huanchaco Peru.  I have settled into a bit of a routine and it goes a little sothing like this:

I wake up about 7:00 am on weekdays.  That's right 7:00am, and you people thought I was just relaxing this whole time.  I don't take a shower in the morning because it is ussually pretty chilly until the sun is all the way up and the trip from my room to the shower is outside - I learned its better to shower later in the day.  So after some freshening up, I'm off to my favorite coffee place (except on Mondays when its closed) and I get the best coffee available at 7:30am in Huanchaco.  It cost 3 soles (about $1) which is rather expensive considering you can get a whole meal up the street for 5 soles but its worth it to me in the morning.  Then I walk up the street and sit about a block away from the school and review the lesson plan for the day.  Some of the older kids I teach usually join me and we chat in broken Spanish before its time to start school.  I teach two onw hour classes with anywhere between 12-16 kids with my friend Trish and then we are off to get breakfast at one of our favorite places.

During breakfast we gossip a bit and tend to run into to other friends as they start their days.  This is when we do a little planning for the day.  No one has cell phones so we have to make plans when we see each other and set times to meet later.  After breakfast, its off to the internet place to catch up for a bit.  Once I've finished at the internet its back home to sit ont he stairs and whatch life go by until lunch which is usually served around 1:30 and normally quite hearty as it is the main meal of the day and consists of rice or pasta with vegetable and a hunk of meat.  After lunch there is a lull until anywhere from three to four when its time to surf.  We'll surf until anywhere between 5 - 6 when its time for a shower. 

The weeknight evening are generally pretty calm.  We'll cook at the volunteer house or watch movies st ours.  Sometimes we'll head out to the local pub, Sabes Bar, or maybe grab a burger at Mamacha (seriously one of the best burgers I've ever had!)

There is some slight deviation lately as I have been helping with a conversation class in Trujillo (about 45 minutes and $0.50 away by bus) on Mondays and Wednesdays.  These calsses are from 6:30 - 8 and we'll generally grab a bite to eat after.

So there ya have it - Life in Huanchaco, Peru.  Strange how a day can fill up and pass by even though there is nothing really going on.  This town is so laid back that I often have a hard time remembering what it was that I would be so upset about back at home when I caught in traffic trying to rush from point A to point B.  Strangely enough, I do feel "busy" here but not that kind of busy that turns your stomach.  Its more of a busy that keeps you moving from one step to the next.

It´s strange how a battle with a cold, some diarrhea and a self diagnosed sinus infection can take a little of the romance out of a place.  Now, don´t get me wrong, I´m enjoying every minute of this adventure but at the same time, it sure is more enjoyable when I´m at full speed.  I think I´m on the tail end of this little struggle with sickness and after it I should be back to my normal hyper self.  For the time being however, I am skipping the surfing today and opting for a little blogging and I´ll be going to bed early yet again in the hopes that I wake up feeling normal. 

Its also strange how bad my spelling gets when Word thinks I should be writing in Spanish.

So I really did come here to volunteer and teach English.  No really, I did.  It was a total coincidence that this happens to be a surfing mecca.  I found out after the fact from some friends who are surfers and who were completely digusted by my lack of knowledge of how lucky I was or how excited I should be.  And how was I supposed to know the school where I will be teaching would be on vacation the fist week I'm here?

That said, we took a trip to Chicama yesterday.  Chicama, I've come to find, is world famous for having the worlds longest left beaking wave.  Sometimes up to 2 kilometers.  Yesterday we packed 13 of us into the van you see above, stapped surf boards to the top and drove the hour or so to see for ourselves. 

It wasn't a 2 kilometer day at Chicama, which requires absolutely perfect conditions to get that long, but it was an easy 150 yards which is pretty amazing.  The waves looked like they were generated by a machine and peeled off all the way down the beach.  We walked up about half a kilometer where we got in the water and surfed back catching wave after wave.  All you had to do was start paddling as the wave slowly approached you.  I only wish I was a better surfer in order to truly appreciate it.  When you got too far down the beach you simply got out and walked back to where you started and we did laps in this fashion.

So, like I said, I really did come to volunteer, but you can't fault me for having a little fun on the side right?

I can't figure out why I have such bad taste in clothes when I travel.  I bought a pair of capri pants when I was in Whistler once and this time I bought some flashy jacket when all I wanted was a hooded sweatshirt.  What is it about being out of the country that causes me to buy these strange items? 

After wandering around Lima, I hopped the bus and slept most of the way.  Sadly, there were no chickens on the bus but you can´t have everything I suppose.  I arrived and was promptly wisked away by the taxi that Peter from Otra Cosa, the volunteer agency, had arranged.  I was brought to his house and then Peter came with me to the place I would stay. 

The Urcia family consists of Senior Urcia, a fisherman and very gracious host, his wife Rosie, a wonderful cook, their three sons, all top surfers in Peru, and their 6 year old daughter, a future world class surfer to be sure.  The downstairs is their house/surf shop.  Upstairs, thay have built about 5 rooms where the two oldest sons live along with an ever rotating cast of travellers and volunteers.  Somehow, I managed to get the room in front that has a small window with a view of the beach about 100 yards away.  We all share two bathrooms, one with an electric water heater that may or may not shock me at some point, the other with cold water. 

As far as volunteering goes, I’m looking forward to it but I’m scared.  We visited the school yesterday and the children were very excited.  Another volunteer and I will teach two one hour classes of 15 students four days a week.  I really think it will be fun and hopefully rewarding for all involved.  I may also get involved with a zoo that is about two hours away by bus.  I think I will at least pay a visit.  I fear it may be a little too much for me to handle because I´m a softy but if I can help somehow I think I should.  We´ll see.

Beyond teaching english there is learning Spanish and surfing.  Learning Spanish happens with everyday interactions as it is the common language between the Dutch, Swiss, Japanese, and Peruvian friends I have made.  On the way here I thought about how cool it is that an American and a guy from Sweden were conversing in Spanish on a beach in Peru.  Beyond the everyday interaction I am working with one of the sons of the family where I´m staying.  He speaks a little English and we´ve decided to help each other.  On top of that I plan to take lessons from a local instructor to make the most of my time here.

Which leaves surfing.  The break is 100 yards in front of where I stay.  I can see it from my window.  I’ve arranged a long term rental deal with the Urcia family and my goal is to go every day and so far I’m three for three.  The water is cold so we wear full wet suits but it’s not as cold as home.  The first day I got cocky and took out a smaller board than I should have.  Lets just say I got taught a lesson and went in early.  Day two went better on a longer board and as I sit here my shoulders are sore from paddling.  After surfing, we stagger back to the house and wash the sand off.  Not bad.

So, I’m in Peru.  So far I´ve settled in quite well.  Mostly I think becuase of how warm and welcoming everyone has been.  The family I am staying with is very nice as are the three other people staying with them.  Strange how it seems that anywhere, no matter how exotic, simply becomes home once the basic needs as shelter and friendship are covered.  I suppose if I had brought a hat, I would hang it here for the time being.  Although I may freak out if I don´t figure out how to get a decent cup of coffee around here but I´m working on that.  Don´t they grow a whole bunch around here somewhere…?

Anyway the story goes like this: I flew in to Lima and was greated by Harold, the son of Ana, the owner of Casa Ana.  Turns out Harold studies computer science and speaks great English.  I felt right at home and fell right to sleep as it was about 1:30AM by the time I was situated.  The next day, or technically later that same day, I would hop a bus for the eight hour ride to Trujillo.

The next morning I started early to maximize my 9 hours in Lima before the bus ride.  Aside from eating a few random things, some potato and egg concoction from a lady on the street, a lomo empenada, and a churro filled with carmel (!!).  I mostly wandered around aimlessly.  I’m not sure why but I wasn’t in the mood to see all the touristy things.  Maybe because I didn’t come here for that but the churches and museums just weren’t doing for me.  That said, I did manage to find the Catacombs under the San Fransisco Monestary that my friend told me about.  I attached myself to a group and got the tour, the hightlight of which is the catacombs where there were lots and lots of human bones.  I mean lots, like 25 thousand people were buried here.  I think someone in my group said it best when they said “this would be a great place for a halloween party”.  I’ll just say its wierd to see human skulls.