Q&A (Week 22)

Last week I asked people on Facebook and Instagram for a bunch of questions about Peru. Truth be told, I received way more questions than I expected, which makes me happy, but I also didn't get to them all. I'm sorry if yours is missing. I may need to do another sometime. Besides, if there is one thing I enjoy doing, it's answering questions… ;) Let's go!

1) "What is the biggest tarantella you have seen?"

THANKFULLY the only tarantella I've seen was a small dead one that a dog was playing with. I have had a handful of encounters with large spiders, but so far it hasn't been horrible.

2) "What snakes have you encountered?"

I haven't encountered any snakes yet, which is probably good. I'm not scared of snakes, especially if I know they're there. In fact, I tend to think they're really cool and love holding them. And yet, I have zero desire to be surprised by one.

3) "How has this experience specifically enriched your life for the better?"

I have had the opportunity to find myself again. I had lost nearly all of my usual zest for life and learning. Life was discouraging me far more than it was exciting me. Since being here, I've had the opportunity to breathe a little and remember that life isn't all about being stressed out. I had found myself scraping by with the bare minimum of what I had to do... which wasn't much of a minimum. I simply had no energy to challenge myself further. But that is changing. I find that if I learn something new, I get excited to study it more on my own. I'm slowly crawling out of survival mode and becoming my old self again.

4) "What is your favorite Peruvian food?"

My favorite Peruvian food is called Papa a la Huancaína. That would pronounced like papa-a-la-hwan-ka-eena. Traditionally, it is served on a lettuce bed with skinned and boiled potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and a couple olives. It is then covered in a thick and creamy pepper sauce that is sometimes spicy and sometimes not. I know how to make it here in Peru, but I'm still on the hunt for a good recipe that can be made in the States. As far as I know, the traditional pepper used doesn't exist back home.

5) "Is cooked banana good and how do you make it?"

So you see, I've never been a huge fan of normal bananas. I like them in smoothies, homemade ice-cream, and SOMETIMES fresh, but boiled bananas are something I will never get used to. I've learned by experience that both Peru and Brazil (and probably any country down in this neck of the woods) will sneak bananas and plantains into just about anything. There is a thick and clumpy plantain drink...of sorts...that is quite popular in Henrry and Laura's family. I'm afraid few of us American's have come round to liking it though. I have discovered that I enjoy plantain chips when they are fried from green plantains, but I have yet to appreciate them any other way.

6) What will you miss when you have to head back to the States?

The food! DEFINETELY the food. Peruvian cuisine can get very repetitive, but it's rarely not AMAZING! Plus, in the States I have several food sensitivities that make it hard for me to eat anything guilt free. Now, why this is, I'm not entirely sure, but in both the UK and Peru none of them bother me. I can eat as much soy, nut, beans, or dairy as I want and I'm fine as frog's hair... Because of this I have devoured the beans and nuts here, and I'm not looking forward to having to avoid them again.

7) Has being there changed your perspective or goal(s) in life?

Surprisingly not. Of course, I have learned a lot and found a much richer, broader understanding of life, but this experience has deepened my previous perspectives and goals more than it has changed them. I could expound further, but frankly I think I'd sound more confusing than clarifying. This would be great for a conversation.

8) "What are some of the cultural requirements and things you get to abide by while you are there?"

Culturally, except for the change of pace, Peru is similar. I grew up hearing stories of my parents experiences in China and expected that there would be lots of random things I'd need to be careful of, such as not showing the bottom of my foot to someone and being careful never to say 'no.' Where one of my freinds is SMing this year it's considered incredibly inapropriate to touch someone on their head. Another friend is living in a culture that finds it shameful to apologize. But, the more I understand Peru, the more I discover how similar it is to the United States.

We have a LOT more church servies here. That is, across the board, something you'll find in most of Latin America. On a typical week we have church or small group on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Wednesday evening, and Friday evening. Often though, we have special weeks where we have church every night of the week.

Also, people here tend to be pretty passive. If there is a conflict that needs to be addressed, they'll pass it to someone further up the line of authority instead of discussing it with you personally. Although, I'm not sure how much of this is across the board and how much depends on family dynamics. It is often hard to tell.

9) "Have you got lice yet?"

I sure have! It took a lot longer than I expected. I survived for four months without any sign of the little boogers. But yikes! While the experience has not been as bad as I expected, they are persistent creatures. They don't want to evacuate.

10) "Cómo sientes cuando regateas? How do you feel when you haggle?"

Good question! I'm not great at it. I tend to give in easier than I should, but I find it really fun. I always feel accomplished when I know I've made a fair bargain.

11) "Pensamientos sobre cuy? What are your thoughts on cuy?"

Cuy is a traditional dish mostly in the mountains and coastal region of Peru. It's... ginnea pig! I haven't tried it. I asked Henrry about it once and he said that it isn't common here in the jungle. I found a few places in Lima and Cusco that served it, but I decided to pass.

12) "How has being an SM affected your mental health?"

It's been a journey. Thankfully my doctor was willing to give me an 11 month prescription before I left because my medication isn't available down here and mailing medicine costs a lot in taxes. (The Peruvian border has no problem with opening packages to check inside. Most of my packages have been opened before they arrive. It's really fun when the ants find your treats before you even make it to the post office.) While I had two significant anxiety attacks near the beginning, my anxiety has actually gotten a lot better since arriving. Again, I credit it to a less stressful anvironment. My depression has been a different story. The last few weeks have been much better, but it was ROUGH for a while. I've had my two worst depressive drops since starting medication 2 1/2 years ago.

13) "Is your mission experience as hard as you thought it would be."

Some individual details have been easier than I was afraid. For example, I was dreading the cold showers, but in the heat, dust, and humidity those are AMAZING! Overall I'd say it's been harder than I had expected, and a lot of that has been due to my depression.

14) "What's the 'smallest' thing you've missed?"

The smallest thing I've missed? Hmmm. I'm not sure if this refers to actual size or in terms of tiny details. I'll answer both!

For size: I sooo miss my commplace book, aka my quote journal. I left it at home because it's leather and incredibly special to me. I didn't want it to get ruined or lost. Looking back, I regret that. I think it would have been perfectly fine here, and there have been several times that I wished I'd had it.

Tiny detail: So! It is really common to have toilets here with no seat lid. When we are out and about, we try to avoid public bathrooms at all costs. But sometimes... Ya just need a toilet, preferably one with a toilet lid and toilet paper IN THE STALL... you know? So you can cover the toilet lid?

15) "What's the best story by Papa Henrry?"

Hehe! I honestly ought to make a post soley dedicated to Papa Henrry funnies! One time I saw a decal of Johnny Depp on a semi truck that we passed. In a bit of surprise I exclaimed, "Hey! That's the dude from Pirates of the Caribbean! (Forgive me! Remembering famous people's names is not one of my many great qualities. ;))" Papa Henrry responded, "Yes! Johnny Depp lives here. Did you know that?" With a voice of pretend surprise I replied, "What!? You don't say?" Papa Henrry continued, "Yah! He lives over near Dos de Abril (a local church). He's a motocarrista. He makes his money driving people around Pucallpa. He only works at Hollywood in his free time."

Also, fun fact! Bill Gates used to live in Papa Henrry's house. Apparently he kept good care of it before it became Henrry's.

16) "What's something about Peru we most likely don't know?"

Peru has over 3,800 varieties of potatoes. Crazy stuff, huh!?

Well, my pockets may be empty, but yours should be quite full!

Thanks for tagging along!

~TBS~