Last Mango in Lima

Having moved 32 times in my 63 years, I've gotten good at saying Good-Bye. Behind every Good-Bye is a new Hello, just waiting to happen. And thanks to email and Facebook and Skype, It is rarely a true Good-Bye, just Until We Meet Again. Good-Bye does not mean loss to me, but celebration of the experience that will always be a part of me.

Still, with just a few days before I end my Peace Corps service in Peru, my farewell visits in Buenos Aires and San Luis were tearful and heartfelt. The unique way that PCVs are embedded and integrated into their communities, means not only that we can be more effective, but that we experience some loss on departure.

Peace Corps service has been a great and full adventure – one of my best. The places visited, projects completed, friendships made – I hold them all dear.

In these final days in Peru, memories of people and places have come welling up, waves of gratitude and appreciation flood my heart. I give especially heartfelt THANKS to:
My host family during training, who nurtured and fed me in my Peruvian birthplace of Buenos Aires. Jaime Alderete, Shirley Alderete, Deri and Cristanto
My hard working community partners in San Luis. Angel Harrison Garcia Manzo, Gloria Yaya, Esther Reynaldo Reyes
The extraordinary Peace Corps medical staff for keeping me healthy and safe. Jorge , Suni Su and Carmen
The entire PC Staff for their kind support (and for tolerating a non-bureaucratic rogue in their midst).
The Tooth Fairies and Dr Michael Healey for getting my mouth up to PC specs.
All my generous friends who contributed to the creation of Childrens’ Playgrounds in San Luis.
The senders of tool and hardware laden Care Packages. Joy B. Massa,Jan Plimpton, Robin Murphy , Phyllis Scott McAllister
and especially to my Dea Sistas - Robin Parker and Darcy Plimpton-Sims -I wouldn't be here without your kindness.
My Facebook Friends, for sharing great ideas and cheering my service.

All the thanks and appreciation that I've received during my time in Peru, really belongs to all of you, as well.
WE did this. I was merely the “tip of the olive branch”. That was my honor and privilege.

The people and places of Peru, WATSAN, ECPA and the Peace Corps will always be a part of my being. I do not leave them behind, but celebrate my time here, and pass the torch to the next generation of PC Peru.

So long, Peru. And thanks for all the ceviche……..

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Solar Waterfall for the PC Training Center

We started with an old fish pond

The solar powered waterfall at the Peace Corps Lima office has been so widely enjoyed and appreciated, that a second solar cascade at the Training Center in Chaclacayo (an hour east of Lima) seemed appropriate. The little area off in a corner provided the venue and our good friends at Q-Energy donated most of the equipment. Peace Corps bought the panel and hardware. Juan and Marco, the maintenance crew from the office, helped me with the construction. Our team finished the project quickly, with excellent result.

Juan and Marco and I made a great team

We started with an ornate, but defunct fish pond in a corner of the training center grounds. All it needed was a little concrete repair and a reservoir for the water, which Marco deftly completed. Juan did the plumbing from the reservoir to the waterfall and I handled the electrical work, connecting the solar panel, charge controller and battery to the pump – a 500GPH Rule bilge pump. 90 minutes later, we tested the system and cleaned up.

We hope that future generations of Peace Corps Trainees will learn from and enjoy the new waterfalls. I know I enjoyed one last construction project before departure.

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San Luis Playground Redux

Angel and Goyo celebrate a final adventure together after repairs are complete

One night, about three weeks ago, person or persons unknown scaled a 12 ft wall for the purpose of vandalizing one of the children’s’ playgrounds that I helped construct during my Peace Corps service in mi pueblo of San Luis de Canete. Vandalism, the destruction or defacing of something for the sheer joy? of it, has always baffled me and I won’t dwell on it here. But, my stalwart community partner, Angel, and I were not going to allow the bastards a victory.

Samuel retouches one of his brilliant wall murals

I packed up my tools and headed to the scene of the crime to assist. Angel had marshalled a welder, some kids and the multi-talented graffiti artist Samuel , to converge on the playground last Saturday and set things right. The kids picked up all the trash and raked the soft sand base. I put the swings back together, with the aid of my trusty battery drill. Samuel touched-up his gorgeous murals and used the left-over paint to spiff the equipment. A new seat was cut and installed on the see-saw and our “Wild Man” welder made fast work of repairing and reinforcing the see-saw. We celebrated with Inca-Kola, of course as well as hugs and last Good-Bye to my dear friend Angel.

The trip also gave me a chance for a final Farewell to all my dear friends in San Luis. It was my honor and privilege to work with these wonderful, caring, generous folks over the last 3+ years. Angel, Avelino and his family, Gloria, Esther, Victor, Cristina, Paulina, Fernando…. I will never forget them. They will always have a special place in my heart, as will San Luis, Mi Pueblo, Mi Corazon.

Our welder looked a bit on the wild side, but he did a great job

 The bus ride back to Lima was a sweet trip down Memory Lane. I’ve taken that route close to a hundred times and know it well. But, this time was particularly poignant, since it will be my last as a Peace Corps volunteer. Every landmark seemed to stand out and even the stark desert seemed more beautiful, when seen through my misty eyes.

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Click here to watch video of the playground construction

The Grounds Crew enjoyed a well deserved swing