Week 2

Week 2 here in Peru flew by way faster than the first week! I dove straight into a full week of more language training, water and sanitation sessions, cultural, and health & safety. Wednesday was also extra fun because the combi's (buses I take to the training center) went on strike, so we had to walk to the training center that day - not too bad tho, only a 40 minute walk.  

Walking to the training center

Mural on the way to the training center

 We had an awesome session on water quality testing this week, and we conducted turbidity tests and residual chlorine testing with simple instruments for use once we are in the field. In the picture below is the long clear tube that we used to test for turbidity. You fill the tube with water and slowly let the water out of a hole at the bottom and when you can see a black ring from looking down along the tube and through the water, you take the turbidity reading off the tick marks on the outside of the tube. What a simple technique!

Testing for Turbidity

Water and Sanitation Group

 We also had 40 minutes to turn a 2.5 liters of dirty water into the cleanest water possible, using only locally available materials. My team won! The winning combination: filter with mesh screen, filter with paper towels, then filter through sand.

Filtering dirty water with paper towels

After classes on Friday a bunch of us went to play soccer on a field in Huscaran, one of the communities where Peace Corps volunteers live.

Soccer anyone?!

Friday night on the soccer field

Saturday we went on a field trip to Lima and Miraflores! This is my first time getting to travel outside of  Chalcacyo, so I was very excited. We had an hour long bus ride to get there, and then we met with our language facilitators to learn about the local culture. We each had to practice hailing taxi's and asking how much it costs to go different places, which actually does take practice because you kinda have to wave your arm like a dead fish to get one to pull over. Miraflores is also know for lots of cats, can you find the cat in the picture below?

Can you find the cat...?

Miraflores near Lima, Peru

Police in Miraflores

Lima was huge and full of colonial style buildings and cathedrals. We had lunch in a little restaurant and I had soup, beef, and rice.  

Main square in Lima, Peru

House where the president lives

Lima, Peru

Our teacher took us to where they recently diverted the river where they are adding another highway. The water was very dirty and smelled bad. 

Diverting the river to add another freeway

Children's Festival in Lima

Mural says: "Open your eyes, you are the present"

Colonial Cathedral in Lima