FBT and Site Visits

We started off our Field-Based-Training (FBT) in Trujillo, La Libertad with breakfast at the University of Trujillo after a nice 10-hour all night bus ride. The front of the university walls (which span multiple blocks) are covered with the world's largest mosaic entirely designed and constructed by one person. 

University of Trujillo

Longest mosaic mural in the world

The WASH group was split into two groups for FBT, a coastal group and a sierra/mountains group depending on where our site placement is located. I was in the coastal group (since my site is along the beautiful, sunny coast in La Libertad) and we headed north from Trujillo to a little town called Chocope to practice community diagnostic tools, surveys, water system inspections, and build more improved cookstoves. 

Coastal group visiting the local health post

One night there was a festival in Chocope and people were decorating the streets with beautiful murals made from dyed sawdust. There was a parade and lots of late-night music, and the next morning the street murals were gone. 

Street murals with colored sawdust

The girls sharing some after-din picarones (a sweet fried-dough dessert treat)

Our friends

After FBT everyone headed out to the regional capital of their department to get acquainted with home-base for the next two years. My capital is Trujillo, so lucky for me, I didn't have to travel far. We went on a tour of the city with current Peace Corps volunteers and our regional coordinator. Trujillo is a beautiful place, full of rich colonial architecture, large cathedrals, sunny skies, and clean streets. 

Plaza de Armas in Trujillo

Colonial-style cathedral in Trujillo

Our Peace Corps hotel in Trujillo

Near Trujillo (about 20 mins away) there is a lovely beach called Huanchaco, where you can surf, rent canoes, or just enjoy laying on the beach! We had lunch and enjoyed a relaxing Monday afternoon. 

Lunch on the beach

Just enjoying a Monday afternoon!

La Libertad Peace Corps volunteers with host families and socios (we are making "LL" with our fingers for La Libertad)

After getting acquainted with my regional capital I headed off to visit my new community along the coast, about an hour south of Trujillo. My host sister went with me so I knew when to get off the bus, thank goodness. My new host family is extremely kind and welcoming, and it's a house of all gals! I have a host grandma that is 98 years old, a host mom, and two host sisters around my age.

My house

My host family's dog (he is 14 years old!)

My host sisters

Plaza de Armas in my community

Graveyard in my community

While visiting my new community I helped with "national disaster preparedness day"where the whole town simulated a major earthquake and transported injured people to the hospitals. We started off the morning bandaging people as if they were injured during the earthquake.

Preparing the "injured" for the simulation

I travelled with the police to various schools where the kids had all evacuated the classrooms and were in groups in the courtyard. The "injured" kids were grouped together and moved into the police truck and transported to the hospital. Once at the hospital the doctors and nurses were all waiting with colored tags, green meant low severity of injury, yellow meant medium severity, and red meant severe. All patients were taken into corresponding rooms and treated by the doctors. Needless to say, I was impressed by the response and organization of the police, doctors, and nurses, so I rest a little easier at night knowing my town is prepared to respond to a natural disaster.

Transporting kids into the police truck

Ambulance arriving at the hospital

Patient with a red tag being attended to by a doctor

All the doctors and nurses at the hospital - a job well done!

That night in my community there was a parade for the anniversary of one of the grade schools and all the students were out and about with hand-made glowing lanterns. They were beautiful! Along with the lanterns there were marching bands and large paper animal sculptures as well. 

Students with lanterns

I am looking forward to moving to my community and starting to work for the next two years! There are lots of possibilities and opportunities for some awesome experiences.