First Person Foreign

Hi-Lo 1: Of Witches and Güipiles

October 15, 2018 First Person ForeignBeauty

My sister founded an Inner-City Soccer League in 2010. Every week she would pick-up a group of young kids and bring them to a church program. My sister would ask for everyone’s Hi-Lo on the[…]

The Early, Long-Winded, Crampy, Unclear, Very Long Day

October 14, 2018October 14, 2018 First Person ForeignBeauty

At 4:26 am I got four simultaneous phone calls. It was my from my school director. The school secretary, Ana Marta, told me they would pass right by my house. So I was pendiente to[…]

The Three Big Letters: COS

October 9, 2018 First Person ForeignBeauty

A long, long time ago, the beginning of 2018 (like, February) I started to seriously consider my life after Peace Corps. Shudder. At that time I started to look into my options including graduate school[…]

The Armpit of Service: July & August

September 29, 2018September 30, 2018 First Person ForeignCultural Difference

So I made it through July and August, the absolute armpit of this year, and maybe my service. Close to something important (like Close of Service), but not there yet. The desert of work. The[…]

Maestra de Inglés

September 15, 2018September 15, 2018 First Person ForeignBeauty

Maestra de Inglés, English teacher. I’ve always wondered if the word Maestra and Master are related. Either way, I’ve never had such a title. When I gave a diplomado in early 2018, I wanted to[…]

Somewhere Between Lights Are Out and Light At The End of the Tunnel

August 17, 2018 First Person ForeignCultural Difference

Once I reached May, the feeling of momentum changed. It felt like the end of my second trimester because I had a lot to do (CAMP in June: always capitalized as it is one of[…]

Boy Comes Home | The Pueblo Press Issue Three

July 15, 2018July 15, 2018 First Person ForeignBeauty

I’ve been in Peace Corps service for a year and a half of my two year commitment. I’m not sure you can call this the ‘home stretch,’ especially because I do not play sports, but[…]

Santiago

July 13, 2018July 13, 2018 First Person ForeignCultural Difference

Hello! I am writing this post because it is about a loss and I want to recognize that by sharing it. I also want to share the significance and importance of the funeral and burial in[…]

A Day as a PCV

July 12, 2018July 13, 2018 First Person ForeignCultural Difference

At the end of this day, I lay in bed and looked up at my fairy lights and thought: “yep.” This is how one day as a PCV unfolds (a Peace Corps Volunteer). Join me?[…]

Riding on Buses with Married Men

June 25, 2018June 25, 2018 First Person ForeignCultural Difference

I had to take 4 buses and 5 hours to get to Tanya for her birthday. To get there I walk out of my house on the corner (after saying bye to Abuelita, Host Mom[…]