Grupo Siembra

Juan José Chukisengo wasn't the only musical artist to return to Andahuaylillas last week, the Catholic music group Siembra* came back at Hermana Rosario's invitation to provide the music for the school's anniversary mass. They spent Monday through Wednesday going through all the classrooms in the school and practicing songs. They picked out about 20 students to form the mass choir, and another 8 to be the band.

Siembra's music is steeped in liberation theology. The kingdom of God is identifiable by it's “perfect justice.” It's also very pretty. Students of all ages sang with gusto during the mass, even some 11^th grade boys who belted out the closing hymn to Mary with all the fervor (and none of the musicality) you could ask for.

For those who are curious about Siembra's music, here's a link to their page, and a video of a live performance from 2013.

* “Sow,” as put seeds the dirt.

Piano in the Andes

Last May, Peruvian Pianist Juan José Chukisengo, came to Quispicanchi to do lend his services to the service of the Jesuit projects. Among everything else that happened last week, Chukisengo's visit didn't take the spotlight, but it was still a big part of the week.

Once again he gave a benefit concert at the Compañía in Cusco and then a series of free concerts at towns and communities up and down the province of Quispicanchi. I got to listen to him three different times: at his concert in the church in Andahuaylillas, and performances for the high school and elementary school students of FyA 44.

The three concerts were very different. The concert for the people of Andahuaylillas was a fairly straightforward concert. He introduced each piece and then played it. The concerts at school were different. Mr. Chukisengo approached it as a sort of musical lecture. He highlighted music as order from chaos; from so many keys comes the sounds of a symphony. He made much of the comparisons between the visual art of the church (the locale for the high school concert) and the auditory art of music.

The elementary school students were probably the best audience. They were delighted with a change in the routine, and Chukisengo's manner of presenting to children is great for that age group. The concert for Primaria was very similar to last year's – including many of the same numbers and the same participatory bit with 6 students playing on his piano with him.

I've been here for 20 months, and Chukisengo is the only artist I've seen come through and give concerts like this. Far too often, the “fine”* arts are reserved for the rich. It seems to me that Chukisengo doesn't see it that way. In all his concerts he presents music as something accessible to all, giving students the chance to play on his piano, speaking to the transcendence of music, of it's ability to reach people of all cultures. I don't know how Mr. Chukisengo got connected to the Cusco area Jesuits, but I'm glad he did. Once a year, he leaves the concert halls of Europe (he lives in Germany) and lends his services to the Andean people. The work Chukisengo does includes two aspects of service that rarely interact. His benefit concert raises money, and his community concerts serve the community directly. Anyone interested in serving the poor could do worse than following this pianist's example.

*The word “fine” in fine arts itself carries a tone of superiority that's never sat well with me. What makes Beethoven better and Tupac?

Belleza por Todos Lados - Dominican Saints

San Martín de Porres, Santa Rosa de Lima, and San Juan Macías
From the Dominican convent in Lima

A Progressive Bathroom in Peru

As an animal, I am used to excreting waste on a daily basis. As a traveler, I know just how different the experience can be based on where you are (see one of my earliest posts, “Pooping in Peru” for more details. As a man who often used public bathrooms, I've made an interesting observation: most of the stalls in the men's bathroom are empty most of the time. I've also observed that a line for the men's bathroom is practically a freak occurrence, while a line for the women's bathroom, while not quotidian, is hardly a surprise. At some point back in high school it occurred to me that it would be much more efficient if women waiting in line could enter the men's bathroom and take care their of their business in the unused stalls. It was just a passing idea.

When I first read about the drama in North Carolin about the nature of people's genitalia when they are peeing and/or pooping in the same locale, I remembered my idea of women using the empty stalls in the men's room. What if, instead of separate bathrooms based on the business between our legs, there was just one giant bathroom? There could be urinals for men who only need to urinate, and plenty of stalls for women and men who have to take care of some more serious matters. Having bounced the idea off some friends, I've learned that some women are weirded out by the idea of men standing at urinals. This could be easily solved by having a separate urinal area of the bathroom, hidden by a wall. This is already how some men's bathrooms are divided up (right for pee, left for poop, wash your hands on the way out).

There is something that repulses us culturally about sharing bathrooms. It just seems...icky. It brings out the old "girls have cooties" public health campaigns from elementary school. But I've shared bathrooms with plenty of women (mother, sister, community mates, etc). It could be argued that those are single occupant bathrooms that I don't use at the same time. But I also can remember going out with a group one night and everyone needing a bathroom break. The women's bathroom was out of order, so all of us rushed into the men's bathrooms. The girls took stalls, the boys took urinals, and everyone used sinks afterwards. Waste excretion handled, we continued about our group outing.

But it wasn't until recently, at a Chinese restaurant in Cusco, that I came across a public bathroom that was actually designed for multiple occupants of different sexes.

Look at the sign above the door.

There was a shared sink area. Two stalls were designated for women, and two for men. One of the two men's stalls had two urinals instead of a toilet.

The idea was that each person could enter and handle their business, and then wash hands next to each other without catching cooties.

There're plenty of opinions and ideas about how to deal with the reality that everyone pees, but that some people do it standing up and others do it sitting down. I'm not proposing that every mall in the US change over to gender neutral bathrooms,* but gender neutral bathrooms are worth considering. If it can happen in Peru, it can happen in the States.

*except the ones in N. Carolina, because that would probably be illegal.

Changes

This is a complicated to write about.

Rachel has decided to leave JVC. Her reasons are her business, but I want to be clear that she isn't copping out. I fully support her decision.

I feel compelled to share that news because it affects life here in many ways. It's a part of the story I'm telling. Also it would be dishonest to pretend she is still here; and it would be a disservice to her to not mention her on this blog for the rest of the year.

Rachel's departure has a few significant impacts on the next five months.

First, we are a community of three instead of four. And because JVC is sending 2 JVs in December, the Mountain House will be a 3 person community next year as well. Fortunately Erin, Lauren, and I all get along. An important thing to balance in a three person community is hanging out. If two people are doing something, that means the other person is alone. That can be ok, as long as the community isn't divided into a pair and a loner. But only spending time all three together in order to avoid such a division would also be unwise. There needs to be space for natural one-on-one relationships to flourish. Just as in any home, if one-on-one relationships aren't nurtured, eventually the group dynamic falls apart. There's also the practical questions of keeping our 7-bedroo/5-bathroom house clean. Last year there were 6 of us to split the chores, now we are half as many. Some things will probably be allowed to get dirtier, and we'll each have to work harder. Another rotation to think about is the cooking rotation. There are 6 nights a week that we have to cook dinner. Will we each take two nights? Will we stick with only one night each but cook double so that we can do leftovers the other nights? We don't know yet, but we'll figure it out. Intentional community is always complicated and has its ups downs, but I'm not worried about us as a community. It will be a different dynamic, but we will be ok.

Outside of the house, the biggest impact of Rachel's departure is the lack of a religion teacher in Primaria. As I posted last month, I've been subbing in. But I can only work 6 classes a week without sacrificing the integrity of my work in Secundaria. With 12 classrooms in Primaria, that leaves 6 blocks empty. Lauren has stepped up to fill the gap. Between Lauren, me, and the auxiliar teacher of Primaria (basically the building sub), all students will get Religion class every week.

When I wrote last month, I wasn't excited about going back to Primaria. But my experience there in July was actually a lot of fun. The stress of dealing with 30 children at once is mitigated by only teaching 6 classes a week. Most days I only have to teach one block. While three 90 minute blocks in a row can be exhausting, just one a day is invigorating. I can give my full teacher attention to those 90 minutes and those 30 students. I'm excited to share this responsibility with Lauren and continue practicing the classrooms skills that I am so eager to develop. As educator Eric Jensen writes in Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind (the book I'm currently reading): “Teaching students who live in poverty...exposes every single weakness a teacher has.” I welcome the chance to have my many weaknesses exposed. The sooner I know them, the sooner I can turn them into strengths. But my ego is thankful I'll only be spending 6 blocks a week getting my classroom teacher weaknesses exposed instead of 12.

We will all miss Rachel. We wish her nothing but the best. We'll keep her in our prayers and in our hearts. She'll be invited to participate in any FJV events the same as if she'd spent her entire 2 years here. But the work goes on. Pray for us, that we may be up to the task.  

Pivoting

Yesterday I received an email. The content of the email means a dramatic shift in how I use my time over the next few months. The message was simple, but it represents a turning point in my JVC experience. It was from the Boston Teacher Residency (BTR) program at UMASS Boston telling me that applications for the 2017-2018 school year are open.

Of the three Mountain House JVs who finished their service and left last December, two applied to grad school programs. One got her applications in soon after she got home, the other sent in everything before she left. I would like to follow the latter's example, not because the former didn't have success in her applications, but because I want to be able to enjoy “the lightness of being” when I'm home.*

So the email means that its time to start putting my applications together. I want to go to teacher school next year. So it's time to draft essays, update my resume, communicate with admissions offers, and ask for recommendations. Interestingly, recommendations, generally the easiest part of an application for the applicant because you don't have to do any more work than ask someone who likes you to help you out, may be the most difficult part of the process for me. That's due to two reasons. One, I only can think of one professor from Brandeis who knows me well enough to write a recommendation. That's the downside of spending more time baking bread each week than on homework (the upsides were better quality of emotional life and getting paid). Two, some of the best people to ask for recommendations don't speak English. Pd. Eddy, Hna. Rosario, and Hna. Vilma can all say a lot about work as a young educator the last two years, but the language barrier will be difficult to surmount, especially for programs that, like BTR, use an online form to submit recommendations instead of just asking for a letter. It'll probably take a lot of back and forth emails with admissions officers, but I'll get it figured out.

But beyond applications for grad school programs, this email means its time to pivot to preparing for being home in 2017. This doesn't mean putting my work here on the back burner - my students come first for as long as I am their teacher – but it does mean working on the details of returning and being home. It's time to solidify the idea of a cross continental road-trip into a plan. It's time to reach out to old bosses and see if I can get some work lined up for when I'm home. It's time to think about what kinds of things I want to buy for myself to memorialize these two years. It's time to discern what I want to eat on my first day back home (just kidding, I know I want a grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of apple juice). I don't want to show up at my house next year and not really know what to do with myself for the months before the start of classes. So it's time to get ready.

Finally, it's time to prepare for leaving. I should look back over my list of things I want to do before December, and make a concerted effort to do those things. I should be extra mindful about how I'm spending my time; I don't want to fall into the tired trap and push social things off again and again until they turn into regrets. It's time to think about how to thank the people who have welcomed me into their lives here, knowing that one day I would leave.I should enjoy every moment I can and live this fully. The clock is ticking.

It's not time to say goodbye. It's not time to leave. I've still got one quarter left. But after almost over 20 months here, that doesn't feel like very much.

*Also because my post-service travel plans might mean I don't get home until after applications are due.  

Mini-Congreso Juvenil de Fe y Alegría, Cusco

"Welcome to the 2nd Region Youth Congress"

The Mini-Congreso Juvenil (Youth Mini-Congress) of the 3 Fe y Alegrías in the region of Cusco (FyA 20, FyA 21, and our favorite FyA 44) started last year. As part of the build up to celebrate the 50 years of Fe y Alegría being in Peru (1967-2017), the central office of Fe y Alegría in Lima sent out plans for a series of retreats dubbed “mini-congresos juveniles” that built up to the full congreso juvenil in Lima. Two students from each of the 80 Fe y Alegría schools in the country participated in the 3 day weekend event. The Cusco regional mini-congreso was the last “round” before the big one in Lima; 20 students from each of the three Fe y Alegría schools in Cusco participated in the mini-congreso that we hosted in Andahuaylillas at FyA 44 (but for some reason I never blogged about).

Last year's mini-congreso was a big success and all the students agreed that it should become an annual event. Organizing a yearly event for all 80 Fe y Alegrías in Peru would be very difficult (and expensive), especially since we're so far from the central office, but organizing an annual event between the three Cusco Fe y Alegrías was much simpler.

Follow the jump to read all about this year's mini-congreso.

Noted with Translation - Juice and Wifi

Use wi-fi to connect with those who are far away.

Ok, yes, wi-fi is great for connecting with people who are far away. I use it almost every day for that exact purpose. But why is this message on the side of a quart of juice?

Lost in Translation, A Cautionary Tale

Google is amazing. It changed the internet when it was introduced as a search engine. Now you can use one account to access all of Google's services. My person and my JVC email are hosted by Goodle. This blog is hosted by Google. Students with group assignments use Googledocs to work together without having to all be in the same location. Google+ allows you to...alright, Google+ is a failed product, but for the most part Google makes modern life more convenient.

But, as a bilingual person, let me warn you that Google Translate should NOT be your choice for getting text translated. At the convent of Santo Domingo in Lima (LINK), there is an exhibit of recently done paintings depicting the miracles of San Juan Macías. Each painting is accompanied by a helpful page of text, in both Spanish and English, that is meant to explain the miracles to visitors. In actuality is explains things to Spanish speakers, and probably leaves English speakers confused or doubled over in laughter. Judging by the word for word nature of the translation, it seems likely that it was done by a program - if not Google Translate, then something similar.

Behold the accompanying text of El Milagro del Chanchito. You can find a translation done by a person (me) below. Mine is less entertaining, but I think you'll find it explains things much better.

Preparing the Mini-congreso

This weekend I'll be leading a group of 20 high school students to the Mini-congreso (literally "mini-congress") of the the three Fe y Alegría schools in the region of Cusco. It's basically a weekend retreat with the chance for students to develop their leadership skills, reflect on life and their faith, and have fun with other young people. 

As sub co-ordinator of FyA 44's pastoral office, I've been very involved in preparing this. There've been meetings here and meetings at FyA 20 (which is hosting the Mini-congreso). Most of my time at work this week has been devoted to getting things in order so the event will go smoothly. There's been lots of time searching out the 20 invited students reminding them to get their permission slips signed and handed in. 

I'm very excited for the event. I played a minor support role in realizing the mini-congreso last year, and it was fun. It was where I met some of the students who form the core of the youth group. The students are excited too, which is good. 

But I'm also nervous. I'm nervous mainly because I'll be the senior staff member from FyA 44 for most of the weekend. I'll be supported by Karla and Mafer, two of the student teachers from Lima with whom I work. But Hermana Rosario was called away to teach a class in Lima. And Padre Eddy has too much on his plate to be there for more than Saturday evening/Sunday morning. The JV experience is full of the unexpected - and being the point person for an event like this in a different culture and my second language certainly wasn't among the list of things I was expecting. For the first time, I'm starting to understand the Mother Theresa quote my grandmother has on (if I remember correctly) a paperweight on her desk

I know God wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle, I just wish he didn't trust me so much.

Wish me luck!

Vacation Photos: Santo Domingo in Lima

A a friend's suggestion, Deepti and I went downtown to see the convent of Santo Domingo (founder of the Dominicans). I had never been before, so it was a new place for both of us. Like all old colonial convents, it's absolutely beautiful. They have a gorgeous, and well-preserved library. Most importantly they have the tombs of 3 Peruvian saints: San Martín de Porres, Santa Rosa de Lima, and San Juan Macías. As my friend said when she recommended Santo Domingo "You can go pray where San Martín is. I always pray there. I don't believe in the Catholic Church, but I do believe in San Martín."

Most touristically, you can climb the bell tower and see central Lima from above. Another place that's worth a visit. Here's some pictures.

Main courtyard

Looking up at the bell tower.

Library

An old choir book

The sanctuary

Looking towards the central plaza. Those two towers are part of the Cathedral.

Looking down on the main courtyard.

Noted with Translation - What defines "special use"?

From the beginning of the trail up to Lake 69.
It reads "Zone of Special Use"

Vacation Photos: Lake 69

It's the first day of work after out two week midyear vacation. The break was a lot of fun for me. My friend Deepti, a Brandeis classmate, came down to visit for 10 days. We hit up Lima, Cusco, Andahuaylillas, and Huaraz (a small city in the famed Cordillera Blanca north of Lima). The most spectacular day of our trip was the 6 hour hike to and from Lake 69, a few hours drive from Huaraz. The landscape is dominated by Mt. Huascarán, the tallest mountian in South America. One of its peacks is also world famous as the Paramount Pictures mountain.

Lake 69 is a glacial lake 4600 meters above sea level (15,091 ft). It's a spectacular blue color. Hiking at altitude isn't easy, but I recommend this hike if you ever get the chance. So let's start off the post-vacation blog posts with some photographs.

Two of Huarscarán's three peaks.

The third peak of Huascarán, the Paramount pictures one. Do you notice?

Made it to the top!