My service with JVC promises to be a profound experience. I hope each post may offer a window of insight into some aspect of my experience. To help you, the reader, understand what you are seeing-through each "window," I'm providing some basic information about where I'll be, what I'll be doing, and why I'm moving so far away.
How long will you be gone?
2 years. I leave December 3, 2014 and return Either December 2016 or January 2017 (it's far too soon to tell yet about return dates).
Where will you be?
Andahuaylillas, Peru
Where is that?
25 miles outside of the city of Cusco
Where is That ?
Up in the Andes mountains in the South Eastern part of the country. It was the principal city of the Incan empire.
I'm still not sure where you'll be ...
Here are some maps.
Cusco is the department (like a state) in Andahuaylilas Which is located. It is broken into provinces . Andahuaylillas is in Quispicanchi.
What will you be doing?
Teaching English at the Fe y Alegria San Ignacio de Loyola School.
Where will you live?
I do not know the specific address yet. That I do know I'll be in a house with four other Jesuit Volunteers. 1 of them will be there for Their 3rd year, 2 on Their 2nd year, and 1 other will be a new 1st year like me.
So are you fluent in Spanish?
Fluent is a tricky word. I can hold my own in Spanish, but there's a lot I don't know. I do know enough to manage living there without too much difficulty. On the other hand, I am completely ignorant when it comes to Quechua.
What is Quechua?
Quechua was the language of the Incan empire. In the area where I'll be living, many of residents are native Quechua speakers. For many, Spanish is a second language. But I have a book "Introduction to Quechua of of" which I hope will teach me a couple useful phrases before I go (thanks Mom and Dad!). I'm also hoping to take a class on Quechua after I arrive.
What IS JVC?
This is the official mission statement of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC):
The Jesuit Volunteer Corps, in collaboration with the Society of Jesus, enhances the capacity of local organizations to serve their communities by providing Jesuit Volunteers to directly serve the poor and marginalized in the U.S. and developing countries. For a year or more Jesuit Volunteers live simply, in community, immersed in Ignatian Spirituality. The experience opens the JV to be conscious of the poor, attuned to the causes of social injustice, and dedicated to service informed by faith. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps helps Former Jesuit Volunteers nurture this orientation throughout their lives.
The experience of a Jesuit Volunteer is built around four values: Spirituality, Simple Living, Community, and Social Justice.
This is the JVC logo. Props to Mary Driscoll, who designed it. From top left going clockwise the images represent Spirituality, Simple Living, Social Justice, and Community.
I'll begin my blogging with a reflection on each of these values and will return to them throughout my experience. Therefore, I will not delve into them here.
More about the JVC mission and values can be found of their website: http://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/about-jvc/jvc-is/mission-and-values
The Jesuit Volunteer Corps, in collaboration With The Society of Jesus, Enhances the capacity of Local Organizations to serve Their Communities by providing Directly Jesuit Volunteers to serve the Poor and Marginalized in the US and developing countries. For a year or more Jesuit Volunteers live simply, in community, Immersed in Ignatian Spirituality. The experience opens the JV to be conscious of the poor, attuned to the causes of social injustice, and dedication to service Informed by faith. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps Helps Former Jesuit Volunteers nurture this orientation THROUGHOUT Their Lives. - See more at: http://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/about-jvc/jvc-is/mission-and-values#sthash.f05JaY5G.dpufThe Jesuit Volunteer Corps, in collaboration With The Society of Jesus, Enhances the capacity of Local Organizations to serve Their Communities by providing Directly Jesuit Volunteers to serve the Poor and Marginalized in the US and developing countries. For a year or more Jesuit Volunteers live simply, in community, Immersed in Ignatian Spirituality. The experience opens the JV to be conscious of the poor, attuned to the causes of social injustice, and dedication to service Informed by faith. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps Helps Former Jesuit Volunteers nurture this orientation THROUGHOUT Their Lives. - See more at: http://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/about-jvc/jvc-is/mission-and-values#sthash.f05JaY5G.dpufThe Jesuit Volunteer Corps, in collaboration With The Society of Jesus, Enhances the capacity of Local Organizations to serve Their Communities by providing Directly Jesuit Volunteers to serve the Poor and Marginalized in the US and developing countries. For a year or more Jesuit Volunteers live simply, in community, Immersed in Ignatian Spirituality. The experience opens the JV to be conscious of the poor, attuned to the causes of social injustice, and dedication to service Informed by faith. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps Helps Former Jesuit Volunteers nurture this orientation THROUGHOUT Their Lives. - See more at: http://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/about-jvc/jvc-is/mission-and-values#sthash.f05JaY5G.dpuf
The Jesuit Volunteer Corps, in collaboration With The Society of Jesus, Enhances the capacity of Local Organizations to serve Their Communities by providing Directly Jesuit Volunteers to serve the Poor and Marginalized in the US and developing countries. For a year or more Jesuit Volunteers live simply, in community, Immersed in Ignatian Spirituality. The experience opens the JV to be conscious of the poor, attuned to the causes of social injustice, and dedication to service Informed by faith. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps Helps Former Jesuit Volunteers nurture this orientation THROUGHOUT Their Lives. - See more at: http://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/about-jvc/jvc-is/mission-and-values#sthash.f05JaY5G.dpuf
The Jesuit Volunteer Corps, in collaboration With The Society of Jesus, Enhances the capacity of Local Organizations to serve Their Communities by providing Directly Jesuit Volunteers to serve the Poor and Marginalized in the US and developing countries. For a year or more Jesuit Volunteers live simply, in community, Immersed in Ignatian Spirituality. The experience opens the JV to be conscious of the poor, attuned to the causes of social injustice, and dedication to service Informed by faith. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps Helps Former Jesuit Volunteers nurture this orientation THROUGHOUT Their Lives. - See more at: http://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/about-jvc/jvc-is/mission-and-values#sthash.f05JaY5G.dpuf
Why JVC?A number of people I respect greatly - the protestant chaplain at Brandeis, Brandeis' Rape Crisis Counselor, my Aunt Karen, and (most importantly) my Mother were all Jesuit Volunteers. So I felt a connection to the organization already, and as I explored their literature and went through the application process it seemed to me that JVC would give me the chance to explore myself and my religion in meaningful ways. Now that college is (finally!) over, it's time to piece together an adult life. I want to make sure the life I lead is in line with the ideals I express, and JVC is an opportunity to learn how to live in such a way.
Going through the Orientation process, my trust that I have made the right decision and have follow the right call have grown. I do not consider myself a casual Catholic. Throughout my high school years I struggled with and eventually learned to own my faith. In college I sought to live out my Catholic beliefs in my private life. I learned some new ways to pray and I made myself available to around me. I aspire to live a life that is a full expression the best of Catholicism, of the love of God. The intentionality of the life of a Jesuit Volunteer is a logical next step to building the life I wish to live, to becoming the person I wish to be.
What does the title of your blog (Se Hace el Camino en Anda) mean?
It references a line from a poem by the Poet Antonio Machado. The line says
"caminante, no hay camino
se hace en camino al andar"
(Traveler, there is no path,
the path is made by walking)
Se hace el camino en Anda means "the path is made in Anda(huaylillas)" or "the path becomes Anda(huaylillas)." JVC service in Andahuaylillas isn't just on my path, it is my path for the next two years. The path is made by walking. The trip is made by traveling. Life is made by living. For two years my trip, path, and life are made by traveling to, walking around, and living in, Andahuaylillas.
(It's also my attempt at making a pun in Spanish. I think it holds up, but if you know better, call me out.)
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