Sun-Shine and Traffic Jams

I’m finally in Lima and so far so good. I arrived here about a month ago and have spent this first month adjusting to life in the city, getting used to my new job, and trying to enjoy myself in the free-time that I have.

As a quick refresher, I am now the Peace Corps Volunteer Coordinator for the Environmental Program here in Peru. It is a job based out of Lima, the capital, and it mostly involves working to develop the Environment Program and providing support to volunteers in the field. So far it is great. I think the work is interesting and it’s nice to work in a controlled environment again. I’m also having the opportunity to work with the Peruvian Environmental Ministry which has been very rewarding so far. I’m helping connect Peace Corps volunteers to a national initiative to promote environmental awareness in youth, along with some other projects involving environmental education.

Outside of work everything has been going great, although I often feel pressed for time. My daily routine involves waking up early, going to the gym, and them commuting to work which is a ride on bumpy buses that is a little bit under an hour. I usually bring a book to pass the time. When I get home in the evening I cook and try to relax a little bit, but I am beginning studying for the GMAT and so that takes up the little bit of free time I have before going to bed. Because of this the weekends are the only time that I really get to relax. I’m about 45 minutes away from some nice beaches and it is the middle of summer here right now so I’ve been down that way a couple times. I also go out a fair bit to bars and clubs and try to enjoy myself to break up the work weeks.

Next week I get to take my first site visit to volunteers in Junín, which is a beautiful part of Peru so I’m very excited about getting up there and seeing them. I’ll post pictures shortly.

Brian

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