Peru Is The New USA

My 27 month service as a Peace Corps volunteer DISCLAIMER* The ideas and opinions are independent to me and do not reflect those of the Peace Corps or the United States government.

[allanamarie14]

A lot of blood, sweat, tears, and diarrhea went into earning this patch. I'm an #rpcv!!!

[allanamarie14]

Milk mustaches, pink nails, and so many belly laughs 💅🏻🐄😢 I'm gunna miss this little chica. She stole my ❤️ #finalcountdown #hostsister

[allanamarie14]

I let a 2 1/2 year old paint my toenails... 👌🏻

[allanamarie14]

Host fam goodbyes ✌🏻️❤️🐄 Also, the nurses made my Dad dance!

[allanamarie14]

Con cada principio, hay un final. Gracias a los profesores de Chaupelanche! ✌🏻️❤️🐄 #finalcountdown #despedida

[allanamarie14]

I DID IT!!!!

I started this adventure with one goal: to finish. I wanted to put myself through a challenge and come out stronger on the other side. I don't know if I am stronger, but I'm definitely weirder and more patient and I can (kinda) speak Spanish!

I've been spending the last week reflecting on these past two years. Was it what I expected? Absolutely not. I've made myself try to process these last 2 years. Near impossible. I think I've learned more than I've taught, especially from my host mom. She has this amazing way about her where she is calm, kind, and level headed-but pulls out the Mama Bear card when necessary. She has stood up for me, protected me, and put fried guinea pig in her purse when I didn't want to eat it. She's awesome and I'll never forget that woman. She's also the Mom of the cutest child in the world: my host sister.

I will say that this past week of surprise wine, goodbye parties, forced lunches, and packing and repacking, I've gone through the full range of emotions available to humans. I already miss my host family like crazy, and at the same time am counting down the hours until I can buy an iPhone.  I'm super excited to go back to the states, but also super nervous about acting like a normal US American again. But to be honest, I'm glad I'll come back a little different; a little less materialistic and a little more affectionate. This experience has definitely been amazingweirdwonderfulhardremarkablechallengingawesome (yeah, I couldn't pick one word).

Con cada pricipio, hay un final. With every beginning, there is an end.

Love and Adventure, Allana

[allanamarie14]

These little buddies' days are numbered.. Hehe #finalcountdown #despedita #yum

[allanamarie14]

Presentando sus planes para el futuro. Yay Chaupelanche!! 😎🌟

[allanamarie14]

Pasos Adelante Camp

After the typical amount of waiting, calling, stalking, and rescheduling, I got 2 of my Youth Leader kids and the town's Obstetrician to a day camp in the city put on by the Perú ministry of education and the hospital. It was a pretty cool deal.

I brought two students to this camp based on an essay contest. The boy and girl that I brought were not who everyone wanted me to bring. They aren't the obviously top students and they aren't the same 3 kiss-asses that win every award. The director even told me "be careful of that girl, she's lazy and never on time". What a rude thing to say about your student, so rude. I brought two super smart kids that I think are over-looked by the school and complained about by the teachers and I'm proud of that choice. These 2 kids have awesome personalities and great leadership skills and I wanted them to experience this camp. I've only got a month left, may as well ruffle some feathers for the good of the kids.

So, the camp was full of sex Ed and stuff but even cooler- future planning and inspirational stuff. It was awesome to hear what the kids wanted to do with their lives. One girl said she wanted to "travel in a plane and learn English". That really stuck with me. It was yet another reminder of how lucky I am. My students wanted to become a psychologist(what they think I am) and a Construction Engineer (what they know my brother is). I'm not saying I convinced them to have high goals based on my life but.... you can't prove I didn't.

Love and Adventure, Allana

[allanamarie14]

What's up? Chicken butt.

[allanamarie14]

Las súper estrellas! 🌟🌟

[allanamarie14]

WE ARE ALMOST DONE!!! Celebrating our last Cajamarca plane ride 🛫⛰🐄

[allanamarie14]

COS Conference!!! I Did It!!

And I'm Writing This as I Help Teach an English Class I recently returned from my COS(Close of Service) conference, celebrating and wrapping up the last bit of my service. The conference, as well as seeing every crazy volunteer that I haven't seen since training, really helped to put me in a very positive place in my service. I'm very proud of the work that I've done. Not one thing was what I expected, and that's what I'm proud of the most. The conference was a lot of kumbaya, hippie, loving reflections on our time in Perú, and beautiful connections- and that's very much what I needed. This experience truly has been incredible. I'm pumped for these last 2 months. I'm really ended this experience on an awesome note. I've just got to finish up with my house visits and youth leader presentations. Also, BEST 25TH BIRTHDAY EVERRRR. I got to celebrate with cake, crepes, bubbles, rosé, cupcakes, and all the cool people in my training group. The first day of the conference was my birthday and I got allllll kinds of attention. Every staff remembered. Everyone sang. I went swimming at midnight. It was super cool. Love and Adventure, Allana "I'm 25 now" Chittick

[allanamarie14]

Adorable little Jhoana rocking her new jacket courtesy of Mama Chittick ✌🏻️🎀🌻

[allanamarie14]

Almost done! #cos #pcperu

[allanamarie14]

Cutest back-handed compliment I've received; My host mom, Amelia: "Allana, I'm really going to miss you when you're gone. I'll miss all the little popcorn pieces you leave on the kitchen floor." My bad.

[howapcvputsitgently]

When our group makes it to COS conference

[allanamarie14]

So Peru 24 region of Cajamarca is the ONLY region with no ETs AND no site changes!!! Go us!!!

-Peru