I have gotten to spend some wonderful time with my collegues when we celebrated Dia del Maestro (which, as a teacher, was nice to have a day of teacher appreciation). We also had a mass in which Father Fred (who has been here in Tacna for over fifty years and done some amazing things, like found Miguel Pro along with the best school in the city, Cristo Rey) addressed some important words to us educators about giving our best for the kids and always striving for magis (or the more, the better).
In community, we recently were sent the game Apples to Apples and spent some time at the beach bonding over its wonderful silliness (its a game in which you have a number of random nouns and must match them to adjectives), while also reflecting on how we can be fishers of men. One session I particularly enjoyed involved drawing a boat to represent ourselves and then its net being composed of positive qualities about us that the other members of the community see within us. We also rewrote the beatitudes for ourselves - a great way to digest a really wonderful and positive text from the Bible.
Lastly, having ex-volunteers come visit has also reminded of the incredible life, energy, and openness of some of the Peruvians I have had the joy of getting to know. It has inspired me to refocus myself as I come to the halfway point of this school year on enjoying and developing those unique relationships. These friendships - that at times do feel like they become falial bonds - connect despite the cultural divide. And for me, personally, I am uplifted thinking that in a foreign country and missing the comforts of a washing machine, a super market, health food, etc, I can feel at home and that there are people who care for me and want to share with me simply because I am me.
