If you want to feel like a celebrity, come to Peru

It's amazing how much Americans really stand out- and to top it off- Japanese Americans. Most people here can't wrap it around their head that I'm Japanese- but American, too. But I'm used to it. Just like I'm used to being called China or Chinita everytime I walk out of the door. However, unlike Spain, I don't generally feel like it's malicious. It's rather a nickname given out of carino, caring. Chinos refer to all people of Asian descent here. Sheila has her own unique word- she calls Japanese Japonicas (Ha-po-ni-kas, like harmonicas but with a J). Many have the nickname Chinito here (quite a few sports players), though they have no Asian in them to speak of. It's a popular nickname. They even call the fifty cent here una china. I've found it really fascinating to learn how Asian cultures are incorporated here.

I've even found the students at Fe y Alegria playing Jan-Ken-Po (a Japanese hand game of rock-paper-scissors). They even use the words Jan-Ken-Po! I can't help but always wonder how the presidency of Alberto Fujimori played a role in Peru. Whenever I talk a little bit about politics in Peru, I like to ask them what they thought of past president Fujimori, and what they think about Keiko Fujimori, his daughter, who's running for presidency in 2011. I've gotten many interesting and different answers.

Sometimes I get so much attention at Fe y Alegria it's embarrassing. I can't complain about all the greetings of kisses on the cheek and hugs that I receive from the little kids; but many times, whenever they see me walk past their classroom, they'll shout, "Miss Kimiko, La Profesora de Ingles o La China!" Then their teachers will discreetly close their doors or try to hush them down. Since I'm really the only Asian at the school, or in most of Chorrillos, I feel like a novelty. In fact, a lot of Lima I really stand out. But the thing that makes me feel the worst is when I walk in with another Professor and they all just shout "Profesora Kimiko." I don't like making the other professors feel like they are not being acknowledged! Because the teachers at Fe y Alegria are truly amazing! Every day, I am continually impressed by how they can have a classroom of 35 energetic students, many who have problems, and still be able to teach so much and maintain control! Wow! If only I could learn how to do that a little bit I would be pleased.

For me, the amount of stares and comments from not only the elementary but middle and
high schoolers that I receive in a day can be overwhelming. I'm not used to receiving all this attention; though I am so happy that they appreciate me being there. But I do think it's great that they're interested in me. I hope to be able to use this interest to meet more people and teach the community a bit about Japanese- and American- culture, and possibly try to eliminate some stereotypes along the way.

Sheila's Wish

Gracias a Dios, Sheila always returns. Last Tuesday night she left and didn’t return until Wednesday afternoon. The last time she left, she brought back with her a lot of sadness, regret and anger. She returned a bit like she had first come, her face so sad, streaks of dirt on her hands, face and clothes, tired and worn, and defeated. Sheila’s own memories assault her; hit her as hard as el senor who swung a bucket full of cement at her forehead, strike her like the police that called her a nothing, with as much force as the sticks her husband beat her with when he was mad, or drunk, or feeling mean. Being abused, in all its forms, was her life. Treated like trash by her own family and by her ex pareja, by the people she encountered on the streets, she’s been used and thrown away, again and again. She almost doesn’t know what it is like to be respected and loved; she constantly lives her life in suspicion. But every day, I see her changing, opening up and softening. She really has a good heart.

Whenever Sheila sees anything in the shape of a heart, she exclaims how pretty it is, claims it for her own. She makes and collects as many hearts as she can, claiming she does not have one herself. The Mother’s Day card I made for her full of hearts is displayed in our living room, right behind the plastic roses Magda gave her and in front of the picture Mim gave her. Sheila is loved here. If only it were that simple.

Her biggest regret is what kind of mother she was when her kids were very young. History repeats and so does physical abuse. But I never hit my kids with a stick, never with a stick, she always says. I think her wish is to become a singer, as she always tells us; but her biggest wish is to make it up to her kids for the way she treated them, to make up for the life they were forced to live. Sheila wants to get well and become a better person not only for herself but especially for her kids.

El Dia de La Madre

Peru really makes Mother's Day Special. It is not only a day of plastic roses, cheesy cards and chocolates. At Fe y Alegria, I found a wall celebrating the mother, full of writings, poems and drawings. On Friday, there was a special assembly where many of the students put on dances and a couple students sang songs to commemorate this day.

Fabiola performed the Mexican dance with some of the other students' in Professor Diana's salon.

The dances were fantastic! There were folkloric dances, dances from the mountains of the sierra, Ayacucho, Mexican dances and many others. All of the costumes had the brightest colors and many adornments of hats, scarves, flowers, belts, jewelry and even whips (which they used in a courtship dance!)

La Casa Loca

After these past two days, I can understand why Magda forgets things so easily. With so many things going on in this house, so many tasks to do and so many toques at the door and taking care of Sheila, I find myself forgetting what I was doing.

All of the Sisters of Notre Dame went for a reunion in Piura (northern Peru) this weekend and so I am the charge of the house, along with Sheila (and of course, our grand guards, Chibi and Puka).

Thus far, no grand problems have arisen; just the water running out so having to bombear late at night, slipping on doggy poo while walking to the paton where we bombear and feeling like a total klutz on Friday in general.

Other than that, Sheila is in a great mood this weekend which I am so thankful for. I have to say I had horrible fears of her running out of the house, having one of her moments where she had a breakdown or completely rebelling against me. But she has been in a beautiful mood; smiling, laughing and conversing contentedly. Cassie, a friend staying with us this weekend, Sheila and I all prepared lunch today which turned out yummy! We made quinoa (a common product they grow here) and veggies and lentils (also very common here). Sheila made rocoto molido (a hot salsa type sauce made with rocoto peppers). Spicy but tasty! Though now she claims she wont eat it because it's too spicy! So I told her, "If you don't eat it, whose going to eat it? Magda?" Of course, Sheila says, though I reminded her Magda is not a fan of spicy. Haha. It was nice, girls bonding over cooking. There's something about food that unites... We all enjoy food in this house.

Right now I have to try to get her to go to bed so she will be able to wake up early tomorrow for la misa! I might need luck with that! How wonderful Magda is for being able to take such good care of Sheila everyday, making her meals, giving her medicine, studying with her, talking with her and listening to all of her problems, and giving her so much of her time! I feel a big calling in helping to take care of Sheila. I am getting to know her a bit more everyday and she said she thinks of me as her sister which is so touching.

Weeks weaving

Art classes suit me; the need to always be moving, seeing creativity blossom in unexpected corners, always having a student poking me, tugging my shirt or saying, "Senorita Kimiko, Senorita Kimiko" to ask me a question. But I've found there's always something for me to do in art classes.

These past couples of weeks during art classes, students have been making presents for Mother's Day. The third graders created placemats, weaving a border around the edge and decorating it with hearts and flowers after. It was a big project with a lot of exasperated sighs, tangled and knotted wool, crooked lines, ripped edges and the classroom floor looking like an explosion of wool, fabric, and pieces of plastic/Styrofoam. In the end, the placemats turned out really nice; and Professor Diana dressed them up; putting them in plastic bags, along with cards the kids colored, tied with a red ribbon. What a nice treat for all the mothers!

Friday is going to be a special day with Mexican music and dances to celebrate Mother’s Day. I can’t wait to see the dances! I also have to say that it is fun living right near the Tupac Amaru Park because during many holidays they dance folkloric dances’, dressed in their colorful attire, big groups of people from the neighborhood gathering to watch and music blasting until midnight, loud enough I can easily hear it from my room. Life is always interesting here!

Fun Times in Adelante

In Adelante, the other salon I am helping out , you'll find Jose Manuel, a boy who is energetic, loud and confident; who can get excited over the story about a little bunny who says, "Te vuelvas a chicharron!" laughing with delightfully and blurting out “Te vuelvas a chicharron” throughout class; but who doesn’t get excited over learning many other things since it’s such a struggle. He roughhouses with all the others in the class, especially Geraldine, a good friend of his who is a bit of a tomboy.

When Professor Marilu is not around, both gleefully race around the room, chasing one another- Geraldine pleading to make him stop- though you can tell she is having fun. In fact, they all feed off each other’s energy and go crazy when the teacher is away, it's time to play.

Geraldine is a sweet girl, sturdy and with an open face, returning my smile with her own right away. Jose Manuel has more of a charming grin, 80% mischievous. Junior also has an elfish, winsome smile, big and delightful, with his Sierra features; tanned skin, high color in his cheekbones and wide hands that look like they are built from hard, manual work that seem to be common of many people from the Sierra (mountains). Junior is growing more attached to me, one day telling me "Esperame, esperame" and wait for him when I was about to leave. He's cute- with a charming personality- though can be mischievous and jugeton, falling all over his chair and claiming he forgot his Mimate (math book) when it is right in his backpack.


Geraldine is easily attempted to be traviesa as well and use any excuse to get up from her seat. But she is considerate, filling up a spoonful of her lunchero consisting of rice, potatoes and fried egg and giving it to Junior. Later, she complained she was too full and told Junior to eat the rest. Junior ate it so fast it made me wonder about the fact on why he is so small compared to all the others. This boy catches on quickly and seems sharp when it comes to math, eager to read out loud and also loves the story about the little bunny. He struggles when it comes to Spanish since is used to speaking Quechua.

I started working with Alexander in Professor Diana's class when I started out as an Auxiliar; so he has a special place in my heart. He had a brain tumor when he was really little; he is older than all of the kids in his grade (10 years old in 3rd grade) and severely below level since he missed so much school. Since he struggles so much he is usually unmotivated and you have to push him every minute to try. But he is a nice kid, always very respectful and quickly getting to know the other kids and fitting in. Though I am always scared he is going to roughhouse a bit too roughly with the other kids and hit his head again (which happened a few weeks ago and he was out of school for two weeks!)

Renato is a lot different from the rest; shy and bashful, answering questions with a two or three word reply, and only to say goodbye when leaving the class. Marilu says he doesn't like any physical contact, completely opposite than Jose Manuel who eats up any kind of affection and from Geraldine who always is petting my hand or my hair. Today, I literally fell over on the ground because Jose Manuel, Geraldine, Junior and Alexander catapulted into me and gave me a group hug, everything falling down and laughing. Me, trying to act like a professional assistant teacher, trying to keep my composure while lifting myself off from the ground and struggling to not laught and smile. I am still working on perfecting my "stern face" and authority with the students...