Back Home!

After two years and five months on foreign soil, I am finally back home!

I've been back now for a couple weeks – and I apologize for the length of time it has taken me to put up a blog. After living at a slow pace over the last couple years with so much alone time and free time, I feel a bit dizzy at times trying to keep up and juggle the intricacies of American lifestyle once again. I am very happy to be back in the United States though.

The best part of being home is the ability to see friends and family. I have been indulging in good beer and whiskey, good food, football, big screen tv's, hot showers and hot tubs, easily accessible and fast internet, dishwashers, and people watching.

The last couple of weeks have been a lot of fun. A benefit of being gone for a long time and a returning Peace Corps Volunteer means people are willing to buy your food and drinks. In fact, in the Miami airport, in between flights, first thing I did was order an American beer. A lady saw my Peace Corps patch and inquired about it – then she shook my hand and said, "Thank you" to me for my service and offered to buy me another beer.

However, I can't say that readjustment has been pain-free. My first social event in Washington DC brought on a severe hangover that lasted an entire day…and the food portions are so large I can't move after eating! 

The differences between my life here and my life in the Peace Corps are too many to list – and I haven't been back long enough to establish a routine…and I don't know what I'll be doing yet. The US is an amazing country though; I am lucky this is my home to return to. Being gone for a good amount of time and living within a different culture allows me to compare and contrast the differences – positives and negatives. Peru was an amazing country with their fair share of problems…and the US is an amazing country with our fair share of problems.

One of the main aspects of readjustment is that everything is different and amplified to me, while it's normal to everyone else. The portions of food seem larger than before, the marketing seems more relentless, the people seem way more stressed out and concerned about trivialities, the waste seems more reckless, the "news" is more biased, incomplete, and sensationalized than before, everything is competing for attention, and the variety of everything seems endless. Life appears so hectic. Sometimes I think a simplified metaphor for life today is a dog chasing his tail – one difference here in the United States is that the dog makes three circles for every one circle they made back where I lived in Peru.

Another aspect of readjustment deals with the romanticism of home versus the reality of home. While away and living as a Peace Corps Volunteer, one can't help but romanticize the idea of home and being back into the world you know…and they never match completely. Some aspects are better than I thought and others are not as exciting…though since I knew to temper that romanticism, it hasn't been that bad.

At times I feel a bit awkward as I get back into the American groove. Putting on nice clothes feels weird. Walking into a bar or restaurant and not being stared at by everyone is nice but being exotic is fun. Meeting someone new and not kissing their cheek if they are female feels rude. Not bargaining for the price of things feels like I'm getting taken advantage of...or paying a lot more for things that were so cheap in Peru is annoying. Having things operate so efficiently is awesome and the friendly service makes me feel like they're up to something. The fact that so much of our food comes packaged is a bit disturbing...but being able to eat any ethnicity of food that I want is incredible.

Long story short – I'm very happy to be back. I don't know what my plans are yet – and I'm about to start getting the process of searching for it underway. The last couple weeks were solely for enjoyment…now comes reality.

Much love,
Jake

"The problem is that I arise in the morning torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world. This makes it hard to plan the day." E.B. White

Along the way...

The boat ride was a lot of fun - though a bit sketchy at times. The captain was Hungarian and the first mate was from Galveston Is, Texas. The captain was quite the vagabond...with lots of crazy stories about sailing, living in Hungary during communist rule and now, and lots of other stuff. The sailboat was about 40'.

We spent 2 days on open water and then three days in the San Blas islands off the coast of Panama. The Kuna people live there and they are their own sovereign area. In 1925 they killed anyone who was living there that wasn't pure blood Kuna and they got their rights to live without interference from Panama - though Panama still protects the area. They have a swastika on their flag. They were all friendly and happy to have foreigners in their area, they just won't allow others to live on the islands.

On the boat, we washed our faces with rum. Rain provided free fresh water showers. And once we got to the islands, we had a sand bath...great for ex-foliating. We had sunny and stormy skies. I was thankful for the clouds because otherwise it's just too hot.

Something that wasn't surprising was the amount of trash out in the ocean...lots of plastic out there floating. It was a bit depressing. Along the San Blas islands there is a good amount of trash as well, but a lot of that was from the people on the islands.

These are more pictures from Colombia and the boat. I'll be getting back to Virginia in a couple weeks!
Much love,
Jake

Rock'd As...

After finishing with the Peace Corps - I met up with my friend Tim and we went back up to Ancash where I lived during the Peace Corps. Here are some pictures from the week there. I also turned 28...the birthday was a lot of fun.

Thank You!

I finished my service within the Peace Corps today and will begin my trip home tomorrow! I'll be taking around two to three months and traveling back by land (primarily). I hope to continue posting blogs on my way home – though they will be sporadic.

The Peace Corps adventure has been long, more arduous and more fun than I expected. While I've been here, I experienced very unique emotions that will be difficult to experience again, partly due to novelty but also due to the unique and unrepeatable situation (when else will I have a good excuse for not showering for two weeks?). Having you on the other end of my blogs has helped me through my time here immensely.

Thank you very much for sharing the Peace Corps with me. Thank you for all the nice comments and positive reinforcement along the way.

I hope that you enjoyed the blog. I tried to be very open with myself and with you through my writing. I'm certainly not the most gifted or educated writer and I appreciate you letting me share my thoughts and for continuing to read. I've tried to keep it fun while including ideas, observations, and some personal perspectives.

Thank you to everyone who has mailed me packages. I was very surprised that so many people took the time to put together care packages and put them in the mail. Even the simple letters or cards were a thrill to receive. Thank you to: Mom & Dad, Peg Dobrozsi, Heather DeBerry Haynes, David Lemon, Kristin "Llama" Franke, Beth Keifer Florea, Jennifer Lemly, Autumn Houston, Molly Mattessisch, Ashlee Miller/Ben Davidhizar, Aunt Bev, Sarah Roeske, K.L. Canupp, Josh Caplan, and Eric Longen. Thank you.

Special thanks to my Mom and Dad for all their phone calls and support.

A big question that every Peace Corps volunteer asks themselves is about the success of their time served. However, analyzing one's time is difficult to do for a number of reasons…especially as one is preparing to leave; there are just too many emotions swirling around.

Overall – I would say, yes, my experience has been successful to those in my community, the artisan association, and to me. Thinking back on the two years I can't help but smile and a feeling of warmth overflows in my veins. I am proud of the work I've done, the tough times I've endured, and that I took advantage of my surroundings. I didn't hold back. As time distances this experience, I imagine my fondness will only grow.

Once I get back, I apologize if I accidentally throw toilet paper into the trash can, kiss you on the cheek or a person you might be introducing me to, show up late without thinking it's a big deal, or encroach upon your personal space without realizing it…those are just a few mistakes I imagine will happen as I get back into the American groove.

I came into the Peace Corps without too many expectations and tried to limit my preconceived notions as much as I could. I didn't want to show up with the mentality that I had the answers or that my/our way was best. Many times, there are good reasons for the way things are – even if it doesn't make much sense to you in the beginning. My goal was simply to figure out the goals of the artisans and community and help them achieve those. Some goals were achieved, others weren't. Many things we didn't set out to achieve but did.

Upon finishing Peace Corps, every volunteer writes a "Description of Service". I'll include that here – though I don't imagine it will be much fun to read since it reads a bit like a resume and has to follow a general format (like referring to yourself in the 3rd person). But, if you're interested, you can find it below - and below that are some more pictures.

Once again – thank you all for sharing this experience with me. Hopefully, I'll see you soon!

Much love,
Jake



Formal Description of Service:
Jacob Edward DeBerry was invited to be a member of the ninth group of Volunteers to serve in Peru, and the sixth group of Small Business Development Volunteers, since Peace Corps' return to the country in 2002. On June 6, 2007, he began an intensive eleven-week training program at the Peace Corps training center in Chaclacayo, near Lima. The training included in-depth Spanish language courses, a macro- and micro-level orientation of the economic situation in Peru, nonformal education techniques, an overview of Peruvian culture, politics, and history, and field-based training exercises with communities in the region. As part of the training, Mr. DeBerry spent a week in the rural Andean town of Chiquian, teaching and assisting with a week-long business simulation for the local college. Mr. DeBerry was also elected to serve as the treasurer of and coordinated social events for his training group.

On August 24, 2007, Mr. DeBerry was sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer and assigned to the rural Andean community of Tarica, in the department of Ancash, serving as the only Small Business Volunteer in the department. He was assigned to work with the artisan association "Joyas de Barro", comprised of 18 artisans specializing in ceramics. Mr. DeBerry worked to improve the quality of life of the members’ families by increasing the sales and profits of the association. He also assisted other associations and individual business owners in the area.

Mr. DeBerry's primary responsibilities and activities included the following:

Finance and Accounting
• Instructed the artisans in basic accounting principles, financial reporting, bookkeeping, inventory controls, and profit distribution.
• Trained the artisans in the use of cost analysis in order to price their products more appropriately and increase their profit margins.
• Advised the artisans on bank accounts, bank loans, and the risks associated with accruing debt.

Business Development, Research, and Planning
• Worked with the nongovernmental organization Competividad Ancash/Technoserve to bring Peruvian business consultants to the artisan center to teach basic business principles, the Peruvian marketplace, and the quality standards and protocols required for exporting.
• Trained the artisans on the importance of quality control and fast turn around on orders while maintaining quality. Introduced the concept of having a stock of popular products on hand to decrease the time from receiving orders to the delivery of the products.
• Assisted the artisans in developing three-month, six-month, and yearly work plans.
• Helped to establish and clarify short- and long-term goals for the association.
• Advised the artisans on product research and how to prepare for upcoming handicraft fairs and exhibitions. Taught them about different tourist seasons and how to cater to different categories of customers.
• Served as a consultant to a local hotel on its restaurant menu, décor, and overall environment.


Marketing, Communication, and Networking
• Developed marketing materials to increase the orders and overall visibility of the artisan association.
• Instructed the artisans in different sales techniques and how to build rapport with potential customers.
• Photographed and cataloged products in order to standardize and organize merchandise for two artisan associations plus several individual business owners.
• Advised three different artisan associations on product design and how to market their products to tourists.

Organizational Management
• Assisted the artisans in realigning work teams and work schedules.
• Helped to formalize the artisan association into a legalized small business, and helped organize the leadership team.
• Conducted workshops on teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution.

Information Technology
• Acquired and installed a computer at the artisan center.
• Trained the artisans and youth in the use of e-mail, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet Explorer/Firefox, providing them with the skills to conduct business research, communicate with clients, and organize data.
• Managed the planning, research, and design of the artisan association's website.
• Provided computer technical support and taught basic maintenance techniques.

Production
• Helped the association in the general production of products, including the making and transportation of clay, the assembly of products, and the firing of the products in the oven.

English Instruction
• Taught English courses three nights a week to 15 students between the ages of 15 and 25, focusing on vocabulary, basic grammar, and conversation, with the goal of increasing the students’ employability. The classes ran continuously for over a year.
• Taught English courses two days a week to six students between the ages of 8 and 12 for a two month period.
• Tutored students of all ages in English and provided them with assistance on their school work.

Health and Nutrition
• Advised the local market vendors on the benefits of incorporating more vegetables and meats into the local diet, and persuaded them to offer more vegetables at their stands. Instructed community members on the proper cooking of vegetables.

Environment
• Lectured students and community members on the importance of throwing garbage in the proper receptacles, the damage of discarding plastic onto the street, and overall respect for the environment.

Youth Development
• Participated in summer learning activities with youth of the town through the artisan association.
• Performed educational and comedic skits with other Volunteers in the region to teach basic hygiene principles and gender equality. The Volunteer group traveled through Ancash department giving skits at local schools, reaching over 500 students.
• Tutored children in school subjects to increase their understanding of the topics and improve their grades.
• Taught disciplinary procedures to over 200 parents, focusing on positive reinforcement, active listening, and patience.

In addition to the above activities:

In order to communicate and integrate into his community more effectively, Mr. DeBerry attended two weeks of Quechua language courses, completing 60 hours of Quechua training. This helped Mr. DeBerry integrate more fully into his community, which was bilingual Quechua-Spanish.

Mr. DeBerry was elected twice to serve as a Small Business representative to the Volunteer Advisory Committee, a forum for Peace Corps/Peru Volunteers and staff to work together to resolve problems, improve practices, and propose new initiatives. Mr. DeBerry was selected to chair the two meetings. As such he was responsible for compiling the agenda and leading the meetings.

To fulfill the third goal of Peace Corps (helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans), Mr. DeBerry maintained a blog and posted weekly updates on work, cultural observations, recreational activities, and pictures of his service. His blog received over 500 unique computer hits.

Pics - Site

All the fun and beautiful pictures I've put on here are about 10% of the time here. The other 90% of my time has been spent in my little mountain town...here are some pictures of the town and the people I've spent the past two years with.

Also - I finish my service in Peace Corps on Wednesday!

Profile Questions - Pasa La Voz

Pasa La Voz is the internal magazine of Peace Corps/Peru. Pasa la voz is a way to say, 'spread the word'. This article had the theme of "The Celebrity Issue". One of the first pages is pictures, with a "Who Wore It Best?" fake survey. Two of the pictures were me holding the sloth in the jungle, and my Dad's picture holding the teddy bear in the same manner. My Dad won…70% 'voted' for him and the caption read, "Seniority wins…at least we know what Jake will look like in thirty years."

Everyone also has a profile, about two pages of questions. Here are some of the ones I wrote as well as some funny or insightful ones from others. The pirate names happened one really drunk night when the entire group was together - the guys were discussing the possibilities of sailing after Peace Corps - all the guys got pirate names.

From me:
Pirate name: Captain A-Frame
What was the best compliment you received during your time here? One person thanked me and told me that I will never be able to understand how much I've helped them grow into becoming a better person. That was really nice to hear.

Longest you've gone without showering? Once you're past two weeks, you lose track. (In my defense, most of my time here there wasn't water during the days and no way in hell I'd take a shower at night here.)

What will you not be sad to leave behind? All of the animal poop in the streets. People coming drunk to work meetings – though I suppose it's not certain I'll be leaving that being, but they won't be so obviously intoxicated I hope.

Favorite part of Peruvian culture: They call you what you look like – I think Americans are too sensitive about the obvious. And the dancing. And people don't have a sense of entitlement here.

Biggest language blunder: I confused the word vagina and pig in Quechua during English class. I said in Spanish/Quechua, I am eating vagina.

Craziest thing that has happened to you on a combi? A woman was breastfeeding her baby standing right over me – when the combi swerved, I got bare breast in my face.

Any Peruvians chowing on your recipes? Not a recipe but hopefully people aren't afraid to eat fruit at night anymore.

What do you miss most about the States? Efficiency, family & friends, Indian and Mexican food…lots of other stuff.

What scares you the most about returning to the States? All the crappy tv and marketing everywhere. The waste. The trivial bullshit so many Americans concern themselves over and having to listen to it. Getting back into an economic model I don't like. After the honeymoon part of being home, I have a feeling I might feel like getting out again.

What English phrases will people in your community remember? The high five – not a phrase so much as a greeting and expression.

What kept you sane in site? Guitar & books

Best book you've read in Peru: A People's History of the United States – Howard Zinn. Not the "best", but the most enlightening.

What's the most terrifying creature that you found in your room? I woke up to a rat about a foot from my face…I may have screamed like a woman.

Nicknames in site: Kallapecta – Quechua for baldy.

Booze and your site. Go: So I was with my artisans on a Tuesday at 9a.m. There was a guy already drunk down the street and he went and bought three beers and was drinking them by himself – and the artisans were appalled that he was drinking alone…instead of the fact that it was Tuesday at 9a.m.


Wes:
-Pirate name: SS Wes, The Crusty Mussel
-Why do you love your site: 20,000 people, seven last names. It is so good, no one leaves; instead they stay and marry their cousin.
-Any bad habits that you've acquired? Pissing wherever and whenever the mood strikes.
-First meal you will have when you get back to the States? A steak the size of my head with a cold India Pale Ale.
-The thing that most surprised you about your Peace Corps experience: That this was as weird as everyone said it would be.

Frank:
-Pirate name: Pirate Frank, The Viking
-Craziest health problem: After a spout of dysentery, which lasted about a month, Vishal accompanied me to the hospital. After a few tests, and several missed IV attempts, the doctor returns to tell me that I have typhoid fever. Well the doctor was wrong…but that doesn't mean that PCVs don't face similar struggles to those of the Oregon Trail.
-What story will you find yourself telling in 2029? I will be telling the tall tales of the Ancash tripod. As unbelievable as they may seem…they actually happened.
-Huanyo. Love it or Hate it? I was told that it would grow on me…I'm still waiting for that to happen.
-What did you do to combat boredom in site? I have a guitar…it feels my pain.

Vishal:
Pirate name: Ruddy Barnacles
-What was your greatest success? Probably teaching the older kids to use love gloves (condoms) and the younger kids to use a toothbrush.
-Favorite part of Peruvian culture? Passing the bottle. It was a good way to hang out in town. Most people probably don't like it because they remember doing it with Cristal, old dudes with four coca stained teeth, and the smell of stale urine in their nostrils. However, I'm gonna miss it.
- What's the most terrifying creature you've found in your room? Mildew… (Vishal explains…but in short, once mildew sets in during the rainy season here, you're screwed.)
- Guinea Pig. Pet or delicious? Delicious, but I only think I think it's delicious. Get what I mean? It's the only meat I get in site. However I think once I taste a dry aged rib-eye I will forget how delicious I thought the guinea pig was.

Rachel:
- What are you most proud of? Is it disturbing that two of my prouder moments had to do with slaughtering sheep and castrating pigs? But more seriously, I'm pretty proud of the extent to which I've integrated into my community. Whether or not people have any idea of what I do, I do think they enjoy that I'm here, that's what really counts for me.
- Favorite holiday in Peru? The ones that Peace Corps actually gives us time off for.

Danielle:
-How did you keep up with news? FOX News. Fair and balanced. (she was being sarcastic).
-Craziest health problem: Having to puke and diarrhea at the same time has caused logistical problems.
-What have you learned in Peru? Generosity is oftentimes inversely related to wealth.
-What do you miss most about the States? Pedestrian right-of-way.

Tom:
Pirate name: Swashbuckler
Favorite thing about Peruvian culture: Everyone has to dance.

Sarah:
- What scares you the most about returning to the States? The mean people will make me cry. I am so spoiled with everyone being so super nice!
- What will you miss most about Peru? The food, yogurt, the amazing hospitality, the sense of family, the music, the dancing, and the simplicity of life here.

Greg:
Pirate name: umm, it's a little obscene, so I'll leave it out.
Nicknames in site: Whenever I didn't come out to play soccer those bastards would call me SACOLARGO. I think it was because I was actually faithful to my wife and helped out in the house, how strange!!!

Angie:
-What will you miss most about Peru/your site? I will miss the flexibility of just about everything…

James:
-Pirate name: BaldBeard
-What scares you the most about returning to the States? That everything that bugged me before about the States will now be amplified.

Ali:
- Favorite part of Peruvian culture: Invitar-ing It is so beautiful how even the poorest of people share whatever it is they are eating or drinking.
- What is the one thing you would never get used to? Isolation.

Steve: (a 55 year old Volunteer)
- Pirate name: Old Cannonballs! Rusty for sure.
- What are you most proud of? Probably the fact that I am not going to be one of those people who say, "I always wanted to do Peace Corps."

Jeanette:
- What was the best compliment you received during your time here? "You must be Japanese because Chinese people are ugly." I guess he was trying to tell me he though I was pretty in the most offensive way possible. (She is Chinese)
- Scariest experience: Getting a gun pulled on me at the beach.

Bailey:
- Most amusing misconception you have heard about the United States? I was dancing with someone once and before telling me his name, he asked me if I wanted to get a hotel room. When I said absolutely not, he said he has seen TV from the States and knows how blonde girls are. We all just want to have sex right away. Needless to say, that pickup line did NOT work.

Jamar:
- Pirate name: Whatshesmelllike!
- One word that describes your Peace Corps experience: Damn!

Karrie:
- Did Peace Corps meet your expectations? Explain: Learned a foreign language – check. Experienced a new culture – check. Did some good in the world – check. Yep, I'm good!
- Advice to the other groups (of Peace Corps Volunteers)? Perspective is everything. You will find yourselves in all kinds of situations (awkward, hilarious, frustrating, calming, etc), and the attitude you approach them with makes all the difference.

John:
- Pirate name: Woody Hardmast
- First meal you will have when you get back to the States: A big friggin steak. Medium rare. An ice-cold American beer.
- Any advice to the other groups? Stick with it. When you finish you'll never believe the things you've done, the people you've met, and the experiences you've had. If you go home early you'll just end up in the same place you were before you came.

Jah:
- Pirate name: The Salty Biscuit
- What scares you the most about returning to the States? Economic recession and…winter.
- One word that describes your Peace Corps experience: Extraordinary.
- Did Peace Corps meet your expectations? Yes, because it's a life-changing experience. 'nuff said.

Pics - My Favorites - Beach

Peru has a lot of coastline...but I didn't get to spend much time there since I lived in the mountains. Most of the coast is only sunny between December through April...but...there were still some good times on the beach...