Tick Tock Tick Tock

The clock is ticking! I leave in less than 1 week (Thursday is the big day!), so I have been getting the odds and ends taken care of--alerting the bank (so my card isn't automatically shut off), getting Peruvian Soles, and testing out my sweet camping equiptment.

I've also taken over one room in our basement and turned it into "Fort Philanthropy". It's filled with basically everything I need to bring:

And that's actually only half the room....the shelves are filled with things, too. That big blob on the ground is my tent.

Don't worry, Mom, I cleaned it up. :-)

La Cocaina en Peru

Cocaine is becoming quite a big problem in Peru (the world's no. 2 supplier), and it is closely linked to the Shining Path, so I thought it was relevant to this blog & the project.

Cocaine is bad news for Peru, and for reasons very different from why it's bad news in the United States. In neighboring Colombia, cocaine pays for the violent guerilla wars and that's something El Presidente Alan Garcia doesn't want to see happen in his country (and understandably so). Basically, the Shining Path is making their money off of drug trafficking to other South American countries & Europe. With $50 million from Uncle Sam, Garcia & Co. are attempting to destroy drug labs to prevent funding to the Shining Path, but it's sort of like Sisyphus--as long as there's demand, there will be a supply and the recent disarray in Colombia has given the Shining Path & others a great entre into the drug market.

If you want to learn more, read this article.

I'm approved!

With less than 1 week until I arrive in Peru, the University had still not decided to release my grant money, putting me in quite an awkward position. Until today! Although it will be a few days until a nice fat amount lands in my starving bank account, they have "approved" my project (read: believe I won't be using it to buy a yacht) and just need to wire it to me. Phew. It was getting close there!

I should note that the school is being, ahem, less than reasonable about releasing all of the money. They've only given me 3/4's of it (the amount directly going to the villagers) and will "reimburse" me the rest of it (my personal expenses). That's a bit ridiculous, I think, but I have to work with what I've got.

International House Heroes

Brian Davis
Director of Finance & Administration at I-house, Brian Davis has been instrumental in navigating the murky waters of University red-tape. Actually, he's done almost all of it for me.

Since my grant is a bit unusual and I have to go through the University's comptroller's office, Brian has been coordinating all the necessary steps and paper-work.

I would be in big trouble without him!




Bill McCartney
He's the Director of I-house and everyone's favorite staff-member. Really.

He's helped me with my application to the Davis Projects for Peace grant and with the process for final approval and everything. He told me what I should add to my proposal and what I should look into--it was a big help.

Update: Camping was a bust

It was cold. It was scary. And I could've sworn I heard the blair witch.

So last night instead of camping in the backyard, I went inside to my nice warm bed (and wi-fi connection). Yes, I failed my first attempt at camping! I guess this girl just isn't as rustic as she thought!

Peruvian Pride: The Llama

Oh, the llama. One of the world's most beloved pack animals!

But what do you really know about the llama?

Some Imporant Llama facts...you should know!

Height: 5 and a half to 6 feet

Weight: 250 to 450 lbs (fatties)

Pack weight: 25% of body weight

Population: About 7 million in South America

Temperment: Curious, a bit skiddish

Bad habits: Spitting (naughty, llama!)

Uses: Pack animal, for yarn

My Tent!

Today I put up my tent for practice! I've never pitched a tent or slept outside, so tonight I'll be camping in our backyard. (Ignore the house in the background....) It'll be my home away from home in just a few weeks but unfortunately a nice bathroom won't be just a few steps away when I'm in Peru. It's quite nice inside the tent and will make a lovely shelter for me and my dog.

Tomorrow I have my conference call with the U of C grant office, so wish me luck. They are currently holding my funds hostage and say that they "hope everything will be resolved" by the time I leave.

Soon to come: video blogs!