Although I am excited to go back to Peru, stay with the same amazing host family (YAY!), and travel to many of the same places, I know that some things will be different this time. First of all, I now know what to expect, which takes away a lot of the fear and just heightens my excitement. Also, I will be returning to work with VivePeru as an in-country coordinator (I'll explain what that entails in a second). But really, I feel like I have been through a lot this past year and am returning to Peru as someone who understands a little more about the hardships and pains of life, as someone who appreciates the beauty of life more, and as someone who feels a stronger sense of purpose and calling than I ever had before. Based on where I have been emotionally and spiritually this year, my trip to Peru could not come at a better time. And I know that it was meant to be this way.
I am really stoked to be an in-country coordinator with VivePeru. The in-country coordinators serve as a primary contact for the volunteers in each city to ensure that each volunteer has the best possible experience, while caring for their physical health and safety. They assist the staff in carrying out all program related activities, including leading orientation sessions and escorting volutneers to their worksites the first week. They also fulfill any task the director needs them to do. So I was able to refine my music teaching skills some last summer, and now I am excited to learn more about administrative tasks and leading others. I am really eager to further develop those skills! Those responsibilities will take up most hours each week day, so I won't be able to teach and sit in during the Trujillo Symphony rehearsals during the weekdays, unfortunately. However, I am hoping to still remain in contact with the musicians and students there and help out if I can. I also discovered that there is another wonderful program in Trujillo called Arpegio Peru (http://arpegioperu.jimdo.com/english-entrance/), and it is based off of El Sistema methods! I am really wanting to get involved there and teach on the weekends, if at all possible.
I will also be staying in Peru for my entire summer- from June 21st to September 1st! I start my senior year on September 10th, so I will fly back into Chicago with just enough time to settle back into American culture and rest up for my final year of college. I remember writing last summer that it was the best one I had ever experienced- I am hoping I will walk away from this summer with a similar feeling, but not just because I will be feeling fulfilled and happy over the amazing experiences I will have had. This summer is also a big one for me, as I am now thinking deeply on a daily basis where I see myself after graduation. As I've grown more as a musician and as a teacher this year, there are a few ideas and dreams bouncing around inside. But one secret dream that I'm now letting become not-so-secret (and actually, it may be fairly obvious at this point!) is something I have been getting swept up in many moments this year- I sort of think it would be incredible to move to Peru after graduation and keep working with VivePeru and teaching cello with the El Sisema program! Right now, I am seriously considering if that's where I am feeling called. I believe we are all called to certain jobs, places, and people, but we don't always choose that path. It's just so funny because just last year around this time, I would have never dreamt of something so big. My biggest and scariest dream was to stay in Chicago and audition for orchestras and teach. And that is a huge dream and difficult path as well. But picking up everything and moving to a different continent? Thousands of miles away from all loved ones and all familiarity? That's pretty terrifying. And exhilirating!!!! Living in Peru really brought out my adventurous side. I realized that I don't want to settle into a comfortable job that I don't love but that I know will pay the bills and afford me nice material things. What do I really want, if I let myself ask it? I really want to help change the lives of kids and adults in underdeveloped neighborhoods, cities, and countries. I don't want to achieve fame and glory so I can sit back and bask in my greatness as a cellist. I want to be bold- to not be afraid to dare to go where God wants me. And who knows? Maybe I will see throughout my time this summer that He has called me to get my Master's in music performance and audition for orchestras. Maybe I will see that He has called me to teach in the United States and pursue a degree or job. But I don't ever want to be afraid to open the door of my dreams because I'm scared that I won't be good enough, that I will end up being super unsuccessful and ineffective, or that I won't feel fulfilled and happy about the sacrifices I had to make to achieve them. So I am placing this summer in God's hands and am constantly praying over it all. I have faith that it will be revealed to me in time, and I am very excited for whatever lies ahead, no matter how hard it will be.
I have been trying to prepare myself mentally for this great trip in these ways as well as physically. I have been practicing my Spanish on Duolingo (great app!!), so I am hoping I won't be as rusty this time around. I also started packing yesterday, which took me three hours...so if that is any indication of how much stuff I am bringing, you don't even need to see the huge mountain of shirts and dresses engulfing my suitcase to take pity on me. Looking on the positive side, that gives me a fun project to keep working on as I continue to eliminate half of what I packed! Besides that, my goals of this week are to go to Lake Michigan at least once every day and catch up on sleep before my great trek! Here is to another summer full of new friends (because unforunately, none of my friends from last year are returning!), new and familiar hikes, beautiful music and memories, and...LLAMAS!!!!!
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