Camp A.L.M.A.

To those of you who know how I love to play games, wear pigtails, and watch Disney movies, it’s no surprise then that I’m a Youth Development volunteer trapped in a Community Health volunteer’s body. One of my life goals is to be a camp counselor (seriously…) and my dream came to fruition a couple of weekends ago at camp A.L.M.A. A.L.M.A. stands for Actividades de Liderazgo para Mujeres Adolescentes, which is Leadership Activities for Adolescent Women. ALMA also stands for soul, and there was a lot of it that weekend.

Camp A.L.M.A., which for girls, is put on by volunteers in each department every year, while later on in the year we have a camp for boys, Camp VALOR. It’s a three-day event in which each volunteer brings two girls from their community to Cajamarca City. It’s a great opportunity for volunteers from around the department to work together, while also giving something back to our communities.

I had picked out two girls early on. One of which was in my summer school English class, and another, who is my next door neighbor, and probably my best friend in my town (granted, she’s 13, but hey, the pickings are slim). I had everything planned out a couple weeks in advance, as in I had made official documents for the schools and the parents, and good thing too, because I ran into a few roadblocks. For one, one of my girls parents wasn’t too keen on letting her girl go because she thought it was religious affiliated (We were staying at a convent). I insisted that it wasn’t, but in the end, the girl wasn’t able to go anyway due to her grandma being sick, so I choice another girl instead. The other problem involved my other girl’s school headmistress, a nun. Now I’m not familiar with Catholic schools, as I went to a public school all my life, but I have seen Blues Brothers…and I’m not kidding, I was a bit afraid of this nun.

So this is how it goes. I go to her office to give her the official document excusing my girl from one day of class. The other director had no problem with it. In fact, it was almost like he didn’t care. While this school director, carefully read the document, and after pondering a few moments, invited me into her office for a sit-down meeting. I timidly go into her office, not expecting any problems, and wishing I was wearing something more professional than my week old jeans and my baseball hat, my go-to solution when I haven’t taken a shower in a few days. The nun immediately started grilling me on why I’m here, and why I want to take this girl form class. I explained calmly my role as a Peace Corps volunteer, that I know this family personally, in fact I have spent both Christmas and New Years with them, and that this camp is a great opportunity for her, while meanwhile in the back of my mind, I’m expecting her to pull out her ruler and smack me.

Luckily there was no ruler, but the director was not pleased with my answers and wanted me to bring back one of her parents the next day. So back we go the next day, this time with the foresight to wear something more professional (and freshly bathed) while being accompanied by my girl’s mother. The nun asks the same questions to her mother as she did to me, and the mom responds with the same answers. Having heard it from a Peruvian’s mouth, and not a strange white girl’s mouth, the nun finally agreed. So off I go to make a copy of this official invitation, meanwhile nun is telling the girl’s mom what she originally thought I was there for…to steal her child! I heard all of this afterwards, but I couldn’t believe it! This nun actually thought I was going to kidnap this child, so that was the real reason she wanted me to bring her parent. Haha. I’m glad she was more concerned with the other director. The other director could hardly care at all that I was taken one of his students away. But still…

So after all that drama, my two girls and I finally made it to Cajamarca, specifically we were staying in Los Baños del Inca. These baths were apparently used by the ancient Incans and it’s the only hot water in the city. I originally had thought that this was just a tourist attraction, but turns out it’s a whole other city. And not only are their hot showers and baths, but swimming pools complete with the first water slide I have seen in Peru! You have no idea how happy this made me feel. While I’ve heard people who’ve swam in the pools have gotten skin and eye infections, I feel it’s worth the risk as it’s been a full 9 months since I’ve been in a lap swimming pool. Another fun thing we discovered about this hidden gem of a city is this store that sells a lot of American food. And I’m talking about tortillas, salsa, Cranberry juice, Diet coke, Nutella, snickers! It was unbelievable, and makes a S/5 cab ride completely worth it just for this store alone.

The weekend was packed full of activities. First, the girls were divided into five different teams, each with their own team leader. Girls are awarded points throughout the weekend based on if they are on-time to activities, if their beds are made, and if they had their eggs with them. Each girl was given an egg to decorate, name, and take care of for the entire weekend. It was something to teach them responsibility and also, why it’s good NOT to have a baby when you are too young. Throughout the weekend the girls learned about nutrition, sexual health, creativity, and public speaking. They also learned team work in the form of low ropes course activities aka my old job at the Challenge Course. We had a few stations of different activities, mine being pipeline. The kids had a lot of fun, and it was great being a facilitator again. In the evenings we had craft and movie time, along with a bonfire in which we roasted S’mores or as we say in Spanish S’mas. (Get it?!) We finished the weekend with a talent show and awards, and the girls went back to their communities.

All and all it was a great experience and it made me appreciate my childhood even more, as I have realized that I have been given many opportunities growing up to go on trips, overnight camps, and seminars. Meanwhile kids here don’t get many opportunities like that, so it is great to share that with them. I’m looking forward to the next camp, as it is my time to slip back into my pose as a youth volunteer.

But shhhhh don’t tell anyone…