I met my parents first in Trujillo (my old capital city). We toured the ruins of Chan Chan, the capital of the Chimu culture from around 800 AD. It is a city completely built of adobe and the largest Pre-Colombian South American city. We then visited Huaca de Luna, ruins from the Moche culture that ruled during 100 AD to 800 AD. In Trujillo, my parents also got a chance to meet some of my fellow Peace Corps friends, Josh and Javi.
We then took a night bus (which was quite an experience for them) up to Piura (my new capital city). We got to spend Father's Day walking around the city and also do some shopping. My sister, Jessica, arrived in Piura and then we headed to my site, about 3.5 hours away from the city.
We spent the week exploring my village and meeting my host family and new friends. They got to do everything including share some North American books and toys with the children in my host family, attend some of my community meetings, see a traditional rural Peruvian parade, to eat homemade ceviche, experience the life on a farm with donkeys, guinea pigs, roosters, pigs, goats, etc., adapt to surviving without running water, and learn how to climb over the pigs in the latrine when you need to do your business.
After having some amenity-free days at my site in the “campo,” we treated ourselves to a few days at the beach of Mancora, which is a couple of hours from Ecuador. Besides enjoying hot showers and other wonderful amenities from the developed world, we soaked in the rays, ate some good seafood, and enjoyed each other's company.
I am so happy that my parents and sister were able to come down to visit and see what my Peruvian life is all about. My Peruvian host family took quite a liking to my North American family, and vice versa. It was hard to say goodbye to my family, but it was great that both of my families got to connect, for at least a week. Although I'm going to miss my sister and mom and dad, its great that they know that I have a loving family down here in Peru.
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