But on Easter morning, they have a procession out of the church and destroy all the designs with a parade. It made me think a lot about what I am doing in Peru. The main goal of the Peace Corps project is sustainability, leaving a lasting development on the community after you leave, such as helping start a scouting program that will continue to be run by Peruvians after I leave. This custom was about the farthest thing from a sustainable practice. They designs are only left on the ground overnight before being destroyed in the morning, sometimes less than a few hours depending on how fast people make them. But they were still some of the most amazing works of art I have seen in a long time, I will remember them for far longer. Regardless of if some of the programs I help start last, if I can leave at least a few Peruvians with some good memories and maybe inspire some of my students in some way, I will consider my service a success.
I hope I have left some of you with interesting memories or ideas to consider as well. Although Peace Corps may not be your thing, I would encourage you all to travel if given the opportunity, especially to a country different from the U.S. Canadians will hate me for saying this, but in my experience, it's like the East Coast vs Midwest in terms of differences. That may seem like a huge difference to you, as it was for me when I first visited the small Indiana town my Dad grew up in, after spending my whole life in from the suburbs of Washington, but I assure you the differences are greater than you could imagine. But what is most interesting is seeing the similarities express themselves throughout the differences.
