On the eve of her 25th birthday and her year anniversary in Peru, Becca was enjoying her community and hitting her stride. In the ever-shifting world of Peace Corps service though, of course something had to change and so Becca found out that her friend, coworker, and surrogate mother, Janeth was being transferred to a different health center, an hour and a half away.
Upon hearing the news, Becca’s mind was swept back to the first day she met Janeth. It was the “Day of the Socio,” a day-long informational session where recently arrived volunteers in met their new host families and coworkers. Janeth bustled in dressed in her obstetrician’s uniform, quickly ended a call on her cellphone and plopped down next to Becca. She turned to Becca and smiled a warm, welcoming grin and said something. Of course at this point in her language learning Becca couldn’t follow normal conversation speeds and needed things repeated at least three times for any sort of comprehension, at best she understood tonal inflections much like a dog would. Becca grinned back and nodded, certain she was missing something important.
The first three months were all meetings, house visits, educational sessions, illness, integration, parties and...confusion. For those months Becca lived in a haze of sickness and misunderstandings, but with the help of a good site-mate, Lily, and a very patient and motivated Janeth, she made it through. In the months since Becca’s Spanish had improved along with her cultural understanding and she found herself much more independent.
In these months Becca found in Janeth not just a driven coworker who was willing to attend countless meetings, help with sessions, and generally offer any support she could, but a friend. Janeth had welcomed Becca into her home and accepted her as part of her family. She jokingly called Becca her daughter and looked after her as one, making sure she always had enough to eat. Becca was sad to hear of Janeth’s impending departure and a few days later she found herself sitting at her desk, planning for future projects and wondering what was going to happen now. She picked up her phone and quickly sent Janeth a text:
Becca: Tomorrow can we meet up and plan for when you abandon me? :)
Janeth: Of course, hija. And you won’t be free of me that easily, you’ll see
Becca: We shall see, Mamá
She smiled and put down her phone, indeed they would see.
Días antes de su cumpleaños de 25 y el aniversario de un año en el Perú, Becca estaba disfrutando su comunidad y empezando a sentir como una peruana. Pero en la vida de Cuerpo de Paz, las cosas siempre cambian rápidas. Este día, Becca aprendí que su socia, amiga, y madre adoptiva, Janeth, se mudará para trabajar en un centro de salud de una hora y media de distancia.
Cuando escuchaba la notica, Becca recordaba el día cuando conocí a Janeth. Fue el “Día del Socio” un evento informacional en donde los voluntarios nuevos de la región conocen sus familias anfitrionas y socios. Janeth entraba el cuarto en su uniforme de obstetra, terminaba una conversación por celular y se sentó acerca de Becca. Ella miraba a Becca con una gran, calurosa sonrisa y decía algo. Pero en este tiempo Becca no podría entender conversaciones a velocidad normal y necesitaba escuchar las palabras por lo menos tres veces. En casos mas buenos, ella entendía solo los tonos, como un perro. Por eso, Becca respondía con una sonrisa y asentía con la cabeza.
Los primeros tres meses fueron puros reuniones, visitas domiciliarias, sesiones educativas, enfermedades, fiestas, y...confusión. En esos meses, Becca vivía en un nube de enfermedades y malentendidos. Pero, con la ayuda de unn buena compañera de sitio, Lidia, y una socia muy paciente y trabajadora, Janeth, Becca sobrevivió. En los meses después, su castellano mejoró, entendió mas de cultura, y estaba mas independiente.
En estos meses, Becca encontró no solo una socia en Janeth, pero también una amiga buena. Janeth dio una bienvenida de su casa y su familia a Becca. Le llamó su hija como broma, pero en realidad ella le cuidó Becca como su hija con comida y cariño. Becca estaba triste para aprender sobre la notica de Janeth.
Días después, Becca estaba sentado a la mesa, planeado proyectos futuros y pensando “¿como va a pasar todo ahora?” Ella le envió una mensaje de text a Janeth:
Becca: ¿Podemos reunir mañana para planear para cuando me abandonas? :)
Janeth: Hum. Para nada hija, no te libraras de mi facilmente. Ya lo veras
Becca: Vamos a ver, mamá
Con sonrisa, ella guardó su celular, lo verán.
