Just one story from Huanchaco

Where to begin. I have just returned from an incredibly inspiring trip to this little Peruvian surf town called Huanchaco. I was there for two weeks studying spanish and researching volunteer humanitarian programs....what wonderful people I came across. Maria and Jessica are the two women I stayed with. They have this beautiful one story brick house, with open stairs that lead to what could be called either a roof or one day second story. They have 13 chickens on this roof. On this roof Maria showed me how to wash clothes, making sure to ring out that last drip of soapy water before rinsing a first, second, third time. On this roof, along with the roasters her son keeps to fight in front of a crowd of angry men, Maria showed me how to first tie the chicken up in a plastic gunny sack and then with a smooth, laceration slit it's throat. The river of blood, a sacrifice to our hunger. Within a matter of minutes the bird was plucked clean of it's feathers and organs. I left Maria's house, Maria's community, after two weeks and now find myself alone in this excessively large apartment wondering when I became accustomed to showering with hot water, wondering about all the people in this country, in this world who work for so little to allow so few of us a life of frivilous luxery..I come home inspired, embarrassed, humble, lonely.