M&M: Peru Day 3 - UAB Chiclayo

11:40 PM

Just returned from dinner with all of UMB leadership, all 14 interns, Alberto Puertas (BYU Advising), Randy Lewis (Chemical Engineering Dept. Chair, BYU), and Chris Mattson (Mechanical Engineering, BYU). I’m exhausted so this may not make a lot of sense.

I’ve learned a lot about the culture here. Appointments are very fluid. People are very kind and don’t want to offend. I woke up at 7AM to the sound of Spanish music. I got up and got dressed, not knowing what time my day was scheduled to start. I got a phone call around 9AM saying, “we are having breakfast in the hotel. Come down.” And so my day began.

I met Justin Zamora at the UMB and they gave me another guy’s desk to work from (across from UMB). I reviewed Justin's work, and am extremely impressed with what he has done in such a short time, and what he has planned. I have been asked to help develop UMB's employer relations program.

I am very humbled today. I am so impressed and inspired by David Cornejo and his staff. They really want to make a difference in Peru. I learned that UMB serves the people in the lowest two economic segments (There are 6 segments.) They keep the school open on weekends for those who work during the week.

Porcon, Planting Seeds:

Randy Lewis and Chris Mattson (BYU engineering) told me about a place they had been to yesterday called Porcon. They said it was like no other. There is a man named Alejandro who decided 38 years ago to hand plant 12 million pine trees. This village of 1500 people is in the bare Andes mountains. Some complained saying, “are we going to feed our kids wood?” This is one of two places in the world (the other is in Bolivia) where forward thinkers have done something like this. It takes these pine trees 20 years to grow to maturity. They are now harvesting the trees and selling the wood. They also started a fish hatchery, cheese factory, and a dairy farm – they sell their milk to Nestle.

While we were sitting at dinner tonight, I had the thought that we (and specifically Alberto) are planting seeds in Peru. Alberto is a forward thinker. The things that are happening in Peru just might have a tremendous impact in 20 years.

For lunch, David took us to “Fiesta”, the nicest Peruvian restaurant in Chiclayo where I tasted some more authentic Peruvian food. It was delicious: Duck on rice, Chiclayan Civiche, amazing juice, and some great appetizers and dessert.

For dinner, we ate with the interns and leadership from UMB. While our food sat in front of us getting cold, David spoke for about 30 minutes. He is a politician. J He thanked everyone for what we are all doing, and then spoke directly to the interns about their mumblings over not being able to see the city, etc. Then he asked Randy to speak, and then Alberto spoke. I think we started eating around 9:30. Northern Peruvian people like to talk, and they like to clap.

There is more to write, but I have got to go to bed so I will be ready for my 7:00 Spanish music wake-up call.

Tip of the day: “bring your own toilet paper with you to work.”