Things are going to pick up QUICK for me here. I posted a few pics... will try and post some more but the internet shuts down so it is rare that the posts actually work. I'm learning a lot of patience :). The pics are all around Cuzco, Machu Picchu.... Some of the ones I really wanted to post didn't- like I said it's hit or miss.
Things are pretty routine here...when routine is waking up to breathe in some fresh air (literally because I have a window that is wide open in my room that doesn't have glass) and hoping into a freezing cold shower. I've learned that I have to shower early or else I'm accompanied by the construction workers who work at the same level as my bathroom where there is also a window that is actually just a hole in the wall. I've had a few moments where I've gone into the bathroom and have been eye-to-eye with some of them- akward! Then there is the normal arguing with my host mom at the breakfast table that I've had enough to eat and wishing they let their dog in the house so I could feed some of my toast to it. After that- brush the teeth and pack my bag to take the 20 min walk uphill to school. My school is on the main avenue...avenida del sol- so there is always lots of traffic and hussle and bussle. It is kinda wierd dodging cars, people, llamas, alpacas...you name it. I get lots of comments that I pretend I don't hear and just keep my forward pace. Yesterday at the market my favorite comment was this guy who approached me and asked me real seriously.."Cuando me vas a casar?" When are you going to marry me? That one at least got a smile out of me... creativity points for that guy!
School is good- Had my morning lesson with my tandem student- Kely... more of a friend now. Today we walked to a bookstore and I bought a Spanish/English dictionary... I'll need it for teaching. Next week is supposed to be intense.. I'll be teaching classes to the students here. Kinda nervous for that. BUT- there is more to focus on before that. This afternoon I'm going with Alfonso & his wife to get all of our materials ready to take to the village.. we are leaving at 5 am tomorrow morning and will be gone all day. There is much unknown to this trek....but I know it will be an adventure for sure. We bought notebooks, pencils, erasers, all the basic school supplies. Greg's organization "Sense the World" sent down a bunch more supplies and we are doing the big trek to deliver it all tomorrow. There are rumors of taking some via horseback- but you just never know what will actually happen???
The afternoon should be normal as well... I'll go home to some loud music bumping in the house and my host brothers who have decided to finally get out of bed will be ready to give me a hard time. I think they wait anxiously until I get home to harrass me...but with good intentions. They are like little kids. There is always soccer on the TV and chyada our cat is always waiting for attention.... pretty comfortable little living pad for me.
There have been a few moments that have brought a smile to my face...just those moments when you stop and think "where in the world am I?" in a good sense....
*The other afternoon when I was riding horses with Dan and he was on this little tiny horse that was galloping & he was holding on for life yelling "ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch".... I seriously laughed SOOOOOO hard the entire ride just watching his face. That was a good moment.
*Walking down the street the other day (most of the streets are made of stones & are really narrow) and this little girl had two sheep and a little dog and they were tied together. She was having SO much fun running along with them laughing. Every now and then the dog would go on one side of a post and the sheep on the other and they'd get all tangled up and the girl (about 5) would fall over laughing. It was priceless to watch the girl with her pets.
*Getting spit on by a llama...... believe them when they say if they put their ears back they'll spit!
*Riding home on a bus from Kely's house yesteday on a little bus that was PACKED with peruvians. I was obviously the only gringa on the bus and this lady had three little kids about 3 & 4 yrs old and they kept saying "mama look at that girl". The mom was so embarrased and tried to appologize- but the kids so innocently kept going on and on and on about how white I was and with "clear" hair and "colored" eyes. They stared at me the whole trip... Gotta love kids and their honesty.
*The other day erin and I tried to buy some nail polish remover that costed less then a sole...so about .50 cents.... it was SUCH a process to get it and we were dying laughing. First you have to go to the counter and order what you want. Then you go to another part of the store and pay and get the paper work. Then we went to another place to get the paperwork stamped....then we took the paperwork, with the stamp back over to another window to exchange it for our nail polish that was worth .50 cents...... quite the process to buy something here.
There are so many images I see every day that i wish I could describe... all the markets I pass and people with their business up and down the streets...selling anything you could think of. Lots of poverty here. Much more evident then in Costa Rica. I want to try some of the foods that they sell in the bakerys etc, but I've been hesitant and STUFFED so haven't done that yet. I'm craving some good old cookies and cream ice cream though- that is for sure :).
I'm going to be off on my adventure tomorrow so I'll write more when I get back...
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