This post will be short, as I am very exhausted from a long 6 days of traveling. I spent Saturday and Sunday in Machu Picchu and the nearby city, Aguas Calientes (named for its natural 'hot' springs that were more like lukewarm room temperature).
It goes without saying that Machu Picchu was breathtaking and amazing. We started our day at 4am with the long hike to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes. When I say hike, I actually mean rocks in the form of stairs...1.5 hours straight of these stairs that were often too high for my short legs. It was a beautiful hike but very tiring! Once we reached Machu Picchu, we went straight to our next activity, which was hiking Huaynapicchu (the big green mountain in every picture you've seen of Machu Picchu). This included another hour of stone steps, often so steep that we were rock climbing. The Summit is a bunch of huge boulders that you have to very strategically maneuver in order to not slip 2 inches and fall to your death. Looking back, I'm realizing that this hike was very dangerous. But, wow, the view from the top made it all worth it! After Huaynapicchu, we met our tour guide to start our tour of Machu Picchu, the 'lost city' of the Incas.
Monday morning, I took a 7.5 hour bus ride to Manu, a national park of sorts on the outskirts of the Amazon. I stayed in a volunteer house there and did some volunteer work, such as monitoring and recording butterfly activity and cleaning the site. There was no electricity and the only water is what came straight from the river (no hot showers), so most people opt to bathe in the nearby waterfall. There are 2 monkeys living at the house, Chico and Paula. It turned out that the bed I chose to sleep in was also the monkeys' favorite bed to sleep in. So, the first night I was surprised to find Chico asleep in my bed, head on the pillow and everything. So I just got in with him and he was very sweet and loved to cuddle. He also really likes to sleep in and got a little cranky when I wanted to get out of bed at 7:30am. I never thought I would be sharing a bed with a monkey!
Now I am down to only 2 more days in Cusco! It will be very bittersweet to leave. Tomorrow is my last day with the kids, and I already know there will be tears involved!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
My time in Peru is quickly running out - I can't believe how fast the past month flew by. In some ways, I am ready to come home, but the majority of me wishes I could just stay here and travel around South America for a few years (wouldn't that be nice?!).
Today was my last Spanish class, but instead of staying in the classroom, my teacher offered to take me shopping at some local markets. So, we ditched class and went shopping for two hours! It was really fun, and I really enjoyed spending time with her and getting to know her better. She has 2 daughters that are the same ages as Lee and I! It was also nice to have her around while I was shopping because I was charged significantly less money since I was with a local (it gave me some street cred). After shopping, I took her out for ice cream. It was a really great morning, and was just as helpful as a Spanish class since I had to have all of our conversations in Spanish!
This afternoon, I taught the kids how to make pictures frames out of popsicle sticks. I took each one of their photos and will bring printed copies in next week, and then they will give the frames to their moms for Mother's Day. They were so excited and really got into it- it was so cute!
I have a busy few days ahead of me. Tomorrow morning, I am going to Machhu Picchu with 7 other people in my house. We will be there until Sunday night. Then, at 4:30am Monday morning, I am leaving to spend a few days volunteering in the jungle. I'm not entirely sure what that will entail, but I think I will mostly be cutting down non-native plants. But, the thing I am most excited about is that there are 2 monkeys who live in the house I will be staying at. So, I will be hangin out with some monkeys! Also, in order to get to the house, you have to cross a river on a zipline. There is no electricity, so I will not be able to update with pictures until Thursday when I return to Cusco.
Here are some pictures from today:
Today was my last Spanish class, but instead of staying in the classroom, my teacher offered to take me shopping at some local markets. So, we ditched class and went shopping for two hours! It was really fun, and I really enjoyed spending time with her and getting to know her better. She has 2 daughters that are the same ages as Lee and I! It was also nice to have her around while I was shopping because I was charged significantly less money since I was with a local (it gave me some street cred). After shopping, I took her out for ice cream. It was a really great morning, and was just as helpful as a Spanish class since I had to have all of our conversations in Spanish!
This afternoon, I taught the kids how to make pictures frames out of popsicle sticks. I took each one of their photos and will bring printed copies in next week, and then they will give the frames to their moms for Mother's Day. They were so excited and really got into it- it was so cute!
I have a busy few days ahead of me. Tomorrow morning, I am going to Machhu Picchu with 7 other people in my house. We will be there until Sunday night. Then, at 4:30am Monday morning, I am leaving to spend a few days volunteering in the jungle. I'm not entirely sure what that will entail, but I think I will mostly be cutting down non-native plants. But, the thing I am most excited about is that there are 2 monkeys who live in the house I will be staying at. So, I will be hangin out with some monkeys! Also, in order to get to the house, you have to cross a river on a zipline. There is no electricity, so I will not be able to update with pictures until Thursday when I return to Cusco.
Here are some pictures from today:
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Finally...the kids!
We had a great birthday party yesterday, complete with games, dancing, cake and jello. I'll let the pictures and videos speak for themselves!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Lago Titicaca
I returned early yesterday morning from an amazing weekend in Puno and Lake Titicaca. The adventure started Friday night with a 6.5 hour overnight bus ride from Cusco to Puno. Saturday morning we boarded a boat and visited Los Uros, a group of man-made floating islands. They are made out of reed-type plants, and were originally constructed as a means of defense. Some families still live on the islands, and we were able to get a tour and see their houses, which was very interesting- shocking to think that people still live so simply.
From Los Uros, we took a 3-hour boat ride to the largest natural island on the lake, Amantani. The island has a population of about 4,000 and is divided into 10 different communities (each with its own President). There are no streets, no cars, no electricity, and only some places with running water. There are also no hotels or hostels on the island, so tourists stay with local families. When we arrived on the island, we were split into 2 groups of 3 and taken to 2 different homestays. The family I stayed with was very nice and welcoming - a couple with a 10 year old son and 5 month old daughter. We arrived to a traditional lunch of island-grown vegatables, rice, and fried cheese. Meat is rarely ate on the island, and the diet consists of the grains and vegetables grown on the island and occasionally lake trout. Tea is also served after every meal with freshly picked herbs in place of tea bags. I am not a tea person, but enjoyed their Muna tea (tasted a bit like mint).
In the afternoon, we hiked up the biggest hill/mountain on the island, called Pachatata (Father Earth). It was a beautiful hike and the views of the lake and surrounding mountains were breathtaking. Plus, I scored a good deal on a handmade Alpaca sweater from a woman at the top of the hill - only 30 soles (about $11). After the hike, we returned to our houses for dinner and to get ready for the fiesta! Our family gave us traditional clothing to wear and took us up the hill to a party where we learned traditional dances. It was fun, and I enjoyed twirling around in my big skirt!
The next morning we took the boat to another natural island called Taquile. We went on a another short hike, and stopped to eat a traditional lunch of lake trout with rice and potatoes. We then returned to the city of Puno, where we got on our bus back to Cusco. It was truly an amazing weekend. The generosity of the family was very touching, and seeing such a simple way of life was eye-opening. It is definitely a place I want to return to someday!
This week, I am back to my normal routine of Spanish and volunteering. Friday, we are having a birthday party for all the kids who had birthdays within the past 3 months - so that is sure to be fun and super cute. I promise to take pictures!
From Los Uros, we took a 3-hour boat ride to the largest natural island on the lake, Amantani. The island has a population of about 4,000 and is divided into 10 different communities (each with its own President). There are no streets, no cars, no electricity, and only some places with running water. There are also no hotels or hostels on the island, so tourists stay with local families. When we arrived on the island, we were split into 2 groups of 3 and taken to 2 different homestays. The family I stayed with was very nice and welcoming - a couple with a 10 year old son and 5 month old daughter. We arrived to a traditional lunch of island-grown vegatables, rice, and fried cheese. Meat is rarely ate on the island, and the diet consists of the grains and vegetables grown on the island and occasionally lake trout. Tea is also served after every meal with freshly picked herbs in place of tea bags. I am not a tea person, but enjoyed their Muna tea (tasted a bit like mint).
In the afternoon, we hiked up the biggest hill/mountain on the island, called Pachatata (Father Earth). It was a beautiful hike and the views of the lake and surrounding mountains were breathtaking. Plus, I scored a good deal on a handmade Alpaca sweater from a woman at the top of the hill - only 30 soles (about $11). After the hike, we returned to our houses for dinner and to get ready for the fiesta! Our family gave us traditional clothing to wear and took us up the hill to a party where we learned traditional dances. It was fun, and I enjoyed twirling around in my big skirt!
The next morning we took the boat to another natural island called Taquile. We went on a another short hike, and stopped to eat a traditional lunch of lake trout with rice and potatoes. We then returned to the city of Puno, where we got on our bus back to Cusco. It was truly an amazing weekend. The generosity of the family was very touching, and seeing such a simple way of life was eye-opening. It is definitely a place I want to return to someday!
This week, I am back to my normal routine of Spanish and volunteering. Friday, we are having a birthday party for all the kids who had birthdays within the past 3 months - so that is sure to be fun and super cute. I promise to take pictures!
Friday, April 6, 2012
Pisac and Semana Santa
I apologize for the lapse in posts! This week has been fairly low-key, as it is Semana Santa (Easter week) and most everything is closed. I didn't have Spanish class or volunteering on Thursday or Friday, which turned out to be good because I came down with a stomach bug and fever and I had time to sleep! After a doctor visit and some medicine (total cost= $40!), I am feeling MUCH better.
Anyway, last weekend my roommate and I traveled to Pisac, a small town in the Sacred Valley with Inca ruins. They also have a famous market, where vendors sell food and handmade goods- anything from alpaca sweaters to bowls to jewelry. I made my first touristy purchase and bought a bracelet for 5 soles. Then we spent a couple hours walking around the ruins with our guide, Dario, who charged us about $7 each to show us around. Pisac was beautiful - the pictures can explain much more than I can!
On Monday, I went to the Plaza de Armas (the main square in the city) to watch a parade that occurs every year on the Monday or easter week. A statue of Jesus is carried around the whole city (about 5 hours) then returned to the main church in the Plaza and is taken inside to be blessed. The whole city comes out to watch. On Tuesday, the women that work at my volunteer placement took me and the 2 other volunteers out to lunch to eat chicharron, a dish that the town of Saylla is famous for. Chicharron is basically pork and pork skin fried in pork fat. Needless to say, it was pretty tasty.
Tonight, me and 6 of my housemates are taking an overnight bus to Lake Titicaca. It's about 7 hours away, right on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It is 12,500 feet above sea level, and is the highest navigable lake in the world. But it is most famous for its man-made islands, made from floating reeds. We will be staying on one of the main islands with a native family (no electricity or running water!). I won't be back until 5am Monday morning, so will try to update with pictures Monday or Tuesday!
Anyway, last weekend my roommate and I traveled to Pisac, a small town in the Sacred Valley with Inca ruins. They also have a famous market, where vendors sell food and handmade goods- anything from alpaca sweaters to bowls to jewelry. I made my first touristy purchase and bought a bracelet for 5 soles. Then we spent a couple hours walking around the ruins with our guide, Dario, who charged us about $7 each to show us around. Pisac was beautiful - the pictures can explain much more than I can!
On Monday, I went to the Plaza de Armas (the main square in the city) to watch a parade that occurs every year on the Monday or easter week. A statue of Jesus is carried around the whole city (about 5 hours) then returned to the main church in the Plaza and is taken inside to be blessed. The whole city comes out to watch. On Tuesday, the women that work at my volunteer placement took me and the 2 other volunteers out to lunch to eat chicharron, a dish that the town of Saylla is famous for. Chicharron is basically pork and pork skin fried in pork fat. Needless to say, it was pretty tasty.
Tonight, me and 6 of my housemates are taking an overnight bus to Lake Titicaca. It's about 7 hours away, right on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It is 12,500 feet above sea level, and is the highest navigable lake in the world. But it is most famous for its man-made islands, made from floating reeds. We will be staying on one of the main islands with a native family (no electricity or running water!). I won't be back until 5am Monday morning, so will try to update with pictures Monday or Tuesday!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Observations
I had another great week in Cusco. I don't have any big news or cool pictures today, but figured I would write down some random observations.
Peruvian time: As I half-jokingly told Berto today, he would fit in perfectly here. I've learned that there is really no pressure to be on time or do anything in a timely manner. My Spanish class starts at 10am, which really means we might get started by 10:15. After my first week of arriving at class at 9:58 and sitting by myself for 15 minutes, I have learned to not arrive at class until at least 10:10. I've also learned to not expect waiters to pay much attention to me. Want to get your menu? Expect to wait at least 10 minutes. Ready to order another drink? You are better off going to the bar and ordering yourself. This concept of time is new to me, and it has been a little hard to get used to. But it is also really refreshing and a much-welcomed break from the gogogo of Chicago.
Locals' extreme overdressing: The weather here is beautiful. It is hot and sunny for most of the day with the occasional rain shower. Cusco is the place on earth with the highest ultraviolet light level. So if the sun is shining, you are HOT. Yet I have not seen one single local in a pair or shorts, or rarely a t-shirt. Daily, they are bundled up in sweaters, fleeces, winter jackets, and the Quechua women wear legwarmers. It continues to amaze me that I am sweating excessively in jeans and a t-shirt and people are passing by me wearing leather jackets and scarves.
I'm a gringa: In many places in the city, it's very common to see a bunch of tourists aka white people aka gringos. However, in other places and on my bus to work everyday, I am the sole white person and the locals (affectionately) call me gringa.
Everyone is on my level! Cusquena people are short. You won't see any local, man of woman, above 5'9" in Cusco. I personally am loving it! But for my taller housemates and volunteers, it can be difficult. There is barely any leg room in buses and anyone above 5'5" can't stand up straight on a bus. Evan, a guy I volunteer with is over 6 foot. When he stood up to get off the bus yesterday, a kid on the bus pointed and yelled "gigante!" It was pretty funny. Lee- Cusco is perfect for you!
Sorry for the underwhelming post. Tomorrow I am going to the Pisac ruins, so an interesting post with pictures is coming!
Peruvian time: As I half-jokingly told Berto today, he would fit in perfectly here. I've learned that there is really no pressure to be on time or do anything in a timely manner. My Spanish class starts at 10am, which really means we might get started by 10:15. After my first week of arriving at class at 9:58 and sitting by myself for 15 minutes, I have learned to not arrive at class until at least 10:10. I've also learned to not expect waiters to pay much attention to me. Want to get your menu? Expect to wait at least 10 minutes. Ready to order another drink? You are better off going to the bar and ordering yourself. This concept of time is new to me, and it has been a little hard to get used to. But it is also really refreshing and a much-welcomed break from the gogogo of Chicago.
Locals' extreme overdressing: The weather here is beautiful. It is hot and sunny for most of the day with the occasional rain shower. Cusco is the place on earth with the highest ultraviolet light level. So if the sun is shining, you are HOT. Yet I have not seen one single local in a pair or shorts, or rarely a t-shirt. Daily, they are bundled up in sweaters, fleeces, winter jackets, and the Quechua women wear legwarmers. It continues to amaze me that I am sweating excessively in jeans and a t-shirt and people are passing by me wearing leather jackets and scarves.
I'm a gringa: In many places in the city, it's very common to see a bunch of tourists aka white people aka gringos. However, in other places and on my bus to work everyday, I am the sole white person and the locals (affectionately) call me gringa.
Everyone is on my level! Cusquena people are short. You won't see any local, man of woman, above 5'9" in Cusco. I personally am loving it! But for my taller housemates and volunteers, it can be difficult. There is barely any leg room in buses and anyone above 5'5" can't stand up straight on a bus. Evan, a guy I volunteer with is over 6 foot. When he stood up to get off the bus yesterday, a kid on the bus pointed and yelled "gigante!" It was pretty funny. Lee- Cusco is perfect for you!
Sorry for the underwhelming post. Tomorrow I am going to the Pisac ruins, so an interesting post with pictures is coming!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Weekend adventures
My first weekend in Cusco flew by and it was truly amazing. It was spontaneous and full of surprises- exactly how it should be!
On Saturday, my roommate and I took a hike up to Cristo Blanco, a huge white statue of Christ that overlooks the city (pictures below). It was a beautiful walk with great views. Plus, I was very excited to see my first llamas (or alpacas...not sure of the difference yet). There are also some Inca ruins on top of the same hill, but we were not able to go because we had to rush to be on time for our next activity - chocolate! We went to the Chocolate Museum with one other girl in our house and her boyfriend. We took a 2 hour class about the history of chocolate and how it is made. We got to make a couple ancient chocolate drinks that the Inca royalty used the drink, as chocolate used to very expensive and a luxury. We also got to flavor our own chocolates to take home. I made mine a bunch of different flavors - mint, chile, milk, peanuts, etc. They turned out quite delicious!
I expected Sunday to be pretty low key so I could relax and do my Spanish homework. That did not happen at all. Me and 3 of my housemates decided last minute to go to some ruins in the Sacred Valley. A 1 hour bus ride and 15 minute cab ride later, we arrived at Moray. Moray is Inca ruins that are a bunch of huge, depressed circles. The temperature increases as you walk down to the center, so people believe that the Incas used these circles to experiment with different climates for growing crops. It was amazing - I really hope my pictures do it some justice! After Moray, we drove about 20 minutes to the Salineras, which are salt mines that have been used since the Inca time. It's a group of hundreds of little ponds that local people own to farm their own salt. Our cab driver's family actually owns one of the ponds, so he ran down to check out how the pond is doing. Unfortunately, we didn't see the farmers in action because they do not farm the salt until the rainy season is over in May. But it was still very cool and had really breathtaking views.
It was a really great weekend and I am excited to do some more traveling next weekend. But I have to cut this post short because I have yet to start my Spanish homework!
I took 111 pictures this weekend, but here are some of the best ones:
On Saturday, my roommate and I took a hike up to Cristo Blanco, a huge white statue of Christ that overlooks the city (pictures below). It was a beautiful walk with great views. Plus, I was very excited to see my first llamas (or alpacas...not sure of the difference yet). There are also some Inca ruins on top of the same hill, but we were not able to go because we had to rush to be on time for our next activity - chocolate! We went to the Chocolate Museum with one other girl in our house and her boyfriend. We took a 2 hour class about the history of chocolate and how it is made. We got to make a couple ancient chocolate drinks that the Inca royalty used the drink, as chocolate used to very expensive and a luxury. We also got to flavor our own chocolates to take home. I made mine a bunch of different flavors - mint, chile, milk, peanuts, etc. They turned out quite delicious!
I expected Sunday to be pretty low key so I could relax and do my Spanish homework. That did not happen at all. Me and 3 of my housemates decided last minute to go to some ruins in the Sacred Valley. A 1 hour bus ride and 15 minute cab ride later, we arrived at Moray. Moray is Inca ruins that are a bunch of huge, depressed circles. The temperature increases as you walk down to the center, so people believe that the Incas used these circles to experiment with different climates for growing crops. It was amazing - I really hope my pictures do it some justice! After Moray, we drove about 20 minutes to the Salineras, which are salt mines that have been used since the Inca time. It's a group of hundreds of little ponds that local people own to farm their own salt. Our cab driver's family actually owns one of the ponds, so he ran down to check out how the pond is doing. Unfortunately, we didn't see the farmers in action because they do not farm the salt until the rainy season is over in May. But it was still very cool and had really breathtaking views.
It was a really great weekend and I am excited to do some more traveling next weekend. But I have to cut this post short because I have yet to start my Spanish homework!
I took 111 pictures this weekend, but here are some of the best ones:
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Settling in
Officially 4 days in and I'm starting to get adjusted to the Cusco way of life. I've been keeping very busy and have quite a full schedule. Here is my schedule Monday-Friday:
-7:30am: Wake up and eat breakfast, which consists of delicious fresh fruit, yogurt, granola-type stuff, and fresh juice.
-9:30am: Leave the house to walk 30 minutes to my Spanish class.
-10am-12pm: Spanish class - I am in a class with one other guy who speaks fluent Portuguese, so he has a big advantage learning Spanish and picks things up pretty quick. I am learning a lot though. My teacher only speaks in Spanish the entire class, so at times it is difficult to follow her but she is very good at explaining things and giving examples. I'm enjoying class a lot!
-12:30pm: Arrive home for lunch. Relax a bit, read on the awesome rooftop balcony we have, or do my Spanish homework.
-2pm: Walk 30 minutes to the bus stop to take my 50 min bus ride to my volunteer placement in a nearby town named Saylla. This is where things get interesting because riding a bus here is quite the experience. First of all, it is not always a 'bus'- sometimes it is a van. They're are very crowded and play super loud music. There is a guy who kind of hangs out of the bus door (which is left open a lot of the drive) who yells at people at the different bus stops if they want to get on. He also walks through the bus at seemingly random times to collect payment (1 sole, or about 30 cents). He sometimes announces the next bus stop, but not always - you have to be pretty alert and ready to yell "Baja! (stop)" when you want to get off. Then you are told to hurry up, hurry up, get off the bus.
-3-6pm: Volunteer at Corazon de Dahlia, a program for local Saylla children ages 5-12. There are usually about 15-20 kids. I'm immediately greeted by the kids with kisses on the cheek and "Buenas tardes!" These kids are freakin cute, and so sweet and polite. For the first hour, we play a game or do an art project. The next hour they work on homework, and it's my job to make sure they are doing their work and not messing around. This can be difficult with the language barrier but already in the past 3 days, I feel I have really improved. Yesterday I successfully explained in spanish to a 7 year old girl what a subject and a verb are and how they form a sentence. So I was pretty happy about that. Though there are also a few kids who do not speak Spanish or English - they only speak Quechua, the native language of the Andean region. The last hour of the day we work with them on English. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we teach a lesson and the rest of the days we review that week's lesson. This weeks lessons are how to say "My name is..." and learning the English alphabet. It is really fun, and I am truly enjoying it. I never really though of myself as a big "kid person" but these kids are really awesome and I look forward to spending a lot more time with them!
-7:30pm: Arrive home and eat dinner. By this time I am usually really tired and don't do much, but hopefully I will get more adjusted to my schedule and have more energy to do more at night.
Weekends are open for me, so I am trying to plan trips and tours and such. Hopefully this weekend my roommate and I will go to the Sacred Valley.
The weather here is beautiful - about 70 degrees and sunny during the day...and I mean SUNNY. I was on the balcony for about 10 minutes and got sunburnt. I have never felt sun so strong in my life (yes mom, I am wearing sunscreen everyday). Then at night it cools of quite a bit and you need a light jacket.
Here are some pictures:
-7:30am: Wake up and eat breakfast, which consists of delicious fresh fruit, yogurt, granola-type stuff, and fresh juice.
-9:30am: Leave the house to walk 30 minutes to my Spanish class.
-10am-12pm: Spanish class - I am in a class with one other guy who speaks fluent Portuguese, so he has a big advantage learning Spanish and picks things up pretty quick. I am learning a lot though. My teacher only speaks in Spanish the entire class, so at times it is difficult to follow her but she is very good at explaining things and giving examples. I'm enjoying class a lot!
-12:30pm: Arrive home for lunch. Relax a bit, read on the awesome rooftop balcony we have, or do my Spanish homework.
-2pm: Walk 30 minutes to the bus stop to take my 50 min bus ride to my volunteer placement in a nearby town named Saylla. This is where things get interesting because riding a bus here is quite the experience. First of all, it is not always a 'bus'- sometimes it is a van. They're are very crowded and play super loud music. There is a guy who kind of hangs out of the bus door (which is left open a lot of the drive) who yells at people at the different bus stops if they want to get on. He also walks through the bus at seemingly random times to collect payment (1 sole, or about 30 cents). He sometimes announces the next bus stop, but not always - you have to be pretty alert and ready to yell "Baja! (stop)" when you want to get off. Then you are told to hurry up, hurry up, get off the bus.
-3-6pm: Volunteer at Corazon de Dahlia, a program for local Saylla children ages 5-12. There are usually about 15-20 kids. I'm immediately greeted by the kids with kisses on the cheek and "Buenas tardes!" These kids are freakin cute, and so sweet and polite. For the first hour, we play a game or do an art project. The next hour they work on homework, and it's my job to make sure they are doing their work and not messing around. This can be difficult with the language barrier but already in the past 3 days, I feel I have really improved. Yesterday I successfully explained in spanish to a 7 year old girl what a subject and a verb are and how they form a sentence. So I was pretty happy about that. Though there are also a few kids who do not speak Spanish or English - they only speak Quechua, the native language of the Andean region. The last hour of the day we work with them on English. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we teach a lesson and the rest of the days we review that week's lesson. This weeks lessons are how to say "My name is..." and learning the English alphabet. It is really fun, and I am truly enjoying it. I never really though of myself as a big "kid person" but these kids are really awesome and I look forward to spending a lot more time with them!
-7:30pm: Arrive home and eat dinner. By this time I am usually really tired and don't do much, but hopefully I will get more adjusted to my schedule and have more energy to do more at night.
Weekends are open for me, so I am trying to plan trips and tours and such. Hopefully this weekend my roommate and I will go to the Sacred Valley.
The weather here is beautiful - about 70 degrees and sunny during the day...and I mean SUNNY. I was on the balcony for about 10 minutes and got sunburnt. I have never felt sun so strong in my life (yes mom, I am wearing sunscreen everyday). Then at night it cools of quite a bit and you need a light jacket.
Here are some pictures:
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Estoy aqui!
After a long night of traveling, I arrived in Cusco at 8:30 this morning. After a short tour of the volunteer organization's office, I was taken to my housing and immediately fell asleep for 4 hours. I am staying in a family house called San Pedro. There are 12 volunteers living here. I am rooming with a girl named Alejandra - she is very nice and speaks fluent Spanish so that's a plus! We have a house manager and cook who makes us all our meals. They are both very nice and speak pretty good English as well.
After my nap, I walked about 20 minutes to the volunteer office for my orientation. I also took a Spanish test to see what level lessons I should take while I'm here. Good news - I'm not super basic! I'm actually pre-intermediate - I guess all my practicing by myself in my room paid off.
Tomorrow I have my first Spanish class from 10-12, then visit the site of my volunteer project at 2:30. I'm really enjoying myself so far and am very impressed with how organized the whole process has been.
The food so far has been very good. Berto- you were right about the potatoes. Peru has 3000+ varieties of potatoes and we are told to expect them in every meal.
After my nap, I walked about 20 minutes to the volunteer office for my orientation. I also took a Spanish test to see what level lessons I should take while I'm here. Good news - I'm not super basic! I'm actually pre-intermediate - I guess all my practicing by myself in my room paid off.
Tomorrow I have my first Spanish class from 10-12, then visit the site of my volunteer project at 2:30. I'm really enjoying myself so far and am very impressed with how organized the whole process has been.
The food so far has been very good. Berto- you were right about the potatoes. Peru has 3000+ varieties of potatoes and we are told to expect them in every meal.
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| View from my bedroom window |
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| My room |
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| Another of the view from my bedroom |
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| My volunteer house - my room is the 2nd floor, 2nd from the left |
Monday, March 12, 2012
The countdown begins!
This is it...only 5 days until I leave for Peru, and 6 days until I step foot in Cusco. I'm feeling a big mix of emotions but overall, I am very excited and equally as nervous. It's kind of a scary thing to not know at all what to expect, but that is also what makes it exciting.
I'm looking forward to challenging myself in every way possible - traveling alone, living in a foreign country alone, working with children, learning a new language... it is all very overwhelming.
I know that it will not be all smiles and sunshine. I know that at times I will get frustrated, lonely, homesick, and discouraged. That is part of this experience, and I am ready to conquer those feelings and soak up everything to the fullest.
5 more days...and still lots to get done!
I'm looking forward to challenging myself in every way possible - traveling alone, living in a foreign country alone, working with children, learning a new language... it is all very overwhelming.
I know that it will not be all smiles and sunshine. I know that at times I will get frustrated, lonely, homesick, and discouraged. That is part of this experience, and I am ready to conquer those feelings and soak up everything to the fullest.
5 more days...and still lots to get done!
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