Hello Everyone!
I had to put that disclaimer before I could post anything, and I probably have to add to it later but it is up so I hope I don´t get in trouble.
Just to give everyone the update I am currently in Peru at my training site, Santa Elulalia, just outside Lima. We got here on Sunday after the first couple days at a retreat center just up the road. The trip in was pretty good, flights were on time and everything. My bags got left in Philadelphia when I was in D.C. but fortunately they got there before I left. It actually worked out because I didn´t have to carry them around myself!
The retreat was to introduce us to the country and the process and I think mainly just to give our host families time to get ready for us.
I moved in with my host family on Sunday and we went to a party for the festival of the cross, a local tradition in this area. My favorite part was the firework shooting cow they called the vaca loca (a guy in a paper mache cow costume dancing while fireworks shot off the top). There are pictures somewhere so I will have to figure out how to get them on here. My host family is really awesome and they are helping me learn Spanish, one of my ´´sisters´ gave me a workbook for four year olds which sadly has been helpful.
Training then took off on Monday and we are there for about 8 hours everyday. The center is just up the street from me (they put those who aren´t so good with their Spanish closer so they don´t have to try to navigate the bus system). We have about 4 hours of language training everyday so hopefully by the end of the ten weeks I will be a speaking castellano (Peruvian Spanish) with the best of them. I get home from training around 5 and as soon as I walk in the door my sisters are all about teaching me some vocab. It is draining trying to learn and figure out all day long, but it is interesting and keeps me alert. Hopefully soon I will be able to do more than just utter single words and point at things.
That´s about it for now. Tomorrow is our first adventure out into the city so I can´t wait to see how that goes.
Oh also for those of you who are wondering I have yet to get sick, although I´m sure it is coming. Everyone gets sick either from food, water, hygiene (lack there of), or some combination of the three. Fortunately everyone in the group is pretty open about the whole digestion situation. We actually have a pool going to see who poops themselves last haha. The doctor shared some valuable advice with us yesterday...¨never trust a fart.´´
I´m not sure how often I will get to update this so if you get tired of checking back I´m sorry. Hope things are well back in America! I miss it some but I am also loving my time in Peru!
Sounds like you're having a brilliant time! I don't know if I could handle the vaca loca (is that Spanish for 'crazy cow'? I think all of the romance languages make use of "vaca" or some derivation thereof for "cow"--remember, inoculations are now called "vaccines" because the first one was developed for cowpox! :) Don't worry man, I'll keep you in stock with random shit while you're gone ), but it sounds like you're definitely learning a ton already.
ReplyDeleteAlso, remember what Heidi taught you in DC: don't actually kiss people on the cheek when you greet them, just make the sound. ;-)
Why do I feel you are going to have a hard time not 'trusting a fart'... haha
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you! You're going to have so much fun - I know PST is a pain, but it goes by fast so connect with your group as much as possible - they're the only ones who really know exactly what you're going through.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have made a great start. I am excited to keep up with your adventures, and impressed by your commitment to the rest of us--even random Peruvians.
ReplyDeleteClever blog title.
Are you gonna be able to skype?
My German foreign exchange student from 1993 and his wife are leaving in October for an around-the-world yearlong trek, and SA is one of their several month destinations. Once you get to your permanent location, I would like to try to connect you guys.
Doug Da