I think I can...speak a little bit of Spanish.

Today was a good day.  My Spanish teacher already said that I am improving and during lunch I was actually able to have a conversation with my host parents!  I definitely did not understand all of it, but I was able to get the general idea and even respond!  After Mariska, the other volunteer staying in the house with me, and I refused seconds our host mother told us about one volunteer she had that always ate seconds and thirds and gained a lot of weight.  She said that this volunteer ended up splitting her pants during her placement working with children.  So, she told us it is good we only eat firsts (it is super filling –  I would not be able to eat seconds!).  We also talked about how previous volunteers have complained that they kept hearing a strange sound and it ended up being their dog snoring.  I told them that I also heard the dog and we all laughed.  I was also able to successfully tell them that my family is coming to visit and I was able to give them their gifts from Chicago with a good Spanish introduction.  The Spanish is still not easy, but I am very happy with the couple of things I have accomplished.

                I also was able to ask someone for directions today and I thought I understood the answer, but either he gave me the wrong directions or I completely misunderstood.  Either way, because of these directions, I took a great walk around the market and up above the market, where I was able to look out over Pisac and see the mountains surrounding on all sides.  It was beautiful.  Although I never found the Pisac Inn where I was hoping to exchange money, I did FINALLY find an ATM that worked for me!  I can now actually buy things!

                During the afternoon I sat in the sun and wrote in my journal and knitted.  It was nice to be warm!  It is so cold indoors and at night, so I often feel colder than I would like.  My host family was very impressed with my knitting and my host mother showed me that she crochets, so that is next on my list of things to learn.

                The biggest news today was that I ate chicken…I am no longer a vegetarian, I guess.  My host mother was really upset that I did not eat meat, so I said I would eat some chicken and fish.  My vegetarianism probably would have been broken eventually – meat is such a big part of the Peruvian diet.

                Going back to yesterday, the barbeque for the Projects Abroad volunteers was really nice.  There were thirteen of us, two from Philadelphia and people from Denmark, Holland, England, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand. We had a good time discussing stereotypes from different cultures and language influences.

                I cannot believe that this is only my third day in Peru!  It feels like I have been here forever – in a good way of course.  Goodbye for now!  ¡Adios!

Spanish Classes and Free WiFi

September 5, 2012 12:00 pm

Right now I am sitting in the Blue Llama café in Pisac – 2 blocks from my host family.  And the best part is that it has free wifi!  So, I am sitting on my netbook (Thank you SO much Beth and Bill) writing this while eating a slice of banana cake.  I am glad this works because none of the ATMs I have found work so I don’t have any soles yet, so luckily this café takes credit cards.

After lunch yesterday I took a two and a half hour nap, then practiced some Spanish on my own, and then had dinner.  Dinner was a bowl of soup and tea and animal crackers…I think I am going to like lunch better than dinner.  We also watch TV at every meal and at dinner it’s a show called “Combate” which is a reality TV show with competitions like pineapple eating contests and relay races.  Matthew would like it, but I’m not such a fan of reality television although I like hearing them speak Spanish and hearing my host mom yell at the TV.  After dinner (at 8:30) Maria, the other volunteer staying in my host family with me, and I decided to go to bed.  As I was getting ready for bed, there was knock and the door and it was Maria and my Spanish teacher there to meet us and schedule times for Spanish lessons.  We made schedules and she showed us where our classroom is – a block from our house.  Then I went to bed and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, even though there was a dog snoring very loudly outside my door.

Today I had breakfast (Nescafe and a roll) with my host mom and Maria and then went to my first Spanish class at 8.  I am going to have 3 hours of Spanish class everyday for the first two weeks and then I will do 1 to 2 hours a day along with my kindergarten placement for the rest of my time here.  It will end up being 90 hours of Spanish classes!  I really like my teacher and I think I will learn a lot from her.  However, I felt brain dead after class – it takes a lot of concentration to practice Spanish for three hours straight!

After class I wondered around the market a little bit, tried to use various ATMs and then went back to my host family to grab my computer.  I ran into my host father there and I was happy that I was actually able to exchange a couple sentences in Spanish with him.  It wasn’t much but I was able to understand that he was asking where I was and I was able to tell him that I was at Spanish class for three hours.  Baby steps.  My next goal is to start answering automatically in Spanish – right now I always say “thank you” first and then remember to say “gracias.”  Then I came to the café and here I am.

So, that’s about it.  I am still exhausted, but doing well.  No suitcase yet, but hopefully it will come soon.  After this I will go home for lunch and then go to a volunteer bbq.  Hasta luego.

P.S. My Suitcase came this afternoon!!  I am so glad I only had to wait a day for it!

           

Traveling and Getting to Peru

September 4, 2012 2:40pm
    I cannot believe that it has been less than 24 hours since I left my house in Skokie.  So much has happened since then.  Although my flights were all on time and were comfortable, the time before and after the flights were extremely stressful.  When I got to Miami from Chicago, I had to take a 35 minute walk to my new gate, which was extremely unpleasant because I kept freaking out that I was going to miss my flight and because I was carrying an extremely heavy backpack and carry-on duffel.  Speaking of that carry-on duffel - thank god I had it!  When I got to Lima I was supposed to recheck my bag, but, of course, my bag was not there.  So, I spent half an hour in line with ten other people that had flown through Chicago and had lost their bags.  By the time I finally was able to talk to an airline representative it was 6:05 and my plane was supposed to board at 6:10, so at this point I was almost in tears.  They helped me fill out all the paperwork and promised that my bags will be returned tomorrow…fingers crossed.  Then, I had to go through security again and rush to my gate.  But, of course, all of the screens showing departure gates and times were no longer showing any flights leaving before 7:06 and mine was supposed to depart at 7.  I frantically asked several people working in the airport where to find my gate and they all said that they didn’t know and to check the screen.  Finally, I found someone on the far side of the airport and she told me to go to Gate 4 and told me how to get there.  By that time I felt like sobbing because I was so stressed and tired, so thankfully that’s right when I ran into my Mom’s friend Maria who happened to have been switched onto my flight.  It was comforting to talk to someone I knew.  Also, Maria’s daughter had lost her bag when she went to Chile last year and didn’t even bring an extra pair of clothes, so she comforted me in reminding me that I was still prepared even though I didn’t have my bag.  And the plane hadn’t even started boarding when I got to my gate at 6:30.
    The flight from Lima to Cusco was just over an hour and I fell asleep almost immediately after I sat down.  Luckily I woke up feeling dehydrated right when the flight attendant came around with beverages and snacks.  After I ate crackers and a chocolate wafer and drank some water, I felt much better and started to doze off again right when we started to fly over the Andes.  It was so beautiful (side tip: if you’re ever flying from Lima to Cusco (hint Mom, Dad, and Matthew) try to book a window seat on the left side of the plane because you will see the most wonderful view of the mountains as well as Cusco) and I enjoyed most of the view, but could not keep my eyes open for all of it.
    When I got off the plane in Cusco, I decided to make sure my bag didn’t somehow get on that flight so I stood by the baggage claim until all the bags had been collected…no such luck.  So, I went outside to find the Projects Abroad staff person.  Tatiana greeted me with a warm smile and told me the plan for the day as we walked to find our taxi.  As we drove out of Cusco we saw Incan temples and monuments of Incan rulers, as well as people holding wads of soles offering to exchange them for foreign currency - Tatiana warned me that all of that money was fake and not to be fooled.  Next we were on our way to Urubamba, which is an hour away from Cusco and is where the Projects Abroad offices are located.  At the office I got to meet a couple more of the staff, use the bathroom, e-mail my parents to say that I had arrived, and see all the supplies I can take when I start teaching in the kindergarten.  In Urubamba, Tatiana explained how to take a bus from Pisac (where I’ll be staying) and then a taxi to the offices.  Next we drove to Pisac which was another 35 minutes from Urubamba.  I kept dozing off on all of these car rides, despite my efforts to stay awake, and the taxi driver kept looking back and laughing at me every time I would jerk myself awake.  Finally we arrived in Pisac, which is beautiful.  It’s this tiny little town with a big market that is held every day and I live right in the center of town - just a block from the market and surrounded by gift shops, restaurants, and internet cafes.  It seems perfect.  My host family seems great.  I have my own big room and there is another volunteer staying in the room next to mine.  She has been here for three days now, so it was nice to have her here once she got back for lunch.  Speaking of food, I have been here for three hours and already my host mother has given me a mango smoothie, papaya smoothie, and a delicious lunch of rice, lentils, and a fried egg.  I will be well fed!
    So, now I am lying in my bed typing this and as soon as I am done, I am going to take another nap (I already slept for an hour before lunch).  I am exhausted, but happy.

I'm Leaving Tomorrow?!?!

My bags are (mostly) packed and I'm (pretty much) ready to go.  Tomorrow I leave on a 5:40 pm flight for Peru.  When I arrive in Cusco, at 8:20 am on Tuesday, I will be met by a member of the Projects Abroad staff who will show me around Cusco and introduce me to the other Projects Abroad staff and to my host family.  I am nervous, but excited!  I am hoping to write on this blog every couple days with updates about my adventures, Spanish classes, working in the kindergarten, travels, and just general life in Pisac, Peru.  I hope you enjoy!