I'm Here

I realize that I have only been gone about two weeks now.  To you, it might feel like nothing, but I feel as though I have been gone for at least a month.  It is not that time goes so slowly because it is boring and I don’t enjoy what I am doing, it is, on the contrary, all so new and exciting that it is exhausting. I am living an 8 to 5 life. I have not had such a busy, long schedule since high school nor have a gone to bed before 11pm.  However, life here, as you might imagine, is very different.  After an intense day of informational sessions, language classes, and enjoyable/hilarious safety and medical charlas, I come home to a wonderfully cooked meal and I am in bed by 9pm and asleep by 9:01.  A hard bed, minimal covers, packs of dogs fighting for territory, evangelical sermons over the loud speaker, and a window that I cannot seem to close completely make for what would seem to be unsleepable conditions, but I sleep through the night peacefully—only to be woken up around 6:15 by the many roosters housed in my community of Yanacoto.

Yanacoto is wonderful.  I like it more everyday—so much to learn and so many people to learn from.  A paved road ends at the end of the steep hill, about a 10 to 15 minute walk up the constant incline.  The pavement ends, and the adventure begins.  Dirt roads covered with pebbles and larger rocks continue up the mountain.  Most roads or pathways are not traversable by taxi—the small, mobile motto-taxis have difficulty on some hills and turns as well.  On my walk home, I pass about 12 various packs of dogs roaming the community for the few female dogs.  In the center, you will find the basket/futbol court/field.  Across the packed-down dirt road is the catholic church.  Small tiendas filled with candy, toilet paper, tops, and random trinkets seem to be on every corner along with internet cafes, which double as homes. I continue up the hill, past the playground and a few more stray dogs. I then near the last two roads with street lights, which have been recently turned off because of wire/copper theft—so I hear, there have been many different rumors circulating.  I have a wonderful house with an amazing family. A solid concrete home with two floors.  At this point, I am unsure, but I think in the back, where the bathroom is housed, there is a separate smaller makeshift living cooridor where I think a brother of mine sleeps—he is studying to be an architect.

What are the bathroom conditions like you ask?  Well, not so bad at all.  Defiantly something different than we are accustomed to at home.  I have two options, a cold shower or bucket bathe with some freshly boiled water.  Not so bad, I am thankful that the family with whom I am staying now has running water.  Some communities don’t or the water is turned off at night.  When I reach my final sight, there could be a completely different water and sanitation situation.

I could talk forever about my family.  It is muy grande!  But, I am sure this long narrative has been sufficient for most of you—if you have made it this far :).  A quick blurb though.  I have a mom and dad and 5 siblings ranging from 13 to 26 years old.  They are a truly great family.  They love each other and respect each other.  It is wonderful to be a part of their lives.  Only 8 weeks more here in Chosica/Choclacayo—outside of the city of Lima.  I hope they help me master the Spanish language and continue to teach me about life in Peru.