Hi and bye Peru

Wazz up?! It sure has been a while, or at least feels like awhile because so much has happened since I last blogged. I am sitting at the school in Trujillo, Peru after a morning of classes. My time here in Peru has been surprisingly cut short and Ill be coming home this Thursday/Friday (flight is on Thursday night, arrive in California Friday morning). I am releaved to know Ill be seeing familiar faces soon. That gives me 2 more days here after just a weekend of being here. Heres a glimpse of my weekend:

1. Food sickness: while in Huanchaco, the beach town, I ate ceviche, a whole tone of it. Ill upload pictures soon and show you that there was way too much food for my first seafood platter in South America. I felt fine the rest of Thursday and Friday until Friday night when I got super sick, like tons of chills down to my bones. I got into bed with all my clothes on and slept for almost 12 hours, waking up with like a migraine. I laid in bed all day Saturday even though the weather was beautiful and the other volunteers here went to the beach to surf and party that night. It was still queezy Saturday evening but I was able to eat a bit and yesterday, Sunday, it was getting stronger yet.

2. Cow heart: Yesterday after going to Huanchaco again, its the closest beach like 15 minutes in taxi, with the girls we stopped at a mall to get a present for a neighbor. Outside the mall was a little stand with a local woman selling grilled cow heart. I figured after killing the bull last week or whenever that was I should try it. It was FANTASTIC, like seriously if I were around here much longer Id be a regular customer there! I wish I could have gotten her recipe...

3. The mall: As I mentioned, we went to a mall. And it was like being in the US. I hate malls in the states and I didnt like this one at all either. After wondering around I was starving at like 8PM (oh and by the way it was surprisingly busy for a Sunday night, like more people than Ive ever seen at one time in a mall, let alone on a Sunday night), I went to the food court. There was a mariachi band performing, which didnt help my pulsing migraine. I ended up getting Chinese food, I know how starnge, which was a lot like Panda express or something of the like. No complaints there but of course the cow heart beats the food--I just couldnt wait any longer.

4. School here: I helped teach English today in three different classes at a local public school down the street along with 2 other volunteers. It was SO much more different than I expected: the kids were crazy loud and wouldnt stay in their seats, we taught them about 4 different pieces of clothing in English in 45 minutes-1 hour, needless to say it was very hectic. I dont really know how much help this volunteering program gives to the students and kids. I mean yeah its great they are learning some English at such young ages, like 6 years old, but how much help will knowing "socks" give them? Will they learn anything? I dont know, maybe. Maybe thats why the volunteers are requested/required to stay at least a month to build relationships and see some progress. But at the same time, my way of working (SUPER organized and controlled) completely buts-heads with this environment. While it could be a good struggle, it seems like barely 1/2 a drop in the bucket towards making educational progress here. In the afternoons there are students who can drop by the house where there is an informal educational school downstairs. The volunteers take on whatever kids they can and want to help, which again seems quite disorganized and hectic. I feel like the smaller ratios of tutors/students makes the afternoon work theoretically more impactful, but nevertheless it is hard to say exactly.

5. #1 important lesson Ive learned in Peru: How to light a match! Yeah and as a bonus I can light a gas stove now. Can you believe it because I barely cant!! After 3 weeks at Neverland constantly asking Kena and others to light the stove, one day of stomach sickness and a dire need for tea helped me conquer my fears. I am so proud of myself it is hard to express my feelings in words!

So thats just a bit of what Ive been up to here. Really nothing too exciting. I will take a few pictures of this place to post in a bit. Im going to go read now, Im still way into the books! Ciao