I arrived and could not find my taxi that I booked, but I found a really nice man that worked for the taxi company affiliated with the airport, so I figured that was safe enough. He could not figure out where the hell my house was but eventually we found it. I arrived to the house, went inside and asked the girl if she was Sylvia. She said no and I asked well does she live here. Then she said yes, and I was just so confused. There were a bunch of people in the house too so I didn´t really understand if I was supposed to be there or what. Then she showed me my room which is way bigger and nicer than my own room and the closet is wonderful. After a while the mom came in and then I actually got to meet her and talk to her and what not. Turns out her daughter went to Portland University and now lives in Seattle. She is an architect and it makes sense because her house is really cool with a lot of atriums and weird spaces but decorated really nicely. She has about 4 people that work for her, one girl to help her with her architecture and to serve me, one to cook, one to clean, and one to walk the dog. I guess she has me for more company because she definitely does not need the money!
On Monday, I went to class and I love my teacher. He is the coordinator of all teachers and I think he is my favorite teacher I have had do far. But, of course, its only for one week. There was another girl in my class but she only comes on mondays usually since she just doesnt really like school. I dont get it but whatever. I hate coming to a new school and always having to make new friends, i have already made new friends! And have lots at home! It is getting tiring, I am glad to be staying in BA for a while after this. But after class we went with the new students to explore one neighborhood in Lima. We went to this vineyard just to try the wine and it was terrible. It was so sweet and I did not like it at all. After I went to the horrible internet cafe and then to the house, had dinner, some tv and then went to bed. The next day I got up early in the morning and went for a run and felt like a normal person again because I could actually breathe again. The altitude afected me more than I realized. I could only run for maximum 10 minutes in Cusco, but I ran 30 minutes no problem like normal. It was such a pretty run in this park right on the coast and you could see the ocean. Class was fine and after I went to chinese food for lunch. It was not bad but I got one too many bones in my chicken and was a little turned off. With the school, I went to la iglesia de San Francisco and went on my millionth tour. Underneath the church was a lot of dead bodies because they thought that they would get to heaven faster if they were buried inside the church. We walked around the center of town a little bit, had an ice cream, then went back to the house. This week is a little on the restful side for me considering I am preparing for my family to get here. And knowing Conor I am going to have to go out every night of the week. I told my teacher that because I think he thinks I am kinda lame since I haven´t been going out and doing that much and then told him about how my brother and cousins are going to want to go out lots in BA. Then he asked what my brothers name was and when I said Conor, he said well obviously, that is a name for a drinker. haha Then I asked what my name was for and he said oh Caitlin´s only like to go out 2 max three times a week. ANd I was like you are absolutely right! And later in that day we were talking about middle names and he guessed mine without any clues... Elizabeth probably is the most common middle name though.
The next day I had class and went to the surf lesson to watch, but it was too too cold and I had no desire to hop in the cold ocean. But thursday there was cooking class, so of course I attended that. We made causa rellena which is like a potato sandwitch. It was pretty good but a lot of potatoes for me. I am pretty potatoed and riced out at this point. After, it was a students birthday so we went to a bar and I had a hot chocolate with mint schnapps. My teacher was impressed with the sounds of that so he got one too. It came with coffee when I destinctly told them no cafe but they didnt listen. Then i sent it back and got a new one but my teacher didnt want to complain as well even though he didnt want coffee either. He said I was allowed to complain since I was a girl but he wasnt. We went to another bar after and had some beers and then I went home at a decent hour. Friday was my last day of spanish school from 3 whole months. I was ready to be done with it though, it was fun but the rest I think I will be able to learn by practicing by being here. We had a bbq like every friday and after I went to have a drink with Yesenia, the girl that lives in my house and serves me but is younger than me. So weird. ANd then after that, with the school, we went to this water fountain show thing where there were all these weird fountains with different colors and it reminded me of the Bellagio in Las Vegas. I went home that night since I had no desire to go out, all I wanted was to get to Buenos Aires the next day and be with my family! The airport the next day was an absolute mess, the lines were so unorganized and then I had to wait in another line to pay for my extra luggage, then i had to pay the tax, then i ran to my flight with 3 minutes to spare.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Cusco: Semana 3
One good thing about a really religious country are the holidays! There was no school on Monday porque it was the day of the Immaculate Conception. They had a little mass within the housing community and a procession after with the statue. Then we were all waiting around for whatever and i thought the lady handed me coke but it was rum and coke. Rum and coke at 11 am on a holy day, why not? We had lunch after and after that I went to one last Inka structure because my tourist ticket expired that day. I went with Fiorella to Saqsaywaman which is pretty much pronounced sexy women. It was very similar to all the rest. But when we got back, the dancing and drinking had begun, all the celebrators of the holy day were drunk and dancing all around. It was pretty funny, it just seemed kind of ironic that they do not drink that much because they are more conservative than most but on the religious holidays it is appropriate to get wasted! fine by me though! The next day I had a new teacher who was very nice but oh so boring. After class I had many errands to do and then atthe night time we had "cooking class" which was more of me watching everyone cook. But we ate locro de zapallo which was absolutely delicious. It was a puree of squash with cheese and corn and onions and it was one of my favorite peruvian foods so far I think. Wednesday was a lazy day but i did saltar soga with Renzo. We jumped rope for a really long time and I was actually sore the next day. Quite agood workout! Thursday after class I went to the gym and then Ygor and I went to a school to play with some children...it was an afterschool program for the kids whose parents work on the streets. I thought I had seen poor, but these kids were a new level. We all know that kids are dirty and I have done my fair share of babysitting, but these kids clothes had been worn for a week in a row and one of the little girls had no underwear on and smelled like she had definitely wet her pants. All new eye opening experiences, but kids are still the same kids no matter what they are wearing. When I went home I had some dinner and it was the first dinner that I simply could not eat. It was some mash of corn and cheese and really gross. But I was sooo hungry since I had worked out and played with kids all day so I had to ask for something else cuz I simply was hungry and couldnt eat it. I felt very rude but fio didnt care, and also she didn´t make it so it didnt really matter.
Friday was quite a day. I had my very last test ever and I got a 97%! yay! They had some lunch for me and I finally got my package from dad and conor. It was really exciting to get it and i was so excited. After I went on a tour of the Inka Museum with Mauricio who is the brother of Fiorella, the nephew of mi madre. I went with Mauricio and Rencito on the tour and then after I wanted to go to the post office because I still was waiting for my package from Melanie. At this point I had been to the post office about 4 times, so I knew to come between 545 and 6 to talk to the post man. I saw the post man and he told me that he tried to drop it off at 2 but no one was there. Of course no one was there. I think I told him 10 times that the school closes at 1. But my package was in customs. I went to customs with my post man and the lady at customs told me that it was not the hour, I need to come back monday. I tried to explain that I am leaving the country on Sunday so there is really no other time than now to pick up my package. She said she didn´t care, it was not her problem. I simply tried to tell her again and ask her what there was to do since I was leaving the country and she told me that I need to come back monday. She obviously did not give two ##### if I got my package or not. She probably wanted my wonderful gift! Then I was so frustrated after going to the stupid post office so many times that I started crying and said it is my birthday present and I just want my package. And she said that she shouldn´´t even be there at that hour and what would I do if she wasnt there. ANd I said, well with luck, you are here, and fortunately you can help me since you stayed a little later than normal. She didnt look up but she went and got my package. THen she wanted my passport. Well, obvi I dont carry my passport around with me in this dangerous country, so I showed her my liscence, my student id and told her that I could show her more documents with my name on it. She and the man behind the counter said no that is not good enough. I said can I run back home and get my passport and be back in 10 minutes. No, I am going to leave in 5 minutes. So I am standing there. waiting. they give me no options of what I can do to get this package. So i grab the package and run as fast as i can out of the room. But, I had to open a door which slowed me down and when I got outside I was trying to look for a taxi and then the watch man grabbed me and took my package away! I screamed at him and told him it was my package and he still took it. Everyone was staring and I still didn´t get my package. I have never encountered such a bitchy heartless woman in my life and I hope I never do again. Mauricio and Renzo came out after and were like what just went on?? It was really funny and we went back to the house and I told the family and mi tia told me that she is friends with the administrator so I probably could have gotten my package that way. Lol well I wasn´t quite thinking straight at the time. The next day we went back and she tried to help us but didn´t have the key and she called the man that was in the customs who was also really mean and he said that he would not come help anyone who would behave in such a manner as i had the day before. All too funny, so I had to go get a letter of power or something of that manner, thats at least how it translates from spanish but I think it is something else, saying the Fiorella could pick up the package for me. Then I had to get it notarized, then I had to make a copy of my passport and leave money for her to send it to me in Lima. What a hassle. ALl because of the bitchy lady.
That night we went out for mi despedida and I asked to go to Rodrigo´s again where they had pollo a la broaster which is the best fried chicken in the world. So we had that for dinner and then went out with Fiorella´s friends to a bar for this girls birthday. Then we went to a club which was much different than any of the rest of the clubs since it was for peruanos instead of tourists. I liked it a lot better by the looks of it but then there were only high school aged kids in the bar! It was crowded with youngins. It is still so weird for me to see young people at clubs drinking since I could never do that when I was in high school. So, I left kind of early, wasn´t really feeling it, plus I had to get up early and pack. The next day I was off to Lima after breakfast and had to say goodbye to my wonderful family. They were simply the best and could not have asked for better. It was the first family that I actually felt a part of the family and would feel more than comfortable coming back to visit them or tell friends to go visit them when they go to Peru. I really hope to return one day and see them.
Friday was quite a day. I had my very last test ever and I got a 97%! yay! They had some lunch for me and I finally got my package from dad and conor. It was really exciting to get it and i was so excited. After I went on a tour of the Inka Museum with Mauricio who is the brother of Fiorella, the nephew of mi madre. I went with Mauricio and Rencito on the tour and then after I wanted to go to the post office because I still was waiting for my package from Melanie. At this point I had been to the post office about 4 times, so I knew to come between 545 and 6 to talk to the post man. I saw the post man and he told me that he tried to drop it off at 2 but no one was there. Of course no one was there. I think I told him 10 times that the school closes at 1. But my package was in customs. I went to customs with my post man and the lady at customs told me that it was not the hour, I need to come back monday. I tried to explain that I am leaving the country on Sunday so there is really no other time than now to pick up my package. She said she didn´t care, it was not her problem. I simply tried to tell her again and ask her what there was to do since I was leaving the country and she told me that I need to come back monday. She obviously did not give two ##### if I got my package or not. She probably wanted my wonderful gift! Then I was so frustrated after going to the stupid post office so many times that I started crying and said it is my birthday present and I just want my package. And she said that she shouldn´´t even be there at that hour and what would I do if she wasnt there. ANd I said, well with luck, you are here, and fortunately you can help me since you stayed a little later than normal. She didnt look up but she went and got my package. THen she wanted my passport. Well, obvi I dont carry my passport around with me in this dangerous country, so I showed her my liscence, my student id and told her that I could show her more documents with my name on it. She and the man behind the counter said no that is not good enough. I said can I run back home and get my passport and be back in 10 minutes. No, I am going to leave in 5 minutes. So I am standing there. waiting. they give me no options of what I can do to get this package. So i grab the package and run as fast as i can out of the room. But, I had to open a door which slowed me down and when I got outside I was trying to look for a taxi and then the watch man grabbed me and took my package away! I screamed at him and told him it was my package and he still took it. Everyone was staring and I still didn´t get my package. I have never encountered such a bitchy heartless woman in my life and I hope I never do again. Mauricio and Renzo came out after and were like what just went on?? It was really funny and we went back to the house and I told the family and mi tia told me that she is friends with the administrator so I probably could have gotten my package that way. Lol well I wasn´t quite thinking straight at the time. The next day we went back and she tried to help us but didn´t have the key and she called the man that was in the customs who was also really mean and he said that he would not come help anyone who would behave in such a manner as i had the day before. All too funny, so I had to go get a letter of power or something of that manner, thats at least how it translates from spanish but I think it is something else, saying the Fiorella could pick up the package for me. Then I had to get it notarized, then I had to make a copy of my passport and leave money for her to send it to me in Lima. What a hassle. ALl because of the bitchy lady.
That night we went out for mi despedida and I asked to go to Rodrigo´s again where they had pollo a la broaster which is the best fried chicken in the world. So we had that for dinner and then went out with Fiorella´s friends to a bar for this girls birthday. Then we went to a club which was much different than any of the rest of the clubs since it was for peruanos instead of tourists. I liked it a lot better by the looks of it but then there were only high school aged kids in the bar! It was crowded with youngins. It is still so weird for me to see young people at clubs drinking since I could never do that when I was in high school. So, I left kind of early, wasn´t really feeling it, plus I had to get up early and pack. The next day I was off to Lima after breakfast and had to say goodbye to my wonderful family. They were simply the best and could not have asked for better. It was the first family that I actually felt a part of the family and would feel more than comfortable coming back to visit them or tell friends to go visit them when they go to Peru. I really hope to return one day and see them.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Cusco: Semana 2
On Monday, a new student arrived so I was not the only one anymore! Yay. His name is Sebastian and he is from France but lives in Miami. The first day he wanted to go find a gym to go to for the week which was quite weird to me, but it made me motivated to sign up too. So Marisol and I went to the gym later that day and at night we went out to the clubs to show Sebastian around but he went home a little early. Marisol is good friends with the owner now so she somehow managed to get me a tshirt that says Mama Africa...our favorite night club. Oh and earlier that day, I went to the post office to see if any of my birthday packages had arrived yet but i had to go to the back and meet my post man. Turns out he dropped it off next door because we have the same address, so we walked together for 20 minutes to the other location and i am now best friends with the post man. I got my mail just fine!
Tuesday was the big day. The day to eat cuy. Which is guinea pig. The special meat of all of Peru. We went to the first restaurant and had to walk up a million stairs to findout that it was closed. So then, we went to another restaurant. We ordered the cuy and recieved it with head and nails and all. It was fried and actually decently good but with every bite, I thought I am eating guinea pig and couldnt really enjoy it. I am glad I tried it but have no desire to eat it ever again. We all watched movies at Marisol´s that night. Wednesday we went to my first futbol game in south america! We got there and bought our tickets on the street for about $5 and entered. I bought a sandwitch and ice cream and coke all for about $2. What a difference between this and a sporting event in the states! I think Sebastian bought every single thing that they sold and gave what he didnt like to Ygor (the activities coordinator). After that I was supposed to go to the birthday part of the grandma of my family but there was confusion and I didn´t end up going. But I found the channel that has gossip girl!!! So I was happy and am now caught up with one of my shows. Thursday we went horse back riding but this time it was much cheaper and much scarier. We stopped off at different Inka places to see. During my last ride back to the stable, the horse wanted to kill me. ALl the other horses started to gallop a little bit and mine did too which was fine until he went into the trees where branches were at my stomach level and I was trying to pull the reigns to make him stop at the same time dodging the branches. I almost had a heartattack but i survived. I was more scared than need be but what´s new. We went to dinner at one of the aunts house that night and she made the best drink ever. It was champagne blended with ice and canned peaches. It was way better than a mimosa and I didn´t know that was possible! Friday we worked out and then bought food for dinner and supplies for me to make chocolate chip cookies. I had been craving them for far too long so it was time. It was quite an adventure finding the supplies as well as making them without my wonderful mixer and all by hand. The batter was just as good as always but when i went to put them in the oven, they all spread together and were so so crispy. The altitude here is way too high and didnt work. But they were good enough. Everyone from school came over that night after dinner and we had a pre party at the house and then went to Mama Africa. I celebrated my birthday at midnight and we danced the night away. Ygor was too drunk and dissapeared after 15 minutes. None of us have phones though, so we couldnt really figure out what happened til later. Saturday, my birthday, wasn´t exactly how I had hoped and dreamed. I woke up to no one in the house and ate breakfast alone. I wanted to wait for my family to call but didn´t want to be alone so i went to Marisols and we just watched movies all day. We had a interesting peruvian dinner and the girl and son I live with bought me my favorite chocolate that I buy everyday which was really nice. They bought me a whole box! yum but badd. for me. And the aunt gave me a jewlery set from the company she works for. Its kind of like an avon company. We went out that night but I just wasnt really feeling it and wanted to be with my friends and family. Also, not having a phone to recieve calls really put a damper on it:( Oh well, better luck next year. Sunday, i did much of the same...relaxing day and at the end we went to a restaurant that has burritos and I got one and surprise surprise it still didnt fulfill my burrito craving.
Tuesday was the big day. The day to eat cuy. Which is guinea pig. The special meat of all of Peru. We went to the first restaurant and had to walk up a million stairs to findout that it was closed. So then, we went to another restaurant. We ordered the cuy and recieved it with head and nails and all. It was fried and actually decently good but with every bite, I thought I am eating guinea pig and couldnt really enjoy it. I am glad I tried it but have no desire to eat it ever again. We all watched movies at Marisol´s that night. Wednesday we went to my first futbol game in south america! We got there and bought our tickets on the street for about $5 and entered. I bought a sandwitch and ice cream and coke all for about $2. What a difference between this and a sporting event in the states! I think Sebastian bought every single thing that they sold and gave what he didnt like to Ygor (the activities coordinator). After that I was supposed to go to the birthday part of the grandma of my family but there was confusion and I didn´t end up going. But I found the channel that has gossip girl!!! So I was happy and am now caught up with one of my shows. Thursday we went horse back riding but this time it was much cheaper and much scarier. We stopped off at different Inka places to see. During my last ride back to the stable, the horse wanted to kill me. ALl the other horses started to gallop a little bit and mine did too which was fine until he went into the trees where branches were at my stomach level and I was trying to pull the reigns to make him stop at the same time dodging the branches. I almost had a heartattack but i survived. I was more scared than need be but what´s new. We went to dinner at one of the aunts house that night and she made the best drink ever. It was champagne blended with ice and canned peaches. It was way better than a mimosa and I didn´t know that was possible! Friday we worked out and then bought food for dinner and supplies for me to make chocolate chip cookies. I had been craving them for far too long so it was time. It was quite an adventure finding the supplies as well as making them without my wonderful mixer and all by hand. The batter was just as good as always but when i went to put them in the oven, they all spread together and were so so crispy. The altitude here is way too high and didnt work. But they were good enough. Everyone from school came over that night after dinner and we had a pre party at the house and then went to Mama Africa. I celebrated my birthday at midnight and we danced the night away. Ygor was too drunk and dissapeared after 15 minutes. None of us have phones though, so we couldnt really figure out what happened til later. Saturday, my birthday, wasn´t exactly how I had hoped and dreamed. I woke up to no one in the house and ate breakfast alone. I wanted to wait for my family to call but didn´t want to be alone so i went to Marisols and we just watched movies all day. We had a interesting peruvian dinner and the girl and son I live with bought me my favorite chocolate that I buy everyday which was really nice. They bought me a whole box! yum but badd. for me. And the aunt gave me a jewlery set from the company she works for. Its kind of like an avon company. We went out that night but I just wasnt really feeling it and wanted to be with my friends and family. Also, not having a phone to recieve calls really put a damper on it:( Oh well, better luck next year. Sunday, i did much of the same...relaxing day and at the end we went to a restaurant that has burritos and I got one and surprise surprise it still didnt fulfill my burrito craving.
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