Trabajo Voluntario III

Hola a todos!

So this is my fourth week in Cusco... it's been really fun getting used to the differences in living here, rather than just vacationing... there are funny quirks in living in a house rather than staying in a hotel.  It's more relaxed in our neighborhood than it is in the centro.  There are less taxis, less traffic, so less polution and you can actually breath... there's also more dog poo all over the sidewalks from the random dogs that roam around the city ;)

Classes are going well.  I love my professoras.  They are both really sweet and we laugh a lot during our classes when I try to explain things in spanish and they don't have a clue what I'm talking about because I'm not making sense.  Other than those times, I think I am making a lot of progress in speaking.  At least I can understand loads more than when I got here and people seem to understand what I'm talking about about half to 3/4 of the time, rather than 10%.... heh heh.

I have been spending lots of time with the students in my house, who are really fun.  Laura from Texas is super smart and going to go to school for study abroad in Arequipa.  Stephanie and Paul are a couple from Minnesota (they are a pastor and youth pastor) and they are traveling before hosting a group from their church to volunteer at this school they support as well as take the train to Machu Picchu.  They already hiked it themselves on the Inca Trail.  We have been having a good time trying out food and drinks, and doing fun little stuff in Cusco like the overpriced chocolate museum.  I will be very sad to see them go at the end of next week.  It's been like having a little family in Cusco. 

Stephanie and Paul took me to the school they are volunteering at.  It's pretty awesome.  During the school year the kids actually attend classes, then go to these little classes in the afternoon to learn trades like bracelet making, baking, carpintry, painting and drawing, and ceramics.  Right now they are on vacation, so they just come in the afternoon and do their trade classes.  I went with them the last two days and we played with the kids and hanged out with them while they were doing their classes.  I sorted beads with little girls and asked them about their siblings and their favorite games.  They asked me how to say words in English, and I had them teach me words in Quechua.  The teacher borrowed my llama bracelet to figure out how to make it so they can make those too... it's kinda weird not to be wearing it since I've worn it since August nearly every day.  :)  Grace is still wearing hers while I'm gone, so I have to be sure to get it back.

Yanapay is a strange sitch.  I went to visit that one day and they said come back sooner if you want!  Then they sent me an application, I had issues returning it, so they sent me another format, finally they received it... then they told me they don't need volunteers for the kids right now.... just in marketing.... which I know nothing about.  :)  I might just email them back and ask what particularly they need help with... but it's odd.  The school in Choqachaka is really cool, but it doesn't seem like they need volunteers.  They are pretty self sufficient.  So the hunt is still on for volunteering opportunities... I do think it will be good to finish my classes before volunteering full time anyway because it is pretty exhausting doing both.  Also, my friend's dad seems to know of some places and would like to help me out.... so please keep praying that I will find the right place to serve.

Here are some pics from the school we visited this week. 

The girl in the pink in the first pic is my pal Milagros (miracles).  She taught me a bunch of clapping games, then we were running through Cusco holding hands after school the first day because I thought she lived close and wanted me to walk her home.  Turns out she lives like 30 minutes by car outside of the center and wanted to walk me home... somehow we compromised and Paul, Stephanie, and I walked her close to her bus stop before going back to school for our cooking class on Tuesday night.

Well... that's pretty much it for now.  I'm going to check out the jungle with my friend tomorrow.  I had to get a yellow fever vaccination in order to go there.  If you saw me after I got my shots for the trip in August, you'll be happy to know I didn't come down with a 4 day fever this time ;)

Have a great week.  I'll try to post pics of la selva (jungle) soon after I get back! 
Kelly