Arrival and Orientation

So I arrived in Lima last night around midnight with 3 other volunteers from the Houston connection flight. First of all the flights--movies cost $6 a piece on the US airplanes...however my long lost love of mass microwaved rubber meat was rekindled with a ´fully catered´dinner service. Also, everything IS bigger in texas, the fast food places give you like 4 choices of sides...all of which are carb-esque. The four of us met up with Lidia (our program planner) and proceeded to 2 homestays. Might I point out that we were in a mysterious van, and that it was midnight, and that the first girl was basically smuggled into the back iron gate of her homestay basically leading us all to believe we were in Peruvian slums about to be slaved for a month. The three of us proceeded to Lidias house for our homestay. She has a beautiful home and houses close to 20 people including over a dozen volunteers and her extended family.

Another fun fact, apparently I was supposed to be a boy? Either they messed up or I did... anyway it caused the need for a bit of a shift in rooms, and won some of the volunteers a bet on my gender. We were all pretty wired just getting off of 15 hours of travel so we didnt get to bed til late. My phone is an hour and a half ahead...not one not two, 1.5, (Peru is only one hour ahead of Alberta)and theres no way to change it, I dont think.

This morning we woke up at 8 for orientation, which we all thought would be tomorrow, but at least this way we have an extra day in the school! We took a bus...which was an experience in itself, it made the 2 hour long 35 degree haul to the resort in the domincan look like a cakewalk. Point being its an hour to the school...and home...every Tues and Thurs. We met kids in 2 classes, one grade 4 and one kindergarten, as well as a federal day care. The little kids are SO SO SO adorable and have all the love in the world to give. I, being the genius I am had verbal travellers diahrrea... we had to introduce our selves by name, age, and home country. Clearly at this point my lack of spanish practice was more than evident... confident that I know the word años means years old (emphasize Ñ) I disregard its importance and state that im 19 anos... note no ñ...not to worry, 40 10 year olds think I have 19 ASSHOLES. Awesome start.

We returned to our homestay at Lidias around 2 for lunch which was a lime breaded fish, mushroom soop, green beans and rice. We also signed up for spanish and chose our tues/thurs projects--i chose to teach phys ed to the grade 4-6 classes, reason 1 least necessary spanish reason 2 the copious amounts of rice and potatoes might result in more weight gain the first and second year combined. Also influencing my decision...gymnastics and dance are over, the opportunity for a repeat of prime embarassment is low.

Then we decided to go to Metro...which is EXACTLY T&T market (the asian superstore--yes more asian than the actual superstore)..but spanish. We got like 8L of water becasue were all scared shitless -no pun intended- of getting sick from the water. I also bought head and shoulders because it was the only shampoo i could read, and the possibility of me buying double condish or double shampoo was not in my favor. Now were back waiting for dinner...at 830 which seems like an eternity away but smells phenomenal.

I feel like this post is a mile long, so Ill stop writing in consideration that someone might actually be reading it in full. I will throw in more details as time goes on...and the homestay has internet so were golden. BUT before I leave, I must discuss the dogs. If you know me, you know I dont like the damn things to begin with, but the strays are EVERYWHERE, AND AND AND, they are randomly keeled over dead in teh middle of sidewalks AND like 9 of every 10 females is pregs.

hasta mañana amigos