Without a paddle...

I'm not really sure when or how it happened, but at some point in the not too distant past, I think I grew up...sort of. So when the other volunteers went out to the clubs on Friday night, Kim and I watched movies on our iPads. I made it 23 minutes into some cheesy chick flick before I was out cold, while the other volunteers, who still know how to party, rolled into the house around 4:30 am.

As it turns out it was probably for the best that a couple of us were functioning on a full night's sleep because we needed to be out of the house by 8:30 to make it to our rafting adventure. At 8:07 I hesitantly knocked on the door of the girl who had been out all night. In response, I got a groan. I knock again. "Mumble, mumble, groan, groan." It's now 8:09, so I decide to be a bit more aggressive. I open the door, and the girl (who for the next couple minutes we will refer to as drunkie) is still groaning at me. Eventually drunkie realized that I was in her room and popped out of bed.  We somehow managed to get to the travel agency early.  However, I cannot say so much for drunkie's partner in crime from the night before, who literally ran to meet us after we gave her a wakeup call. This little delay led to us all running down the street with our tour guide like a bunch of weirdos. Children and adults alike were clearly confused by the stampede of gringos running down the street.

Surprisingly, we did make our bus, and after two hours of winding through beautiful mountains, we made it to the rio, where we got to dress up like Scuba Steve. Okay, maybe the only similarity was that we were wearing wetsuits, but it was my first time in a wetsuit, so I felt like Scuba Steve.

I somehow lost the nose-goes game and ended up in the front of the raft. I'm normally all about sitting in the front, but the water was straight from a glacier, and sitting in the front also meant getting splashed a lot! Surprisingly, after the initial splash, I wasn't too cold. I didn't realize this at the time, but it was because my body was numb. Numb or not, the trip down river was amazing. The views were like nothing I've ever seen before. There were plenty of decent rapids that merited wearing a helmet, so we all got to feel pretty badass.

After rafting, all 20 of us piled into a sauna. Let me tell you, if you want to feel really close to strangers really fast, stripping down to your underwear (or one piece swimming suit that you stole from your mother in my case) and sitting in a hot, dark room is the way to do it.  They gave us warm lunch and had a zip line for one more adventure for those that were not too cold and exhausted to climb up a tower and slide above the river.

After a day of adventure, my guidebook led us to a cozy hookah bar with the best pisco sours in town.

Show me your hands

I am not sure that I will ever get used to lifting kids out of soaking wet cribs or picking up stained blankets from the floor and putting them right back in the sleeping cages that they like to call beds. However, I must say it is getting easier. It probably has something to do with the fact that the girl I am lifting out of the crib has the world's most precious smile and that those kids are just happy to be warm regardless of whether or not the blankets were washed. As for the cages, at least those little buggers can't run away.

None of the children at the orphanage can speak, but I knew that some of them could understand what I was saying even with my gringa accent. I was amazed by one of the girls today who was able to use her knuckle to point to every body part I named on a bear.  She fed off my excitement and played along as I had her show all the volunteers over and over again. I am so excited to find, or I guess make if I have to, picture cards to see what these girls can do! I started teaching some of the other kids some basic sign.  However, like so many of my students, they were stubborn, and of course the orphanage doesn't have any cheese balls for me to work with. Kids will do anything for cheese balls. They are a speech therapist's dream come true.

Later on, I went hiking with my tandem partner. Her friend took us to the top of the city, where we could look down on all of the action. We were surrounded by ancient ruins and llamas...quite the sight. I swear pictures will come eventually.  I definitely got my fair share of Spanish this afternoon. I learned four new words but have already forgotten every single one.  I think the altitude must have a negative impact on memory and probably cognition in general because I've felt like una idiota all day,

The roommates and I spent the evening shopping. I officially have more apparel with llama print than anyone should own...ever. 

We are getting up early for some whitewater rafting.  If we don't freeze our booties off, you can expect a recap tomorrow night.

Bathtubs, goldfish, and leopard-print pillows

I have been part of this tandem program through my volunteer organization.  It's sort of like awkward online dating, in that we sit together for two hours a day trying to come up with silly conversation topics when we really have very little in common and realistically aren't all that interested in what the other person has to say. She's a sweet girl, but we are complete opposites. She's really quiet. I'm obnoxiously loud. She is kind. I am remarkably opinionated, considering I have to take the time to translate all of my thoughts. Tomorrow we are going hiking,

I volunteered today at the after school club. I was warned that it was in the "ghetto," but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I'd estimate that we passed at least 230 rabid dogs on our adventure up the hill. Okay, I'm exaggerating but at least 43 stray dogs, and I'm pretty sure that at least one of them was infected with something dangerous. Anyway, with Vanessa's help, I rode the bus without getting pick pocketed, walked through the barrio, and scooted passed those scary beasts called puppies.  The program was neat, but I definitely was not as needed as I feel at the orphanage. By the end of the day, most of the kids were making fun of me, which I am going to go ahead a pretend is just their way of saying I was amazing...and had nothing to do with the fact that my Spanish is not all that great and I say dorky things like, " Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay!"

We took a cab back to the house and scarfed down our dinner only to turn around and go to dinner two.  Dinner two was amazing for several reasons: 1. There is a great group of girls staying in the volunteer house with me, and they are lovely company. 2. I ate red meat for the first time since my arrival. Actually, it was only my second encounter with meat...the first being the poor, baby alpaca. 3. The restaurant had bathtubs filled with goldfish for tables. 4. Instead of chairs, we sat on a bed topped with leopard-print pillows.

Spent...

I sat for a good three minutes trying to come up with a title for this post. Exhausted? Overwhelmed? Emotional? Excited? Sad? No, no...I'm definitely spent- mentally, physically, emotionally.  I finally started work at an orphanage for children with severe disabilities. It is as if you took my kids from home and plopped them in Peru. Except, this is what my kids would be like if you didn't give them a home, love, attention, warmth, etc.  I knew what I was getting myself into, but had no idea what I was getting myself into. I've done things in the last two days that would make my SLP friends sick...well, really anyone. It's weird though because there is definitely a point when you think to yourself, "it's this or nothing." So, yes, I tied kids to a bed and heard them banging their heads against a railing.  I put soiled sheets in a crib. I held a girl down as the nuns force-fed her, listening to her scream and choke.  Like I said, there's a point.  Soiled sheets or no sheets at all.  There isn't heat here, so it's freeze or sleep on stains. They don't have IVs or other ways to supplement nutrition, so it's hold the girl in her chair or watch her starve. It's tie the kids to the bed or have them run away. There's a point.

 I am also conflicted because I want to establish a strong rapport with the staff, which I have definitely been successful at but it also means respecting their way of caring for and treating the children. The physical therapist that runs the program picked my brain for hours today, and I think we are going to be able to make some progress. Most of the volunteers are also a little younger than I am, so they have been incredibly open to my suggestions.

The kids are wonderful. In two days, I think I have fallen in love with every single one of them.  It just doesn't matter if they are covered in pee or throwing their food up all over you.  It really doesn't matter. The second they make eye contact or smile, I know that it is all worth it. 

So I'm spent...

Feeling a bit seedy

You aren't going to get nearly as much detail about the next day, mainly because I was crabby, and no one wants to read that. I know you all ( okay, some of you) have better things to be doing. So here were the highlights:

• I didn't get a placement with kids with disabilities even though that is why I came here. Don't worry. It has since been sorted.
• I bought a bunch (3) cheesy textiles with llamas on them and then proceeded to eat alpaca (smallish llama) for dinner
• I went to take a shower after an exhausting day of drinking coco tea and cusqueno (Cusco's mediocre beer). To my surprise as I'm standing in the shower covered in grease and hair (mind you I hadn't showered for days at this point), I discover we are out of water.
• I straightened my hair, pretending it was covered in expensive oils from sprouts not my grease, and went to a fancy dinner, where (as previously mentioned) I ate alpaca with sweet potato apps and a side of quinoa of course!
• I went to a bar and didn't drink...I'm not even sure who I am anymore. 3 days in Peru, and I'm a whole new woman.

The night is young

Sunday was a long, long day but a beautiful way to fall in love with Cusco. Kim and I got up early to make the 45 minute walk to town. Yes, it's now only 45 minutes now that she's holding the map.The cathedral   was beautiful. I loved listening to the sermon, mainly because I have only been speaking English since I got here, so it was reassuring that I knew what he was saying when he said I was going to hell for not eating and drinking Jesus. That's what I heard anyway... Hmm maybe taking some Spanish classes wouldn't be the worst idea. No, no, I'm sure that's what he said. Meh, we were in a beautiful cathedral.  He could have been talking about the history of potatoes and it still would have been cool. My second favorite part was when we got to share the peace. No one even acknowledged the fact that we were the only white girls taking up space in the pews. They shook our hands and smiled like we belonged even though I was a good foot taller than everyone else and had a giant bag filled with tourist gear.

After church, we got breakfast in a balcony above the center. It was perfect because we got to watch the parade (apparently there are always parades and celebrations even though people aren't even entirely sure what they are celebrating) from above. Breakfast consisted of quinoa apple juice and quinoa tortillas. So I retract my previous statement. They either put quinoa or French fries in everything. Jackpot!

After breakfast, we went on a little adventure to buy our tickets for everything. Get excited for future posts about lake titicaca, a Machu Picchu trek, and white water rafting! We somehow managed to spend 2 hours at this travel place. Apparently we were full of questions. I recall Kim even asking the poor guy behind the desk to google image a city.  As luck would have it, we ran into two of the 4 people we knew at the time. Then we proceeded to follow them around for the rest of the day. Awesome guys, and as luck would have it, one of them is from Phoenix and has promised to teach me how to two-step at Toby's.  And I'm holding him too it dang it! I own far too many cowboy boots not to know how to properly two-step, which I miss a lot. Hiking boots just aren't a particularly good look when they are in size 10... Okay maybe no shows look good in giant sizes...

After following the poor boys to lunch, we went to a discussion at a coffee shop. It was a bunch of "travelers," so imagine bearded men, hiking boots, and lots of beads, gathered in cozy room debating the impact tourism has on culture. In true hippy form, the conversation continually digressed to happiness. Ah how I wish I were a hippy.

The hippy chat was promptly followed by dinner, and there were French fries!

We also hit the town for our first time. We started our adventure at Paddy's at an Irish pub where all the gringos hang out. I got incredibly drunk, incredibly fast. I blame the altitude though, or maybe the  line "When in Cusco," or perhaps it was the raw eggs in my drink, or or or maybe it was because we took whiskey shots! It also turns out in cusco you don't have to buy drinks. They just give you cards for free ones. The free drinks are rum and coke, which is a beautiful thing...Jackpot! I showed my new partners in crime my stellar dance moves, and guess what...they still talk to me!

They put French fries on everything...

Well, I made it. The journey was neither quick nor restful but surprisingly mediocre. Heck, if I can chalk 24 hours of traveling and 3 hours of sleep up to mediocre, I'd say I'm doing alright!

Before you read anything else, i need to apologize in advance for bad grammar and scattered thoughts. my brain runs significantly faster than my fingers can type on an ipad. Fact.

 There were no glitches in my travels. In fact, I was so calm and acting in no way like my typical hyper self that when Lisa picked me up, one of her first questions was if I popped a handful of xannies. I would like to think I have just magically turned into a sane person in the last week.  However, I fear the altitude medication may have a calming effect. Anyhow, I attribute my good luck at the airport completely to good karma. I did approximately 4 good deeds at the airport (who's counting?)... like legit good deeds... using my broken spanish to help a girl who asked for a 5 day visa instead of 50, returning credit cards, and all those other good things you can do in 24 hours at the airport. So the bottom line was I figured my plane wouldn't crash. And it didn't. I met a sweet girl to hang out with in Lima. She giggled a lot. We are talking like every other word a lot, but then I realized she was 21. Not that that excuses the behavior, but I used to giggle a lot at 21, so I am sympathetic. Okay, so maybe I still giggle a lot.  Anyway, I was picked up at the airport by a man holding a sign as promised and was dropped off at my new house by 8 am.

My roommate is awesome. We spent the whole day together today, getting lost and trying to figure out what the heck we are doing. She's an actress in LA, which means she's way cooler than I am. She got to date Ted in a How I Met Your Mother episode, which automatically adds her to my idol list. Seriously though, she's super cool, and we've already made lots of fun plans for the next two weeks while she's here.

Oh the living situation. I already forgot about that. I think it is going to be a blast because it is full of some really cool people. However, I also think I m going to stink for the next 5 weeks because we have 14+ people sharing one freezing shower and two toilets.  Makeup, dry hair, and shaved legs are a thing of the past. So for all of you that we're concerned about me bringing home a Peruvian husband can rest assured I'll be flying sola.

Also, I've had two things to eat today. Both which had French fries on top. The only logical conclusion is that everything here is topped with French Fries. Can you say Jackpot!?