Settled in Huancayo :]

I am safe and in Huancayo at my home! Let me just start from the beginning because so much has happened already! (I now know why some people's blogs seem to go on forever)

I left Cincinnati and arrived in Miami, FL at midnight on Tuesday and then boarded the plane from Miami to Lima which seemed like a never-ending 5 hour plane ride. I was worried about getting my visa, but everything went smoothly just like people told me it would! I went to baggage claim to get my luggage...and what do you know, they lost both of my bags. So typical! haha :] I then took a taxi to the bus station and waited for my bus to leave at 8:45 am. While waiting for my bus, I ordered toast and a juice (in spanish!) and let me tell you....IT WAS AMAZING! It was the best bread I have ever had and the juice was freshly squeezed papaya and pineapple...I would eat that every day of my life if I could! I boarded what I thought would be a rickity old bus but was actually a swanky tour bus. The bus ride was painfully long but exceptionally breathtaking. Never in my life have I seen more beautiful mountains, hills and landscape. Gorgeous!

I arrived in Huancayo with my family greeting me at the bus station. Tino is the director of the organization and I couldn't ask for a better host. His wife, Mari, is quiet and soft spoken but has shown me the ropes thus far. Mari only speaks a few words of English, so it nice helping her with English while she can help me with my Spanish. Mari and Tino have two daughters, Angela and Pilar, who are adorable! They both greeted me with hugs and kisses! Last night, I had my first meal in Huancayo which was surprisingly awesome! It was rice with beef, lots of vegetables and bread! One thing I definitely miss already is cold water. All the water has to be boiled and they keep the boiled water in a thermos for drinking. I WANT ICE! Besides the ice issue, breakfast this morning was wonderful and so was lunch! Besides the fact there were chicken feet in my soup AHHHHH.

For the living arrangements, I have my own room which is a nice size. I still haven't received my luggage, so once I do then I can officially unpack! The family has one side of the house while the volunteers use the other half. The halves are connected by the kitchen and dining room which is very warm and cozy.

Everything isn't all peachy though :/ In Huancayo, there is so much poverty it is ridiculous. Most houses are made out of tin and wood and have a tin door on the front. Children as young as four years old beg on the streets for money and food. Trash is everywhere in the dirt streets. Seeing children that are constantly begging for food with tears running down their face makes my heart ache. Last night, I cried myself to sleep thinking about the poor children and families that have gone days without eating, weeks without showering and years without good news. No one prepared me for the things I would see here...I have only read about this type of poverty in books or in movies. People living simply in Huancayo is an understatement. My family loves watching the sunset for fun or playing with rocks for boardgames they made up. I am very very homesick mostly because when the family is resting I have all the time in the world to think about my family and friends. I hope that with time, it gets easier and easier to be here. Before I left, one of my good friends reminded me that even Mother Theresa had doubts and it's okay to be unsure of what I am doing. I definitely have doubts...but after teaching today, I think everything will be alright!

Today was my first day of teaching at Tinkuy and I had one of the best days of my life! In the morning, Mari and I walked 30 minutes up the mountain to the school where 10 girls were waiting for us. Mari told the girls about me in Spanish (how long I would be staying, where I was from etc) and then I was able to teach them for 2 hours! Today I picked up where another volunteer left off, directions, prepositions and vocab. The girls were so nice! If I needed help in Spanish they worked it out with me and they seem so eager to learn English! I look forward to seeing the girls tomorrow!!!! After my morning class we came back to eat lunch and then made the trek back up the mountain for the afternoon class. The afternoon class was something I will never forget. 20 boys and girls, ages 3-7, lined up outside my classroom. We worked on simple English vocab...parts of the body, family members, animals and sports! After teaching was the best part...recess!! Playing with these poor children who are just happy to have a friend is something I will never forget. This is what I came for. Impacting lives, one child at a time! :] The smiles, the noises and the happiness is forever in my heart!

I can't wait to keep teaching these children and watch them grow for the next 9 months! I hope with time, things will get better for me. I am experiencing a lot of culture shock and am very homesick but I am here for one reason...."to be the change I wish to see in the world!"

Peace! :]
-teaner