Wild Dogs, Wind and Kisses.

After teaching 3 classes during the day, I come home and I am beat. I feel like an old woman for saying this...but those kids wear me out! Bed time for the entire family is around 9:30, and normally I would stay up and be on the computer, read or something else but the power shuts off. I would love to sleep in as long as possible in the morning before 8:00 am family breakfast, but I wake up to sirens, barking dogs, crazy tetra drivers (bus drivers, I'll explain the wacky bus system later) among many others. This doesn't happen at 7 am or even 6 am but usually around 5:30 the noise begins. There are dogs everywhere here, all wild and I was instructed not to pet them haha but how can anyone resist petting a scruffy dog?! The dogs bark and fight all morning, which I can usually block out. Men on motos (motorcycles/mopeds) scream at the top of their lungs to notify the town of the best picks at the morning market. I really think Huancayo can survive without knowing that this is the last week of chapahas. Oh, but nothing beats the buses called tetras. The tetra drivers have a horn that is equivalent to that of an American ambulance or fire truck. I secretly hope that the tetras all break down so I can get a good night's rest! Hahahaha :] Oh, Huancayo!

The weather here is almost like Ohio weather...unpredictable. This morning when I woke up, it was about 35 degrees fahrenheit. Meaning the trek up the mountain (where it's even colder) is freezing! At around noon the weather is gorgeous! Around 75 degrees, a little breeze, no humidity...the afternoon weather puts California weather to shame! Around 6 o'clock the sun starts to set and the wind increases. The wind is enough to knock over large dogs, so they run for cover under roofs. But nothing beats the sunsets here. Honestly, I have never seen anything like them. Walking down the mountain after teaching is like heaven. The sun is setting over the mountains and hills and the city is illuminated with tones of yellow, orange and pink! Love :]

One thing I love about Peru, which is true in many other countries besides the United States is the greeting! Almost every child in Peru knows Mari and Tino (my host family) so walking to school is such an adventure for me! The children greet Mari with a hug and a kiss and a long conversation about how their day is going (not like in America where the phrase "how are you" is so short). The children then greet me and have a huge smile on their face because they know I am a volunteer...my white "gringa" skin gives it away haha :] A huge hug and a kiss on both cheeks is mandatory. I feel like when I meet someone for the first time, they are now my family. To sum it up, I love meeting new people!

Teaching is getting easier and easier for me. I have a bond with most of the children now and more and more come everyday because they all know a "Miss" is teaching! I wish they would call me Christina, but any volunteer is called Miss as a sign of respect. Today we played Uno after teaching (Thanks Lizzy!) and the kids had such a great time! It was a little difficult teaching in Spanish for something I have only ever know in English...but they caught on so quick! One girl I have bonded with is a nina named Rosemary. Her mother died 2 years ago and her father is basically nonexistent. She has 10 brothers and sisters with no care taker. The children have to find food, clothing and a means for bathing themselves all alone. I can't even imagine :[ I only met Rosemary two days ago, but she has this twinkle in her eye that just spoke to me. Rosemary literally clings by my side all day and she tears up when class is over. She breaks my heart. But knowing that being here is making a difference in one child's life is enough for me to stay!

I am still very homesick...it's just weird because I don't think I have ever felt this way before. I am still adjusting to daily life and I think it will probably take a few months for me to fully adjust! I honestly couldn't have taken this giant leap of faith without my friends, family, MND community and strangers though. Receiving encouraging emails, notes and the letters get me through the day. I love everyone to death and will be home before you know it!

MUCH LOVE FROM PERU! :]
ps. why is there no chocolate in this town??? I need sweets, candy, cake and chocolate! SHEESH!