Funny picture...

Well, I didn´t have my camera with me but imagine me in a combi(the buses here) getting on in my flip flops, no available seating so I stand with my head curled because the roof is too low. We go over the first speed bump and I just about sock the guy in the stomach who´s sitting below me. I turn around to lean against the pole that Laura´s hanging on to and we go a few more feet over another speed bump unbeknownst(sp?) to me! So I´m sliding into Laura this time. And I finally sit down in the aisle until a seat becomes open. They offer me the very front passenger seat but I can just see myself climbing over two people and then slamming into the winshield, so I relent! I´m sure it was funnier if you were there! Laura says I gained repor (sp?) with those Peruvians- I said ¨what?¨ She said you had them all smiling!! Well, I´m good for that!

Primer Semana de Clases

FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES!
I have at least 11 more to go. I was walking home today with a full head of things floating around; new words, grammar I´d forgotten, old subjects I hadn´t seen in quite a while! I can see how it can be exhausting! I´m very thankful to be here. I realize my need for it each day. It´s also great because the school is tutor style so I can go at my own pace (I´m trying to speed through) or slow down when you need to. The teachers are great! There are lots of fun people here from Canada, England and Ireland. I realized that I´m either sleeping because my choices (when the family is busy) are : study Spanish or watch TV in Spanish or I´m trying to avoid hard situations. Possibly I´m still adjusting to the climate! I haven´t gone out to get anything unless I really needed it( a notebook and a phone card). I hope that´s not a comment on my attitude of being in this new place.
I´ve gotten a little taste of some ministries here in Arequipa. A ministry to special needs kids and a coffee bar where a guy from Pensacola spoke! The food is good: I haven´t picked a favorite yet. I´ve gotten to share in some table conversations with friends of the family. I´m a little ´mal estomago´ but nothing terrible! It has taken some adjusting to not looking people in their faces and saying hi! I can´t be as observant it seems! Just some rambling thoughts! Not sure of plans for the weekend, I´m just taking each day at a time! Today has enough worries of its own! If anyone wants to mail me something, e-mail me, it only takes two weeks if you send it air mail.

En Arequipa!

I had my first full day in Arequipa yesterday. In the morning we went to the Market to get fruits and veggies for the week. They also have meat there so Anna showed me around. They helped me learn a few more veggies I didn´t know! And there were a lot of potatoes! I kind of wish I had my camera because while we were there one of the candidates for election was there with handing out cards with two characters escorting her. One was in the shape of Peru and the other the shape that represents choosing her. Each candidate has a image to mark on the ballot! How interesting! Then we went to the Saga Falabella- name for the department store that dominates that mall area. The grocery store is underneath so we picked up other things there. Later that night we toured around Arequipa with a friend of my host mom´s while doing errands. They took me to see a good view of the city but you couldn´t see El Misti and the other volcanoes because of the clouds! We saw a wedding happening there and then went to Plaza de Las Armas. The Grand Plaits, if you will. (Belgian folks) or Hotel de Ville(French folks) We actually saw two more couples who had just been married- reminded me of walking down Fifth Avenue on Saturday and seeing 5 different weddings at various stages with Tay, mom and Ginny. There were a couple of groups performing. One with typical Peruvian music- it´s very mysterious sounding. I learned the name of the rock that all the old buildings are made of- I think we call it igneous!? ¿Any physical science students in the audience? We ended the night with buñuelos, Peruvian doughnuts, I had seen at the store earlier. They are thinner than ours, more like funnel cake except in doughnut shape, covered in honey! MMMM! I start classes tomorrow!

Estoy Aqui!

I have to keep telling myself that I'm really here to live! I arrived at almost midnight into Lima. It took me a while to get my bags but they all arrived safely! Everything in one piece! I got to the house and met Becca and the intern, Kiera. The sounds of Lima are very different. A parrot neighbor, people selling ice cream, fruit, constuction materials, etc. Things do take longer here: making ice, washing dishes, getting out to do errands when people come by. Just some initial thoughts... I've been reading in Isaiah and other places about having ears to hear- with all these new sounds( let alone spanish all around) I think the Lord's calling me to listen to Him closer. I'm thankful for his gentle whispers!

Ciao!

Hello everyone! I'm testing out the blog thing...