Mid-Training Reflections

So we´ve finally hit the midway point of our 10 week session (more or less). We had our second spanish interview last week, which I´m proud to say that I can now successfully string sentences and thoughts together to carry on a conversation. Peace Corps agrees as well, so I´ve now reached the level needed to actually become a volunteer (phew). Now on to bigger and better things.

These next coming weeks are going to go by in a whirl, since we are now starting practice days where we go out in the communities and make house visits. A few weeks later, we will be going on our "Field Based Training," which is going to be in Ancash (heck yes). It´s basically a chance to go visit some current volunteers and get some real context on what we will actually be doing and the challenges that we might face. And then, the following week we will actually get to see where we will be living for the next 2 years. So yah, like I said, it will fly by.

Now I´ve had lots of time to think (and then some...) and so I´ve put together a small list of things I miss about my home in the states and things I love about Peru. Enjoy!

Things I miss about the states:
-Skinny Iced Lattes
-Carpet
-Hot Showers (I´m still waiting for one...)
-Veggies! Veggies! Veggies!
-Being able to drive off into the sunset if I wanted....
-Green surroundings (I live in a dust bowl)
-Being anonymous (We are famous here, ´nuff said)
-CHEEEEEEEEEEESE
-Grey´s Anatomy (Not going to lie....)
-Toilet Seats (Thunder Thighs here I come!)
-24 hour access to Internet
-Autumn Weather (including sweaters, scarfs, and curling up by the fire)
-Family and Friends (almost goes without saying...)


Things I love about Peru:
-Dancing (Everyone LOVES to dance! It´s great)
-Aji (I´m starting to like spicy foods)
-Besos (It´s the custom to kiss everyone on the cheek to say hello and goodbye)
-Combis (I really DO like them!)
-Galletas de Fibre
-The people! (Peruvians are the nicest people you will ever meet!)
-Having less material possessions
-Chirimoyas (Only the BEST fruit ever! It´s a mix between pears and apples and it looks like crab meat!)
-My kickin´ Abuela and the rest of my host family
-Eternal Summer


Okay, now for some photos....

We sure now how to celebrate birthdays here...This is the mariachi band that suprised us all

Miss Chosica Beauty Competition (Note: Cristo Blanco as the backdrop)

The Pizza Disaster

Yanacota Fireworks (They KNOW how to do fireworks right...)

As always, I miss you all! I´ve enjoyed all your emails and letters that you´ve sent...keep em coming!