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Published: July 16th 2006
It´s hard for me to believe but one week has already passed, in many ways I feel like I have been here for so much longer. Cusco is a beautiful city, full of cobbleston streets and old Spanish flavor and the air is clear and very, very crisp (I did not bring enough warm clothes and have had to break down and purchase a few other items to keep me warm).
Yesterday I was able to visit a few of the churches in the city and see buildings and walls that date back to 9th and 10th century. It is amazing to see how the Inca´s were able to carve perfectly square stones and build walls that have lasted through three major earthquakes by using only small pieces of stone as thier carving tools.
Spanish school has been good but quite hard (there are SO many Irregular Verbs and exceptions it´s hard to keep them all straight). I feel like I have learned a lot but so much is crammed into every day and each week that I am struggling remember it all. Everyone tells me once I get out there and just start talking with people it will
The Hill I walk up every day for school
That cursed hill! The air is way to thin up here.come back and I will learn quickly, I am just hoping that is true (in Cusco almost everyone in the stores speak English so even when I try to use my newly aquired Spanish skills they reply in English). My host family does not speak any English so right now there is much pointing and nodding and looking up words in the dictionary. Needless to say, conversation is really slow. I have meet a lot of great people at the school many of them from other countries so that has been fun to get to know other cultures as well.
Things I love so far -
-That cars alway have the right away and there are no real traffic laws so crossing the street requires much dodging and quick feet - so much fun!
-Jack´s Cafe where you can get an amazing roasted red pepper, cheese and pesto sandwich (3 halves) and french fries for 3 USD
-My new alpaka sweater and scarf - I am so much warmer now
-Finally figuring out how to use the phone card I bought (it´s all in Spanish) and being able to talk to my mom
-Having
all the radio stations play American hip - hop. A few days ago I was trying so hard not to laugh when I was eating lunch with my elderly host family (who don´t speak any English) and we were listening to Beyonce and Slim Thug sing ¨Work Up On It¨
Not my favorite -
-Potatoes - EVERY SINGLE MEAL- uggh, I have forced down more potatoes this week then ever before. I didn´t like them before, now I hate them!!!
-The cold, cold weather, I miss the CA sun
I have one more week of class and then plan on Saturday heading with a group to the Manu Rainforest Preserve to look for birds and monkeys and exotic bugs. Will post again soon!
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Jacque
non-member comment
habla espanol?
Praying for ya with the language thing. Jeff has watched spanish tv for 8 years trying to learn spanish and still can't speak it! I know you will get the hang of it soon. What a beautiful city Cusco is! Have fun at the Manu rainforest. Take your picture with an exotic bug! Love you, Jacque