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The streets of Lima
This is the view of my neighborhood from our rooftop patio So much activity seems to happen on the rooftops in Latin America. I used to notice this in Mexico...and I am reminded of it again as I sit on the top floor of my home for the next three months. The third floor is finished and unfinished at the same time. It's finished in the sense that my bedroom and the other 5 bedrooms up here all have walls, a ceiling, and doors. The doors all open to the outside, which is the seemingly unfinished part. There's an awesome patio filled with plants and chairs and it is the perfect spot to dry laundry, which hangs all around me now. At this height I can watch all the activity that's happening on other rooftops around me....and at the same time, I can become the subject of someone else's boredom/curiosity. In the best possible way, I am overwhelmed by the smells and sounds around me. Each one offers me clues about what's happening in my neighborhood today. I hear school kids playing games. , Someone is doing construction work, hammering away at something that isn't giving in so easily. In one house someone is most likely about to experience the taste of
Laundry drying in the Lima "sun"
Apparently this is the typical Lima sky.... fresh cookies -- chocolate chip, I think. And somehow, birds live and chirp among this concrete jungle. The distant sound of buzzing traffic reminds me that while I'm in a city of almost 9 million people, my street is tucked away nicely.
My travels to Lima yesterday were pretty uneventful. It was nice to have an entire day of sitting and sleeping after such a crazy week of finals and moving apartments. Many people helped make my on-time departure from Decatur possible. Thanks again to everyone who helped move, clean, pack, drive me around when I became carless, and just generally put up with my craziness those last few days! : ) The scariest thing that happened on my trip when was I awoke from a deep sleep on my flight to Lima and realized that 8 girls ages 4-10 had invaded the 5 seats around me and my seat buddy. Let me tell you...they were no force to be messed with. Between downing countless cans of Coke and fighting with one another, they managed to make the flight miserable for most. Except for their parents who had all chosen to sit together up front....and me, who found it
Where I live
The room on the corner is mine for the next three months way too humorous to even be mad. The flight attendants had to serve them, of course, but I heard them muttering under their breath, "Es increíble!!! Vamonos! Vamonos!!" (It's incredible. Let's go! Let's go!)
Today's been a pretty relaxing day. I'm just learning the lay of the land. Another gringa named Ginna is living here in the house. She is one of the YAVs and spends two days working in the office I'll be working in, so she's been showing me around. Tomorrow I'll meet up with the PCUSA Mission Co-Worker Jed Koball, with whom I am primarily working. He picked me up at the airport last night, but had to travel to La Oroya today, so tomorrow we'll be figuring out my schedule and responsibilities. Ginna took me by the Joining Hands office today though and so I've already met all the key people there and we shared a meal together. It's a fun bunch of Peruvians and other volunteers. We spent most of the meal laughing, so I sense it's going to be a fun place to work. : )
Not a lot else to report yet. I'm just enjoying figuring out how life here works. The morning routine has already taught me a few things. 1) Flip the switch on the electric shower at least 30 min. before I want to shower if I want even semi-warm water, 2) The black-purplish spread at breakfast is not beans -- it's mashed olives....one of the two things in the world I do not like. 3) My host mom prepares coffee here and it's super concentrated, so you're to pour some in a cup and then add water to it. Ginna said if I really like coffee, to "pour a lot." Well, I apparently poured way too much because it was like trying to choke down sludge. Tomorrow I will just pour un poquito.
I'm super excited about staying with this particular family for three months. They have already won my heart because Jed said they will feed me well....AND they were watching telenovelas (Latin Am. soap operas) when I arrived. *sigh* So in many ways, I feel I am home again. It's also a luxury to have wireless internet here, so please, don't hesitate to contact me via email (Also, it may be helpful to have in mind that Lima is on Central time right now). I'll try to blog fairly frequently! Chau for now....
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Ellen
non-member comment
So glad you got there safely, and I'm happy to hear from you. much love and peace as you work