Hey Y´all, Just an update on Huancayo. Once I got here, I didn´t quite know why. There´s a town nearby, Hualhuas, that is known for it´s touristy textiles market. There isn´t a Spanish school I was coming to attend, and I didn´t have the details of any homstays worked out. Yet, I made the decision to come. Well, after a couple of days taking walks, hitting up the market, and reading (a lot!), I finally got that nasty bacterial illness I wasn´t supposed to. We´re talking massive fever, no leaving my bed (situated in a very plesant hospedaje with a very nice señora minding everything), aches and pains, headache, feeling zonked out, etc. for pretty much 24 hours. I woke up without a fever, but still tired and zoned out. Upon reflection, I probably didn´t have ... read more

Hey all! I had an amazing weekend and I thought I´d share a little bit of it with you. In Qosqo, all Saturday long I went on a ¨market walk¨. A ¨market walk¨is what happens who one leaves the house of one´s host family with the intention of reaching Mercado San Pedro (a centralized maket in Qosqo), and runs into a market on nearly every block en route! Being a curious person, of course I had to at least stroll around these amazing places, which bumb up there presence all over Qosqo on Saturdays. The markets here are part dream-come true (fruits, vegetables, and cereals in bulk, herbs, loose-leaf teas, local plants, traditional medicines, etc.) and part nightmare (how many little plastic trinkets, or plastic-wrapped items do folks seriously need? That goes for you too, Americans!). ... read more

The bus ride to Cusco I believe was my favorite. I had the pleasre of sitting next to a medical student, Percy, and between his English and my Spanish we discusses a lot of things. Mainly politics. I had the impression that, beauce of political messages and endorsement splashed EVERYWHERE, that social change is super-important to Peruvians. According to Percy, this is not so, and corruption is a huge problem. Aparently, the votes of Campsesinos and other poor or rural folks are often acquired through ¨gifts¨of food and gasoline from political candidates. Um, I guess it´s good that politicians are interested inthe welfare of campesinos, but apparently this consideration doesn´t last much longer than elections. That, and the fact that so much of exports from Peru are privatized and don´t benefit the economy considerably. Not to ... read more

Hello Beloveds! I am taking my first South American bus ride, beginning tonight! I will be in Lima by the 5th, and will heading to Cusco from there. In the spirit of reflection, here are my thoughts on ecuador thus far: -If you haven´t seen a Sacagawea dollar or 50-cent piece in a while, it´s because they are all here! Large-quantity coins are super useful and much more common than in the U.S. -LOTS of tourist hostals and clubs and other such in La Mariscal, Quito´s ¨gringolandia¨. I´m not that into it, but if you want to party and hang out with other westerners, this is the place for it in this city. -Beautiful countryside, with verdant valleys, rivers, and the glorious plant and animal life of the cloud forest. -Amazingly nice poeple here are Vipassana ... read more

Oh Quito, The first night was spent in a hostal which I d believe doubled as a brothel, from the sights and sounds of things. Also, an absolute chorus of angry dogs brking at all hours. Oh yes, also the sounds of airplanes taking off and a big street. Anyway, I got in and rested for a long time, meditated,went back to the airport, got my luggge (!), and have otherwise been trying to navigate and practice Spanish. Upon realization of my language inadequacies, I registerred for two weeks of language school in Cusco, to be followed by tutoring as it comes up. I have noticed that in Ecuador the busses leave behind a ton of exaust, that everyone is at least neutral (most people are friendly, other intent on ignoring me, but not as much ... read more