New Years in Huancavelica

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Hey Everybody,

I finally got my pictures uploaded from my camera, so I am going to post a bunch on here.

For New Years here I had a huge Thanksgiving like dinner here on New Years Eve with turkey and Paneton and a little wine and hot chocolate. I guess it was a typical thing. Then we hung out and the priests sang some songs in Spanish that I didn't know. I shattered my record of eating dinner with 7 priests. This time there were 16. At nine they all went to bed or to do whatever priests do, so I decided I had to stay up until 12, so I watched a movie and the horrible CNN coverage until 12. At 12 I went outside and people were lighting off fireworks and burning things all over the city. It looked, smelled, and sounded like a war. It was pretty incredible. I hung out and watched for a little while then went to bed. On New Years Day, we walked up the mountain to a little town called Santa Barbara, where the whole town of Huancavelica goes for New Years. It was really fun. We walked up to the old mercury mine which is the reason Huancavelica became a city. Then we walked back down to Santa Barbara and ate lunch on a hill and watched bulls chase people around. It was hilarious. Right when we finished lunch, it started raining and hailing really hard and we got soaked while trying to find a taxi to take us back down. Overall it was a very different, but fun New Years and it was great to experience something different.

Since then I have visited the old folks home and the orphanage. The old folks home was really funny. Some of the old people dressed up as the Three Kings scene and delivered presents to the other old people. They were all really funny. Also, one old guy fell backwards in his wheelchair and was really confused. The orphanage was also nice. It was very sad though. I think I am going to go help out there some when I have time. Yesterday, I went on a big hike up the mountain. It was really good exercise and there was beautiful scenery. The high mountains around had snow on them.

I still have a lot of free time. I have not really done much work since the kids left for Lima on Sunday. I usually do something in the morning around town because it is usually sunny in the morning, but after lunch it is rainy so I take a nap and have gotten a lot of reading done. I have also been playing some soccer and basketball, which is still kinda tough at this altitude.

The prists are all really nice. They give me all my meals, let me sleep at the seminary, and the nuns even wash my clothes. I have not spent very much money at all which is exactly what I needed.

Another priest is coming today and I am finally going to Liracy with him tomorrow. He is an English teacher, so I am going to help him with his English.

Happy New Year to everyone and I will talk to you soon.

Farley

I uploaded all the pictures to the blog. it took about 20 minutes, but when it got done they weren't there. I guess I have to do them individually. I only had time to do a few now. I will post another entry tomorrow with a bunch more.

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Photos

Arrival
At 5am

From the Seminary
This is where I am staying

Comments

[Jessie (Kruse) West]

Farley! I never pictured you spending New Years Eve with 16 priests! Sounds like you are having an amazing time in Peru. I am jealous - I think you should spend time at the orphanage, you would do such a good time cheering up those kids. Toby and I want to do the Inca Trail sometime, so if you do it, let us know how it went. I had a few friends who did it last summer and they said it was pretty awesome. Hope you are doing well.