I really enjoyed my last month in Peru. I wanted to stay longer, doing stupid things with friends, goofing off with my favorite class at school, going to spanish lessons everyday, and hanging out with locals. Amanda, Sabah, and I signed up for Spanish lessons. Everyday, we walked 30 minutes to our class in Cayma, located in a cute house, owned by a cute couple, and we had the best two teachers. Sitting outside in a garden, at a small table with an umbrella, the three of us, and our teachers Carlos and Ageda, we learned tons and I like to say I'm fluent in Spanish now....right? ;-) in all honesty, we learned so much. I can say this with confidence because for 5 hours a day we mostly had conversations about everything...politics, life, religion, you name it.
I also had the pleasure of experiencing Fathers Day in Peru. It was fun. Pilar had tons of family members in town staying at the house, including two awesome little cousins, ages 4 and 6, who became my friends very fast. They brought me apples and bananas to eat everyday, and even gave me a bag to accompany me back to America. One spoke fluent English, the other only Spanish. But she did learn how to say "hi", "ok", "I'm sick", and "bye". On the actual Fathers Day, Matt, Miguel, and Amanda walked into the house to see me at a dinner table with 20 Peruvians. I thought it was normal but I can see how they thought it was a funny sight. I absolutely love this family. Pilar and Hilda are the best family one can have while in another country. My favorite story from the house was the time I was really sick. I had Peru Tummy. Hurray! Hilda came into my room one night to give me natural medicine. I had a faint idea what this was because Matt experienced the same thing a month before. So what is natural Peruvian medicine? It started out with her telling me to get off of facebook =( and laying down. She and Pilar beat egg whites in a bowl (odd look on my face), spreading it over paper that they had punched holes in (oooook?), holding it over a candle flame, and putting the pieces of paper all over my body....chest, arm pits (that one was cold), stomach, palms, and soles of my feet, and then covering my hands and feet with socks (please imagine the look on my face). After all of this insanely uncomfortable feeling (while all of my friends were out having fun), she rubbed some herb smelling stuff on my face and neck, said some things in Spanish, maybe it was Quechua, I didnt know because I was SO confused. And then she told me to go to bed. It was only 830! And then I realized my contacts were still in. Ha. And then they left. And then I realized I had to go to the bathroom. Oops. Needless to say that had to be held until morning. Imagine waking up with egg whites hardened all over your body with paper bits all over. I had to sweep again that day boooo. But, I woke up feeling AMAZING. Actually, within minutes the previous night, I was fever free. I LOVE HILDA AND PILAR.
Other favorite moments from the last month were seeing my favorite class two more times. The Monday and Tuesday before I left I went to extreme to see Kathy, Yufen, Valeria, Joice, Joselyn, Raul, Paola, Edgar, Andre, David, and the rest. The girls and I went to Mcdonalds. I should feel guilty about the Mcdonalds but I must admit in Peru it is delicious AND we walked a ways to get there. I miss you guys....Best class ever.
I also had the pleasure of being treated to dinner by Leonel and Elvis. Me, Amanda, and Matt joined them at La Italiana and I had the BEST shrimp fettucine I have ever had. Move over Italians, because the Peruvians can cook your food just as good as you can. Leonel and Elvis are so sweet. I decided to treat myself that night and thats why I ordered the expensive dish that included shrimp. And then I found out Leonel and Elvis were paying, which is absolutely ridiculous, and felt terrible. Oh well. Later, we went to play pool and Elvis pulled out a 2 Liter bottle of wine from his backpack. This was brilliant. By the way, I dont play pool. But thank you Leonel for teaching me and being the best pool partner in the world. And no, I didnt tell anyone that you were whispering to me exactly what to before I made a shot...is that even the correct technical pool jargon? Who knows....Another day, I met Leonel for lunch at Mistica. And I swear one day I will pay him back for every meal he bought for me. I had every intention of paying when I got there, but my good friend beat me to it. After that, I walked with him to Mitchell where he works. Mitchell is the company that produces Alpaca wool goods. They have a small museum showing you how they process the wool, and he showed me around there. Then we had to say goodbye, and I put my sunglasses on because I knew I was going to cry, and I didnt want anyone to see that again =P I love you Leonel, and I miss you so much. Sunday Skype dates with you will continue forever until I see you.One more story about my last month. On the night Amanda was leaving Arequipa for good, I was convinced that I wouldnt cry because I had already accepted it. We ate at the Llama on a Sunday. And when she had to leave I boo hooed AGAIN. As if balling my eyes out once when Claire left wasnt enough, I did it again, surely convincing people who frequent the Llama regularly that I am, in fact, mental. So, thirty minutes post amandas departure, I was depressed, and in walks Amanda. It took all of 0.000001 seconds to look at her and start crying again. Ya....through a hard to understand "what are you *sniff* doing *sniff* here *sniff*?", she told me that the buses were cancelled because of a strike in Cusco that was resulting in the workers rioting in the roads. (I still think this method is brilliant). So, Amanda and I had two more days together. And then she left again, after a lovely dinner at Crepisimo. As soon as she got into the taxi, I cried. I've convinced myself that I'm overly emotional....
And finally, two other great memories of my last month...when my brother was in town, Diego drove us around one day. If you don't remember, Diego was my closest Peruvian friend. He picked us up and drove us all around Arequipa. We stopped to get beer from the store to drink while driving around. Because that is completely normal. Diego even popped open a can while driving. Brilliant. Later that day, he drove us to the airport and I cried of course when Eric leaved. Then he left me to cry on Diego. Thank you Diego for putting up with every stupid thing I do, taking me to the pharmacy, going to eat at Turko even though I know you didnt want to, walking around with me, and being the greatest friend I could have had in a really foreign country. I miss you!!!
Another of my friends, Carlos, had his friend drive us around. We went to the countryside and a spot where you can see all of Arequipa and the 3 volcanoes. I loved it. He even bought me queso helado which translates to cheese ice cream, but actually it tastes like cheesecake. Thanks Carlos, you are a great friend, and I miss you too!
So what do I miss about Peru?
Walking down the streets seeing babies carried in bags on their mothers backs. Walking to the corner store Cielo to buy Oreos, Snickers, and Cokes from Pilar's aunt. Cramming into the small taxis and refusing to pay more than 3.50 which is still an outrageous price even if it only converts to 1 American dollar. Looking at a newspaper stand with papers very respectable on the front only to open it up and see half naked women inside (that will get the readers attention). Sitting down with my Peruvian family to drink hot chocolate at night. Being told in Spanish that I am tall by strangers when on the sidewalk. Eating at Turko (the peruvian taco bell), Tacos y Tequila, Crepisimo, Cafe y Vino, and more. Going to the Super to get ice cream. Being harassed by people in the plaza to come eat at their restaurant. Being attacked by pigeons in the center. Hearing "meeeeeeees" yelled out and knowing that one of my students was talking to me. Walking into the University without an id because I was a professor. Not being surprised when students showed up an hour late for class. Being barked at by roof dogs. Walking 20 minutes to the best empanada place in the city. Hearing Carlos laugh at me when I made a mistake during a lesson. Driving around with Diego drinking beer because that would never happen in the US. Diego in general because he always took care of me. Going to Siglo 20 to buy movies (I came back with about 60). Getting on top of that bar in the Llama. Watching Ollie ride his bike into the wall at the Llama. Going to the pharmacy and getting anything I wanted for 15 cents even without a prescription. Chasing after Claire at 4 am. Trying to figure out which friends were doing which stupid things. Going to burker king every Sunday morning. Tripping on the sidewalk everyday because they are old fashioned and cobblestoned. Being unbelievably uncomfortable in the Red Bar but staying anyways. Seeing pictures of half naked people on the walls of the Pirate Bar. Listening to insults from Matt and Miguel while I secretly knew that they loved me despite what they say. Free shots from Fiona any day of the week. Listening to rubbish trucks playing classical and Disney music. Random blackouts throughout town that resulted in cancelled classes. Dinners and lunch with Leonel, the sweetest person I have ever met. Drying my clothes on a line up on the roof. Leaving my rooftop bedroom door open to the great outdoors. Seeing the Misit, Chichani, and Picchu Picchu volcanoes everyday. Seeing how excited people get excited about Mcdonalds. The fact that there is a gym overlooking the foodcourt in the mall. Walking millions of miles to the university and secretly loving it because the exercise meant that I could eat another snickers that day.
And mostly I miss my friends. I already wrote about them once but to reiterate...How lucky was I to meet such great people? We all come from different walks of life and we are the most random group of people you will ever see together. But somehow, we make it work, and we have more fun than anyone else. I can guarantee that.
Amanda, Claire, Sabah, Pilar, Fiona, Miguel, Matt, Diego, Leonel, Elvis, Rodrigo, Antuka, Majo, Carlos, Verena, Mick, Juan, Lucia, Maru, AJ, and everyone else..our crazy stories and secrets will stay with me forever. We will all meet again one day.
So people ask me, "How was Peru?" and my first reaction is to laugh, smile, and say, "oh, Peru..." because despite everything I have written, nothing can accurately describe every wonderful thing I experienced in my 6 months there. Thanks Arequipa for being a great home. I'll see you again soon someday.
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