Hola!
Thank you guys for all your emails! =) Please feel free to comment on here so that I at least know I have some readers. Gracias!
July 5-I went to my orientation at the Maximo office. There are sooo many people here! Besides volunteers from all over the world, there are other people here just to study Spanish combined with some adventurous tours. There are also local Peruvians of all ages studying English here. To my fam/friends in the health field: There are many volunteers here such as medical students! I think you guys would love it here.
I went to El Molino, which is an area where you can buy bootleg DVD´s/CD´s, electronics, clothes, etc. We also stopped by the San Blas area, which is know for its artisan stores and atomsphere. The taxi ride up there was scary! Just like in Asia and other places, pedestrians do not have the right of way. The smog is so bad here and it´s exhausting just walking from place to place because I´m constantly trying not to get hit by a car. The good thing about the taxis here are that they don´t charge by distance. It´s about $1 for the fare.
As for the weather here, it´s hot in the day, and freezing at night. And it´s so dry, and the smog doesn´t make it any better. Can´t wait to breathe some fresh air at Machu Picchu.
July 6-I was scheduled to be taken to my placement location today. I was so excited to get started! Turns out, the office made a mistake...I don´t start until Tuesday because today is Teachers´ Appreciation Day, so the schools were closed. =( I´m so bummed! But one of the coordinators still took me up there just so I know where it is. I have to travel by bus (which is a ghetto 15 passenger van, sardine style) and the school is up in the cuts! So tomorrow, I will have to go on my own...hopefully I´ll get there and back ok. Yikes!
That´s all for now. Also, please keep my grandma in your thoughts. She is back in the hospital in Taiwan and is struggling.
Hasta luego. I´ll post pictures next time.
Always,
Jen
