I love...I miss...I´m still not used to...

I love...
the people
the hospitality
kisses on the cheek to say hi and bye
when I run into people I now know
the full attention of people...the result of not having cell phones
fresh fruit
variety
newness
adventure
abrazos from the children
how you can get on and off the bus wherever you please
community/spirituality nights
the way people are moved by the music
dancing
cultural pride
hours and hours of sitting around talking and enjoying the presence of others
my Peruvian family

I miss...
loved ones from home
being able to fully express myself
putting up Christmas decorations at home
understanding
home

I´m still not used to...
the desolation of the desert
the garbage
not being able to run when I want to
the blunt honesty about physical characteristics such as weight
nearly falling out of the bus when they´re so jammed full
la hora peruana...which ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hours after the intended hour
so many stray dogs
the lack of organization
not being in control

Fotos

Pictures from Dia Familiar when we participated in the Baile de los Profesores. We preformed the Pacasito dance.

Right before the guys hid under our skirts...so funny!

Team Tacna!

The whole crew...all of the professors that danced. The volunteers were definitely the majority!

A few weekends ago we took a trip to the beach. We spent one day with the students and their families and then the volunteers stayed an extra day to have a retreat. It was so nice to be back at the beach! I have definitely missed it! It´s so bizarre though...as you´re driving to the ocean there are miles and miles of the desert and it is soo dry that it seems impossible that there could be any water, but low and behold you arrive at the ocean after all!

Yoga on the beach...a great way to start our retreat

The desert side

The ocean...soooo cold!!! What a contrast from the sand that was burning our poor feet!



All of the volunteers enjoying a dinner with the neighbors.