Home, Sweet Home

I now write you from the country of Peru, my home for the next year. It has been a wonderful, scary, awesome 5 days since we got here, and each day it becomes a little more like home, and a little less like a far off land. I live in Carabyllo, a pueblo joven on the outskirts of Lima, about an hours ride from downtown...when there is no traffic. We all thought that when we arrived at the airport on Monday night that we would all be wisked off to a hotel of some sort of house where we would all be staying together for the 2 week orientation process. We were wrong. My new family was waiting at the airport, and we were all taken to spend the night away from the friends that had become our support group, with people who didn´t speak English. (In case you didn't know...I´m a little lacking in the Spanish department!) But my family is great, and we were able to communicate enough with each other to understand. I live with Eduardo and his wife Flor, who is 2 months pregnant! I'm glad that I will be able to be a part of this year in their life and them in mine.

Each day I understand a little more Spanish, but I am still struggling with the speaking part. While it is great to spend the days with the other YAVs and the nights with my family, it is kind of hard to switch from Spanish to English at the drop of a hat. It is very interesting living where I am. On the way to the office in the mornings it takes about an hour, but on the way home at night it takes almost 2. This is also is a very intricate process usually involving a taxi and at least 2 different buses, all packed to the brim with people. Luckily, Eduardo works in the office and I just follow him. After next week, I will be beginning my jobs, and will have to travel by myself to and from them. Today was actually my first bus ride alone. All the YAVs met at Ruth and Hunter´s house and then we went out in Miraflores, one of the nicer, more touristy parts of town. Eduardo put me on the bus, gave me a note of where I was going, and told the money collector where I was getting off. I felt like a 5 year old on the first day of school...only 5 year olds can talk! But I got here with no problem and am spending the night so I wouldn´t have to take a bus back at 11pm. I must admit it will be nice being able to take a shower with hot water in the morning and not having the dogs barking outside and the roosters crowing, although I have almost gotten used to all that.

As I learn the language and get to know more about my surroundings and how to get around, it is really starting to become more like home, and less like a dream. Today was the best sign yet. As we were on the bus from the fruit market this morning, all 3 of us and 60 lbs of fruit, there on the seat beside me was a teenage boy. He seemed like your average Peruvian young man. But on his head was...are you ready for this...a UNC hat. Yes, UNC has even made its mark in Peru! So as I continue to adjust to the cold showers and the long bus rides that seem to never end, it was nice to see a familiar sign from home, even if I couldn´t talk to him and ask him about it...and even if they did lose to Rutgers today. Hasta pronto!