Tuesday

First, last night's post:


It's Monday night. I've just about completed my first full day here.
Lunch was good. It was a tomato based soup with poached egg and pasta
in it. Afterwards I returned to the office for my Spanish classes. The
first one was a bit easy for me, however I really liked the teacher.
The second was interesting. The room is divided into A and B and I was
waiting in B for class to start. A Peruvian comes in and I asked if he
was the teacher. He said he was in the other room and I should come
with. I said I had a class here, but he insisted. So the class I went
to was a little over my head he was asking for adverbs and what not
and I'm like, I have no clue buddy. I was definitely the weakest
speaker there. I cut it short cause I was worn out and it was starting
to get a bit dark out. It was a little harder to catch a taxi.

Dinner was good too. It was a stuffed pepper with peas and carrots and
"soyo" or tofu, served with rice. We had a delicious pie for dessert
made by Patricias ex mother in law. The table was very busy. A med
student from New Zealand arrived today and a mother daughter had
returned from their Macchu Pichu trip. Plus all of us were there as
opposed to the previous meals where it would only be about half.

Oh, I had also gone to a market on the main avenue, Avenida Del Sol,
and looked at "alpaca" sweaters. I was first quoted 38 soles but when
I said I had to think about it she dropped it to 30 soles, or about 10
dollars. I was also looking at baby hats for a friend and the price
went from 10 to 8 to 5 soles, or just under 2 dollars. I didn't buy
anything because I honestly had to think about it. Plus I had almost
no soles on me. I have enough for 1 taxi right now and I need to hit
an ATM. I've spent $15 plus a Starbucks on the credit card so far. oh,
and I think I was ripped off buying shampoo and body wash from a
pharmacy, 21 soles ($7) but whatever.

 A sweater is my first plan after the ATM though because I'm cold! And
they're cute. Chuck Russell, do you want one too?


Today:


What a morning! I decided I would see if an ATM was in walking
distance and luckily there was one. I received directions from
Patricia and off I went. I had hoped to bring my phone for pictures
but I was wearing my money belt and it didn't fit very well. I did see
many cute dogs and the buildings are so different than the US.


Here's my money belt

So I walked for a while and realized I had no clue if I was going the
right way. I got directions and continued. This happened about 3
times. I finally made it to the main street I needed to be on, but
which way? I went one way for a bit, didn't feel it was promising and
turned around. Still no good. I asked for directions again and went
back the way I had originally gone. I finally found a market, not the
one I was looking for, but it had an ATM. I withdrew 700 soles, about
$230 and attempted to go home. Same thing again. Ask for directions,
walk, directions, continue. I finally recognized a nearby school that
has a 5 story dragon slide (note to self: must get pic) and knew I was
good. I then missed my final turn and had to loop back but luckily I
found it then.

Part way through my walk I felt my toes and fingers start to get
tingly from the lack of O2. I slowed down for a bit and was just fine
after. I'm rather surprised I kept my cool for the whole walk. I think
knowing that I'm on my own and need to look out for myself kept me
calm and rational. Although if it had gone on much longer I might have
needed to use my last coin soles on a cab.

Don't know if I mentioned it but I had homework to do. It was a simple
worksheet and didn't take much time. I'm thinking about staying in my
easy class for review and then trading my confusing class for 1h of
private. I then wouldn't have to worry about getting a cab in the dark
either. Plus i want to work on other tenses which does not seem like
it will be on the agenda for either class over the next two weeks.


And a random goat out the window