sick

It is very easy to get sick here, Peruvians have tougher stomachs then us gringos (gringos is a term they use for foregin, white people. It isn´t a bad world like it is in the US). I thought I was being safe with washing my hands a lot and not touching or buying stuff off the streets. But I got sick Thursday. I was throwing up and some other not so fun stuff. I went to the doctor and was told I had an infection and a parasite! What fun huh? but all is ok. I felt like crap Thursday, but things are feeling better now. I can now eat food!They gave me a lot of medication and this really disgusting electrolite drink. I think that was by far the worse drink I´ve ever had! My host mom was really worried and make sure I took my medication. My muscles were so achy and she rubbed them for me and put a hot cloth on it. It felt so good and I was so thankful. I unfortunatly didn´t know how to thank her enough for everything she did. But I know she wanted to help. I´ll make sure to give the family a big going away present! ha ha

but no need to worry, all is ok, or wil be very soon. I miss everyone and some of the holidays the U.S. has coming up, but I am looking forward to Dia de los Muertos and other holidays Peru has coming up. chao for now!

all is good

I tried to pet the llama, it´s ears went back and i ran away. i didn´t want it spitting on me!

in a door and the ruins in ollantaytambo.

things here are getting better. I don´t have many problems any more with my teacher (knock on wood). I´ve been teachign more and things have been getting better. I try and take time to talk with students and I´ve noticed how more and more are coming up to me to talk. I found out today that one of my really bright studens knows four languages...quechua, spanish, english and dutch. He works at the ruins as like a guide so no wonder he´s bright. I told him I felt dumb compared to him since I only know one language really well. lol he just laughed and said no, but I looked good. HA HA! Teaching is still hard, I have a hard time explaining determiners and quantity words (some, any, much, many, a lot of). My teacher translates a lot, which is helpful when I can´t get the point accross, but other times I fear it´s too much of a crutch for the students. I would do some things differently for sure, but I have little control over that. There is stuff that my teacher does that is good...so I will be taking strategies from her home with me.

I´ve been traveling a lot on the weekends. A few of us volunteers bought the tourist boletto which gets you into a lot of the ruins and museums for free...it cost 130 soles or about 40 dollars. I didn´t see the museums, and got into Pisaq for free, but it was relaly cool to see eerything. It is a little hard to travel and make plans with a lot of the volunteers because I´m one of the oldest...they are mostly 17-20. It´s not the biggestt age difference, but it´s almost enough. They got really drunk Friday and lazed around most of the day Saturday where as I and another volunteer who´s 33 went to all the ruins we could see. Then Saturday we left Cusco early where as the others got home really late. It´s not a bad thing, but there is a difference between priorities, planning,a nd to some extent maturity. That had kinda of been getting to me lately. Don´t get me wrong, I really like the other volunteers and love hanging out with them, but at times I´m tired and I know I´m here to do more than just drink and party. I´m past that stage. Plus, partying with them Friday made me realize I really miss my friends back home. Partying with them is fun, but not the same. A few of the other volunteers are taking advantage of the laxed rules of drinking in Peru. I would too, so that doesn´t bother me...everyone needs drinking stories. I´m just ready to use my time here constructively. I really do love my other volunteers, they are smart, confident, and fun to hang out with. It´s another thing I need to be flexible about and take it as it comes.

I do have the traveling bug though, I want to go to Europe now! Anyone interested in backpackign Europe with me???