Wow what a great first day! The weather is just gorgeous here. So I'm told that it wasn't quite as hot as a typical summer day, but the breeze was wonderful. Despite the fact that the roads are dirt and many houses are shanty's, the town is just beautiful to me. The class that I went to teach today was up on the mountain side, which offered a great view of the town below. We take a small bus up, or the equivalent to a VW van, to reach the classroom. It costs about 25 cents to get to our stop called "el cemetario" for the extravagantly decorated cemetery on the hill. It's like no cemetery I've ever seen in the States. Instead of solemn grays and creams, the headstones are brightly colored as if to celebrate each person for whom they represent. It also creates a very stark contrast to the surrounding terrain of dirt and rocks. Another volunteer, Elizabeth and I played games with the kids before starting English class. There wasn't too much excitement in class being that today was quiz day. I promised more fun during the next visit. In the evening a few volunteers and I held a conversation class for a few young adults with more advanced English skills. I've already been unofficial nicknamed the "camp counselor", I guess I'm kind of spunky or something;) During class we of course spoke Spanish, but afterwards I had a chance to practice my Spanish with them. I got to meet Katti, a super sweet 18 year old that I will be tutoring in SAT prep. It's such an interesting and wonderful thing to be able to help others to practice another language and then turn around and allow them to help you. It really creates a give-and-take relationship, where everyone's on the same playing field. Sometimes as a volunteer, you have a one track mind about all you can do to help, but it's equally important to realize you need others and that learning goes both ways. Tomorrow I have a few more classes, English, Math, and Spelling. I'm looking forward to meeting more adorable Peruvian children. Oh and the food---¡qué rica! I truly feel spoiled to get to eat delicious food everyday. The living conditions here are really above what I would have expected as a volunteer in a poor area of the country. However, we are really taken care of, plenty of clean water, home-cooked meals, hot showers (seriously!), wifi, laundry service…it almost makes up for the fact that we are neighbors to roosters and nocturnal barking dogs. Thank you earplugs! (A must for any travels to rural Latin America!) But I do feel very blessed to be in this experience. I'm looking forward to what's to come, but enjoying what's happening right now.
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