Mi espanol... un poquito mal.

Cusco is fantastic.

Pictures are hard to format. So, let me explain the skype situation. Right now, my madre (Aida) or my supervisor (Yessika) picks me up from work everyday to either run errands or learn the transportation system. I can't even describe how many taxis I have taken in the last week. There are no cars in Cusco. The taxis are safe and no matter where you go, they cost $1 USD. Awesome. Also, my familia eats breakfast together everyday, then goes to school, then when I get back from work, we eat lunch and do activities. And then eat our nighttime meal. And since it gets dark here at 5pm, and we eat breakfast at 7, we go to bed very early. So, until I have the freetime between work and lunch, I can't really set up skype dates.

And, since mi padre (Edgar) is a tour guide and knows everyone and everything, sometimes he takes us to really cool restaurants and museums and inca ruins... fo free. And he's fluent in English which is insanely helpful.

Work is funny. No one speaks English. But the deaf students know me because I know sign language. And apparently my supervisor told the entire school that I am a specialist in Autism and know everything. So everyday teachers ask me for advice (in Spanish) and usually I don't understand. But today I worked with two kids specifically. One with very severe Autism, Vivian. She is not cared for at home, so she has little skills. Actually, we aren't sure if she can hear, and she definitely can't speak. She's 11 and always having hard times. Today I worked with the teachers in my class and gave them some ideas for Vivian. I'm asking Projects Abroad for musical instruments for the class and small mirrors and carpet squares to sit on. The classroom is barren and the school and students are very poor. Que triste.

Manuel is also 11, nd has the most severe ADHD I have ever seen. When he is sitting, he is a genius and well mannered. The teachers have though that he has moderate developmental disabilities and/or Autism. She showed me the medication he takes... Haldol. Haldol is a drug for Schizophrenia. It an anti-psychotic tranquilizer. I talked to the head of the school today and gave him a list of appropriate medicine. I believe 100% that Manuel could function in a normal school if he had appropriate therapy and time to catch up. He's been taught at a very very low level for a long time.

My Spanglish is incredible. Unfortunately, without Edgar, Aida and I laugh a lot at the language barrier. She and Edgar always always call me their "hija" (daughter) and introduce

me to their friends as such... awkward. (They are 8 years older than me).

Francesca and Fernanda are awesome, we talk a lot and play Clue and watch movies. Always playing, and they are always with us, I love it.

So far, Cusco is so flipping different. Digestion is slower, the weather varies so hardcore (not by day, by hour: at 6 am its 30 degrees, at 1 pm it feels like upper 70's... so weird), the language (clearly), the type of people, the FOOD (exam

ple: hotdog is a typical meat to serve).

I ate cuy (guinea pig) which I didn't like because I had to rip off his arms to eat him right. And someone asked me to have his heart. And someone else said "if you aren't going to eat his head, I totally will."

Haven't met any other volunteers besides the one in my house, who is great. But the community in Cusco is relatively small, so I've gotten to know lots of people. One of the teachers and me have set up carpool for school. :)

Well, hopefully when I get a more clear schedule I can totally skype with everyone! And for those waiting... still haven't heard from Kevin Ayres.

Also, no one snacks in Cusco. At all. And we drink tea with every meal and before bed. And we kiss on the cheek everyone-- who you have just met or that you are living with whenever you see them or they are leaving. (When leaving, we always say "Ciao!")

So, I am safe and well. And love and miss the fam and friends a ton. I showed the familia my pictures and have talked incessantly in Spanish (I'm not actually sure what they think about my family... I hope I said everything right.)

Ciao amigos!

PS. 80's American music... the most typical here. Also, me and Francesca watched the best of Michael Jackson videos that she had and tried to learn the dances. Totally one of my favorite moments. I translated all of the dialogue for her in the Thriller video (Her favorite... she already knew most of the dance. And she's 7. And Peruvian. Go figure!)

PSS. Mom, you would LOVE the markets. It was most Inca people but there are almost 20 kinds of potatoes, and they have the most beautiful fresh fruit ever. All organic. They can't afford chemicals.