I met my host family yesterday. Aida is incredible. She speaks little English but speaks Spanish very slowly. I immediately ate lunch with the family (when the kids
returned from school)-- it was tuna, red onion, potatoes and tomatoes all kind of stir fried? Delicious! And we drink tea with every meal, and we eat every meal together.
Aida and Edgar are divorced but Edgar comes over everyday to do homework with the girls (Fernanda and Francesca) everyday. Since he is a tour guide, he works a lot. But if he has extra tickets he takes me and the family! He is already planning an awesome trip to Machu Picchu. Don't think I'll get to hike the Inka trail though, cause most people book way in advance.
Mis padres are so protective. They want to know
where I am and who I go with. Edgar is buying me a cell phone so that I can call them and update them on my plans, or if I need anything. I try to help in the kitchen but they won't let me. We also have this sort-of housekeeper? She is 17 and named Chu Chu. She doesn't understand me at all, but its cool. She does everything Aida doesn't.
The other volunteer living with us is Katy. She is 18 and Australian and doesn't speak a lick of Spanish. I translate between her and the family. She has already been here for 2 weeks, and is only staying a month so its interesting. She is also incredibly shy.
The girls are so sweet. Fernanda is 11 and Francesca is 7. They loved the headbands and haven't taken them off yet. Aida is taking me to explore the city today so I'll have many more
pictures to contribute of the family and city. Right now, I haven't seen much because I've just been to my house and school.
Today was my first day at school. The director almost peed his pants when he found out I have experience with Autism. Experience with Autism is very rare here, and no one knows what to do with them. I told Aida how nervous I was because I didn't know if they would be as patient with my Spanish as she is. She assured me that because the special needs population is in so much need here, they will be thrilled just to have a volunteer. It was much much harder to understand the people who work at the school-- especially in the teacher's lounge. But they gave me cake, so all is well. There are 3 kids I'll be working with primarily: Shakira, Vivian and Miguel Angel. All are nonverbal and typical, but severe. One has his hands down his pants all the time, one jumps and screams all the time, and one collects trash. I'm nervous because since I have experience, they are giving me complete liberty with these 3 kids. I have no idea what to do.
I told Aida I would go to the market with her in the morning for fruit and flowers. Fruit is so fresh and so delicious! Everything is organic too. No altitude sickness, I bought altitude sickness medicine in Lima and started taking it on the plane here. And I'm drinking tons of water. Its cold and dry, though. And no heat in the house (side note: everyone in Peru throws away their toilet paper instead of flushes it... adjustments).
I'm sorry this is so long! I will try to update as much as I can but the servers are bad in Cusco and I have to go to an internet cafe. There is one across the street from my school though so I might try to go after school once I get into my schedule.
I love you all! Still running on adrenaline. Woo-hoo Peru!
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