Just another manic Monday…

Actually, my Monday was quite relaxing, but I thought it fit nonetheless. So this morning I walk all the way to work (the first time yet) and am panting by the time I get there, only to be greeted by three or so kids. Because of this, the mamitas tell me after about an hour to head out because I wasn’t of much need. It’s only 10:45 ish at this point so I decide to roam the Plaza de Armas and surrounding streets. I find this awesome little supermarket to the left of the Plaza which I struggle to keep from going nuts at.

For some reason, just being in that mini supermarket made me suddenly crave the Instant Ramen cups they had, or tempted to buy a huge can of Milo mix. I ended up actually just getting some sunscreen, sour skittles, and Trolli strawberries, but it wasn’t easy to walk away with such a light purchase. Afterwards, I walked down the street where I saw all of the military hero statues, and just enjoyed the EXTREMELY nice day and EXTREMELY beautiful city.

I then realized that since I had all the time in the world, I should try and upload all of my pictures at Maximo Nivel. Of course once I get there, I remember that I still need to sign up for my additional Spanish classes. So I go up to the office and find out that because all of the other people in my class left Peru today, my class had been closed off. But it all worked out, and now I’ll be having private classes for one hour each day, versus two hour group classes. It’s funny though, because my teacher is Jorge, who’s my dancing buddy as well. =]

Since I was already at Maximo, I decided to upload all of my pictures off of my camera. It took a while, but I had all the time in the world, and had already told Marco I wouldn’t be home for lunch because I thought I was going to have an actual day of work. After I finished catching up on my blogging and picture uploading, I decided it was time for lunch and hit up Don Pancho and Don Esteban’s again. I decided to be fat and had a chocolate/strawberry cake with strawberry juice. Yes…not real food, but it was good and filling nonetheless.

Now this entire day, I had been on a mission for nail polish because it is incredibly disgusting how fast your nails get dirty here, and how much they refuse to stay clean. So I had dropped into every pharmacy and drugstore in search of the right color, only to be disappointed. There were a lot of pearly pinks and sparkly things, but I prefer my nail polish dark. So after lunch, I decided I would turn my baby-item-shopping (for my kids at work) and nail polish hunt into one venture and head off to El Molino.

Along the way, I thought of a lot of other things I wanted to get, and had developed a nice little shopping list by the time I got there. I needed Huggies diapers, baby wipes, nail polish, air freshener for my closet which I stored vomit-covered sheets in for two days, postcards to send home (sorry I still haven’t jumped on that!), some books to read, and Stand By Me (the movie) because I heard the song on my iPod and wanted to watch it, and toilet paper for our room which is always running out.

Well the experience was not as fun as the first time, but don’t worry, I know exactly why. The first time I went, I had no idea what to expect, and was only wearing my Columbia jacket with my money in the inside pocket. This time, I went straight after work, backpack in tow. Keep in mind my backpack had my Spanish class materials, plus my laptop and charger. It adds up when you’re walking around a nice and humid marketplace with 29340329047032947 smells going around. But I still stuck it out and came out pretty successful.

Now please bear with me for a quick second as I lay down a quick story. Remember how I mentioned wanting to watch Stand by Me? Well apparently it’s too old of a movie and not seemingly popular enough to exist in El Molino. I found this awesome stand where the people were extremely helpful, and had a special deal three for ten. (Of course in hindsight I realize I had lost a sole since they’re usually three soles each, but I’ll get over it.) So I see Love in the Time of Cholera, which I’ve been wanting to watch after reading 100 years of Solitude, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (which everyone in my house kept telling me to watch). “Two DVDs down, only need Stand by Me to make the deal!” I thought to myself. So I try to ask them if they have the movie, but the connection just isn’t there. It’s from the early ninety’s, River Phoenix, Kiefer Sutherland, four boys on the cover, drama, but we just can’t get it. The fact I don’t know the name in Spanish isn’t helping. Then this one girl comes over (a volunteer from another house) and tells me that I should try and look it up on IMDB when I get home. At this point, I’m REALLY wanting my movie for some reason, so I find an internet café about a block away from El Molino, and pay a sole for thirty minutes of usage. I look it up, and get “Cuenta conmigo” as the Castellano title.

All happy with Spanish name in tow, I return to the stand and tell the guy the name. We then spend the next fifteen minutes trying to find the movie, still without any luck. I sadly tell him it’s alright, and he tells me to come back Friday and he’ll have it by then. After that, I tried EVERY SINGLE OTHER DVD STAND in El Molino, and no one even knew what the movie was. So I surrender for the day, and decide to pick up the heavy toiletry items (toilet paper, diapers, and baby wipes). I also finally found my nail polish in three surrounding “toiletry” stands, all for only three soles each, versus the thirty soles I almost paid for an OPI polish I didn’t even like. On the way out, I have to pass the gentleman who tried to find my Stand By Me for a good total of thirty minutes (before and after Spanish name). I decide to buy some DVDs anyways, getting Love in the Time of Cholera, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Forrest Gump.

So I get home near 4 o’clock ish, and decide to take a quick body shower. The water turned cold as soon as I got in, but I stuck it out anyways. I then fell asleep for a quick minute, and was awakened by a very loud rapping on my door from Ben around 5:30, telling me I was going to be the only one in the house because he was going to the gym. He reminds me to get as many girls as I can to go to trivia night, since we’re going battle of the sexes style. People start to file in back home over the next hour, and around 7 o’clock, we leave for Real McCoys.

Trivia night was pretty tough, and I’m sad to say that the girls lost 50 to 43. However, we fought with only four team members while the guys had the full team of 6. We actually scored more points per person when you think about it. ;] And yes, I’m making excuses. By the way, is it possible to cry in space? And would you say crying means that tears MUST leave your eyes?

We ended the night early after trivia night (first time for everything!) and headed back home. As we walked in, Colette was finishing up Forgetting Sarah Marshall, so we decide to start it over and watch it. Throughout the night, everyone started going up to sleep at different times (mostly the ones who had seen it before), and only Jake, Ciara and I were left. It ended around 12:45 am though, so we weren’t too bothered about finishing it. (I got criticized by my housemates for overanalyzing how together the hula dancers were in the movie. My bad. =] )

Well, that’s all I have for now. It’s been a tiring couple of nights for me, so please forgive my lag-i-ness. Miss you all. =]