Mi primero jueves. (My first Thursday.)

I shall warn you all ahead that Thursday (today) was very much a day of recuperation after discoteca-hopping. I didn’t get much sleep the night before because we had gotten in at two, and then my roommate left around 5:30 in the morning, which is when I woke up. I pretty much stayed up at that point knowing I wouldn’t really be able to fall back asleep. I decided I would head downstairs and maybe watch some TV or listen to my iPod. However, depression of all depressions, I look and see this little sad face icon staring back at me. So I freak out and go onto the internet and try to figure out how to fix this, since my iPod keeps flashing “apple.com/support/iPod”. So I try to reset and restore and all of those wonderful things they suggest, all without success. Finally, I’m so frustrated that I unplug my ipod from the charger in the wall and it drops. At this point I’m thinking it doesn’t matter, my iPod’s already dead. But for some reason, that hard kick in the butt to my iPod reset it and everything’s all fine now. So future tip: IF YOUR IPOD ISN’T WORKING, JUST DROP IT. =] (And I actually looked it upon google and apparently the dropping helps reconnect some wires that might have become disconnected.)

As one may assume, after a night of partying, the breakfast table was quite quiet and not much conversation went on other than “Can you pass the…?” After breakfast, it was off to work, which wasn’t easy. The concept of bed was a much more appealing decision, but there’s no success without sacrifice…or something like that.

Work wasn’t bad, and much like the day before, except the kids were a bit rowdier than normal. I’m still trying to upload those pictures, so you all can see some of the kids that I work with. I always feel so unsure of how to address the children. Should I be firmer with them or should I be the compassionate one they can feel comfortable playing with? The Mamitas (main workers, heads of the daycare) are very loud and strict and firm 99% of the time and sometimes I’m not sure if the kids are all that deserving of the harsh tones. Trust me, there are times when it is well deserved, such as when they roll around pulling each other’s hairs and hitting with big blocks, but a majority of time, they just want attention.

Went back home after work because I was still tired out of my mind, and then took the hottest shower in the world which was possibly the best thing I’ve experienced in Cusco so far. A bit exaggerated yes…but not by much. =] I suppose I lucked out by taking a shower midday since hardly anyone was home. For lunch I just had a soup because my appetite wasn’t too big, and the soups here are so huge anyhow.

After lunch I heavily contemplated whether or not to go to Spanish class cause I just wanted that nap so badly. But the little Catholic girl felt guilty about skipping, and I kept telling myself I’d only be cheating myself if I didn’t go and improve my Spanish. So I ended up leaving around 2:30 to allow myself the most leisurely walk in the world. However, Ben and Luke were headed to the gym at the time, so we all caught a taxi together and I ended up having plenty of time to hang out on my laptop. Around 3:30, I remembered that I was on the hunt for tweezers because monsters were starting to grow above my eyes, so I headed up to the Inka Farma (Incan Pharmacy). Pretty much their Walgreens, just with a cooler name. And oh my, the pharmacies here operate on such an intense level. After choosing what you need, one of the workers will tell you how much it costs and write you out a little slip with the price. Then you have to head over to the cashier area to pay, where they stamp some official looking form which you then take to the “package pick up” area and are given your purchases after they stamp your official form AGAIN. So I bought my tweezers and some Nivea lotion, because the air here just dries out your skin like no other. (By the way, everyone who I told I was coming back tan and fit, I lied. I live solely on carbs here and salty soups that lock in the fat, and I have to sunscreen it up everyday to avoid intense sunburn since at 12,500 feet, the sun is pretty close.)

Class went pretty well, and I was pretty happy I went, since I truly believe that every conversation I have in Spanish pushes me just this much closer to fluency. Still, class wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, so I have no special comments on it for today.

When class was done, I found Simon and Matt and we walked back home. I had my first anticucho which is their skewer that they sell on street corners here. Every book or guide will tell you not to eat the street food, but I figured I might as well get it in now after I just had the ice the night before. I’d rather get sick one time than two. =] (I know some of you may be cringing at my lack of following the travel safety rules, but I couldn’t resist the skewer! It made me miss Fil-am. =] Which by the way is better because it’s a lot less salty. Another fun fact, apparently the meat they use for the anticucho skewers here are beef heart. I’m adventurous, I know. =])
For dinner we had Pizza and garlic bread, a nice little taste of back home. And I hope no one takes this the wrong way…but Peruvian pizza is not much more than a Lunchables pizza. Not very crunchy or greasy enough to soothe the soul. =]

A little music session followed dinner where we just all explored each other’s iPods to see everyone else’s interests and played a couple of favorite songs on the speakers for two hours. Sleep followed VERY soon after. =]

Anyways, as I said, Thursday was a day of recuperation, and therefore not all too eventful. Still, I hope it’s enough of an update to keep you all satisfied. Til next time.
P.S. If you’re reading this Ms. Raeff, they say “Salud” here instead of “Jesus,” which is what I’m used to saying when someone sneezes. Therefore, everytime someone sneezes and I say “Jesus” in lieu of “Bless you”, everyone seems to think I’m overreacting to a sneeze. =]