Another week....

Protests in the streets

Hola, ¿Cómo te vas? Things are going pretty well here. Plans have changed since I last posted; no, I’m not in Ocongate yet. There were strikes Tuesday and Wednesday so there were no buses or taxis at all. Thursday, I was going to go to Ocongate...but I didn’t for some reason, I forget. I knew Berta was coming up  for Saturday so by then I figured I might as well wait and go back with her because she was planning on going back Sunday. Well, her plans changed and she went back Saturday late afternoon. I stayed for church and well, here I  am. I’m going to Ocongate this afternoon, around 2 or 3. Michael is taking me to the buses and Berta will pick me up in the Plaza in Ocongate. Ok, now you know my plans, we can back up a little. Tuesday and Wednesday, because of the strikes, I didn’t do too much. It was also pretty rainy and some of the protests can get violent so I pretty much stayed inside all day studying Spanish, reading, sleeping, chillin’ with Michael and Jin, etc. Oh! Jin! Jin is a new student at the Machu Picchu Linguas School, he’s also living here at Rosanna’s. I thought his name was Jean, and Michael though it was Jim, but we figured it out...It’s Jin. He’s Korean so when I first met him I assumed he didn’t speak much English...apparently he’s from Virginia, born and raised. He’s a pretty cool guy, just a fireman here for a month to explore and learn Spanish. We get along pretty well, it’s nice to have more company here. Thursday...Thursday...hmmm well I got a massage and ate at the McDonalds here in Cuzco. How’s that for a cop-out day? I also was asked out twice within an hour of each other in the Plaza de Armas. One was a guy I have talked to before, he’s tried to sell me his paintings in the past. We were chatting and he asked me to go to the Discotecha with him but I kindly declined. About 45 minutes later, another guy tried to sell me sunglasses. I tried to explain that I didn’t want sunglasses because I wear regular glasses, so it wouldn’t really work out. He then decided to ask me to go dancing...because that’s relevant, obviously. I also politely declined but he was pretty persistent; eventually I went on my way. Saturday I finally got to meet Berta! She came up to Cuzco to go check out one of the trout farms with Michael. I got to go with them; it was pretty neat to see how the farm works. It was quite a hike! We took a taxi to some small town outside of Cuzco and got dropped off by the side of the road. We then continued to cross a stream and hike a mountain. After about 45 minutes of hiking we finally stumbled upon a couple houses and a trout farm. I didn't realize it would be such a hike so I didn't wear sunscreen, and I am now pretty badly sun burnt on my neck. After spending the morning and afternoon at the farm, we went to lunch. I was so exhausted afterwards, so I crashed pretty hard. After my nap, Michael, Jin, and I went shopping, so I think I'm all ready for Ocongate now! I just hope I can fit everything in my backpack. Berta is so very nice! She and Michael were mostly talking business the whole time, but I can tell I like her already. Friday I went to the Museum of Contemporary Art. I was reminded I’m not in the states. This museum was just a couple plain rooms with paintings on the wall and then in a hallway upstairs by some conference rooms. There were actually some conference things going on so I had to avoid news cameras while enjoying some art. Some of the art was absolutely amazing!...others, not so much. That evening I asked Michael if he would have time to go get a phone with me, since I’m still struggling with the language. I ended up going to the Dentist with him to take Alexia and Shirley (because he’s Alexia’s Godfather). Afterwards we got a phone. But upon seeing Shirley, she invited me to a Stake Single’s dance that night! So after the Dentist and phone I went home and changed and Shirley and her friend came and got me for the ¡Fiesta! It was pretty much like any other church dance I’ve been to, except more salsa music, but not by much. It actually was about half Spanish music and half American. There were a few songs played, that if they knew the meaning of the words, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have played them, but it’s all good. I got to meet lots of people my age from my ward. I also got to meet a particular young man whom I happen to now have a crush on, haha. His name is Luís, I don’t know how old he is, but he is an RM, and he’s very nice. We didn’t get to talk a ton because every time we’d get talking as we were walking home, the rest of the group would stop to see if we would notice and then start to make fun of us. Luís knows just a little English and I know just enough Spanish for us to have a pleasant conversation. I also saw him again today at church, but only for a moment. He’s very handsome :] I’ll post a picture of the group, he’s the one in all black, on the bottom left, second person in. Church was great today! I obviously didn’t understand very much, but I still loved it. I really liked a woman’s talk in Sacrament Meeting; I really don’t know what she talked about because not only is my comprehension of Spanish not at it’s best, but it’s difficult to understand any woman giving a talk while crying. Either way, I could tell she had an amazing testimony. A young woman spoke on having good friends with good morals...I’m pretty sure. I could only understand the basics. In Sunday school a young man who spoke English pretty well sat by me and explained a lot of what was going on. I only have the Book of Mormon in Spanish so Shirley would share any other scriptures with me in Spanish, and I would also look them up in English, so I could know what was going on. I had to read a scripture aloud in Spanish; the scriptural words in Spanish are pretty different than normal Spanish for vocabulary, but all went well. I really had no idea what was going on in Relief Society, but I know it was almost the exact same as any other Relief Society meeting. Just lots of women sharing stories and crying, while the teacher can barely get a word out. In Relief Society a woman was sharing a thought when she decided to pull down here blouse and breast feed her child. I forget that’s perfectly normal here, to nurse in public, without a blanket or anything. Next week there is no church, because of the elections I guess. The elections are such a big deal here, it’s a little ridiculous. The next week we’ll have General Conference broadcasted in another building. Upon coming here I was pretty sure I’d been told that there were only one of two chapels in Cuzco; there are definitely not. Within 30 minutes (walking) of Rosanna’s house there are probably 3 or 4. They are really nice too! Definitely not what I was expecting. Well, I probably should finish packing, eat some food, and be on my way! Just thought I’d keep you all updated! I’m sure I’ll post again in a few days and let you know how I like Ocongate! I love you all very much! Thanks for reading ;)

More protesting

¡Despues de la fiesta!

At the trout farm with Bert and Michael

Plaza de Armas

P.s. We've found a kitten in Rosanna's house! It's tiny and adorable but horribly grumpy and I don't like it very much. I've named him Mufasa because he looks like a lion, but Rosanna's kids call him Noob. Diego is a big gamer so that makes sense...