Peru: Spanish Intensive and Cultural Immersion

Volleyball is Peru´s second favorite sport, second only to futbol as the most popular.  And so it was that today, teachers and students got together for a friendly game of volleyball at the local college. 

All the teachers were incredibly skilled, and it was in fact the foreigners that missed the most.  It was not teachers vs. students, though that would have been interesting, but a a compelling intermixture of the two. 

As the morning wore on and some participants left to eat lunch with their families, some of the teachers´kids took to the court and then dominated the entire game.  None of us realized until after the games that the younger kids were on volleyball teams at their schools (though by the speed and grace of their serves, we should have known!) 

We played around seven games that lasted for three hours.  My newly shaved face is burnt bright red from the Andean sun.  Perhaps it´s easier to get a sunburn at 11,000 feet.

Alas, off to dinner, I always manage to squeak in these entries conspicuously close to the time the food is being served.  That´s all for now, videos, pictures coming soon!  Ciao!

I´m not quite so sure anecdotas is actually a word… but you get the point…  (anecdotes).

 Last night eight of my fellow students and I sat around the dining room table and helped prepare chiles stuffed with beef, carrots, potatoes, fried with maza harina.  Delicious.  It was really  nice to cook and eat and talk with fellow travelers, and made some friends that currently attend the school.  The teachers were there as well, all single mothers, and for four hours we cooked, laughed, and talked in both english and spanish.  A very good time.

 For the anecdotes… My utmost appreciation to the people of Peru, who have been nothing but gracious in all my interactions.  In fact, there have been a few times I could have easily overpaid (thinking my internet cost eighty cents instead of forty) but the Peruvians never let me do it.  When realizing I didn´t know the price, they fished in their pocket for the correct change.  Such things didn´t happen in India. 

My lonely planet had me worried about crime, declaring Peru the least safe country in South America, and Cusco the most dangerous city in Peru.  I have had virtually no problems, have taken taxis at night, and have not once felt unsafe.  Everyone I have encountered is friendly, and has a sense of humor that always lightens the mood.

The family I´m staying with has accomodated me beautifully, putting me in their best 3rd floor room with views of the entire city (video and pictures to come in the next few days).  My tw0 teachers at fairplay are excellent at what they do, and have a genuine concern for me learning the language. 

For the first day or two in Peru, I would give my name as Juan, but not put enough emphasis on the J.  My host family thought my name was ¨one¨ for at least three meals.  I now overly-emphasize the once elusive J.

 Anywho… I´m nearly late for dinner, luckily this internet cafe is just down the street from my accomodation.  I am most certainly the only gringo in here.  Ciao.