First Day

I MADE IT!
and after exactly 21min and 25seconds I have reset my blog password and can begin to fill everybody in. I arrived in Lima this morning at 6:45 (local time = 1 hour behind new york), got my baggage and went through customs no problem. They had a system where you press a button and it randomly gives you a green or a red light to determine if your bags were subject to search.

After customs I stood in line for about an hour to recheck my bags and confirm my flight. Once I was all checked in I had about an hour in the Lima airport so I looked in a few shops and then decided, it was far too early to be shopping. I headed to my gate and saw a lot of people standing in line already boarding the plane so I would say that was a close call. I slept through the entire connecting flight and by entire I mean even through takeoff and landing, waking up only slightly to return my seat to the upright position.

Once arrived in Cusco I followed the crowds and picked up my baggage once again. Third on the belt so that wasw convienent. On my way out I was bombarded by "taxi senorita taxi taxi" but I kindly responded no gracias and continued on my way. Doris (my host mother) was waiting for me just outside the airport with a sign. So that was easy.

We took a taxi about 15min back to her house which is a single floor three bedrooms and in a gated community. She gave me a set of three keys and we spent about an hour on the locks themselves. The outter gate is simple, a normal key. Then there is the inner gate where you have to reach through the bars and unlock the top lock from inside and then use your key as a lever to push the lower lock while you pull the door. Finally the door to her house you need to push the key in all the way and turn 1/8 of a circle then pull it out halfway and continue the rest. I got it after a while.

Then she gave me some mate de coca and let me sleep for a good three hours. When I woke up I met her mother who is very nice but does not talk much. Doris made me lunch which was creme de pollo sopa and chicken cutlet with rice and tomatoes. I wasnt very hungry but I ate some because I didnt want to offend anybody. Twas delisioso. Then we walked about 15min to the San Blas Language School where I immediately had my first spanish course for two hours. I was so exhausted it was barely productive at all but we start again tomorrow at 8:30. I returned to the house and took yet another nap. Woke up once again and went out to dinner with the in country coordinator and two other volunteers. I had/have a pounding headache and I couldnt eat anything but I drank two liters of water and two more cups of mate de coca. And that was my first day. Not too exciting.

this post is very long. sorry. Its also for me looking back so I apologize if any of it isnt very interesting. I will try and post some pictures tomorrow. Now it is time for sleep once again and I have a feeling I will have no trouble with it.

adios