Amor, Termos, y Comunidades Locales

I have been having a wonderful time here, enjoying my last few days at the clinic. Tomorrow I give a presentation to all on first aid and CPR, and a presentation to the nurses and doctors about cardiac rhythms. Very exciting! I have been having lots of alone time and I have really enjoyed it. I decided today to go to to Bolivia for a music fest at the end of my trip (http://www.andeantribe.com/andean/) Can't think of a better way to end the summer! This weekend I will be going to a baptism for my Peruvian mom's granddaughter who is very cute. I am in the midst of much change, with someone moving into my condo and having to rely on my very generous and trustworthy parents for help in the states with my things. A lesson in relinquishing control!

As pictured below, I went out into different communities with a community health nurse. I love this type of work, especially since it's a culture I am still learning about, because I get to go where tourists never do and I am welcomed into local homes with local food. Amazing!

I also plan on seeing the Nasca lines, which are basically really old Andean "crop circles" of animals from long ago. You fly over them and get to see the images of the animals in the land. Pretty amazing since when they were made, they didn't have an aerial view.

I'm feeling better about my Spanish too!

Lots of good times ahead and finally some time to relax and sightsee in this glorious country.

I am now headed to a local town festival in Lamay, Peru to enjoy some chicha and dancing!

More later!

A red rose I received! Lucky me!

My first thermo!

Apo, the tech man for the clinic, with 5 computers surrounding him. Very fitting!

One of the community health nurses

Beautiful community where I went with a community health RN

Small community where they primarily speak Quechua

Anniversary of the town!

Cutest kid ever

Frutillada...yum!

People in traditional garb

Miriam, a wonderful community health RN

Older man enjoying the fest!

Community health point

Bus stop by my home

My new favorite fruit, Tumbo!

On the side of the mountain, it says :Coya, Una Joya! This means, Coya, a gem!

Woman who needs cataract surgery

One of the patients who received a prosthesis from Kausay Wasi!

A Pasear

I've been having a blast exploring my surroundings, new and already established! I moved to where all of the volunteers stay when they are working with the clinic, down by the plaza. It was taking me over 40 minutes of uphill walking to get to Alysson's place, so I decided to take a more frugal and less demanding approach to my living situation. I still talk to them at least weekly and still sip my coca and mint tea.

There was a big festival for the week that I moved, which was great because I moved right into the middle of it all. Some of these from the festival. One of the nights, people dressed up like clowns and would "steal" people's things and put them up for sale (really, you had to buy your things back) as a fundraiser of sorts for the community. Pictured below are items on a table for people to look at and buy, mostly children. No one was able to really explain well why this was the tradition, but I took it as is. I also enjoyed the music I heard (and still hear) as I go to bed every night.

Many family members were visiting Martha, the woman I am staying with (pictured below as well), including her nephews, grandchildren, and her own daughter and son, so it was fun to meet them all and have a beer with them. Here, no one has their own beer. You pass around a large bottle. And heaven forbid your glass is empty.

I did end up buying my Machu Picchu and Huanapicchu tickets for September 12! I will be doing a 5 day, 4 night hike starting September 8. On day 2, we will be going up to an altitude of about 4600 meters...or about 15,000 feet during our 10 hours of hiking! Can't wait:)
I will feel more than human after that.

Thanks for following along!

Cusco police awaiting intervention for the strikes in Plaza de Armas. Teachers are on strike for more pay, but in the meantime, kids haven't been in school all over the country for over 2 months. Bad combo.

Plaza de Armas, Cusco

The church in the plaza as I step out into the street

Martha with her granddaughter, Antionetta

Family & beer

Band at the festival

Town festival, Coya

Looking at the items for sale

Martha, my Peruvian mom, and 

Descriptions of some parts of the festival

Vegetarian restaurant in Pisac, Peru, a neighboring town

Cool tree on my walk

My neighborhood

My Peruvian mom and me

Nephews of my Peruvian mom

Cool flowers I saw

Sunset with the moon coming out beautifully

My Machu Picchu ticket!

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 days 4 nights