Como se dice.. AMAZING!?!

So here I am entering my second week in Peru and I have to admit, life just doesn´t get much better than this.  My first week at my placement was interesting to say the least.  Things are not very organized here, so the organizations expect the volunteers to take things into their own hands, which is something I have to admit, I´m not very used to.  It was a challenge at first, considering there were three volunteers to plus twenty kids under 5.  As time goes on, I learn their names, ages and interests.  They teach me more spanish then I learn in my class.  They greet you every morning with a big ¨HOLA¨ and a warm hug.  They don´t forget your face, and they appreciate you being there each and every morning.  The kids that I´m working with are mal-nutritioned.  Some are street vendors, some came from hospitals, and others have nowhere to go during the days, while their families work.  It is more rewarding then I ever imagined.  Some days I run into these same kids trying to sell things on the street in the main plaza.  At first I was sad for them, but now I know that this is just the way of life.  Most if not all people here are happy.. truly happy.  So my pity is no longer pity, it´s turned into respect and admiration.

As for my weekend.. well we visited Lake Titicaca (don´t laugh).  After an eight hour bus ride, we entered Puno - which I must say was nicer to read about then to see.  Our hostal was good for two things, hot water and safety from the outside streets.  We ended up visiting a local Bolivian fiesta, where they sold all things miniature.  We ate at a local gringo restaurant, rode a rickety old ferris wheel and headed back to the hostal.  During that time, a policeman warned us that we would absolutely be mugged, so to take extra care.  We made it out alive and had a great first night.

The next morning, bright and early we headed onto the boat to our first stop Uros, also known as ¨the floating islands¨.  Our guide Anhil was incredibly funny, boisterous and full of charisma.  These islands, as we learned, are made fully of reeds that grow in the lake.  There are over 80 islands housing about 4000 people.  Each island is home to one family, including aunts, uncles, grandmothers/fathers etc.  They also have a president for each island.  We learned that almost everything on the island is made from the reeds.  It was simplicity at it´s best.  It was incredible.

After another 3 hours on the boat, passing the most breathtaking views of each island we came to Amantani.  This is not a man made island, and on it was a quaint little village.  We were separated and escorted by our island mother to our homes for the night.  These homes were make shift, no electricity and only the bare necessities were available.  It came as a relief surprisingly.  Our mother´s name was Alicia, and her daughter was Ruby.  There was a family of about 7 that lived in the same house that we stayed in.  The toilets were the worst part, and something I´m not sure I could get used to, but everything else... WOW.  We hiked to the top of the mountain that the island was on to see the sunset.  It was about a two hour hike up and we were rewarded with one of the most amazing sunsets I´ve ever laid my eyes on.  I actually got a bit emotional just taking it all it.  How fortunate am I to be where I am?  I am surrounded by beautiful people and beautiful places.  *SIGH*

We hiked back down to our family homes.  From there we had a very simple dinner by candle light.  We were about to nap, when our house mom came into our room and laid down three traditional women´s outfits.  She helped us put them on, and we headed down for a fiesta in the main plaza with the rest of our group.  We danced, and sang all night long with our dresses on.  What an experience.  Afterwards the six of us, found a random empty lot and gazed at the stars.  The stars... the milky way, Jupiter, Venus, Mars.. they were all there, dancing right in front on my eyes.  It almost looked like I could reach out and grab one.  You couldn´t even see a blank spot in the sky.  What a night!

The next day we visited yet another island, Isla de Taquile (not Tequila).  It´s funny how different two island cultures can be, considering they are so close together.  On this island we hiked to the top and had lunch.  We learned that single people wore different coloured hats then married people.  Here on this island, men did most of the knitting and the women bore the children.  Actually, if a woman was interested in man, she would pour water into his hat.  If the water stayed for a minute or two, then he was a good catch.  If the water poured right out, then this man was incapable of sewing/knitting and was no good.... NEXT!  If only life were so easy.  

We ended up back in Puno after another three hour boat ride.  The six of us ate a great and long lasting dinner and still had a few hours left before we had to get onto the night bus.  We ended up heading to a hole in wall bar, where we realized.. yes karaoke!  From Bette Midler to Gun´s and Roses with a few spanish songs in between we sang and drank a few cervesa´s.  It made for a great end to a fantastic weekend.  

Who know´s what´s next for me... only time will tell.