I have a Schedule!

So I am now going to my volunteer placement and Spanish class’s everyday! I am working at a day care center in a poor neighborhood in Cusco from 9-12:30 every day. The kids are ages 0-5 and full of energy! The last two days I have been working in the 5-year old classroom. Given my lack of Spanish and the children’s total lack of English communication has been quite the comedy. There are four other volunteers at my placement, but I have only work with one of them. We spend about 3/4th’s of the morning eating. When I first arrive all of the children are eating breakfast. Then there is an extended period of time where it doesn’t appear as if there is anything to do. Yesterday we went to the park (details to follow). Today we traced circles and then made paper airplanes for about and hour and a half. So, the park. Here, there is an entrance fee for the public parks. However, the park so super cool! It had little slides, and huge slides, two merry go rounds, a trampoline/bounce house, many swings… and all other typical playground amenities. It was an experience trying to cross the street with fifteen 4/5-year olds, even with four adults. I’m not actually sure I count as an adult given that I basically can’t communicate. Overall, it was pretty fun!

I had a bit of trepidation about my Spanish class, especially given that it falls in the middle of my nap time everyday and it lasts for TWO hours! I go to the volunteer headquarters from 4-6 pm. This is the highlight of my day! I am in a class with only one other student (Andrew, the guy from the plane) and my teacher, Anna Maria, is great! I started in the most basic class so I could get a better handle on my pronunciation and such. The first day we played hangman so we could practice our letters and then bingo so we could practice out numbers! This is also fantastic because I am able to ask all of my questions about Cusco! Today we talked a lot about education. What a surprise. If you’re interested, in Peru (and most of South America I think) Students go to primary school from 6/7-12, then 12/13-16. They do not have college here, just University. University is free but very very competitive. Students have to take an entrance exam, often there are only 60 or so spots with over 600-700 applicants. It seems as if there are entrance exams for specific schools (Medical, Architecture, Teaching, etc.)

Comedy of the day: I have about a 35 minute walk from my house to my placement in the morning and afternoon. Today, I was asked a number of times (maybe 6) if I wanted a “lady massage… with a happy ending”. Now, keep in mind that Cusco is a very touristy place given that it is where all tours of Machu Picchu begin from. I highly doubt that natives are being offered such... deals, and I am clearly not a native. I’ve been told that if I get a tan I will be given better deals at markets and with cabs because it won’t be as obvious that I’m not from here… I’ll keep you updated. : )

Tonight we also participated in Trivia. The rounds were titled -
1. Geography of World Cup nations
2. TV and Films
3. World Cup Nation Flags
4. Latin American film stars
5. Common Knowledge
6. Superheroes girlfriends

So if you are wondering,
1. Paraguay and Bolivia are the only 2 land-locked countries on the South American continent
2. Silence of the Lambs was the only film before 2009 to win best film best actor, and best actress in the same year.
3. Slovenia is in the world cup.
4. Requires a video clip.
5. In the game Clue, the only room that can be reached from two secret passageways
6. And Plenty O’Tool was what superheroes girlfriend? Hint- she wasn’t the only one. POSTCARD FOR THE FIRST RIGHT ANSWER! (Believe me that should be an incentive. I went to the post office today and it cost 7.20 soles to send a letter/postcard. That’s about $2.50. E-mail it is!)

Love to all!
C