Recap of the last few weeks

I'm still trying to figure out if it was three weeks that just flew past or one realllllly long day. I really intended to post on my blog more often, but the last three weeks have been crazy hectic. So, since my last blog post....

I spent a week in Ancash (a department in the sierra) for Field-Based Training; so I got my first look at what my actual site might be like. Almost every minute of the trip had some specific activity assigned to it. I actually think I held it for seven days straight because there wasn't time to stop and use a bathroom. But I got to see some amazing scenery....

And I do have some proof that I was actually there...

And I got to eat my favorite Peruvian dish, Pachamanca, again (please see previous blog post for more on that)...

And I made friends with a llama...

All in all, it was a great trip. But then I spent the entire next week sick (don't worry, I'm not posting any pictures). I'm just glad that week is over. The following weekend I visited Chimbote (a coastal town) with my host family. We staid with my host mom's sister and brother-in-law. It was my first taste of the Peruvian coast and fortunately it was a little more laid back trip.

Me and my host dad standing in front of a ship we sunk...

This picture was too cute not to post. A couple of my host-cousins taking pictures of the dog.

This burro asked me to take his picture in front of the hills. We both thought it turned out pretty nice....

And I made it to the ocean...

Some of the pelicans in Peru are successful enough fisherman that they can afford their own boats....

This week I've been crazy busy with my Quechua classes (an indigenous language from the Andes spoken where I'll be living for the next couple years). Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I'll be living in Huallanca, Bolognesi, Ancash, Peru for the next two years. If you actually have time to google it (which I haven't) and you find something interesting, let me know. But if not, no worries...I'm headed there for a site visit next week, so hopefully I'll have some interesting things to share.