Positive Vibes Always

Buenos Dias! Week two was just as hectic as the first. I had been doing so well with practicing my Spanish but week 2 showed me how it is going to be frustrating some days and sometimes I will feel the need to cry just because my teacher told me to put my shoes on when I had blisters (I swear it hits you at the weirdest times, but it’s not hard to go crazy when you are exhausted and your brain is on overdrive). But all that I have to do is take a step back and just breathe- this was never going to be an easy process and I will get there. ~positive thinking and positive vibes~ We were given the best facilitators and teachers, they are honestly so patient and great. It is hard though, the days are long and you really have to have your priorities in the right order.

My weekly Spotlights:

Mary- She’s such a kind spirit and I don’t know how anyone could be in a bad mood when she’s around. She is an animal lover and has 3 horses (sorry gal I forgot their names:(.. ) She is always there to help me when I get stuck on a word in Spanish class

Vanessa- the sassy princess of the program and also the birthday girl this weekend! She has such a great outlook and attitude towards everything, definitely someone I want to have on speed dial for the hard days.

Joe- the master of meditation, you can spot him easily just look for the floral lunchbox, and he also has a hidden talent for sounding exactly like a terrier (so I am positive that he is the one starting all the dog convos during the night)

Facts/things that I learned this week:

-it is very common to get worms and there is usually only one way for them to come out…. (sorry for all the gross facts but it is a part of my life now)

-That its okay to only shower once or twice in a week (and that my hair will get used to it)

-Speaking in another language to native speakers is easier when you just relax and I think its best to always laugh at yourself

-The Spanish will come to us, we just have to be patient

-Who needs to lift weights when you are handwashing your own laundry every week

-I am going to have to teach 16 classes (with two others) for field based training which in is a week

-I’m going to the sierra of La Lib for field based training!

-My family loves learning words and phrases in Japanese, their favorite by far is kuru kuru pa

Things I did this week:

-facilitated my first class with Joe in SPANISH about the characteristics of an entrepreneur

-met the previous volunteer that lived with my family: her name is Rachel, she is a health volunteer that now lives in Cajamarca and we share the same birthday!

-played a ton of games from my childhood (in Spanish) Duck Duck Goose, Heads up Seven up, and Musical Chairs

-had my first pizza here, luckily both Brandon and I like mushrooms because that is not what we were expecting as a topping

-did my laundry all by myself

-went to Lima

-went on a tour of Convento de Santo Domingo- when we walked into the first garden I was amazed by how similar the tile was to what I saw in Sevilla, little did I know that tile was from Sevilla :) it was so cool!

-went to a bar with a nice variety of beer- me and Brandon were thrilled because we have been dying for some good beer

-we found our way back on our own from Lima (PROPS TEAM!)

-put on my bathing suit and had some alone time on the roof (aka what I am doing right now haha)