Friday, October 8, 2010

The Low Hanging Fruit

Life's getting better. And that's due in part to all of you lovely people commenting, emailing and showing your support. It means a lot to me and keep it up, por favor. I really wanna keep hearing about your lives and goings on.

It feels like I've been here forever now. I'm experiencing that strange paradox of time where it feels like a lifetime since I left for the red eye flight so early that Thursday morning in September but the days inch along like normal.  Things are better though. I mean, I'm not really living an exotic existence right now; things are fairly quotidian and I'm in a groove.

PC training has really been great. I'm so excited about how much practical public health knowledge I'm gaining. When I forget about Spanish (and/or Quechua for that matter), I am overwhelmed by how much fun my actual job here will be. Public health kicks f-ing ass.

My Spanish is improving. And I can sort of tell because I understand una pequenia more at the dinner table and when I wake up in the middle of the night to pee, I have vocab running through my thoughts taking the place of tv show plots and life drama. (By the way, my dad says the new season of Dexter is killer. But don't tell me what happens.)  I feel more confidant and don't worry so much about sounding like a moron. I'm literally reading the dictionary and writing down words I want to know in the next couple years.

I feel like I'm getting a better sense of allies among the PC kids now. I'm feeling pretty tight with a few in particular and it's great. We all met up with the other group doing Water and Sanitation (we met them the first few days and bonded) the other night for beers and swapped funny stories.  I needed that night. It's gonna be a every Wednesday kinda thing now.

We're going to Lima tomorrow for agriculture school. We will learn how to garden and take care of smallish animals on a farm. I'm pumped about that. Field trip!

I am having serious fantasies about being placed in Ancash (one department of Peru with mountains and very rural living).  I will definitely request it. I want COLD weather again (I miss you, MN), lots and lots of high altitude walking and a sweet hat. We'll see if it'll be a good fit... we find out out placement on Nov. 2.

I made dinner for my family last week. Pizza (from scratch, that's right) and lettuce salad, American style. It was fun figuring out their small oven and stovetop without the proper vocabulary. It was such a hit with the family they want it again. I'm gonna have to make it a special thing because it was kinda expensive and took like 3.5 hours. But I have to admit, it was one of the best pizzas I have ever eaten (sorry, Pizza Luce, but it's true).   I'm going to make pancakes and veggie omelets Sunday using an amazing new fruit here called lucama (for the pancakes). The fruit here is amazing.

Today I tried chicken blood at school for a demonstration. It was cooked up with onions and tomatoes and it was really good. And then they cooked some chocolate blood pancakes. It was seriously one of the best things I've ever eaten.  I know it's like the most un-vegan thing to eat, but hey, I'm going native. And love it.

My little sister is still being all weird, but I've accepted it and now think it's funny.

And I might be able to get a kitten to have forever! There are tons of cats around here and apparently it's all right to have one at site. I'm going to name it Archimedes.

All right. One step closer to having photos... it's taking forever to upload and I have to go. Next week mayhaps.

Oh and my Skype name is juliet.massie. Let's set up a date.

7 comments:

  1. YEAH! I'm glad you are settling in and finding new friends. Not that I ever thought this would be much of an issue for you.

    It's hard to believe you've been gone almost a month. Magpie misses you. Of course the rest of us do too, but Magpie the most. She was at a garage sale yesterday and wanted to buy you all kinds of art supplies (way overpriced).

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  2. Hey Juliet! I'm so glad to hear things are looking up. Your last blog got me a little sad, but I knew it was only a matter of time before your awesome self settled right in. The stuff you're learning about sounds SWEET. I googled Ancash and it looks gorgeous. Plus, high altitudes will make you super buff in no time (not that you aren't already). Just had Pizza Luce today... if you can make pizza better than them you best be sending me a recipe! I'm glad the sister situation has not been as stressful- you just kind of have to laugh (like I do at my little sister). Archimedes is the coolest name for a cat I've ever heard. Can't wait for pics. Love you!

    -Dani

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  3. Pizza Luce is not really that good...

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  4. I am a part-time carnivore and I could never drink chicken blood. You are going native!

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  5. Aweet. I'm on skype all day every day for work. So I can't video or voice chat, but I can IM pretty much 9 to 5 pacific time. Just added you. Say hi when you get a chance!

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  6. Ha, I knew it! I was telling someone how bummed you sounded in the last blog, but I said, don't worry, by the next one she will be all happy and loving the situation. She just adapts. It's what she does. Anyway, the old people in my family are making drama...again. It's a good story. Can't wait to tell it. Can you "phone a friend" anytime soon??? If not, I'll just send you an email. Oh yeah, I wanna take care of smallish animals!!! Sounds fun. I bet they're cute! Only part of the trip so far I think I'd like...except the pizza. Anyway, I look forward to reading more. Keep it coming.

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  7. Boo, I'm so glad that things are looking up! It sounds as if your family is lucky to have you! Rob's family was in town last weekend, and his cousin proposed to his girlfriend/baby mama. It was actually quite touching, even though he did it at Denny's!

    We'll have to set up a Skype date. It'll be good to see your face. Rob will be in St. Louis at the end of the month. I hope he can see your mom!

    ¡Muchos besos!
    DP

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