International Runways

I'm only two weeks behind in blogging at this point, which is better than before. I measure my stay here week by week, on every Thursday, because that is the day I arrived and the day that I depart. Also, because of blogging, I live week to week recounting my experiences for you all. The week I am recalling now was much more exciting than the last and really shows how Cuzco has so many different layers.

Monday, June 24th, was Inti Raymi, the Incan festival of the sun. It is a huge tourist attraction as well as a native tradition. One of the festivals takes place just up our mountain at Sacsayhuaman (sexay woman), and thousands of tourists and Cusqueños alike flock to the large field to dance, eat, and party. Monday morning I was feeling really tired, as if I needed to recharge. Also realize I was still getting over this flu-like illness that included a river of mucus coming out of my nose, swollen glands, and extreme sinus pressure. That day I decided to rest, watch movies and read. I eventually got the energy to come to the main house and cook some eggs, then I talked to Sylvia about going to Inti Raymi, and she was going to leave later in the afternoon. I was still mulling over the thought of going or not and decided to take a shower in the afternoon, later than normal, and dried my hair right away. Normally I let it curl but the sun was going down fast and it would be too cold to have wet hair. So instead I dried it quickly in the sun with a towel and then brought out the only electronic beauty product I brought to Peru, my straightener. I was afraid it would burn out because of the voltage difference but it is high quality and can receive 220+ voltage. Due to the lack of humidity and moisture in the mountains my hair has been suffering, it is dry and not my normal mermaid style. So straightening it brought back the shine, smoothness, and luster. 

After I did my hair I offered up my straightener to Sara and it made her hair look fabulous as well. When you have had frizzy and dry hair for months you will learn to be grateful for a good hair day! In celebration of our newfound joy, Sara and I went to get papas fritas, at Juanito's of course. While we were there I invited Efrain, the guy that takes our orders, to come to the fashion show Wednesday night and he said yes. The thing about going to Juanito's every other day is that Efrain knows my order, my name, and what sauces I like. He also comes to tell us our order is ready and every day he gets closer and closer to my face when he says "listos". He asked if I had a phone here and I told him no, but that didn't stop him. He asked me how old I was, I told him 19, then asked how old he was. He told me to guess, and I had heard that he was 17, but he said he was 18 so that was better than the previous guess. Still, I'm not interested in him like that. I have no recollection of what we did after that, so I apologize for not taking notes the past few weeks. I can guess that I got a Milky Way at Parwa and went to my room to watch Friends on Netflix. 

Tuesday morning I went to Montay, as normal, with Sherri. On the way there we talked about men, our dogs, and just life in general. I had been planning on going to Lima since the beginning of my trip, and I was in contact with a friend from Florida State who lives in Lima. He golfs and had some time off the coming week so I told Sherri that I was going to Lima then. We like to talk about our travels, where we want to go and who we want to be with during our cab rides to Montay. It also serves as a great therapy session. 

Once we got to Montay we realized that all of the girls were busy working, this never happens. Normally only a few of them are working at a time and they are all able to receive treatments at some point while we are there, but that day they had apparently woken up late and got to their chores later so none of them got treatments. Sherri and I ended up playing with their kids the whole time, one of our favorite being Sergio. He is 5 and was already late for school but Sherri loves him so he hung around for 30 minutes and played swords with her with an old PVC pipe. The kids make their way into your heart and never leave. I'm so excited for the pregnant girls to give birth while I am here, it amazes me that I will be there for the beginning of their lives after the get back from the hospital. I give their mom's bellies massages, I can feel the little babies kick, and soon enough I will get to meet them!

After Mantay Sherri and I went to the bakery, like always, and I got pan con chocolate. It is the best breakfast food you will every have, especially after a morning with the Mantay girls. That day I ate my bread and realized it was a beautiful, warm sunny day. So naturally I had the courage to put my bathing suit on and lay out in the sun, for hours. I got a message on Facebook from one of my favorite people back in Tallahassee, saying that our other friend got back from Europe and now they're just waiting on me. That made me feel really good and it made me miss them, a lot. So the entire time I was laying out I had great wifi signal in the garden was able to stream 103.5, Tampa Bays best country, on my phone and I felt just like I was home. It stayed sunny without a single cloud for at least four hours and I visualized the beach lapping at my toes, jet ski's in the background, and my favorite people with me.

 After the sunning session I got ready for the clinic and to do some Reiki. I was working the door but also made macaroni and cheese, not that I needed it before the fashion show, but it is always a comfort. I ended up giving a treatment to Ash's host family, which was cool because I hadn't seen him in a long time and I was able to bring multiple people full circle for Reiki. While I was giving treatments I realized that I was actually pretty sun burned. Because my whole body hadn't seen sunlight in a month and a half it reacted like expected, and the altitude doesn't help either. I was still happy to be sun burned, just in a bit of pain.

Wednesday was the day! We had the fashion show that night and during the day I had a lot to do. In the morning I had a Reiki treatment with Rosio and her mom, being really tired and still kind of sick. Despite my distaste for early morning treatments I worked with them and then hung out with Rosio until about noon. Rosio does not have the ability to fully stabalize or support herself when sitting or standing so I had to be with her for the whole two and a half hours. We sat in the garden for a while, played Niki's drum, Rosio trying to eat the drumstick, then looked at some of Lynn's stones that were sitting out in the sun to cleanse, and finally we tried to draw. At this point I hadn't eaten any food yet, was tired, and really wanted to go back to my room and rest. Finally Rosio's mom came back from working at the market and I got my break. 

Afterwards I made some scrambled eggs, went back to my room, and watched a movie and napped until I had to shower. Once the sun goes down here it is really difficult to shower, not only because of a lack of water pressure, but because without the sun we sit at a solid 45º F. So I hustled but also took a quality shower, shaving my legs completely (rare opportunity here), washing my hair, and taking care of everything else. I thought I wanted my hair curly for the show so I set it up to be curly, meaning I let it stay wet for a while, and then went back to my room and painted my nails nude while watching Pretty Woman, eating Chips Ahoy cookies, and drinking a Coke. Sara and I wanted soup before we left so we went to Green Point and then I felt really prepared for the show. As a model, gorging yourself before a fitted show is what you're supposed to do, right? 

Anyways, after soup we came back to the house and started getting ready. I went to Sara's room and straightened my hair because the curls didn't form correctly, put some base make up on, and got a bottle of champagne for backstage. It was about 9 pm when we got to The Muse, the club where the show was, and they ushered us to the back room where Eibhlin was setting up. She gave each of us our outfits and told us to know where they are at all times because we had to change ourselves after each walk. More models started showing up and soon enough it was a party. The show was supposed to start at 10 but of course on Peru time it actually started at 11:45 pm. While the models were waiting we celebrated with some champagne and wine, put eye makeup on the male models, and traded stories about our time in Peru. There were a few gringo models, mostly from Healing House and one more hostel bar, but the rest were Peruvians. 

The problem was that the club was so packed that they didn't have enough room to make the runway, and then they didn't have candles for the runway, so once that was all put together Niki and her band the Clusterfunks started playing covers to get the crowd ready. I was so pumped yet nervous at the same time and when I get nervous, I have to pee. So before we went on I went to the bathroom and saw that the married soccer player was in attendance, oh joy. Despite that I was excited to see Efrain from Juanito's and the buff waiter from Jack's cafe! All of the people that I wanted to be there, were, and that made me feel great. So after the first two songs were done we started walking out and Eibhlin didn't want it to be a serious show, she wanted people to have fun, dance, and party, so we got to dance down the candle-lit runway and play with the crowd. I was the only one wearing 5 inch heels and that got a great response from the Cusqueño men. Once we were done walking we had to go backstage and change, but the crowd was so thick that we could barely get through without someone grabbing us or trying to take a picture. 

My second dress was better than the first, in my opinion. It was different blue fabrics and was also high-low. I kept my hair in a bun for the first two dresses and had planned to make a little show of my own for my third dress. I quickly ran back after the second dress and put on my third, which not everyone had, and as so ready to own that runway. There were so many people that they had to hang out in the hallway as overflow, each getting to see our outfits but not the performance. So when I stepped out in the white dress I got a lot of ooh's and ahh's. Right before it was my turn to walk in my final dress, Niki and the band started playing Bad Girl, and it was the most epic moment of my time so far in Peru. I stepped out into the candles, took out the one pin I had left in my hair that was keeping it together, and whipped it back and forth! I swear there was a noticeable sound that came from the crowd as I let down my hair and danced around, still in my heels. After we all walked we got back onto the runway and danced with people in the audience for a couple of songs and then went to change. 

Sara and I had gotten free drink bands and once we changed we came back out into the crowd, danced, and tried to take advantage of the free drinks but decided it would be best if we didn't drink anymore, having to work at 8 am the next day. We hung out in the back room with other models and men that wanted to know the models until about 1 am. At this point Sara and I were sitting there, waiting for the two guys at the other end of the table to make some sort of move but then they got up and left, so we decided to go home as well. We started putting our jackets on and the two guys came back with drinks, asking us why we were leaving so soon. We said we had to work in the morning and said goodnight. The one I had my eyes on was a different soccer player, that was closer to my age and apparently single. So we left, I got home and passed out. The next day I found out that the guys had gone to get Sara and I drinks, came back, and then we left. Awkward but very flattering!

Thursday was the day that we were going to Mantay to paint finger nails. Normally it is just Sherri and I but Sara and Sylvia came along to help. We didn't have many colors but the girls improvised and just like to come and talk. After the nail painting we went to the bakery and ate some chocolate bread, then went to Jack's Cafe for more food. Has it become apparent to you yet that we like to eat? At Jack's I got caramelized banana pancakes, which just meant a ton of caramel sauce and some sliced up bananas, to say in the least I was disappointed. 

For the rest of the afternoon I hung out with Sara and Sherri, doing bits of nothing here and there. Later on in the evening Sara and I went for papas fritas at Juanito's and it was awkward seeing Efrain because the non existent relationship had somewhat peaked after he came to the fashion show. What was I supposed to do if I didn't want anything more? My first reaction was no more Juanito's, so after Sara and I each ate a full serving of papas, we declared we would not eat papas at Juanito's again for a whole week, it just worked out for me that I was going to be in Lima the next week. After papas I was able to finally get in contact with my family and our friends that were staying at the beach. The Sanders family comes to Florida every summer for a volleyball tournament in Orlando and spend time at our house on St. Pete Beach. I didn't know how I was going to do, not spending time with them this summer, but it was great to Skype with them and to hear how proud they are of me. Even though I was missing out on things like friends coming for visits, I am getting so much else here. I told them about the fashion show, the people and kids I work with, and that I love and miss them all. I told Kyler, the little boy, to catch a flounder for me and to eat cheese curds because that is what we did together last summer.

Friday morning Sara and I were really hungry so we went to Jack's Cafe... again. The thing about Jack's is that it is gringo central. They serve large portions of American style food at large prices. We are willing to pay for comfort sometimes. While we were waiting for a seat there was a little girl witting with her mom on the street, selling stones and candy. The little girl and I locked eyes, I made funny faces at her, she made them back, and then came running into my arms and gave me the biggest, most random hug I have ever experienced. I just held her for about 10 minutes, making funny faces, tickling her, and getting squeezed with love. Then we got our table and she wouldn't go back to her mother, it got to the point where the waiter had to carry her out and tell her not to come back in Spanish. After Sara and I ate the little girl came back and sat in my lap, eating the rest of my potatoes and pancakes. I found out her name is Alessandra and she is two years old. 

Later Friday afternoon we had a yoga flashmob. Paola, Mallory, Lynn, Romina, Sara, and myself went down to the small plaza called Nazarenas and whipped out a bunch of yoga mats and started getting bendy! I put out stacks of flyers for the fundraiser, put out donation jars, and took some great photos to document the event. We got so much attention, doing it just as kids were getting out of school and where a lot of tourists walk by. Other than raising money our goal was to spread the word about Healing House and all of the treatments and classes we offer. It got so hot in the sun that I had to sit down while talking to a woman about our programs because I almost passed out. In the end it was successful and I was proud to be part of such an amazing community. 

After yoga I went into my room to try and relax by watching Netflix but I couldn't find something I really liked, and it worked out perfectly because Sara asked me to go with her to Jens, a holistic doctor in the middle of nowhere in San Jeronimo. I jumped at the opportunity to get out of the house so we got a taxi and looked for about 15 minutes in San Jeronimo for this guys clinic. It was a trek to get out there but we made it and it was beautiful. Jens is from Denmark but specializes in holistic medicine and cupping, which is a suction of your meridians to get energy moving to heal you. When Sara got her treatment I was allowed to sit with her and as I walked into the room I felt like I walked into Inception. There were at least 6 other people hooked up to these cupping machines with wires and cords, looking exactly like the old people that couldn't dream without being put under in Inception. I laughed out loud. When it was time to leave Jens' it was dark out and he had called everyone else a taxi but not us, so he told us to walk down this sketchy dirt road that was scarcely lit until we hit Avenido del Cultura, one of the main roads where we could catch a cab. He said it would only take 10 minutes but it took a bit longer and I was thoroughly creeped out. 

Once we made it home I made macaroni and cheese as a comfort food and laid in bed watching Netflix for the rest of the night. Some days in Cuzco are extremely exciting and others just wear you down. This day had a bit of both. 

Saturday is the kids program and I just felt like taking a break that day. So I stayed in bed until just before the program and I decided to wear shorts and a t-shirt that day because the weather was GORGEOUS. Before I went into the program I tried to book a flight to Lima for Monday, I couldn't book ahead of time because I didn't know when I could be hosted, so I looked online for flight costs and times. I wanted a midday flight on Monday so I didn't have to stress, but my card kept getting denied. I had my father book my flight and because it was so close to my fly date it was more expensive, even if I did it through the airline site it would have been over $200 US. So my father booked a roundtrip flight through Orbitz and I went to go paint reusable bags with my kids! 

At first only two kids showed up but by the end of the program we had our regular boys and some new ones! I gave a Power Point presentation, in Spanish, about the dangers of using plastic bottles and bags and what we can do in Peru and across the world to prevent environmental destruction. One thing I have learned is that Cusqueño kids love computers, every time I bring mine out they want to play on it. When we brought out the paints and the canvas bags I put my computer away and tried to feel inspired to paint something. I love the feeling of a paintbrush in my hands and a blank canvas, but I never know what to paint or how to paint what I envision. I'm a big fan of quality, so painting will take some time to develop as a skill and a passion. After most of the kids finished painting they decided to paint me. The ONE DAY I wore a brand new pair of shorts the kids painted my freshly shaven legs bright red and purple, getting some paint on my shorts. I was upset for about one second until I remembered that they were just a pair of shorts and that the kids are getting so much enjoyment out of freedom to paint wherever or on whomever. Once the paint dried it was a physical pain to get off in freezing cold water, but then I boiled some, got an old rag, and started wiping down in the little sun left of the day. 

After the program I cleaned up, put pants on, and went to watch Sylvia and Giancarlo play at the Marriott. JW Marriott is a really nice hotel in Cuzco, for international tourists alike. Of course I wore my leather jacket and nice shoes for the occasion, and I felt like I fit in really well at the hotel. I also realized that if my family had come to Cuzco we would have stayed there. That really made me think that I have a nice lifestyle back home but I am versatile enough to fit in in other social standings and environments. I have to admit, I love looking good, dressing up, and making a night of things and that doesn't always "jive" with the people I am with here in Cuzco. I am not ashamed of my financial situation nor will I deny myself the pleasures and comforts that I can afford. I am versatile, but I am also true to my raising. Sylvia was kind of quiet on the mic and Giancarlo's guitar was louder than necessary, but the entertainment aspect was still good. There was a group of older friends from all over and it was the main guys birthday, so we all sang with him, ate chocolate cake, and drank champagne. After that Sara and I went to look for soup, ended up walking into a restaurant for kids, and went in search for a more adult-like atmosphere. We ended up at Ukuku's and they wanted us to pay a 15 sole cover, so we left and then got juices. I was satisfied and Sara and I walked home and slept heavily. It turned out to be a great Saturday. 

Sunday morning I gave a Reiki treatment to Rosio's mom and we had an open house. These three girls come and sell alpaca sweaters for their mom and just hang out with us all day. I help them with crafts and sometimes give them my computer to watch Barbie videos on YouTube in Spanish. By the end of the day they had written me notes telling me how much they enjoyed my funny faces and how beautiful I was. Those things make my day and I love those kids. This proves that I am meant to work with kids. After working all day and taking care of the girls, I was tired and didn't start packing to leave for Lima the next morning. Like always, I procrastinated. 

Stay tuned for my adventures in Lima! I promise you they are better than any movie. 

Every Day in Cusco is a Parade!

Oh my goodness, this week has been one for the books. Last I left you was Friday evening, and MUCH has changed since then. It feels like its been two weeks rather than one, but brace yourselves for some surprises. 

Friday night I was planning on getting some food and then going to sleep, but instead I went with Sara and David to Presada for a veggie burger and a juice, then to Juanito's for papas fritas. Of course we went to Juanito's for dessert, where else would I spend my time? We were about to order when four tall white guys jumped in front of us and took a good ten minutes to order burgers with toppings. The tallest looked back at me and our eyes connected for about three seconds, which is all I need to catch someone honestly. This guy apologized to me for taking so long to order, I responded with a witty comment, and we ordered while his group took their seats. Once we sat down the tall guy kept making awkward eye contact and I gave it right back almost our whole meal until we were done with our fries. At that point he spoke to me across the room about doing a San Pedro ceremony and how he is only good at basketball. I can't remember his name but I remember that he was from Holland, his friend was from Germany, and another from California. After they went to Machu Picchu they thought they might come back to Cusco and visit Healing House, they never did. Then I walked home and curled up in bed watching It's Kind of A Funny Story and was extremely satisfied, sleeping so warm that night.

Saturday I woke up at 8 am because I fell asleep so early the night before and did nothing until I bought ten pieces of bread for my cream cheese. I ended up eat five pieces of bread that morning, which is a lot, while watching Friends. Eventually I got ready for the kids' program at 2 pm and Akio, my favorite kid of the group, showed up with his mother. He was the only child for a good 30 minutes because there were so many festivals going on in the streets. We were planning on making costumes and putting on our own parade in the streets but because he was the only kid, he just made little tiny shirts out of fabric and a small bag to put his shirts in as well as his rocks and dream stars I had them make a while back. This kid puts so much thought into everything he does and it makes me so happy to see him happy. His mom sat there the whole two hours and he gave her one of the origami stars we made a few weeks ago and she wanted to learn how to make them because she is a crafter. 

About an hour into the program the other boys arrived and wanted to make masks and costumes out of the fabric, thank goodness we had camo. As the other boys became rambunctious Akio went into the garden and tried to build a fort out of the straw mats we had and the fence. Once that got boring he wanted to draw in the garden and I gave him paper and paint to just be creative to his heart's desire. This kid makes my day. At 3:45 pm we give the kids a snack and I went to mercado San Blas to go buy clementines while Sylvia or Giancarlo were supposed to get juice from the tienda while I was gone. That didn't happen but when I got to the market I realized that our regualr boys Marco and Giancarlo were working their stands and that was why we only had about 7 kids at the program. I went directly to Giancarlos' stand, bought two kilos of clementines, and went back on my merry way to feed more mouths. After my frustration with Sylvia and Giancarlo passed we cleaned up the fabric scraps that were strewn all over the floor outside and took a much needed deep breath. 

From then on we all hung out in the kitchen and thought of having a bonfire later that night in the other house. Sylvia was singing at Monasterio, her first gig in Cusco, and Giancarlo and I had planned on going to see her after getting some food at Juanito's. It took too long for our food to come out so Sara, Giancarlo and I just stayed at Juanito's because we had missed the gig. After Juanito's Giancarlo and I went to Parwa, my favorite tienda, to gather food supplies for the bonfire but the marshmallows were not good quality and a Hershey's bar here is too expensive. So we gave up on the bonfire, came back to the kitchen, and ate more food in the warmth. Sylvia was a bit peeved we didn't show up but it worked out that we didn't go. And Paola showed up with Bhakti to go to dinner with Amy and I volunteered to watch Bhakti until they got back so they could have adult time before Amy left for a while. Bhakti and I painted, a lot, then watched multiple beginnings to movies on Netflix before she fell asleep on my lap in the kitchen. In all it was a good but tiring night and I was grateful to get some sleep. 

Even though I was really tired I woke up early Sunday morning to give Reiki to our neighbor and her mom. This girl, Rosio, suffers from symptoms similar to Autism as a result of a bad vaccine she received as a child. Every Sunday and Wednesday Niki and I give her and her mother Reiki to try and do some emotional and physical healing for them. The mother is a working single mother with Rosio who is 17, my sisters age, and a young boy who I immediately recognized as an angel. 

This Sunday was also Father's Day, so after my Reiki session with Rosio and her mom I sat in the garden and FaceTimed my parents back on St. Pete Beach. Two weeks prior I had ordered some personalized items off of Tiny Prints for my mom and dad, as a Father's Day gift and a make-up Mother's Day gift because my original didn't work out. I was so excited to see my mom open the two personalized notepads with pictures of the family, all of our animals, the beach, and each of us kids on it. At the bottom I wrote "Peace. Infinite Love. Happiness." so that she would be reminded of all of the things that she loves and that love her back, sometimes you need that reminder when you're caught up in the business of everyday life. The first notepad is so that she can make lists and notes, the second is for her to keep, to always remember the love in her life. After I saw my mom open her gift and she cried a bit, I watched my dad open his. In the past we haven't had the closest relationship but it has gotten so much better over the past year as I went off to Florida State and we both became more open minded. For him I got a custom canvas collage of our photos together for his desk in his office. There are pictures from my birthday, dad's weekend at Florida State, New Years, and a classic one of us playing when I was one year old. I think it really touched him and I felt proud to still be involved from so far away. Last year I was in Germany for Father's day and I never would have thought I would be in Peru for this years holiday!

After I had updated my parents and sister on my life here and how well I was doing I was responsible for moving beds around Healing House because we had a large group coming the next day. We had to move entire bed sets from the other house to the main one and doors in San Blas are tiny... After successfully moving about 4 twin beds I went to Presada down the street with Shevaa for a veggie burger. Then I had to rush back because I worked from 2 pm until 7 pm and we were doing an open house ArTEAsenal to promote our services and to raise awareness for our fundraiser. During that time I attempted to make sugar cookies and they came out well for a Peru version. While I was doing this we had two groups of men come through the house, one was a group of 4 from Texas working for BP oil and training people in South America, the other were two young men from Canada visiting Machu Picchu. We told them that night that we were going to Wild Rover, a hostel bar, for open mic night and that we were going to sing Jesus Walks by Kanye and that they should meet us there. 

Once everyone left Sylvia and I cleaned up then headed to one of my favorite restaurants up the street for some pizza and we had some good conversation. Coming back home we were prepared to have a little fiesta before going out and got Sara and Romina to join in on the fun. Some champagne and Pisco were opened and I had on my sassy shoes to get the night started. The four of us headed to Wild Rover in a taxi and were planning to go to Ukuku's afterwards to watch Amaru play. What a night it turned out to be! The bar was almost dead when we got there, Giancarlo was wearing a blue fluffy robe from the owner because he was cold, and no one was dancing. So naturally, Sara and I had a drink to get the party started. Remember, it is legal for me to drink here, no problem. So I paid 21 soles for a Jack Daniels and coke and we stayed sippin' on our drinks for a while until Sara was called up to the mic and things got out of hand. Giancarlo dropped a beat for her, she rocked it, Sylvia denied her call up to the mic, and Sara sang "Who wanna buy my friend Tori a shot?!", thats when everything went south. The bar was still extremely boring so Sara and danced, sang, and then the guys from Texas showed up and then I was done with the night so Sara and I skipped out on Ukuku's and went home. 

Monday morning the altitude and alcohol were testing my body but I made it and rested up because after being in the cold the night before I started to get sick. The cold/flu that had been going around the house made its way to me and I had no idea what I was in for. Then I worked from 2 pm until 8 pm and ushered in our new group staying with us. After having only a few people in the house to having a full house was overwhelming and the energy in the place changed dramatically. So everyone was together for the house meeting, I screened Food Matters from Netflix on the projector for our Monday movie night, and the two Canadians joined us for the documentary. Then I cleaned up and went straight to bed because I was wiped out from the night before.

Tuesday morning I mustered up the energy to go to Mantay with Sherri and tried to teach the girls ballet, but that was somewhat of a fail. The fact that only four girls could join us was disappointing but then the only girl that was participating was Domingo and she is 8 and a half months pregnant! When no one else wanted to dance I decided to just give them massages and call it a day with Sherri. It was also difficult to do turns with so much snot in my sinuses, so passing out would not have been efficient. After Mantay I went back to my room and slept, too sick to participate in the clinic we host for Cusqueños. I also took advantage of the fact that it was my last night in a private room for a couple of days. 

Wednesday morning I was also supposed to give a Reiki treatment again to Rosio and her mom but was way too sick to do that, so Romina took over for me. After waking up at 8 am from inability to breathe, Sara told me that I had to start packing because the woman that was taking Balaz's room was here and that I had to move out so he could move into my room for a couple of days. I chose to do this the week before but had no idea how sick I was going to be and I started to regret it. So I popped up, stumbled a bit, and started taking my settled room apart. I put all of my trinkets in a hidden spot, packed the clothes I needed into my nice clothes duffle, and put my backpack and giant suitcase in the corner so I didn't have to move it. After packing and lugging all of those things to the shared volunteer room in the main house I cleaned my old room, put new sheets on the bed, and washed the floors. Once all of that was done I waited on Balaz to move out of his room, then into mine, and I could settle into main house and get a shower in before I tried to go with Romina and Sara to Hilo to try on outfits for Eibhilin's fashion show. Running in the rain to her store we realized it was closed and then came back to the house to eat lunch. It was cold and rainy the whole day so it was a bummer. 

Then around 7 pm I had a little visitor from Sunday night at Wild Rover. One of the professional soccer players I had met found me on Facebook, told me he might come over for yoga and never did in the past, so I expected him not to this time. Surprise surprise, he was in our kitchen. He wanted to take me and Sara out for dinner but we had just eaten papas fritas so we went to Jack's Cafe with him for some tea and then made it back for the meeting I had for the kids program. He stuck around until after the meeting and Sara didn't want to go out for soup afterwards so I reluctantly went with him by myself. 

We walked past Plaza de Armas to the Pariwana hostel where he got us in without staying there because he is a frequent. It was nice because he took care of everything, paying for food and making sure I was comfortable. We sat down, ate our soup, played bingo, and I was the first winner so i got a free shot of rum, just my luck! It turns out that this unnamed professional soccer player was the fifth and final winner so he also got a free shot and we took them together, that being my only alcoholic drink of the night while he continued to drink two rum and cokes. The hostel was entertaining us with trivia so we played and I did well for my limited knowledge and it was a good time. Afterwards we wanted to go dancing but it was too cold and I was tired so he got us a nice taxi, a new-ish Camry compared to a car you would jump the boarder in, and I went home. 

The next day my suspicions were confirmed in that he is married and has a child. This 28 year old professional soccer player that was clearly hitting on me and trying to make other moves was being unfaithful and sneaky. That goes to show you that men, anywhere you go, will always have one thing on their mind and go to almost any length to get that. I'm all for professional athletes, but preferably those who are single and within 6 years of my age unless they really blow my mind. I felt terrible after confirming this information and told him not to come by again. But hey, it all makes for a great story, kind of...

Thursday was Municky's birthday and to celebrate we went to lunch at Green Point, our favorite vegan restaurant in San Blas. At the restaurant is my favorite dog in Cusco as well, Sue Sue. She always has an outfit on, I think to keep her warm and to signify that she isn't one of the hundreds of strays wandering Cusco. After Green Point Sara, Municky, and myself went to Hilo, the clothing store our friend Eibhlin owns to try on outfits to wear in her fashion show. I was given three dresses, two of which were blue to bring out my eyes, and the last was a gorgeous creme high-low dress with details down the front. Eibhlin fit it to me perfectly and at that moment was when I got really excited for the show in just under one week. Afterwards we went back to the house, I worked, and then we got ready for the party. 

It was supposed to start at 7:30 pm, but Peru time means an hour or more later so once people showed up it was great. What we do at Healing House is a potluck and everyone enjoys the different cooking styles and dishes. It was perfect when they started shooting off fireworks at the church just above us, it was as if they knew it was Municky's birthday. And Municky isn't your average Brazilian, she knows so many people and is so loving that the most popular band in Cuzco, Amaru, came to the house and we had a drum circle for her around the fire. The energy was surging and at the point where it felt like we should stop, the fire popped and it was perfect timing. Once things started to settle down and cake was served, people began to leave and the kitchen became semi spacious again. At this point my illness was really kicking in and I almost fell asleep on two chairs, so I made my way back to the volunteer room and crashed hard. 

Friday was the first day of winter here in South America and in celebration I laid out in the fragmented moments of sun, accompanied by Ayni the cat, a roll of toilet paper I used as tissues, and a giant bottle of water to replace fluids in hopes of kicking this infection. After sitting in the sun for a few hours I felt energized enough to venture out into the city for a good ice cream, so Sara and I went to the big El Encuentro and had a terrible soup then headed to El Hada, the nicest ice cream place in Cuzco, and I got a cocoa ice cream. It wasn't the best but it was good enough at the moment, especially for Peru. On our way home we stopped in the Plaza de Armas and watched some sort of parade. 

Once we got home I tried writing this blog but found no motivation whatsoever. I know that if I don't post during the day that not many people will read it, so I pushed it off for the next day. I was working that afternoon and that was when I met the hand analysis lady. She takes a print of your hand and analyses it to give you an idea of where you will be going in life, acting as a catalyst for your life's purpose. I sat with her for a bit and realized that I really wanted to have a session with her. While we were vibing she brought up all of my angels and my grandmother who is suffering from Leukemia. It was exactly what I needed at that moment and I felt great, wanting to share this information with my family. Once she left I got really tired and had already been feeling down from missing home. So I called my parents over Skype and vented about everything, having a good cry and getting the assurance that I needed to push on through the next 8 weeks at the time. I talked with them about the soccer player and how he felt it was okay to omit information like that and how he expected certain things of me because of the way I looked. We got into a deep conversation about beauty and expectations and thats when I was proud of myself for not giving in to what he wanted and for staying true to myself. Anywhere you go people will have a first impression of you that most likely does not fit who you really are. So I move forward with the attitude that I will honor my body and soul in the way that makes me a better person, not necessarily making other people happy or fitting in. 

After that little break down I tried to download some movies onto my computer because I don't get strong enough Internet in the volunteer room to stream movies. That process took forever and didn't even end up working so I wiped everything off that I had just attempted to download and went to the other house to see if we had any movies I could watch on DVD. I found Sex and the City 2 and snuggled in for the night, completely satisfied with the way it was turning out. I slept very well that night after eating a Milky Way and watching the movie. 

Saturday I worked from 9 am until 2 pm and got a lot done before the kids program started. I had done all of the dishes, bought flowers, cleaned out the old ones, cut and arranged the new ones, and did the house laundry. So when 2 pm rolled around I hadn't eaten lunch yet and desperately needed food so Sara went down to Presada for me and got a veggie burger, which I ended up not being in the mood for. Our regular boys showed up at 2 and Daniel and I entertained them with music while we waited for Sylvia to get back with the canvas bags we had planned on painting with them. At 2:30 she called the house and said she would be back by 3, and when 3:30 rolled around she finally made it back and we only played physical activity games with the kids in the garden. To finish up the day we had a small game of musical cajones and ate frozen chocolate covered bananas until it was time for them to go home. 

After a stressful day I really needed some comfort food so I got my first box of Kraft macaroni and cheese and made that for dinner. I was skeptical at first but it turned out delicious and I was satisfied enough to stay in the kitchen and socialize until I got tired and went back to the volunteer room, watched a Christmas movie, and fell asleep. 

Sunday morning was moving day! I was finally going to be able to move back into my private room in the other house and relax. I woke up and right away noticed the GIANT spider chilling next to me on my wall, instantly thinking of Harry Potter. I slowly got off of the top bunk and packed my things to get ready to move. Until I could move my things back into my room I sat outside in the garden and painted with some of the girls selling alpaca sweaters at our open house. It was so sunny out and I wanted to shower but didn't have time between moving and work at 2 pm. So I finally moved my things, put new sheets on the bed, and settled back into my comfortable private room, having to spray perfume because it smelled of middle aged man after Balaz moved out. I then worked the door from 2 pm until 7 pm and then went to Green Point with Sara for soup on our way to Maureen's to house sit and watch Bridesmaids. Her bed was super comfy. 

In the end it was a stressful and really difficult week but I made it through it, and that's what counts. I'm sorry this blog is more than two weeks late, the next two blogs will also be filled with great stories including a runway show I participated in and a 5 day trip to Lima! Please keep reading!!

¡Dar Gracias por Esta Vida!

This week has been such a huge shift in energy, which makes things uncomfortable for a while, but hopefully a new energy arrives at the house soon. I'll explain all the weirdness now.

On Monday I woke up, checked social media, watched some Gossip Girl, then went shopping with Kaki for things that she could bring home as gifts for her family and friends, as well as for a llama sweater. A llama sweater is most likely made out of wool from an alpaca but has llamas as part of the print. They are actually really attractive in my opinion so I plan on getting one as soon as I get enough cash after my debit card mishap. After shopping we went to Presada for lunch. It is the BEST vegetarian restaurant I have ever been to. I got a veggie burger made of lentils and spices with pesto, cheese, and a sweet barbecue sauce that was delicious, accompanied by a fresh mixed fruit juice. Then I went back to my room to rest for a bit before Kaki and I headed out again.

This time we went to the tattoo shop in Inca Alley where I was the support system for Kaki's second tattoo. She had been on the fence about it for a while but had the artist draw up her vision the week before to see if she really wanted to commit. This tattoo was much larger than her first and she wanted it on her back where her Solar Plexus chakra is. I had never seen someone getting tattooed before so it was as much of an experience for me as for her. The mandala was outlined on her back and the artist started prepping the needle. Keep in mind Kaki was supposed to leave the next day to fly back home to Chicago. I would imagine that it would be uncomfortable to be flying for 24 hours with a fresh tattoo on your back, exactly where all of your luggage hits and where you will have the most pressure when sitting in an airplane seat. Anyways, while she was getting it done I tried to distract her with small talk , which made her laugh because she could see right through it. At least she wasn't crying of pain! After only about 45 minutes of tattooing the artist was done and this was the final product! 

 After the tattoo session was over we realized it was pouring outside and I didn't have a rain jacket or an umbrella with me. So we ran home in the freezing cold rain which caused sort of a flood on our street to the point where the sewage covers popped off and there was sewage water flooding the streets. Yes, it did smell as disgusting as it looked. I was also wearing Toms, so those were soaked and my feet were frozen. Once we got home I went back to my room and found Friends on Netflix!!! What a score. I watched a couple of episodes and then went to the main house for Monday Night Meditation and it was fabulous. Julia led it with some great breathing techniques as well as a wonderful guided meditation. I saw so many felines from large tigers to cats and was especially impacted by the words Dar Gracias, give thanks. I would love to bring Give Tanks to Peru or even Florida State because gratitude is an awesome and life changing characteristic to honor. 

Once I was realigned I participated in the house meeting at 7:30 where we surprised Kaki with a birthday cake because we wouldn't be with her on her birthday in August. I had told her during the tattoo session that I was going to have a half birthday party for myself while I was here, celebrating on July 7th. Sneaky me, she had no idea we were throwing a small party for her! It seemed as if she really appreciated it and I really appreciated the delicious chocolate cake Sylvia made, with chocolate icing, a delicacy here. After the little fiesta we went to Juanito's, our favorite sandwich shop, for the best papas fritas in San Blas. I was thoroughly full and went back to my room to watch Harry Potter with Ash, of course. And that day he had not only his sassy pants on, but his whole suit. You are welcome, Ash, for putting this on the Internet for everyone to see!

Like every Tuesday I went to the Mantay Shelter to give treatments but this week was different because we were teaching them Tai Chi and Karate, a nice change. I was not particularly excited though to wake up at 7:30 while it was below 50 degrees outside. I pushed through my discomfort and got a taxi for Sherri and I to go to San Jeronimo. I was really proud of myself for getting the taxi too, which should only cost 10 soles but because I am blond and white drivers try to up charge me. This guy wanted 12 soles and I firmly told him no, 10. He was taken aback, said okay, and I was able to tell him where we needed to go. All in Spanish, thank you. 

Once we got to Mantay I saw all of my girls and told them we were doing Tai Chi today instead of Reiki treatments. I still did massage for the pregnant ones, but we were switching things up a bit. I had brought with me a bag of shoes that someone had donated to them from the Healing House and you should have seen their faces light up when they found out they could have the pair that fit them. Even though the shoes weren't new, they were new to them and that is what counted. Teresa took the combat boots, of course, with her sassy attitude. I told her they were called "Kick Ass Botas". Teresa's son, Sergio, came in to say hi and because he saw his mom getting new shoes he thought he was too, so he took off his snow boots to try on the large hiking boots I had in the bag. I have never seen anything cuter. How could I forget the headbands that were in the bag as well, Sergio put one on and was too precious. 

Finally done passing out the shoes and gathering the girls Sherri took them into the courtyard to learn Tai Chi and Karate while I massaged one pregnant girl at a time. I had my regulars but then got a new girl who didn't seem too pregnant, but still had a very visible bump. I asked her how far along she was and she said 8 months at the age of 14. At 14 I was in 8th grade playing four sports and focusing on my grades, not even capable of getting a boy to like me. This young girl has lost her innocence and freedom at too young of an age. Despite the circumstances they are still kind of cheerful when we arrive. I had to tell the girls that Kaki went back to the Unites States that day, so she couldn't come give treatment. After I finished massaging the pregnant girls I participated in some Tai Chi and the girls laughed because when I would do a karate kick, my foot would end up near Sherri's head because she is so short. Then they realized I was flexible and asked me if I danced, I told them I used to and they asked me to teach a dance class next week! I was stoked and they wanted ballet instead of hip hop, which is understandable because not all of them have the ability to pop, lock, and drop it in their third trimesters. So next week I am teaching ballet and they all want me and Sherri to come back because they really enjoyed being with us that day. This makes my heart burst with happiness to know that I can brighten their day and give them something to look forward to. I am also curious to see the group change because three of the girls are supposed to give birth while I am here! My connection with the girls and the possibility of a connection with their babies blows my mind. 

Once Sherri and I got back to Healing House we saw Kaki and took her to The Rock where she reflected on her time here and really appreciated the scenery. After five months of living in Cusco, you really aren't ready to go back to reality. After the rock we went to more tourist shops to get gifts and a llama sweater because none of the previous selections were sufficient for Kaki's needs. It was a pivotal moment when Kaki finally found a suitable llama sweater at the last place we were stopping at before giving up. She then forgot her scarf there and realized it once were were eating our favorite veggie burgers and the BEST juices yet at Presada. The whole gang had joined us and it was awesome to see a bunch of people together for Kaki. There are so many relationships you make while in Cusco, with people, stores, restaurants, even the city itself. Our joy was short lived though because Kaki had to catch her plane but not before packing the last small things and saying her goodbyes. Even I started crying after only knowing her a month, she had such a large impact on my time here so far in Peru and I am so grateful to her for that. Once most of the tears had been shed, Giancarlo and I took Kaki to the airport in a taxi and sent her off on her way back to the real world with her guitar in tow. 

Giancarlo and I walked out of the airport to catch a cheaper taxi and heard the Peru vs. Colombia game on the radio, which they ended up losing 2-0, along with any hopes of getting into the World Cup. Once I got back to the house I had to participate in the clinic and gave Reiki back to back which was surprisingly draining after the already long day I had. There were so many people at the clinic compared to normal and with so many people moving out that day we didn't have enough practitioners or rooms to accommodate people. After the rush was over I finally sat down to eat some bread because I hadn't eaten since Presada and here I eat at least four times a day because I am awake for so long. Near the end of our clinic hours Guillermo the chiropractor showed up to give treatments and because everyone had already left I got a free adjustment! I had back pain and he proved to me that my L5 vertebrae was out of place, so he adjusted my back and my hips but had trouble because I'm too flexible. After that he pulled my earlobes to open my middle ear and let the fluids drain. But because of all of the adjustments I got a headache immediately after and was in a weird mood for the rest of the night. I also made some spashitty and then went to bed and had some crazy boat/pedophile dreams.

Wednesday I woke up lonely because both Sara and Kaki had moved out of Casa Verde, Sara just moving to the other house. My stomach hurt really bad because of the spashitty I made the night before, so Sara had to go buy flowers at Mercado San Pedro for me to give out as part of our Save Healing House Campaign! Our plan was to give out free carnations in red-femenine, pink-questionable, and white- masculine, along with a flyer and treatment schedule to those who we thought to be philanthropic, aka wealthy or giving white people. But really, that is our target audience while in Cusco because the Cusqueños themselves are struggling. So come 2 pm when my shift started I passed out free carnations and flyers while waiting for Bhakti, Paola's daughter, to get to the house after school because I was babysitting her! I was so excited to put my skills with children to use here just with the kids program, but babysitting abroad brings my confidence to a whole new level. It also brings up thoughts of being an Au Pair, which is a nanny that travels and lives with families that speak a different language. 

At first Bhakti was nervous to hand out flyers, especially to the boys coming home from school, but over time she became more comfortable and would tell me who to hand the flowers to! We ran out of flyers, which is a good thing, but not everyone was interested in a free flower, no strings attached. It makes me sad that people think nothing is free in life anymore, despite the random acts of kindness still happening in this world. We gave flowers to the mamitas that weave the clothing and sell them on our street, to the little girls that hang around us, and every other person that made it up those treacherous stairs. My favorite group was our last, we only had three flowers left to give to a mom, her hot son, her daughter that suffers from Cerebral Palsy, and a husband that was extremely skeptical. Both Bhakti and I asked them if they wanted a free flower in English and Spanish and they kept walking while the father said, "Nothing is free in life." I told him that this was, and the mom, hot son, and daughter accepted our last three flowers and as they walked away the daughter looked to her mom and motioned something of a question of why they got free flowers. It made me so happy to see this young girl smiling so big after walking up so many stairs and I admired their family for taking her on a trip like that. Both Bhakti and I were ecstatic to have made that young girls day!

After passing out flowers we came inside, I made her some bread and cream cheese because she loves bread and rarely gets cream cheese, then we worked on her homework, which was in Spanish. She only had two writing worksheets and a math worksheet but because she goes to the most prestigious private school in the area, her homework has to be almost perfect. So I went through it tediously with her, struggling a bit with my Spanish but working through it! After I got her to finish two of the three worksheets she really wanted to watch TV on my computer so I told her she could after she finished her homework and it was like pulling teeth to get her to finish, but she did and I set up Hercules with Spanish subtitles on Netflix for her. After she got bored of that we moved on to water color painting and drawing dogs, then her mother showed up after her yoga teacher training class that goes all day long.

 Once I sent Bhakti home with a good report I got in on the meeting with Sylvia, Sara, and Giancarlo for the kids program on Saturday. To go along with our fundraiser we are doing events every day and Saturday is a kids parade through Plaza San Blas celebrating the differences between us all. I don't know how organized we will be, but the event will make for great pictures and a lot of creativity! After the meeting it was too late to go out for a good vegetarian meal so Giancarlo and I made a spaghetti dinner that was actually good this time. We got to talking about who we are as people and our past relationships and how we have grown from them as well as what we expect from others in our lives as just friends. It is important to recognize what you need and can handle in friendship or else you can be drained of your energy without even knowing it. I also frequently have the feeling that Giancarlo has a lot going on in his mind and that I could be a really good outlet for it, so that conversation was a good step in the right direction. We stayed in the kitchen until almost midnight because it was raining and great conversation. Those are the moments with people that I really appreciate here. 

Thursday morning I was supposed to go with Sherri to teach yoga at Mantay but they cancelled because they were hosting another event that day. So I still woke up at 8 am and watched the Shaytards on YouTube to entertain myself until I got up to prepare for Ladies Lunch, which was our fundraising event for the day. We were making a squash soup with quinoa, spinach, and carrots to garnish, along with Krishna bread! The plan was to have local women come to lunch for 5 soles and we would discuss violence against women in Peru. Sadly, no one outside of the house showed up and the topic was a little too intense for a meal. I did some research though and over 60% of women in Peru have been physically abused as of 2012. This statistic is so high because many people believe the women want it to happen to them, or that they deserve it. The culture also teaches women to be subservient to men, starting at a very young age. 

After lunch I worked from 2 pm to 8 pm and was in a really weird mood with odd vibes coming in. When I get uncomfortable vibes it usually means that something is about to change and will affect me, or to be aware of my surroundings. So while in a weird mood I did dishes, answered phone calls, took down yoga participants information, made plans for my trip to Lima, and showed Giancarlo old volleyball pictures to prove to him I used to be very athletic. He was surprised and said that I could do that again, but I had to explain that my body can't handle that level of impact anymore, at the age of 19. If you don't know, I have a genetic disorder called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome where I am super flexible and feel more pain sometimes because the collagen in my soft tissue breaks easier and is not guaranteed to repair the correct way. I found this out my senior year of high school after I had gotten really sick and learned that I was never supposed to play sports with that type of condition. By the end of the year I completed physical therapy, was awarded a small athletic scholarship by the Tampa Bay Times, and was named female athlete of the year by my school. It just goes to show you that determination can take you further than you ever thought.

I digress... I was done working and had plans with Ash to watch a movie that night at 8:30 but he didn't show up until 10 pm. Peru time is no excuse for that one. Men, never keep a lady waiting. 

Today is Friday and it started out pretty painful. I didn't want to wake up to work at 8 am because I think I might be getting sick. I have a cough and feel faint and tired. I mustered up the energy to make it to the main house and set things up for Sara's yoga class this morning, which was very full! After I had let everyone in and gotten their names I went to go lay down because my body was exhausted from the altitude, possible dehydration, and whatever illness I am fighting. I laid in the warmth of the sun while I could still see my breath and woke up an hour and a half later to a lucid dream of a ceiling collapsing. That was not how I wanted to wake up. Feeling hungry and dizzy I made it into the kitchen and rested my head on the table until I came to. At that point I had slept through Sara telling me to update the Healing House Facebook page so I did that and then made myself two eggs and ate some bread to give me energy. I was till hungry though and only had 20 soles left to my name after the ATM incident, so I went to my favorite tienda, Parwa, and got a Coke, Milkway, 2.5 Liter water, and cream cheese, having to put back the Skittles because that put me over 20 soles. I walked out with all of that food and 1.50 soles to last me until I went to get American Express Cash to hold me over until my new debit card and pin arrived in the mail. 

After that I ate and laid out in the sun to get some vitamin D and Mallory and her boyfriend showed up with the puppies! After two weeks they have already grown so much and I played with them until both Mal and her boyfriend had taken showers in the famous end of the hall shower and I could shower before I was supposed to babysit Bhakti again. So I showered and felt so good, coming back to sunshine and news that Bhakti was with her cousin and I didn't have to watch her, this is only the beginning of the rest of my great day. I took part of Sylvia's shift from 3 pm to 5 pm so she could go practice singing with David across town so I sat out in the sun with my pants rolled up to mid thigh and reppin' my favorite Pi Phi tank. Then I continued writing this blog until the clouds came in and I moved inside while everyone else was in the marketing meeting. Around 4 pm Romina walks in with two FedEx envelopes for me and I jumped up with joy realizing they were my new debit card and pin!!! I signed for them from the courier and opened them, so happy that they arrived together. Normally the card comes in one envelope and the pin in a separate envelope two days later. I was also told by Nathan at my bank that it would take 5 to 8 business days to expedite to Peru after he sent in the request last Friday and it was processed this Monday. I felt so relieved to have access to my money again after activating the card. I ran to the ATM afterwards and tried my card and was able to take out the maximum amount in soles! Then I took out a second withdrawal to cover my rent and to have cash on hand for the next two weeks. Today went from pitiful to fabulous! I am so grateful for everything today and give my lack of stress to patience. If you are not patient you create so much more stress for yourself and mostly with things that you cannot control.

After I upload this blog I am going to Presada for another kick ass veggie burger and juice! After learning that I can budget here, I will make conscious changes in my purchases and be more mindful of the things I need and what I spend money on. It's a good life people! Find the little things that make you happy and if you can put them all together, it makes for a good day. Good vibin' to you all.

I'm Busy Living Life Y'all

I apologize for not posting earlier this week, I've been a bit busy living life and changing the world! Even though I am interning with Healing House it still feels like a vacation sometimes. I don't work every day but on the days I do work, it can be overwhelming. The great part about my time here is that I am rarely stressed, at all. I am so grateful for this opportunity to relax and focus on myself. Let me tell you about my very interesting week.

Monday was one of the two days I worked the door this week, from 8 am until 2 pm. I washed  dishes for a bit, updated the weekly schedule that we have posted on our front door, and updated some personal accounts I have with Omprakash concerning their program and my capstone project which is required of me to get a certificate through them as well as through Florida State. While washing dishes I had a meaningful conversation with Subina for the first time ever. Subina is our housekeeper that cleans the rooms, the kitchen, and the rest of the house (i.e. scrubbing the floors, washing the appliances, and cleaning the recently vacated rooms). She asked me how long I was going to be in Cusco, what I was doing here, and what I studied back at FSU. I told her I was a Reiki Master and she told me how her friend had been getting Reiki for her anxiety and asked how many more treatments she would need. This was all in Spanish. Realize I studied Spanish for five years back in the States. My last year was senior year of high school and when I got sick it was like I wasn't even in the class really. I have not been using Spanish for over a year and I understand it better than I can speak it. I feel like my brain fights for the English version of the words I try to say when speaking, rather than the Spanish version. Subina laughed at me when I told her I had studied for five years and that was all I had to show for myself. I do want to give a huge shout out to Señora Morales for being immensely supportive of me when I got sick and for still following me on my journey here in Peru. Without her language teachings I would be very lost. 

After talking with Subina the day had gone from slightly sunny to gray and cold. After getting over my illness last week almost everyone else in the house was getting sick, so this time Sherri started showing symptoms of this 24 hour bug. So I was sent to the local pharmacy to get her Aspirin and a new hot water bottle to sleep with. I returned without a hot water bottle because I had no idea how to explain that to the lady at the pharmacy, in Spanish. So Sherri went back with her old bottle, which we call boyfriends here because we sleep with them to stay warm, and the lady was able to understand she needed a new boyfriend. After I took care of Sherri I read my book a bit, cooked some pasta, and then lounged in my room because of the dreary weather. It is also convenient being able to fall asleep at 9 pm here because I wake up every morning around 7:30. The sun sets at 5:30 pm and rises at 6 am. 

Every Tuesday I go to the Montay Shelter at 8 am to give Reiki treatments and massage to the young moms. Only this time it was different because I was going by myself with the company of Aurora who had been once before. I had only been twice before. To say in the least I was very proud of myself for being able to get a taxi and direct the driver to the right place with my Spanish. When we got to Montay none of the girls had signed up but they were eager for massage once they saw it was me and Aurora. Each of us are able to do three treatments during our time there on Tuesdays and I had the opportunity to massage two pregnant girls, each 17, the age of my younger sister. Typically we would have the girls lay on their stomachs but because they were both 8 months along, that was not a possibility. In high school I took a pregnancy and early childhood class so I was very excited to use my knowledge with the girls. When a woman is pregnant it is better for them to sleep on their sides because on their backs the fetus is being pulled by gravity onto the mother's spine, which is like a baby sleeping on rocks, not to mention it puts a lot of pressure on the mother's back. So we had the girls lay on their sides and focused the massages on their lower backs because at that point in their pregnancy the babies should drop or have dropped by then into their pelvic cavity and their bones will start to move soon. Massaging the lower back also prepares the muscles for the intensity of labor. In massage it is important to avoid the tissue between the thumb and forefinger of a pregnant woman because that can create more pressure than desired, as well as avoiding certain parts of the ankle which can send pressure back up the spinal cord, making it uncomfortable for the mother and baby. 

It blew my mind that I was able to use some of the information from high school, shout out to Marylin Davis, and the fact that I was giving a massage to a 17 year old girl in her third trimester while I myself am 19. I have so much respect for these girls and think they are some of the bravest I have ever met. Think that they have been kicked out of their homes, disowned, or just left because they have gotten pregnant by rape, incest, or just by not being careful in a very poverty stricken area of Cusco. To the girls out there, never be ashamed to take precautions or to speak to adults about it because that shows you are concerned about your future and wanting to take precautions is nothing to be ashamed of. To the young men out there, think about the consequences of your sudden passion or just pause for a minute and think about the other person. Always be prepared and realize the consequences of your actions. I praise the women back home who have gone through with their pregnancies and even more to the men who stick around in those kids lives. A lot of times the girls at Montay resent their children because they remind them of the horrible situations that got them pregnant or just the fact that their innocence and freedom is gone now, not to mention their reputations. While we were finishing up our last treatments of the morning a young boy came in and laid down because he was sick. I had finished my treatments so I sat with him and he asked if I could take his picture. Of course I jumped at the opportunity and then I realized once I let him touch my phone that he had red spots all over his face, he really was sick. I showed him pictures of my life and he was amazed, then we left and I thoroughly washed my hands and phone, thank goodness for Lifeproof cases. I was even more proud of myself for getting Aurora and I home on the bus for 80 centimos, getting off at the correct stop too. 

After Montay my stomach started to hurt so I ate a banana then went back to bed because I had not been getting much good sleep with many crazy dreams and tossing and turning. Later Tuesday I went to El Encuentro for dinner with Kaki and got a spinach ravioli with a red tomato salsa and papas fritas, my favorite. The meal was surprisingly delicious but the cheese not so much, cheese in Cusco is like a crumbly sharp mozzarella and not to my liking. After El Encuentro I went out with Ash and some of his friends to try and watch the Jamaican futbol game. it turned out that most of the bars here have Direct TV and the game wasn't available, so we settled in at Norton Rat's Tavern and played a couple of games of darts and had a few drinks. I felt like I was almost back at Public House in Tallahassee and I was pleased with the night. I also found one of my best friends at the tavern, a mister Jack Daniels. They didn't have Coke at the bar but the bartender put ice in it and I was worried but Ash said that she assured him it was clean. Keep in mind it is legal for me to drink here.

Wednesday I had the day off and was really drained from something, so I mainly watched Gossip Girl on Netflix and ate a ton of club soda crackers, like 8 packages of 9. Wednesday was not my most productive day, and that was when I realized I really needed some inspiration to be creative. With some support from Facebook and my friends here, I figured I could just grab a piece of plywood in the art room and start painting. This is what I came up with; it says WANDERLUST in white sparkles. I was looking for silver so it would be easier to read but in the end its almost like a metaphor. Wanderlust is always there for me, I'm just not always aware of it or honoring it. 

After painting we had a meeting for the kids program on Saturday and came up with some really great ideas for the next couple of weeks as well as the month of July, where I will be teaching photography and using the 30 disposable cameras I brought from the states! After the meeting it was really late so we went to Juanito's, the sandwich place just up our street and I got a caprese sandwich to go and ate it in the streets as Giancarlo, Kaki, Sylvia and I walked through the city looking for coffee and hot cocoa at 10 pm. We found a place near la Plaza de Armas and sat talking about first impressions and family for about an hour. After we finished out drinks we headed out into the cold and passed a doorway that had ACDC blaring and we went in on a whim. It turns out the place was hoppin' with Cusqueños. We enjoyed the classic rock for a bit and once the band was done the DJ brought out the American rap just for us and we started dancing. Realize I was not prepared to go out, wearing my oversized "I wish you were beer" sweatshirt and a scarf, attractive right? It turns out I wasn't looking that bad because three guys danced with me, twirling and ducking so I could fit under their arms with a solid foot of height difference between me and each of them. Nonetheless I had a great time and it was exactly what Kaki and I needed knowing that she was leaving within a week. Giancarlo had dislocated his shoulder so could only dance for a bit, but it was still great to have all of us dancing together to old American music and Spanish versions of our favorite songs. 

Thursday morning I was supposed to go help teach yoga at Montay but the director of my program asked me to help with the Reiki master course she was teaching. That morning she needed me to receive atunements from her students so afterwards all of the students gave a total of 21 atunements and I was for sure blasted with light energy. It was awesome, but I was also very tired from going to bed at 2:30 am and waking up at 8 so I could have my laundry sent out. I was clinging to my last two pairs of clean underwear so I really needed to do laundry. After the Reiki masters were certified a group of us went to the new vegan restaurant near San Blas Plaza called Green Point. I got one of the menus for the day, which was a salad bar, a quinoa and veggie soup, pasta with a white mushroom sauce and Brazil nut cheese, and a dessert of papaya, all for 8 soles. I was going to go with Kaki to go get some clothes and gifts for her to bring back to Chicago, but then it got very cold and started to rain so I went back to my room and took a solid nap before Ash came over to watch Harry Potter. We didn't even get that far into the movie until Ash felt sick and left. Two minutes after he left there was a knock at the door and he admitted to throwing up on the steps on our street and needing company until his home stay father came and picked him up. I finished watching the movie after he left while eating Nutella and Ramen Noodles. Solid night.

Friday morning Ash messaged me and said that he went to the clinic and found out he had gotten Salmonella that day at the orphanage he volunteers at, so it wasn't travelers illness, good for him. I went to the main house to get some food and saw that the flower lady had delivered flowers to the house and Sylvia was cutting them to put in vases. I got really excited because my old flowers had started to die and grow mold so I got to use the scraps from this delivery to add some life and decoration to my room. Giancarlo came over to work with Sylvia on the music for the kids program Saturday and invited me to go see the Cusco Symphonic Orchestra that night in San Jeronimo. I also gave Giancarlo my black pair of Toms because I don't like to wear that dark of a color on my feet, bad energy. After doing my flowers and going to Presada for a juice I finally took a nice shower. 

The art of showering here is very precise. I just learned about the amazing shower at the end of the hall in the main house that has sensational water pressure and intense heat. So I moved all of my toiletries to the main house and had the best shower yet. I was able to wash my hair, my body, and shave my legs completely. Normally I shave my legs in the sink because it is too cold to stay in the shower, or I just don't shave them at all. Most of you know how much I love smooth legs, so Friday was like Christmas having fully taken care of my body. The next things on my list were to put away my laundry, take out my trash, change my towels, and to get cash to pay rent. 

My debit card hadn't been working at one of the local BCP ATMs so I went into town to try at ScotiaBank and only trying to withdraw Soles once, the machine confiscated my card. I was shocked and proceeded to wait in line at the bank for 30 minutes in order to talk to someone to get my card back. In Spanish I spoke to the man at the counter telling him the situation then asking if he spoke English and he said yes. At least that was in my favor because he told me that they didn't even have my card because the ATM had destroyed it. I had 50 soles in my pocket at that moment, that was it. So I thanked him for his help and hustled back home to call my bank and figure out what happened and to insure the security of my funds. I called my dad on FaceTime, he gave me a number for my bank, and I had to call them with Skype credit because I haven't gotten a phone here yet. The representative told me that the Peruvian bank did not accept my PIN the three times I had originally tried to withdraw cash the week before and froze my account. So the next time I tried to withdraw my card was confiscated and destroyed. I worked it out to have a new card expedited, expecting to arrive within two weeks. The whole time I was trying not to stress but I couldn't help it in the beginning. The thought of not having enough cash on hand has always scared me since the age of 11, but this was a little too intense. I took it as a sign from the Universe that I need to stop spending so much money and learning to live on a budget here, because I hadn't been before or at least not to this extreme. 

I got so excited when I realized I had hid some US dollars in my luggage and was able to change them for soles. I always hide money just in case and this made me so happy to have that bit of security. I also have American Express and can get Express Cash at select location in the city, so until my new debit card arrives I will be okay and able to pay rent. This just goes to show you the reality and necessity of money in even the most laid back places. 

After taking care of my finances I went with Giancarlo and Sylvia to the Orchestra, which we were late for but made it in time for the last five compositions and then came back to San Blas to watch the futbol game of Peru versus Ecuador in hopes of getting closer to qualifying for the World Cup. I was supposed to meet Ash and his friends at Norton's again, but none of them showed up and I was by myself in the bar, looking really good in my leather jacket from Turkey. Even walking to the bar I got a lot of looks and whistles, which made me feel great because Peruvians seem to only be interested in my eyes and rarely show their interest in me. Anyways, Peru beat Ecuador 1-0 and the city was alive. I walked back to the house by myself, got some hoots and hollers, abut made it safely. Then a bit later I got a knock on the door and it was Ash and Taylor. Apparently he ran out of credit and couldn't let me know that they weren't going to make it to the bar. Because Taylor was sick she went home but Ash stayed to watch the rest of Harry Potter and I fell asleep, snoring. What a great friend, right? It was nice to be near human warmth though for a bit, because Cusco was ridiculously cold that night. Ash left after the movie, I passed out in my jacket, and had some solid dreams.

Saturday morning we were having a group meditation for the new moon at 11 am our time and were sending out good vibes in particular for our fundraiser that was launching on Indiegogo to save Healing House. The two properties that we rent are up for sale and the owners are not relenting. So we are fundraising to pay the mortgage, at least, on the two properties. At the end of any month we could be kicked out and have no where to go to practice our alternative healings or a place to live. You can help us save Healing House to continue changing peoples' lives and making this city a better place at SAVE HEALING HOUSE!, even $5 will help, really. We have 60 days to fundraise through Indiegogo and I would love it if other people had the opportunities that I have had here in the future. 

After the meditation Sylvia and I went to Govinda Lila's for a vegetarian menu and talk about our plans once Amy, Kaki, and Aurora leave. After that we came back to the house to get ready for the kids program at 2 pm and this time we were focusing on the theme of respect. All of the kids participated in yoga because it was Kaki's last class and she got them all to do it out of love and guilt. Then we moved into my craft of drawing things you respect, from the letters r-e-s-p-e-c-t. The kids loved it and drew things that didn't start with those letters that they respected, like animals, people, the earth, and this city. The music didn't go over as well but having 18 kids is a lot of work and tough to control, so they just sang one of the songs they knew instead of RESPECT. I went out and got their snack and prepared it, then there were plenty of spills before everyone left. 

After the program I had a little snack myself, then Skyped my parents to talk about my finances and just to catch up. My dad has the Flu and Tropical Storm Andrea had messed up the backyard, but everything else seemed to be going well. My mom was really proud of me for adapting to Peru so well and for staying true to myself. She was also glad to report that people back home are asking how I am doing and that I have so many people who love me and support me. That is truly what keeps me going here, I want to show everyone who has had an affect on my life that I am going places and doing great things. I am doing this for myself but also to show my support system that they did a great job helping me become who I am. You know who you are, thank you. My mom also asked what I wanted her to send me this week and I told her Kiss My Face peach chapstick, good American lotion, Yummy Earth organic candy, crayons, colored pencils, markers, Sharpies, and sticky notes. I am trying my best to live like a Peruvian, but there are a lot of things not available here and those are the ones I really need/want. I said goodbye to my parents, told them that I love them so much, and to get excited to open the packages I sent to them this week on Father's Day.

 Then I headed to Gato market to get peanut butter to make No Bake Cookies for Kaki and Amy's going away potluck. I came back and the kitchen was literally a sauna, the windows were fogged up and any camera would fog up in 5 seconds. The heat was nice and my hair curled instantly, I was satisfied. I made my cookies and everyone was cooking then the party started when the others arrived. Amy made her delicious quinoa and veggie soup, Sarah made grilled Italian veggies, and we had plenty of chocolate desserts. Paola showed up with her daughter and of course we made fast friends because I am a small child at heart! It is great to be surrounded by people that are truly good and that have good vibes. Kaki and I were going to go out after I had finished cleaning up but got too tired so we just listened to music in the kitchen, looked at Amy's jewelry, and vibed with Giancarlo and Sylvia. 

Today I slept in until 10:30, which is amazing after having originally waking up at 7 am and going back to sleep. Then I watched some Gossip Girl to relax and added new pictures on Facebook. At 2 pm I had to work and for the 60 days of fundraising we are doing something every day here at the house. Today we were playing Eye of the Tiger once people got to the last couple of stairs on out street and threw confetti at them congratulating them on making it to the top of the stairs. It is Sunday and no one does anything on Sunday's except go to church so there weren't many people around to throw confetti at and give flyers to. Then it started to rain so we packed up early, I took care of some things on the Healing House Facebook page, and finally began writing this blog. I'm sorry its so long, but I've had an interesting week! I am also at the bottom of my 17 sole jar of Nutella... no more until I get more cash! TOnight I am going to dinner with Kaki and Sara and then supposedly going out dancing or to open mic at Wild Rover. Wither way I am very thankful for this week and the people who have ventured into it.

Again, if any of you have been inspired by my time here in Cusco or by this blog, please help us SAVE HEALING HOUSE! I am so thankful for my time here and everyone's support. Sending good vibes back to the states and realizing I only have less than 9 weeks left here in Peru! Stay positive everyone, you are all amazing in your own way, I encourage you to discover your inner light! 

Besos, paz, y luz.