Pain in Transitions... Completely Weirded Out...

 

 

As I layed in my bed last night I was just missing Peru. Thinking that right now I could be salsa dancing with some man that wants to have sex with me drinking a drink called Orgasms. Now I am jobless, watching reality TV, eating chocolate chip cookies and turkey leftovers. The only entertainment being shopping malls to drown in American consumerism.  My only companian being my mom's weener dog that has been overfed to the point where it looks like an italian sausage.

 

 

I am back in America and so far have been completely weirded out by the country of my birth. The first thing I noticed was that I do not have to say buenas dias/tardes/noches to everyone I meet. I have been trained at this as an automatic salutations, and now I feel rude. Next I realized that I do not have to automatically translate all of my thoughts. Then I noticed that when I wipe my ass I do not have to put toilet paper in the trash but can flush it down (this is after two months of being paranoid that I would forget and flush toilet paper down the toilet and it would overflood the bathroom and I would have to shamefully have to ask someone for help and well as clean it up).

 

 

It feels so strange. I knew that I would miss some things about Peru, but I was not expecting to feel like a fish out of water in my own country. And it is not just sadness. It is like I was immersed in a culture and then have been snapped back into reality. Like I was in a dream that was my whole life for a significant amount of time, and now I have been dumped someplace and jolted awake.  There are streets I will never walk down again. Places I will never go again. People I will never see again. After they were all part of my daily experience. They are part of my lifelong memories. And I will never see them again. Peru was my whole life - and I will never have that experience again. When you live someplace a certain amount of time, you begin weaving the fabric of life, and now there is just ripped fringe on a beautiful and colorful fabic.

 

 

No one prepares you for this. But as in all things, there is pain in transition. So I will eat my leftover turkey and be thankful for my lifelong memories, as I wait for the longing to pass. And move on to the rest of my life. And to finding a damn job.

 

 

Also, I remind myself to the feeling that I had on the flight back. Happiness. Overwheling happiness to be home.

 

 

E

 

Leaving Cusco...

 

As I prepare to leave Cusco I wonder what this trip has meant. Many people have asked me was it everything I thought it would be. The answer is no and yes. Before I came to Peru I was in this almost euphoric state. I was so happy. Living my life. I had just quit my job and was actively pushing through to a different stage in my life. It felt good. It felt wonderful. It felt like I was the captain of my own dreams. Like the world was at my fingertips and all  I had to do was be about it. I was almost embarrassed by the extent of my happiness. I felt like one of those couples making out in the middle of the street with the joy of their love, where everyone is staring at them with disgust and to go get a damn room.

 

 

I have done everything I have wanted to in Peru. But if I had to be honest, that euphoric feeling is gone. I am still happy and amazed, but I am not floating. This does not mean that the lessons and quest are any less. I wanted to challenge myself. I did. I wanted to see a different part of the world. I did. I wanted to be outside my comfort zone. I did. I wanted to learn new things. I did. I wanted to show myself that for the rest of my life it I dreamed it I could do it. I did. When I was in my state of euphoria, one thing I prayed for was that when things get hard, which they inevitable will becuase that is life, that I would remember that feeling and continue to be thankful. I am.

 

 

So I am here, in my last few hours in Cusco. Tired, not finished pack thou its 2am and I have an early morning flight, and still amazed that I ever even thought about coming or even made it. I have met some great people. Seen some beautiful things. And I am at the point where I will miss it. Where the thought of staying longer is a real consideration. But I must go. I have too many new chapters to write. And plus, I'm about to have my momma's cooking. What in this entire world can make up for that?

 

 

E

 

 

 

Lists...

Things I miss about America

• Mac and cheese
• Being able to drink tap water without having to take antobiotics for a week
• Heated buildings
• Momma's cooking
• My nephew
• Men that are taller then me
• Eating a lot of vegtables and fruit
• Related to point above, pooping right because I am eating enough  vegtables and fruit
• Brunches with unlimited mimosas.
• Scratch that - just breakfast in general that is not just bread.
• My friends.
• Being with people that know your whole insides.
• Going out to concerts for $5 in NYC.
• Museums that are bigger then my NYC apartment
• Speaking "slang" - when I say 'c'mon son' I want comprehension - there is a very important reason I'm saying it

 

 

 

 

Things I Like About Cusco

• Hot chocolate on the stove - that powder ish is not going to cut it anymore.  
• Walking around and always being surrounded by the natural wonder of mountains.
• Learning spanish and willing to sound stupid.
• Getting that look when your talking Spanish from a Peruvian that exist in every language - I didn't understand what the fuck you just said - with a slight a head cock and nose in stank face mode.
• Meeting new and inspiring people that I woulld have never met in not going outside my box.
• Literally being surrounded by some of the most profound history in the world.
• People pick their nose and pee on the street like it aint nothing . Respect the gangsta in it thou I won't shake your hand.
• Learning (and struggling) at salsa. Still need to work on mi tiempo but love leading how to follow. Life lessons in the beat.
• Being inspired to do new things that I never would have thought about before.
• Orgasms at the Nightsky. Nuff said. (even thou the ice from the drink currently got me on antibiotics)

(Damn son. A lot of this is about food.)

 

 

 

 

Ten Random things about Cusco

 

1. There are dogs on the street  like stray cats in Harlem (but they belong to ppl)
2. Related the previous point,  if your a female dog you are not living the good life becuase there strait dog orgies in the street and the male dogs are running a train on you (see photo)
3. Never pay more the 3 soles for a taxi anywhere, it is only about $.30 a sol - but you argue with the taxi driver if he wants to charges you 4 soles or even 3.50 soles and walk out if you need to.
4. People from Cusco don´t really smoke. the altitude here is high (and therefore less oxygen) so it doesnt make sense for their health.
5. Ramen noodles exist everywhere.
6. Coco-cola here is made with real sugar and not corn syrup and taste better.
7. No Peruvians own property on the Plaza de Aremes, which is the center tourist spot in Cusco.
8. Spring is as warm as it gets at a whooping 60 to 70 dregrees in the day and 40s at night, summer is the rainy season.
9. Women from here breastfeed on the street. I saw this lady sitting on the street with her child sucking on her goods using no hands just both of them sitting on the street - I would have taken a picture of it if I was disrespectful.
10. Cusco means the center of the world.

 

Wild Times at NightSky

I have not beeen visiting ruins lately. Or museums. Actually, I have been pretty pooped out. All I want is to rest. What I have been doing, however, is continuing my salsa classes at the NightSky. And after my salsa class me and the girls in the house I live in stay and chill and dance. Now, I have not drank since I have been to Cusco. But on this night I decided to try something callled "Orgasm in the NightSky." And let me tell you, thats exactly what it taste like. But with Baileys, Kalhua, ice cream,and chocolate - how can you go wrong? So we all have a round of Orgasms, including the teacher and the waiter who likes one of the girls so we get stronger drinks. Needless to say after all those orgasms we had a good night. Some highlights are the confusing the spanish word papi for the english word puppy, and now thats the waiters new nickname.  Joining someone else's birthday party including hitting the pinjata. Us stopping the salsa music in the club to play Tina Turner's "Private Dancer" to my dance instuctor and him not understanding a word of it or that its his new nickname. Singing our hearts out to U2, Bon Jovi, and Red Hot Chilli Peppers (I tried to put on JayZ but it wasn't working for the rest of the group). Dancing salsa on bar tops (it was only 30 seconds and after me a my private dancer realized we would fall to out deaths with another spin we stopped - don't judge me). Oh - and finding out that my instructor who I thought was gay for about six weeks is in fact straight (after of course I told one of the girls that he definitely does not want her becuase he has a boyfriend). I also don't think he understood that I have been telling people that he is gay. But we have clarified that the man he introduced as his boyfriend is security.

 

Sigh, good times.

 

 

Feeding baby monkeys in the zoo my granola bar..

My teacher brought me to the zoo. Thou small I had a lot of fun. It is located within the National University in Cusco. Here are some pics. One of the pictures is the monkeys trying thier hardest to reach for my Nature´s Valley Granola. Lol.

 

The Natural History Museum has a monkey that looks like its going to jump out the glass and eat you...

 

 We are learning the names of animals in my Spanish class, so my teacher decided to take me to the natural history museum. So far I have been disappointed by the museums in Cusco (its a small city and museums reflect that), but still managed to scrape up some excitement for the class trip. Like when you are a child, any chance not to be in class not learning more verb forms will make you happy no matter the excuse. The inner child still lives in all of us. Unless you are one of those go hard nerds, and we don´t like them anyways.

 

 

So, we go to the Museum of Natural History which literally can fit into the reception area of the Museum of Natural History in NYC and is located in a section of the Law School here in Cusco. Now, its no where as good as the museum in NYC but did have its hightlights. The dead stuffed amimals (taxidermy) were quite ugly to the point of distraction. It looked like it was going to attack you. I don´t know what the person who was making it was going thru- the animal didn´t do nothing to them. Then they had the remains of baby animals perserved in jars with some kind of mummy liquid which included a lamb with 8 legs and a deer with two heads. No, I am not lying. See photos.

 

Later on I was told that I am spoiled becuase I am used to going to grand museums. Well, my response is that if their is one thing to be boogie about it should be museums.

 

 

E

Birthday in Peru...

 

I decided that didn´t want to spend my birthday with random people who don´t really know me. I went to a spa and did the massage, mani, pedi thing. I woke up in a good mood, feeling blessed to be alive. Had a big breakfast with the Peru fam (I showed them how to make scrambled eggs and now they love me thou are also accusing me of making them fat). Then went off the be pampered.  

 

 

So I go to the spa to get my first ever massage. Ms Massues ask me to strip but leave on the undies. So here I am naked under a towel on my tummy. And then she pull down my undies a little lower and internally was like WHOA. But then decided to stop being stupid and let the woman do her job. She starts rubbing my head (which was a-ma-zing). I had to tell myself don´t drool don´t drool don´t drool. She worked out the midgets hanging around in my shoulders (which was a-ma-zing) and then I was like don´t fart don´t fart don´t fart. She started massage my arms and I was like don´t laugh don´t laugh don´t laugh (did not succeed - some of you know how ticklish I am). And then she was massage my lower back and a little bit the top of my butt and I was like don´t go near the crack don´t go near the crack don´t go near the crack. I will not be able to handle it. I´ll just have to get up and leave.

 

 

So my point is that I was spending so much time thinking that I did not fully relax. Thou the massage was very good and worked out some kinks in places i didn´t know I had (But when she got to my foot I almost kicked her in her face. You cant just touch a ticklish persons feet without warning.) Next time I will try to be in a better frame of mind and let go more. Thou my brother told me later on that if I didn´t drool then it wasn´t good enough.

 

 

After, I went to my Peru home and the family had a chocolate mocha cake for me. So sweet. They have such warmth and if I counldn´t have my family they are the next best thing. Mama Edith (house mother) has been nothing but warm and welcoming, making my Peru experience better.

 

 

But I am not going to lie. As the day went on I got really sad. I just missed my family and friends. I missed being around people who really know me, where no explainations or backstory is needed. But as soon as I called the fam my spirits were lifted. Just to hear their voices made me happy. Also, my friend sent me a picture of my fat child and that also made me happy (its so sad - I think I miss my cat more then some people :/... don´t judge me).  

 

 

That being said i am glad to have another year ahead of me. I don´t feel like I´m getting old at all. In fact, it´s the opposite. I have been so responsible these past few years, so grown up. Now I am getting to a stable place in my life where I can actually make decisions that make me happy. That´s a blessing. If you happy about the way you live your life and the decisions you make in your life then your age shouldn´t be a problem, becuase it is a reflection of your path. So far, I´m liking my journey.

 

 

So dueces and heres to being 25 and sexy with my strut.

 

 

E

Machu Picchu Pictures

So a mountain high of this foolishness. Below is a picture of the entire walk from a birdseye view.

This is when I realized that I needed to keep on going.

The famous Machu Picchu.

Facing fears.

Voyage to Machu Picchu - Touching the Mist (Machu Picchu Day 2)

(Thats MP in the background - thats me with sweat and mist)

 

 

So I am in Machu Picchu with a whole bunch a hikers/backpackers. We wake up at the very early and ridiculous time of 3:30 am to be out the hostel by 4:00 am for the hour and half walk to Machu Picchu. You have to be one of the first 400 people to be able to actually climb Machu Picchi itself. As a result, people get there at the ass crack of dawn in order to get thier necessary stamp.

 

 

When I tell you that I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

 

 

So we walking, and its raining, and its dark - which is fine. Someone in the backbackers group let me borrow a rain poncho when it was clear that I was not ready for this adventure. I am following the people who got flashlights attached to thier forheads for the little light it provides. With my glasses foggin up I need as much help as possible. But again - its fine. I´m not complaining. Gotta thug it out with the backpackers.Then the mountain part of the walk starts. I was like what is this incline. Nobody warned me. And then when it kept going I realized that we were going all the way up. A mountain. Sigh. Ok. Gotta thug it out.

 

 

Now I am a little overweight, which I can deal with. I can suck it up. But currently I am also sick with some kind of flu stomach thing going around at my spanish school and on these 30 cent antibiotics that you can get with no prescription but is stronger then you would get in the US. If I had to be completly honest I would say that the details that follow have 25% to do with my weight and 75% to do with my being sick. And it goes as such.

 

 

It took me for-ev-er to get up the mountain. I damn near passed out twice and had three/four 10 minute coughing sessions. No lie. It was so bad that when the old lady passed me I didn't even care. I thought someone was going to have to scrap me off the side of the mountain becuase I was going to pass out and fall to my death. That and my new found fear of heights - clutching to every rock convinced I was going to slip and die to the point of irrationality. My only wish was that I didn't pass out. It could take hours and I did not care. But how embarrassing would it be to be the the fool who passed out on the mountain.

 

 

Now I may be voluptuous (wink), sick, and afraid of heights but I am not lacking in spunk or heart.I knew I was going to somehow make it up. But there was a point where my confidence was waning. I was sitting for one of my many rest or coughing session (can´t remember which) and I looked up. And I realized that I was with the cloads. I thought I was walking through mist. But I was with the cloads. How amazing is that? How many people get to see that?  I am so high up already. I gotta go the rest of the way. So I pray to God for some strength and kept it moving. Not concerned about what others will think or how long it would take me. I judge myself by my own standards. And this girl, who never thought she would see a mountain other then driving by one in a car, climbed one.  I reached for the sky and touched the mist of the cloads. And that's amazing.

 

 

O and so was Machu Picchu. (lol - thou I certainly was not one of the first 400 people but I also did not care - I climbed enough mountains for a day and proved what I needed to to myself).

 

 

E

 

 

I really don´t like drunk people or white privilege... (Machu Picchu Day 1)

 

I finallly went to Machu Picchu, which is Peru's most famous site. Pictures of it inspired me to travel. I was like I need to see things like this in my life. There is a whole world out there filled with amazing experiences that I need to be a part of it. Can't be one of those people who don't know nothing thats not on the block they grew up on. Then I end up going to Peru so knew I had to make the voyage. My trip started Monday with a two hour bus ride and then two hour train ride to Aguas Calientes (the city where Machu Picchu is located). There was no one to pick me up from the station so I had to make my own way to the hostel. When I get to the hostel there is no one at reception so I eventually decide after a 10 minute wait that I was going to go throu the building until I find some kind of staff to give me some kind of room key. This is when I come to find my frineds that I am supposed to meet up with and the very drunk guide who didn´t met me at the train station. The night continued to be frustrating and tiring, but I will only give you the highlights.

 

 

The very drunk guide had no idea who I was or that I was supposed to join the group. He kept on saying that he had my entrace ticket to Macchu Picchu, then said he did not, then reintroduced himself to me like he had never met me. This happened about seven times. Thou this did not stop him from looking at my thighs.  Now I had already paid for my $45 entrance to Machu Picchu and was ready to cuss him out in English and the little Spanish I know. But I have a strict policy of not arguing with drunk people. Its like if you argue with a child. What do I look like arguing with someone I know don´t got no sense. He had to be escorted to the ticket booth and fronted the money to buy my ticket becuase he still did not remember that I was a part of the group.

 

 

While all this was happening, the group went out for dinner where I was sitting next to a white male who was very pro-american (and also drunk thou not inebriated). I heard him debating with some other hikers in the group and was saying some ignorant things that I strongly disagreed with. But with the same reasoning as the drunk guide, I was not trying to have a debate with someone who blindly argued and didn´t have much sense of how other people lived in America. I knew that reasoning would not mean anything becuase his point in talking was to exercise his privilege as a white man.

 

 

Then he said that Puerto Rico was an example on how the US spread American democracy. 

 

 

Sigh. (I still didn't argue with him but did give him a dry "No it's not. And it's bankrupt becuase of 'US democracy'." With a so shut up face.)

 

 

He also said that JFK was such a good president becuase as a rich white man he could represents the views of everyone, including me a Puerto Rican woman. And that as a woman I should be happy to be in America and receive the type of education I do.

 

 

Sigh. Telling myself not to argue with this fool. (Thou I did give him some brief comments it was no where near what he desearved.)

 

 

I´m an innercity kid. The American education system doesn´t mean shit to me. And stop as a white man telling me what is good for me. It is your privilege to sit there and think it's ok to tell me what is best. It is your privilege to even think so ignorantly becuase you have not been exposed to the way others live with any kind of understanding. And it is your privilege to walk away from this discussion and think it was a debate while I walk away wondering why I didn´t debate better in your language to make you understand the depth of your privilege and ignorance. And it is a result of your privilege that carry the weight of that burden.

 

 

But I did not tell him (all of) this.

 

 

And I am stuck between a rock and a hard place becuase I want to give him the full weight of my conviction but I do not want to engage with anyone who I can see will be a waste of my time and energy and the result will be me looking like the angry Puerto Rican woman. And I would be the angry Puerto Rican woman. I know my anger is pride, and I have come to a place where I don´t need to always school white people becuase they come from a place where my anger irrational. Again, its like arguing with a child. And what do I look like. I don't need to prove anything. But that does not change the fact that I walked away from this "debate" with an additional burden and feeling insuffcient in my ability and decision. 

 

 

On the other hand, this internal struggle is a reflection of my path. Thou I could have easily cussed him out, or less easliy debated with him, I am at a different place in my life then I was in college. (Some of you might remember the raging crazy person who gave political cuss outs on a regular basis). But I decided two years ago that I need to learn how to be quiet and not feel the need to expend my energy of things that don´t matter.  I have not come to a place yet where I have learned to balance out these two sides of myself. But I have gotten better. What I do know is that my life, time, and words are valuable and I should share then with people who I care for. If its not coming from a place of love then I don´t want it.

 

 

E

Rainbows in Cusco

I can only look at so many clay pots...

As a part of my 10 day tourist ticket I have been trying to hit up all the museums that are included for free. Now, I love museums. Really. Visit them on a regular basis. That being said, there are only so many broken clay pots from the Inkas and paintings of baby Jesus or the Last Supper I can do. Even the museums of contemporary and popular art are mostly religious, influenced by Spanish colonization.

 

 

What is very interesting is the art of the people of Peru/Cusco and in both the paintings and especially the clay. Also, some of the medical procedures the Inkas used to do are really interesting (of course there is only one wall for this while 20 rooms for the clay pots). The Inkas used to purposefully deform the heads of babies/children in order to establish class and race (see picture - thou as I was looking at the skulls, mummies, and teeth I wondered who would think their dead carcas would be sitting behind glass thousands of years from now). Also, when someone had a head injury thery used to dig holes in the skull with copper and gold instruments, and used coco leaves for anesthetics. Can you imagine? About 65% of people survived. Afterwards they would fill in the hole in your skull with gold plates.

 

 

 

 

Other than that I dont think I will be visiting any more clays pots. I´m an artist. I need color and pretty pictures in my life.

Cuy is for Guinea Pig and Yes I Ate It...

As some of you may know cuy is the speciality dish of Cusco. I was told I had to at least try it when I came (:/). So when everyone was like cuy this and that here I was ready. However, what I was not ready for was to be served the whole thing. Arms...legs...head...claws. The thing is looking you like it's about to pounce. Like really. Like really really. Now I am trying to get it toghther and convince myself that this is part of my Peru experience. I cannot leave the country without eating this fried rat.


So I try it.


Ehhhh...


Hmmm...


Tsssss...


I don't like it.


The thing about the cuy is that it's muscle and not really fat so the little meat that's on it is tough and the skin is thick. I pick at it. Trying not to be a punk. The gingers I was with ate everything licking the grease off the lips. They also ate something that they thought was either the kidneys or the lungs. I was like maybe it's the balls - you really gonna eat that? (I know - I try to control the ghettoness while in cusco but damn - those could have been cojones - I'm just saying).

Me and the Gingers on an Adventure

I finally starting doing all the touristy things that you are supposed to do while in Cusco like visiting the ruins and going to museums. You need to buy a tourist ticket for 130 soles in order to get into any of the tourist sites and you only have 10 days to see all 14 museums and ruins that are included. Saturday is the city tour and Sunday is Tipon.


My partners in crime are the ginger siblings (A ginger is a redhead - which I found out a week ago and have been loving the name ever since - thou apparently there is a National Kick Ginger Day where redheads really do get beat up... wrong but a little funny).


So me and the Gingers go on our adventures to the ruins. The Gingers, besides being redheaded, have some other differences between us. Like being tall. And being hikers. And mountain climbers. Also, thou I did not know it before (because my behind has never been one with nature) I am scared of heights.


So the tall mountain climbing gingers are jumping over ruins and I am looking at these little stone step things like I am going to die. And everytime I am near the edge of anything I am having a private panick attack which I am hiding from the brave gingers. Can't be a punk. Gotta be gangsta with it even on the mountains (lol - this is probably what I was thinking about during the several times I tripped instead of focusing on my walk).The gingers were using camp slag and I had no idea what they were talking about half the time. Then they pulled these rainjackets from out they back pockets (ok that is an exaggeration but I swear that's what it seemed like).


That being said, I am glad I had some Ginger power with me. This trip is about putting myself outside my comfort zone. Being with people who challenge me while patiently waiting while my stubby self is holding on to dear life on rocks they had no problem jumping over was nice(please note that this example is literally and not an exaggeration).  I am sure I slowed them down but they never complained or teased (which I surely would have done). And now I want to learn to rock climb. Even if it's a baby 10 foot rock. Which I am sure I will have another panick attack with and tell myself I gotta be a thug cuz no 10 foot rock is goona get the best of me.  


The randomness - part of our adventure was spinning around with arms wide open singing the hills are alive with the sound of music while in the ruins. A mess. But when surrounded by mountains...

Finally...I Made it to White Jesus...

So after several attempts of trying to get to White Jesus and failing me and the other students decide to stop being cheap and just take a taxi up the mountain. After a ten minute ride (mind you our walk and getting lost and not making was a two hour experience) we get to White Jesus just in time to take pictures for sunset. Like fools we told the taxi driver to leave thinking that we would be there long.


Here is the thing about being on top of a mountain. It's cold. And windy. We lasted about ten minutes. Got over the pictures with sunset thing. Looked around. And wondered how were we gonna get our behinds off this cold hill. We starting walking down the hill hoping for a taxi when the local bus beeped at us. And we surely hopped on even thou they overcharged us. We took the bus like the citizens of Cusco do.


Now when I say bus I mean big van packed with people with your face damn near squished to the window and you cuddling with the person next to you. No lie. So this is our ten minutue ride down the hill. It was a relatively short experience and not as excitig as I thought it would be. Especially after all the walking and hoping put in. But I did get my picture with Cristo Blanco and it was an adventure.

And we dance...

 

I finally went out salsa dancing with some other students last night. I have had two classes and have gotten better, which gave me some (false) confidence- which I should have checked at the door becuse I know I am not a good coordinated dancer. So we go, and the music is playing. And here comes the instructor from Cuba. Trying to teach us how to dance. And failing. I have never met a worse instructor. It is not that he is a bad dancer. He was so rough. Threw you around. Put you over there without warning. And I do not mean this in a sexy way. He would show you a complicated step once and look at you like you were stupid for not getting it the first time. The worst. He must be awful in bed.

 

 

Nevertheless, after the 5 minutes he spent on me he gave up saying that I had no sense of time and passed me off to his friend to show me. Which was a much better experience. This was not before he told me that I needed to be more sexy and move my hips. Then proceded to demonstrate in a crude manner.

 

 

(Insert a c´mon son face here - for those of you who do not know what this means - I looked at him like he was a damn fool and insulting my intelligence).

 

 

Now, my rhythm may be off but I have no problems moving my somewhat large hips or being sexy. How about you worry about the fact that I don´t got the steps right, Mr. Instructor Man, and don´t come no where near my sexy, thank you very much.

 

 

Anyways, I danced with the friend and it was a much better experience. I actually got to dance by someone who could lead. Which means I can pretend I know what I am doing even thou my timing was a little off at first (well a lot at first), and I messed up the steps during the spins. And when I got off the dance floor I was told by the other students how sexy I looked out there. 

 

 

BOO - YAAA MR. INSTRUCTOR MAN!! 

 

 

E

Taking it to Church...

I woke up at 6am this morning to be to church by 7am for morning mass. Here in Cusco, the churches attract a lot of tourist and the only way you can get in for free is if you go to mass. Also, pictures are never allowed. Needless to say, the churches here are beautiful. Truely. And grand. I know I am PMSing becuase it brought tears to my eyes. I really did feel like I was in a holy and spiritual place.


Being here in the school, and in this tourist spot in general, I forget how special it is that I am here. People here are traveling South America for a year or two years and talk about it like it is nothing. Like its normal. Its not. I was happy to be reminded that this trip is special and I worked hard and made sacrifices to get my behind South of the equator. So I prayed in the church. And in my prayer I asked for nothing, just gave thanks.


E

On the Quest for White Jesus ... and getting lost...

From the center city of Cusco you can always look up to see Cristo Blanco (White Christ) from the top of a near distant mountain. The name is not very creative - it's an all white Jesus perched up on a hill with arms wide open looking to the heavens above.


Another student and I decide we are going to walk to see White Jesus (please note I am the only one who refers to the statue as such - the other student kindly refers to it by it's proper name). We did invite another student who had actully already made the quest and knew the way but he got food poisoning from the Indian food we ate the night before. I was smart enough to take pepto the night before and was feeling better. (And I know - who goes to an Indian restaurant while in Peru? But the food was banging...) Thou I  did feel bad for this fellow student´s sickness I did take note that there was a very specific reason he was invited. He knew the damn way. Nevertheless - he said it was just straight up this one street and we marched up with adventure in our spirits.


And got lost.


Sidenote - I definitely have a blister and not frost bite. So I had a little baby limp.


Now, please note that almost all these tourists I am with are hikers and backpakers and cook on a stove they carry in thier bag for food they got from who knows where. Then you have my short stubby self in the hilly mountain terrain. Breathing all hard. Trying to act like I'm not breathing all hard. Next to the backbackers (well maybe a couple steps behind). Having to take pictures of the terrain to catch my damn breathe.


So this is the setting of the adventure as we walk uphill to White Jesus. It starts to rain so we take cover in front of someones house. Which of course I'm fine with becuase it allows short stubby self to rest. We take pictures as we wait.


And then we walk.


Past the entrance of the ruins.


And walk.


And walk.


Taxis wizzing by honking at us to see if we want a ride.


Cuz they're like what are these two idiots doing walking up this hill.


Take a picture to document our lostness.


And eventually make it to the other side of the ruins and ask where is White Jesus.


Backs toward the other side of the ruins we originally past.


So we march back down hill. And what do we see looking down at us from the original entrance we past but White Jesus. Who is conveniently blocked by trees on the view uphill but not downhill. So we ask the entrance guy- how do we get to Cristo Blanco? He tells us to see him (White Jesus) is free but not the ruins where he is located so if you want to pay the entrace fee you can. Or take a taxi. Or walked back down the hill to find some dangerous and steep and probalbly rotting stairs. Those are free.


(blank face)


Hmmmmm...


We'll come next week when we get it as a part of our city tour.


Took pictures to document our defeat.


And walked back down.

This is as close as we got.


E

So I might have frost bite in my left pinkie toe...

Or it might be a blister. I'm just saying - it's cold and I am convinced that either is plausible. You might think I am bring dramatic but when you are up in the middle of the night shivering from the mountain cold and there is a pain in your left pinkie toe you start to thinking. What is that? Well I don't know because I have not seen my feet in two weeks because they are always in my socks. True- but at least my pedicure is staying. Wait. Doesn't frost bite start at your fingers and toes. With pain ... And then you never feel anything again! What if I have frost bite? Damn yo. Good thing I got that travel insurance.


So this is how the conversation with self goes. You can convince yourself of anything in such circumstances- when the spirit is worn down. And as much as I try to control my American priviledge- in the cold... In the middle of the night ... I can't help but wonder ... What kind of damn city with any kind of modern anything don't got no damn heat in 40 degree weather and this is the warm season this is some ole b#%*$@!


E

There are many black people in Nueva York, si?

 

This is the question from a man named Sante from Cusco.Yes... And the next question is there still racism in the US. And yes... Por que? So I then had to try to explain in simple English the complicated social system of racism in the United States using my experience with prisons (which of course I do not know any vocabulary for). Interestingly enough, he then explained that becuase he is Indian he is not allowed in the clubs for turoist (discrimination), that the police always stop him for stealing (racial profiling) and that Cusco is becoming more expensive and pushing natives from Cusco out the city (gentrification). So really, he knew what I was talking about but becuase there is a view of such privilege in the US for all he did not think that blacks (and Latinos) experience racism in this day in age.

 

Sante also explain the history of Cusco and the Incas (well some of it). This included the rainbow flag. When I first arrived to Cusco I was a little confused becuase there were rainbow flags everywhere, which in the US represents gay pride. I doubted that it meant the same thing in this highly Catholic country so asked Sante why Cusco has a rainbow flag. The Incas (and please excuse any information that may be wrong - I am going off memory and Spanish) believed that rainbows were a sign of good luck.  Whenever there was a big decision to be made they waited for the sign of the rainbow to tell them whether it was the right decision. This is because the Incas believed heavily in the Sun (and Moon). When the Spanish came to Latin America that Incas thought that they were good becuase thier hair and eyes were light (like the sun). Well...we all know how that worked out...

I took a picture with a Baby Llama and Danced Salsa

Yesterday after class instead of going to my homestay for my lunch and siesta me and another student decided to go to lunch and walk around. We went to lunch at "Los Perros" (The Dogs) which is a Swiss/Peruvian fusion resturante recommended by one of the teachers. They had some banging hot chocolate but were a little expensive (like 15-25 sols which is only $5-10 but I could get lunch for $3). However, that did not stop me from ordering 2 hot chocolates (7 sols ... $1 = 2.82 sols).

 

 

We walked around Cusco and visited the markets. I saw many presents for people. The only problem is evertything I would get for others I also want for myself :/ thou I refuse to buy anything yet. Well, other then socks becuase it is so cold at night. I have not been warm since I´ve been here - es horrible.

 

 

Anyhoo, while we were walking there was a lady with a baby llama and me and Juanita (the name of the baby llama) took pictures.  We walked around and took pictures of everything thinking that every building was just sooo beautiful. I know people who are from Cusco were looking at us like "look at these assholes." I know becuase living in NYC that is how I felt about all the tourists I saw taking pictures of the randomness like it was life changing. However, that did not deter me from taking pictures of the randomness, including grass growing from out the roof of a building.

 

 

The school offers salsa classes every Thursday which along with spanish I need to know already. I know I am Puerto Rican at heart becuase even though I did not think the salsa teacher was sexy, as soon as he started dancing his points went up and I was like mmmm. As many of you know, I am not a good coordinated dancer so I struggled as soon as we did more then the basic step, which is fine becuase my behind will be there next week. The salsa teacher invited us to the discoteca where he teaches to dance and have a free drink on him. I´m about to participant in the Cusco night life :)  

Sleep and Mac and Cheese ...

 

So I´ve been sleeping a ridiculous amount ... like 11 hours. I take my 2 hour siesta (which anyone who knows me know that I love) and then am in bed by 10pm to wake up at like 630. I feel like an old lady. I am trying to tell myself its the jet lag but I might be lying to myself. We will see. Above my bed (and every bed in the house) is a picture of Jesus himself to look down upon me (and protect me while I sleep? or maybe remind me not to do anything sinful? we´ll see how that works out). Peru is a very catholic country. So far I have not russelled any feathers thou it could be because I don´t know enough spanish.

 

 

So I finally was able to call my mother yesterday but only after Senora Leticia went on a mission to find the correct calling card (I bought the wrong one which took me 3 days to purchase in the first place becuase I got lost). We went to like 5 stores and that old lady walked like it was her duty. Made me feel like my young self needed to get it toghther. But I did get to talk to my mom who "only wanted to hear my voice to make sure I was okay and tell Senora muchas gracias." I love my mom and can´t wait til thanksgiving turkey.

 

 

So I mention thanksgiving in my class today to my teacher and she asks me what do we eat for this holiday (where do I start?). So I mention turkey, green beans, stuffing, and mac and cheese... "mac and cheeeese que eso?" Don´t know mac and cheese? Its like the best thing in the world. So I proceed to explain mac and cheese and how to make it (since appartently it does not exist in Peru .. they are missing out... actually I could start a resturante y make mad dinero). "Que rico." Yes it is. So I need to make some mac and cheese before I leave. I also tried to explain breaded chicken and think I got her to understand what are bread crumbs thou needed to google a picture of it. Sigh...smh...

 

 

Oh, and I surely got my chocolate yesterday... thou it wasn´t that good but thats besides the point.

So me and my ipod had a dance party...

 

It is so cold. Last night I broke down and busted out the ipod. I shook my tail feather until I warmed up. I read later in my book that this is what Josephine Baker did when she was a teenager living in the slums to keep warm, thou I doubt I will have a successful career as a dancer. Que frio!! is the one spanish phase I do know. I´m waiting to say que calor! But it does not seem to be happening anytime soon. I actually don´t know why I get drerssed in the morning since the only thing people see is my hoodie or jacket (buildings are not heated). Feel like my attempt to be color coordinated in the morning does not matter.

 

 

My homestay mama (Senora Leticia) is a retired teacher. She makes sure I am drinking mate de coca always and soup (no mas porque me sickness). She always waits for me to finish eating to clean up. I actually feel bad but don´t know how to say its okay if you don´t stay without being rude. I also thinks that it is one of the ways she takes pride in her home. Though our conversations are helping practice my spanish so thats good.  I was scared that she was gonna walk in my room during my personal dance hall party (at this point I was in my underwear) and see this crazy American in her undies dubbing it out (well not really dubbing but you get the point). But then I came out and she wasn´t even there. Went to the store by myself to purchase water and had a little language problem with how much things cost but it was ok. I was also just looking for a good chocolate bar -Dove maybe? (listen don´t judge cravings don´t go away just becuase you in a different country). But that didn´t work out :( - but my next goal is to go to the supermarket and find some there. (don´t mess with a woman and her chocolate)

 

 

E

Asprin and Pepto are My New Friends...

 

So I have been here for a day and have already seen three llamas and went to the markets. They have like $1 earings - I was like I need to get out of here before I spend all my money. Definitely had meat sitting out all day crusting on the corners but whatever. The altitude here is higher and I have been having the worst headache (not to mention making me feel fatter then I really am cuz I´m heaving up every hill I walk). I tried to thug it out but last night felt like my head was gonna explode so gave in this morning. My homestay mother gave me a water to take the pill (and my head was so bad I forgot not to drink the water) so like in five minutes my stomach started doing thangs ... which is when I got the pepto. The first thing I purchased when I left the house was bottled water.

 

 

It is hot here during the day (thou people still wear sweaters and I´m like will they look at me crazy if I put on a tank top) and super cold at night. I slept with like 5 blankets - three of them heavy and was still cold. My homestay mother refused to let me take a shower last night (which I sorely needed after an 18 hour flight and being at my school for a city tour all day) becuase I might get sick. Which is probably is smart since most homes in Cusco don´t have heat and I would have woke up with a cold on top of a headache and stomachace. Though I´m sure they just would have given me mate de coca (coca tea) which no matter the ailment seems to be able to cure it in Peru.

 

 

Well ... I´m about to buy more bottled water.

 

 

E

Son... the flan on the plane was banging

So I get on the plane to go to Lima after a six hour layover in Miama and I felt the ghetto Rochester girl coming out. Wided eyed and mouth open. I was like "this is a plane like in the movies! Yeah boi." Then I was like get it toghther. Sat in my comfy chair with my little tv in front of me and remote control next to me and snuggled in my airline provided fleece blanket and pillow and pretended I was in first class (of course they were drinking tea and champagne when I first walked in but I didn´t remember that at the time). Took a good nap and woke up hungry and was like damn I ain´t got no food. Then here come the stewartess (flight attendant) with some chicken teriyaki. I was like "yeah boi."  Did not even care that it was 2am.  I was gonna eat the salad but decided against it - I didn´t know if the cant eat uncooked vegetables anymore while in Peru applied on the plane and wasn´t going to even test it (I may be a boogie American but I don´t was the bubble guts my first day in). But son ... the caramel flan on the plane was banging. ´

On the flight to Cuzco to Lima it was nothing but mountain tops. Just beautiful. And you know my tourist ass was taking mad - yes i said mad - pictures from the airplane window.

E