first week!

hello all!
I don't get very much internet access so these posts will probably be pretty short. But I wanted to give you all a quick update on my past few days:
Training consists of class from 8-5 pm (4 hours each day is only language class) every day except for Sundays, we got those off!  I live with a host family and I like them so that's a relief, whew! I have to catch a bus with the others in the morning around 730issh to get there in time.  I live in a really small dirt town surrounded by mountains called chacrasana with a granmother who is 88, a mother who is 35, and two little children named henry (2) and noeilla (4).  I think they used to be scared of me because henry cried every time i came near him..however, we bonded over a pile of nuts sitting in a circle on the floor. Now he likes me. hoora. so does the girl.  I taught them a hide-and-seek type of game that they wanna plan all the time. I have pictures of them too that I will post once I buy a card reader! they also like to attack me in every way possible--with lots of hugs,  kisses, punches, etc; and I'm pretty sure Henry thinks I'm a living jungle gym.

Anyways, most of the houses are literally stuck side by side. Us peace corps volunteers carry rocks with us whenever we go outside bc we were told they can bite, haha. Some have only cold water and some only have latrines, but I got lucky. I have hot water AND indoor plumbing without internet. its even got two floors. but the water is really really hot. they don't have warm water. So I'm learning to take 2 minute showers. 

I have 9 more weeks after this one till I get my site destination and a new family, but now im liking my new family! oh, and the food is pretty good here. My host mother likes to feed me  A LOT and give me lots and lots of chocolate! I think she wants me to become 'gordita,' thats the name here for really big or 'plump.' in peruvian culture its a compliment if you're gorda.

the days are very unpredictable as well.  After training, I usually just hang out with my family and play with the kids. But sometimes I do random things and have no idea what is going on. For example, my host family wanted me to go to a party with them so we drove awhile to somebody's uncle's house and drank sangria and met the whole extended family. it was crazy busy but fun!


Okay thats all for now, hope you all are doing well, thanks so much for all your support and prayers and being interested in my life! 

My First Day!

So, today was my first day as a peace corps trainee!!  So far I've learned to not procrastinate and pack everything last minute for next time (I got two hours of sleep bc I decided to pack a night and day before leaving), AND that these trainees are really really nice!  My roommate (we got assigned roommates) and I  were talking about how so many of these people are just genuinely really sweet. There were 56 of us today, and I met each one.

here's what I did:
*flew into Arlington around 10:30 and bumped into 4 other peace corps volunteers (you could tell us apart with our business attire while wearing hiking backpacks;I guess the two dont usually go hand-in-hand). We pretty much became friends immediately and rode over to Holiday Inn together in a huge taxi shuttle to fit everything in
*orientation from 12-6
*Went out with a bunch of peace corps people to dinner and hung out a little.

and yes, ive already taken pictures, but I just discovered about 5 seconds ago I can't upload anything at the moment. My card reader is too small to fit my notebook, so once I figure how to do this, pics will come!!

Tomorrow we head out at 6:00 am for an 8 hour flight to Lima, Peru with a lay over for about 2 hours in Miami. AHHH IM GOING TO PERU TOMORROW!!!!!!!! thats excitement right there, not nervousness. I probably should be a littler nervous, but I'm not at the moment. Maybe it'll hit me when I'm actually on the plane. I'm going to be in Lima until saturday, and then I meet my host family and move in with them for the next 3ish months. I hope I get a really good one! I'l find out soon!

Well, the next time youll hear from me will be when im IN PERU!!