Colca Canyon

Just got back from Colca Canyon this morning. It was an interesting/disappointing trip. We left Thursday night and took a 10 hour bus ride to Arequipa, the second biggest city in Peru. The bus was really nice-it had to be for a 10 hour ride! We arrived in Arequipa the next day and basically spent the day exploring the city. Arequipa had a much more urban feel then Cusco and a more European feel. It was really nice and beautiful. I took my first ride in a Peruvian bus-they are like these little rumbling vans and you hop on and everyone is standing up and they are really crowded. It was very rocky and probably not very safe, but a good experience. On Saturday morning we met up with our tour  group and drove 3 hours to Chivay. Along the way we stopped to look at llamas and snow. We stopped to look at snow! When the tour guide said we were getting out to look at it Heather and I just started laughing. We got to Chivay in the afternoon and basically just spent the afternoon doing nothing. For most of our meals we went to the grocery store and got picnic lunches. We did this because after being here for 3 months, Heather is pretty broke. I didn't really mind because it saved me money too. On Sunday we woke up pretty early and set off for Colca Canyon. The Canyon was beautiful and we got to see the flight of the condors which was pretty cool. We then headed back to Arequipa. The bus ride back was not so good. Heather and I both got sick and I threw up 3 times:( Throwing up and being sick sucks, but it especially sucks when your on a bus for 10 hours.
Overall the trip was definitely an adventure, just not worth $250. We realized we should have really done the Colca Canyon trek(hiking) which we would have enjoyed a lot more. Our house mother helped set up the trip for us and we really should have planned it on our own. We did however meet some interesting people. For instance this little old lady helped us find our way back from to the main plaza in Arequipa. Were pretty sure its a miss-communication, or she might have been crazy, but she told us she has a blue dog with feathers. We would not have found our way back to the plaza without her help, so we are grateful for that. Then there was the energetic waiter that we met for the one dinner we went out for. He basically invited himself to go dancing with us and tried to convince us to order the most expensive meal on the menu. Then there was the Dutch couple from our tour group who bought us drinks and the Canadian guy who we met in a little coffee shop.  It was interesting talking to both of them about their country's and about their experiences in Peru so far. The whole trip made is realize how much we love Cusco.
Today, Heather and I were sick and slept the whole morning. This afternoon we watched some movies and relaxed. Tonight we are having a little dinner for one of our other housemates birthday. We all made food from our countries. It just sucks because Heather and I probably wont be able to eat much since we are still a little sick. We made banana pudding-hopefully the others wont get sick!! I was sad that I had to miss going to the orphanage today-especially since I only have 3 more days with the girls:( Its hard to believe that I only have 4 days left in Peru(and one of them I will be spending most of the time at the airport).These last couple weeks have gone by so fast, and I cant believe Ive been here for almost 4 months.  I feel like there is still so much I want to do in Peru before I leave. I still want to improve my Spanish, and I want to spend more time with the girls at the orphanage. But I know that going home will be bitter sweet- I start preseason right away and I'm excited to see all of my family and friends. I'm also excited for the last three weeks of summer and to start senior year. I will however miss Peru a lot! I really do love it here, and I'm so glad I got to come and have this amazing experience. I decided that I want to backpack through South America doing volunteer work in each place I visit. I want to go to Argentina (Ive been told I look a little Argentinean!!), Chile, Ecuador, and Brazil!
I really want to just enjoy my last few days in Peru, so hopefully I will feel all better tomorrow. I will try to post one more time before I head back to the States!

Great Week- now off to Colca Canyon!

The last couple of days at the orphanage have been great. Especially teaching karate to the girls because they are so excited about it. We have been continuing to practice the basic kicks, blocks, and punches and on Wednesday we did some easy techniques. I showed them choke hold from behind, bear hung from behind, and crossing talon. Some of them have had some karate in the past and even showed me a technique they all ready new. It was for when someone grabs your hair. Besides practicing a lot of karate we have been playing a lot of volleyball and cards. And on Tuesday I brought nail polish and we all spent a while painting our nails. The girls were so funny because they would paint their nails and it would look nice, and then they would take it off because they wanted to paint them again. By this time their nails just looked messy and gross aha. When they were done painting their nails they all sang a thank you song for bringing the nail polish. It was so cute and they have really beautiful voices!! I really feel like I'm connecting great with the girls now and they all seem to really love me. They always want me to practice more karate or volleyball with them. I feel like I'm really making an influence in their lives and giving them a lot of love which they need.

Spanish classes continue to go well. On Tuesday morning Walter and I walked around Cusco for a while and then went to the Chocolate Museum. I learned how chocolate is made and about the different parts of the tree.And I got to try  a few pieces of chocolate along with chocolate tea.
I really like the new girls that are staying with us. They are really nice and a lot of fun!! The other three new volunteers that live in a house nearby are also really nice. They go to Spanish school at the same time as me so we take a taxi together.
Tuesday was a really fun night. Ellen (girl from UK), Jade (from Paris), Heather, Sean (a volunteer who was with abroader view but now is with a different volunteer program-and lives near us), and I went to a restaurant for quiz night. The restaurant was really cool because it was kid themed and a charity. The guy who owns in runs school programs for local kids. The money from the games went to the charity. First we played bingo, and then trivia game. There was trivia from different categories like history, art, sports, music, etc.. Some were really hard and some questions really easy. An example of a hard one is what women holds the world pole vault record. And easier one was what year did the 2nd Iraq War start and who was Brad Pitt's first wife. Anyways it was a really fun night! Wednesday night Ellen and I went to the Plaza de Armas for some shopping and dessert. We then came back towatch a movie which I fell asleep during.
Heather and I are off to Colca Canyon for the weekend. We will be gone for 4 nights, 2 of which are on a 10 hour bus ride. Will update when I get back and tell all about Colca Canyon- the deepest canyon in the world!