Thursday afternoon report from Peru
This has been an interesting week, though not in the ways I expected. A lot of waiting around for Mary Isabel -- is this what married life will be like? -- and a lot more time helping her prepare for classes.
Today we spent several hours wandering around the old part of the city taking video of the many historical buildings left over from the rubber boom that caused this city to explode around 1900. It came out pretty good considering I had to "edit" in the camera by being careful what I shot. Since I´ve become used to editing on the computer, it was hard to go back to the old ways of shooting video, but it was good because it made me really concious of every scene.
My sore throat is gone as are the cases of upset stomach which was followed by "Montezuma's Revenge" that hit me on Wednesday. I bought some more medication which didn´t require a doctor, but it apparently has affected my kidneys a little. From doing some research on the internet, it doesn't appear to be anything serious, but I'm going to discontinue use of the medication for now and see if there is a change before heading to the hospital for analysis.
We also visited the school where Mary teaches three days a week and I caused a bit of a commotion amongst the students. A typical Peruvian school runs with a certain amount of military style. The kids march and come to attention at times. Don´t think it´s boot camp because most of the time everything is exactly as in the U.S. My arrival really disrupted things as dozens of kids swarmed around me to ask questions and practice their very limited English while laughing at my poor attempts to speak in their language. (Actually it wasn´t that bad, but they laughed anyway!) While I had a great time there, I don´t think the faculty was amused.
I find the Peruvians here seem to be accepting me a lot more than the usual gringos who visit or even stay in their city. Because Mary Isabel is very well-liked and quite popular, people seem to be much friendlier to me. Gringos are not always truly welcomed to the city thought their money certainly is. I´ve had people help me out in many ways. One man climbed over a wall into the jungle below next to the river to retrieve the lens I dropped. When he climbed back, he wouldn't accept a thing except my thanks. That doesn´t happen in most places.
Another intertesting thing happened yesterday. Apparently our hotel is also occupied by the Costa Rican national soccer team. There was a big game in town and, as the team was preparing to leave the hotel, the girls' school across the street was getting out for the day. As I approached the building, hundreds of people were crowded around the hotel entrance and a mob of pre-teen girls were screaming for the players to come out to see them. It took the police to clear a path to the front door so I could go in while the kids were asking me for autographs and shaking my hand as they thought I was part of the team!
Tonight we must go to our friend Margarita's house to borrow her TV for the video tomorrow. Of course, we´ll have to carry it back on one of the tiny motocarros. Imagine a rickshaw crossed with a motorcycle and you´ll get the picture. I guess that means I have to get up at 6 in the morning and help carry it to the school before class begins at 7.
This is the most parade- and protest-loving society I've ever seen. Every day there are one or two of each. In fact, as I write it appears that a parade of school children is forming outside this internet shop. We watched a huge protest of university students pass at lunch surounded by riot police. The locals say things never get violent, but the riot police are always there because the remember the unrest of previous times.
Better get back to the hotel. Thanks for the words of encouragement, Laurie, but I still am going to be pretty nervous on Saturday. And Meme, I rarely drink anymore, but I did find a place with some expensive Mexican tequila. If I drank the stuff, it would probably kill all the bugs living in me!
I hope everyone is doing well back home. I miss you guys and will be back in the states soon. Thanks for the kind messages. You've done a lot to lessen the homesickness of this Texas boy. Until tomorrow.... chau!
