settling in....

Nothing like waking up to a FREEZING COLD SHOWER, eh??
Good morning world!!!!! It’s my break between class and time for a run-down. =)

Since I arrived on Sunday morning, it feels like all I do is eat and sleep! But using my brain so much to try to understand others and get my point across is incredibly exhausting!

This city is truly something else—extremes next to other extremes.
Extreme dingy, dilapidated buildings amongst extreme works of architecture wonder…
Extreme bustle of taxis and mercados overlooked by extreme solemn monuments on the hillsides…
Extreme pouring sunshine followed by extreme fits of rain…
Extreme poverty paired with extreme color and happiness of the people…
Rollercoaster much?? (I think I fit right in.) ;P

My host family is simply wonderful! (Apparently I’m their first foreign exchange student ever!) Mi madre, Flora, y mi padre, Mario, don’t speak a word of English. But their youngest son, Jorge, can get a few words across. And his laugh is ridiculoso! The older sons and their families are often over for meals. It’s fun to hang out with the kids… I think they get a kick out of me and my broken Spanish. And the little puppy that lives here is SOOO FREAKING CUTE. Although my shoes are pretty torn up at this point… it’s nice to find a common subject to giggle about with everyone. Little Chester (the pup) and food are our biggest bond-ers at this point. (Flora is an amazing cook and I’m already worried about missing her grub when I’m gone!) Not to say that there isn’t good deal of awkwardness between us all… but I’m trying to navigate. A German girl is supposed to be living with us too… but last I heard, she was lost in Spain! Noooo bueno…..

My first day of class was pretty nerve wracking. It was just me and my professor (8 months prego professora!) which is both a good and bad thing. I mean… I’m sure I’ll be learning a lot more than in a large classroom… but sheeeeeeesh! The pressure!!!! I remember now how much I HATE language and language class. BLEH. But the campus (it’s more a little plaza) is adorable. It’s colonial Spanish (I think they said built in the 1600s) and has classrooms, study area, library, a couple of computers, WIFI!!!!!, and a really nice café! However, it’s pretty dead right now. I only saw 4 staff and one other euro-looking student today (maybe not… maybe he was just there for hot cocoa). So I might have trouble meeting friends. But studying is my main objective right now. Plus, I need to call up Ines, my soon-to-be local pal!

In terms of my health, things are great! The altitude (11,600 ft for those of you who don’t already know) has made me a little dizzy… but nothing coca tea, lots of agua, and tons of sleep hasn’t helped! I was all excited to quickly unpack my things on Sunday, and got really confused by my huffing and puffing and strong desire to pass out! But today, I can clear my steps without too much of a rapid pulse. ;) And so far, my notoriously terrible tum tum is fine too (KNOCK ON WOOD). My neighborhood is quiet and a few blocks away from a main road. All in all, I feel pretty safe. Except for this one encounter with the HUGEST SPIDER EVER in my bathroom last night!!!! I’m not talking tarantula status... but it sure looked freaky to meeeeeeeee!

Okay, this has turned into a novel… so I better cut it out!
If you’d like to write to me, oldskool style… my address is:
--> Kelsi Boyle c/o Flora de Polar
--> Jose Gabriel Cosio 413
--> Urbanizacion Magisterial
--> Primera Etapa
--> Cusco, Peru

Telefono in case of emergencies: +51 84-22-4202