A Flood....

....not quite. Not here at least, I´m glad to say that here in Arequipa it is very dry and we get even less rain than Yakima, I think. The flood comment was for Colleen (my friend in India who´s blog is linked to mine). She just experienced a flood and it made me think that we are both Rotary exchangers going through the same emotions and experiences with new family and friends and the language, but at the same time how very different life is a half a world away. Que chévere -how cool.

Anyways, yesterday was very uneventful which was ok considering it was the last day of vacations until December for my sisters. We just relaxed around the house. I went to El Inter (the sports complex I talked about earlier) and very much enjoyed a nice long run outside as the sky blackened around the valley and the beautiful surrounding mountains.

Saturday however was quite busy. Marita (my lil sis) took me out to el campo (the country) to check out an old, big house that is supposed to be very cool (she is studying to be an architect and so if she says its cool then it must be pretty neat). The house however was closed due to a marriage ceremony going on but upon arrival we were asked to hop on some horses and take a ride around the place and hear about it. Since we had really no other choice than to go home we were helped onto the back of two horses and took off for the price of ten soles each -a little more than three american dollars. This country is beautiful, the books don´t do justice. There are all the terraces that the ancient Incans built for growing food, everything is green or otherwise very dry but still beautiful. I saw lots of cows, sheep, and people bent over working in the onion/alfalfa fields. The valley is surrounded by cerros (mountains) and is extremely beautiful with houses up on the hills, etc. Dad, I know you would have really appreciated this next sight because there were two aguilas negros (black eagles) flying overhead as we rode on down around the trail. I looked up and had to ask the guide in Spanish because after living with my dad, you can´t just see something that amazing gliding along so peacefully and not know it´s name. I wish I would have taken my camera because pictures would have been much better than words but maybe I´ll get out there again sometime.
After our little horseback adventure we walked into town because of the lack of taxis and Marita showed me the local plaza and we went into a church for a look around. The churches here are all very cool and fun too look in, lots of statues and such. On our way down there we were whistled at from a combi (I think that´s what they are called but they are like mini buses) and from two guys on a motorcyle. No big deal, we just ignored it. It was the first time I have encountered anything of the sort, other than one guy that passed Lucia and I outside of the museum and made kissy noices. I guess it is not uncommon but it will sure take some getting used to (no yelling or obscene gestures on my part, jeje)

Later that night I went with Lucía and some of her friends back to the place where they had the fair for a big concert. It was huge and packed but we easily found where the rest of her friends were at and so it was a lot of fun. The music was amazing, someone from Colombia started things off but everyone got really pumped and started singing and dancing when the salsa came on. There were a couple Salsa bands and then some Reggaton which is a mix of Salsa, Reggae and some other stuff, all very good. I love Latin American music, it just puts you in good mood. The concert was crazy, lots of dancing in the stands, singing, lots of Arequipeña (once again wherever their is music and beer there is dancing). I met some rebounds -old exchangers- two that lived in WA and one that lived in CO. I have still not met any inbounds (the now exchangers) but I guess I have only been here a week.

School starts pretty soon, I think I go today to figure out what I want to study. Not much else is going on. The traffic here is insane - cars just sort of weave in and out and use their horns a lot, there aren´t many stop signs or traffic lights. Lots of stray dogs just wonder around, I´ve seen them on top of a roof, in a church and a restaurant. They eat with their fork in the left hand and a knife in their right, I´m getting used to it know but it was a bit tricky at first. That´s all for now. Love and miss you all, take care!