Realisation

With the realisation of only having 5 weeks left of working here I have been thinking about all of the things that I am going to miss from Peru.

- speaking Spanish: I´m not particularly looking forward to being back where everyone speaks English and pretty much no-one speaks Spanish. Just the fact that my Spanish has improved so much this year and the thought of not speaking it every day is quite sad. I´m trying to persuade the tutors here to get skype so we can talk and I can keep practicing.

- teaching my cheeky little Sonrisa boys pointless things like making a duck noise with a piece of grass, pretending to cut off half their thumb, trying and failing to whistle with their fingers, getting a good towel whipping motion, etc. Then seeing their faces when they manage to achieve it.

- watching Andrew, Alex and Jhover's faces in church as they sing along to the songs. Never before have I seen such effort. I´m talking red faces, furrowed brows and bulging veins in the neck.

- watching Doris (hermana from San Antonio) and Eliza (hermana from Niño Jesús) in church. Never before have I seen such bad co-ordination. It´s bloody hilarious.

- the bus system: Having men dangling out of the door/window of a bus shouting out where it´s going and trying to persuade you to get on. Being able to get on wherever you are in the street and having the guy come to collect money off you once you´re sat down. I have a feeling when I get back I´ll be trying to wave down buses in the street and just go sit down and forget to pay the driver.

- taxis: as dangerous as some of them can be, it's great just walking down a street and being able to flag one down. Having to pre-call a taxi sounds ridiculous right now.

- milk: It comes in a bag and doesn´t need to be refrigerated. Amazing.

- how friendly everyone is: Probably down to the fact that we´re gringas (white foreign girls) so everybody wants to practice their limited English on us, but still.

- that a weekend trip can be a 9 hour bus journey somewhere: It only costs around 15 pounds and you can just hop on most buses without pre-planning.

- food and drink: specifically- pisco, maracuya juice (passion fruit juice, so not the same in England), piscinas (giant blue fish bowls with vodka, rum, gin, pisco and a couple of non alcoholic drinks. Sounds nasty but tastes good), pollo a la brasa (basically chicken and chips but you don't get it like this in the UK), ceviche (raw fish marinated in lime and chilli with onions and sweet potato. I didn't like it at first but i've grown to like it).

- surprisingly, the religion: It has been a struggle this year but now that we´re finally settled into the routine of praying before and after every meal, going to church every day and doing God knows (lol) how many Padre Nuestros (Our Fathers) and Hail Marys, I have a feeling I´m going to miss it. Especially seeing nuns and monks wandering around. Nun punch wont be half as fun to play at home.

- general cheapness: The fact that a taxi to Miraflores (40 minutes away) costs about 3 pounds, whereas a taxi from my House to Huddersfield (5 minutes drive) costs 4 pounds. That a kilo of mandarins costs 50p, avocados cost 25p and ciabatta bread costs 5p.

- my night time walks: The only alone time I can really have here. As long as I go out after curfew at 9pm, Ciudad is all mine to wander.

- mototaxis: These little death contraptions definately need to be brought into the UK. Basically a motorbike with a little hut over it which can take up to 3 people (4 if you lie across everyone). So cheap and can weave in and out of cars and down little back streets.

- meeting people: I´ve met some amazing people from all over the world being here. America, Australia, Ireland, France, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, etc. Most people are either travelling or working abroad so there are so many interesting stories to hear.

- small moments with the boys: just when you're watching a film with a boy on your knee and they cling onto your arm, or when they run from one end of the street to the other just to give you a hug, or making sure they get their kiss before bed. Little things like that really make my day.

It's really starting to sink in now how little time I have left here and how different it's going to be when I get home. I feel like I'm sort of ready to finish working at Ciudad (although I probably wont be thinking the same in my last week when I have to start saying my goodbyes) as we have worked so hard here and I really feel like we need a good break and a long rest. Even starting work at 8am when I get home and finishing at 5pm would count as a long rest for me. Just not getting up at 5.15am and finishing at 8pm anymore would be amazing.

But over all as much as I want to see everyone at home and experience British life again, I still don't feel ready to leave Peru. I feel like this is my second country, my second home and I have a very large extended family here. I'm trying to keep my mind off leaving for now and juse enjoy the rest of my days here and the people that I'm spending them with, then think about travelling in Bolivia after. At least we've got that to look forward to so it's a step-by-step process. First is to leave the kids and the people but not South America, then 3 weeks later leave South America. Honestly, I'm shitting myself about leaving knowing that I'm most likely not going to see any of the people again that I've spent my whole year with. I'm definately going to keep a list of my boys names then in 10 years time stalk them all on facebook to see who's about and what they've turned out like. If I remember anyway.

Mucho amor,
Eviecita