Casa Cunco (pt.1)

Part One

WArnInG: photo overload to come!

Today's post is going to be a two part affair because I took over 100 photos! Ah! But it was such an amazing day, like out of a movie. It was our one humanitarian day. We spent the whole day in this little remote village playing with kids, painting, passing out clothes/blankets, and playing soccer. I just feel so...blessed, spoiled, and without words to be in such a place and having the experiences I'm having. I hope you feel how refreshing today was~

Started out driving through the city going yet

higher in elevation from Cusco.

~12,800 elevation= lightheaded and out of breath~

Then, we got out into the fresh air.

Soccer is everywhere here.

Lots of sheep, and for those who really know me...

I get super excited when I see pigs!
Then, our bus broke down and we got to walk to the village.

I was so happy cus I felt more appreciative of

the beautiful scenery. Unbelievably fresh air. The villagers

in Casa Cunco don't have any motor transportation, so everyday

they walk up and down this hill to wherever they need to go.

The school kids walk 2 hrs in the morning to school

in the village down the mountain,

then 3 hours back up home.

And the wildflowers were everywhere.

Grandma & mama, you two would have loved it.

Then by chance/mercy, two cars came by and offered to

drive us and our humanitarian supplies up hill.

It was so hilarious, we all piled up in the back of this

OlD truck with Peruvians who didn't speak english.

Had to sandpaper the walls before we could paint

and...it's messy!

Walking through the village this little girl just came up

and took my hands and started to twirl :)

And then all too soon it was time to walk back.

Goodbye Lima...Hello Cusco

HolA from Peru!

Left Lima this morning...

and landed in Cusco this afternoon.

By far the best landing I've ever experienced.

We took a wide sweeping turn into the valley between

all the mountains. Little adobe roofs everywhere.

First thing we were instructed to do was drink tea.

They have coca leaves that, when put in water,

help with the altitude sickness.

Tasted disgusting and yes, if I were to take a

drug test I would test positive for cocaine. Strange.

Took a walk...

in back cobblestone alleys...

seeing beautiful colors...

to the main plaza.

(could the sky get any bluer?)

This little girl, Alicia, just kept looking

up at me so finally I asked for

a picture. Then she got all shy, naturally.

It could not have been sunnier either~
The architecture is definitely Spanish.

The rain changed how everything looked.
Luckily, we missed the rain shower that came

when we were eating dinner at INKA grill.

(Sweet potato chips with mint dip, then a

local classic of shredded chicken, cream sauce,

nuts, potatoes and rice.)

But just in case that doesn't sound good...don't worry,

they have breaded Alpaca.

This little girl was a character...
..and this couple just looked so 'the part.'

Please just look at her hat.

Overall, it was just an awesome day. Very relaxed. We are all a little sick from the fatigue of travel and then the huge altitude increase so tonight it's pretty chill. Carlie and I have our own room and are just enjoying hot showers, pj's, a little Colbie Caillat, and photos from the day. Oh, but we found we sooo can't sing because then we really don't get enough oxygen in us. haha!

Until next time...I'll just be hangin' out in Peru~

So you know when...

So you know when...

...the alarm clock goes off and it says 3 am

and your first thought is "Really?"

...you're pretty sure you are "that person" who

everyone hates because it's 4:30 am and

you're laughing so loud and everyone

else in the airport looks dead?

...the airline confiscates your apple sauce,

yet lets Carlie through with both a

razor and nail clippers?

...the two boys on either side of you on the

plane, who you just met, both fall asleep

basically on your shoulder because

CLEARLY they partied all night in Vegas?

(That is where we departed from.)

...you land in Newark and realize

"huh, yeah, thought I was flying to

New York today."

Nice attention to details Anne Marie...

...you feel like the stewardess is looking directly at

YOU as she repeats,

"once again, if you are using any

portable electronics, like a cell phone,

you need to turn them off NOW."

But, you feel justified cus you have to send off

one last goodbye text to your boyfriend???

{p.s. miss you}

...you get off the plane and people start talking to you

in Spanish and all that comes out is French

and you realize that that fact alone is going

to make these next 8 days quite interesting?

YeAh...

that was today in a nutshell.

So, Carlie and I landed in Lima about 10:10 pm tonight (Saturday) and literally only had to walk directly across the street to get to our hotel. Pretty humid, and I already have 5 mosquito bites. Excellent. We had the smoothest flights [Vegas to Newark to Lima] and all on time. I was able to have at least 5 minutes of language comfort today when three young French kids boarded right behind me and I decided this random coincidence was just too fun, so we spoke a bit. Checked in and were so excited to see nice clean beds, a hairdryer, and American plugs!

Everyone keeps saying "hola" and "gracias" to me and it's totally throwing me off. But the people here are beautiful; dark hair and wide eyes. Once again, my blonde hair draws much attention, but the skin less so.

Carlie is super anxious to get outside but I'm trying to restrain her, seeing as how it is 11:30 P.M. and there's nothing to see but the airport. So we took a photo by this random leafy thing to pretend we were outside. What? You can tell it's going to be beautiful though once daylight hits because landing we could see all the lights of a city interrupted with hills and mountains.

We'll fly to Cuzco tomorrow and have a little down time to see the town and catch up on sleep.

Love you all. I'll try to remember little details as the day happens. I just count myself so lucky and blessed to be here~

I'm here, I'm safe, I'm tired, and I'm working on a post...

~Updates~

It's been a while. Here are a few highlights of the past few weeks.

I've been put on the R.S. "Formerly Enrichment but now only informally called Enrichment" committee. We had our Celebration of Relief Society with a Garden/Tea Party theme.

I was amazed at all the preparation that is involved. Welcome to service in the church right?!

I was pleasantly surprised at how many

beautiful ladies came :)

Bought myself some new shoes, which dad

has affectionately said look like they

have washers on them.

Don't ask me...some tool or object

that only guys know about!

Hanging out with these ladies!

(my best friends)

Found 7 deer right across the street.

Random.

Triple dates...

And single dates...

with this pretty great guy, Todd.

REMEMBER

I am going to Peru in three days

so stay tuned for

more updates from around the world!

Sunday Walks

Love Sunday Walks...

especially when it is *snowing*

We were like a walking Ugg fashion show!

Kaitlin, Megan, Me, and Brooke.

We get so cooped up on Sundays, we've started

a tradition of Sunday walks.

Rain, snow or sun, we go!

Peru

Surprise!

Friends, Family, and Followers...I'm off on another journey.

Yesterday I accepted an invitation to go to Peru.

Since I returned from Africa,

my friend Carlie and I have been working with

Lynley, the professor that took us to Ghana. We are

writing a research proposal to publish the findings

we gathered from our research while in Ghana.

Yesterday, we were accepted to present at a

medical conference in Cuzco, Peru.

We will be traveling to Lima (capitol of Peru) in 5 weeks

along with many local Utah doctors.

For 5 days, our group will be presenting current

research to Peruvian doctors and medical staff,

as well as personal and public health,

organized response to natural disasters and

other medical related information.

Of course, we will be visiting Mount Machu Picchu,

spending one night camping at its base

then hiking it the next morning.

As for the rest of the time,

since I don't speak spanish, I along with

other non-spanish-speaking team members,

will be filling my week with humanitarian service

and lots of manual labor (uh oh).

I am so excited by this surprise opportunity

and cannot wait to visit a land and people

I never expected to see.

I leave March 20th, so stay tuned and,

as always, I'll keep you posted!

I am volunteering at the Utah State Hospital for the next few months. I am working in the children's unit in the classrooms. Today, I was switched classes because they needed more help in a new room. Before, I was working with kids ages 11-12. Now my little ones are 8 and under. Here are some of my favorite quotes of the day:

~While on the treadmill~

"Wowzers, he's ganna catch me!"

(might I ask who???)

~Another boy on the bicycle~

"Woo Hoo! My motorcycle"

(If I only felt the same enthusiasm)

~And now for my favorite conversation of the day~

Me: How old are you?

Him: Sssssssss.......eight

Me: Eight?

Him: But nine today

Me: Oh, is today your birthday?!

Him: No

Me: Oh, ok.