Mi Familia Acqui

So, I´ve noticed I haven´t mentioned my family here really. The good people. My brother Marcelo speaks English and French. So I can talk to him when I don´t how to say something in Spanish and he helps me with my French homework. My sister Mili is funny. She´s twelve. My mom, Yudy, she´s crazy. She is always telling me, ¨if you don´t like something, you can tell me with confidence.¨ But then when I tell her I don´t like something she tells me to eat it anyways. She´s nice, though, a little overprotective. Yeah. Then I have about a thousand aunts (it´s impossible to tell how many, because they consider all adults who are in some way related aunts or uncles), one of which lives with us. Along with my mom´s brother, who is acting as my host father, because my real host father works in Washington. Then I have 5 cousins who live with us. They fun, and they make sure I´ve got something to do. Which is good, because sometimes it can be really boring in this house. Yeah it´s good.

In the picture are my uncle/father, his wife, and my host mom.


Learn Spanish: Quimica (kee mee cah) (Chemistry)
Learn Quechua: Llika (yee kah) (Web)

Ready for a laugh? Watch The Karate Kid in Spanish

It´s starting to sink in that this isn´t some Indiana Jones adventure, this is life. And sometimes it´s gonna be boring. But it usually is busy. I´m having fun still, but there is still a lot of time to sit and think. I´m going to Machu Picchu and Cusco in October. Also, Rotary has a way of making things in even the poor countries expensive. I´ve finally stopped watching CNN in English and switched to CNN en español. I don´t understand everything, but I understand a lot. Yeah.


Learn Spanish: Teclado (teh clah doh) (Keyboard)
Learn Quechua: Mamontekyke (muh mont ah kie kee) (Where are you from?)

Take Two of These and Call Me in the Morning

So yesterday I came home from school early, because I was sick. I took a nap. I woke up in extreme discomfort, told my host mom, she said ¨Vamos al medico¨ which means ¨We´re going to the doctor,¨ so we went. He said ¨Necesitas analisis¨ which means ¨You need testing.¨ So we went to a clinic where they needed a stool sample. I have yet to give them one. But I´ve been back 4 times.

On a lighter note, I was interviewed by a newspaper down here.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Estomago (es toh mah goh) (stomach) Learn Quechua: Wixa (wik sah) (stomach)

The World: So Big and Yet So Small

Today I ordered the next two books in the series I´m reading. Unfortunately, I have about 30 pages left in the one I´m on and it will take 6 weeks for the next ones to get here. And here we are living in a world where you can write on a blog and have people in over 150 countries read it, but it takes a month and half to get a book in English.

Today I also got a cell phone here. I think I have free incoming calls, but I really don´t speak Spanish well so I might not. But the number is 51549794438 and I think you have to hit 011 first. I know it´s probably not safe to put my number on the internet. I´ll risk it, for you guys.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Celular (cell oo lar) (Cell Phone)
Learn Quechua: Mamyke (Muh My Kee) (Mother)

12th Day of Chris

Things are going well here, I guess. I´m trying to find a place where I can take Spanish lessons. I´m finally understanding some of my classes (including French), which is nice. The mall here is called Saga Falabella, or as I like to call it, "The Oasis of North American Culture." I went there last night. Man, things are cheap here. Things have started to calm down and adventure is becoming life.


Learn Spanish: Pie (Pee eh) (Foot)
Learn Quechua: Are (Ahr ee) (Yes)

Colca and Friends

This weekend I went to Colca Canyon. For those of you who don´t know where that is, look it up. It´s the second largest canyon in the world. I saw lots of condors, the largest bird in the world. It was awesome. I also bathed in a hotspring. How many people can say they´ve bathed in a natural hotspring in Peru? Not many. I went with all the other Rotary exchange students. The bus ride was the best part. I finally have friends. So it´s less lonely. This trip was good. Except for the food, which gave me food poisoning. NEVER get sick in a Peruvian public restroom.
Learn Spanish: Cuy (Koo' E) (Guinea Pig)
Learn Quechua: Simi (See Mee) (Lips)

I´m here...now what?

So I´ve been in Arequipa for 1 week and 1 day. It´s nice. The mountains are beautiful the house are colorful, and the people are kind. I think I have the largest family ever. I don´t even know everyone´s names yet. And everyday I meet more tios and primos. The city center here is called the Plaza de Armas and it is gorgeous and hundreds of years old. Wednesday I went to a church that was built in the 1500´s. I don´t think I´ve ever been in a building that old.

School is nice. But the kids are insane! They just get up and color on people, throw dirt at eachother, or yell during the lesson. I think we´re better behaved in school, but maybe I just never noticed. I don´t understand anything yet. Well, Math, Chemistry, and English. But French, Geography, History, Language, and Investigation (which I have yet to figure out what it is) I don´t understand a word of.

I´ve been to 2 parties and I´m going to one in a couple of hours. I feel like a new car. My family takes me places to show me off.

Well I´ve got to go. Pictures soon.

Chris