So we apologize that we have not posted in quite some time. Our routine has been basically the same. We sleep in, go to the orphanage where we either help the lupes get ready for lunch and feed them or just play with the older children, then we take a break for lunch and sometimes go to the city, if we have errands to run we do that and then depending on what time it is we either go back to the orphanage or to our room to read. It has been so awesome to hang out with all the kids, but the lupes have particularly touched my heart. They consist of Ruth Karina, Yacner, Diego, Nilda, Maria Jesus, Maria Antoinietta, and Ebberson. They all have varrying levels of functioning but for the most part need assistance eating and walking. I´ve also gotten more familiar with the senoritas in this room so I can understand some of the things they ask us to do (in Spanish) now as part of the routine. The things I dont understand, Brandon of course translates. I think he will probably get tired of doing that pretty soon :)
Anyways, on New Years eve we decided to get a hotel in the city center. It was a little bit nicer than the hostel we stay in near the orphanage. We even had hot water! After checking into our hotel and getting ready we started the evening off with pizza at Magia Negra that was really good, although it took over an hour to bring out! We then went back to the hotel and changed before heading to El Gorrioncito, a bar that is owned by the orphanage where some other volunteers were haning out and where Brandon went with friends on his past trips here. We hung out there for a while and left about 11 to wander around the city and find out what people actually do when it hits midnight. To our pleasant surprise, we found some of the senoritas from the orphanage in the center. We went with them to get fireworks and spent a while shooting them off once it hit midnght. We then followed them to another club where we danced a little while. Well when I say WE danced I mean Brandon danced with the senoritas while I tried to figure out what was going on! It was alot of fun and we were really glad we had been able to find the senoritas to bring in the new year with them the Peruvian way. After we danced a while (and the senioritas teased my American lack of rhythm) we decided to head back to the hotel because we were exhausted. New Years day we did some errands in the city most of the day and went back to our hostel near the orphanage and rested/read. Overall, it was a great New Year´s eve and day!
We have been talking alot about 2010 and about the things we want to do differently in 2011. We are optimistic that it will be a GREAT year and we are so blessed to have alot to look forward to. We are thankful for each of you and look forward to a wonderful 2011!
Peace,
Brandon and Rachel
