Turtles and quakes

Turtles and quakes

From Ruth in Peru:

What a lot I have to tell you all! Just in case I didn't already say, I had a wonderful birthday weekend. I did manage to buy some nice shoes, and the family were pretty "happy" by the time I got back to the house. We were introduced to about a million family members, the kissing took about half an hour and then the dancing began! They really love to dance here, I found myself dancing with a 13 year old cousin with some very impressive moves, the father, the uncle, Jack, another cousin, absolutely everybody. Then came the supper...it was rice, yucca and turtle!!! I couldn't understand why the aunt was smiling so much when she gave me the plate, once I could distinguish the pattern on the shell all became very clear. Well, I was brave and did taste it. I won't say the predictable "it tasted like chicken", rather that it tasted a bit like beef, very dark meat. A once in a lifetime experience, turtle isn't for me!

Now I'm vaguely used to zooming around on motorbikes I feel truly Pucallpian as I have mastered the art of riding motorbikes sidesaddle! All the women here do it, so I guess I might start to blend in a little better.

Another amazing moment was sitting in our room at the end of a long day and wondering what was wrong with my legs. They felt like they were shaking and shaking for no reason in particular. It was when I looked at the wardrobe and saw that the clothes were shaking too that I realised I was experiencing my first earthquake! Being a keen little geographer this was a very exciting moment. It was just a weak tremor but exciting all the same!

English classes are going really well so far. On Tuesday morning absolutely nobody turned up which was a bit disheartening. But after tracking down the girls who were feeding babies and putting out the washing we managed an ok lesson. This week we're testing the water a bit as to how much English they actually know and starting out with greetings. When you stop to teach you realise how impossibly hard English pronuncation is. The lessons on wednesday and today have been fantastic! The girls have been really excited, one has joined two groups so she can come twice a week!! They are all so keen to learn and I don't seem to be paralysed by embarrassment as I expected I would be. However, tomorrow is the class of the boys which could prove to be more challenging as they either declare that they are wildly in love with you or completely ignore you. Well, I'm hoping that they actually turn up and that we don't have a mutiny on our hands.

I should also mention that we have about 20 Peruvian Marineros (sailors) at the Aldea renovating a Casa in their platoon colours. This seems to be pretty normal, another Casa is sponsored by the Rotary Club. Also we've been having regular press visits as local dignatories come to donate things to the kids. Christmas looks like it's going to be a very exciting time as the timetable fills up with various groups coming to visit the kids and to give our presents. We've arranged to be at the Aldea for Christmas then we are travelling to Bolivia for our Visa run for the New Year.

I do hope you are all well and being careful of all the ice and snow in England. You can't imagine how much I long for some cold weather. At the moment 22 degrees overnight seems quite chilly to me! It feels wildly ironic for me to have a cold in all this hot weather but I do all the same - there are just some things you can't escape!!

Please keep all your news coming my way!

So much love,

Ruth x

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