Don´t Even Know Where To Start...or Continue.

Hola!
I had my first day at the orphanage today which was an experience, as well everything else here. Well, before i give you the wrong impression, let me explain some things so you dont hold a prejudice against the people in Huancayo.

They drive on the wrong side of the road here. Well, obviously by ''wrong side'' i mean for me. Being here had made me realise how much i liked things being in a particular way. How i had believed certain things were universal absolutes, but in fact arent. Like choosing a lane and sticking to it...there are no lanes here, just a mass of honking and yelling as taxis and buses almost collide in every direction i look. Like having toilet paper in the bathroom... which is simply not the case here. You carry your toilet paper with you in the off chance you need to use one, either at someones house, or in public (which you get charged for). Like having refridgerators. Nothing is served cold here. Like drinking water that flows from taps. The water must be boiled, and regarding the last point, sits for hours until it reaches room temperature. Something the locals do not have to worry about as their bodies are able to digest the water. I havent had a cold beer, let alone drink since being here.

I hope i dont sound like i am whinging, because i am not. I am loving Peru, and all that it offers. I am loving the customs, the way of life, and most of all the kids that i met today.

During my orientation, which was really just a chat over ice cream in a local cafe i was told the kids at the orphanage were there because their parents had died of AIDS. Being naive or not, i thought nothing of it (terrible as it may be) as i am here for the children. When i arrived at the orphanage the kids immediately opened up. Almost to the stage that within an hour i had 4 girls under the age of 5 fighting for my attention. I tried all day to communicate with them, but its hard. They dont get the concept that i cannot speak my language, and continue speaking to me at a pace too fast for my understanding at this point. They are lovely children though. Not much to play with, so i hope they enjoy the things i have brought over for them to make use of. A lot of the time they just wanted to be picked up and held. I now sit in the internet cafe covered in dry snot all over my clothes. I love it. It wasnt until i got home from the orphange that i was told it wasnt just the parents that had AIDS, but all the children have HIV as well. Honestly, i was taken back at first, as anyone from a 1st world nation would be, but now...it just makes me want to love them even more.

(Second last paragraph, i promise!) It was at about 11am this morning that i started getting stomach cramps, and feeling light headed. I asked a fellow volunteer at the orphange to show me somewhere i could lie down, so they took me half way, asked me to wait where i was, and continued on to ask the workers there. Once she had gone i had to sit down. The finger tingles i have been experiencing since i got here took on a whole new level, and i couldnt even make up which way was up, and which way was down. Eventually i was taken to a bed, something strong scented was put under my nose which almost knocked me out, and i took on cold sweats and began shivering. Soon after, felt as right as rain, and went back out to the children. In case you didnt know, we are 3,300m above sea level.

So thats it! Thanks for the read. I do read all comments here, and facebook mails and comments, and emails, so please keep writing. Im sorry i cant apologise individually, but i hope you enjoyed reading whats going on in my world right now. Tell me about yours...

I dont quite know how i made it...

17 hour flight, one long day, and a whole bunch of excitement saw me touch down in Lima, Peru. The trajedy of both flights was immeditately overcast by the mass of taxi drivers wanting me to make use of their services. When i say mass, i litterally mean 15-20 men that came storming up, and surrounded me. Before i knew it i had walked straight past my pick up point without even knowing it. So i wandered around, not quite sure what to make of this foreign environment for around an hour. It was then i saw a small lady near the front exit holding a sign that read "Philliph Riburn"... I blamed the spelling for the confusion. Im now staying in her house, and we are about to "drink breakfast" (!!!) A selection of milk, OJ, water, and yoghurt to start the day.

As for the flights...
Auckland-Buenos Aires.
Started well enough, though the seating arrangement eventuated to be quite a test. Infront, a crying baby. To my left, a mother flying solo with two young children, maxxie closest to me, a 4 year old boy that was more fluent in both english and spanish than i ever hope to be, and he certainly loved to remind me of it. When He would sleep, across ways on the seat, legs against mine, he seemed to live through his dreams a little too much- kicking me on the odd occasion i started dosing. Behind me? A middle aged man who must have had diabetes, or some gastrointestinal problem, because ever five minutes he would be yanking on my chair to hoist himself out of his seat. To my right, and my only source of freedom, an aisle- which i made much use of during the 11 hour first leg.

The exciting thing is how quickly i am picking up the language. I was feeling full of confidence when i got off the plane in Argentina, and walked right up to a security officer. "¿Donde de baño?" i asked him. (Where is the bathroom?) His reply seemed to leave his mouth in a complete jumble, so i simple smiled, thanked him and walked off, having no idea where the bathroom in fact was.

The flight into Lima was ok. 5 hours with no TV, movies, music or the like. The lady beside me spoke no english, a small lady of traditional peruvian appearance, and she never seemed to get the point that i speak very little spanish. Still, im getting by.

Apologises for the length of this blog post. It being my first, actually having gone some where i thought you could excuse it. Just wanted to pass on a huge thank you to all the plane letter writers, farewell attenders, brownier bakers, cookie creaters, well wishers, and prayer givers. Your love has made the transition a whole lot easier.

Anywho, before i get carried away, i shall head. I leave Lima this afternoon to Huancayo, my intended destination, on a 6 hour bus trip into the heart of the Andes.

Hasta la pronto!

I admit...I'm weak.

This thing is almost addictive. Its kind of becoming my friend...Sad, i know. I check the page almost in a routine manner, like checking emails. I want to see if things have changed, or if the page has been updated since my last visit..though no one else can change it.

So here lies possibly the most wasted moments of my life. My second post about Peru, from New Zealand. I write though, because it listens. I can say whatever i am feeling, and then leave the computer feeling better. Is this because no one else is listening to me?? Nay, i reason it that when i log on here, my life becomes emersed in the journey. I am getting butterflies, nervous palpitations, loss of sleep, day dreams, and a new sense of excitement. The best thing?? I haven't even left yet.

New Beginnings, almost.

So, this being my first ever blog...i am in for as much discovery as anyone else reading these words. 

I basically wanted to think of the best way to reach as many people as i can, in the least frustrating way...avoiding the retelling of stories as much as possible. Hence why we find ourselves here. Both out to embark on a journey of enlightenment and experience as much as each other. Hopefully what follows is a series of stories, thoughts, and moments that have touched me enough to spend the time to share them with you. No doubt i will be rereading and reminding myself of the time that was Peru in the years to come. 

Rather than focus on the eventual nostalgia that accompanies any journey, i pray to keep you up to date with how i am impacting the people of Peru, and how they are impacting me. 

Join me, as I join them...