Trying to finally catch up to present day here! Seems like every time I go to start a new blog two weeks have passed and there is just TOO much to write about. Due to this, I’m going to take down the entire month of March (with exception to Machu Picchu) in this here post! Strap yourselves in for a crazy ride. This is: The Monthly Rundown.
Week One: March 6th – March 12th
Sunny Dayssss
After arriving back from Cusco, my mom and sister had one more day here in Miraflores before their red-eye back to the States. After failing to get massages, we watched a movie and then went out for some sushi. Because it was Sunday, the top two recommended places were closed, but we were able to find one open! It wasn’t the best sushi I’ve had, but considering I won’t be touching the stuff again for months (out of my budget) it was a wonderful last meal. The rest of the week went by with little to report. I started teaching a few new classes and continued with rugby practice every Tuesday/Thursday night. One thing I love about working at the B&B is the people. That weekend, I went out with a few lovely girls from the US staying at the hotel. They had studied abroad the previous two months in Ecuador and were in Lima for their spring break. There is always something new to experience here in Lima and tourists are always the best to find them!
Week Two: March 13th – March 19th
March Madness sparks a Wonderful Week!
The first week of March Madness, is, and always will be, THE GREATEST WEEK OF THE YEAR. This year was the definition of just such occasion. It was such a great week, I actually went out of my way to make a list of all the wonderful things that happened that week…and here it is (with post-week commentary):
My dad put in a bid to purchase Mucho Gusto - unfortunately this fell through, but at the time it was exhilarating and the potential for buying a bar/restaurant is still on the forefront of his mind!
1. Duke:
a. Wins the ACC Tournament - This still counts!
b. Receives a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament - Duke then lost in the sweet 16 to Arizona)
c. Kyrie Irving announces he may return - he did return
2. My sister successfully defended her dissertation!
3. Set schedule @ work
d. I finally asked my boss for EVERY Saturday night off - prior to I had to pretty much ask permission every night that I wanted to go out or have a night off
4. Kick-off the Season Rugby BBQ on Saturday – was an absolute blast; only downside -- got bit over 100 times by tiny little nats
5. Wireless internet in the apartment – prior to I only had internet access in the hotel!
6. Skyped with Chelsea, Scooter, and my cousin Danielle – Scooter and I have since attempted to skype every Wednesday (Fail) and my skype date with Danielle turned into skyping with the whole family!
Like I said, at the time this was the greatest week ever. Knowing this, I should have predicted what the following week would bring…
Week Three: March 20th – March 26th
Luck runs out…
After such a fantastic week that was, I went into this week with my head on a swivel, knowing something were bound to go wrong. I probably didn’t help my chances by borrowing a bike from a friend to get around town. In a city with 9 million people, constant traffic and mini-busses driven by crazed drivers, I was really testing my luck. I am happy to report, so far so good (KOW – knock on wood). I definitely wouldn’t recommend it for everyone, as it definitely takes an experienced rider to weave in and out of traffic. In fact, just last week, a student of mine saw me riding to class and asked if I was scared that one of the combi’s would hit me. To be polite, I told my student I was a bit nervous, so I took back roads most of the way. What I was actually thinking, “Don’t live your life scared, it will only take away from potential adventures in front of you; I guess that’s why I’m living in his country, and not vice-versa. “
My only other report from this week may upset many of my readers, so I apologize ahead of time. Anyone who has seen pictures of me since I have been down here in South America likely has noticed that I have lost some weight. ‘Some’ would be an understatement. A friend of mine has a scale and I finally got around to using it; predictions on how much weight I’ve lost since arriving in Buenos Aires anyone??? (Pause for thought/responses…) Twenty Pounds! I am currently weighing in at 185 lbs. If I recall correctly, this is the least I have weighed since my Sophomore year of high school. However, I don’t tell you this to infuriate you, but rather to explain my process in trying to gain the weight back! As I am trying to take advantage of this whole ‘room and board’ gig I am working for, I spend little to no money weekly on food. This means I am forced to make do with what is provided here at the hotel: eggs. Every morning I have two egg n’ cheese sandwiches, fresh fruit and a yogurt. Lunch varies daily depending on what the maid cooks. Dinner is then back to eggs, where I once again have two egg n’ cheese sandwiches, yogurt and for dessert, a few glasses of milk with Oreos! ***I am happy to report, that recently, the husband whom I live with, is quite giving and has been keen to buying me a sandwich or something similar for dinner many nights of the week to spice things up a bit!*** If I can put on 10 pounds in the next month I will be thrilled, in the next two months I will be happy and in the next three months I will be satisfied. I’ll keep you posted.
As for my luck running out, well, Duke lost embarrassingly to Arizona; my bracket (along with the whole world) got completely ruined; and I slept through a class I was supposed to teach on Sunday While this may not sound so "unlucky" to most people; anyone who knows me, knows that the single act of Duke losing causes more pain and agony than anything else that could have occurred and therefore, is bad enough.
Week Four: March 27th – April 2nd
My weekly routine
The weeks have really flown by and I definitely peg that to my comfort level here in Miraflores. Having a bike to get around is more convenient than I could have ever imagined and I dread the day my friend returns from Chile and asks for it back. My teaching schedule is about as full as it can get with classes every Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat morning. Along with most nights filled with either classes or rugby practice. With most of my days generally free, I tend to take a solid nap everyday (after normally having slept no more than 3-5 hours the night before) and read about or listen to podcasts about sports and world news. Also, with saving money at the top of my list, a gym membership is definitely not in the works, so I have taken to home workouts, using 7-Liter jugs of water as weights!
This past Thursday I was lucky enough to get invited to a local concert. A friend of a friend is a singer here in Lima and was performing at a bar in Barranco. There were about 200 people at the bar and it was amazing…we got front row seats! Thursday also marked the beginning of the 2011 Major League Baseball season. Unfortunately, my Giants lost a pathetic game to the Dodgers, and have been playing quite poorly, not to worry, it’s still early. For me, the beginning of the season brings both the beginning of Fantasy Baseball and the pleasure of knowing there will always be a game on to watch while at work (I love MLB.TV). I love sports.
Finally, most of you already know, starting this week and following into next week, I will be and have been heavily persuading friends and family to vote for me to become the next Isla Palenque Intern. This has consumed a good portion of my time and I will really be pushing this next week to get the word out! I am currently in the top-10 in voting, but to be sure I make it to the final round, I will need AT LEAST 1,500 more votes! So keep on sending those emails and reminding everyone you know to vote!!!
“If you ain’t first, you’re last” – Ricky Bobby (Talladega Nights)
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