Our little family is growing at carmela and marios. 2 new students joined from the Netherlands, John and Maike - they are great fun!

My spanish is coming along. I can actually join in the convo at dinner if I concentrate really hard. I understand more than I can speak, but there is progress. I have the best time talking to 13 yr old Janet because we play charades as much as anything. last weekend I hung out with her in the top-floor wash room as she gave he baby sister Alexandria a bath.

Last night John and I got into an insult match in spanish - we learned comparative sentences in school ("my room is bigger than yours" etc). It took 10 minutes for us to form sentences, but still, we were insulting eachother! this counts as another tiny victory. next will be sarcasm in spanish...

the cold weather continues (am I complaining too much about this?). Ive started buying candles - they warm my room by at least 4 degrees. also a bottle of hot water tucked at my feet. and my awesome marmot sleeping bag (youre the best tom!!!) Ive been playing my ipod through my host familys radio - iTunes has turned out to be a fabulous addition to the trip! my nights are pretty cozy.

I have a hot water shower but it is powered by electricity. if you touch metal you get shocked - pretty freaky. and the hot water doesnt last for very long so I dont do more than 2 things (wash hair and face) before it runs out. I havent shaved my legs since I started. last week is was too many bug bites. now its not enough time....bleh.

some things Ive learned: ask for the "menu" & you get fixed price lunches ($3 USD) that include soup, main course, tea, sometimes beer; to get rid of really persistent bargainers, say "maybe tomorrow", just dont bump into them tomorrow or you have to buy...; even if you dont know where you are going, LOOK like you know where you are going (this works on so many levels).

things I have NOT learned yet: spanish!!! (I now have 1500 words and 90 verbs to memorize. sheesh.); to not throw TP in the toilet - peruvian toilets cant deal with it, Im trying to unlearn too many years of training.

something cool: I need a haircut. you never never need a haircut on vacation. this means Im traveling :) wish me luck that I ask for the right thing though!