Day Fourteen

Two weeks already?!
Today was an early start at El Sol due to our weekly test, but I managed to get my Starbucks and arrive with five minutes to spare. The test was a review of the week's lessons on the subjunctive and imperative, so it was quite a breeze. Then, we continued to practice these topics in class, but we ended on the high note of learning the words to "Despacito."
We did not have conversation or history classes today, so during the break, a group of us went to the grocery store to pick up the finishing touches on our gifts. Then, we headed over to a vegan restaurant, the Jardin de Jasmine, where we ate some of the best food that we had in Peru so far. At 1:25, we headed over to the bus and took off to one of the poorer districts in Lima.
If I am being completely honest, I have never witnessed such poverty before. Trash lined the streets, dirty dogs scavenged for food amongst the litter and, it may just be the environmental engineer in me, but it seemed that all I could notice was the pollution. Regardless, when we arrived, all we could see were little, colorful shanties covering the mountains for miles. Nestled in to every crook and crannies, each of these wooded shacks housed a family and their abnormally large amount of pets. As were toured the town, we saw every thing from chickens to dogs to guinea pigs. Although these residents seemed to have next to nothing, the lovely woman who showed us around did not focus on what she lacked, but rather on what she had. She then proceeded to explain the strong sense of community housed in the town, and with that, how calm and relaxing it is to live there. I was left dumbfounded. Here I was, pondering how difficult it must be to raise a baby in such conditions, when I should have understood that in this case, the village is truly raising the child. This trip has opened my eyes to the true meaning of happiness and pride in one's culture, and I have realized it is often those who have the least material goods that have the most positive spirits.
After our tour, we were matched up with our buddies. Although I was anticipating and prepared for a three year old boy named Fedricio, I was matched with nine year old Isaac. I felt terrible handing Isaac his gift filled with baby toys, for which I know he had no desire, but he showed me the utmost respect and thanked me profusely. I wish I could have actually bought him stuff that he would have liked and wanted aside from the cookies and candy, I feel terrible as if I have let him down. however, he remained high in spirits and ran around with a soccer ball as his friends chased him. It was breathtaking to look around and see how much fun the kids were having, if only we could have stayed longer.
Eventually, we all did get on the bus and headed home where we all prepped for Caral tomorrow!