well, there have been many requests for more details and pictures, so I am going to do my best!

So, lets see. Housing: I love my house I love in, our hosts name is Yoni. She has a daughter that lives in her house with her who is 22 and her name is Wendi. They are the most giving people I have met and are so kind. Yoni doesn't speak that much English, but enough to communicate. She cooks every meal for us and it usually consists of...
Breakfast: a bread thing with jam and usually a piece of fruit
Lunch: (biggest meal of the day) soup, some meat sometimes, potatoes, and sometimes watermelon or "sandia" for dessert.
Dinner: just some meat and veggies, or just veggies. or leftovers from lunch!

So far it all been pretty good. :)


Our bedroom!


Classic peruvian. Feet didn't touch the ground.. she was probably over 50 years old too!


Peruvian street!


Talia and I starting our journey, and the longest flight of our lives.... ha!

Today I started my program, I met at the Maximo Nivel office at 8:30 and we left for my hospital I am working in. Everyone says that Peruvians are usually late, and that was the case today, the lady that was supposed to meet us at 8:30 didn't get there until a little after nine. Once she got there she took us on a tour of the hospital. It was pretty crowded, lots of little kids, and their parents. It's a hospital for low income families, and they really are low income! but I got to do some surgery today! well, not really surgery, but there was this girl who had a flea bite or something like that and someone had to pick out the infection part and then I had to clean up the bit. It was seriously the size of a dime or nickel maybe. Looked painful.
Then a little six year old, named Alex. (want to hook him up with one of my nieces) came in and I had to remove a scab from the back of his ankle! Since I am here for such a long time I will go around to all the different parts of the hospital, like the delivery center, the pediatric center, rehabilitation center, ect...!


first day of work!

Estoy en Cusco!

Well, I have arrived to what I think is the most beautiful place in the world. I flew into a place that literally sits in the middle of many mountains, just it´s own little city! So I got my luggage walked outside to find a sign held up for Talia and I, classic. We got in a taxi and rolled the windows down and I was in complete shock of how beautful this city is. The mountains are luscious green, the houses are vibrant colors, fushia, teal, tan, dark brown, with clothes hanging on clothes lines everywhere! The weather when I got in the taxi was amazing, sunny with a slight breeze, I really felt like I could be in a movie!

We got cheked into our home-stay as well today. Talia and I are sharing a room and then there are 5 other people living in the same house. They are from, London, Germany, New Zealand and one other American, but we haven´t met her yet! Once we got unpacked we took a little nap until lunch time, it was way great to sprawl out in a real bed after airplane sleep. Ate Lunch and then walked down to the Maximo Nivel office with our London friend Claire!

I can´t believe I am finally here. I feel so blessed and grateful to be able to come down here and help the people that need help. I can´t wait for this adventure to begin and have expeirences I wouldn´t have anywhere else!

Adios mis amigos! I am off to Peru!

I can't wait for the adventures I will have, the culture I'll experience, the food I'll eat, the spanish I'll learn, the people I'll help, my peruvian house, meeting people from all over the world, going to Machu Picchu, salsa dance lessons, traveling on busses like the peruvians, and everything else that will make me a better person!

I'll keep this updated while I am away with all my crazy adventures!


I would love to hear from you as well through email, nataliesargent02@gmail.com

Love you all.

paz y amor.

menos de una semana! (less than one week)

i believe....

Over the years I have collected fortunes from fortune cookies, I think it was after China that I started to collect the good ones, (sadly the bad ones just get thrown away). I like that type of stuff, fortunes, horoscopes, ect... They make me feel good and I try to apply them to my day/life. I know I know, You think I just change my day to apply to whatever I read, but honestly, I really think it's true. One of my favorite things to do is get the E section (entertainment) from the AZ republic or check online in the morning and read what it says after LEO. If it's a 3 star day or more, I'm pleased. Less than three... may as well go back to bed. Then I like reading what it says... sometimes it's a joke, I'll be the first to admit that. How many times has it said, "You will find the love of your life today." well, enough for me to realize I'm still single. ha! But the other day for instance it told me to "recognize those around me to bring happiness to my day." I tried doing that and BAM, I had a better day on the way I looked at people.
Today was when it really hit me though, we had a fortune cookie sitting on my counter so I decided to take a little snack break... I opened the fortune cookie and read the message.

*"You are a person of culture. Cultivate it."

It then reminded me of the other 2 I have saved in my wallet over the years because I like them so much...

*"If you dream it, It will happen"

*"You are on of those who will "go places in life"

MY FORTUNES ARE COMING TRUE!

-I LOVE culture, I'm intrigued by it. I love the different foods, transportation methods, clothing, rituals, religions, and the adventure of culture.
-I am a DREAMER. I love to dream and think about what I will do or more so, What I want to do! I really don't know if a day goes by where in my mind I dream of something new. Some people might say this is bad because it "sets you up for disappointment" but I say, Dream Away! If you don't dream, it really will never ever have the chance of coming true because the lack of desire.
-I AM GOING places.... PERU! holy cow, I've been to China, now Peru, and trust me... this head of mine has many other places to go. I'm so grateful for the opportunities I have to do stuff like this, I realize that I am super privileged and I could not ask for anything better.

I don't think it is by coincidence that I have collected these fortunes over the years, Heck, I don't remember what they say until I find them, but all in all, they are super similar and they are coming true... I believe in fortunes.