An early post

I hauled my computer back to school. Last night I got cut off. It seems there is a "lights out" policy on internet, too. The movie was great, so were the beer and popcorn - just what I needed. But I was up in the middle of the night worrying about what comes next. My plans are feeling a bit disjointed, something I should be working on instead of typing. Still no word from the farm I wanted to start at, so I will try my luck at the other and see if they will take me in sooner. I have never laughed so hard in class. Jason and I sit on one side of the table and are often paired for writingor questions. Because he is also a North American, we have a common basis for inside jokes, especially the plays on words. We got into it bad today, and twice neither of us could talk or breathe from laughing. I had a nice recovery when our teacher asked us what was so funny. Sadly, it wasn't appropriate, but we were feeling very sophomoric. In the middle of class, I received a note to come to the office after class. I was a bit nervous - did they accidentally keep some of my underwear from last night's laundry? Did my credit card get rejected for payment of classes? What did I do? It turned out they asked me to take a final exam, so I can receive credit for my schooling. If I can keep my certificate flat, maybe I'll frame it! Lunch was good, but I can't tell you how much carne de soja I have eaten this week. I think Freddie was really excited to prepare meat for me because the meals are very meat and potatoes. I did suggest how much I love quinoa, but we haven't had it yet. Instead, I get to pretend I am cutting the meat off the bone, too! In class we had a new fruit - apple custard. It is chirimoya in Spanish, and even better in my belly. I bought lúcuma for class tomorrow. I have had it in ice cream and juice, but not alone. We'll see! I stopped at a museum on my way to school - more religious art from the Cusco School. There were some very beautiful pieces, but it is so foreign to see how they dressed up Mary and some of the saints so lavishly. The birth of Jesus in a stable congers an image far from royal palace with servants and riches. Interesting! The artwork definitely is a testament to the teachers and people living here at the time. Some of the body forms are really well done. After I do some work on the computer, I am meeting my classmates for cheesecake at a french corner cafe that has been an institution for decades. On to the Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo. There are supposed to be really nice dances on Thursday nights, so I thought I would check it out. I am finding I tire easily. It will be even more interesting to see what happens when I am on the farm and don't have people to speak English with in bewteen my Spanish. Until next time...tori