It's Not Over Yet!

Figure 1: Chelly and I eating some of Audrey's amazing food.

I’m not quite sure how I got so lucky with stupid United flights that my sister, Michelle is sitting across the table from me in Huanchaco, Peru. We made it and have never been better. This weird little town is on desert land, but right up the beach where surfers flock all day. It has this weird weather that makes it looks a bit gross at times but when the sun is out, it has beauty that stands out from our typical Florida beaches. The people here are simple. Local families own restaurants or shops and their kids are always running around. The tourists are backpackers with nothing on their schedule but to eat good food and drink with friends. Some of them are here semi-permentally. They work at schools here to learn Spanish themselves, get paid very little, and spent their free time making new friends and going on trips.

Figure 2: Michelle and Kuku (Audrey's daughter)

We arrived here Wednesday morning after a night on a bus from Lima. We surprised a woman Michelle knew when she was here last year. The woman, Marcia, had been working out at a gym (Michelle had also gone to) when we peeked in. She was super excited and demanded we go straight to her house and eat breakfast. Within ten minutes of knocking on the door, I had met her husband and son, been shown into a room, and were sitting at a table with breakfast in front of us. The rest of the day was spent walking around meeting a ton of new people and trying to remember all their names.

We ate some incredible food by a woman named Audrey (pronounced Oo-drey). She is from France and worked in many famous restaurants before she realized that was not what she wanted. She came here and opened her own restaurant, so that she could have fresh ingredients and the freedom to make whatever she wants, without the restrictions of a menu (Figure 3). Every day she makes new things, and if you show up on time you get a huge plate of it gloriously presented for thirteen soles. Her husband is always around and helping too. I’m pretty sure he is a hundred percent Incan- mostly ‘cause he looks it. Their daughter is nothing but energetic at all times, running around and talking to all the customers (Figure 2).

Figure 3: One of Audrey's creations

Figure 4: Me and some school kids 

Actually, every place we go to that has kids, they end up sitting on our lap or having elaborate Spanish conversations with my sister (Figure 4). About an hour ago, a little girl named Daniella drew me pictures in my notebook in exchange for Patty Cake lessons. We had a blast.

Conversing with the locals and other South American travelers definitely helps my Spanish, although it is very embarrassing to pull out my dictionary to talk to a kid or have absolutely no idea what Marcia just said to me and Michelle is not around as back up. Sadly, we are only going to be here until next Wednesday, so for now I am attempting to cram as much Spanish into my brain as possible.