Goodbye, Farewell...

Last night was the last night of my "Gringa Bible Study" for this year. The sad part about the finale is saying goodbye. Several people in the study, due to their teaching schedule, leave at this time of the year. That means...saying goodbye.
As a missionary, you do know that people come and go. You know that once you say "Hello!" to a new friend, you could be saying "Goodbye!" just as quickly. Sometimes, I cannot help but wonder if it is worth it to be real, to get close, to really make a new friend. Of course, I know it is...but I hate to then have to let go.
Faye is moving back to the states with her husband and will be part of a ministry in North Carolina. I value women who don't always have to put their two cents in (probably because I always seem to say too much!) but instead when they open their mouth, they seem to only have pearls of wisdom. Faye has always given us those pearls of wisdom. She will be missed!
Laura is moving back to the states...and really I am in denial. I cannot say that I have a ton of friends here in Peru, but I can tell you that Laura is my friend. We have eaten out, gone to the movies, traveled to other countries, cried, laughed, and so many other things. I will miss driving around looking for a restaurant open before 8pm on a Saturday night with her. I have many fond memories and am sad that we have very few left to make!
My advice? Value the friends you have around you. Cherish the moments you have with them. And when it comes time to say goodbye to one friend, be ready to welcome another.

Delivery

What kinds of things do you call and order by phone? I am not really talking about calling a company and placing an order by phone. I am talking about calling up your local grocer and asking him to bring you some tomatoes. When I am low on coffee, I don't have to head to the store to get more, I simply pick up my phone and dial. And it is not as though I get a hold of customer service and they shuffle me through the marketing speech. "Do you want to supersize that?"
I know in the States you call for things like pizza and maybe chinese food. But here in Peru, I can call for those things and so much more! I call for water (now that really is another story since I never know if they will bring that today or simply "manana"), I can call the drugstore (don't even get me started on what you can buy here that you cannot buy there!), I call for my coffee beans (thanks to Buencafe!), and today I made another deal.
I had bought a jar of honey that I loved! The thing is, this purchase can only be made on Saturday mornings at the organic market. Lucky for them, there is a phone number on their label. I called and asked, "Me puedes traer mas miel?" Their response was to give me the owner's home number and say that I should call the senora to find out. I did so today and we chatted until we came to an agreement. I ordered a bit more than I presently need and she has a great sale already on the books tomorrow.
My friend at Buencafe thanks me endlessly for sending business his way. Everytime people leave the country or I want to send gifts to friends, I turn to my Magdalena Market Coffeeshop. Next time I put in a large order I am going to ask for my free pound of coffee. No punch cards, no receipts to prove I have bought enough to warrant some free coffee. Oh no, I just ask politely, "Me puedes regalar una bolsa?"

What Am I Doing Here?

You know, so many times I would visit blogs and wonder, "Who has so much time that they are writing and posting things for no one in particular?" Seemed awfully strange to me. So what in the world would drive me to do the same?
I suppose I find it comical that after three and a half years those things that seem rather normal to me now do not seem as such to those who live "over there." Wherever that is! I guess I thought you might enjoy traveling through Peru with me and enjoying the many things I have learned to enjoy.
After three and a half years I have learned to adapt to the idosyncracies that occur daily. I have learned to adapt to thinking and speaking in different languages. (Really I don't even know which I am using at times, entonces lo siento si me equivoco y escribo en espanol en vez de ingles!) I have been here long enough to learn to love Peru, the people, the country, the food...everything.

So journey along with me as I continue to answer the question, "What am I doing here?"