"I Won't Give Up"

Soundtrack to this blog-post. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdN5GyTl8K0

This song goes out to the beautiful people I met in Puerto Rico:

I'm missing you guys.

Lima's cloudy without you.

------ <3 ------

I'm sitting here criss-cross apple sauce, listening to Jason Mraz, hugging a stuffed cow, and mulling over this strange sensation that at any given moment, I'm going to open my eyes and be stuck with some very disgruntled airport people. It's been an interesting day. The good news is that its misty outside, and that I started my day with a delicious pumpkin muffin--gotta begin and end the day like my truly Seattle'd self. The bad news is that I'm pretty sure I stressed some people at the airport out (myself included) and that I was almost kicked off my plane. Almost! Let's concentrate on that. For now, I'm in Lima, and that's what counts! 

I slept surprising well at the airport--once you push past the 10 hour hump, its all gravy! I also met some lovely people in the airport bathroom. Shared some toothpaste. It was special. Never underestimate the confidence that comes with fresh breath. Also, never forget that airport carpet doesn't have to look like an eclectic collection of mothballs and tic-tacs. This is the airport carpet from Florida. I took a nice cat nap in the corner, and am convinced that the prettiness helped sooth my nerves--carpeting is powerful like that! I should probably explain: when I was little, I wanted to design airport carpets. I thought it meant that I'd get to travel and draw patterns all day. Maybe it does? Maybe I should be looking in to this more seriously. Anyway, I'm usually pretty interested in carpet (especially freshly vacuumed carpets, like this one. A man on a cleaning scooter rocked my world. You know, come to think of it, riding a giant vacuum could be a sweet job, too). What I'm trying to say is that you should expect a tour de carpets on this journey of mine! Soon, we'll all be connoisseurs! Carpetsseurs?

I thought that was funny.

Granted, I could be sleep drunk.

(Exhibit A: Me sleeping on my stuff at the 4:00am mark).

Luckily, I sleep like a rock, so there were no problems here.

"So why was your day so frazzle-dazzled," I hear you ask. You had a good night's sleep, a good breakfast, and the very freshest breath--what happened? I will tell you. Come close. I had a quasi-intense interaction with airport security. Shh. Something about needing a ticket out of the country so that I can prove I don't plan on doing scary things like working illegally, smuggling monies, or, you know, never leaving. My water bottle also has a strange, cylindrical-shaped filter in the middle of it, which just drove them up the wall. Basically I'm a highly suspicious person that ended up speaking to 4 separate airport security, reserving a fake ticket for 24 hours, and giving them an "on hold" reservation number for appeasement (November 10th, anyone? Lima to Buenos Aires? Let me know, its mine for another 10 hours!). They calmed down a little bit when I showed them my Bonderman Award letter--until they read the phrase "will be traveling from September until June." Then they were convinced I planned on setting up camp in Lima until the metaphorical cows came home next summer. Le sigh. Another Bonderlesson learned. 

I am just so grateful to finally be here.

AH. 

I'M IN LIMA.

I made it to Peru safe and sound! 

Enrique and Laura, a couple I met through my home stay organization, even picked me up from the airport--we took a taxi together to their home. They've been incredibly kind and I can't thank them enough. Here's a view of the city from their rooftop. When we got back it was late, but Enrique made a fabulous dinner (mashed potatoes mixed with rice, a garlic onion soup, and tomato tuna with lime). Tomorrow, we're headed to the market for some fresh fruit, and quite possibly hunting for a local SIM card. Overall, I've got to admit--things are looking pretty positive.

Great things are happening. 

I feel it.

Misses,

-ak