warmed water.

Warm water doesn't stream from the tap in these parts.  Normally not a big deal when washing your hands or dishes... you get used to it.

One can also get used to cold (more cool) water in the shower too!

It really wasn't that bad during the summer... being as I would break a sweat in our cracker box oven of an apartment (ha!), it was nice and refreshing. And also because the ground was warm, the water was usually not super cool/cold.

That being said, I still did have to get used to the water with every shower; 

the toe touch, and then slowly I was putting my head under the water.  

Since winter is upon us here (nothing like a MN winter, but it does get chilly...) 

the water has been exceptionally cooler... making showers more of a chore.

I have a "widow maker" in the bathroom/shower that I use {pic below}, but upon my arrival it hasn't worked.  I did ask about it, but didn't want to complain or be a bother asking about it, so I let it go.

Apparently I didn't ask the right person in the house, because the mother-in-law that has been staying in our house for these last 2 weeks placed her complaints about the shower as we are sharing a bathroom, and voila!  Hell-O WARMed water shower!!! 

Steps: turn on the water, flip the switch, wait for the "widow-maker" to warm the water (not long), enjoy a warmed water shower, turn off switch, turn off water.

the magic switch!

Even this little blessing made my hear so happy, and called my heart to worship!  Praise the Lord!!

SOOOOO grateful!

new kicks.

lovely family mailed these TOMS down to me for my birthday.
i.love.them.

aren't they perfect?!  just in time for fall/"winter" weather here!!!

thanks Bobichs!!!

gaby is 14!

my little host sister turned 14!

it was her delight to make her own birthday cake to bring to school to share

with her friends and teachers : )

she chose to make Banana cake with Cream Cheese frosting and top it with BonBons.

make a wish!

the Avengers/ los Vengadores.

Movie Night!

I went to see the Avengers 3D with some friends.

The 7:30 movie was sold out, so we went to the 10:30 show {yawn!}

So because we had time to kill, we went out for coffee before the movie in the Center of the city.

And we took some photos :)

Graciela, Jose Luis, me & Emerson

the wanna-be Avengers! haha

100!

this is my 100th post since having my blog (Septemberish, 2006).

Ha!  I've had it for awhile...

But to celebrate my 100th post, I wanted to share the 100 day countdown to London Olympics picture/video.

I.LOVE.THE.OLYMPICS!!!!

I can't wait for the London Olympics, I SO want to go!!  But I will just be a fan here in Peru, and try to get some Peruvians pumped for it too :) :) :)

this pic was taken on April 18th... there are now 70 days until the Olympics.. but who's counting??! (me)

Here's a video about the picture above:

world view.

a few weeks back i went to grab a bite to eat with a good friend after she showed me around the U.
we were, or more i was, talking about below's sermon by David Platt.

we were talking about the world, and at one point in the conversation my friend, L, asks:

"ok, well, how many continents are there?" (as a rhetorical question)

me: "7"

L: "7?! there's 5 silly!"

me: "hahaha, that's funny, there's definately more than 5!!! there's 7!  that's what I learned in school!"

L: "really?!  I learned in school that there are 5!!"

right there i was having a cultural moment.
my thoughts: how could Peru teach there were 5 continents when clearly there are 7!
ok, i'll step down from my platform and try to listen and wrap my head around this.

here is my view of the world:

7 continents : N. America, S. America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia & Antarctica

L's view of the world:

5 continents : America, Africa, Europe, Asia & Australia

Do you see the difference?

Ok first, L just disregarded Antarctica... she said, really no one lives there, so it really isn't a continent... Hahaha, I laughed, and thought, ok, so then there is 6 in her mind, but they just don't count one.

So the big difference: is North American and South America!!!!

They just include it all into one, it's just one America.

One is more North, and one is more South, but it's just one.

I admired this way of thinking, and it made me appreciate the collectiveness of her world view -- I've been raised in more of an individualistic society, and this small exchange has proven it true.

However I must say, it made me hate the name of my country because it's hard to identify myself.

I can't say I'm "American," because their response, "me too!"

I mean come on: Peru = Peruvian, Switzerland = Swiss, England = British, Germany = German... so easy for them!

So that is why I have accepted my name that they have given me: "Gringa"

and I receive it as a term of endearment : )

Annie the Gringa, it sounds nice, right?!