Allison & Scott’s First 111 Days

Posted by sparklingallison On April 30th, 2009 / 1 Comment

I missed the 100 day mark of our trip! We’re pretty much on the same schedule as President Obama… We were just barely able to see his inauguration before we left.

Here’s our official press release. (I’d hold a press conference via webcam, but my internet connection is too slow.)

Allison & Scott’s First 111 Days in Peru

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS	Completed two visits to Machu Picchu. One on foot, one on the train. Met and went off grid with Roberto Penny Cabrera, aka the Desert Shaman. Hosted to two groups of foreign visitors! Discovered complete darkness in the Peruvian jungle. Navigated the highest navigable lake! Lots of playa and sol time. Many, many long bus rides!
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS	More run ins with “officials" than I would have liked, including: bribing a Bolivian border guard, negotiating re-entry into Peru with immigration, applying for a new passport with the American Embassy. Attended landlord’s birthday party! We danced! We drank out of one cup! Won smackdown at the PeruRail office. Enjoyed many random conversations with taxi drivers.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR	Scott established at least four extension offices: a hammock, a beach chair, a boat and a private office in Yanahuara. Set up house. Including purchase of non-stick frying pan! Scott’s favorite kitchen item, except for the hair dryer. Learned to deal with no hot water. And no oven. And appliances that shock you regularly. Gone without power and water on more than one occasion.
HEALTH	Discovered Allison is not immune to Peruvian pathogens, Scott oddly is… Blew through TD meds… it was the salmonella. Avoided malaria, dengue fever and the swine flu (so far). At least two sunburns.
FOOD & DRUG	Established new food guidelines: sandwiches with noodles and chips are essential to well balanced diet. As are avacados. Visited Ica bodegas for wine and pisco tasting! Tried cuy. Ewy. And alpaca. Discovered new love of adobo, and roccoto rellendo.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE	Received 3 supply packages from the EEUU. Managed FedEx immigration paperwork, and mean postal workers. Bought lots of pretty Peruvian handicrafts!
EDUCATION	Attended (and still attending!) Sumaq Marka spanish school! Learned how to make ceviche and pisco sours. More reading than you can imagine.
ARTS	Completed Photoshop webinar course. Posted a billion pics on Flickr.
FINANCES	Applied for student loans and scholarships. Adjusted Peruvian living budget estimations.
HOMELAND SECURITY	Lost a few things: retainer and passport were the biggies! Avoided all potential taxi cab issues. Visited San Camilo market, without incident.
FEMA	Felt our first earthquake! Slept through the second.
DOMESTIC RELATIONS	So far, so very good!

One Response so far.

autumn says:

April 30, 2009 at 11:44 am

Grade from international partner: A++
(Better than Obama!)