Life in Cusco, studying Spanish

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  Cusco, Peru
Monday, September 11, 2006

This is the start of my third week at the Amauta Spanish School in Cusco. Since being here, I´ve met a lot of different people, including Dutch, Swiss, English, German and American students. We´ve gone out a few times to local bars, including the infamous Norton Rats, which faces the Plaza de Armas on the second floor. I recommend it to anyone visiting Cusco who fancies a Irish/British pub feel with European food. Its a relaxed place where you can play pool, and cards if you bring them. Its a nice starting place if you´re feeling like finding your way slowly into a new culture.

My teachers have all been very different, from the cheerful and straight forward Rudolfo, to the young and vivacious Tania, to the hardened cynic Gabriela. They have all been very good teachers, I think, even if one of them keeps strategically ignoring me, for no reason that I know about

01 Rudolfo, my favourite Spanish teacher

. If I keep having this teacher, I think I could end up being blatently rude in their classes (I am paying!) or just ask to be in a new class. I´m keeping an eye on the situation.

The first family I was assigned to lived fifteen minutes away by taxi and was off the map. Since the deal is that you have 3 cooked meals included in the passage, and that the first road was in the middle of a rubbish tip with bonfires on the ground, I decided that I wasn´t going to stay here. It was far too much hassle! I came back to the college and was assigned my present family who I absolutely adore, in less than an hour.

Life with Dina, Raul, and their family is amazing. There is a lady who helps clean and cook called Antonia who is really affectionate and likes to learn English. Also, Christian, a son of Dina and Raul who is currently learning dentistry. He´s bilingual in English and Spanish and life is a lot easier in general when he´s around. Patty is another of Dina´s children (Dina has six) and is a very caring person who likes to have fun as well.

One day, I came home in tears, missing my family and friends. That night, I invited a couple of people from my family out to a cine-bar (Cusco doesn´t have a cinema, but it does have some bars with big screens, where you can watch for free if you buy something to eat or drink). We had a great time and went for pizza afterwards. I don´t think that there´s a nicer family in Cusco.

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02 Amanda and I enjoy Machu Picchu cocktails	03 Christian and Peligrise	04 Antonia	05 Salsa dancing with Celine

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