2/10

Well this week seems to have gone really quickly, so quickly that thinking back it feels like half the week is missing! This week had felt quite difficult, it's finally hit me that this really is home for the next 11 months and although in my head I knew it, it has been a bit of an initial shock. Both Alex and I haven't been quite on form but like good Project Trust parteners once we'd spoken to each other about it all we both felt a lot better, more cheerful and ready to face anything-even the workers yelling hello babies and blowing kisses at us as we go past!

Two of the children left the Aldea this week, one little boy has left to go to Lima but has been back in the Aldea because he is apparently being quite a lot of hassle for his new parents! Fingers crossed it will work itself out. Vicky the 2 year old has gone to Norway, which will be a massive change for her but an absolute amazing chance and the pictures of her new family look really different but really exciting.

We had an exciting bus journey on Tuesday evening where it went past our stop and we ended up in a bit of shanti town with only 80 cents to get home, we ended up bribing the moto taxi driver to get us back to the aldea and gave him our last 80 cents! Narrowly escaped having to walk home, but the tías have warned us which buses not to get, so hopefully we won't be doing that again! Yesterday was spent casa sitting, although the older girl is 17 so she was quite in control and didn't really need much help from me! The girls have found out my half hindu side and are loving it, they've been asking for pictures and dancing and songs none of which I can really give, so hopefully i can get some sent out. I can't understand the attraction of it all, they almost seem to like it more then the Spanish music! We went out last night and sat in the square where there was a church parade and fireworks! It was really busy but a completly different experience, seeing how many people were out and about, there were whole families sat in the square chilling out-completly different to England.

Today we ventured out to an art market to have a mooch, and had my first tourist purchase a cute beady bracelet. Then on our bus ride into town, Alex got the number of the lady she was sat next to on the bus. They were sat chatting away and she offered to meet up with us so we might have made our first friend in Iquitos which is quite exciting. Bought my first t-shirt today and whilst I was paying the lady at the till a baby monkey appeared from under the till! Only in Iquitos would that be seen as normal, me and Alex were in shock but everyone just seemed to take it in their stride! Spent most of our day on the internet and wandering round town, it feels like we've had a really long day and it feels really different which i'm loving! We've both decided that this week is going to be full on, and I'm feeling ready to do a lot more with the children so will keep you updated on how it goes!

hasta luego!xxx