Well friends,
It´s been a few days. Forgive both of us. We´ve been packing it in, to say the least. I´m absolutely thrilled by the texture of the city, the vibe, the pace, even its strange sun-less winter greys. It´s all a bit captivating. Old worlds, new worlds, buildings with 16th century-crown moulding now home to la Farmacia Larco or Roxy´s Chicken. Incan temples nestled between boutiques and rich Peruvian cuisine. (Do I sound like a brochure? All right, all right, I´ll stop.) Really though. It´s been rare for me to see this much life...these many lives...all bustling about...drenched in stories and pasts and questions and futures, hailing taxis and crossing avenidas...kissing in parks and sipping jugitas frescas in cafes. It´s a sight to behold...it´s a million sights to behold all at once. And there are no sunny skies to expose these days...they sit in a strange haze, a quieting, eerie haze. In summary, I like Lima. :)
Let´s recap then. Friday we went to El Museo de La Nacion in the afternoon and el Parque de Las Fuentes. Here, we came upon a park filled with these gorgeous fountains...parts were a bit theme-parkish, but at night, exquisite...and more than anything, just...fun. We waited for the Espectaculo with neon lights, spewing fountains, holograms of butterflies emerging from cacoons, pictures of Macchu Picchu, and at one point, I´m not kidding, a lovely, entrancing version of Backstreet Boys, "I Want it That Way." One of the fountains swirled above passers-by as they walked under it. We got a little wet, but it was worth it. Our hosts chuckled a bit at my excitement. :)
By the way, we´ve really grown to love them! Genma, the wife of this dynamic duo, told us yesterday that she can truly say these two "chicas" have come to this house to fill it with joy. And they have filled us with joy, that´s for sure. Heriberto, the husband, is...well...so brimming with pure goodness that I wouldn´t even know where to begin. We´ve already been fed with their stories...one of my favorite by far...Heriberto likes to hug trees. There is a particular one in a little town called Concepcion that he always hugs when he´s there. He´s the best kind of tree-hugger I know. :) We just feel loved here. And at home.
Saturday night, a tour of the city at night...so beautiful. La Catedral en el centro was really something. We´ll post pictures as soon as we get all our cords and memory cards sorted out. Geez. :) We also visited Barranco, an older, somewhat bohemian part of the city with artesanias and el puente de suspiros. We decided to sit down for a "snack," the four of us, and it turned out to be the most I´ve eaten since we´ve been here. Papaya juice, anticuchos (kabobs), papas, maiz, two desserts, and the list goes on. What a night. Our hosts got a kick out of watching our stuffed faces waddle back home.
Yesterday we attended La Iglesia Metodista de la Florida, where our Lima hosts attend. It was a blessing to spend time in worship, clap, sing, and practice Spanish, of course! Folks were excited to hear about our journey to Huancayo and offered their prayers for us as we work there.
Language classes began today, and I can already see the difference. Margaret has been concerned about language and though today was a bit stressful on the outset, she is fervently working on her "tarea" while I blog and strain to remember when I ever learned imperfecto subjunctivo...I have NO doubts that you have taught me this already, Mami. Sorry I´ve forgotten! It´s pretty exciting to see the juices flowing...as she remembers what she´s learned in the past and as she learns new vocabulario, etc. She´s a smart one, that´s for sure...muy brillante! Tonight she has on green pajamas and we decided that she´s like the Incredible Hulk bursting into her Spanish-spirit. Watch out, Peru! Continue to pray for both of us as we find all sorts of ways to communicate with the friends God already has and will continue to provide here.
Ok, about my blog title. Friday at El Museo, I was completely overtaken by the one of the exhibits describing the science and artistry of the Shipibo people of the Upper Amazon. I´m forwarding a link for you to check out if you´re interested. I almost couldn´t leave the room. http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=56980&id=31032 The Shipibo believe that¨"kene" is an energy that drives all patterns, sounds, and designs in the universe. The patterns that they could transcribe from who-knows-where...their minds...their spirits...their guts...wow. Talk about a labyrinth. I was breathless at one point. They would draw these patterns (which mind you, they are able to also hear in music (thus, the synesthesia), onto anthropomorphic figures. And it just hit me...like a ton of bricks. THEY GET IT. They get that the human body IS symmetry...IS pattern...IS exquisite design, with form, and shape, and its own MUSIC. I wanted to sit at some Shipibo woman´s feet that day and ask her what she sees...what she feels and touches and hears when these patterns just emerge. (Another tidbit...only the women are the artisans. That EXCITES me.)
Well, goodness. Longwinded again. That´s enough for now. Thanks for pushing through if you´ve made it to the end. I can´t promise that they´ll be much shorter. Don´t be mad!
Paz de Cristo,
Maria
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