We're in Lima, and there's a skull in the refrigerator.

Hola Friends, this is our first post on the group blog. Throughout the year, each of us YAVs will be able to post stories to share with you. You can also check out our individual blogs links on the side. We've officially been in Peru for a week and a half. Lima is a huge and bustling city. The busses run constantly through the streets in a chaotic order resembling children on a playground, governed by definite but unspoken laws.

The first few weeks we spent learning about the Red Unidendo Manos (aka Red) and the 14 organizations that it works with. We listened to testimonials from leaders and/or members of each group. We visited three branches of the fair trade artisans in the outskirts of Lima to see the work we (and specifically Katie) will be promoting. We visited a fantastic museum about the 20 years of violence, as well as the downtown historical center. Last night Debbie and two friends from the Red, Rita and Jenny, took us to a water park. It's a really neat area with fountains and displays of lights etc. There's even a water labrynth that Lynn and I navigated without getting drenched!

We took a week long culture and language class with friends at the UBL (Universidad Biblica Latinoamerica) where Harry, our coordinator's husband, works. Debbie, our coordinator, has officially become our third mother. We each have host mothers, our real mothers in the states, and now Debbie. She is fantastic at facilitating our every need, understanding our fears and sharing our enthusiasm.

On the second day at the UBL Michael and I were trying to be good guests and return the passion fruit juice they had served us to the refrigeator. Then, there it was. Some sort of half decomposed animal skull in a bowl next to where we put the juice. Welcome to Peru! This was just one of the many culture shocks we have experienced in the past week. I'm sure there are many more to come...

Today is our last day all together, and we're celebrating Katie's birthday at Debbie and Harry's house! Tomorrow Lynn leaves for Huanuco and Sean leaves for Huancayo where they will be working this year. We all start our respective jobs on Monday, and I believe that we are all ready and excited to start our work. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we start our individual journeys here abroad.

Leslie