Exploring Huancayo

Miércoles, 02-Julio-2014

Doctors on strike

So every June/July the doctors go on strike to try to get better wages and benefits. It especially hits hard on the hospitals who treat low-income patients. Lucky for us we work in a low-income hospital and one of the huge strikes was organized for today so we couldn't exactly go to the hospital since no one was working. The healthcare system in Peru is about 15 years behind the USA and quality of treatment is decided based on income level. The poorest people get the worst treatment and therefore they are sick more often. The healthcare system is in the process of reforming but there is much work to be done. 

Scavenger hunt

Instead of going to the hospital, Danel and Natalia organized a scavenger hunt to help us learn the city. It took us all over and definitely helped!! There are so many different plazas and markets scattered about as and everyone we talked to was beyond nice. Some of the things we had to do were: take a group pic with one of the host families, find the underground bathrooms at central plaza, buy fruit at the market that cannot be purchase in the USA, and answer a bunch of Peruvian trivia which required us to talk to a lot of locals. It was lots of fun and I can't wait to explore more of the city in the weeks to come! 

From our hunt, I've compiled a list of things I must do in the next month... 

[1] eat a picarones (donut)

[2] eat at a chifa restaurant (Chinese+Peruvian fashion created in the 1800s)

[3] locate fruit stand row behind the municipal building

[4] attend the Sunday Artisan Market (largest in Peru!)

[5] see one of the many kid parades around town

[6] EXPLORE CENTRAL MARKET

Parque de la Idenidad Huanca

David (aka Dad) took us to a park made entirely of rocks that depicts Huancayos history. There are many sculptures, statues, and designs that all tell part of the story. It was really fun to have David (pronounced da-veed) with us because he was explaining what we were looking at. There were also some doll manikins dressed in different eras of traditional clothing which was very interesting. 

When's Moms away, it's time to play

David's wife Aniña (aka mom) was not home tonight so David made dinner and decided to have some fun win us. We got on the subject of pisco (Peruvian liquor) and so David thought it'd be a great idea to have a liquor tasting as desert. He had all of us take a shot of pisco, Inca sugar cane liquor, rum, and my favorite... Mexican tequila! Well naturally this turned the night into a fiesta. David and the grandparents (Arturo & Oma) taught us a Peruvian drinking game called TODITO. T=tú (you drink), O=otra (pick another person to drink), D=dereche (person to right drinks), I=ischierda (person to left drinks). You use a 6-sided die and roll to find out your TODITO destiny!! 

The night continued with some salsa and merengue lessons taught by David, Artulo, and one of the fellows Paula from Puerto Rico. These people sure know how to dance!! I can't wait until we got to the clubs tomorrow night to try out our dance moves. 

Future Update

Tomorrow we are celebrating July 4th because on Friday we leave for THE JUNGLE! We have the afternoon off to make some traditional American food and hang out with the host families. At night we will have sparklers and some fireworks so I've heard. Then we leave at 6am on Friday to head to La Merced.  No clue what the internet situation is there but I'd assume it's little to none. We return to Huancayo on Weds so that might be my next chance to post anything!