The living situation is still kind of sticky because my room isn´t ready yet. I am still sleeping in the Municipality´s hostal, and need to get out of there as soon as possible. Living out of a suitcase just isn´t working, and not having a kitchen has unexpectantly pushed me into a raw foods only diet. I could go to the pension and get a hot plate of potatoes and rice any day, but that just won´t do; so, green beans, carrots, yogurt, and bananas a fueling my existence. I packed natural peanut butter from the states and that has been my life saver. Freshly made wheat bread in the mornings from the local bodega brings a smile to my belly everytime I treat myself to the 30cent bag. While I do have a stove and propane tank I don´t want to hook them up until I move into the house, so I bought a water boiler so warm clove and cinnimun tea soothes me to sleep at night with my books. I am knocking books out of the water, and am collecting more as I visit other volunteers. The book collection for the volunteers in Arequipa is particularly large because a couple from montanta sold their book store before they joined the Peace Corps and has had boxes sent down for our enlightenment.
I would like to show you the house I am living in. The family is a farming family that is mostly self sustaining. The grow beans, potatoes, and rice and are currently raising one cow, three bulls, one pig, and two donkeys. Unfortunately they dont have any hens, just two roosters, perhaps I will buy a hen for them so we have eggs. I haven´t set an alarm clock since I moved here, I wake up with the sun, and go to sleep when my body is ready. Some days I walk out to the fields with members of the community, other days I work on improving my room, other days I attend meetings.
This is the house where I will be living in the Canyon for the next two years, and I LOVE the simplicity.
This image is from the cortyard that all the rooms surround.
This is the bathroom. We are fortunate to have plumbing and electricity.
There are two faucets in the house, one to fill a bucket to flush the toilet, the other in the middle of the courtyard for cooking and cleaning. The day I took this picture I was washing my laundry.
This is the kitchen. Fueled by cow pies and eucolyptus wood the stove prepares everything from rice to soups with just a couple pots and big spoons.
I never knew the value of a stone in the kitchen. Who needs a garlic press or a blender when you can just use a smooth rock from the river?
However,unfortunately, due to the 50 years of grime collection, I will not be cooking here often/ever. Did í mention that there is no need for a refrigerator? Consistantly cool temperatures preserve food well.
Hopefully, some photos in town the weekend of festivities are below. The traditional dress you see them in is indeed something the women wear daily, and they pulled out their best and cleanest for the celebration of the anneversary of Madrigal. 
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