Starbucks specials and Quinoa

Okay, I know. I'm horrible at keeping up with my blog. I would say that I'll do better, but I think we all know that is not true. So for this post, I will stick with some good and some funny stories from the past few days and try (keep mind the definition of try) to update more often. So hold me to it! [=

Okay, so first I have successfully completed the first season of The X Files. What does this have to do with anything? Simple: I watch the show while working on Emerge stuff. Yes, I am a pro at multitasking. I think the best X Files moment was when I was watching an episode super late at night and the TV just mysteriously shut off. I immediately looked around for some bright lights and prepared my self for an alien encounter. Don't worry, nothing happened... that I remember. [=

One day, I went with Lauren and Jess our mentor to this shopping super center called Gamarra. Literally 10 city blocks of nothing but stores. We walked into one building that looked like it was only 4 stories to discover that over half the building was under ground. All the buildings were basically like this. So it was an awesome experience. I bought 4 pairs of earrings for 6.5 soles and a pair of harem pants for 17 soles. What is that in USDollars? Less than $10. Oh yes, I am so going back before I leave. The only problem is that there are no sizes, everything is one size and each store has a different size. So you really have to look to find  good clothes, but the deals make it worth it.

On Thursdays, I help out with ICPNA's production of Hairspray. All I really do is to help the singers with their pronunciation. Which is fun, since the Peruvian accent pronounces 'b' as a pretty solid 'v'. Which turns the song "Good Morning Baltimore" into "Good Morning Voldemort". I really can't help but wonder what a merging of the two stories would be like.. just picture it: Harry Potter meets Hairspray! The Musical! I would definitely check that show out.

I still do a good bit of surveys and flyer-passing-out at various ICPNAs and Universidads. One time, I met these two guys that could just barely speak English, but needed some help with an English class project. They told me that I had fallen from the sky and told Lauren that she had beautiful eyes. Because flattery will always work on gringas. I still giggle at just how corny those lines are, I never thought someone would actually use it on me.

Starbucks in Lima is amazing. They have several promotions pretty often. This past week was buy one get one free for hot drinks. The first Friday that I was in Peru was Peruvian Coffee day, so if you brought a cup, you got free coffee. Sure, there's no pumpkin anything at the Starbucks here, or the amazing red velvet cheesecake. But really, when was the last time I got free coffee at the Starbucks back in the States? Plus, coffee is just better in South America. Period.

Which brings me to the meeting Lauren and I had in Starbucks with John. Actually, it is what happened after the meeting that is important. And totally a God thing. So Lauren, who has a tiny bladder, and I had some pretty excellent machiatos and were headed out the door to go back to the apartment when Lauren needed to go to the bathroom. But wait! The door was locked. So we had to cross the street and go into TGI Fridays. While Lauren was exploring the upper level of Fridays, I was thinking to myself that we should hand the workers some flyers from Emerge. So when she came back down we talked to a waiter about Emerge. The manager came over and asked what we were doing, so we explained to him about Emerge and the free English conversation groups. He suggested that we go to the Fridays in Larcomar( a super cool mall right on the ocean. I'll post some pics of it one day..). So Lauren and I head back to the apartment and grab a quick lunch and then make our way to Larcomar along the Malecon. Once we get there, we start talking to the hostess about Emerge. This guy comes over and introduces himself as Diego and seemed really interested in Emerge. He asks for a flyer to take the HR folks once he gets back to his office and says that they would give us a call about the groups. Long story short, God put us in the right place at the right time to talk to the possible owner of all the TGI Fridays in Lima. I don't know if anything will come from this while I'm here, but I like to think that a connection was made that day that could be used in the future.

Okay, that's all I have time for today. [= Y'all know the drill by now. Leave me some questions if you have any. [=

Love you all and wishing a bit of happiness for you on everyday,

Lauren T