"It's the little things."

I've been catching myself saying, "it's the little things" over and over again.

To me, the little things are what matter. By being easily pleased, you will be happier. Appreciating smells, food, and a person's laugh are what I'm talking about...it doesn't take much to make a person happy. Here are some of the little things I love here in Peru:

This past Saturday, my host mom and I played Peruvian music and washed our clothing, by hand, on the roof in the blazing sun. Got my tan on! Moves were busted and memories were made.

Last Friday night Emelie and I bought ourselves some milk and oreos and watched Sex and the City. Sleepovers with your girlfriends are my favorite thing.

Some photos to help you better understand "the little things."

Jamie took me for a tour in Washington, D.C. and pumped me up mentally for my adventure right at steps of the Lincoln memorial.

 

 Ali came for not even ten minutes to the Miami airport to give me a hug goodbye! Had to get back into security for the flight to Lima in 40 minutes so she hugged, kissed and gave me wise words before my life changed completely. What an absolute angel, right?!

The whole group at the Miami airport before take-off, Peace Corps Peru 20:

At the retreat center when we first arrived:

The first day I met my mom, Gregoria Rutti. She picked me up to take me to my new home during training!

The beautiful training center during lunch, where parrots fly around every so often:

Scrappy (cocker spaniel) and Chatin, my dogs.

 

First day of doing laundry by hand slash tanning in the hot sun:

The street I live on:

Little Chatin:

Sunday, preparing the FEAST that is pollo pachamanca:

Mi prima and I did our nails that day too:

Our ducks:

The backyard:

The literature I'm reading these days:

Some more of the world around me:

 My fav kind of flower, sunflowers in Yanacoto:

The outside of my lovely home:

 Pollo pachamanca: you dig a hole in the ground, put the food inside of it then bury it so the heat doesn't escape from the rocks you've burned and come back an hour later and WA-LA, you've got yourself a gourmet meal. Just have to dig it out!

MY FAMILIA!!! Mi hermano (Francisco), mi mama (Gregoria), mi papa (Francisco),  mis hermanos (Fernando, Francin, Rudy), me, mi prima (Lizet) and two family friends that came over on Sunday for the feast:

 Pollo pachamanca, all cooked in the ground:

Yanacoto, where I live, and Chosica off in the distance from the chapel up the hill behind my house:

 Seth, Emelie and I went for a hike up to la capilla:

"FAMILIA!!!"

 Mi hermana/closest friend here in Peru, Emelie:

Although I can't explain the beauty in words, I hope these photos help paint a picture for you, family and friends. I also can't explain how happy I am that I'm here. Life is SO good, because of "the little things," like sunflowers, pollo pachamanca, Ali, Jamie, Emelie, la capilla, the view from my house, Chatin, mi mama...the list seems to be infinite here in Peru. Makes me wonder - how did I ever get so lucky??? :-P