August 21: Welcome to Huaraz….there may have been some line dancing involved

We got into the city around 6 am and hauled all over our stuff up to the storage room in the hostel; we got there too early for a room to be ready. Then, following the usual steps, we went to CA Café for breakfast. We met some more Ancash volunteers or tried to at least, we sort of ended up half asleep on couches. Before the regional meeting Ali, Keren and I tried to go in search of a lock and a knit hat. By the time we got to the plaza we were all so confused that I just bought a lollipop and we went straight back to the cafe. This whole event was even more amusing because as we were standing in a circle, pointing three different directions, one of the other volunteers was just sitting on a bench watching. He eventually asked if we were lost, but we couldn’t even explain why were in the plaza in the first place.……can anyone say sleep deprivation? :-P
After breakfast was the regional meeting. The five of us got to meet pretty much everyone that lives in Ancash and they made us cards! In general I think the regional meetings are going to be very useful, but that morning the five of us were doing everything we could just to keep our eyes open. The last week of PST is not a restful time. Luckily we were able to go take naps as soon as the meeting was over….and showers. Have a mentioned that our hostel has hot showers. Love it!
Once we were rested and clean and generally human again we joined in for the evening’s festivities. Sophie, the Ancahs PCVC, is leaving us; so Sunday night was her going away party. We cooked in the hostel and then went back to the CA Café for a potluck and a talent show. Being the new kids in the group, we figured we should perform, so Brice taught as all some country line dance. I can safely say it was a hit  I also did the tap routine I had made up for the host family celebration in Lima. Turns out its way harder to tap dance at higher elevations, of course breathing in general is harder too. After the talent show we stopped back by the hostel to drop off the food containers before heading to some other local Huaraz hang out for a while. Overall we basically got the best welcome anyone could have asked for and I can’t wait to spend more time with the Ancash family.