While I am feeling almost 100% today and at home would be at my own free will and accord to do as I please, in Peru I am still at the mercy of my wonderfully awesome family. They mean well, I just fail to see there methods sometimes.
At breakfast I was allowed only the pre-toasted bread. I’m not talking about Quizno’s toasted bread, or even a nice slice of garlic bread from your favorite Italian restaurant. This is like going to Walmart, asking them to toast your bread and them purchasing it. It’s edible, but not on my list of “must bring to States.” I am allowed whatever type of tea I’d like though, which is good, because if they would made me drink coca I would not be a happy camper.
Between breakfast and lunch I went to try and call my mom at Don Estebon’s, but she wasn’t there (I forgot that it’s Derek’s wedding today). I only wanted her to know I was a live. I’m sure lots of people survive salmonella in foreign countries, but still, I felt keeping her in the know would be best, My family wants me to drink four things: water, tea, Gatorade, and Sprite… but no pop, that is definitely off the list. I didn’t try it, but I am sure I could argue that coffee is water, right?
At lunch my restriction and dieta become even clearer. I am not allowed to eat anything except what is prepared in the house for me and served to me on my plates (which are now kept separate from the rest so the family doesn’t get sick). In addition I can’t have anything with milk (all dairy, that is) or fruit. However, my dieta soup today included three lovely whole chicken livers. As if eating them when well weren’t hard enough.
After stomaching the livers and declaring, “¡Que rico!” I headed out to meet Allison and Sofia to do some shopping. I realized that I had forgotten to buy my grandparents anything, and while they all exclaimed at Christmas that they don’t like having gift bought for them because they are old, I don’t care. I’ll take it back when they’re gone if that’ll make them happier about it, but they’re getting something from Peru regardless.
After some quality time at our favorite stores we thought we would try to finish our paper… we only had one section left. After about an hour, we decided to be done. Mean while I had broken two of my rules and eat dairy and food that was not prepared in the house. In my defense, I have been craving lasagna for weeks and I knew that chicken liver soup was on the menu again. Honestly, can you blame me? Before leaving we shared youtube classics and then went our separate ways. They tried to talk me into going out tonight but there is no way I am going before Puno…. The people we’re staying with don’t even have floors in their houses. I do not want to be remotely sick while being there,
As if it were any surprise, we had chicken liver soup for dinner. Ben retracted his earlier statement about getting used to them and through one of his two in my bowls after I said I was finished. I wish the whole thing had been recorded, it was quite the entertainment, or at least to us it us.
After eating Ben, Papi and I watched the volleyball game, and it was quite the showing. Peru won in three sets (25-7, 25-11, 25-10) to Tunez. It was really a great day to be a Peru sports fan because the soccer team beat Venezuela 4-1.
While every bit of that lasagna was extremely delicious, I wonder if it was smart. My tummy has been a rumbling ever since. I hope this isn’t a decision I regret in the night….
Peru vs Venezuela- http://news.lalate.com/2011/07/23/peru-vs-venezuela-2011-battle-for-copa-america-third-place/
Peru vs Tunez- http://luizcore.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/voley-mundial-juvenil-peru-2011-peru-vs-tunez-%C2%A1en-vivo-en-directo/
Chicken Liver- http://chicken-livers.com/
