We had a very quick look at our new accommodations before walking (a rather long walk, i might add) back to the main square for our welcome ceremony. The people of Orquillos were truly amazing, bringing each one of us flowers, sprinkling us with confetti, then dancing with everyone. I don't know that I've ever been so fawned over, except by my grandmothers maybe.
Claire and Maren aka Confetti Heads
They then served us lunch, which consisted of duck, rice, and beet salad. There were no utensils so we dug in with fingers, making a giant mess but no one seemed to care. All of it was delicious. I've never had duck before but would definitely eat it again! Beer followed the meal, a different one than Cusquena though - I think it was Pilsen?
La comida
Very tasty, however beer makes me have to go to the bathroom, so Claire and I were sent to one of the local's houses to use the facilities. We spent a few minutes hunting round the backyard for the toilet when Nancy, one of the Peruvian project liaisons, informed us that we just needed to pick a nice corner and let nature run its course. Easier said than done, considering there was a very barky dog, some stray cats, and two inquisitive chickens hanging about. :-)
Post celebration, we walked back up the hill towards home and to pick up the lumber for our bunk beds. At first we didn't think there would be a car to carry everything, so one of the village men tied NINE MATTRESSES to his back and carried them up the hill. Needless to say, they found a car after that. However, in all of the hullabaloo, someone left our front gate open as well as the stable door open, so two donkeys, three pigs, and a pile of very naughty sheep took off down the street like bats out of hell. I tried unsuccessfully to herd them home until Carmen, one of the girls who lives in the house, grabbed a stick and chased everyone home with a single command. Sigh.
The next several hours were spent assembling bunk beds and assigning sleeping arrangements. Looks like we will have a girls' room and a boys' room! Just like camp. The beds are kind of rickety and no one wanted to sleep on the top bunk. However, there were four girls and only three bottom bunks, so Maren bravely volunteered to put her mattress on the floor.
First night "at home" as a group - Maren and Claire
Vienna and Parker
Me (of course) and Claire
Ralph and Brendan
Once the beds were sorted out, we all gathered around a table downstairs for what I've dubbed family supper. Richard told us we'd be having soup each night since it digests easier. Tonight we had zucchini soup, which was amazing. After dinner we all hung out in our room for a bit before falling into our sleeping bags and trying to get used to the farm noises. We spent some time examining each other's iPods and I discovered that Parker and Vienna are big Ratatat fans. Nice!
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