Things I do now that I didn't before...

✪ Give and receive directions in relation to Jesus. "Go 2 blocks right from Cristo Blanco..." It's a statue, but has become our local compass. 

✪ Hear the same J-Lo song at least 6 times daily.

✪ Read 501 Spanish Verbs like it's a tabloid. Seriously. I was recently given my 3rd copy of this book and it's already worn more than my high school and college editions combined. 

✪ Wear a headlamp to the bathroom. 

✪ Stare at mountains. 

✪ Watch the Disney channel in excess... and enjoy it. Little secret- Disney Junior has basic vocabulary... meaning I can follow an entire show in Spanish without getting caught up on a random word, then getting lost. I never thought I would enjoy Olivia, Mickey and Friends, Los Hechiceros de Lugar Waverly, and Jake y Los Piratas, but I do. It's a great way to familiarize myself with grammar/ idioms, etc. AND I'm spending time with Arturo. Surprising little win with the Disney channel. Arturo has an awesome laugh and he loves it when Goofy, Mickey, and Donald dance. I should make a video of this sometime. 

✪ Eat copious amounts of avocados. I love every one of them. 

✪ Watch soccer because I want to. Aside from the Olympics, The Winter X-Games, and American football, I usually only watch televised sports if I'm sitting next to Joe. Not anymore ;) Soccer really is the beautiful game. Now if only I could play...

✪ Cross the street as if I were training for an obstacle course. 

✪ Appreciate toilet paper. 

✪ Drink soda. Tastes way better without the corn syrup. Don't tell my dentist...

✪ Mentally prepare myself for showers. There is only one temperature for showers here: frigid. Lately, I've been sneaking into the kitchen after I shower to put my hands over the stove and regain feeling in my fingers. 

✪ Hear little gems like "Killing Me Softly" and Bryan Adams tunes in their Spanish versions. 

✪ See over the bathroom stall doors when standing in a normal position from inside the stall. I'm not a tall person, but in Peru I feel tall. I'm so 'tall' here that my head sometimes pokes over the bathroom stall doors. I'm still amused by this. 

This list reflects month 1 and shall be amended and added to at a later date as my trip progresses...

Cristo Blanco in the back.