I was feeling bored the other day (hey, it happens a lot in a town where the only means of entertainment is kicking a soccer ball around in the dirt), so I decided to go to Puno to watch a movie. I entered the cine and paid my 30 cents and then was led to a small room with a regular-sized TV. Then they proceeded to pop a pirated DVD into the player and turned out the lights. It was very poorly dubbed, so I could hardly understand anything. I think I'll have to watch the unpirated Pirates movie when I get back to the States so I can figure out what was going on.

This weekend, there were a couple other gringas staying at the hostel, so I hung out with them on Saturday. We went to the floating Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca. These islands are made entirely of reeds and the Uros People originally built them hundreds of years ago to separate themselves from the Incas. We walked around on the squishy ground and took a ride in a reed boat and took some pictures and that's about it. They have no electricity on the islands so they have solar panels set up, which I thought was interesting, since they're so traditional but then have that modern source of energy.

These guys are making a reed boat.

Today the guys in charge of the town clean up day presented the kids with 40 basketballs, soccerballs, and volleyballs as a reward for their hard work. They brought me along so I could take pictures (which has happened a lot here since none of them has a camera). Then they introduced me and made me tell the kids about the English classes I'm giving and invite them to come. I really hate talking in front of big crowds, but talking in front of a whole school in another language??? Yikes. I don't even know what I said. But then afterwards, a few girls came up and kissed me and said hi. So I think I'll be having more students tonight that usual.

Balls!

Here's me being nervous in front of the whole school.

I've been holding class from 6-8 at night on weekdays. There are about eight high-schoolers who come and also a few adults. They all really want to learn and they got upset one night when I wanted to end class 10 minutes early. A couple girls wanted me to translate "Where is the love?" and "I don't like your boyfriend" into Spanish because they like those American songs. I thought it was kind of funny. It's also interesting to note how much faster the young ones catch on than the older adults. I have to go over and over something for them to get it and the teenagers understand right away. Teach your kids a language when they're young!

I was hanging out in the plaza today when these boys came up to me wanting to shine my shoes. This was not the first time they've bugged me and I usually tell them I like my shoes dirty or something. But today I thought "Why not?" So now my shoes are nice and polished and he even got off the white paint that's been on them since my Louisiana mission trip last year. Now I wonder how long they'll stay nice?

Okay, time for a Rorschack test. Tell me what you see in this mess of peeling paint and water stains: 

This is on my bedroom wall and whenever I look over there, I see a teapot. Let me know what you think.