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Today honestly feels like the longest day of my life. I am currently writing from the PROASSA offices, where I have been absolutely dying for a glass of water. My journey from the Lima airport where I updated last to this point has been filled with magnificent ups and downs. Finding my flight was relatively simple, despite it not having been confirmed until 20 minutes before take off. I was the only identifiable western person on the flight and to make me stand out even more, the seats in my row remained empty except for myself, while all other rows were completely filled. Yes, this was very odd.

As the plane descended into Chiclayo, I was at first ecstatic to see lush green farms that were in direct opposition to the gray and brown mountains that characterized Cusco. Soon the landscape turned to dirt roads and dusty shacks, and the only colour besides brown visible is when I would catch sight of a child playing in the streets. The airport is little more than a room with a conveyor belt and after collecting my luggage I went outside to find my driver. Of course he wasn´t there. I had a slight panic attack and then found a phone and the second I got an answer all my spanish went out the window. The first number did not seem to be of the hotel. I tried the second number. This time they managed to say my name and “one moment” so I at least knew they knew I was at the airport. Once I went back outside, all other passengers had cleared and I was crowded by a group of taxi driver´s that hadn´t been able to fill their cars. I tried to breathe normally while waiting and hoping that someone, anyone would come to get me. After what seemed like 3 hours (really 15 minutes) someone came around. Soon I was checked into my hotel and feeling somewhat safe in this urban jungle. The room does not have internet as promised, but rather a computer in the main lobby with a keyboard from 1974. The room does have cable and so I am able to have at least that single comfort. I slept surprisingly good despite the fact that my room faces the street which is full of cars and motorbikes that honk their horns and let their alarms go off for all hours of the night. Waking up this morning I knew I had a challenging day ahead of me. Thankfully I was able to start it with a hot shower…

Next I looked for breakfast and was served cardboard toast and frozen butter. At least the tea and juice was bearable. Next I went to my email and saw that Isabel from PROASSA had emailed me her phone numbers. I made every attempt to try to call the numbers, but as simple as making a phone call sounds, it proved to be nearly impossible. After a huge ordeal, I had Juan from the front desk telling me “tu cortar fono” (you cut the phone). Next thing I knew, he was in my room drawing me pictures that were supposed to resemble the idea of him helping me. In the end, I emailed Isabel back and told her I was incompotent and would wait for her to call me. I then was unable to leave the hotel, having no idea how long I would need to wait. Thankfully, it was not long and at 1pm she came by to pick me up. I was then put into a yellow beetle with four other people and taken to some place that resembled a country club, where two more people met us and we all ate lunch. I don´t know what I ate – one part looked like fried bananas. I think I tasted pork. Or chicken. I struggled my way through lunch with my limited spanish and then was ushered back into the beattle. Having NO idea where we were going, we ended up at the PROASSA office and I was happy to be greeted by a Planet Bean/Cafe Femenino poster – a replica of the one we have in our Grange Street cafe. Then I was taken to a boardroom where the next month of my life were mapped out doing interviews, visiting people and travelling to various communities. I went from thinking that I would have nothing to do for the next few weeks, to having every aspect planned out for me. It is both exciting and terrifying. I have since been hanging out at the office, hoping that eventually someone will usher me back to the hotel since I have no idea where we are or where my hotel could me. I am very much hoping that this will happen before dark so that I can find water and not have to venture outside without daylight on my side. I have never been so thirsty!

So that is my first day of fieldwork in a nutshell. While I am happy to have some kind of plan in the works concerning my time here, I am still trying hard not to get on the next flight home where things are much more easy to deal with. It is a completely surreal feeling to think that I am actually here and I long for the day when I start to feel comfortable here, if that day will ever come at all.

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