I HAVE RETURNED....

Hello all of my blog followers....
I have finaly returned to the United States. Thinking back over the last month it is so hard to even imagine that I was out of the country let alone in South America. I am glad to be back, but at the sme time already miss it. Like simple things like the fact that we walked every where while we were in Peru. Here at home I would never think about walking anywhere, but instead drivemy cr. We walked to and from school everyday and also to our activities. In all we probably walked about 2-3 miles a day.
So the last week in Peru was jam packed full of adventures...
We wanted to do something big for the last weekend in Peru so a group of us decided to take a crazy long bus ride to the Amazon Rainforest. We took a bus for 11 hours winding in and out of the mountains. It was a rough 11 hours because as you were tryin to sleep you constantly felt like you were going fly out of your seat. It was also extremely hot in the bus, but we weren't allowed to keep the windows open because the bus driver said that bad air would get in like spirits and make us sick.
Anyway, so we finally got to the Puerto Mordanado we took a bus to a boat which took s down the Madre de Dio river. We took all of our stuff with us and walked through the jungle for 5 K. I couldn't believe that we were actually walking in the Amazon. It was like something out of a movie. There were all kinds of low hanging trees surrounding us making a canopy. We could hear birds flying from one tree to another caling out to each other.
The only miserable part about the Amazon was that it was so hot! There is pretty much 100% humidity and by the time we made it to the lodge we were all dripping with sweat! We all stayed in these primitive cabins without electricity. Each one came complete with a fly net that we slept under to keps the bugs away. Early the next morning even before the sun was awake we were paddling in a conoe. We went for adventure and found Macaw bids in the trees. It was a beatiful sight. During the ret of our time we went on seveal more adventures in the canoes looking for wildlife. We found so many different types of birds and Caman, a type of alligator. That night we went on a night hike through the forest. Before we left the island the next day we went to a place called Monkey Island. It is an island where they are reintroducing monkeys that have been abused and used places like in the circus back into the wild. I got pretty close and got some great picutures. TheAmazon was so amazing! I can now say that I have been in the Jungle.
For the last week we had classes and did fun things the afternoon. A few days we went shopping at the Artisan Market for gifts. By the end I got pretty good at bardering for good prices. If you ever get the chance to go to Peru be sure and try th churros. They are so amazing and so worth 50 centimos.
On our last night we the school invited us all to a dinner. We had Pollo brazada which is a famous dish in Peru! I thought it was so sweet of the school to talk us out to dinner. It was cute the last day of classes because all of the teachers were asking for our email address and wanting to take pictures with us. One of my teachers has already added me on facebook.
For our last night in Peru we went out to a Discoteca called Inkateam. It was fun to go out and have a good time, but after a few hours I was done.
The next morning we had to say good bye to our families and board the plane. It was bitter sweet getting excited to return home but at the same time knowing that I was leaving very special peopl behind. People that I had fallen in love with like my 2 year old host sister Mia knowing that I probably wouldn´t ever be able to see her again. Or the amazing cooking of my host mom. All of that laughter that we had shared during meals in the evening and comfusing sentences when I couldn´t figure out exactly how to express my thought. I would miss it all.
My trip to Peru was a once in a life time expeince. It is something that I will cherirsh for the rest of my life and will never forget!