We are coming to grips with the fact that we may not be returning to the States this summer with another child or two in our family. As with many adoptions, ours is taking longer than expected. That being said, living here and becoming part of this culture, we are all the more excited and eager to welcome a Peruvian child or sibling pair into our family...at some point. We figure another trip back during the coming year is not a bad thing! Plus, Rick will be teaching a study abroad program here in Cusco for University of Richmond students this May through July, and we hope to make this an annual trip for our family.
What saddens us the most, as we await word regarding the adoption, is that there are so many children here without homes and families. The system only allows those children who have been formally abandoned to be adopted. Many parents put their children in orphanages for various reasons -- usually financial -- and then continue to visit them occasionally. So, given that we have been fairly specific in our request (a little girl or sibling pair 6 years-old or younger) means that we may have to wait a while. We'll see... We are certainly learning patience.
When in Rome...
One of my (Jen) best friends here is the 80+ year old woman who lives across the way/sidewalk from us with her 98 year-old husband. We are constantly exchanging food and gifts, and I have recently been attending the local Catholic church with her. Well, on Easter she brought over a plate of food for us that was difficult for me/us to look at, let alone eat. It was "Cuy", which is a local delicacy here: cooked guinea pig. I am attaching a picture. You may be able to see the little arms and paws sticking out. Thankfully she didn't give us the whole body (including head/face), which is how they usually serve it here. Had we been invited to their house, I would have done my best to clean my plate! I'm not sure how the boys would have done, though...
Bird Watching:Tim and Rick had the opportunity to go bird watching with our neighbor who is a professor in Ornithology at the nearby University. Tim loved it. We're all going to go again soon.
