hey all!

Hope things are well in the states. Here, a fw days ago, things were not so well. All throughout last week, one of my dogs was acting really weird. He was sad, and not eating. Instantly, I thought he had worms. But he started foaming at the mouth shortly after. I then instantly thought RABIES!!! So we called the vet and found out he had distemper, which is still just as contagious but ever so slightly less scary. At least humans cant catch distemper. So, on monday morning, the vet comes when no one else is home (go figure) to put down my dog. I end up being the only one there to help her vaccinate the dogs, and put down the other. What a tramatic experience! Not only did I watch my dog die, but the vet just left, and I had to figure out what to do with his body!

On my way to the schools in my town, I run into the vet again in front of my host grandma´s property. NOW she wants help vaccinating the cows. If any of you have ever vaccinated cows, you know what a pain in the butt it is! They are such trouble, it took us 2 hours to vaccinate 4 of them. I couldnt even believe what a pain it was! They kicked, they ran around, they tried hitting us with their horns, and even just side blinding us with their enormous, human crushing bodies. I was, to say the least, tired and pissed by the time I got to the schools. I am NEVER doing that again. Not only because I fear for my life, but also my sanity and rage that would inevitably lead to a dead cow.

After this AWESOME morning, I go to a funeral the daughter of one of Frieda´s (my site partner) community partners, someone Frieda has know for 2 years, and I myself work with on a daily basis. Apparently, every year, there is a race downt he pan-am from Trujillo to Arequipa. One of the cars who help the race cars hit her while she was crossing the street to her house. Her mother, my community partner, was watching when her 14 year old daughter got hit by a this truck which dragged her 40 meters before stopping. I dont think I have ever seen anyone in so much pain and so distraught before in my life. I cant even begin to imagine how sad she must be. Frieda and I bought some things for Mary, the community partner, and go to her house every three days or so. Her daughter, which Frieda has spent time with many times, and I have met once, was going to celebrate her quinciñera (biggest birthday celebration for girls) a month from the day she died. They had the place rented, the theme picked out, and all the food arrangements made. And why did she die? Because Peru is stupid enough to have a race through urbanized areas without any restriction nor forwarning to the people in the area. The cars just zip through at more than 150 mph, killing whoever is in the way. Last year, they killed a young boy in the mountains. This must happen all the time. Such a sad day for the world.

Teigan