Enlightize: Coca Coca everywhere!

Today was my orientation at the place I will be volunteering. Before I came to Peru I was told I would be helping women with their business development goals within the textile industry. Yesterday I was informed that I would instead be working with a woman and her family on their coca museum business. The woman and her family hope to put to rest the negativity behind the coca leaf and promote education behind the medicinal effects of the coca leaf through their museums and various programs. After taking a quick tour of the museum, I realize I have my work cut out for me. That doesn't mean I'm not super excited to start though. :)

Lessons learned and experiences gained today:

1. You can make beer using coca leaves, but you get drunk MUCH quicker in Cusco due to the high altitude. Pace yo' self (Jade, that was for you)!

2. Altitude sickness doesn't go away just after one day.

3. Just because you see another gringo doesn't mean they speak english. I really should have learned this lesson back in the hostels of Morocco.

4. McFlurries in Cusco come with hot fudge and oreos! Also, make sure the chicken McBites are cooked all the way - mine weren't. By the way, I know someone is probably saying, "why did she eat McDonalds while in Peru?" I have this thing where whenever I travel somewhere I try an American chain restaurant for comparison. Considering this McDonalds sells buckets of chicken (actual chicken pieces and not nuggets), I think it was worth the experience. :) Not that I tried the bucket of chicken though.

5. Mannequins here are super scary. Why do the guy mannequins wear makeup and have such bright eyes?!

6. There's an otaku festival on the 26th!

7. Sex is heavily ingrained in the Incan culture. Sex and having a good sex life seems to be very important.

8. There's a shop here called Topitop which has awesome clothes. :) I'm not a huge shopper but I was finally able to buy a coat - a nice one at that! No more frozen tooshie for me.