We haven't posted many pictures lately. We keep traveling a lot but keep going to the same spot. I have the assignment of Choquehuanca, Abancay, and Andahuaylas. Also with the mission english program we go to almost every city to do English interviews. We are getting around but I love it. I have decided I would rather ride the bus than the cars. At least you have a seat.
A couple of noteworthy things happened this week though. We were out walking the other morning (we try to walk every morning) and as we got close to the university the students came pouring out and blocked the Avenida de la Cultura and then went down the road and started occupying busses. They have just raised the tariffs to 80 and they are not happy. I felt bad we didn't have a camera but anyway the started taking busses and bringing them back to the university. It was pretty interesting to see the busses filled with students driving the roads with their signs and hanging out the windows. Anyway There are thirty buses or so inside the university. So all the busses quit running and didn't run yesterday. It is pretty weird to walk down the avenida and have very few cars and no busses there. I suppose it will all end tomorrow because the people cannot live if they don't work every day.
We were in Abancay last week and Sister Johnson got her purse stolen. All her Id, credit card, and phone. What a major inconvenience! We have only had our Carnet one week. The Police promised a thorough investigation. I can only imagine how that will go. They did do a report which helped a lot in getting a new carnet. but we still have to wait.
For all those who lived in the apartment on collasuyo we have to let you know that we are leaving it. The owner has become intolerable so we can't stay. He and his wife call the mission office every month and cuss them. Our lease ends the end of June so we will leave then. We have been looking and have found several very nice options. They are actually nicer and cost less so we won't be homeless. However we have loved it here and will miss it. I wish we could stay. I will post some pictures as we leave.
Well, it seems now that just about all of the mission couples have had a purse, phone, or other item stolen. Luckily nothing more serious than that, though it is frustrating, and a lot of hassle to replace those items.
ReplyDeleteSorry that you have to move. Are the office missionaries still on the top floor, or have they moved to another apartment. It is another hassle to move, then get internet connected. We hope that you do "upgrade" you apartment, it is so nice to have some comfort when you come in from a long day or trip. I had to do a little creative plumbing to get hot water to the washer, hope that you are able to have that feature in your new place, it sure made cleaning the clothes a lot nicer.
There seems to be a protest of some sort going on most of the time. Raising the bus fare to 80 centimos (about 25 cents) doesn't seem like much, but it will pinch a lot of people who don't have much, and need to move around the city. Most protests don't have any effect, but this one may. A couple of years ago there was a protest/strike by all the Tico taxi drivers, as a rule came down that they would be outlawed. I think the deadline got pushed back a year or so. It the Tico's arent banned, they will all fall apart on their own pretty soon anyway.
Hope you are well, we look forward to seeing your new adventures!