Swing.

Our intention this morning was, like yesterday, to wake up at 6 am and be in the community around 7 to catch people before they left for the fields. Unfortunately (or very fortunately?) Wednesday night is the most happening party night in Urubamba (mostly because everyone leaves for Cusco on the weekends) so we decided we owed it to ourselves to hit Club Tequila. 


We didn't end up leaving the house until 8 this morning, and had a frustrating time trying to track down the people we needed for our surveys. The sun was boiling, and the faint red undertone I've been sporting recently upgraded to a light burn. We trudged from house to house, Yasmine taking charge of brandishing rocks at dogs, with little success. Just when we were ready to give up we found a house with a beautiful front garden, and stopped to tell the owner how lovely it was even though he wasn't eligible for our survey (no kids in the elementary school). He invited us in and before I knew it I was being pushed on a home made rope swing beside a duck pond. We laughed like kids, partly because swinging is an awesome activity and partly because we couldn't believe the whimsical turn our day had taken. 

Doing these surveys with Yasmine has really been a gift. We go when we think we can find the most people, we make our own schedule based on our flimsy understanding of the village layout, and we get to do things like play with babies and help women strip down thin branches for basket weaving. We get offered food, and always have a beautifully woven blanket spread out over rocks or stools before we sit down. Now when we arrive in the morning we exchange greetings and kisses and waves with the people who allowed us (strangers) into their homes just the day before. When we say goodbye we promise to see them at this Saturday's general assembly, and when they tell us how delicious the peaches will be in January, I can say I'll be around to taste them.