Wednesday 1/11/17 - Working Remotely I woke up at 7 o'clock this morning and went upstairs to my "office." This morning there was actually some sunshine, and the internet was back to normal. In addition to contributing to good internet connectivity, the nice weather also meant that our wet laundry had a chance to dry before the next deluge rolled in. Antonio said that this rainy weather truly is unseasonable; usually January is sunny and nice. However, the last few days have been more like the "rainy season" (usually March-May). We hear that the weather is also unseasonable at home, with temps ranging from the single digits to the 50's within the span of two days! I took a break to eat breakfast with Craig and the family: ham, potato quiche, bread, coffee, and juice. While I was working, a young man and young woman showed up at the house, administering flu shots to Rosa, Abuelita, and Uncle Juan Pedro. They offered them to us as well, but we had already gotten them at home. It never ceases to amaze us how many goods and services make house calls here. It is really refreshing. By lunchtime, it was raining again, and we had to rescue the laundry from the clothesline. Lunch coincided with a break between meetings, so I got to eat with the family. We had cabbage soup with habas, spinach, steak, rice, and beans. Speaking of goods and services making house calls, there are always trucks coming by, selling everything from fish, potatoes, and produce to clothing and shoes. The trucks either play music or announce their wares via loudspeaker,as they go, so that everyone knows they are coming. I am especially fond of the music that the trash truck plays when it comes every Monday. This afternoon Rosa heard the dulcet tones of the fruit truck approaching. We waited for its arrival in front of the house, and the kids drew hopscotch on the dirt road. Rosa and Abuelita bought some fruit. The box truck was so high off the ground that Rosa and Abuelita had to stand on their tiptoes to see inside. Back at the house, the kids were rough-housing, and Shina started to cry. She had bumped her jaw, and we recently found out that she has eight teeth which are growing in problematically. The poor thing has trouble eating anything hard. Antonio will be taking her to the dentist tomorrow. Craig and I tried to comfort her, and I put some ice on her lower lip. She stopped crying and fell asleep on my lap, so I put her to bed. Antonio trimmed the final two panes of glass for my office window and installed them with Rosa's help. He also framed out an opening for a new window in the kitchen. By now, it was absolutely pouring rain again. All of the animals were huddled under the tarp of the pig pen, including the chickens. The pigs were huddled together for warmth, with piglets climbing on top of their mother Juanita. When the rain let up a little, we walked with Rosa, Sisa, and Yupanqui to the little community store to buy some food and supplies. When we got back to the house, Rosa made spaghetti with meat sauce and aji for dinner. Shina must have been very tired because she never woke up for dinner. As Yupanqui was getting ready to eat his soup, the tip of his traditional hair braid dunked right into the soup. That elicited many giggles.

Elusive sunlight filters through Abuelita's outdoor kitchen Shina, Craig, Yupanqui, and Sisa Abuelita, Rosa, and the kids buy fruits from the produce truck See all photos from this day