A Dream

The last month has brought about a number of big changes for our family, but it feels like a dream come true. 

Igor got into the medical residency program he applied for in Cajamarca to become a pediatrician.  Although he has a grueling schedule, alternating between 36 and 12 hour shifts, without any days off, he enjoys his work and is learning a lot.  This month he began his residency in the neonatal pathology unit where he works every day.  For each of his nightshifts he works in the pediatric part of the emergency room where he has seen numerous interesting cases, including a child with Guillain Barre syndrome and another with Kawasaki Disease. 

The possibility of Iris and me staying behind in Chiclayo until her younger sibling is born existed, but two days before Igor had to move to begin his program, we decided that we would all move together.  That meant that we had a whirlwind of activities to complete.  Since my contract with the university had not yet ended, I had to get permission from the director of the university’s language center to continue teaching my online classes, but from Cajamarca.  We had to pack up all of our belongings, search for a truck and driver who could transport our belongings, and create the absurd inventory list every item we were moving to be submitted at various tax points along the route since we were moving outside of the province.  Although it was an exhausting experience, we learned a lot about moving in this country and are happily settled in in our new home.

We now live in what could be described as a suburb of Cajamarca—Los Baños del Inca (The Incan Baths).  An independent community about 4 miles from Cajamarca’s city center, the Incan Baths is considered to be Peru’s First Wonder.  While many tourists come to bathe in the thermal springs, the community is tranquil and is a mosaic of the past, present and future, of city and farm life.  We live in a lovely apartment in a condominium, just five blocks from the city’s main square, but with farm animals nearby.  Some animals are kept in lots walled with bricks, while other animals are brought by their owners to graze in the open, green, grassy lots around.  Iris has enjoyed seeing sheep, pigs, turkeys, ducks, hens and roosters, donkeys, horses, cats, dogs and even locals milking their cows—all within 2 blocks of our home.  Iris found it particularly humorous to see a woman walking her donkey that was loaded down with packs.  To her the “donkey [was] wearing a purse!”  Iris also thoroughly enjoys the nearby playground that also has several swimming pools inside.

 Iris's new bedroom

our living room and the view out its window

Iris thrilled with her friend "Pepe" the cricket that she found in the apartment

Unlike Chiclayo, Cajamarca has more cultural events.  We took Iris to a live production the Wizard of Oz.  I was very excited, but unfortunately it was not the Wicked Witch that made us leave only a half an hour after it began, but rather that Iris was terrified of the Tin Man, and we were unable to subdue her screams.  She now seems to have conquered her fear of the Tin Man as she now finds many tiny, imaginary tin men on our floor and asks them if they need some grease.  We also went to a 3D photo museum display the other day which was really neat.  The paintings all represented themes that Cajamarca is well known for.

 Iris and I were ready to milk the cows, who seemed all to eager to be milked :)

 Iris and I mixed the Chicha de Jorra (a beverage made from corn)

 Iris and I beat the drum for the Carnival festival

  Iris and I danced at the base of Santa Apolonia for the Carnival festival

 A man threw paint on us at the the Carnival festival

After dreaming of being together on our own for a long time, we are finally able to really enjoy it, even if Igor isn’t home all that often.

Below are a few pictures from the Independence Day parade that we went to earlier this morning.