Hi everyone Well i am starting to get myself settled in Cusco aftewr a bit of a disappointing start, i.e. nobody telling me anything about my placement for 3 days!! Cusco is really touristy and very cold!! bed socks, thermal PJs and 4 extra blankets is compulsory!! The picture on the postcard is of the main square which is two blocks from where i am living. Anyway, I have started an intensive spanish class at the local language school and have 4 hour lessons every morning for one week and then once i start my placement i am going to drop down to having 2 hour private lessons, twice a week. My accommodation is nice and i think i am very lucky. The people at the language school who are staying with host families have no hot water, so i am very privileged to have hot water and a TV!!! Today has been good - my host Elena picked me up from school and took me to the school where i am going to be doing my placement. I practically had to have an interview! it is a private school which teaches half the day in spanish and half the day in english so th kids are bi-lingual at the end of it. I will be in with the english teacher, teaching pre-kindergarten which is 4!! It is like little gerry's running around speaking in cute little spanish accents!! Lots of paint and glue to get stuck into as well - get in!! Anyway, from monday i will be working there every day from 7.45 - 12.30, then after that i am going to work in the afternoons in the orphanages, and maybe some weekends. I have just come back from visiting an orphanage it was so sad. The kids get so exicted when they get visitors and they were all coming up and kissing me. My host had to leave me to speak to the prinicipal about me and the kids were climbing all over me. They were so funny. The orhpanage is set out in little houses in its own estate. In each house there is 10 kids and 1 sort of mother figure in each who looks after everything. It is a really good idea and hopefully i will get to work there. However, i am going to visit another one tomorrow which is run by nuns and is supposed to be very strict, so i don't know if i will like that one. Anyway, in between school and the orphanages i am also going to try and fit some more private spanish lessons in and i may be going white water rafting with the people from the language school on saturday!! Am turning into some outward bound freak!! anyway, i will keep you posted once i start my placement properly. melll x p.s. I have found the best place to eat, all restaurants seem to serve is rice and potatoes!! however i have now found an ozzy place which sells burgers and salads and bacon sarnies - GET IN!!!