Day 7

Sunday was the grand parade for independence day which is actually 7/28 but the parade was this weekend.  It was four hours from 2:30 to 6:30. But our apartment is on the route in a quieter part so we were able to move chairs to the fence line and could sit sometimes.   The parade is sponsored by a local store called Wong.  So pretty much like Macy's does thanksgiving.  The start had about five Chinese dragons and it ended with a large lit up dragon because Wongs is owned by the Chinese. In the middle were many different groups in local costumes performing folk dances and various pageant winners such as Miss Argentina, Miss Peru, Miss Brazil etc.  One of the floats contained performers from a popular T.V. Game show. The crowd went crazy and a large group of people were just running along and following this one float.

My host family had her daughter and her two grandsons came over for the parade.  The oldest is 8 and the baby just short of 3.  Very cute and well behaved.  The daughter works with children with down syndrome.  Their other daughter lives in Canada and a son in Los Angeles. We started the day with a breakfast made by Luis.  The first time he cooked.  A mixture of scrambled eggs and chorizo on bread.  The bread here is very good,  actually almost everything peruana is good.  The only bad thing I've had was the pizza.  Then we walked down to see a few of the floats getting ready.  
After the parade dinner and bed,  what and exciting life !  No? The other student that was in the house was from New Jersey and he left.  I mentioned that it was really noisy from street noise in my room so we moved rooms the other is on the other side of the apartment and quieter.  When she asked if I wanted to move I hesitated, I mean I knew I was comfortable if  I changed?  Who knew.  So I tried the new bed and I said is it the same?  I decided it was so I said ok?  But next thing I knew they were moving the mattress from my room, I thought how odd if she didn't want me to mess up another sheet why not just change the sheets?  Finally I had to ask.  She thought I said the other mattress was better so she wanted me make sure I was most comfortable so they just changed the mattress out.  Lol, very accommodating they are.  I find pretty much the same through out.  Just the nicest people ever.  Also it is very interesting to see the confidence.  In Texas people from Mexico tend to shy away from contact and tend to do menial labor.  But here of course is their home turf.  I am the odd man out.   There are lots of casinos near my apartment.  I looked into one.  They have similar games and they take American dollars for the most part, there is a small room with machines that will take soles.  But I need my money for my travels so I am leaving the casinos alone!