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Wednesday

I got to play with the puppies with Rachel while the other girls cleaned up. We then went to the nursing home with the puppies. Mila got a call that Jasha had hurt his back while working in our volunteer house. She went to get him and take him to the hospital. Rachel and I went to see our favorite lady Camilla and she was very excited to see the puppies again. Another favorite lady gave me so many kisses on the check. We interacted with them until they had to go to lunch. Camilla was pulling bread out of her pocket and making sure the puppies all got some. We then waited for Mila out in the courtyard. We went back to the shelter after Mila’s niece brought us the keys. Rachel and I dropped the keys off at the neighbor’s house and headed down to the Plaza. I went to Greenpoint for my second and last time. I got the banana pancakes that came with honey, fruit, and chocolate fondue. 

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Tuesday

I started the morning off with Ninoska the photographer from Maximo interviewing me. I had Lulú and Rita join me. She asked me why I volunteered, if I had before, why Perú and this program, what I did, about my host family, if my Spanish improved, would I recommend my program, what age should you start volunteering, and then for me to explain why I am adopting a dog. Nena was being very shy and a made a brief appearance in the video. Then she took pictures of me with Nena, Rita, and Lulú. I am super excited to see how the pictures turn out. I was left by myself then as the others had taken the puppies to the vet. They came back with only 4 then as the others had been adopted. I cleaned the plates, made sure everyone had water, and feed them dog food. I had just chilled in the sun enjoying some of my last moments with them. I went to Chakruna for the my last time. I also played HQ at the night for the first time in a while. 

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Monday

Yesterday we moved the puppies over to the shelter. We spent time getting their patio ready. Luckily Rachel and I got to chill with the puppies because according to Mila we had been doing the manual labor for the last 3 and 4 months, so the 4 new girls were put to work. They adjusted very well to the patio. They eat their food super quickly and drink water just fine. I had to make a trip to the store then to pick up the chicken breast and liver. The girls also had to prepare the food while we washed the plates. Rachel and I shredded the chicken breast for the puppies. I went to the bakery for the last time to have my favorite banana cake and a pineapple drink that is so refreshing. 

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Weekend

Saturday I went shopping to get some of my last gifts. I was successful in getting boots for a newborn, a textile for my cousin, a crystal for a necklace for myself, a bracelet for my best friend, and a bracelet my aunt. I went to Qucharitas for lunch to get my usual waffle with chocolate sauce and bananas. There was a mixed up with my waffle and I scored a free papaya drink. I made it home just in time to say goodbye to the girls who were all leaving. 

The day started with a long breakfast with the gang. I had an upset stomach so I didn’t go out for lunch. I had made plans to go to Cristo Blanco with Stephen and Kate, but her orientation went way over. We decided to go to the Alpaca Lady with Zach to get gifts. I was able to get myself another sweater with a hood, another textile for my cousin, socks for myself, and magnets for my grandma. Afterwards Stephen, Kate, and I tried to go to a churro place recommended by Zach, but they didn’t have any churros that day. We were able to get Kate a cheese emapanda. 

On our way back we saw a dog that was not doing well. He was breathing super heavily and looked like he was covered in mud. It turns out it was blood and he had been hit by a car. I took a bus home to call Mila to see if there was anything we could do for him. I took another bus back to the guys. The dog had crossed the road and was staying behind an old pump at a gas station. A couple from Lima had stopped to help. They let Kate call Maria to let her know what was going on. They also were able to get a hold of a vet who could come check on the dog. Kate was very overwhelmed and Stephen took her back home and came back. The vet said that the leg was not broken or fractured and he had just been in shock over what had happened. We left him with food and water and hoped he would feel better in the morning. I got back and Maria had saved a plate and soup for me. I had missed out on meeting the 7 new people who had come to our house. So this week we are at 14 people.  

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Friday

I went to the store to get chicken breast, puppy food, and liver. We started by feeding the puppies. Then we started our door to door campaign. First we were at our friend’s house. We were doing deworming and giving vitamins. We had some cats come, but mostly dogs. This one boy brought a very sick dog and we think he had distemper. He brought him back though his mom did not think the dog was sick or needed to go to the vet. We gave him some medicine, but without vet care the outcome is bleak. There was a family that had puppies and other dogs that were so hungry. Claudia and I went back afterwards to give them some dog food. The one dog was jumping on Claudia and always trying to put his head in the bag to get food. They had a very small dog that was so sick. The other animals there would not let him eat. When he did he immediately started throwing up. He went outside and his stomach was convulsing. There wasn’t much we could do for the dog. We fed our dogs and then called it a day. I went to La Bo’m for lunch and got the Mika which includes cheese, tomatoes, olives (avoided those), caramelized onions, spinach, and mushrooms. 

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Thursday

I had tried to get my laundry the previous day and they told me to come back in 30 minutes. When I went back they had already locked their gate. So I went in the morning and they could not find my bag that I had brought all my laundry in. Days later I have realized that they also lost my nice thermal shirt 😢

We went to to the volunteer house first to pick up the puppies. All of us went to a nursing home where Maximo has other volunteers. Some of the people did not want anything to do with the puppies and others loved them. There was this one lady who only spoke Quechua and was having the time of her life. 

We went back to the shelter to feed the dogs. We also saw Joey, which made us so happy because we would all miss him greatly. I went to lunch with Rachel again at Mama Cucharitas and I had a sandwich and lemon ice cream.

Rachel also got some great shots of me with her favorite puppy

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Wednesday

I was left by myself at the shelter. I cleaned up and washed the trays.I just had dog food to feed them, but it was the really good expensive kind that Petwings donated to us. Abril also had puppies in the morning and we had no idea she was pregnant. We also had problems with Joey’s owners and we thought that we were not going to be seeing him anymore as they think we kidnap him when he willing comes to visit us at the shelter. For lunch I had a chocolate chip waffle with strawberries.  

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Tuesday

I cleaned up at the shelter. We then went to the volunteer house to check on the puppies. We took turns playing with the puppies and cleaning up after them. We feed the puppies as they are now easily eating chicken breast mixed with dog food. We went back to the shelter and made lunch for the dogs and feed them. I had time to just sit in the sun with the dogs. For lunch I had a cheese empanada and my favorite strawberry red velvet cupcake at the bakery. 

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Monday

I cleaned up at the shelter and the volunteer house. We got to play with the puppies. We made lunch for the dogs and puppies. We had 4 new girls from Texas A&M with us for the week. We worked on removing more dirt in the bottom patio. I had lunch with Rachel at Mama Cucharitas where I had a chocolate chip waffle with banana. At dinner we had all 10 of us eat at one table. 

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