11 Practical lessons learned in Peru (because 10 wasn’t enough):

Lessons Learned:

1. Always put on your flip-flops before walking outside; you never know what is waiting to be stepped on—e.i. poop, palm thorns, any number of things really

2. Never wear white; it will get disgustingly dirty

3. Going to town with Rita is 1000 times easier than going alone; not EASY, just EASIER

4.Always take your keys to town even if your house is left open; u need them to check the P.O. box

5. If there is something in the store and u think, “I’ll get it next time.” Rethink that and get it in that MOMENT; because it may be many moons before that item is available again or before you go to that place again.

6. If u think u don’t need it, u probably do—for example: “I don’t need my keys, Rita’s in the house.” or “I don’t need my shoes I’m just stepping right outside.”, etc. (do u know that after I wrote this I walked onto the back patio barefoot and an ant BIT MY TOE.)—Ok, I just put my shoes on!

7. NEVER let your dog have EIGHT puppies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8. Always keep Pepto-Bismol handy; there is no explanation for why my stomach randomly goes nuts

9. Listen to your Mama and “be careful what you wish for.” For example, as a child I wanted a house full of animals; now I have 10 dogs, 1 monkey, and 1 cat---and all I want is SILENCE!

10. No matter how sloppy you dress or how bad of a hair day it is…you are still white and Peruvians WILL whistle at you!

11. If your pants have been hanging in the closet for a while shake them out because those leaf-cutter ants look WAY COOLER on the Discovery Channel than in your pants leg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--And possibly the most important lesson: When all of this becomes just a little too much, there is a hammock swinging on my front porch where God and I have some really good conversations!!!





-now, as an aside. i do not currently own a monkey. the McAnally's do--her name is Rosita. now it has always been my dream to own a monkey, but after being woke up EVERY morning this past week at 5:30 by the hidious monkey sound she makes---i'm not sure i want one anymore. i'm going to show ya'll a picture of her below. this is the kind of monkey i will get if i do decide to get one. but after this week...i think a puppy is enough to take on for now.
p.s. monkeys in the "new world" (meaning the americas) do NOT carry aids---i know some of u watched that Discovery Channel Show!!