Still here

Well, slowly I'm realizing that my days left in Peru are numbered. I have been toying with the idea of staying another semester but that just won't do.

Does it hurt my feelings that you've broken up with me? Yes. Does it hurt my feeling when you throw it back in my face that I'm always trying to hurt you? Yes. Does it bother me that you tell me that you've all this faith in our relationship and then you go and talk about how amazing everyone else in your life is but me? Yes.

I'm enjoying myself, very, very thoroughly, I'm kinda sad to leave, for real.

Well, I know that we've had our problems with us and everything, and I guess it is all my fault. Whatever. Do I feel it's fair that after everything you've done for me you can just break up with me and expect me to stick around? No. Would I stick around for anyone else? NO. Do I like the fact that you can just decide when you've had enough and just break up with me willy nilly and then prove to me that I'm a piece of shit by telling everyone else how happy you are now that I'm not in your life anymore? No.

I bought me a 35mm SLR camera and I've been taking pictures. Just today I finished my first Black and White roll and I'm gonna turn it in to get it developed. Let's hope they turn out well.

You are going to read this, I know. You're going to know it's about you. Perhaps I truly am a coward. Perhaps this relationship is over. Perhaps it should be over. Do I want it to be over? No. I wish you would let me tell you my feelings. I know you're going to simply fire back at me with something just as hurtful and mean because that's how you are, that's how it's always been. I hurt you, you hurt me. I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't type this at all, but then again, maybe it's time you find out.

Anyway, everyone should know I'll be back in January. Who the hell am I kidding, no one reads this. I'm excited to see everyone again, my American friends and I have made a couple lists regarding the US.

I know you don't really care or you don't even want to know. I honestly feel like our whole relationship revolved around how you felt and how you were doing and why you were unhappy and why you were upset. You got angry because I never paid any attention to you but when was the last time you actually tried to talk to me? When you made me cry? Sure, I'm doing the same thing you did yesterday. But only you and I know this trick and not a goddamn person reads my blog.

My first meal back in the United States is going to be as such. Steak, corn, salad, Budweiser. Then, as soon as I get back to Columbia, I'm going to go to El Rancho and eat a big, greasy plate of steak nachos covered in cheese and beans and hot sauce. I'll shit fire for the rest of the week and Suet'll have to deal with it.

Do I still love you? Yes. Do I still want to be your boyfriend? More than anything else in the world. Are we making it easy for each other? Not at all. Skunka, if you want to be with me when I come home, I can think of nothing more pleasant than to come home to you and hold you in my arms once again, you simply have to let me do so... I told you once you're the love of my life, and I wasn't lying, you know.

Speaking of, I'm excited to see how my apartment has changed, I can't wait to see how much of my dresser top isn't visible and how much of my bathroom counter is covered in make-up! Let's not forget how excited I am to be able to not broil my steak in my oven, or make popcorn! WOOOOOO.

I'm just giving you shit, and you know it.

Kevin

Peru

Well, this past weekend I went to Machu Picchu. Here's how the trip went...

Went "de boleto" (which means that I stayed up drinking all night and went to the airport at 4 in the morning smelling like a distillery) to Cusco, which was a good time. Slept on the airplane and slept when I got there, so overall I would call it a success.

The first day in Cusco was allowed for acclimating ourselves to the altitude, which didn't give me too much trouble.

The second day we all hopped on a bus and went around the sacred valley and saw a bunch of old Incan buildings. Interesting.

The third day I woke up with several others at the asscrack of dawn (330) to climb up Machu Picchu so that we would be the first people in line to go up the big mountain in the background of all the famous pictures. It gives a completely different view of the site. We clambered up the side of the mountain that is Machu Picchu first, and then we climbed up the larger mountain at about 8. It was hot and worth the hassle.

Took a bunch of pictures with other people's cameras because mine decided to die. Lovely.

Here's the pictures of the trip that I got from other people. Enjoy.

¿Cómo me vas a decir eso, y espera que no vaya a pasar nada? Entonces, ¿Qué hago?

I'm back.

I lost my email address for awhile. (By lost I mean I forgot it).

But, now I've recovered it.

Peru is still here and it's still Peru. I still haven't put photos up from summer and I'm not planning on doing it today.

I found a lake last night in the countryside. Pretty goddamn cool.

Peruvian Flute Band

Everyone,

I'm sorry that I have neglected to update this blog sooooooo many times. Now that I am chillin in Peru I can spend a little more time on it. What happened is that I realized that I didn't want to spend my time in Malaysia on the business end of this computer, so I just didn't do it...

However, Malaysia was a good time. I did, however, write in a kitten notebook all the memories and things that I did, and I tried to do so at least once a day. It's quite a treasure.

Now that I've a reliable internet connection and things like that, I'm going to try to update more often.

Peru is a lot like Malaysia, except there are little subtle differences. Surprisingly there is a very pronounced Asian influence here, in fact, they're teaching us in school that the Japanese discovered Peru LONG before Christopher Columbus, which I believe is pretty much true.

The public transportation is "Micro's" which is a van that seats 20 with 45 people in it. Lots of fun.

90% of the robberies that happen do so without any force or weapons involved (i.e. pick-pocketing) but there are A LOT of robberies.

There's 10,000 police officers and security personnel that work in Lima. There's pretty much a police officer every 2 blocks 24 hours a day. This makes you feel very safe but you just have to be smart and stay away from the bad parts. Lima has bad parts just like Kansas City has a bad part and Omaha is bad.

So when you go anywhere, you simply maintain an elevated level of alertness, and pretend like you know what you're doing and no one messes with you for the most part.

Americans are targets, but they try to target the stupid drunk Americans that yell loudly in American and don't speak Spanish. Thats pretty much the same everywhere.

I'm in school these next two weeks from 9-4. It's awful. Then start the real classes, which is supposed to be better.

Class on Saturday is completely plausible and happens without anyone blinking an eye. 6 day work week.

The dollar's strong. I live on about $50 a week, and quite comfortably. But siempre hay que presupuestar.

I miss Skunk, of course.

One of the main foods here in Lima is Chifa, which is chinese food, Peru style. The food isn't spicy, but it's very rich in different spices (MSG in the case of Chifa).

And that's all. I'll keep you guys updated, and put pictures up as well.

However, there is a picture that I HAVE to post of Skunk. It's pretty damn funny.

Kevin

Perhentian Dreams

Ok so since Suet's sleeping and I'm bored in Singapore, I can justify the time necessary to update.

Malaysia's been interesting, I have enjoyed it so far, for the most part. We've traveled all over the country, and seen all sorts of different things. The beach at Langkawi was not as nice as the beach at Perhentian (I would put pictures up but this isn't my computer), but it's still a marvelous beach, none the less.

I did eat durian, I did not like it. It's one of the few things that turned out to not be for me.

Presents for all so far, except Emily. I don't know what to get Emily. Perhaps a Tamil-English dictionary.

Sat on the beach and smoked a Cuban cigar. I had a difficult time describing to the Malaysians with me that doing so is considered "it" for Americans. They thought that it was a silly thing for someone to strive their whole life just to sit on the beach and smoke a cigar. Some things are inexplicable, I supposed.

The shower is the bathroom. There's a drain in the floor and the shower-head on the wall next to the toilet. Quite practical and kind of neat.

Apparently the mosquitoes bite me because I eat a lot of meat and it makes my blood more acidic. I think it's an excuse for them to make fun of Americans.

Which people do, by the way, all the time.

They don't sell gum in Singapore, and every thing's fairly expensive. I'm running out of money but I feel like what I've spent is nothing compared to what I've gained. I would gladly do it all over again.

You're not allowed to sell pork at any chain restaurants in Malaysia.

Scuba diving was cheep but I didn't go because no one else in the group knew how and I didn't want to be an ass.

People believe that Catholicism is like mysticism, and their defense for everything in the bible is "Well, if you go back to the original language, the translation can mean two things, water or hope and that's why Catholics are wrong and evil".

But really what the hell do I care anyway.

Slowly slowly very slowly I'm getting used to drinking things at room temperature (which is hot).

I've taken to reading books, since I can't understand anything on the television, nor do I have any desire to watch television. I hope the habit sticks, which I have a feeling it will.

For my first meal back home, I'm going to go to the store and buy a steak, broil it, and eat it.

Sky Juice on a menu is water.

A glass of water costs money.

To make western food, you simply take the local food, bread it, and then fry it.

I'll be leaving on the 18th of June, whereupon I will provide a full account of the rest of my trip.

Kevin

Malaysia

Hey everyone, sorry it's taken me so long to post my thoughts. I've been writing everything down in my Kitten notebook and thus have neglected to update

This is going to be a short one because I'm at a bar with Suet and I don't want to waste time doing this. Also, the modem in her house broke so the internet is down. I'll give everyone a few quick updates.

So far everyone has something nice from Malaysia except for my mother. I haven't found anything for her yet.

I shaved my beard and let Suet cut my hair. Also obtained a bitchin' tan in the islands.

Suet's friend, John, deleted the first 5 days worth of photos off my camera before I had a chance to put them on my computer. Awesome.

I have a phone number. +601-629-47-360 I know that's one too many numbers but just type it all in and you'll reach me. Call me for 30 seconds ad then I'll call you back b/c the rates for me to call you are cheeper than they are for you to call me. Please call me if you've the chance because no one does and I feel like carrying a phone is useless.

When I get the time, I'll transfer all the notes from my notebook to my blog, but I have to get the opportunity first. I'm not going to waste time in Malaysia sitting in front of this damn computer. Any logical person would do the same.

Until then.

Kevin Growney

I have made a few observations about Malaysia so far, but they're not judgments, they're observations. While things may seem backwards and chaotic, everything works and flows and people still go about their way.

1. No cold water. This is the toughest one so far. Everything is served luke-warm.

2. Drive wherever you want. Literally. If there's pavement, just drive on it. If not, drive on the grass.

3. I saw a family of 4 people on a motor-scooter on the highway.

4. Cemeteries on hill-sides.

5. Everyone stares at you like they're never seen a white person before and they want to kill you.

6. If it's not your land, you're entitled to throw garbage on it.

7. Traffic laws are more like traffic maybes.

8. Everything is locked and gated.

9. I showered in the middle of a bathroom. Quite bizarre, but again, it works so why not?

10. No cold water. (As you can tell this pisses me off to NO avail)

More to come, I've been writing them down in my trusty kitten notebook.

Kevin