Taxi ride down from mountain

Taxi ride down from the mountain, Thursday 5th June

Last Thursday we had a most interesting taxi ride from Pumamarca down to Larapa - the area near where we live. Ernistina had indicated that she would be interested learning about cosmetics and hair grooming as a way of earning some money.  Unlike most things getting done very slowly here in Peru, it was decided that Peru’s Challenge would enroll her in a short – 3 month course – I think it was a matter of – ok, do it! Only one problem, the enrolment process closed the very next day – Thursday! So, given we had agreed to help her, We travelled up to the village with the group for the talleres session at 4.30pm to take her to the college for enrolment. Ernistina, had not been told what was happening – typical of what often occurs here - and was not ready. In fact she was washing clothes at the local tap when we arrived! She was told by the social worker to get ready to go with us down to Cusco. This. Of course was not an easy task for her with two young children to deal with. After about an hour she arrived at the school not really knowing what was going on.  Her children were left with a neighbour, causing her to cry, as we piled into the community taxi, to go down the mountain. These taxis’s only travel to a drop off point and do not leave until full – and I mean full! We piled in, now about 9 or 10 in a small station wagon – Toyota Corolla – off we go. By now it is dark and all spoke very fluent Spanish – except us – the social worker has about  4 words of English! About halfway down the mountain a commotion erupts in the car, Andrea and I wonder “what the heck” is going on. Not easy to describe but all hell breaks lose. The social worker is wailing and carrying on  - we could not work what was happening but did at least work out she had lost something. Car stops. Car searched. Two women crying all others speaking in rapid tongue. I said, “mas despacio por favor” speak slowly please, but the wailing and commotion continued. What a circus! We continue, Andrea and I bewildered! At The drop off point all pile out and we then hailed another taxi to go to the college. By now we are very late for the enrolment process. Taxi ride like no other. Nearly driven off the road by a huge truck. Driver nashes his teeth – short for, he swore in Spanish! No-one is talking to us – not much point actually. We eventually arrive, the papers are filled in, the details are explained. At last things seem calm. Ernistina, a very quiet young mother wiped the tears away and finally smiled when she learnt that in the adjoining room to the classroom was situated a crèche with toys etc so she would be able to take her children with her on the days of the lectures. We finally got into another taxi and headed home emotionally drained from the experience..