I kind of have a dog

If you know me, you know how improbable this is. I don't like dogs. I'm a little bit phobic about them. But Banban doesn't seem to be aware of this. He lives with a friend but sometimes stays at my boyfriend's house and he thinks we're all part of the same pack.

Like most Peruvian dogs, he hangs out outside his house. When I go by on my bike Banban jumps up and gives me a full-body wagging greeting. Then he follows me wherever I'm going. Earlier this week, he followed me all over Marco while I delivered officios. I was on my bike and Banban seemed to enjoy running alongside. Here we are on the only paved road in Marco.

I went in to the technical college to make agreements with the Director about various things. I'm going to judge the science fair Monday. We scheduled a meeting between the watershed committee and the agriculture and culinary arts teachers about how to include organic gardening in our GeoTour (ecotourism circuit). We also discussed how the director will choose a representative to the municipal environment committee (CAM) before the swearing-in next week.

Finally, we reached an agreement about a tree-planting day when some of the Peruvian students will work with Peace Corps trainees to finish a demonstration "living fence" around one of the school's fields that we started back in May. My tara trees will finally get planted. They're ready:

 All this took a while. But when I came out, Banban was waiting by my bike. I thought that was a pretty smart strategy. We headed back to Marco.

My neighbors were loading eucalypus branches on their donkey.

They let me take pictures.

Banban shared his latest news with their dog.

I still don't like dogs. But I have to admit, it's kind of cool having a dog follow you everywhere. It's just possible that I might like this dog.