It’s a big day: I’m venturing out of Huaycan…alone.

Lara and I are meeting at Maestro’s, a giant hardware store, to figure out a Plan B for my gardening class. Since almost all the germinating seeds were stolen, I promised the kids that I’d have new ones for them by the time class resumed. I’m not sure whether it’d be best to buy more seeds at this point or to buy seedlings to speed up the process. It will likely just depend on what Maestro’s has to offer.

Since transportation is crazy here, I’m a bit nervous about the excursion. Lara moved out of Huaycan this past Saturday, which is why we won’t be traveling together. I’m going to have to do the combi hopping on my own. If I get on the right bus in Huaycan, it’ll be a 45-60 minute ride to the Santa Anita Ovalo, a major junction from where “you can get anywhere,” as Lara says.

The Santa Anita Ovalo happens to be the busiest, most chaotic intersection I’ve ever seen. Taxis, combis, and motos are everywhere, and wherever they’re not, there are people. Horns honk non-stop and everyone is yelling at pedestrians to convince them to jump in their vehicle. It’s terrifying.

So when I get there, I need to cross one of the many streets (I’m not 100% sure which one) and find a bus that will go past Maestro. Lara told me to just ask if they’re heading towards Frutales, the name of a street nearby. If so, I’ll hop on and glue my eyes to the window to be sure I don’t miss Maestro. Lara said I’ll have no problems. I’m praying she’s right.