My elevator

So I live on the 6th floor of an apartment building, and as would be expected, we use the elevator.  At first it seemed a little tricky because you have to hold the "stop" button when locking or unlocking the door to the apartment, so the doors don't start closing when you're trying to get the key in the lock.  (The elevator door opens, and then there's a door to get into the apartment too- opens directly into it.) 

It's always a little awkward when there's someone else in the elevator with you, because you might say hi but, in general, no one talks if you don't know each other.  I have experience with awkward elevator rides from Reuter Hall at UW-L.  (Everyone just stands and stares at the door, though one time there was a guy who was standing in the corner like a naughty child.  We're not sure why.)  But I feel like they're more awkward here because this elevator is probably about 1/4 the size of the Reuter ones.  So you're either standing right next to or right across from the other person/people, and everyone looks away from each other so as not to stare.  There's also a mirror on one wall of my elevator here, so that doesn't help.

Today, I came home from school and walked into the elevator as usual.  I pressed the 6 button; the doors closed.  Usually the elevator starts moving right away, but today it didn't.  I pressed the button again.  It didn't move.  I tried again, and tried the 1 button to see if the door would open.  No response from the elevator.  The good news was that I was still on the first floor, so the doorman realized the elevator wasn't working right and came to help.  I ended up having to push the elevator door open, but the second, outside door wouldn't unlock or open.  After the doorman fiddled more with it from outside, tried shutting off and restarting the elevator, etc., they called someone- apparently someone had just been there to do maintenence on it this morning- who came and eventually got the door open.  Then I took the stairs.  I still have never managed to get our stairway door open on my own, but that's another topic.

I was only stuck for about 15 or 20 minutes, and wasn't in any hurry so I was more amused than anything.  But that is my story of an interesting happening in Peru for today.

Look, PENGUINS!!

And that's the kind of mood I'm in right now.  Later I should blog about fun things I've done that I haven't blogged about, like hiking down a canyon when it's dark and rainy, rafting, and swimming with sea lions (and seeing wild penguins).