I haven't forgotten about my blog...but my parents have been here all week, so I've been a little occupied! It has been strange but wonderful having them here. It's weird to have two of my very different worlds collide. My real parents and my host parents have had the chance to spend some time together, which has been really cool. They came over to my host house for a dinner party on Tuesday night, which was so nice. I've been really thankful this week that my host mom knows English pretty well. Although, this week hasn't been helping my Spanish very much...
My mom and dad went to Cusco and Machu Picchu for 3 days while they were here. They said it was incredible! I'm so glad they went. And their stories make me so excited to go in April!
Last night, we had a little party at Kia's host house. Maruja had some of her husband's old friends over, and my parents (both sets) and I were invited. What a fun evening! We sat around and drank wine and talked about life for hours. A few of the men were living in the U.S. One of the wives was from the U.S., but all the rest were from Peru. It was so interesting to hear their stories. What a treat to be able to meet such unique people. It amazes me how a group of people can come from different parts of the world, yet still find a reason to come together.
Today we spent the day Silencio, one of the beaches near Lima. It was a relaxing day--one that we all needed. I'm so thankful to have my parents visiting. I just keep thinking about how awesome it is that they get to have this experience, becuase under normal circumstances I know that a trip to Peru wouldn't be at the top of their list of things to do. But I think they've had an incredible experience, that makes me so happy!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
A Dog on a Roof
I completely enjoy weekends in Lima. So far they've just been so chill and enjoyable.
I spent some time near the coast and in central Miraflores with friends during the day, we went out at night, and today I went to Punta Hermosa again with my host family. A little sunshine, a good book, and a really good cup of coffee were the things that made my weekend!
I'm picking my parents up from the airport tomorrow! I'm so excited to see them. Pray that they don't suffer too much from culture shock. :-) I told them that as long as they know how to say "Thank you" and "Where's the bathroom?" in Spanish, they'll be fine.
Some photos of Lima from the weekend...
I spent some time near the coast and in central Miraflores with friends during the day, we went out at night, and today I went to Punta Hermosa again with my host family. A little sunshine, a good book, and a really good cup of coffee were the things that made my weekend!
I'm picking my parents up from the airport tomorrow! I'm so excited to see them. Pray that they don't suffer too much from culture shock. :-) I told them that as long as they know how to say "Thank you" and "Where's the bathroom?" in Spanish, they'll be fine.
Some photos of Lima from the weekend...
Friday, February 20, 2009
Salsa!
On Wednesday nights, one of the salsa clubs in Barranco has free salsa lessons. So almost all of us (from my study abroad group) went to the lesson this Wednesday. This was our second salsa lesson since we've been in Peru. And it was awesome! After the lesson, we got to dance around a little. And then some local teachers and dancers came. They were so fun to watch! I'm thinking about taking some more classes. Even though it's fairly easy to get by with the basics if I dance with a guy who knows what he's doing, I'd still like to be able to dance salsa really well. It'd be a fun thing to bring back to the states, right?
Tonight we're heading to a karaoke bar. They're really popular here. And I've been told that you can sing in any language you want. We'll see how it goes. :-)
Tonight we're heading to a karaoke bar. They're really popular here. And I've been told that you can sing in any language you want. We'll see how it goes. :-)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Let me complain for just a minute...
I realize that much of what I post on here is the fun, exciting things about life in Lima. However, believe it or not, there are some things (not very many, of course) that I don't like about Peru. The one thing I really hate is the ride home from classes.
We almost always get out of class at the height of rush hour traffic. First we seek out a form of public transportation that's heading in the right direction. Next, we have the challenge of finding a combi that has seats. Once we accomplish that, we have the pleasure of sitting in those seats for about an hour. And sometimes the "seats" aren't really seats... At one point during the ride home last night, there were 26 people in the combi I was on. Let me remind you that a combi is actually a 14-passenger van. Needless to say, it was pretty cozy. There were people standing. How they do that, I have no idea. All I know is, I don't think even half of my height could stand in a van like that for an hour. There is also the final pressure of yelling out where I need to get off. This involves speaking in Spanish with a somewhat believeable accent, a little boldness, and a lot of attentiveness. And if you don't speak up, too bad. After the long ride of stops, gos, close calls, and lots of car horns beeping, I am so glad to step off that bus.
Every day. We do this every day. I'm waiting for it to become fun...but things aren't looking good. Oh well. If the 4 hours of uncomfortableness each week is all I have to complain about, life is still pretty great. :-)
We almost always get out of class at the height of rush hour traffic. First we seek out a form of public transportation that's heading in the right direction. Next, we have the challenge of finding a combi that has seats. Once we accomplish that, we have the pleasure of sitting in those seats for about an hour. And sometimes the "seats" aren't really seats... At one point during the ride home last night, there were 26 people in the combi I was on. Let me remind you that a combi is actually a 14-passenger van. Needless to say, it was pretty cozy. There were people standing. How they do that, I have no idea. All I know is, I don't think even half of my height could stand in a van like that for an hour. There is also the final pressure of yelling out where I need to get off. This involves speaking in Spanish with a somewhat believeable accent, a little boldness, and a lot of attentiveness. And if you don't speak up, too bad. After the long ride of stops, gos, close calls, and lots of car horns beeping, I am so glad to step off that bus.
Every day. We do this every day. I'm waiting for it to become fun...but things aren't looking good. Oh well. If the 4 hours of uncomfortableness each week is all I have to complain about, life is still pretty great. :-)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Peruvian Sunshine
I struggle to find things to write about during the week because it's really just like any other week as a college student. My days are consumed with classes and homework. Classes are going well, though. We have 1 or 2 classes each day, but they each last 2 or 3 hours. And they're always from 3 till 6 in the afternoon, so it can be a little difficult to concentrate. Not to mention, classes in Spanish take extra concentration.
I love the Spanish language. Well, I would actually probably love any language. Language just fascinates me. There are moments when I feel really great about how my Spanish is coming along. There are days when I understand everything and feel so confident. But there are also days when I feel like there is no way I've been studying this language for 6 years because I can't understand anything! But the completely clueless moments are slowly decreasing, and I'm just trying to take it a day at a time.
It's been really hot here this week. I think it reached 87 or so yesterday. I love it. I just feel more content when the weather is warm. Cold winters make me tense and make my skin dry. Sunshine makes me happy. : )
Kia and I have been getting up early to walk in the park. It's been such a great routine, and it gives us time to talk, laugh, release a little stress, and start of the day on a good note. Plus we get to do some great people watching because there are lots of locals outside in the mornings.
I was talking with someone the other day about the idea of blogs. She told me that she would never use one because she'd rather share her stories when she got home. So I've been thinking about the blog world, and I've concluded that I'm definitely an advocate. Not only are they a fun, easy way to record events or memories or feelings, but you can express yourself through them. Also, knowing that I have a place to share my moments while I'm in Peru makes me think about those moments even more. I don't know if this is making any sense... But in a strange way, because I have the ability to write down my thoughts, I find myself taking life here one day at a time, enjoying the beautiful moments for what they are, and thinking about what made today great.
I love the Spanish language. Well, I would actually probably love any language. Language just fascinates me. There are moments when I feel really great about how my Spanish is coming along. There are days when I understand everything and feel so confident. But there are also days when I feel like there is no way I've been studying this language for 6 years because I can't understand anything! But the completely clueless moments are slowly decreasing, and I'm just trying to take it a day at a time.
It's been really hot here this week. I think it reached 87 or so yesterday. I love it. I just feel more content when the weather is warm. Cold winters make me tense and make my skin dry. Sunshine makes me happy. : )
Kia and I have been getting up early to walk in the park. It's been such a great routine, and it gives us time to talk, laugh, release a little stress, and start of the day on a good note. Plus we get to do some great people watching because there are lots of locals outside in the mornings.
I was talking with someone the other day about the idea of blogs. She told me that she would never use one because she'd rather share her stories when she got home. So I've been thinking about the blog world, and I've concluded that I'm definitely an advocate. Not only are they a fun, easy way to record events or memories or feelings, but you can express yourself through them. Also, knowing that I have a place to share my moments while I'm in Peru makes me think about those moments even more. I don't know if this is making any sense... But in a strange way, because I have the ability to write down my thoughts, I find myself taking life here one day at a time, enjoying the beautiful moments for what they are, and thinking about what made today great.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Oasis in the Desert
It's true, I just spent the weekend in the desert.
We don't have class on Fridays, which allows for extra time for weekend excursions. We arrived in Ica, Peru on Friday afternoon. We stayed in the Huacachina Oasis, which really is just an oasis--a green, wet village in the middle of the desert. We spent a little time climbing up the sand hills around the oasis before we headed out on the dune buggies. The dune buggy experience is a little difficult to describe. Let's just say, it's definitely "ride at your own risk." The drivers are notorious for being crazy and daring. It was like a roller coaster, but way cooler. We rode up and down the steep dunes and zoomed across the vast desert. But we made several stops to try a little sandboarding. It's just like snowboarding (except, of course, with sand). Most of us turned it into sand "sledding" by laying down on our stomachs on top of the boards. They started us off on some small hills, but it was pretty hardcore by the end. I was a little unsure of what to expect before the trip, but it was quite possibly the coolest thing I've ever done. The whole event was just incredible. There is nothing quite like the sight of an ocean of sand. It seems to never end. We watched the sunset in the desert, too. Beautiful.
On Saturday, we drove to Paracas, a coastal town. We took a boat out to the islands just off the coast. And we saw a lot of birds. Some penguins. Sea-lions, too. It was refreshing to be out on the ocean on a clear, hot day. It really makes me miss winter in Wisconsin... (haha) We ate a delicious seafood lunch in Paracas and did a little shopping. They had lots of vendors selling local crafts and jewelry, and it was fun to bargain a little with the prices.
That same day, we drove to Nazca, another town in the desert. Nazca is famous for just one thing: lines in the desert sand--The Nazca Lines. Before the time of the Incas, designs and shapes were created in the desert, but they weren't discovered until the 1930s. They can only be seen from an aerial view because the designs are so large. Some people think aliens created them, but most theories conclude that the Nazca people were the artists. But no one really knows why they're there. Some say they have religious meanings. Others think perhaps they're related to ancient astrology. It's incredible, though, that the designs are so symmetrical. The lines are so straight. Some of the lines are several feet wide and hundreds of feet long. The whole group of designs stretches for miles across the desert. This morning, we went on an airplane to see the lines in the desert. Very cool.
When we weren't having crazy desert adventures, we spent time eating meals or hanging out in our hotel as a group. It was a great weekend, but I'm exhausted. I'm also a little sick of riding on things that move...
Here are some pictures. Sorry there are so many. I had a hard time choosing. And believe me, this is only a fraction of my collection. : ) Click on them to see them larger.
We don't have class on Fridays, which allows for extra time for weekend excursions. We arrived in Ica, Peru on Friday afternoon. We stayed in the Huacachina Oasis, which really is just an oasis--a green, wet village in the middle of the desert. We spent a little time climbing up the sand hills around the oasis before we headed out on the dune buggies. The dune buggy experience is a little difficult to describe. Let's just say, it's definitely "ride at your own risk." The drivers are notorious for being crazy and daring. It was like a roller coaster, but way cooler. We rode up and down the steep dunes and zoomed across the vast desert. But we made several stops to try a little sandboarding. It's just like snowboarding (except, of course, with sand). Most of us turned it into sand "sledding" by laying down on our stomachs on top of the boards. They started us off on some small hills, but it was pretty hardcore by the end. I was a little unsure of what to expect before the trip, but it was quite possibly the coolest thing I've ever done. The whole event was just incredible. There is nothing quite like the sight of an ocean of sand. It seems to never end. We watched the sunset in the desert, too. Beautiful.
On Saturday, we drove to Paracas, a coastal town. We took a boat out to the islands just off the coast. And we saw a lot of birds. Some penguins. Sea-lions, too. It was refreshing to be out on the ocean on a clear, hot day. It really makes me miss winter in Wisconsin... (haha) We ate a delicious seafood lunch in Paracas and did a little shopping. They had lots of vendors selling local crafts and jewelry, and it was fun to bargain a little with the prices.
That same day, we drove to Nazca, another town in the desert. Nazca is famous for just one thing: lines in the desert sand--The Nazca Lines. Before the time of the Incas, designs and shapes were created in the desert, but they weren't discovered until the 1930s. They can only be seen from an aerial view because the designs are so large. Some people think aliens created them, but most theories conclude that the Nazca people were the artists. But no one really knows why they're there. Some say they have religious meanings. Others think perhaps they're related to ancient astrology. It's incredible, though, that the designs are so symmetrical. The lines are so straight. Some of the lines are several feet wide and hundreds of feet long. The whole group of designs stretches for miles across the desert. This morning, we went on an airplane to see the lines in the desert. Very cool.
When we weren't having crazy desert adventures, we spent time eating meals or hanging out in our hotel as a group. It was a great weekend, but I'm exhausted. I'm also a little sick of riding on things that move...
Here are some pictures. Sorry there are so many. I had a hard time choosing. And believe me, this is only a fraction of my collection. : ) Click on them to see them larger.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Where are my shoes?
On the housing form I filled out prior to this trip, I had to describe the kind of home I preferred to live in. I consider myself a pretty flexible person in most areas, but the one thing I really wanted was for the house to be clean. I could handle a strange family, a small house, a cage of birds (oh wait, I have that...) or whatever...but I really emphasized that I preferred a clean house. Needless to say, with 2 maids our house is ultra clean. And I really am pleased about this. However, it's turned into a pretty comical situation. You see, I have someone cleaning my room and bathroom every day while I'm gone. I keep my belongings fairly organized, but sometimes I'll leave some clothes on a chair or some books out of place. Well, when I get back from classes, things are always cleaner than I left them. I have come to expect to play a game of "find where all your stuff is" when I get home. Apparently the maid doesn't approve of the way I organize my things, so she takes things into her own hands. Even though it's a little frustrating to have to hunt for my shoes in the morning, I'm thankful for a clean home. : )
Another fun fact about my house...
I'm not an animal person. I could barely handle having a fish last semester, and I just have no real desire to own pets. So my host family has one dog, right? I can handle that. His name is Flubber (yes, as in the movie about the green glob of goo). He's a black lab and sort of just lays around all day, or so I thought. Today I was sitting on the veranda reading a book, and Flubber walked over to me, sat down in front of me, and stared. So I pet him a little, and then he put his paws up on my lap. It was cute, I guess... (says the girl who is impartial to dogs). So now Flubber and I are best friends, and it makes me laugh. Sometimes the unexpected things are what make my days a little brighter.
This has nothing at all to do with Peru, but I want to share some exciting news!
I found out last week that I've been hired as this summer's Junior Staff Director at camp. : )
I'm so thrilled! The news came when I just arrived here, so it's been hard to show my joy and excitement! Even though I'm delighting in each day here in Peru, it's fun to have something so great to look forward to when I get back!
Peace.
Another fun fact about my house...
I'm not an animal person. I could barely handle having a fish last semester, and I just have no real desire to own pets. So my host family has one dog, right? I can handle that. His name is Flubber (yes, as in the movie about the green glob of goo). He's a black lab and sort of just lays around all day, or so I thought. Today I was sitting on the veranda reading a book, and Flubber walked over to me, sat down in front of me, and stared. So I pet him a little, and then he put his paws up on my lap. It was cute, I guess... (says the girl who is impartial to dogs). So now Flubber and I are best friends, and it makes me laugh. Sometimes the unexpected things are what make my days a little brighter.
This has nothing at all to do with Peru, but I want to share some exciting news!
I found out last week that I've been hired as this summer's Junior Staff Director at camp. : )
I'm so thrilled! The news came when I just arrived here, so it's been hard to show my joy and excitement! Even though I'm delighting in each day here in Peru, it's fun to have something so great to look forward to when I get back!
Peace.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
¡Qué Linda!
La vida en Lima es tan linda.
Life in Lima really is...lovely.
I mean, it's noisy and a little dirty sometimes. And the public transportation system is certainly nothing resembling classy. But life here is good.
This morning Kia and I took a micro to Parque Kennedy in Miraflores and explored a little.
We did some shopping, found some really great book stores, and had lunch and coffee at a very cute cafe. It was such a pleasant morning. It was fun to be able to be on our own and discover the city. I love being able to find "favorites" in a new place--favorite places to eat, favorite places to sit...places that make you smile when you remember them.
After lunch we took a taxi to our university and had a good afternoon of classes. Classes are getting better "poco a poco." I'm understanding the language more and more every day. I can't even express how neat it is to be in this kind of a learning environment. First of all, we're going to a school where we take all Spanish classes...IN Spanish. But not only that, every day with every interaction or conversation I'm learning something new! I learn so many new words that keep a little notebook in my backpack to write them down. It's fascinating to learn and study a new language, and I can't imagine trying to perfect a language without living in it. I'm just loving it! : )
Life in Lima really is...lovely.
I mean, it's noisy and a little dirty sometimes. And the public transportation system is certainly nothing resembling classy. But life here is good.
This morning Kia and I took a micro to Parque Kennedy in Miraflores and explored a little.
We did some shopping, found some really great book stores, and had lunch and coffee at a very cute cafe. It was such a pleasant morning. It was fun to be able to be on our own and discover the city. I love being able to find "favorites" in a new place--favorite places to eat, favorite places to sit...places that make you smile when you remember them.
After lunch we took a taxi to our university and had a good afternoon of classes. Classes are getting better "poco a poco." I'm understanding the language more and more every day. I can't even express how neat it is to be in this kind of a learning environment. First of all, we're going to a school where we take all Spanish classes...IN Spanish. But not only that, every day with every interaction or conversation I'm learning something new! I learn so many new words that keep a little notebook in my backpack to write them down. It's fascinating to learn and study a new language, and I can't imagine trying to perfect a language without living in it. I'm just loving it! : )
Monday, February 9, 2009
Food.
If you know me well, you know about my love of good food. I consider indulgent meals one of life's greatest pleasures. Well, Peru has more than satisfied! The only problem I have with the food is that there is so much of it! My family thinks I can eat as much as their three sons, but they're slowly learning that I eat in small portions. : )
My aforementioned maid, Marcelina, does all the cooking here at home. She loves cooking. In fact, she really hopes to attend culinary school one day. She just has a talent in the kitchen. She told me that she makes sure never to make the exact same meal twice. She makes different foods every day. And if for some reason she were to make the same food, she changes the flavor. Also, she knows exactly what each person in the house likes or doesn't like. For instance, I haven't given her a detailed evaluation of each food she makes, but she observes my reactions and whether or not I finish my food. Now that is a person with a passion for what she does.
Any other food I've tried here has been just as delicious. My university has an excellent culinary arts program, and there is a student-run, 5-star restaurant on campus. There also happens to be a very fancy Patisserie, too. I may have to treat myself to a gourmet chocolate between classes one of these days...
In conclusion, if you feel the need to indulge in a gastronomic feast, come to Lima! : )
My aforementioned maid, Marcelina, does all the cooking here at home. She loves cooking. In fact, she really hopes to attend culinary school one day. She just has a talent in the kitchen. She told me that she makes sure never to make the exact same meal twice. She makes different foods every day. And if for some reason she were to make the same food, she changes the flavor. Also, she knows exactly what each person in the house likes or doesn't like. For instance, I haven't given her a detailed evaluation of each food she makes, but she observes my reactions and whether or not I finish my food. Now that is a person with a passion for what she does.
Any other food I've tried here has been just as delicious. My university has an excellent culinary arts program, and there is a student-run, 5-star restaurant on campus. There also happens to be a very fancy Patisserie, too. I may have to treat myself to a gourmet chocolate between classes one of these days...
In conclusion, if you feel the need to indulge in a gastronomic feast, come to Lima! : )
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Pictures!
If you'd like to see more pictures, visit my web album!
The link is always on the right side of this page!
http://picasaweb.google.com/BethanyLC11/Peru1#
The link is always on the right side of this page!
http://picasaweb.google.com/BethanyLC11/Peru1#
¡Vamos a la Playa!
I just got back from Punta Hermosa, a beach town just south of Lima. We spent two days there, and it was lovely! The sun sure is powerful here so near to the equator, though! I think I put sunblock on every 30 minutes. (Just for you, Mom...)
Besides the Spanish language, one of the things I'm learning here in Peru is how to walk slower. : )
Really though, everyone walks much slower here. Why? Maybe because they have shorter legs... But life is a little slower here, too. Even though it's a huge city, people take their time. Except when it comes to driving! Then they go into crazy-fast mode!
On the way to Punta Hermosa, we drove past the outskirts of Lima. I was shocked to see the change in landscape and living conditions. There are houses built into terraces on sandy hills. I don't even know if I would call them houses...they're more like shacks. It was so heartwrenching. I was driving in a nice car with a family who has two maids and a security guard outside at night. And less than ten minutes away there are thousands and thousands of people living in destitution. I was told it would be like this in Lima...but it was hard to believe before I saw it. It's also hard to describe it realistically. As we drove, I sat in the back seat wondering if I could possibly be in the same city. And my host family carried on like we were still in central Lima. I just can't imagine getting used to that sight.
"Pisco Sour" in the national alcoholic beverage in Peru. And this week was the official week of Pisco Sours. Our study abroad group went out on Friday night to a casino and celebrated with the Peruanos. We danced, listened to the band, and just had a fun time! It made me thankful for the group of students that are here together...we all seem to get along really well!
I just finished having supper. Usually I eat alone because we all eat at different times, and my host parents like to eat upstairs in their rooms. But Marcelina, one of our maids, sat with me while I ate. I really enjoy talking with her! She's 19 and lives in the house. She only speaks Spanish, but she speaks it well and it's easy to understand her. We just had a really fun talk, and I'm glad she's here!
I was talking to my good friend Kayla today about how much I'm loving this change in my life. I think it was so needed. I have such a desire in my heart to learn new things and experience new things. And I'm so content that it's being fulfilled! My eyes are being opened to a different part of this beautiful world we live in. It's not all good, but it's all a way to learn and to grow.
I leave you with a few pictures from the weekend...
1. A youth orchestra concert in front of the cathedral in La Plaza de San Martin, central Lima.
2. The government building in central Lima, with Peru's flag on a hill behind it.
3. The group of us with a few Peruvian students in front of the church of San Fransisco which we toured. We also went down into the catacombs there!
4. The sunset at Punta Hermosa.
5. One of the beaches at Punta Hermosa.
6. Alejandra (my friend Kia's host sister) and I at a restaurant.
Besides the Spanish language, one of the things I'm learning here in Peru is how to walk slower. : )
Really though, everyone walks much slower here. Why? Maybe because they have shorter legs... But life is a little slower here, too. Even though it's a huge city, people take their time. Except when it comes to driving! Then they go into crazy-fast mode!
On the way to Punta Hermosa, we drove past the outskirts of Lima. I was shocked to see the change in landscape and living conditions. There are houses built into terraces on sandy hills. I don't even know if I would call them houses...they're more like shacks. It was so heartwrenching. I was driving in a nice car with a family who has two maids and a security guard outside at night. And less than ten minutes away there are thousands and thousands of people living in destitution. I was told it would be like this in Lima...but it was hard to believe before I saw it. It's also hard to describe it realistically. As we drove, I sat in the back seat wondering if I could possibly be in the same city. And my host family carried on like we were still in central Lima. I just can't imagine getting used to that sight.
"Pisco Sour" in the national alcoholic beverage in Peru. And this week was the official week of Pisco Sours. Our study abroad group went out on Friday night to a casino and celebrated with the Peruanos. We danced, listened to the band, and just had a fun time! It made me thankful for the group of students that are here together...we all seem to get along really well!
I just finished having supper. Usually I eat alone because we all eat at different times, and my host parents like to eat upstairs in their rooms. But Marcelina, one of our maids, sat with me while I ate. I really enjoy talking with her! She's 19 and lives in the house. She only speaks Spanish, but she speaks it well and it's easy to understand her. We just had a really fun talk, and I'm glad she's here!
I was talking to my good friend Kayla today about how much I'm loving this change in my life. I think it was so needed. I have such a desire in my heart to learn new things and experience new things. And I'm so content that it's being fulfilled! My eyes are being opened to a different part of this beautiful world we live in. It's not all good, but it's all a way to learn and to grow.
I leave you with a few pictures from the weekend...
1. A youth orchestra concert in front of the cathedral in La Plaza de San Martin, central Lima.
2. The government building in central Lima, with Peru's flag on a hill behind it.
3. The group of us with a few Peruvian students in front of the church of San Fransisco which we toured. We also went down into the catacombs there!
4. The sunset at Punta Hermosa.
5. One of the beaches at Punta Hermosa.
6. Alejandra (my friend Kia's host sister) and I at a restaurant.
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