¡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.