And Spanglish Was It's Name-O

Today marks two weeks that I have been living in Peru and things have turned around for the better! The first couple weeks were hard in realizing that this is nothing like study abroad (Partying for 4 months with other Americans where you travel and aren't challenged too much by the cultural or language differences). The realization that teaching at an international school requires more than a college diploma and some actual teaching experience . . who would have thought.  And coming to terms with the fact that the transit system here is crazy with buses going every which way and live entertainment with people preaching the good word, serenading us with their guitar, or people selling candy (which I should really consider considering we are in such close proximity and I doubt my breath always smells like roses).

Enough complaining now onto the good things!  I am starting work next Monday at an English School so it's pretty much tutoring but I will be working in an office and start with 12 hours. It's summer here r so people are out traveling.  Once the school year starts in March I will be working more hours.  I have been hanging out with some of my roommates here in Barranco and going to the beach or shopping and enjoying good company and great conversations. I also have been looking up club like groups online for dancing, running, reading, ect. Whatever it may be I am getting out there and meeting new people. And as always I am practicing my Spanish. People like to strike up conversations because I am a foreigner so it gives me more practice each day. I went to the beach yesterday and the lifeguard started talking to me and I know what you are thinking but sadly no. He did ask to show me around the city considering I know nothing about it but I told him I have friends who are doing that with me. The house I live in is a constant battle between English and Spanish where the conversation will start in Spanish and then switch over to English and someone will come into the room and depending on their strong language it could change back over.  For someone still learning it is entertaining and draining and sometimes I just mix all of it in one sentence.

Sorry I don't have any pictures this time but next time I will add some more. I'm considering getting an instagram but I don't know the first thing about it, don't even know how to spell it     (is that the correct way) so I will let you know if I have a change or heart.

Selvamonos

So it has almost been a full week here and I am slowly getting the hang of things. Peru is like San Francisco in that there are numerous districts throughout the city that help separate each sector. This also means that getting from the most Southern to most Northern part can take 2 or so hours by bus. Taxis are the most common mode of transportation, 3/4 of the cars on the roads seem to be taxis and are used by everyone.

I do have a few pictures I have been taking and these ones should have been added to last week.

My room with some bright walls. 

This is my "hall way". My door is the one at the end and there are stairs behind me. I am on the third floor and the majority of our rooms lead straight outside but the communal area is normal. 

I have a flash light on this little bad boy.

Since being in Peru I have been job searching. Everyone keeps asking for pictures and crazy stories but it hasn't been overwhelmingly crazy just yet. The most interesting part of my week has been documenting the different ways they spell my name. I have Shohy and Shopi on the list so I will keep you guys updated with that. This past weekend I went to a beach about an hour south of Lima to a concert called Selvamonos. It pretty much translates to jungle monkeys ha. I went with some other foreigners and we stayed the night on the beach so Sunday we enjoyed the sun. One of my roommates compared me to a crab so I guess you could say I need more sunscreen on top of the two layers I had applied. 

I don't know the name of the beach but the surf was beautiful. Maybe I will take it up in Peru because living in San Diego my whole life and never surfing was too easy. 

 After the beach and a long Saturday night I came back to a pleasant Sunday evening. Everyone was out enjoying the beautiful weather and it was time to relax. I walked around with my friend and took a few pictures just of the main plaza and church.

The plaza is about a block from my house and the red building in the distance is the library. 

 My primary focus this week is to look for jobs more. I had two interviews on Monday and have to teach a 20 minute lecture tomorrow and a tutoring class for two different companies to see if they like me. Unfortunately I do have to take my nose piercing out because the school has standards of appearance to withhold and piecing are one (even though the lady interviewing me had an extremely low cut dress for a school position if I do say so myself). I also have another interview Thursday with another tutoring company and one more soon to be scheduled with a school. So keep the prayers and love coming and I will keep everyone posted :)

Bright Green Walls

Why is it when we look back on the past we only think of happy occurrences in life? I have traveled numerous places and experienced culture that exceeds my expectations yet as I look towards the future I get so nervous.

I note traveling because as many of you know I decided to packed up my life and moved to Lima, Peru to experience adventure.  Everyone asks all the obvious questions of where will I live, what will I do, and . . . am I planning to meet a Latin man.

This is what I know after being here for one day . . .

 -My room is a typical Latin room: small, bright green walls, no matching furniture, but comfortable in its own way

 -My roommates, all 11 of them, are worldly, loving, and patient people (I do not remember all their names yet    and actually might not have met them all yet, who's counting really?)

 -I need to practice Spanish a lot more 

 -I have a bomb cell phone circa 1990

 -I have three interviews within the next few days and no idea how to get to any one of them

 -Humidity will be my new best friend

 -Inca Cola is supposedly the next best thing since sliced bread 

 -Each moment I stop and think I am baffled that my friends and family let me do this

I had some free time today after unpacking, meeting people, and grocery shopping to walk around the area where I live. I was in awe of the architecture, new and old, of the buildings and the bright colors that covered the outsides.  I am truly blessed every step I take in this country for knowing the support I have with this endeavor. I l can't wait for more adventure to arise but for now I'm going to try and fall asleep among these bright green walls.