Taking It Day By Day

So I'm going on about 10 weeks here in Peru and as I talk to my friends back home starting work or finishing up another semester of college I realize that 10 weeks is actually a fairly long time! I keep having to pinch myself because as much as I get frustrated some days with the language barrier or long hours of commutes by bus I am truly very happy to be tackling this adventure.

Last week I had a stomach virus of some sort. No need for details but it consisted of five days of no eating, going to the doctor Saturday, and now eating a simple diet of bread, chicken, rice, and bananas.  I knew I needed to go to the doctor when I was sitting in my Spanish class Friday about to cry because I didn't know how to do an activity. I felt so bad for my teacher who was just watching me completely fail and crumble before his eyes. Saturday I went to the doctors where I made my appointment speaking english to the receptionists but proceeded to a doctor where spanish was the only language I could use. So they asked some questions and hooked me up to come fluids just to get me hydrated again. I go in for a check-up tomorrow but right now I am feeling good!

Gettin the hook up in the hospital 

Anyways besides my run in with the runs I have also been enjoying the weekends here in Lima. Last weekend was a Wine festival in Surco (a district in Lima). My friends and I went to watch a parade one day and went back another for dinner, wine, and a beauty pageant, followed by some great music of course! Another friend of mine recently moved into a new apartment and they had a house warming party. It felt so American/Foreign to have a house warming party because that is not particularly popular here but I enjoyed the relaxed feeling of partying in a house and meeting other expats.

Plaza de Armas en Surco 

Apparently someone eats them . . .

Besides small day to day meet ups with friends I have been enjoying work. I still get new students every week and next week will start working more hours so I look forward to building more relationships. It's weird but I already see progress with some already just after a couple weeks of meeting up twice a week. I am excited to see how much the students grow while I am working with them. So really I can't complain! I think I say that every time but honestly I find joy in the simplest of things. The frustration that builds when buying one thing at the grocery store can take 30 minutes is combatted by the time the owner made a special dish for me last week after we explained to him that I had a limited diet because my stomach.  These simple acts are a constant reminder of why there is always a smile on my face!

Lucas the boy I tutor was hiding from me. He needs some practice. 

P.S. I did not take the time to read over this post so if it sounds dumb or there are errors I take full responsibility for them and all the other ones from previous posts.

Calling All Tall Men

Ok I get it finally! Back in the US I am not exactly what you would call a tall person. People like to say I'm short but I just respond with average. But here in Peru I feel like I tower over everyone! So tall men, I finally understand. Below is a picture of me on the bus (my maid mode of transportation) and there is actually space for my legs! I decided to document the moment because usually my legs are pressed up against the chair and hurt after a few moments so I choose to stand or get over it. Let me point out that I am only 5'5" (165 cm for everyone besides the US). So today was a good day!

So much ample space!

Anyways besides buses I am now into my second week with spanish classes and it is going well. I realized these classes will teach me all the grammatical errors I have been making and once I am done taking the classes it is up to me to study more words so I can put sentences together. Teaching is great as well. I like all my students.  One little boy is 5 so he speaks to me in Spanish and I respond in both English and Spanish so he understand the instructions, so really it's helping me practice more spanish.

So cute!!!

Anyways this past weekend I took a trip with 10 others to Las Islas Ballestas and Huacachina.  We left Saturday early in the morning to catch a boat out to the islands. Though we aren't able to go on the islands it was great to see them because . . . THEY HAVE PENGUINS!!! It's like that movie that ShisaLeBouff (beautiful man) did called Surfs Up. Anyways there were penguins, baby seals, and an ancient geoglyph usually found in Nazca. They are huge patterns in the land and no one can explain how they got there. Hmmmm. 

The geoglyph. 

 After Las Islas Ballestas we headed out to Huacachina. This is an oasis in the middle of some pretty impressive sand dunes.  We were exhausted when we arrived but decided to hike up a dune/mountain that took around 30 minutes going up but 5 minutes running down. After, we washed off in the water and had an early dinner. Considering there are around 10 buildings in the whole town it's safe to say the nightlife is pretty quiet. We chose to enjoy some beers while sitting on the street with the local dogs. Sunday we went on a dune buggy that takes you out for sand boarding.  Some people had snowboards while others had boards where you would sit on your butt or lay on your stomach.  I kinda thought I was gonna die but I think it was just the blood rushing from going so fast down a MASSIVE pile of sand.

Huacachina with the sand dunes in the back ground. 

We were fortunate enough to hit a lucky streak this weekend. While taking a taxi into the local city to get a bus back to Lima our driver "knew a guy" with a bus and we decided to trust him. Best decision ever! His friend was driving back to Lima and said he would take us for cheaper than the other buses. We didn't know we would have our own private tour bus! He picked us up and we sprawled out all over the bus relaxing, post cerveza stop may I add.  Overall it was a very good weekend and I will hopefully get pictures from friends for Facebook soon!

Big pimpin' in our own bus.

A Lot Of These Babies > !!!!!

Finally 23 and I feel like a changed woman!!! Haha well not really but all in all it was a good week and birthday. For starters I am taking a spanish course for the month of March. I start at 9:00 am every morning and study for four hours. It's a bit grueling but I am glad I am doing this to jump start my spanish.

The city of Lima is famous for balconies like this one.

On top of my classes I am also working so I study for four hours in the morning then am off to work every afternoon. So if you are trying to contact me via internet through my iphone it might be a bit rough because I am out of the house from 8-8 pretty much. But I am enjoying my classes and teaching. I started working with an older lady who is going to the US in April for her sons wedding and it's always a pleasure to talk with her about Lima and her life.  I also have a roommate who wants to get into running more so we have set up a calendar of our running schedule and hope to accomplish 20 kilometers within the next month! Yay for running!!!!

Danny and I about to blow out our candles. 

Saturday I went to the catacombs with a couple friends. Unfortunately we were not able to take pictures but it also is a little creepy being that its bones organized in circles on the ground or set in storage areas.  The church is in Central Lima so we took advantage of the trip to walk around the old buildings and plazas. We also went to the central market to buy party favors for Saturday night. My roommate and I had a conjoined birthday party on Saturday with balloons, party hats, 2 cakes (sparklers as the candles), and a piñata!!! It was great to see so many people and cultures come together and I think it's safe to say we all enjoyed the party and dancing! Tuesday was my actual birthday and after class and work I went to Central Lima once again for a Pisco Sour (national drink) with a couple of my friends!!! Girls night holla!!!! After we went salsa dancing. I impressed myself with how much spanish I was speaking but I know the Pisco had a part to play in that as well! So I can't really complain right now. I do miss y'all but know a lot of love is being sent my way!!!!

Pisco Sours on my actual birthday 

Had to throw one crazy one in there :)