Be Amazed.

I made it! After nearly a year without drinking good Wisconsin milk, flushing my toilet paper and seeing my niece, I am back. (And I’m looking at the world with my new Peruvian experience eyes.)

Home felt weird at first. Even the states felt weird. When I got change at the airport, I stared at it like it was totally new. (Quarters aren't as heavy as soles which threw me off.) The Spanish to English change isn’t a huge shock, but I did say “perdón” multiple times at the airport which was followed by an embarrassed "sorry."  One of the most common questions I get from people is “Is it nice/weird speaking English?"  Speaking English in everyday situations isn't that weird because I lived with Americans so I got plenty of English practice in Lima. But I do feel like I can really easily eavesdrop on anyone's conversation without even trying and I really miss speaking Spanish and feeling like I’m constantly learning. 

An odd thing is that Peru has almost come to be a part of my identity. I don't know a lot of songs on the radio, I'm not up on the feather in the hair trend and I don't know my niece's slang like "lippy" for chapstick.  But I am learning to become accustomed to my own culture that now oddly seems foreign. I'm also appreciating things I once took for granted like leaving a campsite completely unattended or washing my hands in hot water. As my mom said the week I got back, "I'm easily impressed." 

Unfortunately, my summer got cut short since I had finals in July (although I shouldn't complain because I had a 3 and a half month summer break December to March.) After I got home, I worked for my mom's business to make up some of the money I spent this past year. The first two weeks in August I’m heading out east with my family on a road trip. We’re going to hit up Pennsylvania, New York, and D.C. then I'll meet up with some friends in Boston for a joyous reunion. After I’m back in the dairy state, I’ll help move my sister into college, move myself to Madison for, and then (dare I say the s word?) school starts and it’ll be my Senior year.
Time really seems to fly by, so I’m trying to enjoy every minute of it. I’m learning to live in the moment and soak up every change that life brings.  I am encouraged by God’s promise in Habakkuk 1:5:

Look at the nations and watch—
   and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
   that you would not believe,
   even if you were told.

And no matter what country I’m in, that promise reigns true.

Amor y Paz. 

Nos vemos, Peru

Next week at this time I will have slept a night in my bed, discovered all my new stuff, and given huge bear hugs to my family and friends.

Even as I write that sentence, it still doesn’t feel real. I can’t believe that I have spent nearly a year in Lima and that soon my reality for the past year will have basically vanished. I mean, it's not like I can just come back to Lima for a quick weekend visit (although I will for sure visit in a couple years).

I know it's cliche, but going back is pretty much the definition of bitter sweet. I'm excited to go home and see my family and friends, eat Mexican food, and feel much safer than I do in Lima. But at the same time I'm going to miss my friends here, miss speaking Spanish and drinking Inca Kola.  I think I'm also going to miss being challenged. My life here really isn't that hard, but I do feel like I'm constantly learning, whether that be learning new Spanish vocab like the word tadpole (renacuajo) or practicing patience with the 'inefficiency' that I run into everywhere.  I mean, when I'm home, it's so comfortable because it's what I know. It's what I've grown up with and it's what I've always loved. I don't want to look for tough situations, but it is true that when you are outside your comfort zone and stretch yourself, you learn a lot more.

Now, I don't feel like I'm a completely different person, but I'm obviously different than I was last year at this time. Just living a year of life changes you, and I feel like living abroad just amplifies that. I wrote a blog a while ago on change and I discussed that I didn't feel like I had a support group here, but faithful as He is, God provided me many friends, Peruvian, American, Chilean and Colombian, and also an amazing prayer group that meets once a week.

All of this doesn't mean that I'm not excited to go home, because I am psyched to be back in the states. But as a study abroader once said... "There's nothing wrong with calling two places home."

Amor y Paz.

Me? Procrastinator?

This blog is quite a testament to its title. I wrote this out at least three weeks ago in one of my classes and just haven’t typed it out. I guess it’s kind of fun to procrastinate on things that you can procrastinate on, like blogs. Anyways…

I have never been someone to procrastinate. In fact, in the past I’ve tended to do quite the opposite, get all of my homework done for the week ahead of time so I could enjoy the week, sometimes “enjoying” the week by doing the next weeks homework. Sounds crazy, I know.  I guess I don’t like the feeling that I have homework hanging over my head so I’ve always been on top of it. But I’ve realized something…

 

There is always something I could be doing.

But that doesn’t mean that I always should be doing homework (not that I’m always studying by any means).  I wouldn’t say that I’ve become a huge procrastinator here, but I would say that I’ve found more of a balance between staying on top of my homework and putting it off when I need to or want to. This is for a couple reasons.

First, I have much more time in Peru to push off homework so I really don’t have to stay on top of things because I know I’ll eventually get it done.  I’ve definitely found that it’s a lot easier to find time for schoolwork when you don’t have a job.

Secondly, in Peru, time management gets lost among the emphasis put on relationships and family. And I really like that. I could stay home and get ahead on my reading, or I could push it off and go to the movies. The latter option is obviously the more fun choice, but the non-procrastinator (and the do-er) in me pushes me to go for the first.  But one thing Peru has taught me is that building relationships and doing fun things with friends are the moments I’m going to remember in life (duh), not checking that last thing off my to-do list. I’m not going to look back on my life and marvel at the amount of things I accomplished because real lasting memories are made through relationships with others, enjoying life.

teaching Paola how to make chocolate chip cookies

I realize that this new view on life may slap me in the face when I get back to Madison and I actually have to manage my time, but I think I’ll be able to find a good balance.

Now to check “blog” off my to-do list.

Amor y Paz.

In Mancora…

Surfers find their niche among the olas

And seafood is as fresh as it comes.

Gringos bathe in sunscreen

And skin is rejuvenated by bathing in mud.

A mototaxi breeze keeps you cool

And is the chevere way to get around.

Clothing means a bikini with a wrap

And some pirated ray-ban sunglasses.

In Mancora, me divertí un montón!

Here’s some picture highlights from the trip:

Our hostel

Hammocks!!!

Hanging out on the beach

Mud Baths

Jungle Party

Mototaxi!

Amor y Paz.

Extrañando algunas cositas

Along with the last blog, I thought I’d write about things that I miss and don’t miss about home (besides the obvious things like family and friends).

Things I miss:

• WI FRESH milk
• Mexican food
• walking to class (although not so much in the winter months)
• change of seasons (spring and fall)
• short 50 minute classes (here they’re two hours, one of mine is even three!)
• feeling cozy (coffee shops, carpet, cozy couches)
• drinking faucet water
• using my debit card instead of cash
• blending in (aka not getting whistled/stared at constantly)
• pedestrians having the right of way
• general organization and efficiency
• texting, cheap phone calls, and a nice cell phone
• thunder storms (it literally never rains in Lima)
• not having to be worried about getting robbed

Things I don’t miss:

• winter (especially walking to class in freezing weather)
• how expensive it is to eat out
• $1 bills (I much prefer dollar coins)
• really expensive textbooks (I’ve spent a total of $25 on ‘textbooks’ this year)
• having class everyday
• working (although making money is nice)
• getting tan only in the summer
• super expensive movies (You can be $1 movies off the street, or to see a movie in theaters as cheap as $2 on Tuesdays)
• having to cook for myself all the time
• lack of traveling
• speaking English all the time
• having to be on time to everything
• being constantly busy and having very little chill time

For now,  I'll marvel at the differences between Peru and the US because in just over two months, I'll be missing a whole new list of things.

Amor y Paz.

Foreigner?

It’s odd how familiar Lima has gotten. I know what buses to take to get around the city, what Peruvian snacks are my favorite (margaritas), where the good places are to eat, when I’m getting ripped off, or what a non-Peruvian Spanish accent sounds like.

When taxi drivers try to make me pay twice as much, I refuse to pay the gringa price.  When people tell me prices in dollars, I convert it back to soles and think how many lunches or how many alfajores I could buy with that many soles.  When people talk about Peruvian food, I try to avoid saying that I don’t like ceviche, but emphasize the fact that I love pollo a la brasa and aji de gallina.  I may struggle with my Spanish at times, but I love it when I can throw in the word “manyas?” (Got it?) or the ever-so-popular “chevere” (cool).

It no longer feels strange to eat rice with nearly every meal, drink juice instead of milk, use soles, write the date as day/month/year, or speak Spanish.  It kinda feels like a second home and if I didn’t know I was so far away, I wouldn’t feel like I was so far away. A lot of times I have to picture myself on the map of South America to remind myself that I can’t drive home on the weekends (although tanning in January was a good reminder).

And despite what Peruvians might say about my appearance as a foreigner, I really don’t feel like one anymore.

Amor y Paz.

Thinking about the EEUU

I finally have a flight back to the States! I’ll be in the land of red, white, and blue on the 12th of July (sadly, missing the freedom celebrations by a week but not much I can do about a July 7th final).  It’s weird to think about going back because I’m sure a lot will have changed in the almost year that I’ll have been here.  I guess I kind of have this thought that while I’ve been here life just stopped back in Madison and Menomonie (my hometown) and will start up again when I get back. Obviously that’s not the case because 8 months have gone by. Honestly, it’s hard to believe I’ve been here that long already.  Based on how fast last semester went by, I know these next few months are going to be gone in the blink of an eye (so to say).

I am excited to go home, but I know when I get back to Wisconsin I’ll be hit with real life. It’s a kind of paradise here as I have much less homework and I don’t have a job.  This is the most free time I’ve had since….probably Middle School, and probably the most free time I’ll ever have again in my life. So I’m really soaking in every Peruvian second, knowing that I’ll miss it, but at the same time looking forward to going back to everyone in the EEUU.

Amor y Paz.

So long sweet summer...

School is now in full swing and I actually have homework again. I do miss the time at the beach and the unlimited free time, but I guess it’s  nice to feel productive. This semester I’m taking four classes-Peruvian Narrative Literature, Phonetics, Human Development 1, and Education and Development in Peru.  I’m interested in all of my classes (although my literature class is pretty boring) so that makes doing homework not so bad. My favorite class is by far phonetics as I love anything and everything language. I’ve also already taken phonetics in English at UW, so that makes it easier to understand the linguistic vocabulary. Anyways, I do have some homework I have to get to, so I’m going to get back to that!

Amor y Paz.

Carnaval in the land of blue, green and yellow

If anyone knows anything about Carnaval (Portuguese spelling) or Carnival (English spelling), you know that Brazil is world-famous for their pre-lent celebration, or maybe a better word to use would be crazy-over-the-top-country-wide-festival.  The biggest cities, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, are famous for the competition of samba schools in their Sambodromos.  While in northern Brazil the celebration is carried out in blocos, big groups of people following semi-like trucks calld trios topped by Brazilian bands. The party really isn’t complete without music, a very important part of Brazilian culture.

Well, when I decided I was going to study abroad in Peru, there was one vacation destination that I for sure was going to hit up–Brazil.  I’ve taken Portuguese at UW, but that’s not the only reason I wanted to go. In fact, the reason I wanted to go to Brazil was the same reason why I wanted to learn Portuguese in the first place.

My senior year in high school I became good friends with an exchange student from Brazil, Carol.  I figured if I was already in South America, I had to go and visit her in Brazil as I hadn´t seen her for two and a half years. I started saving money early on, as Brazil is pretty expensive, and when I got to South America I started planning my Brazilian adventure, deciding that I would go for Carnaval in March.  After buying my flight, the trip was official and I was really excited! I decided to spend two weeks in Carol´s city, Joao Pessoa, located on the eastern most point of Brazil.

When I arrived, my thought was “this is paradise.” She lives really close to the beach and the sun shows its face all day long among the striking green palms and perfectly blue sky.

Here’s my top 10 from the trip (in no particular order).

1. Jet-skiing and eating crab in areias vermelhas (red sand) out in the ocean.
The ocean near João Pessoa isn’t very deep, so you can stand up in the ocean pretty far out. Oh yeah, and the Atlantic is warm unlike the Pacific!

2. Speaking Portuguese.
I´ve taken three semesters of Portuguese at UW and it was great to practice. To me it sounds like a mixture of Spanish and French and I think it’s a beautiful language. Considering how easy Spanish is coming to me now, Portuguese was frustrating at times, but Brazilians LOVE speaking English so I was able to give my brain a rest every now and again.

This is one of the souvenirs I bought. Their flag says “order and progress.”

3. Cafuçu.
This is a Brazilian pre-Carnaval party that takes place at night in a plaza with a live band. Cafuçu is known for its crazy costumes and outfits and Carol and I did not hold back.

4. Learning Brazilian music.
Brazilian tunes are a key part to Carnaval, as it’s a huge part of their culture.  A lot of the songs are summer hits that get repeated by various bands throughout the festivities. I was able to learn some songs and I even got a cd to bring back so I can keep jamming to hits brasileiros.

5. My going away/American food party.
The last night I was there, Carol and I threw a party and made American food aka cheeseburgers, fries and milkshakes and let me tell you it was delicious.  Seven of her friends came over and besides pigging out, we talked and even had an impromptu sing-along as some of the guys brought guitars.

6. Trying lots of new food.
My favorite Brazilian treat was definitely açai, a fruit (kind of looks like a blueberry) that they freeze and then blend. It has an ice-cream like texture and is just the right amount of sweet. It’s very refreshing and apparently really good for you too. In Brazil they serve it as a drink or as a snack with whatever toppings you want. I had mine with strawberries and bananas, sweetened condensed milk, and different kinds of cereal. So yummy!

7. Carnaval in Olinda.
João Pessoa doesn’t have a Carnaval celebration, so Carol and I took a bus to Olinda, a city about two hours away.  And while I was begging middle school boys to spray me with their squirt guns (it was super hot!), I really felt like I was experiencing culture at its finest as we danced through the streets to Brazilian music.

8. Virgens do Tambú.
This is a Carnaval party that takes place in the streets of João Pessoa at night. The best part of Virgens is that all the guys dress up as girls, complete with dresses, makeup and for the extra brave guys—heels.  Needless to say, I was laughing all night.

9. Hanging out with Carol’s friends.
I had a blast spending time with Carol and her Brazilian friends. I really enjoyed not playing the role of tourist with my nose in my Lonely Planet book, as I could just let Carol be my guide to everything Brazil.

10. Staying with Carol’s family.
I felt so blessed to stay with Carol and her family in their home. They fed me amazing Brazilian food and treated me like I was one of their own. I couldn’t say “obrigada” enough!

Amor e Paz.

My time with Inca Link

I have returned to the southern homeland of Lima, but my month in Trujillo was really great. As you may know, I was there for a month working as an intern with Inca Link (incalink.net), an organization that works to link North Americans and South Americans through service and the love of Jesus.

In Trujillo, Inca Link has three different ministries going. The albergue, or children’s home, is under construction but will soon be home to 70+ kids who are either orphans or from poor families. At the children’s home they’ll learn a trade (sewing, construction etc) in order to help them get a job once they’re old enough. I helped sweep and clean some of the walls in the children’s home to prep for painting, but I didn’t spend a ton of time there.

The kids eating lunch at the daycare

Another ministry is the guarderia, translated daycare, but it’s more of an after-school program. There are around 80 kids that go to the guarderia, ranging from ages 3 to 15, all sponsored by North Americans. The guarderia is three days a week, including lunch and teaching separated by age groups.

The first couple weeks I helped out with the younger kids and played with them and braided the girls’ hair. They quite enjoyed feeling pampered, check out the picture of all of them cramming to see themselves in the mirror.


The last two weeks I was there, another intern, Ashley and I started teaching English to the two older groups. While it’s frustrating that they don’t listen very well, many of them seem to be genuinely interested in learning English and it makes me smile hearing them say English phrases such as, “I am from Peru.” Ashley will continue teaching English, as she’ll be with Inca Link for a year.

Before

After

Another thing Ashley and I did for the daycare was bring organization to the donation room. It was the definition of chaos with toothpaste, notebooks, markers, stuffed animals and clothes in random bags and boxes just packed into the room. I definitely think the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” applied to this room as the door stayed tightly closed. It seemed that it had gotten so bad that no one wanted to take on the challenge of organizing it, but for Ashley and I, there was nothing we wanted to do more. We spent four half-days separating the donations into categories and getting shelves and boxes to help organize it. I labeled everything in Spanish and English so both the natives and the missionaries would know what goes where. Now I just hope it stays the way we left it!

Another ministry is at the city’s garbage dump, which is on the smelly outskirts of town, an area where the locals avoid, and rightfully so. But once you got past the smell and sight of tons of garbage, you saw the people that worked and lived there and it broke my heart to see the conditions that people worked and lived in.

The programmed ministry is on Saturdays, where a group of people teach the kids and play games with them, much like a Sunday school class. This was my favorite ministry as the kids take joy in simple things, such as taking pictures with my camera or playing soccer with us gringos. When I talk about the kids at the garbage dump, they don’t actually live in the dump, but rather alongside it (not much better than living in it to be honest). Many of their parents work in the dump as the city’s recycling: taking out glass, plastic, and cardboard in order to make some money.

One day, after getting permission from the city, we North American missionaries went into the dump. We didn’t really have an agenda, it was more to see it and talk with the people about their experiences. It was definitely nothing like I’ve ever seen before as the stench of garbage was overwhelming and there were people of all ages, dirty from head to toe with hopeless eyes digging through everyone’s trash. After walking around for a bit, I got the chance to talk to a lady about 50 years old. She poured out her life story to me about how her son is an alcoholic and how it’s tearing apart their family. I prayed for her that God would give her peace and that her son would be able to get help. She is also a Christian so we were able to bond over the fact that our God is a God of joy and peace. She told me she felt much more happy and content after talking to me and I gave her a big hug and kiss on the cheek goodbye. I was delighted to have the opportunity to pray for her and yet I was distressed over the fact that there are so many people who work in the dump and are suffering hardship.

While I had many other experiences during my internship in Trujillo, such as singing Dancing Queen at Karaoke or eating ice cream on the beach, this is the moment that I will never forget.  I’ve realized that life is about relationships and despite supposed cultural differences or socially created ladders, “We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same” –Anne Frank

Amor y Paz.

New Home for a Month

I’m no longer in Lima! (No worries, it’s only for a month) I’m currently in Trujillo, Peru which is north of Lima on the coast. I’ll be here until the beginning of February working with an organization called Inca Link doing missionary work as an Intern.  I’m still not entirely sure what I’ll be doing here, but I know I’ll be serving God’s people which is very exciting! There are a few different ministries that Inca Link does down here, including a daycare and serving the people that dig through the garbage at the garbage dump. For more info or to contribute, check out their website.

Amor y Paz.

Año Nuevo

It’s almost 2011. Am I the only one that feels like it was just a couple years ago that everyone was freaking out about Y2K? I feel like I’m getting old too fast (now that I’m 21 and all). Honestly, this past year seems like it went by in a blur, although it feels like that a lot I think.  2010 was filled with lots of studying spring semester (with 6 classes and 17 credits and a job) and a lot of working during the summer (a full time and a part time job) and this past “fall” semester (technically is was spring semester round dos) I didn’t do much studying and did a lot of traveling within Peru and have un montón of pictures to remember it all.

Now that it’s summer again, it’s weird to feel so unproductive. I don’t even have a part time job, besides working for kgb_ ,and I have a lot of free time which isn’t something I’m used to. It’s weird, when I was working a ton, I just wanted some free time and now that I have free time I wish I had something to keep me busy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really enjoying not having school or a job and having a lot of time to chill and sleep, sleep, sleep which I didn’t really do this summer, but it would be nice to at least feel a little productive. I’m trying to learn to “stop and smell the roses” and enjoy the moment because I know when I get back to the states in July (and moreso in September when school starts) I’ll be wishing for this kind of free time. It’s weird, I kinda feel like I’m experiencing a middle school summer again because I don’t drive here, so I either have to take the bus or get a ride, I don’t have a job or any schoolwork, and I often feel like I don’t fit in being a gringa, although I’m much more confident than I was in middle school as I’m actually embracing the fact that I don’t fit in, I quite enjoy being a gringa.

Anyways, as for the 2011 celebration, I don’t have set plans yet, but I’m going to celebrate with some amigos peruanos either camping on the beach or in someone’s house. Either way, we’ll be bringing in el Año Nuevo with a bang, South American style (not quite sure what that means yet, but I’ll let you know when I do). Happy New Year everyone!

Amor y Paz.

Familia x2

It was truly great having my family here for my birthday and Christmas and also traveling to Cuzco with them. It was definitely hard to say goodbye for a second time, this time knowing I have over 6 months until I see them again. I realized that they’re some of my best friends, let me tell you why.

My Dad always helps me out financially and is always there for me if I need anything and he’s overall a great dad. My mom always keeps me updated on what’s going on at home and always makes me feel like she cares, as she’s a great listener. My little sister, Brynn, knows how to make me smile and is a very giving person, I know we’ll always have fun together. My little brother, Brayden, is quite the talker and I love him for it, he’s very smart and always fills in the awkward silences.

I love and miss you guys and also Tyler, Erin, Ed and Lily!

At Parque del Amor in Miraflores

At Macchu Picchu

Amor y Paz.