Entonces, adelante.

Obviously I can't begin to catch up on time between my last blog and this one.
Entonces, adelante.
I am now in the last week of orientation and about to embark on my first week of classes, next monday. I'm taking "Drogas y Sociedad", "Etnicidad, Identidad, y Nacion", and "Ilustracion". I figured taking a class about drugs would be necessary here in Peru where it's such a big problem and always on everyone's lips. You can go to any tourist shop and pick up a shirt that says "Coca no es un droga" (which I totally plan to buy before I leave, along with an Inca Kola shirt). I also think I need to take a class that focuses on the problem of identity, which is also another hot topic here in Lima. Most people are mezclado, mixed with some kind of heritage of European/Spanish white, indigenous indian, or African black. Most people, however, only want to relate to their blanco side. It's an amazing phenomenon that as I'm learning about first hand every single day.
What are my days like now?
I wake up to the sounds of the morning traffic. Here in Peru, central heating/air isn't common, so the temperature of outside is what the temperature will be inside. Thankfully, Peru is always amazingly beautiful so I haven't had a problem with that. (Forgive me, my knowledge of English is literally diminishing) Anyway, the door to my balcony is always open and my blinds are always up. I wake up to the sounds of convis and other cars making a right turn along the second ovalo on Avenido Jose Pardo, a very popular and big street in Miraflores. It's starting to be comforting--right around 7, I hear the sound of the convi guy going "Abajo, abajo!", signaling the passenger to get the hell out of the van. It's soothing. What are convis? Maybe the worst/best form of public transportation I've ever experienced. Teeny vans that SHOULD fit only about 15-20 people but at times fit 30 or more. Crammed. Hundreds of them on the streets of Lima, going every way possible. Only for, at most, 1 sol a ride. That's about 30 cents. Super cheap and safe (?) but super hectic and overwhelming. It's starting to be just a part of my day now. :)
I wake up, take a shower in my private bathroom (which is amazing, let me tell you), come out to the living room to face my wonderful Peruvian family, Alicia and Ivan (my padres) and Ayrton and Nicolas (my hermanitos) and Veloz, the family poodle, trying to sneak a bite at the fresh baked bread on the table. It's straight up out of a movie. I don't know how I got such a great family, but as I compare my situation to the other students' and my other friends', I can't help but to think God had something to do with it. I don't know how I'd feel about Lima if I didn't live with such a great family in such a perfect location. I eat a breakfast of bread, cereal, the best and freshest fruits you could imagine (some you even couldn't) and a cup of coffee (which i'm finding doesn't really do the trick for me here), and in 20 mins, I'm out the door to catch one of the infamous convis. 2 convis and 25 mins later, I'm at PUCP, my new school for a Spanish class. Typically after that, there's some kind of orientation activity all day and by the end of the day i'm ABSOLUTELY wiped out. I can't wait for school to start to have a chiller schedule. Oh, and all of that is in SPANISH.
My Spanish?
Let me be the first to tell you how surprised I am that I'm not absolutely dying. Once you're forced to speak another language, it comes more easily to you. I can't wait for the end of the program to actually be able to say I speak Spanish. It's a wonderful thing, this study abroad.
What else to say? There's so much, and then again, nothing at all. My life is fabulous; I'm starting to explore a little bit of my explorative and independent side. I've taken up walking to most places, because the streets here have little parks in the center of them where people can walk through, and it's just so beautiful during the day that I can't stand to waste it in a convi. I've also taken up reading (in Spanish!) at parks. Obvs, haven't forgotten my love of the nightlife, but honestly, (and this is very different than most people abroad) I'm finding that that's one of the last things on my list. Of course I'm a college student, and all that good stuff will be involved, but to be surrounded by so much culture and so many new things, why think about the activities you do regularly? Wow, does that make sense? I'm losing my English and dying of tiredness, Perdon.
I love Lima. I have a sneaking suspicion some flight plans will have to be changed.
Tomorrow? Vamos al centro de Lima, y el barrio Chino. (Oh yeah, there's a good sized population of Chinese people here. Imagine Chinese food with a stronger, better flavor? For like 3 dollars? Chifas are the bomb.com.)
Adios, I hope to continue this soon. But if I don't, I don't.

First Impressions...

Lima. This place is, is, is…man, I really can’t explain this city. It’s a hectic mix of an urban city (with plenty of that oh, so appealing smog/pollution) and a quiet, serene beach city. Lima’s natural resources were first stolen and used for profit when it was first conquered in the 17th or so century by the Spanish, and that tradition has returned in the form of tourism. Every beautiful thing in Lima has a price, or a logo, or is in some Lonely Planet book. I suppose that’s how it is in any country that people often visit but it seems to me like “los limenos” could do without it. Tourism is widely accepted in most countries, but I can’t help but feel like every time someone pays for a trip to go see Macchu Picchu, a piece of Lima’s soul is lost. Young people leave school in order to work at the airport, or in a hotel, or as a tour guide, and completely forget about their education, which is ironically the only way to escape poverty. I know, I feel like I’m writing a report, but those were just the thoughts that have been running through my mind all day…

As always, however, I contradict myself in saying I can’t WAIT to go to Macchu Picchu and the Galapagos, and Lake Titicaca, and Brazil, and Argentina, and do it all. At least, I’m being a conscious tourist by knowing I’m only buying into what is becoming Lima’s much too strong hold on American/1st world tourists. J

I arrived in Lima this morning at 7:30, 2 hours late, to the most oppressive humidity I’ve ever felt, short of the July in Florida. That was not at all the best thing to fly into! Laura, our resident director, picked me up at the airport with her mom and they both greeted me with a kiss on the cheek. That immediately put me at ease. We drove about 30 mins into the city center, Miraflores, and passed the San Miguel district. Known in Lima as lower middle class, that place could pass for Hell in America. I started fearing what I was getting myself into! I was so scared that I had made the wrong choice but about 15 mins into the trip, Laura turned around and asked me if I wanted to see the ocean. I needed to see the ocean. That’s what brought me to Lima, and I knew that if THAT disappointed me, I was in for the worst semester of my life. Thank God my fears were never realized. We turned the corner to what must have been the biggest difference in scenery I’ve ever seen in a 100ft. distance. Lush, green cliffs overlooked clear blue water, with waves crashing over rocks. Stuff you see in pictures. AMAZING. Just behind the views of the cliffs was the upper middle class neighborhood of Miraflores, and let me tell you, I know I made the right choice! We drove closer into the town and the streets were filled with newly constructed modern houses, the type of houses you’d see in Venice, California. Big windows, straight lines, ultra modern and hip. Brand new Jettas and Toyotas lined their driveways. *PHEW!* A bigger weight could not have been lifted off my shoulders. After a quick nap, 3 of the girls on my program and I explored the city of Miraflores. It’s beautiful. The smog, I’m not so happy about, but hey, I’m in South America, what the hell should I be complaining about?

I tried the best ceviche today! And I totally plan on trying Cuy when we go to Cuzco to see Macchu Picchu next month. The food here = UNBELIEVABLE! And so cheap, it’s amazing. My ceviche was 20 soles, about 7 dollars. And it was considered an expensive restaurant. Saaaaweet.

Right now, I’m waiting to go out to dinner; in South America, they don’t eat dinner till like the middle of the night or something, so we’re just killing time before we go out.

Oh man, what a day. What a freaking 24 hours.

Orientation/Spanish immersion begins tomorrow. SO scared.

<3

The only thing running through my mind:

I hope I haven't signed up for more than I can handle.

The anxiety is literally killing me...

I have exactly 3 weeks until I depart for Lima, and I feel just so ready to go. I've been talking about studying abroad for so long now that I need to do it already! Everyone else who went through the anxiety of the application process and the "junioritis" that results after knowing where you're going the next semester have already begun their journey. But I'm here, home, twiddling my thumbs, and awaiting the start of the Latin American school year. 

I've spent the past 2 months not really doing a damn thing. I've worked (and I use that term very, very loosely) at Best Buy, hung out with my friends, and let's see...not really much else! I've tried to stay out of trouble because idle hands....what's the rest of the phrase? Well, idle hands aren't a good thing. During my break, I've tried to see as much of California as I can because as senior year looms, I must make a decision as to where I want to move after college. I'm definitely moving back here but the real dilemma is North or South? We visited SF a few weeks ago and I loved the east-coast feel, but SoCal will always have my heart. I just came back from a few days in San Diego, visiting Kat and experiencing a typical Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in her world. Hectic! But anyway, San Diego is a phenomenal city. It's definitely on my list as well. 

I feel like I'm rambling.

I wanted to start this blog before I left to write down all of my thoughts and hopes. 

I hope I like the girls on my program. I hope I pick up Spanish easily when I get there. I hope I made the right decision. I think I'll never want to leave. :)

I'm sorry, readers. Get ready for some supreme cheese. 

Just got home after a 2.5 hour drive from SD. A 3-11p shift awaits.