Day Thirty-Five

Oh boy 2 am! 

As in we all had to wake up and layer up at 2 am to head out to tackle rainbow mountain. 

It all started with a 3.5 hour bus ride to the base of the mountain. Monica said the breakfast would not be much, but it was amazing. It included scrambled eggs, the best bread I have ever had in my life (with butter and jam), hot chocolate with cinnamon (which I mixed with an espresso pack - so smart). When our bellies were full and bathrooms used, we headed out on our mission.

There were two options: hike the 3k to the 17000 ft summit or take a horse. I know what you would want me to choose mom, but I chose to hike instead because I was going crazy from not running and needed a challenge. And a challenge it was. That is not just me saying that either, my professional hiker friends said it was more difficult than Angel’s Ledge. In order to conquer this feat we had support from our canine friend, who we named Ian but ended up being a girl, and the Hamilton soundtrack. Eventually, Cati, Daphne and I walked in front of the group because stopping for too long hurt our knees. We walked along to Cati’s hiking playlist ,Trail Mix- no nuts just bangers; t’was lit. The top part was the steepest and most difficult to climb, but I did it without falling. Of course, the view from the summit was incredible. On one side were the rainbow mountains with the colors appearing to run down the mountain, on the other were the snow-capped Andes which greatly resembled the Swiss Alps. Fun fact: rainbow mountain was only discovered 1.5 years ago by a couple of hikers from Israel. Obviously, we did all of the necessary photo shoots with help from the people we met who lived in Boston (Beacon Hill - yep that’s right, yuppies who made fun of my authentic South Bostonian accent). I still had a lit time and ate my banana before climbing down because it got too cold. 

I thought I was going to fall of of the side of the mountain when we were descending. However, I was saved by my sock-glove invention. Yes, that’s right your girl is a genius. Everyone made fun of me but were copying me by the end: using socks for gloves because I was too cheap to by gloves (it works all the same). In this particular moment, I put my sock-gloves on (still need to think of a creative name- sorry) then put my jacket over my hands, put my hands under my butt (I did not want to risk ripping the Lulu’s obviously) and slip down the mountain. That’s right Mom and Dad, I was the obnoxious American to slide down the top of mountain because I knew I would fall if I walked down, but hey, I thought it was a great example of my engineering prowess (thanks Northeastern Engineering). We hikes backed down, thankfully we didn’t need to stop as often, but it was more difficult on the knees. Actually, my fingers swelled to the size of sausages due to the lack of oxygen, but don’t worry we survived. 

Eventually, we all made it back on the bus and stopped at the same place as breakfast for lunch on the way home. I must day, it was one of the better versions of chicken, rice and french fries that I have had here. We headed back home where we all took naps before our last dinner together on the dialogue ( I also broke and reconstructed my Rubix cube but that’s a story for another time). 

We ate dinner at a hotel and it was the bougiest experience of my life - we ordered red wine and everything. I ordered the grilled shrimp for an appetizer and split with Nate who ordered the mushrooms. For the entree, I got the lamb and grilled eggplant with goat cheese. Sorry dad but I think this might have been the best meal of my life, it even had really good sauce and an onion ring (we need to learn how to make it). For dessert, I had vanilla ice cream with warm apples, pears and caramel sauce (also I did not know cheese plates were a popular dessert but hey, the more you know). After three hours and a group photo, we finally headed home to pack and sleep. 

Day Thirty-Four

Today was the day that we all waited for: MACHU PICCHU!!!! We started with a 4 am wake up call and 1.5 hour bus ride. From the bus we took an hour train ride. Then, we took a bus up the mountain from the train. Honestly, a part of me thought that we would fall off of the side of the cliff, but my bus buddy, the tour guide Jose, assured me we were safe. Jose was actually very talkative and told me all about the Incans and asked me about my life, going as far as to ask me to come back to Peru after I graduate so that I can help solve the water crisis. I said maybe.

As we drove up the mountains, it came into view and was positively stunning, I could not believe we were actually there, Machu Picchu. Pictures do not do it justice and there are no words to describe its beauty. Let’s just say that I now understand why it is one of the seven wonders of the world. 

We started with a two our tour, here is what I learned. A few Incans escaped to Machu Picchu during the Spanish invasion of Peru (and the mountains were closer to the gods/sun). They built the city from the bottom up, and about only 40% of the city is actually visible. There are many parts that were not restored after the professor from Yale discovered it in the early 1900s because they did not want to harm the surrounding flora and fauna (environmentally-cautious: my type of people). Apparently, only about 800 people lived in this city, and they ate a largely vegetarian diet because it was safer (side note: their poop resembled that of alpacas). The Incan, however, not only had hundreds of maidens, but he  had fresh fish delivered to him every day and had the only indoor bathroom in the city. The more you know. All throughout this tour, Jose made environmental comments and looked at me every time, I guess you could say we’re basically best friends now. Obviously, we also took many photo shoots: group, individual, polaroid, with banana, with ruby cube, with tattoo, you name it. 

After the tour a group of us tackled the supposed to be two hour hike (one hour each way) to la Puerta del Sol. I hate to brag but we accomplished the feat in a half hour. The view from the top was breathtaking. We looked down onto the city and the mountains that towered around it. We repeated our photo shoots and made some friends along the way, they were from Arkansas and knew how to solve a Rubix cube. We took our final photos and left the wonder of the world. Once we got to the town, we did some light shopping and got dinner. Then, we boarded the train where we were treated with a rather odd performance of a guy dressed as some sort of animal in a traditional costume who made weird noises and an alpaca fashion show. Then, we headed home and slept for four hours before rainbow mountain. 

Day Thirty-Three

Today was a lighter day as we only had two activities. Nonetheless, we still had a three hour bus ride to start. First up was Sacred Valley. It was beautiful, like all of the other sites that we have seen that were tucked into the mountains. We were surrounded by the towering Andes, and despite grey skies, the view from the top was simply unforgettable. Fun fact: they call Sacred Valley sacred for its fertile soil, river and ideal climate. Also, it has over tens of thousands tombs, which are now only full of small bones after the Spanish ransacked them and stole all of the valuables that the Incans were buried with. 

After Sacred Valley, we had a huge buffet lunch. All of the options were traditional Peruvian dishes, which was great to try new things. Infant, on of these meals was alpaca, which I tried. Honestly, it was a tougher meat that tasted just like the beef in beef stew. Unfortunately, they didn’t have cut so I was not able to try it (see Mom I’m not that terrible after all). After lunch, we went down to the garden next to the river. Here, there was an alpaca and llama just chilling. We took pictures and played with them, and yes, I did feel some remorse for my earlier actions. Og well, I got over it. 

We boarded the bus once again and headed to the Templ of the Sun. Stairs. There were so many stairs, which were especially difficult to maneuver in the high altitude. Once we achieved the impressive goal of reaching the summit, we took the obligatory group photos and polaroids of the stunning view, then headed back down. 

Once we got back, we had a low-key night in order to prep for Machu Picchu tomorrow!

Day Thirty-Two

I was not a happy camper this morning. Last night, I did not sleep at all; the combination of the altitude, uncomfy bed and a sick roommate made for a sleepless night for Hannah. Regardless, I got up, did my planks, took my shower and packed my bag for the day. I ate a breakfast of fruit, granola and yogurt and set off for the  day's adventures. 

Today, Kaleb was my bus buddy, I even let him borrow my extra pair of headphones. 

His tattoo was healing nicely, making me want one even more. Our first stop of the day was los anillos agrícolas de Moray. It was cool; mostly large circular terraces used to grow the 7 different types of quinoa, 1000 different types of maíz and 3000 types of potatoes. 

The second stop was the salt mines. Again, they were interesting, just a bunch of different rectangles filled was salt and water from the mountain. It was cool to walk between them, but it was another quick visit. Then we sat in another breathtaking plain that looked onto the mountains.

The final stop was the textile mill. Here, they demonstrated how the alpaca fur was cleaned, dyed and spun. They use insect blood and other natural ingredients with a chemical to change the shade of the yarn. Then, it is spun twice and used to create different clothing products. 

When we returned for the day, it was about four. We went to Papacho's for lupper and I got another salad. Then, it was time. I finally did it; I got a tattoo!! It's of the chakana symbol with the sun and moon inside, I love it! However, I must admit that I could not have done it without all of the support (thank you Nikki, Jacob, Mikaela and Ryan). Also, shoutout to my main man Jose for the amazing art, even though he laughed at me. All in all, it was an eventful day. 

Day Thirty-One

Due to the absurd altitude, I could not run this morning and probably can't all week. I guess it is good to give my legs a rest but it is drivibg me insane. I try to workout a bit when I wake up in the morning, but nothing helps the constant bloated feeling that comes from eating a diet of bread, potatoes, rice and chicken. I said it before and I will say it again, I cannot wait to go grocery shopping  and to run in Boston.

Nonetheless, Cusco is beautiful. Toda, we all got together after the hotel breakfast and toured the city. Mom, you would love it, there are alpacas, llamas and goats everywhere. Also, rainbow flags are ubiquitous throughout the city. At first, we thought Cusco was just a very progressive city celebrating gay pride, however we soon learned that that was simply the flag of Cusco. In fact, the Incans celebrated the sun and saw rainbows as sacred signs from the gods, therefore it is fitting that the flag is a rainbow. Also, all this month Cusco is prepping for the celebration of their special day on June 24, so it's a party 24/7 here.

Today's tour was filled of various different places. To start, we the Templo del Sol. The architecture here was simply beautiful. In the past it served as rooms for the Incans to live and worship. The original beauty however is perfectly preserved. In the middle of the stone rooms, there is a stunning courtyard surrounded by perfectly sculpted arches and intricate paintings. On the outside of this temple, there are terraces that overlook the mountains and city. Also, the influence of the sun is very apparent here as well as there is a sun in almost every painting and even sculpted above every door way. I saw many good designs that would make great tattoos (sorry dad).

The second stop of the day was another church: la Basilica de Catedral Cusco. If I am being completely honest, it reminded me of all of the other cathedrals that we have visited complete with catacombs and all. Of course, the artwork and architecture were stunning, especially the façade. When we finished the tour of the three different parts, we headed for lunch. I found a salad and it was great: a real day maker.

After lunch we headed to Sacsayhuamán (pronounced "sexy woman). This national park was a large open field with terraces in the grace. When we got there, there were a bunch of llamas/alpacas roaming freely and we decided to chill with them for a bit. Then, as we sat down for the lecture, the dog herding the llamas came and sat right in my lap. Yes dad that's right, I almost brought home a new friend. As we left Sacsayhuamán, we went through a tunnel that was very small and dark and I did not like it. It only got worse as I accidentally almost picked some random guy's nose as he headed in the opposite direction through the dark. 

Next we went to the Tambo de Puca Pucara which was basically a spiral with tombs inside. It was cool inside of it, but there was not much to see. We ended the day at Templo de agua de Tambomachay. Again, it was interesting to see the natural fountains and pose like penguins on the rocks, but the visit was quick.

Upon our arrival to Cusco, a group of us headed right to the tattoo parlor. I was determined to get one, but I made the boys go first so that I didn't get infected. Kaleb got the Andes mountains on his foot and Jake got the chakana and Caral design I picked out on the inside of his left heel. They didn't have time for me, and I was still deciding, so we just headed to Paddy's Pub from there to watch the basketball game. Oh that's another thing, the boys decided they needed to take an Always Sunny picture because the bar had the same name, but they needed a Dee. Apparently I was blonde enough to play the part, but as time went on they thought that "the analogy was falling into place." That's about it for today.

Day Thirty

Thirty, flirty days flew by so far. 

I got up early this morning so I could go for my last run in Lima. If I'm being completely honest, I'm ready to go back to Castle Island. The slippery sidewalks and constant stopping is getting to me, I cannot wait to just go run in my normal loops. I will miss the view though; it's hard to beat running along the malecón and seeing the surfers in the Pacific below the cliffs. On my way home, I stopped to pick up flowers for my host mom. I went with my favorite, sunflowers, with a bit of baby's breath (Emily would be proud).

After I showered and dressed again, I had to finish packing up my bag for Cusco. Then I had my last breakfast with my host mom and Estaban. The French open has been on the TV all week so there was not a lot of conversation as Ana María was enticed with the match. I do not really understand tennis and cannot really get over the ridícula noises they make while playing so I just ate my breakfast and thought of anything I might have forgotten to pack. Another truth: I cannot wait to grocery shop for myself again, I am so done with bread.

I had some time after breakfast to turn in my essay for chapter four and catch up on my blogs. Ana María has a match tomorrow so she walked me downstairs early to wait for the bus. I waited in the lobby from 10:20 to 11:20 for the bus, but I did come eventually. At the airport, we were confused as to where we were supposed to go so we were rushing and confused to start the day. When we finally found the correct line, we had 20 minutes until boarding. Thankfully, we were able to check in , run through the airport, go through security and get to our gate in the time we had left. However, this rushing was all for nothing as our flight ended up being delayed about an hour, so we all got snacks and waited.

On the flight, I had an aisle seat which I greatly appreciated. I spent my time listening to Taylor Swift, who is newly on Spotify, and solving my Rubix cube. In fact, my Rubix prowess is so impressive that the man sitting catty-corner to me asked to borrow my cube and solved it in less than five minutes. It was quite the international bonding experience. 

When the flight landed, I made the first mistake. I jumped off the plane, ran to the bathroom while babbling to Nikki about how cool Cusco is. Suddenly, it all caught up to me and I felt the altitude. Thankfully, they were handing out free coca leaves and I stuffed my lip full while waiting for luggage.

Once we got to the hotel, I put my bag down and napped like the champ I am. I woke up to walk to La Plaza Mayor for the soup dinner. Finally, I headed to bed and finally slept.

Day Twenty-Nine

Last day in Lima :(

I went through my morning routine per usual, but today instead of walking to El Sol, I had to pack my stuff. I truly cannot believe my time in Lima has come to an end. It's so hard to leave now that I got settled into my routine and now that I know how to navigate the city. Also, knowing that Trump is still president and actively denying climate change has me hesitant to return to Boston. However, I have a little pup waiting for me back home, so I guess there is a bright side. 

After struggling to decide how and what to pack, I needed a mental break so I walked to Parque Kennedy. I met up with Cati and Kelly at Starbucks and from there we went to get our nails done (gel French manicure of course). It took a bit longer than we anticipated so by the time we finished hanger was approaching quickly. Thankfully, we headed to La Lucha and appeased our appetite with one of the best sandwiches I have ever had (it was basically a steak and cheese with sautéed onions but one of the best nonetheless). Knowing I still had some packing to finish, I started the walk home, but first Cari and I stopped at the Rubix cube store. That's right, your girl now owns a 4x4x4, it's going to be an interesting plane ride. I also had to stop to buy some Pisco so that I can bring a bit of Perú back to my family. I just really hope the bottle doesn't break in my bag. Send positives thoughts to the wine bottle in my luggage as well. I do not really want to have to buy a completely new wardrobe because all of my clothes are covered in rosé.

Eventually, I finished packing, shoutout to Spotify for putting Taylor Swift's entire music back on and having Lil Yachty's new album, it really helped me through the strenuous packing process. I realized today that one of the things that I will miss most about Lima is the music. It's reggaeton all day every day here and it's lit. It's playing everywhere from the clubs to the grocery store to the elevator, it's always a party. 

Now that packing was finished, I had to get ready for dinner. I apologize but I gave up trying to make my hair look nice. I was going to get it done but I ran out of time, so I just left it down and let the Lima humidity do its thing. For dinner, we went to La Rosa Náutica, but first we had to bring all of our luggage to the bus which was difficult to do gracefully in a dress and heels. Nonetheless, we survived and made it to the most famous restaurant in Lima. In fact, we had the entire upstairs to ourselves and it was honestly the most beautiful restaurants I have ever been to. It is on a pier right on the water so you could look up to the lights and the cliffs on one side, and on the other the Pacific ocean stretched out into the dark. The lights from down the coast sparkled through the windows, and the restaurant itself was simply gorgeous. As always, we were running on Peruvian time so the dinner in its entirety lasted from 8 to 12. The food was delicious (I had a pisco sour, goat cheese salad, corvina and the coco de popa), but some of us had to find ways to occupy the wait time. I now know how to fold a napkin in to a rose and how to make a paper airplane. Although we planned to go out after dinner, many of us could not muster the strength to rally and go out. Therefore, I ubered home with Nathalie and went to bed.

Day Twenty-Eight

Last day of school!

Today, I got up and ran. Since it's Friday, I had to be extra speedy getting ready because school starts at 8:30 so we can take our weekly exams. This week, we focused on the passive voice and I think it went pretty well (can't be too sure). During grammar class, JuanCarlos answered any general questions that we had about Spanish and then we convinced him to show us more videos of his Dobermans (Doberman?). In conversation, we finished the presentations from yesterday and takes to Diana about life in general. Finally, we ended our school day with a little celebration that included a diploma and sweatshirt from El Sol. Still, I cannot believe that we "graduated" from El Sol today. It feels like forever ago since I first walked into sala 16 with Romeo, but it is crazy that it is actually coming to an end.

In order to properly celebrate, we went to Punto Azul and treated ourselves to some ceviche. I also got the Parmesan scallops and they were amazing.

After we were properly stuff, I headed to Parque Kennedy to meet up with Nathalie and Kelly. From there, we headed to the Inca Markets to do some light souvenir shopping. The 5ft llama just taunted me the entire time, I really want to bring it home but I know I cannot. From there, we stopped at a bank so that Kelly could use the ATM, but the machine ate her card. When we tried to ask the manager to get it back, he just said it wasn't possible and told us to leave so that other people could use the ATM. Thankfully, she has a credit card she can use in the meantime, so we went shoe shopping to help her forget. After picking up some greatly needed gelato, we parted ways and headed home.

At home, I took my daily afternoon nap. They don't really siesta in Lima, but I'm trying to start a trend. I woke up to dinner, which I ate with my host mom. Then, I practiced my Rubix cubing for a bit until I had to get ready to go out. 

Tonight, we all met next to the Parque del Amor. Actually, our spot is closer to the lighthouse but we all find each other either way. We stayed there for about an hour just hanging out and listening to Chance of course, then we headed back to Victoria in Barranco. It sounds cheesy to say but I truly am going to miss Victoria, I just don't think there's any bars in the US that are as pretty with the twinkly lights and towering trees. Yes Mom that's right, trees, it is like a fairy house (I know it's odd but that's all I can think of to compare it to). After Victoria, we headed to another discoteca (I do not know the name), but I did not stay long as I was exhausted and my feet started to hurt. I ubered back with Amelia and Nate, the once again fell asleep as soon as I got home.

Day Twenty-Seven

Here in Lima we're in (twenty) seventh heaven. I apologize as I am running out of witty sayings, I'll try to think of some more.

Today had the same start as always: run, Starbucks, school. In class today, we just continued with the passive voice grammar. Also, in conversation we got to create products and give a pitch (all in domain por supuesto). Cati and I created flying cabs to help with Lima's outrageous traffic problems. The rest of the class thought it was a bit extra and unrealistic, however I believe that we do have the technology and engineering at our disposal to make it a reality (of course these cars will run on renewable energy, just wanted to make that clear). 

After class, we headed to UNIFE for the last day. We had squash, rice and some type of meat for lunch, then went to a lecture. Today the focus was on gastronomy, and was very interesting. The professor was hilarious and engaged the audience, making time fly by. Soon enough, it was once again time for our presentations. I gave my presentation on Pueblo Libre, Santiago del Surco and Callao. I like to think it went over well but I guess I will just have to wait to see the grade. When the presentations ended, we said our final goodbyes to the girls at UNIFE. Well, I guess they were not exactly final as the girls put all of our names on the list for a club, so we took another class bonding trip. 

I went right home after UNIFE and took a greatly needed nap. Then, I finished my homework and ate dinner with my host mom. After, I got ready and headed out once again. 

The discoteca was and Mia and it was amazing. The venue was great and very open, but the best part was the music, and of course, the salsa. Coming from a girl that cannot dance, it was so much fun trying, and failing, to put our salsa lessons to work. I have never seen anything like it though, a club full of people all twirling and dancing the salsa, it was unlike anything in the US. 

Unfortunately, the fun had to come to an end as it was a school night. We headed home, and I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. 

Day Twenty-Six

So far, we have been in Lima for the same amount of days as there are letters in the alphabet. Crazy.
Anyways,  I did not want to wake up for the 6 am alarm this morning, but I just had to bite the bullet. After my run, I got ready for school and headed on my merry way, making the necessary Starbuck's stop per usual.
Today in El Sol, we continued practicing everything we have learned so far, with special emphasis on el estilo indirecto y la voz pasiva. I find these classes to be a lot more enjoyable as the conversation is more open. Also, according to JuanCarlos, we stopped learning the grammar and now the next step, the hardest, is learning all of the vocabulary. I think this thought is the reason JuanCarlos prompts us to ask any questions we may have about the Spanish language and culture. He is more concerned that we actually comprehend what we are doing than any grade we might receive. He's a really cool guy, I am so happy he has been my teacher for the past two weeks. Oh, and I am still working on the entire dog situation.  As for conversation, we discussed the following problem: a manager reported his own company for their illegal pollution of a nearby river - should he be fired or continue working there? The hour flew by as we discussed morals, corruption with business and the necessity to protect the environment. I was especially excited to discuss this matter because it helps me practice talking about topics that truly interest me and are significant in my life: the environment.
Once classes ended, we headed to UNIFE. If I am completely honest, I was close to staying home as I was feeling very ill, but I knew I had to rally. First, we ate potatoes and lomo saltado for lunch. We finished lunch early, so we spent the rest of the hour walking around the architecture fair again (which was selling makeup, desserts and jewelry so I am unsure as to how that all relates to architecture). Then, we proceed to the presentations which took a total of two hours today. It's interesting to listen to and engage in the presentations, but it is difficult for my to sit still for two hours. Due to this, I pulled out an old trick from high school: friendship bracelet string. I may look odd, but it helps me release my energy while simultaneously focusing on the presentations. Also, someone gets a bracelet/anklet out of it so its a win-win-win, but I am running out of sting so I need to find some soon. After the presentations, we attended a lecture about architecture, specifically that of the Incans. It was interesting, but a lot of it we knew from the myriad museums that we visited the first week. To end the day, we watched the Marinera performance, and some of us even learned the dance. OR at least tried to (shoutout to Ryan who slipped and ruined his shot at being a professional Marinera-er.
Finally, we headed home, and I had a pasta dinner and carrot cake dessert waiting for me. Today was too long and calls for an early night, so buenas noches!

Day Twenty-Five

What's funnier than 24? Twenty-five. As in it is ridiculous how fast twenty-five days has gone by.
Sorry to disappoint, but today started the same as the  rest of the week. I woke up, went for a run, got ready then headed to school. Wait, actually, I did have to bring my laundry to school again but I do not think that is as exciting as the morning I got hit by a car.
In class today, we reviewed the grammar we have been learning for the past week. However, rather than monotonously working in our books, JuanCarlos opened the discussion and we talked about our lives throughout the class. In fact, we learned that he breeds Dobermans and has a puppy who needs a home. Mom and Dad, he is really cute and the offer is still on the table. In conversation class, we were given a real life scenario of  a boulder stuck in the road in an impoverished town. Using our Spanish knowledge, we had to articulate the best course of action. Not only did I get to tap into my engineering mindset, but it was interesting to see the problems that many people have to deal with that I would never have even thought of on my own. Ultimately, we reached the conclusion of breaking the rock into pieces, reusing bags to bring the pieces down to the river where we would then build a barrier to prevent the river from flooding.
After classes, we headed back to UNIFE. Here, I had a delectable lunch of beef, rice and potato-spinach puree. Then, we spoke with our conversation partners for an hour about everything from the police to fashion to literature to music. The school was also having a fair, so we all checked that out together and Cati and I even bought matching rings. When the hour finished, we headed inside for another discussion about literature. The professor reminded me of one of my English teachers in high school, and I even felt as though I was back learning about the different type of literature and their significances because the class was so similar to what I am used to. Then, we headed to the library to listen to our class present on our book. After each Northeastern student spoke, a UNIFE student would then translate, therefore it was a useful time for both parties involved.
At the end of the day, we headed home. I had a nice dinner of fish, rice and potatoes with jello for dessert. Then, being the good student I am, worked on my presentation, homework and blogs. Now, we are in the midst of deciding where to go out to prepare for Eric's birthday tomorrow. Ciao!

Day Twenty-Four

Back to the old grind.
Today continued as usual: run, shower, Starbucks, school. At El Sol, my teachers did not change so I still have JuanCarlos for grammar and Diana for conversation. We started learning the passive voice today and I could not help but laugh because my AP Language teacher, Mr. Underhill, always told me never to use the passive voice so I could not help but think what he would say about this class. This thought was enough to distract me from the myriad mosquito bites that litter my legs. I just hope they do not start to swell and puss like other people have encountered on this trip.
After school today, we were busy, it almost reminded me of the first week (almost). We met the bus at the corner right as classes ended and headed to UNIFE, the feminine university for translation. Here, I ate a nice salad and a Peruvian version of beef stew (basically beef, potatoes and rices covered in a delectable sauce). Then, we were shown around the school and taught more about the program itself and Peruvian culture as a whole. I am still baffled that many Peruvians start college at around 16 years old, I cannot even imagine being that young in college. We spoke with our language partner until it was time to go and visit another museum.
This time we toured El Museo del Oro. In this museum, there were mainly artifacts from the ancient civilization, especially weapons and jewelry. I used to think I was cool for having my nose pierced but these ancient Peruvians had a different standard, but I do not think I could ever reach their level of extravagance. We learned about the death rituals and mummification (we even saw a couple of mummies), and it continues to baffle me overtime. I am just blown away with how every culture handles dead emphasizing different significances. Also, I found a new appreciation for the time commitment for every piece to be handcrafted.
On the way home, I walked a new route with Ryan as we learned we are neighbors and there's a faster way to get home than our previous way (only took until the last week right?). When I got home, my host mom made me a nice dinner of rice, quinoa and an egg, accompanied by my usual salad, tea and a special surprise: jello. As always, it was delicious. Then, I bunkered down for the night to get everything organized and complete my homework.
Hasta la próxima vez!

Day Twenty-Three

"Oh boy 4 am!" is definitely not what I said as my alarm went off this morning. I set it early so that I could have enough time to do some quick abs and shower, but unfortunately, I could not gather the strength to leave the warmth of my bed. Begrudgingly, I did eventually get up, shower, gather my stuff and order an uber on time to meet up with the rest of the group at the usual spot on Ricardo Palma. Thankfully, the bus ride was four hours and I have been trained to sleep on buses, so I had no problem picking up where I left off two hours prior.
Eventually, we reached Luanahuana. We changed into our bathing suits (well some did) and put on our bug spray (to no avail), and headed for the river. That's right, your girl went white water rafting for the first time. Luckily enough, I was the extra person in the boat so I did not have to paddle. However, the GoPro did get nice footage of me practicing my coxswain skills. Northeastern rowing here I come! Just skidding,  I got distracted too easily and my raft ended up dangling off a rock and beached quite a few times, also to anyone who ever said that we do not get wet (Monica) lies. Although I left with wet shorts, I would go back and do it all again in a heartbeat.
As if that was not enough adventure for one day, we headed a bit away from the river where we saw ATVs lining both sides of the street. That's right, another first checked off the curet list; we each got to ride our own ATV through the Peruvian mountains. It was very dusty, but another incredible experience. There is nothing like speeding my the trees lining the cliffs as the mountains tower over you on both sides: simply unforgettable. When the ATVs were all parked and our hunger began settling in, we all sat down to a lovely lunch of our favorite: chicken, rice and potatoes. However, this time there were options of six different types of chicken. Personally, I chose vino pollo, which was basically chicken in wine sauce. It was delicious, but don't worry dad, I had nothing on your marsala.
When dinner was finished, we headed to La Plaza Mayor de Luanahuana where we visited this quaint archaic church. It was actually in impressive shape, nestled between mountains, for being built in the 16th century and enduring several earthquakes. We boarded the bus once again and headed to another favorite: the vineyards. This wine and pisco are known for their healing properties (Peruvians here live to be 120 years old), and I would have purchased some but they were just too sweet for my taste. Another great surprise was the one month old puppy whose owner came in to buy some of the famous wine. Of course, he reminded me of my own pup back home, but it's only two weeks until I get to see him again. Finally, we made our last stop at the honey farm where we sampled all types of honey (and even some pollen), and I did have to buy some because it was just delicious. However, the tasting came at a cost as now my legs are covered in mosquito bites despite the gross amount of repellent I put on.
After four and a half hours in the bus back, I finally arrived back to Miraflores where I ate dinner and slept as soon as I home. All in all, it was a fun day, but I was so ready to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Buenas noches!

Day Twenty-Two

I don't know about you, but I'm  feeling 22 days in Lima completely blew by. How is there only one week left?! 

I apologize Mom and Dad but last night was a late (but worth it). We all hung out in the Parque de Amor then headed to a discoteca in Barranco. It was a lot of fun, but the 6 am wake up call was not. Regardless, I rallied. I got up, showered then walked over to the meeting place about a mile away from my house just in time for the 8 am pick up.

Today, we took on the Capitol. We visited the palace at first. It's astonishing artwork, marvelous furniture and intricate gilded sculpting were breathtaking. I also enjoyed the guards and made sure to get a selfie with one before we left. 

The next stop was the the cathedral. Again, the arquitecture was amazing. Apparently, its structure is earthquake resistant which I didn't think was possible so it was interesting to learn.

After the tours, we spent and hour in the city center. In other words, we all bought delicious sandwiches and sat on the city steps having rubix cube competitions. It was great.

Back in Miraflores, we stopped at Bla cafe on the way home because apparently you cannot leave Lima without trying their chocolate cake: they are right. Once my belly was full, I went home to nap, but stopped by to see Cati's and Tori's new hair (inspired by yours truly).

Rejuvenated from my sleep, I warmed up the dinner that my host mom left for me. Then, I got ready and headed over to Victoria's in Barranco. Initially, I thought it was just going to be Mia and me, but everyone ended up showing up. It was a very artsy bar with string lights and friendly staff. In fact, the bartender introduced me to a new drink: gin and tonic. I may have sounded like an old lady ordering it for the rest of the night, but it was amazing (maybe the cucumbers did it).

Well, I have a bright and early 4 am wake up tomorrow. ¡Hasta mañana!

Day Twenty-One

Viernes!
Expect with Viernes, comes an early start at school and a test. However, JuanCarlos was very chill about the test and took it more like a chance to practice rather than a mandatory exam. I think he is one of my favorite teachers so far. In conversation, we got to play telephone which was also very fun, thank you Diana.
After school today, we headed over to the Oncology unit in a hospital in Lima. Here, we spent time with kids our age, but who were enduring unthinkable circumstances. Of course, it was depressing, but it was also fun to just hang out, talk and laugh for an hour. I admire how strong they all were, but also understand they're just normal kids like us who just want a chance at a regular life. For example, we compared our lives in the different cities, sang "Despacito" and even bonded over our mutual love of Rubix cubes. All in all, we got to make new friends who we can now talk to over Facebook.
I walked home from Parque Kennedy and took a necessary nap. I may have spent a bit too much time solving my newly acquired Rubix cube over and over again, but I was able to finish my homework. Now, I am getting ready to head to Larcomar to practice the salsa moves we learned on Wednesday. Ciao!

Day Twenty

In all honesty, today did not get off to a great start. I left my apartment to go to school, however while I was crossing the street, the car that was stopped decided to start going. I was in the middle of the street and he just starts rolling forward as if I was not even there. Thankfully, I was able to bend with the car so he did not even touch my legs, but still, it was ridiculous and left my hand a bit sore. Then, as if that was not enough, I dropped my yogurt from Starbucks on the ground right before walking into school, and of course, it exploded. To top it off, JuanCarlos started class by telling me that Trump left the Paris accord; there goes my chances at getting any job.
Though the morning started on a rough note, it got better as I began to understand more of the subjunctive in class, so I spoke more. It is a lot easier when there are fewer people in your class, less pressure, so I really appreciate every thing that I have been able to learn at El Sol so far.
After classes, we listened to the class presentations, which I need to finish. They were actually interesting as they promoted intellectual conversation rather than droning on about nothing.
When the presentations ended, Nathalie, Kelly and I took to the Peruvians streets t shop. Although I did not buy anything, it was fun to try everything on. Of course, we stopped by Ice Cookies before heading home to get some gelato.
At home, I ate dinner and did some homework. Then, I left to go to Larcomar and continue this dialogue's tradition of Thursday's at TGIFriday's. Cannot get more Peruvian than that. Hasta la proxima vez!

Day Nineteen

Another lovely day in Lima.
The morning went as usual, and we just practiced the various forms of the subjunctive during classes at El Sol. However, I finally said "ingenieria" correctly so that was a bonus.
After classes, a group of us headed over to Manolo's. I ordered a chicken, tomato and mozzarella sandwich (which was served more in pizza form as it was completely covered in cheese), and it was a delicious. The best part were the churros though. That's right, I had my first ever churro (and second and a half) and it was one of the best things I have ever tasted. It was filled with dulce de leech then drenched in warm chocolate; utterly wonderful.
Once the bill was paid (taxes here are ridiculous), we did a bit of souvenir shopping. There's one two foot alpaca that I really want to bring home (it's 100 US dollars - completely worth it), but I just do not think it would fit in my suitcase.. Que pena :( Don't worry, I picked up other Peruvian novelties, and am still trying to figure out a method of bringing the alpaca back to America.
After shopping, we all got our mani-pedis. Well, the boys only got the pedis, but I guess they win since they had fish eat the dead skin off of their feet.
Finally, it was time for salsa classes. That's right, I'm basically a professional now. Just kidding, unlike Shakira, my hips do not exist, therefore I struggled, but you know, I struggled and emerged. Regardless, it was a blast and I can't wait to practice soon.
I headed home, had the dinner Ana Maria left out for me, and now I am trying to finish my blog before going out (when in Peru, amirite?!). So, hasta la pasta amigos.

Day Eighteen

I'd like to start out by saying that personally, I think today was a free day well spent.
I started the day in the usual manner and headed to El Sol. As usual, we worked on the subjunctive, specifically the past subjunctive. I still struggled to pronounce "ingenieria" which is rough as I have to say it every time I talk about my plans for the future and engineering in general. Although school proved to be interesting, the real fun began after classes.
A group of us headed over to Cafe La Paz for lunch. It was amazing, especially the tequenos. The eggplant sandwich was good too, it was just an overall good meal.
Once we were fed, we all piled into an Uber van and headed down to the beach. Here, we all put our names down on a list and waited patiently to be called. Luckily, I brought my Rubix cube to help the time pass. Finally, my name was called and I did it; I went paragliding. It was breathtaking; there are no words to describe how mesmerizing the ocean,coast and city looked from floating hundreds of feet above it. The best part, however, was the tricks the pilot did at the end. We twisted and turned as we sped through the air, and it honestly felt as though we were flying.
Never in my life would I have imagined that I would be paragliding in Peru, but now I can officially write it on my bucket list and check it off. (Side note: Paragliding in Peru sounds like a great title to a Magic Tree House book).
When we all finished our turns, we headed back home to relax and relish in the day's activities.
Adios!

Day Seventeen

Wow,  halfway done already?!
Today, I went through the same morning routine as usual. At El Sol, we changed professors so now I have JuanCarlos for grammar and Diana for conversation. They are both amazing and hilarious, and surprisingly enough, make learning the subjunctive tolerable.
After school, we had a glorious gift: a free afternoon. To celebrate, a group of us went to Enano, which is a sandwich shop about a half hour walk away, but well worth it. If you ever get the chance to go, be sure to try the orange and strawberry juice.
In attempt to explore the city, a smaller group of us headed to Barranco. It was very artsy and provided the opportunity for a lot of pictures. Also, we made friends with a band that was playing on the lookout who helped us practice our Spanish. They even sang "La Bamba" for us.
When it was time to go back, we took the ambitious route and walked home along the beach. Although it turned out to be a lot longer than we anticipated, it was a beautiful journey with the waves crashing next to us. Ultimately, once we reached Parque Kennedy it was a unanimous decision that we all earned Pinkberry (banana froyo with brownies and chocolate sauce for me). Then, we shopped a bit, and even found Rubix cubes. As I was trying to teach Cati how to solve one, a woman asked to take our picture, and apparently her 15 year old son can solve one in 10 seconds. So not only is that interesting, but it provided us with another opportunity to practice Spanish.
To end our day, we headed home to eat and do homework, but returned to Barranco to celebrate the several birthdays within our group. All in all, it was quite an eventful, yet relaxing day.
Hasta la próxima vez!

Day Sixteen

I did not want to get up this morning, my bed was too warm and cozy. Nonetheless, I scraped myself up and tried to shower off the sleep, to no avail. I was running late so I quickly scarfed down my breakfast (a ham egg and cheese of course) while in the uber to Parque Kennedy.
Today, we took the Mirabus to Callo, which is the port area of Lima (just like Boston). In fact, it's the oldest port in South America. Call was a lot more cultured than Miraflores. Where Miraflores is very Americanized, Callo is arts with its brightly colored buildings and intricate murals, it was what I imagined Peru to look like. Overall, today's activities included the naval museum, a submarine tour and a tour of the military base. Unfortunately, the submarine was not yellow, but other than that, everything was great. Oh, and I even solved a Rubix's cube all on my own, so that was cool too!
At the end of the tour, I walked home from Parque Kennedy like always, but stopped at Viviendo first to get some snacks for the upcoming week. Although a few people are going out tonight, I am making the responsible decision to stay in and catch up on sleep so that I can be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for school tomorrow!
Hasta la próxima vez!

Day Fifteen

Today was just about the longest day yet. It started with a nice 4:15 am wake up call so I could do a bit of yoga before the 6 am bus ride. After getting all of my stuff together and uberring over to the bus, I got settled in and headed to Caral.
The trip to Caral was four hours, so I tried to sleep the best I could. When we got there, we had to walk twenty minutes to reach the site of the ruins, but it was worth it. To you, it may seem like we drove eight total hours in a car just to look at some sand, but it was so much more than that. Aside from Mesopotamia, Caral is one of the oldest civilizations, it is the oldest in South America. Knowing this made the ruins simply breathtaking, there are just no words to describe it.
We headed back on the bus and headed home, only stopping for lunch at a hotel (where we all dipped our feet in the pool). By the time we got back, it was already 8:30, but the night was just beginning. I had to go home, shower and change as the class was taking a field trip to a club in Barranco.
Before heading to Barranco, Natalie, Kelly and I went out for dinner and drinks, but don't worry, we made it on time for the 11:30 start time. The night started with a dance spectacular, and my personal favorite, the Marinela and Festejo (they actually lit each other on fire - it was wild). After the spectacular, we all got to dance, and I dazzled with the macarena.
Finally, it was time to leave so we could get up in time for Callo tomorrow.
Adios!

Day Fourteen

Two weeks already?!
Today was an early start at El Sol due to our weekly test, but I managed to get my Starbucks and arrive with five minutes to spare. The test was a review of the week's lessons on the subjunctive and imperative, so it was quite a breeze. Then, we continued to practice these topics in class, but we ended on the high note of learning the words to "Despacito."
We did not have conversation or history classes today, so during the break, a group of us went to the grocery store to pick up the finishing touches on our gifts. Then, we headed over to a vegan restaurant, the Jardin de Jasmine, where we ate some of the best food that we had in Peru so far. At 1:25, we headed over to the bus and took off to one of the poorer districts in Lima.
If I am being completely honest, I have never witnessed such poverty before. Trash lined the streets, dirty dogs scavenged for food amongst the litter and, it may just be the environmental engineer in me, but it seemed that all I could notice was the pollution. Regardless, when we arrived, all we could see were little, colorful shanties covering the mountains for miles. Nestled in to every crook and crannies, each of these wooded shacks housed a family and their abnormally large amount of pets. As were toured the town, we saw every thing from chickens to dogs to guinea pigs. Although these residents seemed to have next to nothing, the lovely woman who showed us around did not focus on what she lacked, but rather on what she had. She then proceeded to explain the strong sense of community housed in the town, and with that, how calm and relaxing it is to live there. I was left dumbfounded. Here I was, pondering how difficult it must be to raise a baby in such conditions, when I should have understood that in this case, the village is truly raising the child. This trip has opened my eyes to the true meaning of happiness and pride in one's culture, and I have realized it is often those who have the least material goods that have the most positive spirits.
After our tour, we were matched up with our buddies. Although I was anticipating and prepared for a three year old boy named Fedricio, I was matched with nine year old Isaac. I felt terrible handing Isaac his gift filled with baby toys, for which I know he had no desire, but he showed me the utmost respect and thanked me profusely. I wish I could have actually bought him stuff that he would have liked and wanted aside from the cookies and candy, I feel terrible as if I have let him down. however, he remained high in spirits and ran around with a soccer ball as his friends chased him. It was breathtaking to look around and see how much fun the kids were having, if only we could have stayed longer.
Eventually, we all did get on the bus and headed home where we all prepped for Caral tomorrow!

Day Thirteen

Thirteen days gives me thirteen reasons why Peru is simply amazing, but right now I will just stick to why today was a great day.
I went through my usual morning routine, and even finished early enough to get Starbucks. At El Sol, we continued learning subjunctive and the imperative. In history, we finished up our unit about the Incas, then it was time for lunch.
Like we have all week, we headed to the Air Force school at one. The class I was assigned to today taught us about the various Peruvian traditions and important aspects of their culture. As always, their English was impressive, so much so that I made sure to accept the plethora of Facebook friend requests I received after meeting my group to ensure that we can stay in contact. We returned to the library and listened to a short presentation about Peruvian culture, then went to the auditorium for the final celebration.
It was honestly terribly sad to say goodbye to the students. They gave heartwarming speeches, and even though we knew them for a mere four days, it felt as though we have known them for years. Finally, we were treated to several performances, dances and songs, which were mesmerizing. The Air Force school should be proud to have such talented and wonderful students.
When we finally party ways with the school, we all headed to the Polvos Rosados in order to buy toys for the children tomorrow. I have a three year old boy so I bought  bought a ball, a Pikachu stuffed animal and Lightning McQueen car.
All in all, it was a great day, which we celebrated in the most American of ways: with dinner at TGIFriday's on a Thursday night.

Day Twelve

On the twelfth day of Lima, Miraflores gave to me another day of activities.
Well, if I'm being completely honest, today was basically the same as it has been all week. I went through my morning routine, went to class, went to the Air Force school and walked around Parque Kennedy for a bit. The only difference was that today at the Air Force school instead of teaching, we played games with the students. At first, I was put into a PE class where we exercised for a bit in a circuit then had to sit back to back with a partner and try to stand up (emphasis on the try - I was successful a couple times though). Then, we played basketball. Not going to lie, i was very nervous at first because basketball was one of the sports I did not even bother to try because I knew I lacked the proper hand-eye coordination and height needed to be a baller. However, I was pleasantly surprised at my basketball prowess. That's right dad, I just may be the next IT, well in Peru at least.
After basketball, we headed back to the library where we learned about the emancipation of Peru. That San Martin was an interestingly ambitious guy who wanted to liberate all of South America, a pretty lofty goal but I guess that's why he wanted to pursue it. With the inspiration of independence still lingering in our mind, we headed out once again but this time to the soccer field. I will be honest, I did not think it was possible but I may have gotten worse. Although, the boys just might have been really good, so I'll just go with that explanation instead.
Finally, we headed back to Parque Kennedy and I looked around in the shops before I headed home to talk to my host mom about her progress in the tennis tournament over a dinner of, wait for it, rice, potatoes and pollo (it was actually delicious as it was flavorful and served with a mango salad).
That's all for now folks, vayan con dios y no con el diablo.

Day Eleven

Buenas noches amigos!
In general, today was more or less the same as yesterday. I went through my morning routine as usual, but one difference was that I decided once an for all that I need a bread cleanse. So, rather than consuming the copious amount of toast left for me at breakfast, I decided to  be nice and feed the Peruvian birds: win-win.
After classes, we went back to the Air Force school and had our "first day of teaching." In reality,  I just talked with a group of thirteen year old years about my life for an hour (all in English by the way). However, I did learn a lot. For example, I learned that Ed Sheehan is the best musician there is, that if you're not careful your group will find your name and try to add you on every form of social media, and finally that my little brother has a Peruvian fan club now. All in all, it was an eventful hour.
We then switched classes to the older students who were more in the 15-16 years old range. Each group was given about two students with whom we spoke with in Spanish for a half hour. It was a struggle, but it was really fun to practice and learn with people closer to my age.
Finally, we ended our day at the school with a history lesson which basically reviewed the book we are supposed to read. I should probably prepare more questions for next time.
Once we were finished at the school, we taxied back to Parque Kennedy. Here, we went to the pharmacy, then had a bit of celebratory sangria before I had to pick up my laundry and go home. At home, my host mom made me a salad with a delicious plate of bolognese. While we ate, I became more confident in my speaking skills and began to talk about the importance of languages and life at Northeastern. I may have had to struggle and emerge, but it was great to see my progress with communicating. Let's just hope I can keep it up!
Hasta mañana!

PS: The shirt did not bleed and my lulus are fine!

Day Ten

Wow 10 days down already.

I finally feel like an adult today. First of all, I to to run this morning and it was glorious,  so I felt a lot better than I did all weekend. After a quick workout, I showered, dressed professionally (dark jeans and a pretty shirt counts right?) and prepped my backpack for the impending day. Then, I did something I never done before; i put all of my dirty laundry in a plastic bag and headed to school. Mom, I know when you read this you probably thought that I am disgusting, however I am not the first to do this. The laundromat opens at 9, by which I am already in class, and the only other time I could go was during my lunch break. Don't worry I promise that it did not smell too bad. Long story short, I knew I had to do laundry, therefore I summoned up the courage to do what it takes (muttering in Spanish while handing the lady my bag) in order to complete the task. I guess you'll have to wait until tomorrow to check my success.
After completing my first adult task, I boarded the bus with my class to the Air Force school. This is where we will all bye teaching English for the next three weeks, but if I am being completely serious I do not think that is possible as most of the students speak better English than me. Regardless, it was great to converse with all of them and practice my Spanish as well. So far, I have learned that it is so much better to practice with younger people as it is less intimidating and more relatable, therefore I am not searching for topics to talking about on top of stressing about my Spanish: it is just all more natural. The best part about this school though was that the students were eager to speak with us to learn about our lives and practice their English as well helping us with out Spanish. Actually, their love of learning made me think about wanting to teach in the future, but again Mom please do not get your hopes up I still need to save the environment first.
When we returned to Parque Kennedy, we all experienced something new: free time. Normally, I would take this time and waste it napping or playing the homework time, but I chose to adult once again. Instead of wasting my precious time, I decided to fully immerse myself in the Peruvian culture, and what better way to do that than to shop. Yes, Cati and I ventured into the boutiques of Lima and were amazed at how cheap everything was. I ended up buying two dresses which may or may not both be black party dresses, but they were cheap, pretty and my tax return just came in so I consider it a justified purchase. When in Peru, right?
I ended my day with my favorite activity of all: grocery shopping. Knowing I cannot stand to even look at another piece of bread, I went right to the produce aisle and bought enough bananas, apples and oranges to last the week. I am very fortunate that my host mom is a competitive tennis player and only cooks wholesome meals unlike many of the other families, but there is only so much one can do to stomach an El Sol lunch; I think I'll just brown bag it for now.
Well that's it for now folks, tune in tomorrow to see if the red Northeastern shirt I accidentally put in the laundry bleeds all over my other clothes. Ciao!

Day Nine

Whoops.

I did not really sleep much last night due to my stomach, but Christie gave me some medicine and it has been working so far, thank god.
Another early day, we left by 7 and headed to Paracas. Though we were all tired and did not want to spend two hours on a boat, this ended up being one of my favorite days so far. For the readers that do not know, Mom and Dad pay attention, Paracas is known as the Peruvian Galapagos as it is a series of islands that serve as a sanctuary to the marine life. We toured the islands and say everything from pelicans (which were a lot bigger than the one in Nemo) to sea lions to , my personal favorite, pinguinos!! It was incredible, and I got to remember how much I love boats (Dad).
After Paracas, we headed to Carmen. This was about an hour away and is a very impoverished Afro-Peruvian village. Unfortunately, we were the obnoxious Americans who drove our bus through a river because the local bridge was broken,  and to make matters worse, the bus was so big that it took down one of the few local power lines. I still feel terrible.
However, the day quickly got better with the Ballestas, a family famous for their spectacular dancing and performances. We got to listen to the history of the Peruvian slaves and their culture, then got to watch the dancing, step and drumming that left us all in awe. Though the performance was incredible (especially the eight year old who could merengue like no other), the best part to me was how happy they all were. Here they were living with what many would consider nothing, but they are so proud of their culture and who they are, that the material goods do not matter. I hope i never forget it.
We parted ways and headed back to Lima to prep for teaching tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Day Eight

The grind never ends!

After a lit night of karaoke, we all were awake by six and in the bus on the way to Nazca by seven. Nazca was a preIncan civilization mainly known for the infamous symbols, lines and effective aqueduct system.
The first stop of this tour were the aqueducts. I did not expect them to be like large spiral staircases, and certainly did not expect to see so many. However, the Nazcans knew what they were doing because the construction of these ducts lead them to find the water table and a pool as a fresh water source. We toured some more ruins and then headed to our next stop.
Then, we visited a ceramics shop that aimed to preserve the Nazcan technique and culture. It was great to see all of the different objects they made and symbols on them. I loved two so much I had to buy them to bring back to the states, but hopefully they do not break. After this, we visited a gold shop and learned the mining and refining process. Again, I loved one ring so much I had to add to the collection.
Our final stop of the day was the Nazca lines. Despite my multiple questions, I still do not completely understand how, but the Nazca drew giant figures in the ground thousands of years ago but they still are here today. Crazy.
We ended our night by the pool where I learned how to make the best Cuba Libre you'll ever try. However, I had to call it an early night due to some terrible stomach pains (thank you Peruvian food), but it was still a good time.

PS: I forgot to write about the vineyard yesterday. It was amazing and very generous. I learned that I really like rose and tangerine pisco. That is all.

Day Seven

First week down!!

I just want to start by apologizing to my fans, I know I have not been posting for a while but I was a bit busy (and without wifi) in Ica.
Today,  I woke up at the lovely hour of 4:40 am (which I guess isn't a huge deal since this is the time I used to wake up during the year). Regardless, I do not regret enjoying the Peruvian night life prior to this as I was able to shower, grab all of my things and hop in an uber early enough to arrive at the bus for the 5:30 am meeting time, where I promptly slept through the majority of the four hour bus ride.
Once we got to Ica, we just dropped our bags off in the hotel and hopped on another bus to take a tour of the various sites to see, like the Seven Headed Palm Tree and the Bruias de Cachiche. they were great to see, but the surrounding town was far more destitute than Lima. What especially broke my heart was not only the stray dogs, but the overwhelming amount of litter that lined the streets. As we drove from place to place, it just became more apparent, and in some places, they resorted to burning in order to get rid of it.
After lunch, the fun began with the desert adventure. Although my stomach started to hurt, I rallied for the sand buggie and do not have any regrets. We sped up the picturesque sand dunes, and once we got to the top, all we could see was sand for miles; it looked like a Windows screensaver. The view was great, but the sliding down the hills was even better, aside from a couple chipped teeth and a few lost hats. Just when we thought this could not get any better, our guide took us to a hidden lake with in the desert and it was simply incredible.
Finally, we headed home and ended our day with a night full of complimentary drinks and class karaoke.

Day Six

Buenas Noches!

Another day in the books. Today started bright and early with a test at 8:30, which thankfully, was not as difficult as I anticipated. Unfortunately, the early start meant I would have to wake up even earlier to run, and noting how the sunrise is not about until 6:30, I decided against the morning run (see mom and dad I can make wise decisions). I could not tell you why, but today's classes seemed to drag on. I love my teachers, Romeo and Andres, but the complimentary coffee just did not do the job. Anyway, the day at school ended with a lunch of pasta with meat sauce (I swear all Peruvians eat are carbs and protein, I will be shocked if I do not come back at least twice the size I left), then a quick trip to the grocery store for snacks for the field trip.
Our adventure today was a tour of Pachamac, the Incan god of the earth. It was just a sampling of all the ruins that Peru has to offer, but it was still breath taking. At first, the endless hills of sand and mountains on the horizon reminded me of a scene straight out of Star Wars (which I hate to be the stupid American to admit). However, once we climbed to the top of El Templo del Sol, the view changed drastically. On one side, we overlooking the sand dunes and houses nestled into the mountains, but once we turned around we were in a different world. Suddenly, we were admiring the intense greens of the polo fields below, then beyond those, the sea stretched far beyond the eye could see. We could hear the waves crashing on the coast below, and peered into the light fog to make out rocky islands scattered about.
Once all the pictures were taken, we hiked back down the way we came and boarded the bus. The ride home was a lot more lively than the ride there as we all participated in the mandatory sing-off of "Bailando," which I won for supuesto. I walked home and remembered to call my family for the first time since my arrival, making packing for Ica a lot more fun than it was initially.
Pues, ahora necesito dormir. Adios!

Day Five

Hola desde Peru!

Today, started with another early morning run, school and lunch like always. Everything was great until we all learned that everyone has a test tomorrow, and to make it even worse, we have to go to school an entire half hour early in order to take it. Yay. 

Right after school, we hopped on the bus and headed to the center of Lima. We visited a couple of nights on the Marabous tour, but during the day we were able to appreciate the venerable details of the architecture and the beauty of the city in its entirety. 

The first stop was El Congreso de la Republica (the Congress building). Overall, it was pretty similar to the capitol building in Boston. There were still the regal painting in gilded frames, the congress floor and the frantic interns running around in their business casual attire, only this time they are all Peruvian.

The next stop was the Afro-Peruana museum. Here, we learned about the lives of slaves in Peru and a great deal of Peruvian history in general (most of which I did not know or expect). For example, Peru had very detailed caste systems regarding heritage and what ethnicity the Peruvians were. Although the museum was relatively small, it not only contained a plethora of information, but it was also beautiful, with carved dark wood doors and elegant, wrought-iron frames. 

The final stop today was La Iglesia San Franciso. Of course, like everything in the city center, the church was beautiful with its extravagant details, breathtaking artwork and courtyard filled with various types of greenery. The library, though archaic, was one of my favorite parts. It reminded me of something out of Harry Potter with tattered books, which were all in Latin, covering the mahogany shelves, and the two spiral stair cases that connected the two floors. As if was not enough, we headed downstairs where we found the entrance to the catacombs. I was not a huge fan of the idea of going into a church basement, especially knowing that I was on my way to see dismembered skeletons, but once we crawled through the small doorway (I swear it was the door from Alice in Wonderland), I loved the eerie feeling. There was something exhilarating about wondering through the maze-like pathway with bones of those who died long ago surrounding you. Unlike a few of my classmates, I was careful not to "accidentally" touch the bones as I did not want to entice any ancient Peruvian spirits to haunt me. I guess we'll see what happens. 

Once again, we boarded the bus and walked home (after I bought a duffle bag to bring to Ica on Friday). Now, it is time to study for my test tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Nos vemos!

Day Four

Today I was finally able to run! I left my house and ran along the cliffs that overlook the sea. Initially I was worried I would be all by myself, but the pathway was full of other joggers, bicycles and dog walkers, and I got to watch the surfers tackle the waves that were crashing below. After my run, I got back to the apartment just as my host mom was leaving for her tennis practice. I showered, changed my clothes and packed my bag for the day. Before I left, I made sure to grab my usual breakfast of a ham, egg and cheese sandwich and a smoothie, then headed out for the day.

At school, we reviewed the conditional tense and conversed about potential problems we might encounter and how we would solve them. In history, we learned more about Carval and the various items discovered there. When classes ended, we had a lunch of chicken, rice and potatoes then waited for the bus that took us to the Museum of Anthropology and Archeology.

The museum taught us all about Peru during the ancient civilizations and it was great to see all of the different artifacts on display. Another great part was the courtyard which was filled with trees and greenery, which we sat under when our tour ended. 

Monica surprised us with a wine tasting after the tour, where we all tried the "best wine in Peru." The name must have been true as the majority of us left with our own bottles, me with rosé. 

We got on the bus once again and headed to the Magical Fountains. Basically, this was a park filled with thirteen different, extravagant water fountains. In other words, the park included thirteen different reasons for us to take a group picture. It all ended climatically with a spectacular water show. 

Tired and hungry, we got on the bus once again and headed home to finish our homework. 

Day Three

Today, was the first day of classes! I walked to our school, El Sol, and arrived in time for the classes that began at 9. The first class, Grammar and Conversation, was taught by Romeo. He reviewed the subjunctive with our class, which was extremely helpful because I completely forgot the conjugation and conditions f when to use the subjunctive. After grammar, our other teacher, Andreas, taught us History and Culture of Peru. Specifically, we learned about the ancient civilization of Carval and many of the aspects of it, like the different temples and gods they worship. After class, we had a lunch of rice, egg and soup and then were dismissed.

During the small break we had, a group of us went to Pinkberry and Starbucks in order to use the wifi so that we could do our homework. Then, we met the class at El Parque Kennedy, and walked together to the Ricardo Palma museum. Ricardo Palma was a famous Peruvian writer during the nineteenth century, and we got to tour his house and learn all about his life. In fact, I learned so much that when the guide, Guillermo, asked us questions about Palma, I answered one correctly and won a book. 

Before the night tour of Miraflores, a group of us went to go get dinner so that we could experience authentic Peruvian cuisine. Of course, it was incredible.

Finally, we ended the night with a tour of Miraflores and, like always, it was breathtaking (and a bit chilly). Overall, it was an eventful day, but it is only going to get busier from here.

Day Two

Today, my host mother showed me around Miraflores and all of the different places I would ever need to go. We through the park to a small mall close to our apartment that had a grocery store, pharmacy and laundromat, which was great to learn.
My most mother's daughter invited us over to her house for a Mother's Day tea. Here, I met the majority of her family, including her grandson and three granddaughters. Although it was intimidating to be surrounded by so much Spanish, the two youngest granddaughters helped ease me in by talking about their favorite American musicians and other famous trends. They even told me that I spoke Spanish very well, but they might have been trying to be nice. Aside from helping me with my Spanish, the girls, who have previously lived in Spain and Brazil, were able to practice their English with me, so we all helped each other learn more.
After tea, I met my class at the Huaca Pucllana, which is an upscale restaurant that resides next to ancient ruins. Of course, the food was amazing as was the pisco sour, Peru's national drink. When dinner was finished, we toured the ruins and it was all simply unbelievable. Finally, we had to head back home to prepare for the first day of classes tomorrow!

Day One

Today was our first day in Lima! To start the day, my host family made a delicious breakfast of eggs, ham, cheese, smoothies and bread, a lot of bread. Then, we drove around Miraflores and even visited the weekly farmer's market, where I was introduced to several types of produce I have never even heard of before. It was exhilarating to actually live like a local and converse with the vendors in Spanish.
My host family had to attend a tennis tournament that my host mother was competing in, so I spent the next hour unpacking and settling into what will be my home for the next month. By the time I finished, it was already time to meet the group in El Parque Kennedy.
From there, we walked to lunch as a group. The chicken was just as delicious as Monica described, especially the dark meat, which I ordered per her persistence that it was the best. The ice cream I got during the free time after, Ron y Pasas, simply completed the meal. Now that our stomachs were full and our appetites satiated, we began our bus tour of Miraflores.
The tour took us everywhere in Miraflores, from the ruins to Lacomar to el centro, and all of it was captivating. It was great to learn more about Lima's past and to see the effect that it had on shaping present-day Lima. After the bus tour ended, many of us walked back to Lacomar to discover it more in depth and marvel at the view of the sea. However, fatigue eventually won and we all returned home.
To end the first day in Lima, my host family made another delicious meal, this time which included quinoa and fried plantains, and even had cake for dessert. They continued to help me practice my Spanish by conversing with me well past dinner ending. After the long day, I decided it was time for bed and went to get more sleep to prepare for the adventures coming up.

Gracias por su tiempo!

Hannah Arlauskas