Day 1
Something I regret about my 4 month stay in Japan is that I didn't really keep a record of it. I didn't really update my journal that often and for whatever reason, when I did, it wasn't really the important or interesting stuff. Maybe I can keep myself on track here in Peru... because I have no internet at home to distract me! Plus, I don't know if it's because it's Sunday, but my roommate and I came home at like 6:30 and it was so dark and almost everything was closing and no one was really out and about on the streets. I know we close things early on Sunday in the US too, but in a city, I'd expect it to be more lively.
Ok, rewinding!
Saturday, I got up! (Exciting so far, right?) For whatever reason, I rethought my packing, transferred everything into a larger suitcase... and then changed my mind and switched back to a small one. Basically a waste of the early morning. I packed one smallish checked bag, one carry-on size suitcase (kind of puffy because I shoved my pillow in there), and then my backpack. I kept thinking I packed too much but for whatever reason, I forgot a bunch of stuff despite my packing ahead of time. I forgot my towels and worst of all, my jacket. I remember my raincoat.... and not a real jacket, and it's "winter" (or at least getting there)!!
Anyway, I hung out with Noah in the morning, Debbie and Noah's cousin Crystal stopped by and Debbie gave me some holy water and a finger rosary... the holy water kind of spilled in my bag as I just found out, so I sprinkled the spilled stuff over my bed!!
Then, Noah and I went to Gainesville and I got my nails done so they wouldn't annoy me here. And the lady talked me into getting my eyebrows waxed which I had never done before and I guess it was fine?
Then we went to Denton and Noah got pet food and then we went to Thai Ocha and I got curry puffs and Tom Yum soup with tofu and it was a great last home meal. And then Noah brought me to the airport. Sad face! I was proud because I didn't cry! I definitely will miss him though, especially since I can't call.
My flight to Miami was delayed quite a bite, but I made it in time for my connection to Lima. I wanted to sleep the whole night since it was from midnight to 4:35am (like turned out to be only like a 5 hour flight or whatever) but then they served food and I wasn't going to say no to free food! The salad was actually great.
Then I got to Lima really early this morning and I got the red light at customs so they scanned my bags, big deal. They didn't open them up which was good because it's always a pain to have to repack stuff. Then I had to go back through security for my flight to Cusco and it was then that I realized I forgot to wear my watch. I wanted to buy one but... I didn't. I think maybe I'll buy one tomorrow?
Then I got on my flight to Cusco and made it in at like 9am. Some guy from the school picked me up along with two other girls. One was named Natalie and the other was Farima, or something? Natalie is with a host family but Farima is stayed in the student residence. He brought us by taxi to my host family.... which turned out to be different! The family they originally had me with is apparently not here but instead on vacation or something in Lima, so I am with a different family and to be honest, I still don't know the address!
My host mother's name is Nancy. She has two college aged daughter, but I didn't catch their names because they said hi to me for like one second and then walked away. I guess they are used to having students be here all the time.... but I want to get to know them so hopefully they will hang out with me at some point! Nancy has a six month old dog named Bonji and she's kind of a long-haired shaggy white and black dog... wearing a red dress. It makes me laugh, that little fleecy dress.
Anyway, when I got here, I also met the other student staying here. Her name is Caitlin. I don't want to be snarky, but whatever. She's kind of high strung and I think she might get on my nerves. I think she's kind of spoiled. I think when I meet other people who don't have the same kind of values as me, it sort of is irritating. Like, I know I can be whiny, but I wouldn't be whiny as a guest. Whatever. Anyway, Caitlin, Nancy and I sat in the living room and talked while I drank mate de coca tea which is supposed to help you not feel sick from the altitude. (I had a headache toward the end of today, but I feel okay now.) I was surprised at how much more confident I am with my Spanish than I thought I would be. I know I obviously am a Spanish teacher and I speak Spanish but speaking with native speakers always makes me nervous.... well, there's been basically nothing I haven't been able to understand when people talk to me and the only Spanish word I got stuck on so far was "chewy", haha.
Then Nancy told me that I should sleep probably until like lunch so I wouldn't feel sick so I did... and hooooooly crap, it's cold!! Even it my bed, I was cold. Noah told me not to bring my boots but now I regret that because my feet are going to be coooold! I slept until about one and then had lunch with Nancy and Caitlin. It was cream of asparagus soup, bread, chicken with peas, and rice. It was delicious!
Nancy told us she couldn't bring us to the school because she had to go vote today. Apparently in Peru, you are required to vote and if you don't vote, you get fined! She also mentioned that if you don't vote and don't get some stamp, then they can deny you rights to certain things but she didn't really say what. So different from in the US, huh? Luckily, Caitlin kind of knew where to go....... I say that, but I mean you just showed the address to the taxi driver.
Where I am living, I can apparently walk to school but it takes like 30 minutes and it gets really steep at times. The taxi ride to the school is 3 soles which is like $1.10 per ride.... boooo, they said it would be $0.75. I actually think probably 75 cents is for local people... and then the taxis charge the tourist looking people more. Whatever! So if I taxi both ways to school, it'll be $2.20 a day... I guess that's not THAT bad if I don't want to wake up and walk.
Anyway, before we went to the school for the city tour (which was crappy, haha) at 4pm, Caitlin and I went to this market called Molino (or Molina, I didn't really see) and we looked around for jackets and I bought one for $18 (50 soles) which I think was pretty cheap. It's sort of fleecy and I think it will be good! It's black with a teal stripe down each side under the sleeves. I did bring my black sweater so I can layer if it's too cold. After that, we went to the school and casually met some of the other people and then took the walking city tour but it sort of went in one ear and out the other so I don't really remember of it.
There was this group of students from Northeastern and some of the boys were really annoying... like saying how they stayed for 2 weeks in Lima and terrorized their host family and how funny it was that they made a mess of their house and barely cleaned up. It made me embarrassed for them. I'm sorry but just because you're a college student, it doesn't mean you can lack manners. Why live with a host family if you aren't going to respect them? After they laughingly told me that story, I didn't really want to talk more with them but I didn't want to seem standoffish... whatever!
After the tour, Caitlin and I went to an internet cafe so I could tell my family that I made it and I was okay. Oh, and Caitlin and I are going to the Sacred Valley and doing some rock climbing and zip lining.... she had scheduled just zip lining but we watched a video of climbing up the rock (there are like metal handles) so we're going to do that on the 18th. Yay! Exciting things!! After the cafe, we went to a restaurant and split a dinner of spaghetti and I got a cafe con leche and it was 21 soles for me which is $7 or so, which isn't bad I guess. Even though we split the dinner, I still thought the portion we each got was pretty big. And I had bought a bottle of water and forgot it on the floor in the restaurant. Waaah.
Our ride home was interesting...... in a bad way. The taxi guy was totally lost and then wanted to charge us more for getting lost. It wasn't our fault! Then we made it home and here I am.
One disappointing thing about my room is that there are only two plugs. One for the bed light, and then one across the room so like my phone alarm has to be across the room... I hope I actually get up! Same with my computer, I have to sit on the very tip of my bed to charge and use it.
Apparently, the water does not get that hot. I think I will skip shaving for the month if the water is that hot. Apparently, also, if you barely run the water, it gets warmer.... but... then how do you use it? We'll see tomorrow. I'm trying to wake up with plenty of time to get ready just in case I have a disaster.
I guess that is all for tonight. I know I am overestimating myself if I think I will be this dedicated and write this much everyday... but hopefully I will so I will remember my trip to Peru better than I remember my trip to Japan. I hope I meet some friends to hang out with in my classes... and I hope my host sisters maybe want to hang out too. :)
Buenas noches!
Ok, rewinding!
Saturday, I got up! (Exciting so far, right?) For whatever reason, I rethought my packing, transferred everything into a larger suitcase... and then changed my mind and switched back to a small one. Basically a waste of the early morning. I packed one smallish checked bag, one carry-on size suitcase (kind of puffy because I shoved my pillow in there), and then my backpack. I kept thinking I packed too much but for whatever reason, I forgot a bunch of stuff despite my packing ahead of time. I forgot my towels and worst of all, my jacket. I remember my raincoat.... and not a real jacket, and it's "winter" (or at least getting there)!!
Anyway, I hung out with Noah in the morning, Debbie and Noah's cousin Crystal stopped by and Debbie gave me some holy water and a finger rosary... the holy water kind of spilled in my bag as I just found out, so I sprinkled the spilled stuff over my bed!!
Then, Noah and I went to Gainesville and I got my nails done so they wouldn't annoy me here. And the lady talked me into getting my eyebrows waxed which I had never done before and I guess it was fine?
Then we went to Denton and Noah got pet food and then we went to Thai Ocha and I got curry puffs and Tom Yum soup with tofu and it was a great last home meal. And then Noah brought me to the airport. Sad face! I was proud because I didn't cry! I definitely will miss him though, especially since I can't call.
My flight to Miami was delayed quite a bite, but I made it in time for my connection to Lima. I wanted to sleep the whole night since it was from midnight to 4:35am (like turned out to be only like a 5 hour flight or whatever) but then they served food and I wasn't going to say no to free food! The salad was actually great.
Then I got to Lima really early this morning and I got the red light at customs so they scanned my bags, big deal. They didn't open them up which was good because it's always a pain to have to repack stuff. Then I had to go back through security for my flight to Cusco and it was then that I realized I forgot to wear my watch. I wanted to buy one but... I didn't. I think maybe I'll buy one tomorrow?
Then I got on my flight to Cusco and made it in at like 9am. Some guy from the school picked me up along with two other girls. One was named Natalie and the other was Farima, or something? Natalie is with a host family but Farima is stayed in the student residence. He brought us by taxi to my host family.... which turned out to be different! The family they originally had me with is apparently not here but instead on vacation or something in Lima, so I am with a different family and to be honest, I still don't know the address!
My host mother's name is Nancy. She has two college aged daughter, but I didn't catch their names because they said hi to me for like one second and then walked away. I guess they are used to having students be here all the time.... but I want to get to know them so hopefully they will hang out with me at some point! Nancy has a six month old dog named Bonji and she's kind of a long-haired shaggy white and black dog... wearing a red dress. It makes me laugh, that little fleecy dress.
Anyway, when I got here, I also met the other student staying here. Her name is Caitlin. I don't want to be snarky, but whatever. She's kind of high strung and I think she might get on my nerves. I think she's kind of spoiled. I think when I meet other people who don't have the same kind of values as me, it sort of is irritating. Like, I know I can be whiny, but I wouldn't be whiny as a guest. Whatever. Anyway, Caitlin, Nancy and I sat in the living room and talked while I drank mate de coca tea which is supposed to help you not feel sick from the altitude. (I had a headache toward the end of today, but I feel okay now.) I was surprised at how much more confident I am with my Spanish than I thought I would be. I know I obviously am a Spanish teacher and I speak Spanish but speaking with native speakers always makes me nervous.... well, there's been basically nothing I haven't been able to understand when people talk to me and the only Spanish word I got stuck on so far was "chewy", haha.
Then Nancy told me that I should sleep probably until like lunch so I wouldn't feel sick so I did... and hooooooly crap, it's cold!! Even it my bed, I was cold. Noah told me not to bring my boots but now I regret that because my feet are going to be coooold! I slept until about one and then had lunch with Nancy and Caitlin. It was cream of asparagus soup, bread, chicken with peas, and rice. It was delicious!
Nancy told us she couldn't bring us to the school because she had to go vote today. Apparently in Peru, you are required to vote and if you don't vote, you get fined! She also mentioned that if you don't vote and don't get some stamp, then they can deny you rights to certain things but she didn't really say what. So different from in the US, huh? Luckily, Caitlin kind of knew where to go....... I say that, but I mean you just showed the address to the taxi driver.
Where I am living, I can apparently walk to school but it takes like 30 minutes and it gets really steep at times. The taxi ride to the school is 3 soles which is like $1.10 per ride.... boooo, they said it would be $0.75. I actually think probably 75 cents is for local people... and then the taxis charge the tourist looking people more. Whatever! So if I taxi both ways to school, it'll be $2.20 a day... I guess that's not THAT bad if I don't want to wake up and walk.
Anyway, before we went to the school for the city tour (which was crappy, haha) at 4pm, Caitlin and I went to this market called Molino (or Molina, I didn't really see) and we looked around for jackets and I bought one for $18 (50 soles) which I think was pretty cheap. It's sort of fleecy and I think it will be good! It's black with a teal stripe down each side under the sleeves. I did bring my black sweater so I can layer if it's too cold. After that, we went to the school and casually met some of the other people and then took the walking city tour but it sort of went in one ear and out the other so I don't really remember of it.
There was this group of students from Northeastern and some of the boys were really annoying... like saying how they stayed for 2 weeks in Lima and terrorized their host family and how funny it was that they made a mess of their house and barely cleaned up. It made me embarrassed for them. I'm sorry but just because you're a college student, it doesn't mean you can lack manners. Why live with a host family if you aren't going to respect them? After they laughingly told me that story, I didn't really want to talk more with them but I didn't want to seem standoffish... whatever!
After the tour, Caitlin and I went to an internet cafe so I could tell my family that I made it and I was okay. Oh, and Caitlin and I are going to the Sacred Valley and doing some rock climbing and zip lining.... she had scheduled just zip lining but we watched a video of climbing up the rock (there are like metal handles) so we're going to do that on the 18th. Yay! Exciting things!! After the cafe, we went to a restaurant and split a dinner of spaghetti and I got a cafe con leche and it was 21 soles for me which is $7 or so, which isn't bad I guess. Even though we split the dinner, I still thought the portion we each got was pretty big. And I had bought a bottle of water and forgot it on the floor in the restaurant. Waaah.
Our ride home was interesting...... in a bad way. The taxi guy was totally lost and then wanted to charge us more for getting lost. It wasn't our fault! Then we made it home and here I am.
One disappointing thing about my room is that there are only two plugs. One for the bed light, and then one across the room so like my phone alarm has to be across the room... I hope I actually get up! Same with my computer, I have to sit on the very tip of my bed to charge and use it.
Apparently, the water does not get that hot. I think I will skip shaving for the month if the water is that hot. Apparently, also, if you barely run the water, it gets warmer.... but... then how do you use it? We'll see tomorrow. I'm trying to wake up with plenty of time to get ready just in case I have a disaster.
I guess that is all for tonight. I know I am overestimating myself if I think I will be this dedicated and write this much everyday... but hopefully I will so I will remember my trip to Peru better than I remember my trip to Japan. I hope I meet some friends to hang out with in my classes... and I hope my host sisters maybe want to hang out too. :)
Buenas noches!