Sleep is a very valuable thing. After having gotten another 8 hours of sleep last night, I feel a little better and more energized. It seems almost as if I am a completely different person today than I have been the last couple of days. It is a good thing, though, that I got a good amount of sleep because today is the first day of classes. However, the day didn't start of stupendously. I awoke at 7:30 am, got dressed, and made my way downstairs for breakfast at 7:45 am. I believe I had a type of banana oatmeal-ish sort of thing, which was actually good even though I am not the fondest of bananas with hot chocolate and bread. Overall, it was pretty good.
My next task was to make my way to the school by 8:30 am for our orientation. However, it sounded a lot easier than it turned out to be. My host father had driven me by the Centro Bartolomé de las Casas (the CBC) and had told me how to get there. The only thing is that there are 3 different buildings along the same street with CBC on them. One is a hotel area and the other two are schools. I figured that I had arrived at the right place because it clearly had CBC on the wall. However, after being there until 8:40 am, I was pretty sure I was in the wrong place because no one else was there. As soon as I was about to leave, I saw my professor enter and we both concluded that we had gone to the wrong place. So, we went down the street to where the other school is, but that was also the wrong place. Finally, after a little guidance from one of the ProWorld people that works with our group, we arrived at the right location. The only thing was that we were 20 minutes late. Whoops.
The orientation went really well and we took an exam to test where we were, and I think I did well. We got them back and it had "B-A" on it. So I can take that as I am at a B and working towards being an A in Spanish, or that I am just a BA person in general. Either way, I will take it.
After orientation, we went to the place where the library is and then returned to break into our classes. Our professor is a lady who, we figured out during class, has a 2 year old son. Now isn't that cute? We did our introductions and told her what our intentions were for being at the school and learning Spanish. We then proceeded to dive into verbs and how some are similar with others, but they mean different things. We just basically went over some basics. After that, it was around noon, so we all went back to our homes for lunch and siesta. I ate, more or less, a vegetable soup with chunks of meat with potatoes covered in a kind of chicken sauce that was simply amazing. I am, though, getting a little too adventurous with the spicy salsa, because I put it in the soup and basically was choking and crying from how much I put in there. My papá y mamá helped me remedy the situation with juice and bread. It actually worked too. I was pretty impressed.
After lunch, I returned to the school to find out that I had been moved to another class, still not very sure why. The new professor in the afternoons is very nice and sweet, but I could not help but notice that she was in a lot of pain while she walked around the room. Nevertheless, I think she is going to help me so very much with my Spanish. I learned today that there are 5 types of nouns and around 5 types of articles. Who knew there were so many? I am excited for the days that she will let us go out and roam around the city practicing our Spanish...the adventure seeker in me cannot wait.
When classes ended, a group of peruanos that live in the Q'eros community came to talk to us about their culture. They are a group of people that live in a very remote area of Peru, in the mountains, who actually still practice the ancient rituals of the Inca. They make their own clothing, for the most part, as well as instruments, and food. They are truly a self-sufficient culture. Most families have 3 homes at varying altitudes so they can plant different crops at different heights and when the weather gets too bad for one area, they move to another home. The video we watched of their culture and the songs they played for us were simply amazing. They then offered us the chance to buy some of their merchandise that they make themselves. It was pretty pricey, but with the amount of work and love they put into each and every item, I can understand. I only had around 40 soles with me, and most of the merchandise was much more than that, but I was able to buy something for my mother. I think she will be very happy.
It is off to dinner soon, in about 20 minutes, and then I will most likely look over some of my notes from class today and do the quick homework that I have. But, I can go to bed satisfied that I was able to flag down, ride, and pay the correct price for a taxi here in Cusco. I have heard stories where the cabbies will try to jack up the prices if they suspect you are American or a tourist. However, I had no problems with the cab driver and got the ride at a very reasonable price for night time (3 soles = $1.11). That is a lot better than in the States.
In any case, I will be eating and going to bed soon there after. So, for now, buenas noches and ciao.
Monday, May 30, 2011
May 29, 2011 (Day 4)
When I left off on the last post, I had mentioned that I did not go to bed until 2 AM and I felt it today. I have been tired and sore all day, but I had to suck it up because today we were doing a walking tour of parts of Cusco. Before the tour, and after awaking, I played some video games with Diego, the son in the family. We played Mortal Kombat as well as PES, a soccer game. I played as Spain against Diego as Brazil and lost on a last second goal. It was devastating. Then I ate breakfast with the family (waffles with ham inside and papas helados). Papas helados are potatoes that are grown in the mountains and are rained on, but the rain freezes over them and it makes a special taste. They served them with cheese on top, and they were not bad but they were not terrific either.
The walking tour, although tired, was pretty amazing. We started off in the Plaza de Armas (the main plaza in Cusco) and walked up to where our school is located. Then we arrived at the Plaza San Blas which had a beautiful fountain/waterfall in the back and a great look at a part of the mountains. Afterwards, we started making our way back to the Plaza de Armas and passed by many buildings that had their foundation made out of old Incan stones. There were so many photo opportunities that I had to reign myself in and only take some shots that I thought would be cool, or else I would not have had anymore space for photos later. After getting back to the Plaza de Armas, we went to the Plaza San Francisco which had so much life to it. There were so many vendors and families there that I just couldn't believe how much activity there was. After resting for a short while, we started our trek down la Avenida del Sol (Avenue of the Sun). There were so many shops and places to stop to buy things, but we eventually stopped at a little ice cream place that had a lot of good ice cream. However, I did not buy any because I was full from breakfast and lunch (spaghetti with meat). Finally, we came to a large market and I went in and bought an authentic jersey of, from what I have been told, one of the best soccer teams in all of Peru, and who are located here in Cusco. I was looking for gifts for family members and Amy, but I have not found anything that I think they would love yet, so I will continue looking for them.
Right now, I am back at home after having my host father pick me up. I am so very tired and my legs are quite possibly the most sore they have ever been. Dinner will be in about an hour, 8 PM, and we will be having the leftover spaghetti from what I have been told.
The spaghetti was just as good as it was for breakfast. I gobbled that down pretty quickly as well as the tea that they gave me to help with my digestive system. I haven't had really any problems with it so far, but just to be sure I don't get any, I drank it. With sugar, I must say that it was not too bad. When dinner was over, I watched a little bit of the presidential debates between the two candidates for President of Peru. I was surprised that the election for president is actually happening this coming Sunday! It should be pretty interesting, and the political scientist in me is very excited. However, I didn't watch too much of it only because I was very tired and I still had yet to talk to Amy. So, I made my way upstairs and talked to Amy for a little more than an hour and I was able to see my kitty, Lola, for a minute or so before she decided that running around the house was more fun. I don't blame her.
It is bedtime and I am so very excited to sleep. I am going to wake up around 7:30 am to be sure that I can eat breakfast and have enough time to get to school. Tomorrow should be interesting with classes starting and having to begin a new routine, but I am very excited to learn and practice Spanish more. It is something that I love to do.
Until tomorrow, hasta luego and buenas noches.
The walking tour, although tired, was pretty amazing. We started off in the Plaza de Armas (the main plaza in Cusco) and walked up to where our school is located. Then we arrived at the Plaza San Blas which had a beautiful fountain/waterfall in the back and a great look at a part of the mountains. Afterwards, we started making our way back to the Plaza de Armas and passed by many buildings that had their foundation made out of old Incan stones. There were so many photo opportunities that I had to reign myself in and only take some shots that I thought would be cool, or else I would not have had anymore space for photos later. After getting back to the Plaza de Armas, we went to the Plaza San Francisco which had so much life to it. There were so many vendors and families there that I just couldn't believe how much activity there was. After resting for a short while, we started our trek down la Avenida del Sol (Avenue of the Sun). There were so many shops and places to stop to buy things, but we eventually stopped at a little ice cream place that had a lot of good ice cream. However, I did not buy any because I was full from breakfast and lunch (spaghetti with meat). Finally, we came to a large market and I went in and bought an authentic jersey of, from what I have been told, one of the best soccer teams in all of Peru, and who are located here in Cusco. I was looking for gifts for family members and Amy, but I have not found anything that I think they would love yet, so I will continue looking for them.
Right now, I am back at home after having my host father pick me up. I am so very tired and my legs are quite possibly the most sore they have ever been. Dinner will be in about an hour, 8 PM, and we will be having the leftover spaghetti from what I have been told.
The spaghetti was just as good as it was for breakfast. I gobbled that down pretty quickly as well as the tea that they gave me to help with my digestive system. I haven't had really any problems with it so far, but just to be sure I don't get any, I drank it. With sugar, I must say that it was not too bad. When dinner was over, I watched a little bit of the presidential debates between the two candidates for President of Peru. I was surprised that the election for president is actually happening this coming Sunday! It should be pretty interesting, and the political scientist in me is very excited. However, I didn't watch too much of it only because I was very tired and I still had yet to talk to Amy. So, I made my way upstairs and talked to Amy for a little more than an hour and I was able to see my kitty, Lola, for a minute or so before she decided that running around the house was more fun. I don't blame her.
It is bedtime and I am so very excited to sleep. I am going to wake up around 7:30 am to be sure that I can eat breakfast and have enough time to get to school. Tomorrow should be interesting with classes starting and having to begin a new routine, but I am very excited to learn and practice Spanish more. It is something that I love to do.
Until tomorrow, hasta luego and buenas noches.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
May 28, 2011 (Day 3)
Hola,
The day started off slowly. I woke up to the beating sound of a knock on my hotel room door to indicate that it was time to wake up and get some breakfast if I could. However, I chose to rest for a little while longer and check to make sure I had packed everything a couple times over. Unfortunately, I did not pack my pelican bone that I found on the beach in Paracas out of fear that I would be questioned about it at the airport on our way to Cusco. So I left that behind, but nothing else as I packed up, loaded it into the van, and went on my way to the airport.
Upon arrival, we unloaded everything and went to check at the counter for our boarding passes. When we got those and made our way to the security station, where we made sure to have our passports ready and have everything we needed out of our carry-ons out and ready to put through the scanner. I, though, forgot that I still had my belt on as well as many other items in my pockets, but the nice lady at security kindly reminded me to take off my belt and empty my pockets.
Our flight did not have a gate assigned to it by the time we all had made it through security so our brave leader, Professor Jacqueline, asked someone and we eventually made our way to Gate 10. Now, we were traveling on Peruvian Airlines, who is apparently notorious for delayed flights and they held true to their name. It was only a 30 minute delay so it wasn't very long, and in the meantime, Angie played the ukelele for us on the floor of the airport.
As the plane landed in Cusco, I was just amazed at what I was seeing. It was so beautiful! The mountains surround the city and make it feel nice and secluded, and the buildings here are just magnificent. After we met up with the ProWorld people, I helped lift everyone's suitcases up a ladder to a man who was placing them all on top of the van. With the amount of heavy bags I had to lift (with some help on the very heavy ones I should add) coupled with the very thin air that is here, I grew tired pretty quickly. However, not too long after, we arrived at our hotel and ate at a very cute and delicious restaurant (I had the shrimp soup and fired chicken with french fries and chica morada). When we all had finished eating a few of us decided to go to a little market close to the hotel to see what they had. I ended up buying a really soft, warm jacket made with llama fur.
Around 4 PM, we had our orientation of the basic do-and-don'ts of the city as well as safety and health information. We also received our peruvian cell phones which are pretty basic, but they get the job done. Then, at 6:30 PM, soon after I called both Amy and my mom, I was picked up by my host father. He is a very sweet man and I was able to meet his wife and son pretty soon afterwards. We all sat down for dinner, chicken and rice, and then I was asked by my host mother, Ruth, if I would like to go dancing with them later that evening. Being very tired and having a small headache from the altitude, I went ahead and said that I would go with her. How many chances will I get to go to an authentic, non tourist, discoteca with the people that know them the best? After much time passed, Ruth got me and we got in the taxi and went to "Caos" on la Avenida del Sol. As soon as you walk in, the stairs go over a giant fish tank and so I was pretty impressed. We met with some of Ruth's friends and danced together. One of the ladies taught me how to salsa dance and we all had a great time dancing, singing, and being Peruvian. However, being tired and then not going to bed until around 2 AM do not get along.
The day started off slowly. I woke up to the beating sound of a knock on my hotel room door to indicate that it was time to wake up and get some breakfast if I could. However, I chose to rest for a little while longer and check to make sure I had packed everything a couple times over. Unfortunately, I did not pack my pelican bone that I found on the beach in Paracas out of fear that I would be questioned about it at the airport on our way to Cusco. So I left that behind, but nothing else as I packed up, loaded it into the van, and went on my way to the airport.
Upon arrival, we unloaded everything and went to check at the counter for our boarding passes. When we got those and made our way to the security station, where we made sure to have our passports ready and have everything we needed out of our carry-ons out and ready to put through the scanner. I, though, forgot that I still had my belt on as well as many other items in my pockets, but the nice lady at security kindly reminded me to take off my belt and empty my pockets.
Our flight did not have a gate assigned to it by the time we all had made it through security so our brave leader, Professor Jacqueline, asked someone and we eventually made our way to Gate 10. Now, we were traveling on Peruvian Airlines, who is apparently notorious for delayed flights and they held true to their name. It was only a 30 minute delay so it wasn't very long, and in the meantime, Angie played the ukelele for us on the floor of the airport.
As the plane landed in Cusco, I was just amazed at what I was seeing. It was so beautiful! The mountains surround the city and make it feel nice and secluded, and the buildings here are just magnificent. After we met up with the ProWorld people, I helped lift everyone's suitcases up a ladder to a man who was placing them all on top of the van. With the amount of heavy bags I had to lift (with some help on the very heavy ones I should add) coupled with the very thin air that is here, I grew tired pretty quickly. However, not too long after, we arrived at our hotel and ate at a very cute and delicious restaurant (I had the shrimp soup and fired chicken with french fries and chica morada). When we all had finished eating a few of us decided to go to a little market close to the hotel to see what they had. I ended up buying a really soft, warm jacket made with llama fur.
Around 4 PM, we had our orientation of the basic do-and-don'ts of the city as well as safety and health information. We also received our peruvian cell phones which are pretty basic, but they get the job done. Then, at 6:30 PM, soon after I called both Amy and my mom, I was picked up by my host father. He is a very sweet man and I was able to meet his wife and son pretty soon afterwards. We all sat down for dinner, chicken and rice, and then I was asked by my host mother, Ruth, if I would like to go dancing with them later that evening. Being very tired and having a small headache from the altitude, I went ahead and said that I would go with her. How many chances will I get to go to an authentic, non tourist, discoteca with the people that know them the best? After much time passed, Ruth got me and we got in the taxi and went to "Caos" on la Avenida del Sol. As soon as you walk in, the stairs go over a giant fish tank and so I was pretty impressed. We met with some of Ruth's friends and danced together. One of the ladies taught me how to salsa dance and we all had a great time dancing, singing, and being Peruvian. However, being tired and then not going to bed until around 2 AM do not get along.
Day 1 and 2
Hello friends!
So, Day 1 was not very exciting other than the fact that I was able to meet and get to know some of the members on the trip. I sat next to Kristen on the flight from St. Louis to Newark, but sadly everyone was displaced on the flight from Newark to Lima, Peru. Once we arrived in Lima, we went through Immigration (which went a lot faster than I thought it would) and also through Customs. Of course, after we all got our bags and went through Customs, Cecilia was stopped and searched. She was the one in the group with the most bags, but it didn't take long and we were on our way to find the Starbucks to meet up with the rest of the group. After a lengthy ride to our hotel, we all settled in knowing we had to be up at 3 AM ready to go to Paracas (of course I only got 30 minutes of sleep after watching The Lord of the Rings on TNT in español, worth it).
Day 2 was FULL of excitement and a non-stop pace that proved to wear some of our group down. We all, as mentioned above, had to be awake at 3 AM to eat some breakfast which consisted of rolls with jam, meat and cheese, and juice. The bus arrived not too long afterwards and we were on our 3 and a half hour ride to Paracas. Paracas is a small coastal town where the Argentine general San Martin started the quest for Peru's independence. As we made our way through the town, we were approached by SO MANY vendors trying to sell their trade. Being American has its drawbacks in this kinds of ways. I hate being singled out in other countries, I just want to know what it feels like to fit in. I want to feel how the pace of everyday life is for those that live here everyday. So far, I have not felt that, but living with my family in Cusco gives me some hope.
From Paracas, we went out on a boat ride to witness the wildlife on the different islands and also see the "Candelabra". I could not believe how many birds, penguins, and sea lions there were! Apparently, the islands are major sources for "guano" or bird droppings that they collect and use as fertilizer. The cold breeze was a little much for me at times, though, because I failed to dress for the weather. After looking at the weather report last night, 70 degrees sounded warm, but when you are out on the ocean on a boat at 8 AM, it is a completely different story. After the 2 hour boat tour was over, we relaxed in Paracas for about an hour and I finally was able to relax. I sat on the sea wall and watched the waves come in on the beach, it was something I enjoyed thoroughly.
Then, our guide took us to Paracas National Park. The amazing thing about Paracas National Park is that it is a vast desert next to the ocean which no animals or plant life. We were able to see fossils of ocean dwellers from 40 million years ago, some photos of the mummies that were found there many years ago, and stunning views of a desert that seemed to span the color spectrum. There were reds, whites, browns, and so many more colors that seemed to radiate from the ground. When the tour was complete, it was time for lunch at a nice little restaurant close to the beach. I chose "pollo frito con papas y sopa de venduras" (fried chicken with french fries and vegetable soup). Both were very delicious and I was sold on Peruvian cuisine. Everything that I have had so far has been "muy sabroso" (very delicious).
On the long drive back to Lima, I was able to catch up on some much needed sleep, but I was also able to wake up and see the lights of Lima at night as we started to enter the city. Not knowing what to expect other than return to the hotel, I was surprised when we stopped at a building I was not familiar with. After getting out, we were told that we were going to have dinner with the travel guide's mother and friends because she was celebrating her birthday and wanted us to join them. She had chicken, potatoes, and rice prepared for us and we all ate on the rooftop of their apartment building while we enjoyed music and Coca-Cola. Towards the end of the evening, we played two games of BINGO. I came so very close to winning the second game and the grand prize (a bottle of Peruvian wine), but I fell one space short.
However, I was so very pleased with the mother and her friends. They were legitimately some of the nicest, most inviting people I have ever met in my entire life. All of the hospitality we were shown and all the care they provided us was just simply amazing. I felt so at peace and at home with them, something I didn't expect to feel. I was just so in love with the mother that, with her insistence, I promised to send her the photo that we took together :)
Now, it is time to shower and sleep to save up some energy for tomorrow. Having to both fly and try to impress my host family tomorrow will both demand a lot of energy that I don't have right now and I hope that with a shower and some good sleep tonight, I will be able to do both with relative ease. Until then, hasta luego and se amo a Amy mucho :)
So, Day 1 was not very exciting other than the fact that I was able to meet and get to know some of the members on the trip. I sat next to Kristen on the flight from St. Louis to Newark, but sadly everyone was displaced on the flight from Newark to Lima, Peru. Once we arrived in Lima, we went through Immigration (which went a lot faster than I thought it would) and also through Customs. Of course, after we all got our bags and went through Customs, Cecilia was stopped and searched. She was the one in the group with the most bags, but it didn't take long and we were on our way to find the Starbucks to meet up with the rest of the group. After a lengthy ride to our hotel, we all settled in knowing we had to be up at 3 AM ready to go to Paracas (of course I only got 30 minutes of sleep after watching The Lord of the Rings on TNT in español, worth it).
Day 2 was FULL of excitement and a non-stop pace that proved to wear some of our group down. We all, as mentioned above, had to be awake at 3 AM to eat some breakfast which consisted of rolls with jam, meat and cheese, and juice. The bus arrived not too long afterwards and we were on our 3 and a half hour ride to Paracas. Paracas is a small coastal town where the Argentine general San Martin started the quest for Peru's independence. As we made our way through the town, we were approached by SO MANY vendors trying to sell their trade. Being American has its drawbacks in this kinds of ways. I hate being singled out in other countries, I just want to know what it feels like to fit in. I want to feel how the pace of everyday life is for those that live here everyday. So far, I have not felt that, but living with my family in Cusco gives me some hope.
From Paracas, we went out on a boat ride to witness the wildlife on the different islands and also see the "Candelabra". I could not believe how many birds, penguins, and sea lions there were! Apparently, the islands are major sources for "guano" or bird droppings that they collect and use as fertilizer. The cold breeze was a little much for me at times, though, because I failed to dress for the weather. After looking at the weather report last night, 70 degrees sounded warm, but when you are out on the ocean on a boat at 8 AM, it is a completely different story. After the 2 hour boat tour was over, we relaxed in Paracas for about an hour and I finally was able to relax. I sat on the sea wall and watched the waves come in on the beach, it was something I enjoyed thoroughly.
Then, our guide took us to Paracas National Park. The amazing thing about Paracas National Park is that it is a vast desert next to the ocean which no animals or plant life. We were able to see fossils of ocean dwellers from 40 million years ago, some photos of the mummies that were found there many years ago, and stunning views of a desert that seemed to span the color spectrum. There were reds, whites, browns, and so many more colors that seemed to radiate from the ground. When the tour was complete, it was time for lunch at a nice little restaurant close to the beach. I chose "pollo frito con papas y sopa de venduras" (fried chicken with french fries and vegetable soup). Both were very delicious and I was sold on Peruvian cuisine. Everything that I have had so far has been "muy sabroso" (very delicious).
On the long drive back to Lima, I was able to catch up on some much needed sleep, but I was also able to wake up and see the lights of Lima at night as we started to enter the city. Not knowing what to expect other than return to the hotel, I was surprised when we stopped at a building I was not familiar with. After getting out, we were told that we were going to have dinner with the travel guide's mother and friends because she was celebrating her birthday and wanted us to join them. She had chicken, potatoes, and rice prepared for us and we all ate on the rooftop of their apartment building while we enjoyed music and Coca-Cola. Towards the end of the evening, we played two games of BINGO. I came so very close to winning the second game and the grand prize (a bottle of Peruvian wine), but I fell one space short.
However, I was so very pleased with the mother and her friends. They were legitimately some of the nicest, most inviting people I have ever met in my entire life. All of the hospitality we were shown and all the care they provided us was just simply amazing. I felt so at peace and at home with them, something I didn't expect to feel. I was just so in love with the mother that, with her insistence, I promised to send her the photo that we took together :)
Now, it is time to shower and sleep to save up some energy for tomorrow. Having to both fly and try to impress my host family tomorrow will both demand a lot of energy that I don't have right now and I hope that with a shower and some good sleep tonight, I will be able to do both with relative ease. Until then, hasta luego and se amo a Amy mucho :)
Monday, May 23, 2011
3 Days Until Peru!
As the storms roll through St. Charles, Missouri, I finally find some time to sit down and write. I have not had much time lately simply because of all the preparation for my trip to Peru. With the list making, packing, journal writing, re-packing, checking to be sure I did not leave anything behind in Columbia, and then packing again, I have come to know how valuable time is.
Sadly, I had to learn yesterday how time does not stop for anyone. As I finalized my luggage and packed up the last item, I glanced at Amy, knowing I would not have much time left with her before I started my expedition to our southern, neighboring continent. To make the most of the evening, we decided that Shakespeare’s would be the send-off dinner. I ordered our usual pizza, we got our table in the usual area, and enjoyed the usual drink of choice, Dr. Pepper. However, despite all the similarities to every time before, this felt different. This was not just a dinner or a casual evening out. This was a brief goodbye. It meant time apart. It meant not being able to see her bright brown eyes or smooth blonde hair in front of me displaying their beauty and elegance. I knew before and still know now that being away from her is the hardest thing I have had to endure my entire life.
Along with that, time has sneakily passed by since I have been home in St. Charles. Half a day has already passed and I feel like I just arrived here moments ago. I must give some big props to my mother for getting my favorites (Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, Chicken Finger Banquet TV Dinners, Cherry Coke, etc.) and making me feel right at home. However, beng at home feels like it actually speeds up time instead of slowing it down. I just realized that in less than 3 days, I would already be in mid-flight to Newark, NJ to connect with my flight to Peru. It seems like not long ago it was mid-April and this trip seemed to be a distant journey, but now as each hour passes the anticipation and reality of the trip begin to converge. The gap between thinking about it and doing it is starting to collapse and favor the latter. I hope that I will be ready when the “doing it” parts starts, but I will not know until it happens.
To prepare myself as best I can before I leave, I have started to use Spanish as much as possible. I have read and replied to my friends’ statuses on Facebook in Spanish as well as counted down the 2 minutes in Spanish that I use to brush my teeth, all in preparation of going to the dentist’s office in less than an hour. I have also written my one page, class journal entry in Spanish. So, I have stared to change languages slowly, but I think slow is better than cutting English cold turkey…I might have trouble doing that.
As departure day grows closer, I will be sure to tell you all how everything is coming along and how I am doing. Both excitement and worry has come over me, but I will use both to get myself ready for this, I hope, entertaining journey.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
1 Week and I Will be in Peru!
Ever wonder why my blog is titled "Peruvian State of Mind"? This upcoming trip is why.
Today starts the official one week countdown until I board my plane in St. Louis and begin my journey to Peru. As it gets closer and closer and grows larger and larger, this trip is starting to add worry and doubt in my mind. There are just so many things that can go wrong starting at the airport and extending all the way to my host family or a possible miscommunication with someone that could turn ugly. I really do not plan on any of these bad things happening, but you can never be too prepared and think about these things.
I usually pride myself on preparation and making sure I know what too expect when I do something. Yesterday, for example, Amy and I went to Bothwell Lodge State Park close to Sedalia, Missouri. For at least 20 minutes, I meticulously stared at the map and closely studied how to get there so that there were no surprises on the drive. When I was choosing colleges, I did my homework and made sure that I knew almost everything about Mizzou before I chose it as my future institution for higher education...I guess that has really helped me with my campus tour guide job too. However, the main problem is that as much information as there is out there about Peru, I can never really be prepared for it. Their culture, values, and way of life is in direct contrast to ours. The US treasures speed/productivity and convenience while those in Peru favor a slow pace to life with enjoyment. Will I be able to transfer myself and my way of thinking to this in just a short month? I also feel sad that I will be leaving Amy and our kitten Lola for a whole month. They are just my little family and being away for a whole month will be hard, but I know that by talking everyday and doing as much as I can to stay involved with them, they will not seem too far away.
I do not want to make this a blog in which I consistently complain/worry about my trip because if I would not want to read it, why would anyone else? So in other news, with the help of Amy, I have basically formulated a basic packing list! That is the first major step in the whole process, and now that it is done, everything is seeming a lot more real. The basics (toiletries, clothes, etc.) are on there so all I need to think more about are the extras of which I will not try to bring too many. I do not want to weigh down my luggage and make to where I hate myself for it being so heavy all the time.
I hope that the group of peeps that I am going with and I get along. I do not see us not getting along, but I am just a quiet person so as long as I can try to prevent awkward situations I think it will be all right :) My host family also seems cool. I have had brief conversations with their daughter about gifts and just other random things and she seems to think that they will like me, but she also hopes that I take down her brother at video games and many other things...I get the feeling she does not like him very much.
To wrap this up, I am totally excited for this trip and everything it has to offer. Not only will I be learning and becoming more fluent in Spanish, but I will also being doing service work by building newer, cleaner wood burning stoves for families that live out in the rural areas. The opportunity to do this as well as go on excursions to places like Macchu Picchu or staying on an island on the world's highest commercially navigable lake on Lake Titicaca. This is going to be one of those "once in a lifetime" trips and I am looking forward to getting there and starting it. I hope that you all will stay with me on the journey and share in my triumphs and shortcomings.
Now, it is time to start getting some things ready and think about my first journal assignment that is due before we leave the US. ¡Adios!
Today starts the official one week countdown until I board my plane in St. Louis and begin my journey to Peru. As it gets closer and closer and grows larger and larger, this trip is starting to add worry and doubt in my mind. There are just so many things that can go wrong starting at the airport and extending all the way to my host family or a possible miscommunication with someone that could turn ugly. I really do not plan on any of these bad things happening, but you can never be too prepared and think about these things.
I usually pride myself on preparation and making sure I know what too expect when I do something. Yesterday, for example, Amy and I went to Bothwell Lodge State Park close to Sedalia, Missouri. For at least 20 minutes, I meticulously stared at the map and closely studied how to get there so that there were no surprises on the drive. When I was choosing colleges, I did my homework and made sure that I knew almost everything about Mizzou before I chose it as my future institution for higher education...I guess that has really helped me with my campus tour guide job too. However, the main problem is that as much information as there is out there about Peru, I can never really be prepared for it. Their culture, values, and way of life is in direct contrast to ours. The US treasures speed/productivity and convenience while those in Peru favor a slow pace to life with enjoyment. Will I be able to transfer myself and my way of thinking to this in just a short month? I also feel sad that I will be leaving Amy and our kitten Lola for a whole month. They are just my little family and being away for a whole month will be hard, but I know that by talking everyday and doing as much as I can to stay involved with them, they will not seem too far away.
I do not want to make this a blog in which I consistently complain/worry about my trip because if I would not want to read it, why would anyone else? So in other news, with the help of Amy, I have basically formulated a basic packing list! That is the first major step in the whole process, and now that it is done, everything is seeming a lot more real. The basics (toiletries, clothes, etc.) are on there so all I need to think more about are the extras of which I will not try to bring too many. I do not want to weigh down my luggage and make to where I hate myself for it being so heavy all the time.
I hope that the group of peeps that I am going with and I get along. I do not see us not getting along, but I am just a quiet person so as long as I can try to prevent awkward situations I think it will be all right :) My host family also seems cool. I have had brief conversations with their daughter about gifts and just other random things and she seems to think that they will like me, but she also hopes that I take down her brother at video games and many other things...I get the feeling she does not like him very much.
To wrap this up, I am totally excited for this trip and everything it has to offer. Not only will I be learning and becoming more fluent in Spanish, but I will also being doing service work by building newer, cleaner wood burning stoves for families that live out in the rural areas. The opportunity to do this as well as go on excursions to places like Macchu Picchu or staying on an island on the world's highest commercially navigable lake on Lake Titicaca. This is going to be one of those "once in a lifetime" trips and I am looking forward to getting there and starting it. I hope that you all will stay with me on the journey and share in my triumphs and shortcomings.
Now, it is time to start getting some things ready and think about my first journal assignment that is due before we leave the US. ¡Adios!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
"Castle in the Sky" (1986)
Anime. It is something that I do not usually watch or think I would enjoy, but as it turns out, a couple of the movies on the IMDB Top 250 are...you guessed it, anime. Other than Pokemon, I do not have much experience with this genre, but I am looking forward to this opportunity to expand my horizons.
"Castle in the Sky" was one of the anime movies on the list, and the first that I had the chance to see. Not knowing what to expect, the music starts and you get to learn about the magical land of Laputa. It is a place of old, robotic warriors and lush gardens. Throughout the movie, you find out more and more about Sheeta and how she is the heir to the throne of Laputa. The movie is full of heroic efforts by her love interest, Pazu, as he joins the pirate forces and helps to fight off the evil-minded army.
All in all, I think the action was quite intriguing and the storyline was solid, but what made the movie for me was the soundtrack. The action was well accented by dramatic music while the slower moments had the proper arrangement too. The highs and lows of the orchestration helped my heart to both race with excitement and feel the full range of emotions from love to sadness.
Watching this was both eye opening (to think that I might actually like an anime movie) and rewarding. The main goal of this whole experience is to gain perspective into our culture that I pretend to know so much about. If there are aspects of my own culture that I am out of touch with, I feel that I should check it out. In the end, you only live life one time, and if I do not open myself up to certain movies just because they are anime or any other "unusual" type, I cannot fully enrich myself and my views. And if I do not take the time for enrichment, I will have no excuse for why I might feel out of touch with others or no be able to connect with people. I am a citizen of the US and if I do not know my own culture as well as I should, there is something the matter. And by doing this, I think I can close this gap.
"Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did." - Sarah Caldwell
"Castle in the Sky" was one of the anime movies on the list, and the first that I had the chance to see. Not knowing what to expect, the music starts and you get to learn about the magical land of Laputa. It is a place of old, robotic warriors and lush gardens. Throughout the movie, you find out more and more about Sheeta and how she is the heir to the throne of Laputa. The movie is full of heroic efforts by her love interest, Pazu, as he joins the pirate forces and helps to fight off the evil-minded army.
All in all, I think the action was quite intriguing and the storyline was solid, but what made the movie for me was the soundtrack. The action was well accented by dramatic music while the slower moments had the proper arrangement too. The highs and lows of the orchestration helped my heart to both race with excitement and feel the full range of emotions from love to sadness.
Watching this was both eye opening (to think that I might actually like an anime movie) and rewarding. The main goal of this whole experience is to gain perspective into our culture that I pretend to know so much about. If there are aspects of my own culture that I am out of touch with, I feel that I should check it out. In the end, you only live life one time, and if I do not open myself up to certain movies just because they are anime or any other "unusual" type, I cannot fully enrich myself and my views. And if I do not take the time for enrichment, I will have no excuse for why I might feel out of touch with others or no be able to connect with people. I am a citizen of the US and if I do not know my own culture as well as I should, there is something the matter. And by doing this, I think I can close this gap.
"Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did." - Sarah Caldwell
Monday, May 16, 2011
Rain Man (1988)
As the movie begins, you are not yet introduced to Raymond, the Rain Man played by Dustin Hoffman, but you are to Charlie, played by Tom Cruise. You begin to understand that Charlie is a person that does everything for personal gain and nothing for anyone else. He does not value his girlfriend, co-worker, or family. His life consists of keeping his business afloat through constant troubles that plague him the entire movie. However, as soon as his father dies, his life changes in a major way.
Wanting a share of the $3 million his father left someone else, he goes in search of the beneficiary to claim his half of the fortune. When he finds out that the money went to his autistic brother, he kidnaps him and holds him for a ransom of his $1.5 million he feels he deserves. The first couple of days are rough as Charlie does not anticipate the needs that Raymond demands, and the tantrums that Raymond throws when his usual routine is broken. But, as the movie progresses, you begin to see a transformation in Charlie. With little actions such as buying Raymond a portable TV to watch Jeopardy and moving Raymond's bed next to the window in every motel room they stay in, you begin to see Charlie care for his brother. You begin to see him love and hold someone's needs above his own. Charlie even says, "What you have to understand is, four days ago he was only my brother in name. And this morning we had pancakes."
In the end, reality catches up with Charlie and Raymond when the institution that Charlie took Raymond from finds them and wins custody of Raymond back. With an emotional final scene at the train station, the unconditional love between Charlie and Raymond not only changed Charlie for the better, but also helped Raymond to truly love another human being as well. His attachment is noticeable when he says, "C-H-A-R-L-I-E, my main man." He begins to show signs that he could live a normal life with Charlie, but is taken away before that is possible. The last scene is what hit me the hardest. With each second that passed and every foot the train traveled from the station, I could not stand to know that their relationship was going to be taken away.
Thinking into the future, I do not know how I would do as a father for a child with autism. I know that no matter what my children will be, I will love them to the ends of the earth and beyond, but I also know having an autistic child would be a challenge. I watch shows like Parenthood on NBC in which a character is an autistic child, and I wonder if I would be blessed with the patience to give my child the love they deserve. I have this idea of my children as people that I can play sports and have long talks with, but with autism, those activities would be more difficult to do. To think that I would not be able to do these things with my children would be a large blow to me, but I have to realize that parenthood is so much more than just what I want. It is about caring for your child the best that you possibly can, and provide the best life for them that you can. When I think about it like that, I am optimistic about my future children, no matter the deficiencies, if any, they might have. Charlie realized that at the end of "Rain Man" too. He knew that loving someone was more about them than it is about you, and this truth is something I look forward to sharing with my fiance, Amy Backes, and our future children.
Wanting a share of the $3 million his father left someone else, he goes in search of the beneficiary to claim his half of the fortune. When he finds out that the money went to his autistic brother, he kidnaps him and holds him for a ransom of his $1.5 million he feels he deserves. The first couple of days are rough as Charlie does not anticipate the needs that Raymond demands, and the tantrums that Raymond throws when his usual routine is broken. But, as the movie progresses, you begin to see a transformation in Charlie. With little actions such as buying Raymond a portable TV to watch Jeopardy and moving Raymond's bed next to the window in every motel room they stay in, you begin to see Charlie care for his brother. You begin to see him love and hold someone's needs above his own. Charlie even says, "What you have to understand is, four days ago he was only my brother in name. And this morning we had pancakes."
In the end, reality catches up with Charlie and Raymond when the institution that Charlie took Raymond from finds them and wins custody of Raymond back. With an emotional final scene at the train station, the unconditional love between Charlie and Raymond not only changed Charlie for the better, but also helped Raymond to truly love another human being as well. His attachment is noticeable when he says, "C-H-A-R-L-I-E, my main man." He begins to show signs that he could live a normal life with Charlie, but is taken away before that is possible. The last scene is what hit me the hardest. With each second that passed and every foot the train traveled from the station, I could not stand to know that their relationship was going to be taken away.
Thinking into the future, I do not know how I would do as a father for a child with autism. I know that no matter what my children will be, I will love them to the ends of the earth and beyond, but I also know having an autistic child would be a challenge. I watch shows like Parenthood on NBC in which a character is an autistic child, and I wonder if I would be blessed with the patience to give my child the love they deserve. I have this idea of my children as people that I can play sports and have long talks with, but with autism, those activities would be more difficult to do. To think that I would not be able to do these things with my children would be a large blow to me, but I have to realize that parenthood is so much more than just what I want. It is about caring for your child the best that you possibly can, and provide the best life for them that you can. When I think about it like that, I am optimistic about my future children, no matter the deficiencies, if any, they might have. Charlie realized that at the end of "Rain Man" too. He knew that loving someone was more about them than it is about you, and this truth is something I look forward to sharing with my fiance, Amy Backes, and our future children.
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