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!
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