5/31/16
Today was full of surprises, the first of which was after school the Bus to UNIFE came on time. I realize I have not yet commented on this but to my readers and my future self the bus has usually been arriving at 1:40 but we would gather for it at 1:10. So assuming I had time today I made the hastened decision to buy a loaf of bread, only to end up running to catch the bus on time. This bread would come in handy much later.
At UNIFE we had a lecture of Peruvian Literature and looked at many different pieces and learn about the different styles of writing. For example certain styles are used only to convey stories of unfrequented love. The one we spent a lot of time on learning was Las Ultimas Frase de Bolívar, about the last words of Simón Bolívar, one of the two liberators of Peru. I really enjoyed reading it because some of the sentences are written incredibly poetically in a way that once translated I feel like it loses some of the magic and that the smoothness of the poem can only be appreciated in its original language. We ended the lecture talking about "Persistencia del Sueño" the famous Dalí photo with the melting clocks. I always enjoyed art commentary in Spanish class because it was a great time to learn new vocabulary and associated it with specific memories or images that were easy to remember.
Next we went to Museo Oro del Perú a private collection of gold and weapons that since the owners death has been turned into a museum. The museum is inside a compound and in the basement is the collection of gold. The gold came in every shape and size including even stitched into the squares used for a quilt. There were also gold teasers, gold ear rings, gold face plates, gold figures, gold clothing, goal finger caps, at this point I'm sure you get the idea. There were also weapon heads in the basement large metal rings in the shape of gears, which I learned were made into clubs by allowing the tree to grow through the center and to fit it like a ring. Then the native americans would break off the branch and use it as a weapon. The upstairs portion of the museum was the largest collection of guns, swords, and military memorabilia. It kind of made me sad that everything was just sitting around but it was quite the collection and although we were told not to take pictures Monica authorized it so I managed to sneak a few.
Once we were set free from our school responsibilities many of us followed Annie to a rock wall up in a different part of Lima. I thought it was interesting walking there seeing the different stores and parts of Lima outside of our affluent Miraflores. What made things worse is that we lost the building as Annie didn't have a direct address and as we would find out the business had relocated to further down the block. So two conversations with strangers and 45 minutes of walking around we managed to find the place Base Camp Peru just a block down from where the old building had been. While many of us were doubting it at first once we suited up and started climbing everyone was having fun. I even surprised myself by climbing to the top of a giant wall and almost reaching the top of a short section of blue steps. I could see myself enjoying rock climbing and seeing myself getting better and stronger at it with each climb. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me but it was great being able to get back into an athletic activity.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
First Day at UNIFE
5/30/16
Today was the start to a new week and to our surprise we had a new grammar teacher named Diana. Now nothing against her but I had a strong connection with Carmen and her teaching style, but I reminded myself to be open to learning in new ways. When Diana teaches she speaks very fast and while it may be a little more difficult I think my mind adjusted to the challenge really well because I started picking out works that I knew and understanding her is just as easy as Carmen. This is especially good because to me one of my biggest issues is listening and hearing what someone is saying to me. I have the confidence to speak but not the best ear for listening (this is probably the same in English too).
That afternoon we had our first day at the new school after the Flight school last week. This school is called Universidad Femenina del Sagrando Corázon and is an all girls university with students around our age. We started are first day with welcome festivities and getting to meet some of the students there. We simply talked in English and then Spanish but over all it was exciting to talk to other people our age. I was amazed by how good their english was while I am hardly able to get through the day without asking for help and needing someone to say something again "Mas lento por favor" I can hear in my head. The introductions were then followed by a series of dances local to Peru and other Spanish speaking countries. The first was a romantic dance between a boy and a girl in very formal dress clothing. The two fluttered around each other and would casually join hands. At the end they invited a couple of us up to the stage to show our own moves and learn in the spotlight, being watched by not only our group but most of the students in the surrounding buildings. The next dance was a form of step involving about 10 girls doing a choreographed collection of kicks and skips to a beat with a few aspects of call and response. At the end they invited more of us up on and we continued to dance on stage making a fool of ourselves but alas we had to get home.
The rest of the day was uneventful except that we decided to take a little detour to the Fiesta Casino on the way back. By we I mean Annie, Reesha, and I walked into the casino to try our hands at slots. It was very over whelming at first with all the lights and most of the machines in Spanish, but I was determined to learn how to play and hopefully win some money. I tried two machines Jumping Frijoles and The Bald Eagle and at first it was very hard because I could not for my life figure out the betting system. it took a bunch of bumping around and hitting lights but eventually I managed to win some points and cash our with a profit of 30 soles. Not too shabby for a first time.
Today was the start to a new week and to our surprise we had a new grammar teacher named Diana. Now nothing against her but I had a strong connection with Carmen and her teaching style, but I reminded myself to be open to learning in new ways. When Diana teaches she speaks very fast and while it may be a little more difficult I think my mind adjusted to the challenge really well because I started picking out works that I knew and understanding her is just as easy as Carmen. This is especially good because to me one of my biggest issues is listening and hearing what someone is saying to me. I have the confidence to speak but not the best ear for listening (this is probably the same in English too).
That afternoon we had our first day at the new school after the Flight school last week. This school is called Universidad Femenina del Sagrando Corázon and is an all girls university with students around our age. We started are first day with welcome festivities and getting to meet some of the students there. We simply talked in English and then Spanish but over all it was exciting to talk to other people our age. I was amazed by how good their english was while I am hardly able to get through the day without asking for help and needing someone to say something again "Mas lento por favor" I can hear in my head. The introductions were then followed by a series of dances local to Peru and other Spanish speaking countries. The first was a romantic dance between a boy and a girl in very formal dress clothing. The two fluttered around each other and would casually join hands. At the end they invited a couple of us up to the stage to show our own moves and learn in the spotlight, being watched by not only our group but most of the students in the surrounding buildings. The next dance was a form of step involving about 10 girls doing a choreographed collection of kicks and skips to a beat with a few aspects of call and response. At the end they invited more of us up on and we continued to dance on stage making a fool of ourselves but alas we had to get home.
The rest of the day was uneventful except that we decided to take a little detour to the Fiesta Casino on the way back. By we I mean Annie, Reesha, and I walked into the casino to try our hands at slots. It was very over whelming at first with all the lights and most of the machines in Spanish, but I was determined to learn how to play and hopefully win some money. I tried two machines Jumping Frijoles and The Bald Eagle and at first it was very hard because I could not for my life figure out the betting system. it took a bunch of bumping around and hitting lights but eventually I managed to win some points and cash our with a profit of 30 soles. Not too shabby for a first time.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Callao
5/29/16
Today was another Mirabus field trip as we toured the port city of Callao. This very close to Lima has always been very important because it was the first port in connecting South America with the rest of the world, as well as, having major historical importance to Peru during the war of the Pacific. All in all we made four stops. First we saw the Naval Museum which by far was probably my favorite. It was composed of the history of Peru's Navy Generals, old uniforms, and a couple examples of boats and cannons. Next we went in a model submarine. Not just near, in! We got to see every compartment of the submarine and look at how the sailers lived. The whole experience was so interesting and how they manage to live on there for days let alone weeks amazes me. It is really making me rethink my choice of joining the navy.
Next was lunch where we ate at the Marina club and were served a three course meal of cheese sticks, swordfish with vegetables, and finished off with a little bit of ice cream. It was all very good in my opinion and the room was very fitting. The room was open to the marina and had a small deck right next to the table. The sun was shinning all morning and while we were eating lunch so the temperature was very comfortable. I definitely think the swordfish was the best, it was perfectly cooked and went well with the beans and carrots on the side.
Our last stop was the famous Callao Navy fortress. It is a tremendous pentagon structure with historic value and is now used as a museum to show visitors all the inner structures. The space inside was filled with small buildings, and galleries with different forms of artillery. On one wall there was a museum built into it showing the busts of the Heros of Peru's independence. There was also a large collection of old navy swords and authentic native american clothing. We ended out time there looking out from the kings castle, a tall portion of the wall built extra hey to look over the bluffs and to the surrounding area of Callao. Getting to the top was a real maze because there were probably a million different tunnels and corridors through the castle to get to the top.
Today was another Mirabus field trip as we toured the port city of Callao. This very close to Lima has always been very important because it was the first port in connecting South America with the rest of the world, as well as, having major historical importance to Peru during the war of the Pacific. All in all we made four stops. First we saw the Naval Museum which by far was probably my favorite. It was composed of the history of Peru's Navy Generals, old uniforms, and a couple examples of boats and cannons. Next we went in a model submarine. Not just near, in! We got to see every compartment of the submarine and look at how the sailers lived. The whole experience was so interesting and how they manage to live on there for days let alone weeks amazes me. It is really making me rethink my choice of joining the navy.
Next was lunch where we ate at the Marina club and were served a three course meal of cheese sticks, swordfish with vegetables, and finished off with a little bit of ice cream. It was all very good in my opinion and the room was very fitting. The room was open to the marina and had a small deck right next to the table. The sun was shinning all morning and while we were eating lunch so the temperature was very comfortable. I definitely think the swordfish was the best, it was perfectly cooked and went well with the beans and carrots on the side.
Our last stop was the famous Callao Navy fortress. It is a tremendous pentagon structure with historic value and is now used as a museum to show visitors all the inner structures. The space inside was filled with small buildings, and galleries with different forms of artillery. On one wall there was a museum built into it showing the busts of the Heros of Peru's independence. There was also a large collection of old navy swords and authentic native american clothing. We ended out time there looking out from the kings castle, a tall portion of the wall built extra hey to look over the bluffs and to the surrounding area of Callao. Getting to the top was a real maze because there were probably a million different tunnels and corridors through the castle to get to the top.
Carral
5/28/16
Today marks the end of our second week in Lima. Our activity today was to go to Carral the second oldest civilization in the world (and first in the Americas). Getting there was no easy task as it was a four hour drive North of Lima, which we started at 6am. One of the things I like most about Peru is the ever changing climate. It's fun to see where one will end up next whether that be in a desert, valley, port, jungle, or mountains. It seems that each place seamlessly changes into the next and the whole country has adapted to live in each type. We arrived at Carral in a parking lot about a kilometer away. We walked across a dried river bed and up onto a plateau where the collection of the old temples had been built. It was interesting how all of the location of the civilizations we have seen so far are built so high and with a view of the surrounding valley. This wasn't for nothing we were told by our guide, instead the placement was specially because high was more secure. It was also apparent that this was true because we were told other cultures chose to build their cities near the same location likely due to the strategical advantage and the proximity to water. The pyramids themselves were huge. They were very tall considering the time and the very wide. Even though some of it had been reconstructed, it was amazing how much was still in tact to the point where you could see the general format of the pyramids, and an amphitheater.
Today marks the end of our second week in Lima. Our activity today was to go to Carral the second oldest civilization in the world (and first in the Americas). Getting there was no easy task as it was a four hour drive North of Lima, which we started at 6am. One of the things I like most about Peru is the ever changing climate. It's fun to see where one will end up next whether that be in a desert, valley, port, jungle, or mountains. It seems that each place seamlessly changes into the next and the whole country has adapted to live in each type. We arrived at Carral in a parking lot about a kilometer away. We walked across a dried river bed and up onto a plateau where the collection of the old temples had been built. It was interesting how all of the location of the civilizations we have seen so far are built so high and with a view of the surrounding valley. This wasn't for nothing we were told by our guide, instead the placement was specially because high was more secure. It was also apparent that this was true because we were told other cultures chose to build their cities near the same location likely due to the strategical advantage and the proximity to water. The pyramids themselves were huge. They were very tall considering the time and the very wide. Even though some of it had been reconstructed, it was amazing how much was still in tact to the point where you could see the general format of the pyramids, and an amphitheater.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Finally Friday
5/27/16
Well today certainly started out with big plans. It is finally Friday after an exhausting week of work and activities it was our first free afternoon since we arrived two Sundays ago. The plan, was to go to lunch at an authentic Peruvian place, and then go paragliding. Weather report checked out to be sunny and we had a nice group of people ready for lunch and to watch the few who were ready to take the jump off the Miraflores cliffs strapped only to a stranger holding a giant piece of plastic.
Lunch was fantastic we had a wholesome group of 11 people (Ally, Anna, Kate, Bree, Carson. Annie, Kat, Gaby, Vicky, Daria, and myself) ready to chow down on the best food at Punto Azul a seafood restaurant around the corner form El Sol. It was a bit of work but once we got a table and ordered the whole meal was just a bunch of fun. We all talked around the table and ate a wide variety of delicious food. For Me I had the spicy house Mixed Ceviche with both fish and shellfish, with a Mangojito, and finished off with a Suspiro de Limaña. The other dishes mixed from a risotto with shrimp, pasta with calamari and squid ink, and some home made pesto. Everything was delicious. After we split the check we all went our separate ways agreeing to meet at Parque de Amor for the one thing I've been waiting for since we got here... Paragliding.
To keep it short, it didn't happen. By the time I arrived with Daria to the Parque it was 3pm and the clouds had already rolled in. After waiting an hour and a half to get hooked up and tied to a parachute the wind had become too weak and the day so late the gliders were ready to pack it in. I'll admit I was a little disappointed but maybe this was a blessing in disguise. After all now I can do it on a sunny day when I can see for miles and watch the waves tumble beneath me.
I sure feel bad for my host mother because she makes me dinner most nights and I on occasion forget to tell her that I am getting food out in the city. I then return home and there is a plate, a side, and a slice of cake always sitting on the table and I am usually too full to eat any of it. For dinner tonight I met up with Moises my friend that met in a hostel in LA with Sarah Barnhart. He took me to this Italian place, and as we talked catching up we chowed down on two pizzas, his with olives and ham, and mine with an assortment of shellfish and calamari. I really miss the guy, its fun to know someone here from outside of the trip and because we are both gay I can get the real deal on the gay culture here in Peru and Lima. I invited him out with our group tomorrow when we go to a dancing show so hopefully we will get a little bit more time to catch up while there.
Last Day at the Flight School
5/26/16
Today was the last day at the flight school, we ended with one more class with the students, one final lecture, and then a small graduation ceremony. Our group was a little smaller today because it seems quite a couple of us are getting a bad stomach ache, and poor Melanie has been out with a fever. However the day must go on and I think today was my favorite day with the students. We started with student presentations on the different major cities in Peru and through out they showed us different samples of culture from videos on traditional dances to having cooked a number of different dishes for us to try. It was easy and fun and I could definitely see the excitement of the students when they spoke English and they could tell we understood them. When it was our turn to talk, we split the students into groups and talked to them about one US student to four Peruvian students. My group was an energetic group of boys and one girl all about the age of 14. We were supposed to talk about major US cities but because they did not know much English vocabulary we settled for whatever they felt was easier to communicate. This was the part that made today the best because the students really loved talking to me. I would explain what I meant in English and in Spanish so that they understood, and then they would answer my questions with the words I had just taught them. They day ended with a graduation celebration where they handed each of the US students a certificate signed by the principle. I am really glad we got the opportunity to communicate with these kids. I have always had a passion for communication and education. Its the number one factor for helping a person have a successful life by way of establishing a solid base. While I wasn't providing that much information I definitely think I aided in getting them excited about learning and gaining confidence in speaking in another language.
That afternoon was also eventful. Immediately after we got back Alex and I got massages which were top notch. They place was recommended to us by our grammar teacher Carmen. For about 40 /s we got a half hour massage each. I'll definitely be returning in the near future, note to self remember to ask for Maria. Afterwords I met up with Daria, Carson, and Annie to see X-Men: Apocalypse (Subbed, not dubbed) in the theater near Parque Kennedy. Overall it was a great movie and I had fun with them after just chatting. I found out that while I still live the farthest away Annie lives very close to me and so at least I have someone in my general area. I think I forgot to mention that I lost my contacts. I also managed to fix that during the day. Over all these three experiences were so important to me because it reinforced the idea that I am able to live and function here. That everything I could possibly need is accessible and even though I know conversational Spanish I know enough to live which is definitely good enough for me.
Today was the last day at the flight school, we ended with one more class with the students, one final lecture, and then a small graduation ceremony. Our group was a little smaller today because it seems quite a couple of us are getting a bad stomach ache, and poor Melanie has been out with a fever. However the day must go on and I think today was my favorite day with the students. We started with student presentations on the different major cities in Peru and through out they showed us different samples of culture from videos on traditional dances to having cooked a number of different dishes for us to try. It was easy and fun and I could definitely see the excitement of the students when they spoke English and they could tell we understood them. When it was our turn to talk, we split the students into groups and talked to them about one US student to four Peruvian students. My group was an energetic group of boys and one girl all about the age of 14. We were supposed to talk about major US cities but because they did not know much English vocabulary we settled for whatever they felt was easier to communicate. This was the part that made today the best because the students really loved talking to me. I would explain what I meant in English and in Spanish so that they understood, and then they would answer my questions with the words I had just taught them. They day ended with a graduation celebration where they handed each of the US students a certificate signed by the principle. I am really glad we got the opportunity to communicate with these kids. I have always had a passion for communication and education. Its the number one factor for helping a person have a successful life by way of establishing a solid base. While I wasn't providing that much information I definitely think I aided in getting them excited about learning and gaining confidence in speaking in another language.
That afternoon was also eventful. Immediately after we got back Alex and I got massages which were top notch. They place was recommended to us by our grammar teacher Carmen. For about 40 /s we got a half hour massage each. I'll definitely be returning in the near future, note to self remember to ask for Maria. Afterwords I met up with Daria, Carson, and Annie to see X-Men: Apocalypse (Subbed, not dubbed) in the theater near Parque Kennedy. Overall it was a great movie and I had fun with them after just chatting. I found out that while I still live the farthest away Annie lives very close to me and so at least I have someone in my general area. I think I forgot to mention that I lost my contacts. I also managed to fix that during the day. Over all these three experiences were so important to me because it reinforced the idea that I am able to live and function here. That everything I could possibly need is accessible and even though I know conversational Spanish I know enough to live which is definitely good enough for me.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
The Return to High School PE
5/25/16
I think I'm out of shape. How do I know this? Because today was our Physical Exercise day at the Air Force school and I could hardly keep up with the 16 and 17 year old students. Before our lecture we attended gym class with different sections. My group was other Sam, Annie, Austin, Michelle, and Vicky. We started by doing a standard set of exercises and stretches to loosen up, did a couple laps around their track. If it was not for being in a country where everyone speaks Spanish I would have had some sub-serious anxiety attacks. Little did I know that they were right around the corner but I will get to that latter. After the track we played a couple catch games and finished the period with a couple rounds of volleyball. It was really fun getting to run around after all the standing and sitting in museums and class from last week. A needed change of pace for sure.
Our lecture today was definitely my favorite to date. It was about the different causes that pushed Peru to rebel from under the Spanish oppression and become its own independent nation. The test that went with it was very helpful in guiding me through the lecture and it made understanding the powerpoint much easier because I could read the information helping add context to the verbal information which could be hard to keep track of. The instructor also found a way to connect it to the American revolution and note comparisons which as a history nerd I really liked.
Our day ended with a soccer game, one girls and one guys. This is what I was referring to earlier, because during grade school I was deeply scared of team sports. However since then I have grown and this was a perfect chance for me to make my return to the field and show my stuff. The girls game was first and it was so exciting to watch. Hannah and Ally were clearly the best by far and scored us two points ending in a tie. The boys were next and it was probably the first time since soccer camp in fourth grade I've ever seriously kicked a soccer ball. It was all a flash and I wasn't sure where exactly I was supposed to be but at the very least I didn't ruin our game. I probably kicked the ball twice before my time was up and I took a seat on the sidelines. In the end I can say I had a lot of fun. It was a great way to end the day and even if no one else recognized it I think I did a good job. Oh and just so any readers aren't left hanging, the Peruvians won.
I think I'm out of shape. How do I know this? Because today was our Physical Exercise day at the Air Force school and I could hardly keep up with the 16 and 17 year old students. Before our lecture we attended gym class with different sections. My group was other Sam, Annie, Austin, Michelle, and Vicky. We started by doing a standard set of exercises and stretches to loosen up, did a couple laps around their track. If it was not for being in a country where everyone speaks Spanish I would have had some sub-serious anxiety attacks. Little did I know that they were right around the corner but I will get to that latter. After the track we played a couple catch games and finished the period with a couple rounds of volleyball. It was really fun getting to run around after all the standing and sitting in museums and class from last week. A needed change of pace for sure.
Our lecture today was definitely my favorite to date. It was about the different causes that pushed Peru to rebel from under the Spanish oppression and become its own independent nation. The test that went with it was very helpful in guiding me through the lecture and it made understanding the powerpoint much easier because I could read the information helping add context to the verbal information which could be hard to keep track of. The instructor also found a way to connect it to the American revolution and note comparisons which as a history nerd I really liked.
Our day ended with a soccer game, one girls and one guys. This is what I was referring to earlier, because during grade school I was deeply scared of team sports. However since then I have grown and this was a perfect chance for me to make my return to the field and show my stuff. The girls game was first and it was so exciting to watch. Hannah and Ally were clearly the best by far and scored us two points ending in a tie. The boys were next and it was probably the first time since soccer camp in fourth grade I've ever seriously kicked a soccer ball. It was all a flash and I wasn't sure where exactly I was supposed to be but at the very least I didn't ruin our game. I probably kicked the ball twice before my time was up and I took a seat on the sidelines. In the end I can say I had a lot of fun. It was a great way to end the day and even if no one else recognized it I think I did a good job. Oh and just so any readers aren't left hanging, the Peruvians won.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Day 2 of the Air Force School
5/24/16
Another day in Peru and it is nice to finally be working into a routine. As mentioned before we have Spanish school for most of the morning followed by an hour of lunch, then two hours at the Air Force school. One of the best moments today hit me while in class at El Sol. I was listening to our teacher Carmen explain grammar and it hit me, we have successfully lived in another country for a whole week. This might not seem like much on paper but to me it proves that I am capable of functioning in another city where English is not the primary language. I have started thinking in Spanish and dreaming in Spanish and when someone talks I recognize the words for what they are and not continuously translating them in my head.
The Flight School today was fun and we had more time with the students than yesterday. Today in our class we talked about favorite vacations spots. Some of the ones we talked about were New York City, Niagra Falls, Washington DC, and Disney. I was reluctant to mention Philadelphia until we decided to also say where we were from, and do my surprise one of the kids actually knew of my city from Rocky. We answered a bunch of questions they had about parts of the United States but near the end of the period their real interest showed. Just like students in America they asked to take selfies with us. We spent the rest of the day just talking to the students and practicing their English outside of class as we waited for our lecture to begin. I think the students really liked being able to talk out of the gaze of their teachers because many who did not talk during the lesson seemed much more adventurous in talking once they could speak freely.
Another day in Peru and it is nice to finally be working into a routine. As mentioned before we have Spanish school for most of the morning followed by an hour of lunch, then two hours at the Air Force school. One of the best moments today hit me while in class at El Sol. I was listening to our teacher Carmen explain grammar and it hit me, we have successfully lived in another country for a whole week. This might not seem like much on paper but to me it proves that I am capable of functioning in another city where English is not the primary language. I have started thinking in Spanish and dreaming in Spanish and when someone talks I recognize the words for what they are and not continuously translating them in my head.
The Flight School today was fun and we had more time with the students than yesterday. Today in our class we talked about favorite vacations spots. Some of the ones we talked about were New York City, Niagra Falls, Washington DC, and Disney. I was reluctant to mention Philadelphia until we decided to also say where we were from, and do my surprise one of the kids actually knew of my city from Rocky. We answered a bunch of questions they had about parts of the United States but near the end of the period their real interest showed. Just like students in America they asked to take selfies with us. We spent the rest of the day just talking to the students and practicing their English outside of class as we waited for our lecture to begin. I think the students really liked being able to talk out of the gaze of their teachers because many who did not talk during the lesson seemed much more adventurous in talking once they could speak freely.
Monday, May 23, 2016
First day at the Air Force school!
5/23/16
In the spirit of Monday, today started rough because all of us students had to come in early to school to take a level appropriate test. However, because I switched classes so early into the program I was unprepared for the material on the test. I did manage to study quite a bit that morning but no matter how much I prepare it never quite seems to be enough to feel completely secure when heading into a test. The majority of the test was on the past tense, pronoun identification, and comparisons.
After the test we had our usual grammar, conversation and cultural classes.
Today was the start of a new week and instead of viewing cultural sites, this time we are working with students at the Peruvian Airbase school, talking to them about American culture facts and the United States. The students are about 16 and 17 years old and very eager to practice their english. One of the younger students even walked right up to me on the playground and said "Hello, what is your name". We were initially welcomed by many gifts from the students and the school presented a show of the class rock band and some cultural dances. Next we went to educate our group classes. I group talked about University life. It mainly was a question and answer session with most of the students having a heavy interest on admissions. One of the students was planning to apply to the University of Miami as an industrial Engineer. He definitely had some work ahead of him with a large collection of standardized testing but his english was fair to good and I wish him the best for the future. We ended our time at the school with a lecture on the history of the Spanish conquest of Peru. Learning the history of the original Incas and the pathway Pizzaro and other explorers took to conquer the rich new world.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Paracas and Returning Home
5/22/16
The day started bright and early as we had a strict deadline to get on the bus at 6:50am. We were on our way to catch a boat in Paracas to see the islands, otherwise known as the Peruvian Galapagos. A blue sky and a full nights rest made it much easier to enjoy the activities of the day and even the rotting smell of seaweed on the beach in Paracas could not get me down. Our boat took off towards the islands and about 20 minutes later we were seeing our first animals. A couple dolphins and sharks were swimming out in the ocean and as we got closer to the islands we could see the massive collection of birds that perched every few feet on the cliffs. The islands were cool on their own having been carved by the waves leaving interesting rock formations and tunnels burrowing through them. Besides the birds we saw quite a number of sea lions, red crabs, muscles, and even a couple penguins. The whole tour lasted about an hour. I'll make it official it was my favorite part of the whole weekend.
The day started bright and early as we had a strict deadline to get on the bus at 6:50am. We were on our way to catch a boat in Paracas to see the islands, otherwise known as the Peruvian Galapagos. A blue sky and a full nights rest made it much easier to enjoy the activities of the day and even the rotting smell of seaweed on the beach in Paracas could not get me down. Our boat took off towards the islands and about 20 minutes later we were seeing our first animals. A couple dolphins and sharks were swimming out in the ocean and as we got closer to the islands we could see the massive collection of birds that perched every few feet on the cliffs. The islands were cool on their own having been carved by the waves leaving interesting rock formations and tunnels burrowing through them. Besides the birds we saw quite a number of sea lions, red crabs, muscles, and even a couple penguins. The whole tour lasted about an hour. I'll make it official it was my favorite part of the whole weekend.
Next we went to an afro-peruvian music and dance demonstration. It was interesting to me because I had been learning about the racial identity of Peru through our assigned reading and it seemed to me that even in 2016 there were many unresolved racial tension that were not being addressed. For example the only black person I have seen since we arrived was greeting members outside of a casino. Anyway, returning to the moment at hand, we entered through what seemed like a gate to a fairly underdeveloped section of the area outside Paracas. Once we got off the bus we entered a small house where there stood five wood boxes and two drums. An instructor told us the history of afro-peruvians was shared via dance and song. The best part was the demonstration, many members of the community came out and preformed three acts of dancing. One focused on the men drumming, the next on the dancing of the women, and ended with a mix of both featuring a wide range of ages for both men and women. The best part was they showed us how to dance like them too. Nothing quite gets the blood moving like dancing in the morning.
The City of Nazca
5/21/16
I was a bit late getting up this morning because of the events of the night before, but once things got rolling I was probably the most excited to start that Saturday. Breakfast was at the hotel was till 7am after which we got on a bus headed for the famed town of Nazca about two hours away from our hotel in Ica. I swear the farther and farther away we traveled from Lima the more degraded the country seemed to be and by the time we got to Nazca one could definitely tell that this was a place of development. Our first stop was an older spring that was used by the Nazca people for irrigation and as a well to collect water. The underground stream was natural mineral water that came from up in the mountains around Nazca. I have got to say after I tasted the water it had quite the mineral taste but was fresher than many other city taps that I have drunk.
Next was our trip to the first of many Nazca lines. We parked at the base of mountains on the edge of town and hiked up a couple feet to overlook a giant plateau where low and behold laid lines of Nazca. If I sound underwhelmed it is because I was. Now this first stop wasn't the famous animal lines but just a grid and a swirl. Cool but not as exciting as the many icon pictures seemed to encourage. I was more facinated by the giant mountains that surrounded us and I wanted to hike to the top to get the full view. Unfortunately the guide said it was too dangerous and that we had to get going. We made another stop latter to look at the Animal lines which were much harder to see as they stretch out over miles and we only had one 3 story outpost. But one could still see parts of them and it was hard to not get a strong sense of nostalgia for the past and the ancient civilizations that had been there so long ago. Initially the lines had been drawn with giant white stones however the stones were removed later on. One of the saddest things I heard was how the lines had been disturbed. A couple years ago a truck apparently swerved off the road and right into one of the figures, it was repaired but it was obvious where the damage had been done. Additionally the famous hummingbird had been disturbed by the organization Greenpeace who whipped out part of the wing to write their organizations name in the earth.
Probably the most interesting part of the day were two lessons by a potter and a man who worked to collect gold. The potter was first and taught us how in the past jars and pots were made in the distinct form that was common to pottery. She did a demonstration showing how to polish and pain the pots using natural stones and materials. We finished by looking around her shop for gifts to bring back. The gold miner was around the corner and explained the history and process of harvesting gold from the mountains around Peru. It was a little complicated but essentially they break the rocks down to a very fine power, which they then soak into a mud and add mercury. The mercury then separates the real goal from the mud and forms a compound. This compound is collected and is then distilled via heat and cooling to remove the mercury from the gold. The process sounds easy but breaking down and harvesting a large enough sum of gold to make a neckless must take weeks. After the demonstration I bought a little gift for someone a nice pair of 14K gold ear studs.
All of these stops took up most of the day and we returned back to Ica for dinner at 5pm. Almost as tired as we were yesterday many of us retired to our rooms to get ready for the big night out to a Peruvian club The Who. It would have been a great time except I had been so exhausted from the last two days that I left after an hour of dancing.
I was a bit late getting up this morning because of the events of the night before, but once things got rolling I was probably the most excited to start that Saturday. Breakfast was at the hotel was till 7am after which we got on a bus headed for the famed town of Nazca about two hours away from our hotel in Ica. I swear the farther and farther away we traveled from Lima the more degraded the country seemed to be and by the time we got to Nazca one could definitely tell that this was a place of development. Our first stop was an older spring that was used by the Nazca people for irrigation and as a well to collect water. The underground stream was natural mineral water that came from up in the mountains around Nazca. I have got to say after I tasted the water it had quite the mineral taste but was fresher than many other city taps that I have drunk.
Next was our trip to the first of many Nazca lines. We parked at the base of mountains on the edge of town and hiked up a couple feet to overlook a giant plateau where low and behold laid lines of Nazca. If I sound underwhelmed it is because I was. Now this first stop wasn't the famous animal lines but just a grid and a swirl. Cool but not as exciting as the many icon pictures seemed to encourage. I was more facinated by the giant mountains that surrounded us and I wanted to hike to the top to get the full view. Unfortunately the guide said it was too dangerous and that we had to get going. We made another stop latter to look at the Animal lines which were much harder to see as they stretch out over miles and we only had one 3 story outpost. But one could still see parts of them and it was hard to not get a strong sense of nostalgia for the past and the ancient civilizations that had been there so long ago. Initially the lines had been drawn with giant white stones however the stones were removed later on. One of the saddest things I heard was how the lines had been disturbed. A couple years ago a truck apparently swerved off the road and right into one of the figures, it was repaired but it was obvious where the damage had been done. Additionally the famous hummingbird had been disturbed by the organization Greenpeace who whipped out part of the wing to write their organizations name in the earth.
Probably the most interesting part of the day were two lessons by a potter and a man who worked to collect gold. The potter was first and taught us how in the past jars and pots were made in the distinct form that was common to pottery. She did a demonstration showing how to polish and pain the pots using natural stones and materials. We finished by looking around her shop for gifts to bring back. The gold miner was around the corner and explained the history and process of harvesting gold from the mountains around Peru. It was a little complicated but essentially they break the rocks down to a very fine power, which they then soak into a mud and add mercury. The mercury then separates the real goal from the mud and forms a compound. This compound is collected and is then distilled via heat and cooling to remove the mercury from the gold. The process sounds easy but breaking down and harvesting a large enough sum of gold to make a neckless must take weeks. After the demonstration I bought a little gift for someone a nice pair of 14K gold ear studs.
All of these stops took up most of the day and we returned back to Ica for dinner at 5pm. Almost as tired as we were yesterday many of us retired to our rooms to get ready for the big night out to a Peruvian club The Who. It would have been a great time except I had been so exhausted from the last two days that I left after an hour of dancing.
Friday, May 20, 2016
Journey to the City of Ica
5/20/16
It is finally the freak'n weekend and I could not be more excited. One would not have known from my face because I was definitely not smiling at our 5:30am report time. We were up bright and early to catch a bus to Ica, a city about four hours south of Lima surrounded by rolling dunes. The day had a slow start because most of us were sleeping till we arrived at our hotel about 10:30am. However the day quickly picked up as we got to our first adventure.
Our first stop was to the desert dunes that surround Ica. We were all separated into groups of twelve and then placed onto dune buggies. Next the buggies drove us for a wild ride through the desert over massive dunes and sand mountains, a bumpy but awesome ride. I swear I was going to fall out at some point but the adrenaline rush from the speed was so exhilarating I did not even care. After about ten minutes of speeding up and down the dunes we stopped for a photo opportunity overlooking the small oasis town. I could see for miles in front of me over the towns and hills, while behind me was endless sand. The fun wasn't over yet because we packed up the buggies and drove even higher. This time when we got out they gave us sleds and snowboards which we used to slide down dunes at least a hundred feet to the bottom at high speeds. Needless to say it was awesome. By that time it was mid day and the sun was burning. Some of us were already turning red but for me the hardest part was walking in the sand with my sandals. It was hard because after each step the top sand would encase my foot superheating it till it was burning. After two runs we headed back with a couple more dune jumps in the buggie and ending with a relaxing hour exploring the little town near the oasis. It was unfortunate that at this time I noticed my Peruvian phone had gone missing. I didn't let it get me down too much as I still had my Iphone and I knew the phones were cheap, but still, a setback is a setback.
Our next stop for the day was lunch and a tour of the Bodegas Winery. Nothing new to report with lunch except I tried Chicha Morada, a sweet juice made from purple corn. Nothing hit the spot better than that during lunch and they even chilled it for us. The winery was right next door and I found it very interesting to learn how the grape based spirit, Pisco, was made. We have all come to associate Pisco with headaches and a little too much fun. We got to see the giant tubs in which they place and squish the grapes, the vats where the juice is fermented, and the distillery that removes the extra water from the concoxtion to concentrate it. To my disappointment I was not able to find any grapes to eat but our tour ended with a lovely tasting of their wine and Pisco. Now so far on this trip I haven't particularly enjoyed Pisco but the tasting went a lot better that our first night here when Monica invited us to try Pisco Sours. The guide informed us that the proper way to drink Pisco is by sniffing and inhaling the air above it, ingesting it, swishing it around your teeth, swallowing it, and then exhaling. You would be amazed but it actually does help, plus it made my mouth numb so it was harder to taste after the first couple sips. At the end of the day I left with a bottle of red wine, a bottle of rose, and one heck of a headache.
Our last program before the hotel was a short tour of the city. Ica as it turns out is the Salem of Peru. It was founded on the concepts of magic and are many urban legends about the witches that lived in the area. We started out going to the palm tree with seven heads. It is said to be bewitched because the palm bends itself in and out of the ground multiple times so that there are essentially seven different tops. Next we stopped at the witches statue. Attached to a tree was a golden colored statue of a bruja (witch) flying over a courtyard. To her left was a symbol of good magic and to her right a simple of bad magic. The guide told us that if you hug the tree and make a wish and you are in the witches favor it could become true. Finally we stopped at the local catholic church. An immense open walled building that held a couple hundred seats. It was the site of many processions around traditional holidays.
By this point of our day I was ready for a nap having been up since 4:30am. I could hardly get to my bed on the fifth floor of our hotel and once I got in, it was game over. I was awoken by my roommate Carson asking if I wanted to get dinner and get ready for our last activity of the day Karaoke at a local restaurant. Overall the night ended smashingly with everyone joking around and dancing to one another's poorly harmonized singing. I personally killed my voice on "Kissed by a Rose" by Seal and "No Scrubs" by TLC. Even Monica our teacher was having a great time dancing with everyone and it was not till about 1am when things started to die down enough for me to be ready to go home.
It is finally the freak'n weekend and I could not be more excited. One would not have known from my face because I was definitely not smiling at our 5:30am report time. We were up bright and early to catch a bus to Ica, a city about four hours south of Lima surrounded by rolling dunes. The day had a slow start because most of us were sleeping till we arrived at our hotel about 10:30am. However the day quickly picked up as we got to our first adventure.
Our first stop was to the desert dunes that surround Ica. We were all separated into groups of twelve and then placed onto dune buggies. Next the buggies drove us for a wild ride through the desert over massive dunes and sand mountains, a bumpy but awesome ride. I swear I was going to fall out at some point but the adrenaline rush from the speed was so exhilarating I did not even care. After about ten minutes of speeding up and down the dunes we stopped for a photo opportunity overlooking the small oasis town. I could see for miles in front of me over the towns and hills, while behind me was endless sand. The fun wasn't over yet because we packed up the buggies and drove even higher. This time when we got out they gave us sleds and snowboards which we used to slide down dunes at least a hundred feet to the bottom at high speeds. Needless to say it was awesome. By that time it was mid day and the sun was burning. Some of us were already turning red but for me the hardest part was walking in the sand with my sandals. It was hard because after each step the top sand would encase my foot superheating it till it was burning. After two runs we headed back with a couple more dune jumps in the buggie and ending with a relaxing hour exploring the little town near the oasis. It was unfortunate that at this time I noticed my Peruvian phone had gone missing. I didn't let it get me down too much as I still had my Iphone and I knew the phones were cheap, but still, a setback is a setback.
Our next stop for the day was lunch and a tour of the Bodegas Winery. Nothing new to report with lunch except I tried Chicha Morada, a sweet juice made from purple corn. Nothing hit the spot better than that during lunch and they even chilled it for us. The winery was right next door and I found it very interesting to learn how the grape based spirit, Pisco, was made. We have all come to associate Pisco with headaches and a little too much fun. We got to see the giant tubs in which they place and squish the grapes, the vats where the juice is fermented, and the distillery that removes the extra water from the concoxtion to concentrate it. To my disappointment I was not able to find any grapes to eat but our tour ended with a lovely tasting of their wine and Pisco. Now so far on this trip I haven't particularly enjoyed Pisco but the tasting went a lot better that our first night here when Monica invited us to try Pisco Sours. The guide informed us that the proper way to drink Pisco is by sniffing and inhaling the air above it, ingesting it, swishing it around your teeth, swallowing it, and then exhaling. You would be amazed but it actually does help, plus it made my mouth numb so it was harder to taste after the first couple sips. At the end of the day I left with a bottle of red wine, a bottle of rose, and one heck of a headache.
Our last program before the hotel was a short tour of the city. Ica as it turns out is the Salem of Peru. It was founded on the concepts of magic and are many urban legends about the witches that lived in the area. We started out going to the palm tree with seven heads. It is said to be bewitched because the palm bends itself in and out of the ground multiple times so that there are essentially seven different tops. Next we stopped at the witches statue. Attached to a tree was a golden colored statue of a bruja (witch) flying over a courtyard. To her left was a symbol of good magic and to her right a simple of bad magic. The guide told us that if you hug the tree and make a wish and you are in the witches favor it could become true. Finally we stopped at the local catholic church. An immense open walled building that held a couple hundred seats. It was the site of many processions around traditional holidays.
By this point of our day I was ready for a nap having been up since 4:30am. I could hardly get to my bed on the fifth floor of our hotel and once I got in, it was game over. I was awoken by my roommate Carson asking if I wanted to get dinner and get ready for our last activity of the day Karaoke at a local restaurant. Overall the night ended smashingly with everyone joking around and dancing to one another's poorly harmonized singing. I personally killed my voice on "Kissed by a Rose" by Seal and "No Scrubs" by TLC. Even Monica our teacher was having a great time dancing with everyone and it was not till about 1am when things started to die down enough for me to be ready to go home.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Pachacamac and the Temple of the Sun
5/19/16
When I read we were going to Pachacamac today I had no clue what to expect. I wasn't sure how to pronounce the name let alone have any clue what the place we were going to would look like. Upon arrival we pulled into a small parking lot in front of a museum among hills of dirt and mud. In the distance I could just make out the first ruins we had gotten to seen so far in the shape of a giant pyramid. We started the tour going through the museum where we were informed of the many different native cultures that worked to build the structures and how far back each archaeological location and temple could be dated. This particular collection of temples was built over many centuries by different cultures who controlled the area including the most well known, the Inca. The area was called Pachacamac after the god of the same name. He was credited for creating the universe. Many artifacts had been found during the excavation process including over 200 pieces of pottery and textiles.
We spent the second portion of the tour exploring the ruins looking at the old temple, the newer temples from the inca, and the over institutions that were created to worship other gods. We walked through the main road that was used to connect the temple to the neighboring cities where individuals must have walked in the past. As we approached the biggest pyramid, El Tiemplo del Sol, I could see some of the original coloring, a rusted red paint that was been chipping away but was still on most of the standing walls. While we were guided around the top it was easy to recognize why so many had seen this as a place of importance. From the top of the mound I could see in every direction including out to sea which wasn't more than a couple miles away. The world looked insignificant from a top the pyramid.
When I read we were going to Pachacamac today I had no clue what to expect. I wasn't sure how to pronounce the name let alone have any clue what the place we were going to would look like. Upon arrival we pulled into a small parking lot in front of a museum among hills of dirt and mud. In the distance I could just make out the first ruins we had gotten to seen so far in the shape of a giant pyramid. We started the tour going through the museum where we were informed of the many different native cultures that worked to build the structures and how far back each archaeological location and temple could be dated. This particular collection of temples was built over many centuries by different cultures who controlled the area including the most well known, the Inca. The area was called Pachacamac after the god of the same name. He was credited for creating the universe. Many artifacts had been found during the excavation process including over 200 pieces of pottery and textiles.
We spent the second portion of the tour exploring the ruins looking at the old temple, the newer temples from the inca, and the over institutions that were created to worship other gods. We walked through the main road that was used to connect the temple to the neighboring cities where individuals must have walked in the past. As we approached the biggest pyramid, El Tiemplo del Sol, I could see some of the original coloring, a rusted red paint that was been chipping away but was still on most of the standing walls. While we were guided around the top it was easy to recognize why so many had seen this as a place of importance. From the top of the mound I could see in every direction including out to sea which wasn't more than a couple miles away. The world looked insignificant from a top the pyramid.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
La Plaza Mayor and The Buildings that Make It
5/18/16
Today was quite the big day for multiple reasons. Not only did I end up changing my Spanish class to one level up but also the tours we went on consisted of two of the biggest building in the historic district of Lima. Overall we started the day in class as usual with our break down of grammar, conversations, and then culture class. My favorite part of school is usually the conversations because we get to just talk about the different parts of our lives and I feel like I'm learning about my other classmates. We also get to talk with the professora and today my new professora gave me a new recommendation for lunch spot with some amazing Peruvian sandwiches and cakes. After class Gaby and I went on a hunt for San Antonio Paneria (Bakery) and together we found it but were in such a rush to get back to the bus we only had time to try one thing, a delicious puff pastry. No worries though, I'll be sure to go back especially on the days when we have to find our own lunch.
The afternoon flew by quick with three different tours of different national buildings and museums in the city centre of Lima. We started in the Capitol building looking at some presentations of art and getting to sit in the senate chambers. The room was enormous with all an air of regality. The room was once the center of business for the viceroyalties of old. It was explained to us how many of Peru's most important legislation was signed on those very floors. One of the most artistic parts of each room was the glasswork on the ceiling illuminating everyone under a stained glass portrait of Peru's emblem or an angel.
After the government building we snaked our way through the city to El Museo Afroperuano, which works to educate the public of the history of Africans in Peru. Mostly brought by the slave trade blacks had and still have a hard time being recognized as equals to the european, and now peruvian, majority. For example a single drop of African blood in ones family history effectively degrades one to a lower class citizen. However while they may have been forced to work as slaves, this specific class still managed to develop a their own forms of culture, individualized music, instruments, dances and beliefs.
The last place we visited was La Iglesia de San Francisco (Church of Saint Francis). A giant cathedral right off of the Plaza Mayor which appropriately demonstrated the wealth and influence of the church in Lima. Each room in the church contained hundreds of year old artifacts and mounted walls of art depicting major points in the religious time line. The building was designed with massive arch ways and domed ceilings so large that the guide noted there was a bat problem. My favorite portion was the catacombs, once a place of burial for early Lima, now is filled with hundreds of bones from upwards of two thousand individuals of all levels of wealth and power. Extending underneath the base of the church the low ceilings and the piles of organized bones really gave off the macabre feeling of being stuck in a crypt.
Today was quite the big day for multiple reasons. Not only did I end up changing my Spanish class to one level up but also the tours we went on consisted of two of the biggest building in the historic district of Lima. Overall we started the day in class as usual with our break down of grammar, conversations, and then culture class. My favorite part of school is usually the conversations because we get to just talk about the different parts of our lives and I feel like I'm learning about my other classmates. We also get to talk with the professora and today my new professora gave me a new recommendation for lunch spot with some amazing Peruvian sandwiches and cakes. After class Gaby and I went on a hunt for San Antonio Paneria (Bakery) and together we found it but were in such a rush to get back to the bus we only had time to try one thing, a delicious puff pastry. No worries though, I'll be sure to go back especially on the days when we have to find our own lunch.
The afternoon flew by quick with three different tours of different national buildings and museums in the city centre of Lima. We started in the Capitol building looking at some presentations of art and getting to sit in the senate chambers. The room was enormous with all an air of regality. The room was once the center of business for the viceroyalties of old. It was explained to us how many of Peru's most important legislation was signed on those very floors. One of the most artistic parts of each room was the glasswork on the ceiling illuminating everyone under a stained glass portrait of Peru's emblem or an angel.
After the government building we snaked our way through the city to El Museo Afroperuano, which works to educate the public of the history of Africans in Peru. Mostly brought by the slave trade blacks had and still have a hard time being recognized as equals to the european, and now peruvian, majority. For example a single drop of African blood in ones family history effectively degrades one to a lower class citizen. However while they may have been forced to work as slaves, this specific class still managed to develop a their own forms of culture, individualized music, instruments, dances and beliefs.
The last place we visited was La Iglesia de San Francisco (Church of Saint Francis). A giant cathedral right off of the Plaza Mayor which appropriately demonstrated the wealth and influence of the church in Lima. Each room in the church contained hundreds of year old artifacts and mounted walls of art depicting major points in the religious time line. The building was designed with massive arch ways and domed ceilings so large that the guide noted there was a bat problem. My favorite portion was the catacombs, once a place of burial for early Lima, now is filled with hundreds of bones from upwards of two thousand individuals of all levels of wealth and power. Extending underneath the base of the church the low ceilings and the piles of organized bones really gave off the macabre feeling of being stuck in a crypt.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
El Museo de Arqueologia and El Circuito Magico del Agua
5/17/16
Another day in the amazing Miraflores. Today was especially great because the sun was out for what felt like the first time since we got here. The morning started out fine with breakfast from my lovely host mother Nora. I'm not sure what I would do without her as she did a better job than my alarm clock at making sure I got to school on time. Classes were pretty standard with doing more work on the preterit infinitive tense. I have to say that my favorite part of school is really the conversation part where we practice talking and get to learn about each other.
We spent the afternoon in two places. First we went to the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia, a museum dedicated to the early cultures and structures of the western coast of South America. For example many people associate Peru with the Inca however in doing so they are neglecting almost 15 other cultures that came before which laid the groundwork for the Inca to be so successful. One of the earliest was the Chavín, a now extinct culture that built one of the most archeologically rich areas in Peru. Today at the top of the ruins there exists a temple that has a collection of underground corridors and rooms beneath it. Inside one of the rooms is a giant pillar dedicated to the gods and the different worlds of their beliefs. The museum had a host of other artifacts and replicas of several villages, textiles, pottery, jewelry, and other forms of culture all the way up into the arrival of the Spaniards.
We finished the day touring and enjoying the fountain show at el Circuito Magico del Agua. A park filled with fantastic fountains that were both entertaining and refreshing. The space was huge filled with no less than 12 fountains of enormous size and design. We probably spent the most time playing around one that looked like a maze where water would shoot up through grates to create moving walls and would change in a split second. The night ended with the most amazing light show projected on to a fine mist produced by what felt like a hundred different water jets. It was quite the show of national pride and entertainment starting with the Peruvian emblem to a collection of laser drawings depicting Peru and their founding cultures. If this paragraph still hasn't convinced you how amazing the park was let some photos make it easier. I'll finish with a quote from one of my fellow students "This is way better than the Bellagio."
Another day in the amazing Miraflores. Today was especially great because the sun was out for what felt like the first time since we got here. The morning started out fine with breakfast from my lovely host mother Nora. I'm not sure what I would do without her as she did a better job than my alarm clock at making sure I got to school on time. Classes were pretty standard with doing more work on the preterit infinitive tense. I have to say that my favorite part of school is really the conversation part where we practice talking and get to learn about each other.
We spent the afternoon in two places. First we went to the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia, a museum dedicated to the early cultures and structures of the western coast of South America. For example many people associate Peru with the Inca however in doing so they are neglecting almost 15 other cultures that came before which laid the groundwork for the Inca to be so successful. One of the earliest was the Chavín, a now extinct culture that built one of the most archeologically rich areas in Peru. Today at the top of the ruins there exists a temple that has a collection of underground corridors and rooms beneath it. Inside one of the rooms is a giant pillar dedicated to the gods and the different worlds of their beliefs. The museum had a host of other artifacts and replicas of several villages, textiles, pottery, jewelry, and other forms of culture all the way up into the arrival of the Spaniards.
We finished the day touring and enjoying the fountain show at el Circuito Magico del Agua. A park filled with fantastic fountains that were both entertaining and refreshing. The space was huge filled with no less than 12 fountains of enormous size and design. We probably spent the most time playing around one that looked like a maze where water would shoot up through grates to create moving walls and would change in a split second. The night ended with the most amazing light show projected on to a fine mist produced by what felt like a hundred different water jets. It was quite the show of national pride and entertainment starting with the Peruvian emblem to a collection of laser drawings depicting Peru and their founding cultures. If this paragraph still hasn't convinced you how amazing the park was let some photos make it easier. I'll finish with a quote from one of my fellow students "This is way better than the Bellagio."
Monday, May 16, 2016
The first day of school and El Museo de Ricardo Palma
5/16/16
Today was our first day in classes at El Sol Escuela de Español. They specializes in teaching Spanish to travelers and those maintaining temporary residency in Lima. I started the day dodging cars on a bike I rented making my way to school down one of the busier main streets here Avenida Benavides. In truth it is not too much more difficult than in Boston but there is the added risk of distraction from the few of beautiful parks that I have to pass along the way. School started at nine o'clock with a grammar section for two hours, followed by a hour of conversation practice and topped off by an hour of cultural education on the history of Peru. I'm so excited to be taking classes here because it is the style of teaching I respond to most. There were about four students total in my class and our professoras for both classes were very patient and helpful in making sure we were all able to follow along and be part of the class. I can not wait to see how well my Spanish will improve in the incoming weeks.
In the afternoon we spent a good portion of the day touring El Museo de Ricardo Palma (The Museum of Ricard Palma). The museum was created out of his last residence after his death in Miraflores and showed a large collection of his works and the style of housing in the early 19th century. The house was a structure of multiple rooms all around a central patio where a single tree grew straight up to the roof. We started by watching a twenty minute video summarizing his life in the context of a fledgling nation trying to stabilize its government. We learned that many of Palma's works reflected the times in Peru and Lima and were a kind of social commentary on the state of life here. The house contained all the essential parts of living quarters including a bathroom, a bedroom, a kitchen, a study, and a grand dinning room. While Palma is best known for his books I think my favorite thing in the museum was his death mask which was on display in the center of one of the rooms. The mask was surrounded by a collection of drawings depicting the dark times of Lima's inquisition and was bellow to a clock that supposedly stopped at the time of Palma's death. I can say with certainty that collection of macabre objects in that room definitely perked my interest.
It has been quite the interesting if not tiring day overall but it is far from over. As I'm writing this my host mother, Nora, is cooking another one of the best meals I have had while I am here. I will have to eat quick too because right after I will be meeting the rest of our group for a night tour of Miraflores.
Today was our first day in classes at El Sol Escuela de Español. They specializes in teaching Spanish to travelers and those maintaining temporary residency in Lima. I started the day dodging cars on a bike I rented making my way to school down one of the busier main streets here Avenida Benavides. In truth it is not too much more difficult than in Boston but there is the added risk of distraction from the few of beautiful parks that I have to pass along the way. School started at nine o'clock with a grammar section for two hours, followed by a hour of conversation practice and topped off by an hour of cultural education on the history of Peru. I'm so excited to be taking classes here because it is the style of teaching I respond to most. There were about four students total in my class and our professoras for both classes were very patient and helpful in making sure we were all able to follow along and be part of the class. I can not wait to see how well my Spanish will improve in the incoming weeks.
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| First Day of Class! |
In the afternoon we spent a good portion of the day touring El Museo de Ricardo Palma (The Museum of Ricard Palma). The museum was created out of his last residence after his death in Miraflores and showed a large collection of his works and the style of housing in the early 19th century. The house was a structure of multiple rooms all around a central patio where a single tree grew straight up to the roof. We started by watching a twenty minute video summarizing his life in the context of a fledgling nation trying to stabilize its government. We learned that many of Palma's works reflected the times in Peru and Lima and were a kind of social commentary on the state of life here. The house contained all the essential parts of living quarters including a bathroom, a bedroom, a kitchen, a study, and a grand dinning room. While Palma is best known for his books I think my favorite thing in the museum was his death mask which was on display in the center of one of the rooms. The mask was surrounded by a collection of drawings depicting the dark times of Lima's inquisition and was bellow to a clock that supposedly stopped at the time of Palma's death. I can say with certainty that collection of macabre objects in that room definitely perked my interest.
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| Ricard Palmas Desk |
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| The magic tree |
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| A bouquet made of Shells |
It has been quite the interesting if not tiring day overall but it is far from over. As I'm writing this my host mother, Nora, is cooking another one of the best meals I have had while I am here. I will have to eat quick too because right after I will be meeting the rest of our group for a night tour of Miraflores.
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