Sunday April 17th, 2011
This morning I woke up to go to Mass at the church to which my host family goes, Catholic and less than three blocks away.
-for the record when I say that my family goes to this church it does not mean that they sit in mass for an hour each Sunday (or Saturday or various days of the week in the evening that mass is held). They are a Catholic family, as almost each Peruvian family is, that do not attend each week. This is a fairly normal practice. For instance my previous host family, though shocked that I had never been baptized, never once attended church even as we passed through the holiday season. My current host family does go with more frequency, more so when there are important religious events happening.-
This Sunday is an important religious day because it's the Sunday before Easter, Palm Sunday!
Today is celebrated because it is the day that Jesus returned after being in the desert for 40 days. When he returns he is showered with palms in celebration.
Today at this church (and I would make an educated guess that at almost all others) merchants were selling hand made plants which had been folded into crosses and other designs- made of palm and containing olive branches and some with carnations. These plants represent parts of the Easter celebration which is Semana Santa = Holy Week here. Each important event of Jesus' Crucifixion is celebrated since this is considered the most important part of his life- and he is greatly admired here.
The palm represents his return from the desert. The olive his arrest and that proceeding since he was arrested in an olive grove. And the carnation represents his rebirth on Easter Sunday (which I searched to make sure and I found that it is literally written into the bible that the flowering of the Carnation represents the resurrection of Jesus).
Outside of the church we bought our plants (for one sole, the equivalent of about 35 cents) and went inside for Mass. After the opening we were all ushered outside, each person with their plant arrangement. Here the father took holy water and splashed it all over us-the small crowed of people holding these plants over our heads waiting to be blessed. The plant collection, after being dashed with the holy water (along with us) is blessed, and later kept in the house to bring good blessings to the household and those who live inside.
Then we returned back inside to hear the rest of the mass, which includes many songs, some readings in which we read back a phrase or two as a congregation, listening to the father speak and last, Communion.
In this Mass, as it opens the Holy Week that is Easter, all of the parts of Jesus' story were reviewed. They spoke of his return, his arrest, the decision of the city to crucify him, his Crucifixion and his rebirth. They announced as well that each day there would be Mass, and confessional open all week until late in the evening to accommodate all schedules. And that on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday the specific Masses would celebrate the important occurrences of that day: the last supper, his Crucifixion, his burial, and his Resurrection.
I thought the process which they do to celebrate Jesus' return and this Holy Week is pretty neat. I am going to be attending all of the Masses, those held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (which are religious holidays for everyone- so most people take advantage of this week or long weekend to travel, go camping that sort of thing). I won't be doing anything special so I am going to make sure I get to experience this important religious event!
It is important as a part of this religion and in so a big part of this culture as Catholicism is a big part of Latin America and even more so are celebrated Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
This will be an interesting and very distinct Easter for me this year!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Someone's Bittersweet Return
In my current house hold I have a host brother, who I have not met because he is on exchange in the United States...
Though that changes today.
This Tuesday evening my host brother will be returning to Lima from Michigan. He is actually the third Peruvian exchange student to be sent home (though one of the three was later revised and seen to have been preemptive). But he is being sent home for having a girlfriend in the US-which goes against the no dating rules that Rotary defines for a reason. It makes it so much harder to say goodbye, which is funny because now he has to deal with that only much worse because he has to say it about three months early (obviously I should mention the no dating rule also protects from other problems on exchange like pregnancy and alienation from other people-only spending time with your partner it's not to your best advantage, ect).
It's sad to see kids get sent home because no one ever wants to leave and it makes the homecoming bittersweet. Of course everyone is happy to be back home, but not in that fashion and not at that time point. Plus it leaves all the extra time that they should have been on exchange extra and empty.
What this means for me is that today I get a host brother.
I must say I am nervous about it because I had already settled into the concept of my family with him out of the picture. And as a factor of the size of our apartment and his completely free schedule there will be a lot of time sorta thrown together. Hopefully we get along and that his return home goes smoothly. Being back at this point could be rough.
So this evening when his plane comes in, I have a new family dynamic to adjust to and a new brother to meet
Though that changes today.
This Tuesday evening my host brother will be returning to Lima from Michigan. He is actually the third Peruvian exchange student to be sent home (though one of the three was later revised and seen to have been preemptive). But he is being sent home for having a girlfriend in the US-which goes against the no dating rules that Rotary defines for a reason. It makes it so much harder to say goodbye, which is funny because now he has to deal with that only much worse because he has to say it about three months early (obviously I should mention the no dating rule also protects from other problems on exchange like pregnancy and alienation from other people-only spending time with your partner it's not to your best advantage, ect).
It's sad to see kids get sent home because no one ever wants to leave and it makes the homecoming bittersweet. Of course everyone is happy to be back home, but not in that fashion and not at that time point. Plus it leaves all the extra time that they should have been on exchange extra and empty.
What this means for me is that today I get a host brother.
I must say I am nervous about it because I had already settled into the concept of my family with him out of the picture. And as a factor of the size of our apartment and his completely free schedule there will be a lot of time sorta thrown together. Hopefully we get along and that his return home goes smoothly. Being back at this point could be rough.
So this evening when his plane comes in, I have a new family dynamic to adjust to and a new brother to meet
Saturday, March 26, 2011
What is new in Thinking these days
As the frenzied season of college hunting approaches for me, I am finding it harder and harder to pin point what I want to study and where.
I have many interests, though I am not sure if any of them I want to pursue an entire life time in.
I have never thought of myself as a particularly adventurous person, I like what is familiar and known, I like hanging around the house and seeing good friends I know well. And I was always confident that by the time I got to college I would choose one of the things I was really interested in and get myself educated in it. The most traditional of paths, high school, college, undergraduate work, internships, career jobs. Knowing that I would enjoy working hard to be successful at whatever it was I had chosen.
Because I have always loved working hard to be the best I can be.
But now, after this experience of exchange, I just don't know what I want. That pursuit just seems too easy, as though I am denying the part of me which has yet to decide what one calling I really want, the part of me which urges me to see everything and experience it all before I decide anything for keeps.
Now I long for what is new, to explore and create my own world inside of the new one I am exploring, finding my own corner in something new and different.
In this way exchange has altered my current mind set, my elementary desires.
What I don't know is how I will appease this desire, this need for new. Or how long into my lifestyle it will control my decisions.
We will just have to wait and see what sort of path I can beat into the brush to see where I am headed and how I apply this new focus in my life to the one I already have!
I have many interests, though I am not sure if any of them I want to pursue an entire life time in.
I have never thought of myself as a particularly adventurous person, I like what is familiar and known, I like hanging around the house and seeing good friends I know well. And I was always confident that by the time I got to college I would choose one of the things I was really interested in and get myself educated in it. The most traditional of paths, high school, college, undergraduate work, internships, career jobs. Knowing that I would enjoy working hard to be successful at whatever it was I had chosen.
Because I have always loved working hard to be the best I can be.
But now, after this experience of exchange, I just don't know what I want. That pursuit just seems too easy, as though I am denying the part of me which has yet to decide what one calling I really want, the part of me which urges me to see everything and experience it all before I decide anything for keeps.
Now I long for what is new, to explore and create my own world inside of the new one I am exploring, finding my own corner in something new and different.
In this way exchange has altered my current mind set, my elementary desires.
What I don't know is how I will appease this desire, this need for new. Or how long into my lifestyle it will control my decisions.
We will just have to wait and see what sort of path I can beat into the brush to see where I am headed and how I apply this new focus in my life to the one I already have!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Some Insight
There are many things that are unique to youth exchange, just like there are lots of experiences and growth that you go through because you are figuring out life more independently and in a foreign country. Things feel different because they are different.
Personally one of the biggest changes from the beginning between living in Portland, Oregon and Lima, Peru was not the language or the food differences or being away from family.
The hardest thing for me to get used to was the concept of being an outsider.
The strangest feeling that I had to get used to was that of being observed.
And it was such a strange thing to accustom to because you are the foreigner, living in a new world. Your job is to soak up everything around you and live this new life by observation. The tips you are literally given before going on exchange are to watch everyone else; if you are not sure which fork to use watch everyone else, how and who do you greet, follow someoneelse's lead.
And let me say that I followed this to the T. Having a host sister was incredibly great for that in my first weeks.
But this just makes it even stranger. You are observing EVERYTHING because it is exciting and new and you are dieing to see it all and experience everything. You observe to understand the life. But these observations are best taken when you blend in, to see the world in its truly natural, neutral environment (with no reactions to you). Which suddenly becomes impossible because you show up on everyone's radar as something foreign.
I am not sure if I am getting this understanding across so I will drag in some visual. In the movie Inception (which I am really just gonna assume everyone has seen because let's face it, almost everyone not living under a mountain has) when the young girl (also known as Ellen Page) is introduced to the dream world architecture they go on a stroll, Ellen Page manipulating the dream worlds structure. There is a point during this in which Leonardo DiCaprio tells her that she has to cool her jets and stop messing with the world so much because all the people walking around will realize that she is not one of them, someone who is unwelcome in his subconscious.
Well- right before the dream people start attacking her, they all begin to turn and stare transfixed. This naked stare is pretty much how I felt, me stepping in for Ellen Page.
It feels like the entire world is just staring at you, unabashed, as you walk around. It is really strange after coming from a place where you are an everyday citizen and no one looks twice to consider your presence. Mix in that you are trying to observe everyone else but they continue to observe you, and it's a real game changer.
For me at the beginning when all the change was fresh and everything was more difficult, this was a big deal. It has some to do with the idea that it's a constant notion reminding you that you are not anywhere that you started (you don't know this place and they don't know you, in the original game plan you did not belong here)-that you are not home. A lot to do with the feeling that you do not belong, it is much more difficult to blend in when a) you are much taller than the average population b) you are much whiter than the average population c) you dress in a distinct manner than the average population and then you have everything else when you begin interacting with people, language accent, mannerisms, interpretations, experiences, knowledge. All of this attracts quite a lot of attention to which I was not accustomed to receiving. Nor was I ready for, I was all set on going abroad and exploring and observing and figuring out life here by seeing it all happening and then jumping in and trying to work it out after taking constant mental notes and images. Instead there is no slip in nice and easy with out turning any heads.
Life as an exchange student is about making the splash when you hit the water.
This was hard to get used to. I am not used to nor am I fond of extra attention. Yelling on the bus for them to stop at the next corner and having ten heads swivel to stare at me was simply a lot to get used to. On a few occasions I would get off a few blocks early or late to avoid the sight seeing if I was just not feeling confident.
A whole other aspect about this is another kind of attention which I got for being a young white woman. I am talking about whistles and cat calls and random 'hellos' on the street. This on top of the subtly phsycological push of standing out made things tougher to get used to quicker. Now I am used to it, but it invokes many complaints from us exchange student ladies.
What I am trying to communicate is that going from being the observer to the observed was a unique experience that I went through (and continue to adjust to in new situations) on youth exchange.
And that this switch from the person doing all the observing to the person under constant observation is a very weird feeling to get used to. As though all the rules to the game you are playing suddenly got changed with out your consult.
But ofcours when you are on exchange you always end up winning in some way near the end
Personally one of the biggest changes from the beginning between living in Portland, Oregon and Lima, Peru was not the language or the food differences or being away from family.
The hardest thing for me to get used to was the concept of being an outsider.
The strangest feeling that I had to get used to was that of being observed.
And it was such a strange thing to accustom to because you are the foreigner, living in a new world. Your job is to soak up everything around you and live this new life by observation. The tips you are literally given before going on exchange are to watch everyone else; if you are not sure which fork to use watch everyone else, how and who do you greet, follow someoneelse's lead.
And let me say that I followed this to the T. Having a host sister was incredibly great for that in my first weeks.
But this just makes it even stranger. You are observing EVERYTHING because it is exciting and new and you are dieing to see it all and experience everything. You observe to understand the life. But these observations are best taken when you blend in, to see the world in its truly natural, neutral environment (with no reactions to you). Which suddenly becomes impossible because you show up on everyone's radar as something foreign.
I am not sure if I am getting this understanding across so I will drag in some visual. In the movie Inception (which I am really just gonna assume everyone has seen because let's face it, almost everyone not living under a mountain has) when the young girl (also known as Ellen Page) is introduced to the dream world architecture they go on a stroll, Ellen Page manipulating the dream worlds structure. There is a point during this in which Leonardo DiCaprio tells her that she has to cool her jets and stop messing with the world so much because all the people walking around will realize that she is not one of them, someone who is unwelcome in his subconscious.
Well- right before the dream people start attacking her, they all begin to turn and stare transfixed. This naked stare is pretty much how I felt, me stepping in for Ellen Page.
It feels like the entire world is just staring at you, unabashed, as you walk around. It is really strange after coming from a place where you are an everyday citizen and no one looks twice to consider your presence. Mix in that you are trying to observe everyone else but they continue to observe you, and it's a real game changer.
For me at the beginning when all the change was fresh and everything was more difficult, this was a big deal. It has some to do with the idea that it's a constant notion reminding you that you are not anywhere that you started (you don't know this place and they don't know you, in the original game plan you did not belong here)-that you are not home. A lot to do with the feeling that you do not belong, it is much more difficult to blend in when a) you are much taller than the average population b) you are much whiter than the average population c) you dress in a distinct manner than the average population and then you have everything else when you begin interacting with people, language accent, mannerisms, interpretations, experiences, knowledge. All of this attracts quite a lot of attention to which I was not accustomed to receiving. Nor was I ready for, I was all set on going abroad and exploring and observing and figuring out life here by seeing it all happening and then jumping in and trying to work it out after taking constant mental notes and images. Instead there is no slip in nice and easy with out turning any heads.
Life as an exchange student is about making the splash when you hit the water.
This was hard to get used to. I am not used to nor am I fond of extra attention. Yelling on the bus for them to stop at the next corner and having ten heads swivel to stare at me was simply a lot to get used to. On a few occasions I would get off a few blocks early or late to avoid the sight seeing if I was just not feeling confident.
A whole other aspect about this is another kind of attention which I got for being a young white woman. I am talking about whistles and cat calls and random 'hellos' on the street. This on top of the subtly phsycological push of standing out made things tougher to get used to quicker. Now I am used to it, but it invokes many complaints from us exchange student ladies.
What I am trying to communicate is that going from being the observer to the observed was a unique experience that I went through (and continue to adjust to in new situations) on youth exchange.
And that this switch from the person doing all the observing to the person under constant observation is a very weird feeling to get used to. As though all the rules to the game you are playing suddenly got changed with out your consult.
But ofcours when you are on exchange you always end up winning in some way near the end
Friday, March 18, 2011
House Switch
As we all know when in Rotary Youth Exchange, one does not stay with the same family the entire year.
Really we are supposed to switch houses every three months.
In Lima you are supposed to switch houses once, half way through the year in January
When did I switch? February 28th- my seven month anniversary in fact
Why did I switch so late? Really there is no exact answer, we did not figure out our swap (because I was swapping families with another exchange student who lived close by) in the first week of January. Then I was traveling. Then the exchange students together were traveling. Then we were in February. There was some resistance or complication as the the other side looked for someone else to change to. Two eventful weeks passed with out any communication between the two families, then I was traveling. By the time I got back the girl I was swapping with was traveling. Leaving our switch at last being the end of February.
All this business of switching houses was a huge controversy in the exchange student environment. honestly, serious business. There were people who had heard awful things about the house they were destined to be going to, there were kids who plain out did not want to move because they loved their host family, there were those who wanted to rearrange the who is changing with who to see a new neighborhood of Lima, there were people dragging their feet, there were phone calls from the district governor and there were threats of being sent home. Really the business of who is changing with whom and have they switched yet was radical.
I was looking forward to a new perspective of family living in Lima! A bit anxious about starting over in another household, but I had met the family before and knew they were nice people and where they lived.
Of all the scandal and chatter that took place because of these switches, what I wish someone had told me was how long it took them to pack! The day I moved all morning I spent packing and all afternoon I spent unpacking (considering that I moved about ten minutes away). I had not realized how much I had acquired in seven months! Granted it is seven months of my life which are unique and in another country with lots of new things, but still there is a lot to be packed when I am returning home and things could get messy!
Most importantly of all this random mess of information is that I LOVE my new host family. They are incredibly considerate and attentive of me. I feel comfortable and happy here. I live with a single mom whose only son is on exchange right now. She works as a lawyer and her mom comes and stays here during the week, cooking and working among over things. My host grandparents are from Huacho, a small small city North of Lima about three hours away in bus. I really love where they live, they have lots of animals: a mean alpaca who wants to bite me, a big friendly dog, ducks, parrots, turtles, rabbits and more all in a green yard with two hammocks hanging in the front. It is a really nice escape to relaxation and 'wild life' of animals and plants after the hustle and bustle of Lima. Being apart of this family I get to experience that as part of my home with my host grandparents, mom and aunt who is a lot of fun.
I am doing very well and everything is going incredible!
Really we are supposed to switch houses every three months.
In Lima you are supposed to switch houses once, half way through the year in January
When did I switch? February 28th- my seven month anniversary in fact
Why did I switch so late? Really there is no exact answer, we did not figure out our swap (because I was swapping families with another exchange student who lived close by) in the first week of January. Then I was traveling. Then the exchange students together were traveling. Then we were in February. There was some resistance or complication as the the other side looked for someone else to change to. Two eventful weeks passed with out any communication between the two families, then I was traveling. By the time I got back the girl I was swapping with was traveling. Leaving our switch at last being the end of February.
All this business of switching houses was a huge controversy in the exchange student environment. honestly, serious business. There were people who had heard awful things about the house they were destined to be going to, there were kids who plain out did not want to move because they loved their host family, there were those who wanted to rearrange the who is changing with who to see a new neighborhood of Lima, there were people dragging their feet, there were phone calls from the district governor and there were threats of being sent home. Really the business of who is changing with whom and have they switched yet was radical.
I was looking forward to a new perspective of family living in Lima! A bit anxious about starting over in another household, but I had met the family before and knew they were nice people and where they lived.
Of all the scandal and chatter that took place because of these switches, what I wish someone had told me was how long it took them to pack! The day I moved all morning I spent packing and all afternoon I spent unpacking (considering that I moved about ten minutes away). I had not realized how much I had acquired in seven months! Granted it is seven months of my life which are unique and in another country with lots of new things, but still there is a lot to be packed when I am returning home and things could get messy!
Most importantly of all this random mess of information is that I LOVE my new host family. They are incredibly considerate and attentive of me. I feel comfortable and happy here. I live with a single mom whose only son is on exchange right now. She works as a lawyer and her mom comes and stays here during the week, cooking and working among over things. My host grandparents are from Huacho, a small small city North of Lima about three hours away in bus. I really love where they live, they have lots of animals: a mean alpaca who wants to bite me, a big friendly dog, ducks, parrots, turtles, rabbits and more all in a green yard with two hammocks hanging in the front. It is a really nice escape to relaxation and 'wild life' of animals and plants after the hustle and bustle of Lima. Being apart of this family I get to experience that as part of my home with my host grandparents, mom and aunt who is a lot of fun.
I am doing very well and everything is going incredible!
Dance Class
March 16th, 2011
I had a dance recital! My first and only in lovely Peru and dancing traditional dances of course!
I signed up (with a friend) for these dance classes after seeing my friend's dance recital after her course of dance. The way the program works is you pick your schedule which includes two dances which you learn once a week for three hours (12-3pm for me on Saturdays). You take these dance classes for about two and a half months up until your performance where you go on with your class and dance in front of a packed audience in traditional (beautiful) wardrobe which they supply you with.
My class was for Marinera, the dance of Peru which is a beautiful partner dance which has the theme of falling in love as the woman flirts and dances about. It is really incredible when seeing two great dancers perform. It is characterized by the woman in a long and full skirt which is held in one hand and waved and turned about for specific moves and a handkerchief in the other. The men hold hats and handkerchiefs while wearing a more traditional pants and shirt duo. The women dance barefoot and with their hair back in buns, with flowers in their hair, and black chokers adorned with gold pieces on their ears.
Dancing the Marinera has much to do with form and confidence. You are dancing but you are simultaneously holding yourself still, retaining your structured stance. The most difficult part is dealing with the skirt which has to be held and lifted and twirled all while dancing. It is a lot of fun and very pretty, personally it was lots of fun because there is a certain air about the dance that you get to embody.
The other dance of the two was Huaylarsh which is a dance typical of the Sierra. This dance has much more jumping, movement and stomping. Really it is a combination of stomping and jumping and gets to be exhausting when practicing over and over again. it is also lots of fun because it is as I just said jumping and stomping! Our costume included two skirts which have these incredible embroidered work all over them, brightly colored flowers and birds covering each space (I am considering buying one for everyday use back in the states, they are just so colorful and incredible). So two of these awesome skirts, then another which is a see through sort of heavy knit which you are always holding in your hands and moving about during the dance. Then comes a black shirt which covers part of the skirts. On top of that is a colorful waisted belt. Then embroidered sleeves, a hat and the last touch being a shawl sort of cloth which also has heavily embroidered images of flowers, hummingbirds, parrots or peacocks fastened to the chest. This is a very layered wardrobe, to match what is typical in the mountains- very warm and very brightly colored!
I really enjoyed the two dances, though I definitely had a preference towards the Marinera which is why I chose to continue it by taking it at University as well. The performance was really very fun, we did not do as well as we had practiced if I get the video in April like I've been promised and you see our performance, but I had a great time. Getting to use the costume was a highlight. My current host mom and grandma came to watch and two friends as well. Being on the performing side of the show was great :)
I am coming back with a Marinera skirt and blouse because I bought them for practice, which is neat because I can bring back the costume and some dance to go with it!
I had a dance recital! My first and only in lovely Peru and dancing traditional dances of course!
I signed up (with a friend) for these dance classes after seeing my friend's dance recital after her course of dance. The way the program works is you pick your schedule which includes two dances which you learn once a week for three hours (12-3pm for me on Saturdays). You take these dance classes for about two and a half months up until your performance where you go on with your class and dance in front of a packed audience in traditional (beautiful) wardrobe which they supply you with.
My class was for Marinera, the dance of Peru which is a beautiful partner dance which has the theme of falling in love as the woman flirts and dances about. It is really incredible when seeing two great dancers perform. It is characterized by the woman in a long and full skirt which is held in one hand and waved and turned about for specific moves and a handkerchief in the other. The men hold hats and handkerchiefs while wearing a more traditional pants and shirt duo. The women dance barefoot and with their hair back in buns, with flowers in their hair, and black chokers adorned with gold pieces on their ears.
Dancing the Marinera has much to do with form and confidence. You are dancing but you are simultaneously holding yourself still, retaining your structured stance. The most difficult part is dealing with the skirt which has to be held and lifted and twirled all while dancing. It is a lot of fun and very pretty, personally it was lots of fun because there is a certain air about the dance that you get to embody.
The other dance of the two was Huaylarsh which is a dance typical of the Sierra. This dance has much more jumping, movement and stomping. Really it is a combination of stomping and jumping and gets to be exhausting when practicing over and over again. it is also lots of fun because it is as I just said jumping and stomping! Our costume included two skirts which have these incredible embroidered work all over them, brightly colored flowers and birds covering each space (I am considering buying one for everyday use back in the states, they are just so colorful and incredible). So two of these awesome skirts, then another which is a see through sort of heavy knit which you are always holding in your hands and moving about during the dance. Then comes a black shirt which covers part of the skirts. On top of that is a colorful waisted belt. Then embroidered sleeves, a hat and the last touch being a shawl sort of cloth which also has heavily embroidered images of flowers, hummingbirds, parrots or peacocks fastened to the chest. This is a very layered wardrobe, to match what is typical in the mountains- very warm and very brightly colored!
I really enjoyed the two dances, though I definitely had a preference towards the Marinera which is why I chose to continue it by taking it at University as well. The performance was really very fun, we did not do as well as we had practiced if I get the video in April like I've been promised and you see our performance, but I had a great time. Getting to use the costume was a highlight. My current host mom and grandma came to watch and two friends as well. Being on the performing side of the show was great :)
I am coming back with a Marinera skirt and blouse because I bought them for practice, which is neat because I can bring back the costume and some dance to go with it!
Latest Update
The most recent update!
Today was my first official day of University!
I must say right now there is not a lot to say on the subject because I have only attended one class. But it does seem like a noteworthy point to play catch up on everything that I have left out in my absence to the world of blogging.
So I am attending ESAN University in Santiago de Surco in Lima- a good hour and a half bus ride from my house in Pueblo Libre (though today it took me two hours to get there and two hours to get back, just for my one class which comically so was only two hours long). Needless to say I have some long commutes ahead of me, ramming heads with traffic, and some new bus routes to test out.
This is very exciting in one hand, because it is UNIVERSITY!! and I worked very hard to make sure that I was a) considered to go to University instead of back to school b) included in the planning for finding a university for the exchange students and c) communicating everything between my host club, my host family and the exchange president. Basically it was an incredible amount of frustration, questions and consistence that went into this general act and is just very cool that I get to attend University and see how life is like in Peruvian University.
However it also feels very mundane. Slowly all the pieces have been coming together up until this very last minute moment in which we began classes. It feels right to be walking around the campus in street clothes and taking notes in Spanish about Peru's diversity. I guess I would say that I am calmly excited by this very real and new event!
We (the eight exchange students attending this University- the others were sorted out to be attending one of the finest Universities of Lima through their host club) are taking one history/globalization class of Peru. I have this course Mondays from 1-3 and Fridays from 3-5. Lots of reading assignments as homework due for this coming Monday, with a test looming at the end of the month!
We also get to take two 'elective' classes, I am going to take Marinera, the dance of Peru, and Judo because it seems like good fun and exercise.
I think it will be a lot of fun, I have the history class with most everyone, and then Marinera with a few exchangies and Judo on my own. It will be good to have a new focus with work and activities constantly.
All in all I have started University here in Lima and I am very happy about it, looking into various traffic evasion routs, and very much looking forward to my attendance!
I apologize for my complete absence, there really is no real excuse but I hope that I'll keep something new up from now on.
Today was my first official day of University!
I must say right now there is not a lot to say on the subject because I have only attended one class. But it does seem like a noteworthy point to play catch up on everything that I have left out in my absence to the world of blogging.
So I am attending ESAN University in Santiago de Surco in Lima- a good hour and a half bus ride from my house in Pueblo Libre (though today it took me two hours to get there and two hours to get back, just for my one class which comically so was only two hours long). Needless to say I have some long commutes ahead of me, ramming heads with traffic, and some new bus routes to test out.
This is very exciting in one hand, because it is UNIVERSITY!! and I worked very hard to make sure that I was a) considered to go to University instead of back to school b) included in the planning for finding a university for the exchange students and c) communicating everything between my host club, my host family and the exchange president. Basically it was an incredible amount of frustration, questions and consistence that went into this general act and is just very cool that I get to attend University and see how life is like in Peruvian University.
However it also feels very mundane. Slowly all the pieces have been coming together up until this very last minute moment in which we began classes. It feels right to be walking around the campus in street clothes and taking notes in Spanish about Peru's diversity. I guess I would say that I am calmly excited by this very real and new event!
We (the eight exchange students attending this University- the others were sorted out to be attending one of the finest Universities of Lima through their host club) are taking one history/globalization class of Peru. I have this course Mondays from 1-3 and Fridays from 3-5. Lots of reading assignments as homework due for this coming Monday, with a test looming at the end of the month!
We also get to take two 'elective' classes, I am going to take Marinera, the dance of Peru, and Judo because it seems like good fun and exercise.
I think it will be a lot of fun, I have the history class with most everyone, and then Marinera with a few exchangies and Judo on my own. It will be good to have a new focus with work and activities constantly.
All in all I have started University here in Lima and I am very happy about it, looking into various traffic evasion routs, and very much looking forward to my attendance!
I apologize for my complete absence, there really is no real excuse but I hope that I'll keep something new up from now on.
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