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!