tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55568518340024219322024-02-18T23:48:56.908-05:00Another Journey BeginsI would like to share my story of living abroad in Peru. My first experience here was in July of 2010 and have many stories to share with my family and friends about my life ever since.
I also own a travel agency and promote travel within Peru. If you or someone you know are interested in traveling to Peru, please visit my website at <a href="http://www.expertperutravel.com">www.expertperutravel.com</a> or my <a href="http://expertperutravel.blogspot.com">Travel Blog</a>.Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-13615393156873473802012-04-17T23:31:00.003-05:002012-04-17T23:31:39.652-05:00Thought this suited well to my blog. Updates coming soon.<br />
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<br />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-72839066577322730052012-04-03T16:35:00.001-05:002012-04-03T16:57:26.530-05:00A Rant - Who are you to judge me?Many of us, previously myself included, have never thought twice about the restrictions of traveling to other countries. As U.S. citizens we have a freedom to travel throughout the world with simply a passport and never need to question whether a country would let us in or not. (Although this is beginning to change as countries we have restricted are now returning the favor.) It is a luxury that we take for granted and that we often times don't realize doesn't exist for people in other parts of the world. If you wanted to invite a friend from another country to come visit as a tourist in the U.S., you would probably just assume they would buy the plane ticket and come right on over. Unless your friend is from Western Europe, Canada, or Australia, this is definitely not the case. <br />
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The United States requires Visa's in order to be allowed to enter the country. Even just to stop in a U.S. airport for a few hours in route to another country, you have to have a Visa. There are many different types of Visa's depending on what the reason for your travel is; for example, Business Visa, Tourist Visa, Temporary Work Visa, or more long term Visas. A tourist Visa to come visit the United States on a trip would seem to be the easiest to get, but I don't necessarily think this is true. I will take you through a little bit of the process you have to go through just to be considered for a tourist visa. (Tourist Visa's allow you to enter the country to visit friends, travel, etc... on a temporary basis. The Visa is usually for 5 - 10 years and allows you to enter once a year for up to 90 days at a time.)<br />
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Please note this information is relevent for Peru; I know other countries have similar procedures, but I cannot say that each process is exactly like this.<br />
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The first step in obtaining a Tourist Visa to enter the U.S. is to submit an application. The application can ONLY by filled out and submitted using the U.S. immigrations online website. The website is pretty confusing and probably very difficult for most people to figure out on their own. The online form itself is extensive, and will probably take you over an hour of your time to complete. If this form is not submitted exactly correct, you will not be able to move on to the next step of the process. At the end of the form you get a verifcation page where you need to submit a current picture of yourself. After doing this, you then print a one page receipt with application number, a brief overview of the application you submitted, and your picture. <br />
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The next step is to take your application stub and head on over to the bank and pay your $140 fee for application. This is a fee you have to pay in order to get an interview. The money is non-refundable, which means whether or not you actually get a visa - they keep the money anyway.<br />
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After the payment has been processed under your application number, you can then log in online to a site at the local embassay to register for your interview. Typically, the earliest you can get in for an interview is 2-3 weeks from the time that you register for a time slot. After selecting a date and time for your interview, you get a confirmation to again print and bring with you. <br />
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Now we have reached the time for the interview. The average interview is between 2-5 minutes in length, and during this time you state why you want a Visa to go to the U.S.. The agent interviewing you will then ask you a few specific questions and make a decision on whether or not you are going to be allowed in. The interview process is very hard to read, and there are no set guidelines. It appears that the decision is up to the discretion of the agent interviewing you and the small amount of information obtained in the interview. They simply need to decide whether they think you are going to the U.S. legitimately just to visit, or if they suspect you might be trying to stay illegal once you enter. It is written all over that the main criteria for this decision is if you have something substantial keeping you in Peru. This could be classified as a good job, close family, large investments, commitments, etc... The agent must decide in 2-5 minutes if they feel your individual case presents enough evidence to state that you have a good reason to return to Peru.<br />
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I would like to describe Julio's interview directly:<br />
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(probably a 3 minute conversation) He stated that he wanted to travel to the U.S. in July to visit friends in Minnesota for 2 weeks. He was asked if he was still a student and when he was graduating - answer is Yes, and in July. He was then asked about his work, answer - yes he currently has an internship that he will be hired onto after graduation. The agent told him that based on his criteria he does not get approved. He asked for further explanation and had another discussion on exactly why he was visiting the States again, since he had already been there as a student worker. He explained that he was dating me and would like to visit my family. Also that I am living in Peru, and we intend to stay in Peru. Once again he was told that he does not meet the correct criteria. And he was told that he has already had the chance to go to the United States before he shouldn't need to go again. The agent told him to wait one year to re-apply - and only if his current information changes.<br />
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As you can imagine, we were both completely surprised by this result! We thought that there was no reason that Julio should be denied. He is educated, has a job, has traveled to other countries before and always returned, has someone willing to vouge for him coming to the U.S. to visit....... unfortunately none of this matters.<br />
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Doing more research now, it is evident that hundreds of people apply for U.S. Visas in Peru every day, and hundreds are told "NO". The selection process seems to be entirely random and not based on any rational reasoning. Also, where is all this money for Visa applications going?? It seems the U.S. government must be getting rich on making people apply, then re-apply, time and again while paying $140 each time. (This is a lot of money for most Peruvians!) Many people with parents, kids, friends, etc... located in the United States will never be allowed to go visit them.<br />
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I called the U.S. embassay here in Peru to talk with someone and was told I needed to submit an email. I submitted a very nice email explaining the entire situation and trying to be very fair and reasonable. 5 days later I got what seemed to be an automated response with a link to a webpage that states general criteria for getting approved. I replied being more firm, stating my disappointment and that I felt like no one even read my email! I got an automated response stating the rules on re-application and that a Visa can not be reconsidered once a decision is made. I sent one more email basically pleading and telling them exactly what I thought of their process. I never got an email back, and when I called to ask about it - I was again told, submit another email we can not answer your questions at this time.<br />
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I wrote a letter to the Senator's office in Minnesota, as I read somewhere that getting a letter from a State Senator may help you get approved the next time you apply. I still haven't gotten a response, and everything I read seems to tell me that the U.S. Embassay no longer considers these letters of invitation when making their decision.<br />
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It seems the only way to get Julio in, is for him to completely lie and hope he slips through the cracks and gets lucky enough to get a Visa. Something seems entirely flawed in this system. Yes I understand that the U.S. government has reason to regulate who can enter the country. If we didn't, we would have far too many people staying - yes this is true. But when so many people that I know here in Peru have tried to get simply a tourist visa and only want to visit have been denied - something seems wrong. The process is no doubt unsuccessful. I realize it will probably cost too much money, time, and someone actually doing something in order for this to ever change. Apparently that is something that U.S. government is unable to do. This is very sad, and I can not express enough my disappointment in this entire process. Why are we denying foreigners who want to enter as tourists and spend their money in our country?? Is there not a better way to decide and screen applicants. Shouldn't someone from the U.S. be allowed to submit a letter of invitation and take responsibilty for the visiting tourist?? With a struggling economy I think we would be supporting allowing more tourists to enter!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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I actually am feeling embarrassed to say that I am from the United States. Who are we to tell someone that they are not good enough to enter our country?? <br />
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<br />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-48485296726850574582012-04-02T00:48:00.002-05:002012-04-02T00:49:40.697-05:00Into the Amazon we go!(Shortened version - sorry - I just lost all my text and am not happy about it.....)<br />
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My friend, Jaime, arrived to Peru on March 13th and stayed until the 28th. I just have to say that it was really really nice to have someone I know here in Peru. It was like I had a friend all my own for the first time since I have been here. Someone to speak English with, to share stories of the past, someone from a similar background... I think you get the picture. Finally, I felt like the Peru Expert - getting to show her the city and head out on some adventures together. I am really hoping that a couple more of my friends, and maybe even my family will come visit this next year! I am dedicated this blog to our jungle adventure..... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjsRHPnHBhi8T4_9QlfYjDCj8-2cr2KTCJku0flSEKwCzowxGABSLvRidEt0wFXX7G8vsD6PY2hiFlMqyL1N6nA7k_JqhMT_mvCQfxSJLxw4460TJp3c5k_117ykJl2TVv9QThXzXMMIS/s1600/DSCN3706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjsRHPnHBhi8T4_9QlfYjDCj8-2cr2KTCJku0flSEKwCzowxGABSLvRidEt0wFXX7G8vsD6PY2hiFlMqyL1N6nA7k_JqhMT_mvCQfxSJLxw4460TJp3c5k_117ykJl2TVv9QThXzXMMIS/s200/DSCN3706.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5kdO-Yfw200tp46tYR_iv5WXFYNEgxOekr6BPC0IobpeTuLCYxY0Zq_qjIuH5x3y8V2QoAq7iAXgiQqX7LY9utCN1Vfsvw5X-SxZVYTSf-y4A8iReCwb2wecR9YGQLIkPfPZlS3vksj_/s1600/DSCN3756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5kdO-Yfw200tp46tYR_iv5WXFYNEgxOekr6BPC0IobpeTuLCYxY0Zq_qjIuH5x3y8V2QoAq7iAXgiQqX7LY9utCN1Vfsvw5X-SxZVYTSf-y4A8iReCwb2wecR9YGQLIkPfPZlS3vksj_/s200/DSCN3756.JPG" width="200" /></a>Jaime and I headed to the airport to board our flight from Lima to Puerto Maldonado. We had packed light and were ready to head out to explore the unknown with just our backpacks. Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, we were greeted by our guide from the Corto Maltes Lodge. It always feels like a bit of a relief when you arrive somewhere and you have someone waiting for you! We all piled into the tour van and headed on our way down to the river. Here we loaded ourselves onto a long river boat and were ready to navigate down the Madre de Dios river. It was hot and the air was heavy, but I was so excited that I really didn't even notice. The views were amazing, and our guide taught us all about the history and wildlife in the region. After one hour of navigating the river, we finally reached the lodge. We unloaded our bags and got checked into our rooms. The lodge itself has a big dinning hall, reception, bar, and gift shop - and each of the rooms is actually a private bungalow located on the property. The rooms were really nice and fit into the jungle atmosphere perfectly. We enjoyed a delicious lunch before heading out on our excursion. I must say that the food was extremely good and presented as if we were at a 5* restaurant - very impressive for a jungle lodge! Our first excursion of the day was a nature hike around the region. We spent about 2 1/2 hours exploring the trails near the lodge and learning about different trees, plants, insects, and birds of the rainforest. Our guide, Saay, was excellent and seemed to know everything there is to know about the plants and animals within the rainforest. It was amazing to look up and have our heads covered by the jungle canopy as we hiked along the trail. That evening, we headed out via river boat in the dark to hunt for caiman. (species of crocodile) We were lucky enough to spot a couple of the smaller caiman along the river banks. More than anything, it was just so enjoyable to be out on the boat in the middle of the amazon rainforest. I just kept thinking to myself, "How in the world did I ever get so lucky :)." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoMJ8WszmM_fMxLkz1r6YYDit1qmqv5TD3T6BP9zQhgd9PQb8066Auxj4wdtix-4gtPcS8imK50CQM-KRO-SnIgNLcNpPhTiDMczsVD36jUBacUiXl-hvFmCW1xt-50n7kNmujs2GiCeF/s1600/DSCN3785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoMJ8WszmM_fMxLkz1r6YYDit1qmqv5TD3T6BP9zQhgd9PQb8066Auxj4wdtix-4gtPcS8imK50CQM-KRO-SnIgNLcNpPhTiDMczsVD36jUBacUiXl-hvFmCW1xt-50n7kNmujs2GiCeF/s200/DSCN3785.JPG" width="159" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtBaPwqczWG9FkHCsC5BKSsiWbhlas2ZsxQqxj56tT7tW_9syaH6RYG1kNKoTe78feOdyy0__brhsGSq7JAPU3xXB_iyMiW4-f-2dcGKXSz-FX0PRvZoaPRNsXh4wSWvKkniALDg0Cadk/s1600/DSCN3771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtBaPwqczWG9FkHCsC5BKSsiWbhlas2ZsxQqxj56tT7tW_9syaH6RYG1kNKoTe78feOdyy0__brhsGSq7JAPU3xXB_iyMiW4-f-2dcGKXSz-FX0PRvZoaPRNsXh4wSWvKkniALDg0Cadk/s200/DSCN3771.JPG" width="150" /></a>The next morning we got up at 5:00am to begin our full day of events! We started with an early hike to a parrot clay-lick which was about 30 minutes away from our lodge. The clay lick is basically an eave along a small cliff edge that is made of clay - the parrots and macaws need to eat this for their digestive system. We hid in the brush as we waited for the birds to come. After about 30 minutes a group of about 2 dozen macaws slowly made their way down to the clay-lick. They were a little hard to see, as they are green in color, but we definitely got some good photos of the birds! It was then time to head back to the lodge for a big breakfast before heading out for the rest of the day. We got our things together and once again loaded onto the river boat where we sailed down the river to Lake Sandoval. The Lake is located on the Tambopata National Reserve and is known to be home to a lot of wildlife in the region. Upon reaching the entrance point, we headed to the office to check-in. Then we began our 1 hour hike to the lake access. We trudged with our rubber boots through a lot of mud along the way, but it was well worth it once we reached the lake. The access point was a sort of lagoon of low lying water that the rainforest was basically still growing in. It was absolutely beautiful and felt like something straight out of a movie! We then climbed into a smaller canoe and our guide navigated us through the trees until we reached the lake opening. We flowed around the ledge of the lake looking at the wildlife and learning about the region. Eventually we stopped and enjoyed a traditional packed lunch along the riverside. Our guide then informed us that he could hear a large group of monkeys moving. We all rushed up the river bank where we could see the monkeys passing by. Monkeys sometimes travel in large groups when they are moving through the rainforest, and we were lucky enough to witness this. We starred in amazement looking up as over a 100 monkeys crawled over our heads for about 20 minutes. By the end of the day we got to see three species of monkeys - squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and a spider monkey. It was so fun to watch the monkeys look at us and we starred up at them. It was then time to continue on our tour of the Lake and we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon navigating our way back. After hiking bike out, we boarded our river boat once again and went back to the lodge just as the sun was beginning to set. A lovely dinner that evening, followed by a dip in the pool, was the end to a lovely day.</div>
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On the third day, Jaime and I got to have a private tour since the other 5 in our group were returning home that morning. We headed out with our guide and began the tour at a local farm. This farm was definitely not what you think of as a traditional farm. To anyone, it would just look like a couple of shacks surrounded by the rainforest. However, after meeting the family and walking through the property - we learned that everything on the land was something they could use. The trees were all various forms of fruit trees, and the ground was crawling with lots of medicinal plants. We pretty much got to sample everything we came across - and the fruit was so good! After the farm tour, we headed back on our way to monkey island. We hiked through the island for about an hour in search of another group of monkeys, but we weren't as lucky today. We returned to the boat and continued on to the last top of the day, a small adventure lodge. It was finally time to enjoy the much anticipated zip-lining through the rainforest. I was definitely more excited than nervous, but I must say climbing up the rickety tree house to the platform did have my stomach on edge. The zipline consisted of two seperate zip lines connected by a a tiny bridge made of 2x4s. The bridge was without a doubt the scariest part - it was pretty much like walking the tight rope - 60 feet in the air! The zip lines were really thrilling as we zipped through the trees and brush below, with our feet narrowly missing the trees we passed. I can't imagine any other way to end a vacation! </div>
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The experience at the lodge was definitely fun. Not only was the staff great, but we got to meet some really cool people who were staying there as well. One of the best parts of traveling is no doubt meeting other travelers and sharing stories with them. Our guide, Saay, did an amazing job, and the entire staff made us feel extremely welcomed. I was sad to leave that next morning, but after breakfast, we loaded back into the boat and headed back to Puerto Maldonado. We took our flight back to Lima and enjoyed the views from our plane of the river weaving through the Amazon like a snake below. I highly recommend an Amazon excursion to everyone who comes to Peru. It is a place like no other, and I can not wait until I have the opportunity to return again one day!!Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-30380154139741870182012-03-07T23:04:00.002-05:002012-03-07T23:09:42.653-05:00What does my future hold??If only we had a crystal ball so we would know how today's decisions will impact tomorrow, if only we could secure future success by our actions right now, if only life had a map or a diagram telling us where we were going..... I'm not sure about you, but I don't think I want any of these things. I do believe each of has some type of destiny; somewhere we are supposed to end up. Whether that destiny is impacted by our actions today, by something greater than us (God), or quite possibly both, we will probably never know. There is no doubt in my mind that God has a plan for me, and by trying to live my life in his image he will guide me. However, there are still choices and decisions we make each day that impact our future. <br />
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I like to believe that I live my life enjoying today, but I am more and more conscious of how it may impact my future. I try to take advantages of the joys presented to me, thank God for the blessings he has given me, and use every opportunity I can to be kind to someone else. That being said, I do find that I have been thinking more lately about my future. This is something that has honestly not crossed my mind much over the past five years. I love to plan and organize my work, studies, vacations, exercise routine, etc...., but when it comes to personal decisions about MY future - I've really just been filling in the pages as they come. These new feelings and pressures I have in my life to make decisions about my future are confusing me.<br />
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How do you find the balance between truly living your life for everything that it is today and making decisions for your future. I have always believed that living for today definitely trumps planning for the future, but is that right? I could go around and around and explain how well maybe living for today is what in a way actually does plan your future, or how if we plan for tomorrow we will enjoy today, or how you only have today so take advantage of it! I am now seeing the argument from every angle, when before I saw so clearly that living for today and taking things as they come was the answer.<br />
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Now I will bring things to a little more personal of a level. I can probably name 5 reasons off the top of my head as to why this question has started to trouble me the last couple of months. <br />
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1. Family Pressure to have a plan and make decisions.<br />
2. I have someone in my life I want to plan a future with for the first time. <br />
3. Money (I hate that this is on the list, but I know that it is true.)<br />
4. Age, let's face it I'm not getting any younger. <br />
5. Career development and opportunities. <br />
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Now here is the real kicker. Is any one of these things on it's own enough to change the way I have believed is correct to live my life? <br />
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I'm sure that at the end of the day I will relax and find a solution that is right for me that combines all of these aspects. <span style="background-color: magenta;">I also think I have realized that there is a BIG difference in "living for the future" and "planning for the future".</span> In the meantime, I have been making some future decisions while still trying to live in the now. A moment will come when my eyes are opened and see clearly the value life holds and how best to handle it. I know that the best thing is to let go and know that someone is guiding me along the way.<br />
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Without trying to plan to far ahead, here is an update on my somewhat laid out future plans.<br />
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I have official started a new business. Since I have experience both working in tourism and traveling myself in Peru, I have established an online business called "Expert Peru Travel". This will be very advantageous for me since I will basically be able to work from my home no matter where I am. My future is a little uncertain, but it is likely I will be spending time in both Peru and the U.S. in the coming years, so this is perfect. It has been a project in the works for almost 3 months. I am proud to see that what started as a fantastical idea has turned into a reality. Please visit <a href="http://www.expertperutravel.com/">www.expertperutravel.com</a> and let me know what you think!<br />
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I will be coming home for about 2 1/2 months this summer. I arrive home at the end of May and will be staying into August. Spending time with my family and friends is something that is very much needed! Julio will also be coming to the U.S. for 2 weeks or so to finally meet my family. (still pending VISA approval on this - keep your fingers crossed!)<br />
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Julio has just started a new job working for a mining company here in Peru. It is a very good job with very high potential for him to be very successful in the future. He is technically an intern at this point, but the intention will be for him to be hired on after he graduates in July.<br />
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Beyond this, my intention is to stay in Peru for at least one more year. What comes after that will be determined by a whole lot of factors that I can't plan for just yet. =)<br />
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Good Night!!!!!! <br />
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(it is funny how writing things down just makes everything a little more clear)Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-16359317144580872232012-03-07T14:18:00.000-05:002012-03-07T14:18:19.057-05:00Weekend exploring in Cusco!I had the opportunity to travel to Cusco for my second time since arriving in Peru. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Cusco is the historical capital of the Incan Civilization. It is a historical city with all of its original buildings being around 500 years old or more. Cusco is also the destination city closest to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu can be accessed from Cusco by a 3 1/2 hour train ride through the Sacred Valley. For this reason, Cusco has really developed into a home point for tourists traveling to the nearby Incan Ruins. Luckily, the tourism hasn't transformed the city too much, many of the original old buildings have been restored and turned into hotels, restaurants, museums, or other tourist friendly stops. All of the roads in the old downtown are cobblestone, with hardly enough room for one car to fit through. As the city is constructed in the mountains, the streets are uphill everywhere you go - making both walking and driving around the city quite the challenge. (This city was definitely not made for cars!)<br />
The history of Cusco goes back a couple of thousand years even before the Inca Civilization exhisted. However, it really was developed into a lively capital city with the rise of the Incan Empire. Around the year 1250 AD, Manco Capac founded Cusco as the capital city of the Incan Empire. During this time the Incan Empire was very strong and growing, covering a large area of South America at it's peak. During the Incan Empire's most prosperous years, every aspect of the culture was advanced far beyond it's time; construction methods and architecture of the ancient cities, development of new textiles and agricultural methods, the social organization of the community, advanced science and astronomy, deep religious beliefs, etc... The Spanish invasion of the city happened in the 1530's, which was eventually the fall of power of the Incan Empire. However, Cusco remained a central and important part of the development. The Spanish brought new ideas of religion and construction, which you can see incorporated in the city of Cusco today. Much of the stone work on the buildings in Cusco was done by the Incan culture, but you will notice a destinct line in most buildings where the construction style changes. The bottom half of many buildings were constructed by the Incans, and later the buildings were restored or completed with a very evident Spanish influence. Cusco continues to be very cultural influenced city today. It is evident that craftmanship, art, construction, preservation of the culture, and community development are still important to the people.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEkUbmOMUV2wyfObzDzoXrNV8DcvBHPqzkWqltnhGOfut8B8Cgd8LBfjpQYgmLAHDIjQRuuiWfQ-tGwoYp1BQ78WPeGgZNd3MWzS8wHtwyLQAdVHxupucO_5k-akOdEX7TBYC2Fk8Affl/s1600/Cuzco+Trip+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEkUbmOMUV2wyfObzDzoXrNV8DcvBHPqzkWqltnhGOfut8B8Cgd8LBfjpQYgmLAHDIjQRuuiWfQ-tGwoYp1BQ78WPeGgZNd3MWzS8wHtwyLQAdVHxupucO_5k-akOdEX7TBYC2Fk8Affl/s320/Cuzco+Trip+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My favorite place to visit in the city of the Cusco is definitely the main Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas. This building is unbelievably massive and an obvious central point of the city. Inside the cathedral is really beyond words. There are so many little niches with seperate alters set up for different prayers or different saints. Each individual one is unique and an intriquite work of art. The alters are constructed from wood and beautiful metals - gold and silver. There are also beautiful tapestries, paintings, sculptures, and mirrors - each with it's own significance and placed in it's exact position for a specific reason. There is a large mix of the Incan and the Spanish cultures within the cathedral - you can see it in the pictures and figures carved or drawn. There are two points I think are the most impressive in the cathedral - the organ and the main alter. The organ is constructed of wood with such detail and the main alters are massive works of art in both wood and gold. <br />
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There are of course an endless number of other places to visit in and around the city, but I won't go into such detail about this. Some of the most famous places are Koricanchi, Monasterio, Sacsayhuaman, and many other historical cathedrals, plazas, and museums. The historical sights really only begin within the city, as the entire Andes region around Cusco is full of Incan history. You will find worship grounds, ancient cities, temples, agricultural terraces, burial grounds, fortresses, and a number of other sites all located within the vicinity. Machu Picchu is definitely the most well known, accessible, and probably most significant of these sights; however, other cities just as massive have been uncovered in the region as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiXj6YVY-4MS61UE9lHsCU43Fsl5AdQ7inCqlXnvsC5_d87eJjzlR9jBUt6CHkyBmoex_AU8XDyO3vYNsjGg4vQ6wnjHSogrOR5UJg3nQUrKbjrbUATJllAHDgSIiVkEiU-zmPBrszfyV/s1600/jocey+y+yo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiXj6YVY-4MS61UE9lHsCU43Fsl5AdQ7inCqlXnvsC5_d87eJjzlR9jBUt6CHkyBmoex_AU8XDyO3vYNsjGg4vQ6wnjHSogrOR5UJg3nQUrKbjrbUATJllAHDgSIiVkEiU-zmPBrszfyV/s320/jocey+y+yo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Now to talk about my weekend. I traveled with Julio again, so that was very nice. We left early on Friday morning and came back on Monday afternoon - so a fairly quick trip. The first day we spent our time taking care of business to get that out of the way. I had 3 meetings set up and also some hotels that I wanted to visit. So the first day was pretty hectic, but we got everthing done and out of the way. I also met with some pretty cool people that I am excited to hopefully be working with very soon. In the evening we went out for a nice dinner and enjoyed some time with Julio's sister, Jocelyn. She works with the government on development projects, so she gets to spend a lot of time working on different projects through regions in Peru. It was very nice to sit down with her and enjoy a nice evening in the city. <br />
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On the second day, Julio and I got up early to head out on an adventure into the Sacred Valley. We had hoped to be able to rent a car, but as none were available, we rented a taxi driver to take us for the day. Surprisingly this is actually quite a bit cheaper than renting your own car anyways. We headed out of the city with a brief stop at Sacsayhuaman (Ancient Incan Ceremonial Grounds - famous for Inti Raymi Festival), then continued through the Urubamba river valley onto the city of Pisaq - one hour away. We enjoyed a nice lunch in Pisaq and walked through the local market before heading up to the ruins. The ancient construction of Pisaq is a site above the city within the mountains. The city is gaining more popularity as a tourist destination as it is a large city with 3 seperate and distinct parts connected by Incan Trails. We walked through the first site which is largely used for agriculture and some housing complexes, then continued along the trail to the main religious center where the temple and worship sites are constructed. The worship grounds are always constructed with the utmost skill and perfection - the massive rocks are cut and carved to interconnect perfectly and form skillfull designs and construction. The citadel is really very similar to Machu Picchu in the way it is constructed and the significance of each building. The trail then continues on to the final stop of the city - the community. The granite stone buildings were constructed to house the majority of the people in the city and provide a central point for community activities and work. After the somewhat strenous hike back - I was ready to head back home. (Either I am really out of shape, or the altitude was getting to me. I am not sure how the Incan people ran up and down these trails, stairs, and cliffs every day!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9kETH8_vtPoJtmdXeMsDRSpfRZTC2NmBSBkEuLQKOQw_Vly3dLOBohEXdK5eJ12el5PSA9Jyo0C4JdybhfSPRFwWhLS69LFbqgU0OpbsWH2wNo9ejJ7v4varex3u6BDG_VK9C2v5t4kQ/s1600/P1050018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9kETH8_vtPoJtmdXeMsDRSpfRZTC2NmBSBkEuLQKOQw_Vly3dLOBohEXdK5eJ12el5PSA9Jyo0C4JdybhfSPRFwWhLS69LFbqgU0OpbsWH2wNo9ejJ7v4varex3u6BDG_VK9C2v5t4kQ/s200/P1050018.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkXrNJ9Id3_V7w8lDV5rOYjNzArj0hjEeGFNhiA5zLv9Vj552QCfFZjfZKJ-hptbXxxqPm52O0rXwAQlUTDsXOWKF9kLVfTe9AeowmDHUX14367UExwEBSNX8FmBCWbPdNMoIdOUzQsvF/s1600/P1050029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkXrNJ9Id3_V7w8lDV5rOYjNzArj0hjEeGFNhiA5zLv9Vj552QCfFZjfZKJ-hptbXxxqPm52O0rXwAQlUTDsXOWKF9kLVfTe9AeowmDHUX14367UExwEBSNX8FmBCWbPdNMoIdOUzQsvF/s200/P1050029.JPG" width="160" /></a>On the third day, we finally were able to rent a car! I don't think Julio has ever been so happy as he was driving the car through the Sacred Valley. The reality is Julio has never had a car and therefore loves to drive every chance that he has! I must admit it was pretty fun to just have the freedom to go where we wanted, drive on the open, and stop in little villages along the way. It definitely provides a more intimate experience and time to really enjoy. After a couple of merely scenic stops, we eventually reached our first destination - Maras. Outside of this little, untouched by the modern world, city, are two famous incan sites. Moray is a natural circular indentation in the ground formed by the different sediments in the region. The Incans constructed perfect circular rings into the ground in this region and used it test crops - it was an important agricultural development. The second destination was the nearby Salineras - salt mines. This salt mines were first harvested by the Incans, but continue to grow and are active salt mines today. It is a massive system of pools set up along the mountain side where the salt is collected. <br />
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After enjoying the two stops, we continued on our way and happened to come accross a local festival taking place in one of the villages. We of course decided to stop and enjoy the fun! It was a comunity festival with games for the kids, lots of food and drink stands, a stage set up for a beauty contest, music, and native dance performances. It was fun to stop and take part in the festivities - I even got to eat some cotton candy - who would have thought!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq8Nv23HgZmCxk6Q44LGD_9p5f8fos1z_N5CzmOCpxyB00sX7o7iwgiYfRtkTZiAk8KJQ65VxyjcJhADS6Wubh-FFPKLOl8x8Xos3Dux_hP7XPY8SmwXo_5vm8JVFeSGXAU3IjnycMphf/s1600/P1050080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq8Nv23HgZmCxk6Q44LGD_9p5f8fos1z_N5CzmOCpxyB00sX7o7iwgiYfRtkTZiAk8KJQ65VxyjcJhADS6Wubh-FFPKLOl8x8Xos3Dux_hP7XPY8SmwXo_5vm8JVFeSGXAU3IjnycMphf/s320/P1050080.JPG" width="320" /></a>Our final destination of the day was Ollantaytambo. This fortress was built by the Incan's in a strategic point along the river valley blocking access to Machu Picchu. The massive construction above the Urubamba River gave them both a lookout point and an advantage over anyone trying to cross. The fortress if most famous for a battle with the Spanish army led by Pizarro. The Incan's defeated the Spanish from this point and in that moment kept the Spanish from continuing to conquer the region.<br />
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The trip to Cusco was definitely fun, and different for me this time. I got to get off of the traditional tourist path and explore some of the lesser known regions. It was a full and productive weekend - definitely a nice a get away for Julio and I. I would sure love it if we could do this every weekend!Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-84535447811049831332012-02-20T15:24:00.000-05:002012-02-20T15:24:00.462-05:00Lake TiticacaIn the middle of January, I had the opportunity to finally visit one of the most famous sights in Peru - Lake Titicaca. I had been waiting anxiously to go on this trip for a number of reasons. I have been selling vacations to Peru, which almost always include the beautiful Lake Titicaca, yet I had never even seen it myself! Also, last August, I was lucky enough to have won 2 free nights at the 5*Libertador hotel located on a peninsula stretching out into the lake. I had made our reservations and bought the plane tickets for Julio and I back in October, so I was excited the day was finally here! <br />
Lake Titicaca is considered the highest navigable lake in the world at over 12,500 ft.. It is a massive body of water boarding both Peru and Bolivia. The Lake is over 100km in width and 60km across. The habitat around the lake is very unique as well. You can see the views of the beauitful mountains all around the lake, but it is also located at the dividing point were the vegetation really changes from a mountainous region into the Amazon rainforest. If someone had the time, I think it would be an amazing trip to trek around the lake and visit the local communities and historical sights. <br />
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Our journey began early on Friday morning to catch our flight to Juliaca. (city 40 minutes from the lake) We had a bit of a delay getting to our destination which caused a long layover in Arequipa, but finally we did arrive to Juliaca about 3 hours later than expected. We had no real plans in place for this first day, so all was well and good =). We took a combi from the airport along with a couple other travelers and headed on our way to Puno. (Lake Titicaca) Every time I travel outside of Lima, I am still surprised at what I see. Even though I know that the rest of the country lives in much different conditions than I do in Lima; it is like you forget how different it really is when you don't see it everyday. I guess that explains how a small 15% or 20% of the population in Lima's modern districts can live completely modern, almost luxury lifestyles while the majority of the people in the country live with hardly anything. I will save some of these comparisons of economic class for another post. Back to the trip, the ride through the Andes was absolutely beautiful as we made our way up and down the curvy roads until we reached our destination. It was wide open countryside, green, animals, farm houses, I guess you could say it kind of made me feel like I was back home! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnolF3TqhBRYxbmoAGNSf1DD-xm2pkX6GOO0v8SZ36gcCtZcaJVEoKOPbOzD_rDbrzpB9HfyGy7s_dY50F9xHyX3eYCt_HK4WEO2_BhRnKoN5X4PvbpRq7crLBCzxWriys7124OGgD3i8/s1600/DSCN3446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnolF3TqhBRYxbmoAGNSf1DD-xm2pkX6GOO0v8SZ36gcCtZcaJVEoKOPbOzD_rDbrzpB9HfyGy7s_dY50F9xHyX3eYCt_HK4WEO2_BhRnKoN5X4PvbpRq7crLBCzxWriys7124OGgD3i8/s320/DSCN3446.JPG" width="320" /></a>We finally reached Puno and were dropped off at our hotel, just outside the city limits. We quick checked in and explored our hotel. We had an amazing room with a perfect view out to Lake Titicaca, along with all the perks of staying in a 5* hotel. Julio and I are pretty used to traveling on a budget and finding whatever cheap hostal we can, so this was definitely new to both of us! I was anxious to get out and see the city, so we got a cab and headed back into the city center. We were able to walk around and see some of the hisoric buildings on the main plaza, check out a couple of hotels, and grab a bite to eat at a market next to the lake. The weather was good with fair temperatures and clear skies, which was lucky as normally January begins the rainy season. So we took advantage of this by going out on the lake a little bit after renting a paddle boat. After a couple races with some kids up and down the lagoon, we docked our paddle boat just before the rain began. It was time to head back to the hotel and relax for the evening. When traveling from sea level to such high elevation, it is important to allow yourself some down time to avoid getting altitude sickness, and we had already reached our limit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3evaxkU6XfU6mRzun46r8pXFYWA133pn8hBOwnZUzJFCUgcgE_XeUORtF1LZfk7PobJgnHIqpz5B6gBldVBCtwtc_FTI8TtWqFhyphenhyphenARmGKzWJdoFtC6qfH7CNdLUQ4DF453f16VyhD7USf/s1600/DSCN3501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3evaxkU6XfU6mRzun46r8pXFYWA133pn8hBOwnZUzJFCUgcgE_XeUORtF1LZfk7PobJgnHIqpz5B6gBldVBCtwtc_FTI8TtWqFhyphenhyphenARmGKzWJdoFtC6qfH7CNdLUQ4DF453f16VyhD7USf/s320/DSCN3501.JPG" width="240" /></a>We were woke up very early by the sunrise at about 4:30am, but I can't complain as it was probably the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. We had an amazing breakfeast buffet and then were picked up for our full day boat tour of Lake Titicaca. We met up with our tour group and got into our seats at the front of the boat, and off we went. Our guide told us all about the history of the Lake and the development of different tribes that lived and still live in the area today. If you are looking to learn about native cultures still living the way their ancestors did 100s of years before, this is a great place to visit. Our first stop was at the Uros Islands where we got invited onto the island by the president of the native tribe. These islands are very unique, as they are completely man made floating islands. The islands used to be located out in the center of the lake, but have recentely been moved a little closer inland due to the profits they receive from allowing tourism. The culture still lives in the native form that they did; however they are not completely seperated from society as they do need to occasionally come inland for goods and local events. The islands, homes, and boats, are all constructed from the reeds and boyant soil in the lake. The construction process, as you can imagine, is very time consuming and tidious work done with very few tools available to them. The second stop on our trip was quite a trek out to a real island, Taquile Island, located in the middle of the Lake. The people of this Island are completely self sufficient and live as a community working together to support each other. They have pretty much everything they need on the Island, including stone homes/buildings, terraces for agriculture up the sides of the island, livestock living on the island, and a organization of government on their own. Obviously the society has been touched by some modern advantages as well from tourism, but for the most part, they still live as an independent community. The views from this island were amazing. You can see across the lake in each direction and the shadows of the mountains in the distanct background. After learning about their culture and enjoying a nice lunch, it was time to head out on our journey back to Puno. It took about 2 1/2 hours to return to Puno, and I think everyone had a nice nap on the way back from the trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh9KvH9b2qXdCRqQj2Q1UoZ2UisPS_tlLTqLgFV5Al_jIyOMdkID90sZh2NgGPOps0WoE3DO8wy5vNPZMePRiVb34VMLpmxy-rV7yht4zEJc2OwvbUJNTAKnHW20GudPyELEVy5GPLGZo/s1600/DSCN3461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh9KvH9b2qXdCRqQj2Q1UoZ2UisPS_tlLTqLgFV5Al_jIyOMdkID90sZh2NgGPOps0WoE3DO8wy5vNPZMePRiVb34VMLpmxy-rV7yht4zEJc2OwvbUJNTAKnHW20GudPyELEVy5GPLGZo/s320/DSCN3461.JPG" width="320" /></a>We returned to our hotel and enjoyed a relaxing evening with a nice small dinner at the restaurant, then relaxing in the hot tub. I was surprised to learn that Julio had never been in a hot tub before.. haha.. I guess this is not something that really exists in Peru. The only place you are likely to find this would be in a 5* hotel. I definitely enjoyed the busy weekend, but I was exhausted and ready for bed. The next morning we enjoyed a quiet morning with another amazing breakfast (this breakfast buffet was amazing!) and walking around a little to enjoy the grounds outside of the hotel. It was then time to head out in route back to the airport so we could get our flight home. The flight back home was without incident and we arrived back to Lima at about 2:30pm. It had definitely been a quick weekend, but we enjoyed our time at Lake Titicaca. The only sight we didn't have time to really visit that I was hoping to see were the Chulpas (Towers for funeral/burials). They are historical burial tours located outside of Puno dating back to the pre-Incan culture. I guess that gives me another reason to return again someday!!Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-57682596754674824932012-02-05T15:32:00.003-05:002012-02-05T16:25:03.732-05:006 Month Recap<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I took a stance about 6 months ago that I didn't need to share my life with everyone through my blog. I closed the book and kind of wanted to keep my life private. I have always been a more private person - I like to tell stories of my adventures, but naturally leave out any real personal anecdotes. I have never really needed/wanted a lot of support, encouragement, or advice from other people; thus I avoid situations where people will feel they need to give me those thing. It is not to say that I do not care or don't truly enjoy the company of others, I just don't like to make everything about "me". I would rather sit, enjoy hearing all about the trials and triumphs of all my friends and family, and offer my support and advice if asked for. In regards to this blog, these feelings have put me in a bit of a hard spot. I do want to share my experiences because I know it is important for my family and friends to feel in touch, I also do want to keep a record for myself of the experiences I have had, and I actually do enjoy the writing aspect of this. I also do have a new reason for continuing the blogging - that will be touched on soon enough. =)</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrqnJL_t0SOAh9RAcdx3K2RvEG8edAzvteZv8-x_A5lCzG2K493Fh-v2sOza8z100zT-s-G60SlK6kpIvUUqJLCFi0rZGv2M5jfqpmbiqP-2ELGNrqJU3bU8u6ZTphh6VMFysCYqSu7NR/s1600/DSCN2996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrqnJL_t0SOAh9RAcdx3K2RvEG8edAzvteZv8-x_A5lCzG2K493Fh-v2sOza8z100zT-s-G60SlK6kpIvUUqJLCFi0rZGv2M5jfqpmbiqP-2ELGNrqJU3bU8u6ZTphh6VMFysCYqSu7NR/s200/DSCN2996.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lodge at Puemape</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Rewind to my last blog: It was the middle of winter here, and I was preparing for a get away with Julio and another couple, Andrea & Pato, whom we are friends with................. At the end of July, the four of us headed out on a 8 day trip to the North of Peru. It was about a 10 hour journey or so, but we were traveling with our own vehicle so it wasn't too bad. We were able to stop and enjoy different things along the way. In general, the entire coast of Peru is dessert; however, it is still the most inhabited area of Peru because it is along the ocean. Outside of Lima is much MUCH different than in Lima. Basic infrastructure - meaning roads, water, electricity, sewage management, garbage disposal, etc... - exists, but it is hard to find and usually is in disaray. We arrived to our destination, which was a famous surfing point called Puemape. To my surprise, there was nothing here - literally some brick buildings half built/fallen apart, a couple of nice houses, a shack that was a surf shop, and our lodge - which was in an old train car. Who knows how this train car was ever left along the dessert coast, but it was my "cabana" for the week. Nonetheless, it was a quiet place to relax outside of the city - which was exactly what I wanted. We went on several day trips from this point, including visits to Trujillo, local villages, a great oasis to hike to, and most importantly to Cajamarca. Cajamarca is an amazing historical city tucked away in the Andes Mountains. It was a little over 3 hours to get there, but we enjoyed amazing views along the way as we made our way up the curvy roads as we ascended into "heaven". This is one of the few areas in Peru that still has a real forrest within the Andes. The area was so lush and green, with full size trees everywhere, fresh air, and breathtaking scenery. We visited a couple of the local sights and enjoyed the city's historical main square. The city of Cajamarca is much like a smaller version of the ancient city of Cuzco - with so many historical buildings over 500 years old. We found a little hostal to spend the night in and enjoyed our time in Cajamarca, which was obviously the highlight of the trip for me!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>For the next couple of months, I pretty much just worked and continued with my regular routine. Julio and I did get away one weekend to the South with some friends, but other than that I can't say we did a whole lot that was really noteworthy. I was begining a short lived fitness regimen with my new 3 month gym membership and Julio was busy with the start of his next semester in school. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtJNC7Axfz4BEknu1I2M3bzbnK5Sft3forZE2jT1ODVA-npZdkjIv5QU5A3f4qv4f92HcnI9emHGkevrNYsSfxPKCZItHfh3GRjR30AIKzrVCwyHjxZ6-pOADE90CarXWQkq990gQN1VY/s1600/DSCN3282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtJNC7Axfz4BEknu1I2M3bzbnK5Sft3forZE2jT1ODVA-npZdkjIv5QU5A3f4qv4f92HcnI9emHGkevrNYsSfxPKCZItHfh3GRjR30AIKzrVCwyHjxZ6-pOADE90CarXWQkq990gQN1VY/s200/DSCN3282.JPG" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with Hud!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My next trip, the most important one of all, was finally almost here! On September 29th, I boarded a midnight flight back to Minneapolis, MN. It had been a LONG 8 months without seeing my family and friends. My favorite little man in the world was even waiting to welcome me at the airport. I was so glad to get to spend time with my nephew, Hudson, and even more excited that he remembered me so well!! (probably in large part due to his Mom & Dad reminding him - thanks guys!) I enjoyed a wonderful 2 1/2 weeks back home with my family. The majority of my time was spent just at home enjoying my parents new house, babysitting Hudson, spending time with my Grandma, and of course getting the chance to check up with old friends. I forgot how nice it is to speak ENGLISH with everyone I am around. To have a conversation without my brain straining to understand and be understood was definitely the best part of the trip. It was also just so wonderful to see everyone and catch up on old times. To be honest, it really didn't even feel like I had been gone very long. I think that is one of the best and the worst things about a small town - nothing really ever changes :-). It was so easy to pick up right where I left off with everyone and hear about how everyone's summers had been and what was new in life. I am very blessed and have the most amazing family and friends a girl could ask for. After an exciting time back home, I guess you could say I was ready to return back to my schedule and mostly to see Julio. Although it was probably a good break for each of us, I think we were both surprised how much you miss just having that person around.<br />
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During my trip back home, I had made some choices about changes I needed to make to my life in Lima. I realized that so much of my time and energy was being focused on a job that was really just a job. The main reason I moved to Peru was not so that I could work my life away making $1000 a month. This was hardly enough money to justify working 40 hours a week and not having the freedom to travel when I wanted, go out and meet other people, have free time to just explore and learn about the culture, or to enroll in school to actually really start learning more Spanish. Work was beginning to get slow, and that $1000 I was earning a month had turned into about $500. It was time for some changes. I shifted my priorities and talked with my boss about changing to a part time schedule. Not only would I be able to still manage just as many accounts and make just as much money, but I would have free time and could finally enroll in a school. I don't think anyone at my job was real happy with this decision, but it was the only thing that made sense to me and the only way I would have stayed at the job. So I began having classes every morning from 9:00 - 11:00 am in a school close to my house in order to learn Spanish. My work schedule was switched to 30 hours a week and I worked from 1:00pm - 7:00pm with just a small paycut. (Almost all of my income comes from commission anyway, so the cut to monthly salaray was less than a $100 - totally worth it!) From the first day of my class on October 31st, I knew I had made the best decision and could not believe I didn't make this change earlier. Enrolling in school meant new challenges to work toward, meeting other people (expats) in the exact same situation as me, and gaining a whole new level of confidence in my Spanish speaking abilities. I felt a new energy, happy and motivated!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg08ehp3NXZvdEUBpDX5KQQYgjCJo8eXZu9jlDYHZdgOqR56LPcHdO6cQ6ekOt_y3ztZA5GnjaG9cbP78gyzj6zNRI3PzicXHJxREoRutwj46lCB8Fg7nLEEf7wu60LdDTbk8eRpiOyiLZ/s1600/New+Years.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg08ehp3NXZvdEUBpDX5KQQYgjCJo8eXZu9jlDYHZdgOqR56LPcHdO6cQ6ekOt_y3ztZA5GnjaG9cbP78gyzj6zNRI3PzicXHJxREoRutwj46lCB8Fg7nLEEf7wu60LdDTbk8eRpiOyiLZ/s200/New+Years.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year's Eve on the beach</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The following months of November and December were very enjoyable for me. The climate had changed and the sun was back out!! What a huge difference sun makes in your life. I can't even express the happiness I feel walking outside enjoying warm temperatures and the sun beating down on me. Lima really is composed of two seasons - 6-7 months of gray skies with a cold wet dampness in the air, then 5-6 months of warm weather with plenty of sunshine! My attitude had done a complete 180; I was loving my classes at La Catolica, enjoying the changing seasons, and feeling so motivated. This bit of freedom from my job had really opened my eyes to how much I could accomplish myself. A lot of ideas began flowing in out as to how I could make money without going to a job everyday that provides me with no new challenges or satisfaction. The job was good in a sense that it taught me a lot about Peru, I love working with my clients, and it was a good starting point when I arrived to Peru. However, why I am settling for a job that limits my abilities and earning potential when I could do so much more. Although this may come across like a "white supremicist" statement, the fact is that it is true. I simply have more resources and opportunties available to me than a normal Peruvian because of where I come from and the opportunties I have had available to me in my life. That is not a popular or socially correct statement, but my eyes were being opened to the fact that I don't have to just settle for what I have now.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuyUF0whC9CsoF9Ssy2yH-obvtBjnceTJ61u4q-RT_esBb_7XFlTqLQyLUzVQNkdN64swq9A9PBQhDXtTY4qlJ0p_UnZsuJT4xxvwbIE-4eYCzO_-HuioEpug0F8fH78WhjibjG-Aqyzg/s1600/387262_351644328183824_100000147783348_1609429_143505016_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; height: 137px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 219px;"><img border="0" height="150" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuyUF0whC9CsoF9Ssy2yH-obvtBjnceTJ61u4q-RT_esBb_7XFlTqLQyLUzVQNkdN64swq9A9PBQhDXtTY4qlJ0p_UnZsuJT4xxvwbIE-4eYCzO_-HuioEpug0F8fH78WhjibjG-Aqyzg/s200/387262_351644328183824_100000147783348_1609429_143505016_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Eve - with Julio's mom, Adela.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I think my new found motivation and desire to take action to change my situation was a bit of a surprise to Julio. It was probably the first time Julio had seen me not so dependent on him, and this was definitely a good thing. I was starting to meet people on my own, could finally communicate on a social level in Spanish, and was working towards some career changes. I have no doubt that these changes have brought Julio and I much closer and more in touch as a couple. He has given me endless support and is working hard to help me move forward with future projects in my life. During the past two months. Julio and I have also spent a lot more time together and talking about plans for the future. We have been spending most of our weekends heading to the beaches in the South, traveling, or enjoying the holidays. My Christmas was spent with Julio's family at his house on Christmas Eve. It was just his parents, two sisters, brother, and me. I am so thankful that his family has welcomed me and made me really feel like part of the family. His mother always looks out for me and treats me just like I am one of her kids. The communication hasn't always been easy, but it just goes to show that love and support does not necessarily need a lot of words. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Finally, we arrive to the present. Friday was my final day of work at the travel agency and yesterday was my one year anniversary in Peru, so I celebrated by doing absolutely nothing. I have had the majority of this weekend to myself as Julio left yesterday morning for a one night camping trip with some of his high school buddies. I actually feel relieved to just be in Lima with nothing on the agenda this weekend. As I stated before, the last two months have been filled with plans for every weekend, so it is a nice change to just do nothing. Apparently the SuperBowl is in a couple of hours, haha - who knew!, so my roommate and I will be getting back to our American roots by watching the SuperBowl with a six-pack of beer. </div><br />
Look for more updates soon as life continues to bring us surprises!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-66666688013364709072011-07-13T23:43:00.001-05:002011-07-14T00:04:05.574-05:007-13-11<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngHo54pzgbOcF5cpFoQB09082tkMjQsVWAgDQ5NBc_jF4MRT-S0tfhb7XnNthoLN6PqZm0HvuCU78J_RUlIke31ZZCrnm1a1YnPcssjBTjIThBa1JEhnPw6XLHdfgrNFwY6Vw62j3SpIq/s1600/DSCN2979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngHo54pzgbOcF5cpFoQB09082tkMjQsVWAgDQ5NBc_jF4MRT-S0tfhb7XnNthoLN6PqZm0HvuCU78J_RUlIke31ZZCrnm1a1YnPcssjBTjIThBa1JEhnPw6XLHdfgrNFwY6Vw62j3SpIq/s320/DSCN2979.JPG" width="231px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us Today</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Time sure flies when you are having fun! I'm sure many of you are saying where did the summer go - is it really half over already?? In the meantime, I am cheering yes - winter is half over!! Maybe someday I will see the sun again? At this point, that feels like a big maybe. Lima becomes a very different place in the winter months. I would say the city is just taken over by blah... nothing really has cooler, everything seems a little dirty, the trees are drooping, there is a constant haze type of mist in the air most days (it never really rains, but things are always wet), and it is just plain gloomy. Come to think of it, it is kind of like you can't even notice color when the air is always heavy and you don't see the sun. Even cars passing by kind of all look the same. From what I am told, come September the sun will be back!! Not in full force until maybe November, but I will be happy with any sun I can get.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlm2ODXxTmOhCVwRXpJjY1nrvRJtOpJPdyyn9_j9gyS4lgyUEoyf77ZiTBmfZ11E9SBB1JItGES77GCsMI2MGSIc_NhGLZrKAcOqCDylmrptHVFz8V_Qn1vLSCH2re6lXnR8xxb_lWZ0D/s1600/me+and+julio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlm2ODXxTmOhCVwRXpJjY1nrvRJtOpJPdyyn9_j9gyS4lgyUEoyf77ZiTBmfZ11E9SBB1JItGES77GCsMI2MGSIc_NhGLZrKAcOqCDylmrptHVFz8V_Qn1vLSCH2re6lXnR8xxb_lWZ0D/s320/me+and+julio.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Picture together - still my favorite</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I can't say that too much has really changed even though my last blog was quite a while ago. For the most part, everything is going steady and good. The job selling vacations here in Peru is continuing at a somewhat steady pace so that is nice. The political and economic situation here actually seems pretty stable. Even though there was soooo much drama and bad publicity throughout the elections; now, things are actually looking somewhat positive for the future of Peru. I am most surprised by the way people seemed to just really accept the results of the election. For how much passion and fire these Peruvian people had leading up to the election, I was almost a tad bit disappointed there wasn't more havoc after the results came. in. I guess it is good that there wasn't a stir of riots and in general the public either doesn't care and feels they can't do anything, or they feel they had their vote and the majority won - no hard feelings. BTW if I hadn't previously stated this, Humala, the far leftist, won the eleciton.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is hard for me to admit, but, I believe it has been approximately 8 weeks since I have left the city of Lima, Peru. I always wondered how people who lived in big cities could never leave the city; I kind of now feel like I understand. This city is so huge that it feels nearly impossible to leave without a lot of planning and time. I guess the most inhabilitating factor would be that I do not have a car, but there are many other reasons as well. It is really probably not very safe for me to travel alone, I don't know anyone that lives outside of the city, most destinations of interest are at least 3 hours away, I'm not familiar with those closer local oasis that some may enjoy closer to the city, it's not really that cheap, and there aren't that many things close by that interest me. I sometimes forget that Lima is actually on a coastal dessert, and you have to go quite a ways before you see much vegetation or really anything. The point I am trying to make is that I know understand how and why people can get "trapped" in a city. "Trapped" definitely reflects how I feel here sometimes, and I find myself desperately longing for green cornfields! However, I will be breaking out of this trap next week, and that I am very excited about. Julio and I have a vacation planned to the northern coast and a couple days in the sierras. We are traveling with another couple, friends of Julio's, who are very nice. I am looking forward to warmer temperatures, sun, relaxation, no work, and lots of new experiences. Luckily, Julio's friend has a car, so this will be a road trip - my favorite type of trip! We won't be hitting any major tourist destinations and fighting the crowds; we will be heading to a couple quiet destinations with several sights to see and places to explore. It is everything I could ever want in a vacation - truly!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The last few weeks I have finally started to see the finish line to a never ending race. The start of this race began when I said my first "hola como estas" with a horrible American accent. The end of this race gives me the confidence to actually speak up and completely understand a conversation. I may not be real close to the end of this race; however, I definitely passed the halfway mark! I find myself actually understanding people, replying without thinking to hard, and then smiling to myself like wow - I can do this! Of course, this usually occurs with basic common conversations. I can usually now understand some of the more complex or group conversations as well; however, I definitely need a lot of time to first think in English - translate to Spanish - make sure I am using the right tense (there are like 40!) - then reply. My delayed responses are getting my by I guess, but I look forward to further improvements. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It has been a trying couple of weeks here in Peru as far as my relationship goes. I blame this on a wonderful thing called finals week! Thank goodness it is over. Julio and I generally just see each other on the weekends and one night a week, and that is about right in my opinion. He is very busy with school and work, and I feel very happy with the time we get to spend together. However, the last two and half weeks have been more challenging. He has been crazy busy and stressed - putting him in a bad. I never get to see him or talk to him - putting me in a bad mood. I then talk to a couple people who kind of put some crazy ideas in my head like that I need to demand more from my boyfriend and not put up with anything. So, I get a big head and try to demand that I deserve everything and won't except anything else. (maybe this is a little dramatic - but you probably get the idea).... Anyways.... What I am trying to say is that I took a normal, happy life - made up some problem in my mind and acted on it - which actually created the real problem when there was no problem before - then I feel bad and realize I acted like a "typical woman" which of course no woman wants to be. In the end, I'm lucky to have a boyfriend who is very understanding and still loves me. Maybe it is in the water down here, putting that Peruvian fire and passion into my blood - not sure! </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5PiF1K-GsmaYqsnaV_SUEC_QC1d4R8mWXcAHu2tLDdfgp5IjFNOxmC5laHn2GzLgKHJ-WNbVUX2gwiCnZUJfYld5y2aVLGCTCbTZK3htTUH29XiSIz_slIULRGLSyMDjPr3AxAQxaa7q/s1600/Peru+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5PiF1K-GsmaYqsnaV_SUEC_QC1d4R8mWXcAHu2tLDdfgp5IjFNOxmC5laHn2GzLgKHJ-WNbVUX2gwiCnZUJfYld5y2aVLGCTCbTZK3htTUH29XiSIz_slIULRGLSyMDjPr3AxAQxaa7q/s320/Peru+004.JPG" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my crazy look<br />
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</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So now that I am back to being sane again - after only being crazy for a couple of days, life is good! I may not have as much direction and acheivement in my life as I had set out to have, but I think I have something more. I feel alive, able, and free. I'm not sure we can ever truly learn and know who we are in our lives, but that does not mean we should ever stop searching. Life is an everchanging process. I have no clue what I really want to be (when I grow up), where I want to live, or plans for the future. Oddly enough, I do still feel 100% confident in who I am and the values I have. At times, I wonder if I am slacking.... should I be setting higher standards for myself? real life goals? Then I think, if I had these predefined standards I was working towards at all times - could I ever just live and be happy? I'm sure there is a combination that works best for each person. I've decided, at least for now, I'm pretty ok with just taking things as they come. I always try to do well at what I am doing and make others around me feel happy. I'm pretty sure that isn't the secret to life or progress in society, but it leaves me at peace.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Good night to all!</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-82191388185685264222011-06-06T23:40:00.000-05:002011-06-06T23:40:04.689-05:006-6-11The first time I came to Peru, I was a backpacker longing for an adventure through those places not traveled and seen by most. It was quite a mind rattling experience, but at the same time a complete blur. It isn't that I wasn't seeing what was going on around me because I definitely had my eyes wide open, but it was a deeper understanding to the question "how?" that I couldn't grasp. Sure I could see the poverty, I could comprehend the dire situation that these people are in and that the reason for it reaches far out of their personal control, but how? How in this day and age do we not have a solution? How in this day and age, after 1000's of years of government, have we not mastered the art of successfully governing the people? How in this day and age do we not understand or care about the consequences of our actions until it is too late? Is free will to blame? Are we the people of God inhibited by our own free will? Are we unable to overcome our desire to make decisions based on our own needs and wants? Is it really human instinct to satisfy your own needs before another's?<br />
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Of course I don't have the answers to any of these questions, and of course I am guilty of these selfish acts. I even dare to complain and suggest that I am having a difficult time. Shame on me. Had I put that wasted energy into doing some good for someone else - even the smallest of tasks, I would have been reminded that I have everything I could possibly hope for.<br />
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The results of Peru's election have been made official. The majority in this country has spoken (although the margin was very small!), and they are ready for a complete 180 of the government process. Ollanta Humala will be the new president of Peru. From one standpoint he is viewed as a "nationalist" looking to incorporate socialism to better the life of the poor and change the future of this country for equality of all. On the other hand, he is viewed as a "dictator", an ex-military leader wanting to take complete control of the country and destroy any economic future. Today, the peruvian stock market fell over 12% in the first hour of opening. Markets were then closed for the day to avoid a complete disaster. What will tomorrow bring? Part of my wants to be fearful and join the belief of the masses that Humala is going to force government control, change the constitution, kick out all the foreign individuals and businesses (me included!) and drive the economy into the ground creating havoc. In reality, \my true feeling is that Humala does want to do what is best for the people and help them. Socialism is a great idea in theory, but it has a long standing history that proves a socialist society can not rise up. By taking from the rich (taxes, control, etc...) and giving to the poor, how does the situation really get better? Sure the gap becomes smaller between the rich and poor, but business growth slows and self-motivation to become better or work harder falls. I'm not saying that government regulation does not have its place. I consider myself to personally lean a little to the left in the political spectrum. There is definitely a place for government control and regulation in a free market society; how much? and where? are the most difficult questions. I hope Humala can see the need for a balance, and along with his Congress will have the people's future in mind. What is a fix for today is in no way what will be a fix or success for the future.<br />
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That is enough about politics. I pray the people can come together and seek a higher motivation to not only better their own economic situation, but create something that will grow and give the next generation to have the simple luxurious we take for granted at their finger tips. Basic needs like clean water, a roof, hopefully education and health care will be something available for everyone.<br />
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A subject I have been wanting to talk about has really come to the forefront this week. It kind of falls into line with the elections and thoughts of "how" as well. I've been thinking a lot about the things that really build our character and make us who we are. It is common to assume that one has personal characteristics or mannerisms based on their genes or the social condition they were raised in. Of course this is true, and has been proven so by science. I was wondering how it is that some people fall so easily into this roll and take on the traits that come so naturally to them and other people don't. I'm not in any way inclining that one way is better than the other. The question does arise to me though, is it our choice to change it? Is it our state of mind that allows us to make the decision to step out of what comes naturally and change it, or is it just dumb luck that some people are 100% not influenced by these natural instincts. I believe that it is a state of mind; however, I also believe that there are many outside factors that have to fall into place at just the right time to make it possible. I wonder these things as more of an inquiry on what drives the human race and how can we reach a greater good. I know I definitely fall into the category of being subject to those natural instincts of genes and social coding that have made me who I am. I like to think I can at times step away from my instincts and see things as an outsider watching with no predispotion, but at the end of the day most of my ideals have been ingrained through my upbringing. <br />
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At times I may think and wonder too much, but what I am searching for is more the answer to what really contributes most to a peaceful and loving society. Is it the majority who follow the natural disposition that inhibit a society, or is it those who are watching the world from a different state of mind (a state of mind that maybe does not have a personal benefit or loss) that inhibit society. I don't think that there is an answer and I'm sure everyone has their own personal way of viewing this. I tend to be really interested in reading and learning about how we control our own minds and state of being. Is to master your own state of mind really a deeper way of seeing the world, or does it just cause you to miss out? For me, the state of mind has an immense power over your own personal destiny, but are we really supposed to have control over that? Next time you answer a questions, take note of your first instinct, then take a step back and look at it from outside. Pretend that the outcome will have no personal affect on you, is your answer the same?Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-82537614180479119822011-05-31T12:27:00.000-05:002011-05-31T12:27:21.980-05:005-31-11As I sit in my office with my coat on (yes it gets cold here!), I am longing for the beautiful summer days of Minnesota. You may also be wondering why I am sitting in my office writing this; shouldn't I be working? Yes - I wish with everything in me that I could be working on something of importance. My work here has continued to be pretty slow. This month of May was definitely better than April; however, the last two weeks have become pretty void of interested travelers. Since the majority of our travelers come from the United States, I guess there are a lot of reasons that justify the lag in tourists. Due to the continually rising gas prices (flights increasing!), an uncertainty about the economy, and continuous natural disasters - there isn't much hope to see a big rise in the interest to spend thousands of dollars on a family vacation to South America. I am lucky that it was very busy here when I did first arrive and have continued to have some success in booking trips in advance. My pay is a very small monthly sum as a salary and the rest comes from commission. I don't get paid my commissions for a client that books until close to the time before the client arrives. This is good becasue I have a lot of clientes arriving in the next 3 months, so at least I will still continue to have an ok income through August. However, I am beginning to get a little worried about what will happen after the summer tourist season ends. I guess I can only hope that the economic situation improves and people become motivated to try to book their holiday travel to Peru! (I keep repeating this in my head to try to keep myself positive; but I am finding myself growing more anxious every day) If anyone has a great home business idea they want to share, I may be interested! =) I've been playing with a few ideas, but to make it happen here - where I am not even a legal resident - may be quite challenging.<br />
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The following week will probably bring about some changes in Peru as elections are on Sunday. As I have written before, the final two candidates for president are not popular and very extreme on each side of the spectrum. I am honestly a little worried to see what will happen - especially in the smaller cities outside of Lima. As the North of Peru is strongly in favor of Keiko and the South of Peru is strongly in favor of Humala. There have already been some problems with riots and protestors, and I can only imagine that after the election results are confirmed there may be some conflict. It is an interesting situation and as an outsider I am not trying to judge, but I am a little scared for the people of this country. A lot of the hope that was there for a turn around for the people of this country has been diminished as they are forced to choose between these candidates. I hear a lot of people saying well I am going to vote for "this candidate" because they will do less damage to the country than the other candidate. What a way to choose... Pick the candidate seen as doing the "lesser damage" to your country.<br />
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I guess the reason I haven't wrote in quite a while is that I haven't really done anything very exciting lately. My life has pretty much consisted of work during the week plus now I have Spanish classes two nights a week. Then on the weekends, we have pretty much just stayed in Lima. Julio's schedule is pretty hectic between work and school, so it is hard to really get away and go do anything right now. I know that I could plan something on my own or go somewhere with friends here, but it isn't as simple as it sounds. I could arrange to rent a car I guess (I would never be the driver in this city!) or get on any number of buses that may be going to and from my weekend destination, but it takes quite a bit of time. Also, I honestly wouldn't be comfortable traveling alone on a bus - and I don't think Julio would ever let me attempt it anyway. So..... hopefully soon we can plan a a 3 day weekend so we can actually go somewhere and get out of the city.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://kenraggio.com/Peru-Map-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://kenraggio.com/Peru-Map-2.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="265" /></a>This entire blog sounds a little bit boring and negative, and that is not the tone I am going for. It is not that anything is persay "bad" here, it kind of just "is". Since it "is what it is", it really is up to me to accept it and make the most of it. For the most part I am very happy here and with the way that everything has turned out, but like anywhere you are or anything you do - you have to set the mood yourself. Right now I guess I am just choosing to be content with "what it is" and really have no complaints. I do feel myself getting a little anxious though. Being anxious is not always a negative thing - I honestly think it will probably inspire some motivation. What that motivation will be for is yet to be determined. Maybe I will head out on a new life journey, maybe become inspired on the business side, maybe some faith and soul searching, or any number of scenarios I haven't yet fathomed. As many of you know, I don't just sit with "content" for very long. I really believe that I excel and thrive off of change and new challenges. So even though right now I may be at a bit of a stand still, I know there is some excitement over the horizon - I just haven't looked hard enough yet. =)</div><br />
My apologies for the lack of pictures - as I usually really enjoy documenting my experiences with first hand photos to share with you all. My camera has been under repair for almost 2 months now. Apparently here in Peru, it is impossible to get a new part for a camera. Or so it seems.... I think I will just go pick up my camera and us it as is - it still functions - the zoom just does not work due to an incident involving sand. (Julio is in no way to blame for this - haha) Hopefully soon I will have it back!<br />
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Also, to all my friends and family - I would love to hear from you! Look me up on skype or send me an email - I feel a little out of the loop down here. Take Care Everyone!Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-90145141514531727672011-05-06T22:49:00.002-05:002011-05-06T23:28:06.663-05:005-6-11About three weeks ago, Julio and I went on a hike outside of Lima. It was a little over a 2 hour journey heading out of the city with a combination of combis, taxis, and a bus. Driving through the outskirts of Lima, I can't help but be amazed by what I see. It feels entirely impossible to leave this city. Even as the city road begins to wind through the foothills and up into the mountains, there are still people living in every liveable crevice. The land is very uninhabitable in many areas, as it is pretty much dessert like rock/sand hills with virtually no vegetation. People live all along the highway, right up to the highway, and on up the side of the mountain anywhere they can put a semi fixed structure to call their home. There is very little regulation as far as land ownership and property lines are concerned. You could go as far as to say it is unexistent in some regions. To be honest, it is a little hard to see. I realize many of these people have no where to go, probably have no jobs as there isn't much out on the outskirts of the city, but it still feels like something should be done. Where are all these people coming from? Even Julio commented that since the last time he had been out of the city this direction he did not recall there being this many people. It is like you can't find the country, no matter how far you keep going. This is a very disturbing thought and feeling for a girl who comes from southwest MN. It also opens my eyes wide to how fortunate I am to have grown up in the United States. I'm not trying to imply that it is a matter of being better or worse, but we definitely have priveleges and assistance in the U.S. that are not possible in a 3rd world country. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeflGeLVbc_likHFDav1aiddCn6j129vEbcTRuXs71ThQpOaf4aKNMvFXoqB7PaGrmw2oA2t-z4N-jkmnnViVYe3nogrquQ0E9Wjf5Z4wgtasSjHuZUBU08RxpNXYM_U4PRQxcRGGTO_-/s1600/100_2320%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeflGeLVbc_likHFDav1aiddCn6j129vEbcTRuXs71ThQpOaf4aKNMvFXoqB7PaGrmw2oA2t-z4N-jkmnnViVYe3nogrquQ0E9Wjf5Z4wgtasSjHuZUBU08RxpNXYM_U4PRQxcRGGTO_-/s320/100_2320%255B1%255D.jpg" width="239px" /></a>Eventually, we did reach a point along the river valley where everything turned green and beautiful as we begin to really drive into the tall mountains of the Andes. We got dropped off at a small village where we paid a fee of 2 soles to enter the trail. It was supposed to be a 3 hour hike up to a beautiful waterfall deep in the mountains. We didn't start until about 11 am and we knew the rains were expected to begin later in the afternoon, so we started out in a hurry. I like to think I am pretty in shape and can keep up with the best, and I tried my darndest. Julio is also quite an athlete, and I think one who is not accustomed to traveling with a girl =). The first hour was very intense, up, up, and up. The trail was fairly well mainted for a while, but then turned into a very jagged rocky trail and not real easy to hike. The most amaing thing was that there were several very small villages and farms along the way. We even had to jump off the path in a hurry as an andean women herded her cows, donkeys, and sheep down the mountain with her 2 small kids running along beside her. This was not real easy terrain to maneuver in, and the fact that these people probably do this every day - 5 times a day - now that is the way to train for a marathan! Anyway, we began to close in on what seemed like it should be the top as we saw a sign that said 2 km to the falls - I think the hike was 5 km each way. I must admit - I needed a break! I was beat and having a hard time catching my breathe in the high altitude. After a couple granola bars, some water, and a short rest - we finally climbed up the rest of the way. At a little slower of a pace as I think Julio finally realized he was a little intense for me. We reached the viewpoint in record time and had about an hour to sit and enjoy the scenery. It was a beautiful set of waterfalls in an almost rainforest like setting. The vegetation is absolutely amaing in these mountains. I pointed to two small homes at the very top and said to Julio, "Can you build me a house there?" I don't think he realizes that I actually am serious. A couple of the hikers we had passed on the way up began to reach the top as well - one of them was very friendly and wanted to take our picture. He then emailed me the pictures from the hike so I have something to share. Here is a picture of us on our way back down.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After getting back down at about 3 pm we headed out to get the first bus back towards Lima. We were both exhausted and not feeling the best. I began to have this pain in my head while we were on the bus - all I could do was close my eyes. When we stopped to transfer buses I had to grab a little something to eat and drink because the pain in my head was making me feel sick. Finally, we just decided it was better to go and get home. We got in a combi - extremely crowded, smelly, and loud. This was not good. I have never felt such pain in my life - the last hour of that drive was one of the most miserable things I have ever experienced. Julio knew I was struggling - and he was trying so hard to help, but I couldn't even look at hiim or talk to him. Luckily I eventually got a seat and opened the window with my head almost hanging out to try to get some air. Some guy on the bus was trying to yell at me to close my window and started throwing a fit. Julio got so mad and got into it pretty good with this guy. Sometimes - I am glad I can not understand all of the Spanish. Anyways, we finally got off the bus and got back to Julio's house with him pretty much dragging me along as I was too dizzy to hardly walk myself. I had tears pouring down my face and the worst headache I have ever felt in my life. I guess I now know what a migraine is! I symphathize with any and all people who suffer from this - especially my little brother who used to get migraines all the time. I have never felt so horrible and hope I never have another! I kind of feel like it wasn't just the hike and altitude that made me sick, but maybe a combination of all the stresses in my life that I had been holding in. Julio took such good care of me though, I must say I am one very lucky girl!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Life has been pretty casual around here the last couple of weeks. Work had been really slow for a couple weeks, I believe due to the hike in flight prices in April. Luckily the last two weeks have seen a little relief in airline prices - and it sounds like gas may have reached the peak and either level off or head down - so things are looking up! I had a really busy week this week at work and I can tell my mood is up already. When work is slow I feel unproductive, bored, and not as motivated to even do other things in my life. I truly prefer to be so busy that it feels like a tornado just went through the office. I kind of thrive on the energy and fast pace - and I can tell that it directly impacts how I am outside of work. After a busy day at work I come home with my mood up and feeling productive - it is a good feeling!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The weather here is really beginning to change. It is a little more dreary outside and the temperatures have definitely dropped in the evenings. I also am feeling some physical side affects to this climate change. My allergies have always bothered, but I did get allergy shots in high school and they actually helped some. My allergies were not real bad throughout college or while I lived in Colorado. Here, there most be something new I am allergic too. I semi jokingly said I was allergic to the city, but in all reality I kind of think I am. I have been feeling a little trapped - gasping for fresh air and open fields! Now, it's not just the emotional pull I am feeling, but also something physically telling me my body was not made for this. Well, I'm not planning on leaving anytime soon, so let's hope I adjust quickly!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Good night to all - thanks for reading my random blog.</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-13714373425387042262011-05-02T23:50:00.000-05:002011-05-02T23:50:56.265-05:005-2-11I know I had said I wasn't going to blog on such a regular schedule, but I did not intend to abandon my blog for this long. You could say I've been feeling a little unmotivated as of late. I'm not sure what has come over me the last couple weeks - well other than a lack of motivation. Life is becoming a little challenging at times, and I am not progressing in my life here the way I had hoped. I have very high expectations of myself and when those are not met, I have a hard time excepting the truth. I kind of give up or get down when things aren't going real well. It is hard for me to deal with these times, I think, becasue 9 times out of 10 in my life things have gone really well. Everything from academics, sports, moving, jobs, or life changes - I typically handle, adjust, and succeed. <br />
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Some things are not coming to me as easily as I had hoped - mainly language. Since language is the basis for any social or academic progression - all of that has pretty much halted as well. I felt a real progression for like the first maybe 6 weeks that I was living here, but now, these last six weeks have pretty much felt like a stand still. I admit that this is mostly my own fault. Due to some frustration and absolute boredom with trying to study on my own, I have made absolutely no efforts to study and push myself. I have reached a point in my abilities where I can communicate and make out what is being asked of me. However, this is on a very basic level of communication. When it comes to social matters, local lingo, talking in groups, or understanding when someone isn't speaking directly and clearly - I am pretty much lost. This inability to just catch on once I knew the vocab is very frustrating. As I said before, I had high expectation and thought I would just start to pick things up and be speaking like a regular Peruvian. It has only been 3 months, and I realize these expectations are crazy; however, part of me though maybe it was possible. At long last, I don't have the patience to just wait around until I eventually start to speak better. (this could take like a year!) I have decided that one of the biggest benefits I will receive out of living in Peru is becoming somewhat fluent in another language. This will undoubtedly be a big help in my future and open many possibilities for future jobs. Not to mention that I no longer want to be that "American" that only speaks "American". (and yes I meant to say speaks American instead of speaks English) This weekend I began my search for a language school that teaches Spanish. Surprisingly, there are a ton of schools that offer spanish language classes to expats living in Peru. The problem lies in the schedule of this classes. Most schools are targetting full time students and offering a full language immersion. (this means between 4 - 8 hours of class everyday during the day) There are a couple schools that offer alternative class options that only require one class a day, but these classes are only offered during the hours that I am working. At long last I found two schools that have possible schedules that may work for me. One school offered a four hour class every Saturday, so I called to inquire. It turns out that even though they advertise this class, it only becomes available when enough interest arises to put a class together - currently I am the only one interested. Alas, I found one school that offers a night class - Monday - Wednesday - Friday - from 6-8pm. This could potential be a very good option. I need to talk to my boss and possibly renegotiate my hours/wages to make room for this class. I typically work until 6:30pm currently - I would have to probably leave work by 5:15 in order to get to my class on time. Also, this school happens to be apparently the best language school in Lima; therefore, the most expensive. Time will tell, but I hope in the near future I will be enrolled! Wow - this is probably really boring for someone to read. I apologize, but it is what is weighing heavy on my mind currently. Fixing the language issue is really the first step for me to expand my horizons and fully enjoy this culture and experience. Without it I basically feel like I am walking around with a blindfold on.<br />
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I think I am going to call it a night. I have a couple stories and topics I want to touch on, but I will save that for tomorrow as I am pretty much falling asleep on my computer as we speak. =) Goodnight WorldJuliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-18858363206007574862011-04-12T23:25:00.001-05:002011-04-12T23:37:24.979-05:004-12-11Well it has been a busy couple of weeks here in Peru, but very exciting as well. To be honest, being busy is actually not the reason at all that I have not updated my blog. I have been kind of starting to ask myself, "Why am I keeping this blog?" I am not trying to just use this as another social media outlet to broadcast information about myself or brag about everything I am doing. Writing this blog has actually been really enjoyable for me; but I don't want it to become a chore - just something I have to do for any readers out there I may have. The truth is I started this because I enjoy writing and thought it would be wonderful to document some of my experiences to look back on later in life. Of course, at the same time I know it is a great way for my family and friends to check in on me and share comments if they'd like. I also want to make sure to try to use this blog for more of a purpose rather than just gossip or updates on what I am doing. (Because to be honest, it is wonderful and exciting, but no matter what you do or don't do in life you can choose to make it wonderful and exciting) In conclusion, you may find that from now I probably won't share as many deatils about my day to day activities. More than anything, I want to share the meaningful experiences and hopefully send a message that will somehow brighten another person's day or touch them in some way. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRURyQbEcW2hRlzIg4YsouFTpGyytjRRt6OlJu6Pcj6YhYZC8BXbriLA0dFc08YMRusA3RXYEfy0FMieBshFhDwqmk0Exq8an4J5pIBjG6iJ2e69asRyZ6_yToIIAMcRyR2TrYN-VfZc_/s1600/Cuzco+Trip+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRURyQbEcW2hRlzIg4YsouFTpGyytjRRt6OlJu6Pcj6YhYZC8BXbriLA0dFc08YMRusA3RXYEfy0FMieBshFhDwqmk0Exq8an4J5pIBjG6iJ2e69asRyZ6_yToIIAMcRyR2TrYN-VfZc_/s320/Cuzco+Trip+069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I spent last weekend on a little trip for work. It was a 4 day / 3 night trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu - packed full of tours and hotel visits. I won't explain everything about this trip, but there are definitely some highlights worth mentioning. The ancient city of Cusco was the heart and driving force of the Inca Empire. Learning more about the history and power of this Empire is incredible; I highly suggest any history buffs out there to go do some reading about the rise of this colony and era. The architecture, art, intelect, spirtuality, and power of the Inca Empire can not really completely be understood until you are standing there in front of something like Machu Picchu. Breathtaking is truly an understatement. Looking down on this massive ruin temple you literally feel the energy and spirit of the place come to life. There is no doubt that the significance of this site can not be fully understood by us today. There are many unanswered questions about the purpose of this site, how it was constructed, and the capabilities of the people whom dwelt here. The fact that these Inca ruins have withstood hundreds of years of abuse - hidden under brush, withstanding several earthquakes, massive floods, and have been uncovered in nearly perfect condition is astonishing. Can you honestly imagine any buildings we build today will be standing in 500 or 1000 years from now? Obviously we haven't figured out how to build buildings that withstand earthquakes, yet the logic of building something at a 9 degree angle leaning inward to withstand any ground movements was very aparent to ancient societies. The architecture and manpower is absolutely mind boggling.<br />
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Another important thing I took away from this trip was the experience of being a tourist - and doing it alone. Of course I was on tours with different groups everyday, but it is a totally different experience to arrive somewhere and travel alone. A lot of people tell me I am very independent and brave, and I also like to think I can be at times; however this isn't always true. Being a solo traveler in a group, people are very receptive of you. I made a lot of friends and had some great conversations with travelers from all of the place. The other solo travelers tend to group together, and many other young and old adventurers become very interested in finding out how you got here and what your story is. I was definitely received much differently than I would have been had I been traveling with a friend or boyfriend by my side. I have a new respect for many of those people who head out on vacations and adventure treks completely alone. It is a totally different experience from traveling with friends, and I think many new doors are opened to you when you are solo. Although it may be hard to take that first step off the plane alone or walk onto a bus with no one to sit next too, I think everyone should try it. It is definitely not something I always want to do, but it really taught me a lot about myself and made me feel more confident. I am not in any way saying that traveling alone is better than sharing a vacation with a spouse or friend, but I honestly feel it is something everyone should experience. So if anyone is looking to get away and experience traveling on their own, please call me at my office and I'l'l set up your trip.... (sorry I have to add a little plug!)<br />
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There is a major change happening in Peru right now politically. The primary election round was just held this past Sunday and voters have finalized two candidates to run for election in June. Peru is still most definitely a "third world country" (I don't really like this term) but has received an economic surge over the past 15 - 20 years. Obviously I have not lived here and can not speak from experience, but I would like to share some of what I have learned. Peru has had many corrupt governments in the past that have held the country and people far behind the rest of the world. The sudden upturn Peru (basically Lima) has experienced in it's recent history has been accredited to the right side currently in office. Peru is seen from the outside as a rising power with a lot of potential for growth. It is very evident in the beautiful communities here in Lima that there definitely is wealth and opportunity. However, what is not typically seen by the rest of the world is that two blocks away from the most modern, impressive buildings and companies in Lima there is extreme poverty. The living conditions outside of this safe, heart of Lima (that I am fortunate to live in) are often covered up and not portrayed in news, media, or corprate decisions. This isn't to say that the country is not still progressing and improving the lives of those in poverty; it is just an observation regarding the extreme differences that exist. The front running and top candidates of the current party in office, as portrayed by the media, didn't even come close to winning. It turns out there is a much larger population in Peru than that of the upperclass, educated young adults, and people dwelling in the heart of Lima. What became impressively evident in the elections was the desire for change by the underclass. They do not feel the last 20 years of economic growth have benefitted them; they are looking for a change. The winning candidates for election in Peru have been portrayed in a very ugly light in the media. Ollanta Humala is known as an extreme leftist with socialist ideas. He was strongly active in the military with a track record that consists of a lot of human rights issues and uprising, also a brother serving a life sentence for involvement in a lot of dangerous activities that many think Humala should have been arrested for as well. Many think Humala will be a dictator, throwing out Congress and allowing complete military control. The other candidate is a young women, Keiko. She is advocating for lots of help and support for the poor and continued growth of the current economic system. The problem is that her father was president of Peru during some very ugly years. He was involved in a lot of government scandels and is serving consecutive life sentences in prison for some horrible acts he was part of. Peru celebrated the day her father was taken out of office, and this is when the country first began to surge and take an economic rise. How she is even being considered for office after what her father had done is questioned by many. I want to point out that this is my perception as an outsider - based on television reports, news, and opinions of many of the young people around me. There is definitely a sense of uncertainty about what is going to happen; many people will refuse to vote for either of the final candidates. Peru is in for some changes that is evident; however, how soon or in what form these changes will come is to be determined. I guess we can only hope that whoever takes office truly has the best interest of the people in hand. With today's media and bashing during elections, it is hard to say what is and isn't true. It will be interesting to see everything unfold in the June elections. (if you thought political campaigns were dirty in the U.S. - you have no idea)<br />
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I talked to my family tonight - got to talk with my godson and nephew, Hudson. I sure do miss being part of his life, he is one special little boy that is for sure. I'm not sure where my future is headed. It would be nice if life were easy and I could just travel all around returning home anytime I missed my family and wanted to visit. Unfortunately it is not quite as easy as that. Finding a balance between all the things you want in your life and all the things you need in your life is not always easy. I guess I am continually learning. Right now I am missing home - yet I am loving the experience of life here. My heart is torn, but I know that things always do fall into place. It is sometimes just the waiting and decision making that is hard.<br />
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Good night to all!Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-66074572417438443892011-03-28T22:16:00.000-05:002011-03-28T22:16:18.074-05:00Happy Birthday Susan! I have to send her a wish becasue we share birthday/half birthdays! It's always been so fun to celebrate with you Suz! Sorry I am missing it this year, but please know I am thinking of you!Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-45529599979909459032011-03-28T22:09:00.000-05:002011-03-28T22:09:35.120-05:003 - 28 - 11<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WI2lf9f23B78pYINRER3ih7nBZWY_16b1f6LHTepLHh-JCPn5hIIcDIx7PRmVTTj2jyN1Coj3I4dTj3UXjak8d4WiRoZIw-1DNGrs0x0gOy63Kg3U5pz1I3aEUJgccxQe4sYok1x69kd/s1600/188589_10150122981187239_666777238_6492538_3489865_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WI2lf9f23B78pYINRER3ih7nBZWY_16b1f6LHTepLHh-JCPn5hIIcDIx7PRmVTTj2jyN1Coj3I4dTj3UXjak8d4WiRoZIw-1DNGrs0x0gOy63Kg3U5pz1I3aEUJgccxQe4sYok1x69kd/s320/188589_10150122981187239_666777238_6492538_3489865_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating with the Birthday Girl</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Buenas Noches Amigos! Tonight I am writing from Starbucks while enjoy a chai tea - and yes it tastes the same as in the U.S. It is really nice to walk into some of the chain restaurants here simply because it looks just the same as in the States. They have McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and I'm sure others I haven't run into yet. I never was much of a fast food fan, but I must say I've been eating more of it lately and I think it is because I like the familiarity more than the food. I guess I need to hurry up and join a gym if I keep this up!</div><br />
Not a whole lot has changed since my last update, work is still going well. The biggest update is that I moved. The move was super easy being as I only own about 2 suitcases worth of items. I did have to make a big trip to Plaza Vea (like walmart) here and buy a lot of household items which is nice. The new place is great; I walked to work this morning with a huge smile on my face! It is located right next to a beautiful park and very close to a fancy shopping district. This could be bad news..... walking next to these high end shops I already feel my credit card burning a hole in my pocket. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOFx-PUt89L6xpMzBSClpxen6lydHt2GhyphenhyphenwKmSdUrXE13cgzObRo1pZv8F7SZgx4otaPnIkNybHiqxgBTnBdtiHm8m1RVNY5ZRcovN9-fkiUEk2sJB3Y9wW2pB64aRED-nMSNKbwGhRiV/s1600/198559_10150122978827239_666777238_6492488_6814861_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOFx-PUt89L6xpMzBSClpxen6lydHt2GhyphenhyphenwKmSdUrXE13cgzObRo1pZv8F7SZgx4otaPnIkNybHiqxgBTnBdtiHm8m1RVNY5ZRcovN9-fkiUEk2sJB3Y9wW2pB64aRED-nMSNKbwGhRiV/s320/198559_10150122978827239_666777238_6492488_6814861_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My co-workers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This weekend I got to head out to a birthday party on Friday night. One of the girls I work with was celebrating her 25th birthday and hosted a big party at her house. All of my coworkers were there along with a lot of other people. Julio came with me, and we had a really good time! One thing I can say about people in Peru is they really know how to host a party. They serve food all night long, always make sure your glass is full, play great music, and everyone is very friendly. After the party, Julio and I went out and met up with one of his friends. This made for a rather comical evening. Julio's friend had a rather good time telling me all of Julio's secrets and what he maybe says about me when I am not around. I think Julio was a little embarrassed, but all in all it was pretty funny - and good insight for me! As I sometimes accuse Julio of never wanting me to meet his friends from school. I guess now I know why.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Saturday was very relaxed and Sunday was just a busy day of moving. I think I was a little too stressed, which made Julio stressed, which made for not the best moving day in the world. But, it was a good thing I don't have much stuff. Now I am all settled in for now; although I already have a list of new things I need to buy for the house!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It is hard for me to relate to many of the Peruvian "young adults" here, because their lifestyle is much different. It is very common for people to live under their parents roof until they are in their late 20s or married. Kids generally don't have a lot of responsibilities as the mother cares very diligently for her family. She cooks all the meals, wakes her kids up for school/work, cleans up after them, and most households hire a maid because it is so cheap to have one. It is also very common for the family to pay for all of the kids education. I hate to spoiled, because that really isn't the right word. Life is not as easy here as in the States, that is for sure. However, I guess young adults don't have the same responsibilities here as we do in the U.S. I feel like as soon as I was out of the house I had to take care of everything on my own. I had school, work, bills, had to clean and cook for myself, came home to a dorm or empty house, etc.... I may have been a little too independent and tried to hard to do everything on my own, but still, in generally I'm not sure that young adults here can really understand the independence that we crave in the U.S. Even Julio, although I think he craves to have the independence, can not always relate to what I am talking about. It isn't fair for me to compare young adults here to young adults in the States though, because here, without a degree, you don't really have the opportunity to make enough money to live on your own. There are a lot of little things I notice about Julio and some of my friends here that tell me they would not know what to do if they had to live on their own. It just isn't part of the culture here.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anyway, my chai tea is about gone so I think I may retire for the evening. This Starbucks was recently robbed by gunpoint and all the laptops were stolen from the patrons. It is funny how that makes me feel extra safe. There are now two cops standing outside the door with guns. I wouldn't say this city is dangerous by any means, I actually feel very safe here. However, like in any big city robberies do happen. However, it is pretty rare a robber would came back to the same place again a week later - so I think I am safe! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I leave for Cuzco on Friday - and get to be a tourist - finally!! Words can't describe my excitement, but I will share the whole experience when I return next week. Hopefully I will have some pretty sweet pictures as well. Take Care Everyone!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-29612038456770260692011-03-23T23:09:00.001-05:002011-03-23T23:19:49.485-05:00<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriapardo/5505503330/" title="DSC03709 by Gloria Pardo, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03709" height="447" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5505503330_d2598a696f.jpg" width="500" /></a>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-79265923690330798482011-03-22T22:44:00.000-05:002011-03-22T22:44:55.942-05:003 - 22 - 11Well better late than never... I am a little late on my weekly update. I hope I haven't left my family/friends in any distress wondering what happened. :o) (kidding) I guess time is just flying by, days are running into each other and turning into weeks, weeks are running into each other and are turning into months, etc.... Ok so that is a little bit dramatic, but you get the point. I guess things aren't as new and exciting as when I first got here, so everything is blending together a little more. That just means I am in more of a routine and following the same patterns day after day, which is what happens when you have a job. It would be pretty sweet if I could just wonder from park to park each day and learn more about the culture, but reality is I have to pay rent among other things.<br />
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The job is still going really well. It is always exciting, sometimes crazy, yet able to be handled at your own pace and on your own accord. I enjoy the independence of the job and the fact that how hard I work determines how well I do. I also work with some pretty great folks. We all went out for a little celebration one night after work last week to celebrate my first sales. It was fun to spend a little time with everyone outside of the office. We had a lot of laughs, some good food, and a couple drinks. I've always had really good relationships with my coworkers at pretty much all of my jobs. I think this makes life more enjoyable, I mean you spend a minimum of 40 hours a week with these people - you might as well enjoy their company and spend a little more!<br />
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Oh Julio - I try not to write too much about him in this blog. I'm not sure how much he appreciates all these aspects of his life being shared with all my family/friends. Not that he minds, but maybe the idea is a little strange being he has never met any of you. I tell him that probably the whole town of Storden knows everything about him, probably even more than I know! I love to tell him stories about life in MN and how wonderful it is. Living here has really made me appreciate all the wonderful things about living in the country. Hopefully someday I can bring Julio back with me and you all can show him just how wonderful of a place southwest MN is! Julio has been so great to me this week. Not that he wasn't nice before, but I think he is starting to get maybe a little more sweet on me than he thought he would. ( I hope he doesn't read this ) We learn so much from each other and about each other every day. It's funny how you go from just wanting a chance to be in the same country, to in the same area of the city, to in the same room, to having them by your side. I really like to have my own space, but I think it's okay if Julio wants to be in that space.<br />
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I'm moving! This is both exciting and a little sad, but more exciting. I will be moving to a really nice area of the city, and it is walking distance from my job. Goodbye taxis, goodbye combis, goodbye headache from the traffic every morning - you will not be missed! I will be moving in with another American girl who has been living here in Peru for a while. She teaches English and also has a Peruvian boyfriend. We've got a lot in common and I think it will be a great living situation. My lease starts on the first of April, but I can start moving next Sunday. I am excited to do a little shopping. My new house is not completely furnished like the one I have now, so I will need to buy a few things. It will be nice to have my own things in my house, it makes it more comfortable and homey. <br />
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This past weekend I was a little sick. Not really sure with what, but I stayed home for a pretty quiet weekend and I now feel much better. I did get out a little bit over the weekend though. I went to the Fuentes show here in Lima. It is a beautiful park with lots of Fountains and a featured show with lights, music, water, etc... We sell this at my job, and everyone talked about how great it was, so I wanted to see for myself. It only costs about a $1.50 to get into the park, and it was well worth it. I went with Julio and my roommate, Mario. I think we were all pretty impressed and surprised at how beautiful everything was at night. Even Julio had never been to this show. On Sunday Julio and I went to a beach here in Lima. The beaches here in the city aren't really that pretty, and are mostly rocky. It was still nice to enjoy some sun and just have a little time to talk. The highlight really was this poor man who took our picture. He had one of those really old camera's that prints your picture right away and then you wait a few minutes for the picture to show up. It was such a great idea and I will cherish the picture forever. For 5 soles I have the most beautiful picture of Julio and I by the ocean. I wish I could share it with you all, it kind of looks like an antique! <br />
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I had wanted to write something a little different this week. Something more personal about myself and what life is really like when you move to another country. It is surprising the little things that start to matter to you or no longer matter to you. I guess I'll wait and go into detail about this in another post. Right now I am feeling a little tired and hungry for ice cream. Ice cream is like home to me here. When I was little, I ate ice cream as my bedtime snack, then of course there was the Shady, a 7-foot ice-cream cone I constructed, boxes upon boxes of ice cream in college, and now more ice cream in Peru. I guess ice cream is a big part of my life. It is what I always want to eat when I want to feel good or be reminded of home. Pretty much every day I get an ice cream. Here in Peru, there are vendors for different ice cream brands that ride around on bikes ( 3 wheeled contraptions ) with a cooler selling ice cream treats. They ride around there section blowing there horn alerting people that they are coming by. It really is just like having an ice cream truck drive around with its little music playing. Everyone knows that sound that signifies the ice cream vendor and everyone here loves to run out and have an ice cream treat. ( People definitely eat more desserts here, yet they are still skinny - it isn't fair )<br />
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I should have an exciting next couple of weeks with some upcoming plans. I look forward to sharing more soon! Good night!Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-62018925448277688212011-03-13T21:04:00.000-05:002011-03-13T21:04:30.844-05:003-13-11<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvsSKFrTKSeb5s6EXgjr_o5dWLKHclX5UDhm6RWWSyhMuq85vNoeMy2Lb3rZlqGsz4E-nz3PkLgOq0zgBE3f1_wR-3tbb0zw9tDlfZWdh4nqXIoTTFC0OGIsyxRfJwM3W5ZyHDbG8r5UY/s1600/DSCN0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvsSKFrTKSeb5s6EXgjr_o5dWLKHclX5UDhm6RWWSyhMuq85vNoeMy2Lb3rZlqGsz4E-nz3PkLgOq0zgBE3f1_wR-3tbb0zw9tDlfZWdh4nqXIoTTFC0OGIsyxRfJwM3W5ZyHDbG8r5UY/s320/DSCN0390.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forward motion only requires one small step</td></tr>
</tbody></table>There is a song I have been finding myself listening to again and again and again. I first heard it about 3 months ago on my itunes radio and fell in love with it. It was starting to get pretty popular before I left, so many of you may know this song: Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWOyfLBYtuU">Song</a>. A very unique artist, and I can't begin to imagine where the inspiration for the song or the video came from. However, for some reason I want this song to be like my theme song. I don't think that my life relates to this song, not really anyway, but it inspires me and I love the lyrics. <br />
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This week I feel like I've really settled in. Everything is starting to feel comfortable, and I'm adjusted to the idea that this is my life. It's not just something I'm trying out, wandering through, or watching from the outside. This is my life, the one life I have, and I want to be 100% in this moment. My mind has become more aware and present. When I first arrived, my energy was focused a lot on myself. Not because I was trying to be selfish, but because I was so lost that it took everything I had to just get what I needed. Now I can actually listen to, understand, and really relate to someone else. The focus of my attention can now be on someone else's wants or needs. I guess the biggest barriers were the language and uncertainty of my surroundings. I am definitely pretty comfortable with my surrounding, and the language, well it is coming along as good as I can expect after living here for a month. <br />
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Work provided me with another busy week. This is a good thing. I like being so busy that I don't have enough time to really think about anything. Like when you're really in the groove and flowing from one thing to the next. It's like you just know what to do and how to do it without thinking it through. It was another successful week and I think vacation planning is actually kind of a fun career. Next week, the other sales agent returns from her over two week vacation. It will be nice to have some of the loud taken off, but even nicer to have someone to help me learn how to do more things.<br />
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All kinds of relationships have been growing around me this week. Now that I am beginning to communicate with others and am able to listen to them, people have really opened up to me. I dare say, I may even have a few new friends. From people in the office to old and new roommates at my house, it has been a social week. I am learning a lot about the interesting people around me. They come from all walks of life, each unique, and many with extremely interesting stories to tell! I think this whole growing process has really been great for the relationship I already had as well. Julio has always been really great, but I feel now that he maybe appreciates me more. We never really knew each other that well; we had more of an instant deep connection than an actual relationship. Now, we are really getting to know each other, and I think it's safe to say we still like each other, probably even more than before. :o)<br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIY0259-Sd-Ox9VVwxFLC5TDiFbFVbEHlEacvDn21GYF99NTLAVCBCK51YTV_alECzJ7g08NONYjLdzTHPFtRPydbuZFZ0SzTkSnA-mLLNNYQZe6HREYtrip_2aLTKndThwvj2kmwYJ_X/s1600/DSCN0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIY0259-Sd-Ox9VVwxFLC5TDiFbFVbEHlEacvDn21GYF99NTLAVCBCK51YTV_alECzJ7g08NONYjLdzTHPFtRPydbuZFZ0SzTkSnA-mLLNNYQZe6HREYtrip_2aLTKndThwvj2kmwYJ_X/s200/DSCN0387.JPG" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My vantage point - tsunami waves</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This week there was a great sadness that hit our country with the earthquake and following tsunami in Japan. It's great the way the world can really pull together at times of need. It is also amazing how small our world really is. A tragedy like that in Japan not only reaches our homes through communication means, but it touches us physically with the aftermaths. The fact that the tsunami waves could reach as far as the US shore, and here in Peru, just baffles my mind. The waves were set to reach the Peruvian coast at about 8:45 on Friday night in Lima. A lot of the city had shut down at 4:00 as a safety measure. The coastal highways were closed, all businesses were instructed to close at 4:00, and people were urged to take safety precautions. People lined the Dunes overlooking the coast waiting to watch and experience what was to come. There were some pretty good sized continuous waves, but I can't say they were any bigger than the waves are here on a windy day, I think everyone felt a sigh of relief, but also a little disappointment; as they were hoping to witness sometheing a little bit bigger. All in all, it is just most important that everyone was safe.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygPpD6NNsmDZ6UqVx7X762sKx4XAO-4qeyjSeOcJ19wKvjI9Dw-KOMUovhqxIp4cEXRdPPg7xoknp6PjN4utga_BM9c46W5nAc8xXEOfZtgoMdUfvbjv3G9rF7ZJ9iBFMfzUkJmiq7O4a/s1600/DSCN0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygPpD6NNsmDZ6UqVx7X762sKx4XAO-4qeyjSeOcJ19wKvjI9Dw-KOMUovhqxIp4cEXRdPPg7xoknp6PjN4utga_BM9c46W5nAc8xXEOfZtgoMdUfvbjv3G9rF7ZJ9iBFMfzUkJmiq7O4a/s200/DSCN0389.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other onlookers<br />
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</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This weekend we had a big party at my house. It was a party in celebration of the leaving of one of the girls that lives her. She will be returning in a couple of months, but nonetheless, a good reason for a party. Here in Peru, everyone likes to go all out for a celebration. We had a great BBQ with way too much food, good music, lots of laughs, and many kind people. It was fun to socialize a little bit, especially in Spanish! I also met a couple other Americans, and I really enjoyed talking to them about their experiences here. There are so many really unique great people traveling here. I look forward to meeting more American travelers and also making more Peruvian friends.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Today, I went out for an amazing lunch with my roommates. It was at a restaurant called El Mirador. It is a long ways away from my home, in the northern most part of the city. It overlooks the harbor where hundreds of vessels come with cargo. It is a very pretty area with a Naval Academy, Army Museums, a beautiful beach area, and some nice shops and restaurants. It is small, it is not like the large areas of the city where there is always traffic and hustle and bustle. Driving through the city today, I really have started to realize how huge this place is. There are so many areas I don't know and haven't seen. I think you could live here a lifetime and still not know all the little secrets. I guess that is just how big cities are though. I'm used to Storden where I have ever street corner, tree, building, or change that has ever happened, engraved in my brain. I'm excited to do some more exploring.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I hope everyone back home is well and safe. Also, please remember that I do live here and I am a travel agent. If you want a vacation, please take advantage of me! I would love love love to see some familiar faces this year!!! Here is my work website: <a href="http://www.peruvacationtours.com/">http://www.peruvacationtours.com/</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hasta Luego!</div> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-8950046881054204752011-03-07T07:47:00.002-05:002011-03-07T07:47:14.103-05:003-7-11Here is a link to some pictures from the festival I was at yesterday. Photos of courtesy of Gloria - <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriapardo/sets/72157626213799600/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriapardo/sets/72157626213799600/</a> Very beautiful pictures!Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-7871543699269728122011-03-06T22:51:00.001-05:002011-03-06T22:53:26.586-05:003 - 6 - 11It's been a week already, and time for another update. I'm finding I really enjoy this whole blogging thing. I find myself making notes during the week or thinking, wow I can't wait to put this in my blog and tell everyone! It really is a great way to stay connected, but even more than that, it's great self therapy. It gives me time to reflect on everything that has happened during the week and actually see it in writing. It is much different to actually read your thoughts rather than just think them. <br />
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This week had a very sad beginning. My Grandpa, Derold Parker, passed away on Monday morning. He had been battling cancer for almost a year. For a lot of this past year he has been doing really well, but the last 3 months had definitely gone down hill. I guess I sort of knew when I said goodbye to him before I left for Peru that it may be the last time I saw him, but it's hard to really say goodbye in that way before you really can say goodbye. (I'm not sure if that makes sense to everyone, but it makes sense to me) My Grandpa was a very unique man, and I mean that in a good way. I can't say I have ever known or will ever know anyone who is at all like him. He had a very big heart, loved to spend time with his grandkids, and had a lot of great stories to tell. I have many great memories with him. He is now resting in peace and has no more pain. <br />
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Last week, I talked a lot about the stress and long hours with my job. Well I guess it is true that hard work pays off. I had a very successful week at work and everything seems to be coming together with the job. I have taken in so much information about traveling in Peru, I feel like an expert on places I have never been. It must have reflected in my conversations with clients this week, because I closed 6 new sales. My boss, and our investor, sat me down and simply asked me, "How did you do that?" I guess in the past, it typically has taken a new agent at least a month before they are lucky enough to close one deal. Needless to say, they were very happy with me, and are now sending me on a free vacation to Machu Picchu the first of April! They said, if you can sell this good without even knowing the place, we'd like to see how much you can sell after you have been there. Ok, enough of tooting my own horn! I was pleasantly surprised with myself and feel much more confident in my abilities. So, I am looking forward to work this week. With all the busy hustle and buslte of doing bookings and working closely with a couple of the other girls in the office, I feel like I finally fit in. I am getting better at communicating in Spanish, and I think they really appreciated my hard work. Because well, frankly, the more the sales agent sells, the more everyone in the office makes.<br />
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This week, I took a taxi every day to work. And wow, I was in such a better mood. The taxi drivers are actually pretty nice and usually really like to talk to me. I enjoy this because it gives me really good practice with my Spanish! The reason I wanted to mention the taxis and being in a better mood is because I'd like to talk about the importance of putting yourself into a state of mind. After having a bit of a breakdown last week, I simply made up mind that I was going to make some changes. My attitude was completely adjusted and I looked at everything as an opportunity. I smiled, laughed, and enjoyed myself more this week than I can really ever remember doing. I know many of you have probably read books like The Secret or the Power of Positive Thinking, but have you ever really tried it? I can't say I believe one theory is exactly correct or that it really brings extra success your way, but I think it does make your life better. I'm struggling to explain this in words without making it sound really silly, but I think each morning we choose our destiny for that day. If you wake up dreading going into work, you're going to mope around all day at work. If you wake up excited about what your working on, you're going to find success and fulfillment. My thoughts go a lot deeper on this whole subject of positive thinking and living in the now, but for now, I'll just leave it at this. Remember to give thanks for everything you have, remember to smile at everyone you meet, and remember to take time to take care of yourself.<br />
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Again, I spent this weekend here in the city. Since I had such a great week at work, I decided I was going to dress up and head out on the town. On Friday night, Julio and I went out walking around the busy downtown area and stopping in a couple places to have a drink or two. I haven't really been out to the bars here yet, so it was kind of nice just to experience the atmosphere. We had a lot of fun, maybe a little too much fun, as Julio ended up almost having to carry me home later that night :). I can't say that going out here is really a whole lot different than going out in a big city in the US. Here, the parties just last until the sun comes up. On Saturday, I had to go into work for about 4 hours. ( I have to work every third Saturday from 10 - 2) After work, I kind of just walked around the city, went to KFC because I was craving some "American food" and went home to take a nap. The evening was spent pretty relaxed as well just watching a movie. <br />
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Today, Sunday, may have been the craziest day I have ever had. Crazy in a really good way. I woke up without any plans really, and then saw that my landlord had emailed me about a festival going on in the city. It was just a parade/carnival to celebrate summer. I thought sure, maybe this will be fun. It was a blast! I went with Julio and a couple of his friends. We then met up with my landlord and one of my roommates. This wasn't just a parade. It was a massive mob of people in crazy costumes taking up about 6 city blocks. The parade wans't something you watched, it was something you were part of. There were big banners, drumlines, tall charicatures, and about 10,000 hippies. There were also several bands playing at various locations, lots of food to share, and complete happiness! Oh, and I haven't mentioned paint! The main attraction of this parade was the crazy costumes and paint. There were water guns with paint, ballons with paint, and just buckets of paint everywhere. People just came up to you with globs and paint and threw it on you or drew on you. Everyone was covered head to toe in a beautiful canvas of paint! No one cared how they looked or what they were doing, everyone was just dancing, singing, laughing, and enjoying! It is hard to describe this experience as I don't think there could ever be anything like this in the US. My landlord, Gloria, took lots of pictures! As soon as I get some from her, I will put some on here. The funny thing about being covered in paint is that it made me feel beautiful! I think I was more beautiful today than I have ever been in my life.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I really hope everyone is doing well! This week, I got to talk with my family a little more than usual. Although it was under sad circumstances, it was really nice! I definitely miss home, my family, and my friends! I find myself having a little bit of an internal battle. I feel a little guilty for leaving everything behind, like it was kind of selfish for me to move to Peru. Yet on the other hand, I am absolutely loving it and can't imagine my life without having this experience. So I hope you all know how much I think of you and do truly miss you, please come visit me! I can probably sell you a vacation ;) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Unfortunately, I kind of forgot to take any pictures this week, so here is a couple more from my trip a couple weeks ago!</div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEC2p6lO4Sr9vbKkKZS8ao5cLyvMx96btop8HBdrv6MtDC9R8l2vrmt05EwIMHtk8WpZYOA7YLIFtZy7gsOIj2aprXYOCx3R7sAB_fWGBvqYxwOKa7OvcgXXcYD6WgC4tOV1GkDX86qm8/s1600/DSCN0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEC2p6lO4Sr9vbKkKZS8ao5cLyvMx96btop8HBdrv6MtDC9R8l2vrmt05EwIMHtk8WpZYOA7YLIFtZy7gsOIj2aprXYOCx3R7sAB_fWGBvqYxwOKa7OvcgXXcYD6WgC4tOV1GkDX86qm8/s320/DSCN0317.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Lions at Ballestas Islands</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRrB7zu5FWpwi48atxOwvPjhnKGB2J0tfDS9_977Pc-s7R1-rkNboKX7PA92xQKsE6UDAyI1PGYr99oHx6bU37MIBvclt_n_ely1vflQiZunXQhzudyBwJkLq0_fuzQ7b6clxS1BWAkUQ/s1600/DSCN0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRrB7zu5FWpwi48atxOwvPjhnKGB2J0tfDS9_977Pc-s7R1-rkNboKX7PA92xQKsE6UDAyI1PGYr99oHx6bU37MIBvclt_n_ely1vflQiZunXQhzudyBwJkLq0_fuzQ7b6clxS1BWAkUQ/s320/DSCN0378.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chillin on the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-21968709131683481482011-02-27T17:17:00.000-05:002011-02-27T17:17:23.612-05:002 - 27 - 11 <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUH2GHjCgaKv5AGooRm0wcEIUGGSavKQK2Xg2mz63NqXSro9cqpJ6z44CM84HnlBKC-KGFyAlhPx4Ngjff7Frtoh5mDoSuFeno35zTlQZyTVPYHPhgx7std4WzrCTWF-Y7cB_rGWa9HB7/s1600/DSCN0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUH2GHjCgaKv5AGooRm0wcEIUGGSavKQK2Xg2mz63NqXSro9cqpJ6z44CM84HnlBKC-KGFyAlhPx4Ngjff7Frtoh5mDoSuFeno35zTlQZyTVPYHPhgx7std4WzrCTWF-Y7cB_rGWa9HB7/s320/DSCN0169.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out to Miraflores from a park near my home</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well this week has been a little different than the the past couple weeks. There have been a lot of changes, not bad, but just things I have to learn to adjust to. I've also had a big reality check this week. I'm learning a lot about myself and how I handle my stress and daily challenges.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Unfortunately I don't have much for crazy adventures to share this time, but I'll share a little bit about my new job. (Which I guess has been kind of a crazy adventure) I feel a little like I've been thrown into something very unprepared, and I don't like that. I like to feel confident in what I am doing and have all the facts and figures in front of me. I don't mind learning on my own at all, I actually prefer it, I just feel because of their desperate need to fill the position and train someone before the only other sales agent when on a two week vacation that I wasn't given ample time. I can honestly say I have never felt so busy at a job before. What should be a 40 hour work week was over 50 hours this week. In all honesty, I guess I choose to work that much; I can basically work as much or little as want depending on the needs of my clients and how many sales I want to make. However, all incoming clients are coming to me this week, and even my boss said it has been an unusually busy week with new requests. I think I finally have a really good grasp on how the whole process works and I feel confident in my ability to do the job. I gained about 15 new clients this week. This involves calling the client, talking to them about their trip and what they want, putting together a package, quoting prices for all hotels/flights/tours/dinners/etc...., and putting it in a written itinerary to sell the finished product. Obviously, no one is ever happy with the initial offer. There are always calls for changes in the itinerary, changes in dates, or just wanting to negotiate the price. Most of my clients I talked with this week about 2 or 3 times over the phone and endless emails. I've only made one for sure booking, but a lot of hopeful ones for this week! I hope! (I also lost one really big booking that I spent way too much time on with the client.... very frustrating....) I've found myself not always telling the whole truth on the phone either, like when people ask if I've been somewhere or done something, of course I tell them about how great of an experience I had. I hope this doesn't come back to haunt me later on.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Everyone I work with is really nice and helpful. Although I hate to have to ask for help, when I need to, everyone has been very patient with me. It's been a little difficult because some of the people I need to work with for price quotes do not speak English. It's been good practice for me with my Spanish skills I guess, but also trying at times. Another language barrier at work that is really bothering me is Microsoft Office. I use Microsoft Excel and Word for every package, and everything is in Spanish. It's not that hard, but every once in a while I find myself wasting time trying to figure out how to edit something or change a formula and I can't read the darn toolbar. Again, just making my work day longer.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My commute to work is a topic I would rather pass over. It takes me anywhere from 40 minutes to almost an hour to get to and from work via the bus. The bus is crowded, smelly, and causing me more stress than I want to deal with. After some thinking and talking with Julio about quality of life versus money, I think I am willing to pay more for a taxi everyday. I read an article a while back about how your commute to work is a top contributor to your level of happiness. The less traffic and less time it takes you to get to work, the happier you really will be. I've never had much of a commute to work before and let me tell you, I now think that article is 100% right. I'm not sure what happened this week, but I definitely felt way to much anxiety over my commute to work, I was not smiling and bubbly the way I should be.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLtAXLdzfg5OJy1j0rjJ6dFzCnJdY14AQBCIqF5xkXj4q1u9nDXlME72Zl0MvuJwnxWh5yFJYoTBQwP0MVPXhEFQIV7KdAjgXHsBTcY3FCbLM5klnXvbTMFnpnPCRCZvgQUXGrUKNCugP/s1600/DSCN0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLtAXLdzfg5OJy1j0rjJ6dFzCnJdY14AQBCIqF5xkXj4q1u9nDXlME72Zl0MvuJwnxWh5yFJYoTBQwP0MVPXhEFQIV7KdAjgXHsBTcY3FCbLM5klnXvbTMFnpnPCRCZvgQUXGrUKNCugP/s320/DSCN0163.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example of another type of neighborhood in the city</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Since I'm on the subject of using the bus and taxi services, I have to admit I got kind of lost this week. One night after work I got on apparently the wrong bus. (technically it was kind of the right bus, but a special one that does like an off route from the main one) How was I supposed to know this? Well I didn't, and the bus was so crowded, I didn't realize we had turned off the route until we were somewhere I did not recognize. I tried to ask a couple people around me where we were and if we were going back to Javier Prado, but no one seemed to care or understand me. It was dark and I had no idea where I was going, so I just got off the bus. This was a mistake. I was in a really bad part of town. I instantly had people coming up to me and trying to sell me stuff, everyone was whistling and yelling at me, and it looked like a dump. I was scared and really did not know what to do. I knew that I was not that far from the coast, so I walked as fast as I could toward the ocean. After a few blocks I got to a point where I could see the ocean and kind of knew which direction I needed to go to get home. I was not close though and had to take a taxi. Taking a taxi at night alone is not very advisable for a female, but I felt I had no other choice. Thank goodness my taxi driver was very nice and got me home safe, even though he definitely overcharged me.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I think I lost my mind for a while this weekend. I'm honestly not sure how to describe it, but I just felt like I was in another world, all alone, and completely unable to understand what was going on around me. I guess after some struggles this week; work, buses, taxis, miscommunication with Julio - more than once, I kind of just checked out. Up until this point I had felt I was adapting really well and learning more every day. This weekend, everything just felt so unfamiliar and frankly I was sick of constantly trying so hard to understand what is going on around me. I was feeling a little like I was just there going through the motions because I had no choices and no way to communicate. All of this was very obvious to Julio, because well he is really the only friend I have here. There were just really stupid common sense things I was forgetting, I wasn't hearing what was being said to me, and I was definitely not even trying to make conversation. After talking with Julio yesterday afternoon, or more so just listening, I think some things are a little more clear to me now.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am not in the United States anymore, I am in Peru. The types of actions, interactions, and basic things I took for granted before are not here. I need to learn to communicate exactly what I want, and not assume that I am always understood, because I am not. I also need to learn alot about being in a relationship. I've never been one to really want a relationship, not in a long time anyway. And now, I am in one with a whole pile of extra challenges thrown on top. Julio has been so patient and caring towards me. I wouldn't be able to do this without him, and I really hope he knows how thankful I am to have him in my life. Me coming has obviously changed his life a lot to. He went from just worrying about himself to now not only having a girlfriend, but one he feels he has to take care of so much because she is pretty much lost. I have never been able to really communicate my feelings well; I've always felt I can handle everything on my own and don't need to. I can't assume that Julio knows how I feel or what I need, I need to learn to communicate with him. This is especially important becasue we come from two very different cultures with different norms. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Julio went to the beach last night with a couple friends. They were planning to do some biking and kayaking today. I was actually really glad he wanted to do this. He needs to have time with his friends, and I definitely needed some time alone to wrap my head around a few things. After a lot of thinking, I'm definitely ready to put myself back on a positive track. I'm going to pay more for the things in life that will make me happier, I'm going to make some new friends (I hope!), and I'm going try my darndest to spend more time smiling everyday. Actions really do speak louder than words. Since my words are a little lacking in this language, it is important that I find other ways to express to people my thanks, happiness, or needs.</div><br />
- One final note, Julio and I did get to play squash a couple times this week. Unfortunately, even after all my bragging about my raquetball skills, Julio still won. (Actually I just let him win, but don't tell him this!)Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-46293204430994179262011-02-21T23:25:00.004-05:002011-02-22T00:21:46.948-05:002 - 21 - 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtBlYvtnw1eeeIHmMN4EH7saObLce_V7MA-1wGvmwNZuy4wRRZMhAFfFWJeGSCE65fV0RH7Mm3PP6GGJhNNFOum6zm4HeB_xnKdzLekZqerHifrPlim8T5Lqp9j_Pg6Sk0vp0iWl7sZ8I/s1600/DSCN0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtBlYvtnw1eeeIHmMN4EH7saObLce_V7MA-1wGvmwNZuy4wRRZMhAFfFWJeGSCE65fV0RH7Mm3PP6GGJhNNFOum6zm4HeB_xnKdzLekZqerHifrPlim8T5Lqp9j_Pg6Sk0vp0iWl7sZ8I/s320/DSCN0205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This week's blog is coming in a little late due to a very tired Julia after a busy week! I'm sorry to hear that back home in Minnesota everyone is sufferring through another blizzard........while I'm relaxing on the beach :o). Didn't I tell everyone I surely had good reason to move here? Ok, well that is enough of that. It has really been an amazing week, full of only good things! I hardly even want to say it, but things are going so well it almost seems a little too good. I keep looking around every corner wondering when I'm going to get hit with that big set back. Just keep your fingers crossed for me that I don't!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My week started out on a pretty usual note. I spent Tuesday morning trying to do some Spanish studying. Then I headed down to San Isidro to meet Julio for lunch during his break. It's always nice to see him during the day when he is all dressed up for work. I think he enjoys getting out of the office once in a while too. I was beginning to feel pretty anxious and unsure about my chances of getting the job. I knew I would be getting a phone call in the next couple days letting me know, but I wasn't even sure if I would really be able to do the job even if I did get.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On Wednesday, I sat in the park in Miraflores trying to do a little studying. Miraflores is a very new up and coming part of the city. It is full of a lot of outsiders (non peruvians) and definitely feels pretty similar to a city in the U.S. So I sat and enjoyed people watching mostly occassionaly taking a few minutes to do some studying. My phone rang at about 11:00 and I thought well this is it, it must be the job. It was in fact about a job, but not the one I had interviewed for. It was for another company I had done a phone interview with a couple weeks prior, and they wanted me to come in for an interview. Great, I thought, at least I have a backup plan if I don't get the other job. I headed back home at about 1:00 feeling good, but still nervous about getting a phone call from the other job. On my walk home, my phone rang again. It was Pablo from Peru Vacation Tours, he was calling to tell me I had the job and I could start in about 3 weeks. Woohoo!! It was a big feeling of relief to know that in fact, yes, I do have a job, no more searching! I then met with Carol, my Spanish tutor, and during the lesson my phone rang again. ( It's pretty amazing to have my phone ring 3 times in one day, I don't know anyone here! ) It was Pablo again. This time telling me that if I wanted I could start right away. So I agreed to come in the next day. What great luck!</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thursday morning I got up early, got ready, and headed out to catch a bus to work. It was a good thing I went out early, because, wow, an almost 40 minute crowded bus ride to go about 2 miles was not what I had in mind. I pretty much ran the 6 blocks from the bus stop to work to make sure I wasn't late on my first day! I spent the morning reviewing the company website, packages they offer, and reading general information on tourist sites in Peru. Everyone in the office was really nice. There are about 12 employees; only 3 or 4 speak English and all of them are Peruvian. The great thing about this is that my Spanish skills will defiitely improve quickly - I hope! During the afternoon, I got some lessons on how the whole operation works. I got to watch as the other girl spoke with guests on the phone, put a package together for them using their requests, priced out a quote, and sent them an itinerary with the quote. It is a lot of information and a lot to learn. I was feeling a little overwhelmed. To top it off, all their information pages for putting together packages and quotes are in Spanish. Taking a bus home at 6:30 was impossible. After waiting at the bus stop 10 minutes, then having the bus pass me because it was too full, I decided I was walking. I didn't have the best walking shoes or attire on, so this maybe was not a good idea. (I've got a few blisters to prove it) I was so mad and annoyed; I decided it just may be worth it to pay 10 times as much for a taxi. ( The bus costs 1 sol ($0.35) and the taxi costs about 10 soles ($3.50) ) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Friday was a new day and I was anxious to learn more at work. It also was a short work day for me because I had told Pablo ( my boss ) that I had already paid for class at 2:00 on Friday and he said it was fine if I left work at 1:00. Work went well, class went well, and now it was time for the weeekend! Julio and I had been planning a little get away to get out of the city. I packed my bags, did some laundry, and then headed over to Julio's house. We ate a late dinner and finalized our plan for the trip. We were taking an overnight bus to Ica ( about 6 hours). We arrived at the bus depot at about midnight and got tickets for a 1:00 bus. Sleeping on a bus isn't that fun, but I have to admit it sure makes for an easy way to travel cheap. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After arriving in Ica, we had to get on another bus line that went to Nazca. We got on another bus right away, this ride was a little less than 2 hours long. It was through the dessert and some small villages. The difference between the city of Lima and the rest of country absolutely amazes me. Outside of Lima, life is pretty bad. People live literally in little shelters built out of scraps of wood and garbage all over the place. Most of the buildings are falling apart, all of the walls have grafitti ( old political campaigns mostly ), and there is virtually no evidence of business or jobs. Well besides people selling crafts or food at the most trafficed intersections. It seems sad, but in a way it kind of just is the lifestyle most of and Andeans have always lived. Not much has changed in the last few hundred years, and the changes that they do make don't seem to stick. Right outside of Nazca there was a really fertile valley that the river passed through. There was a lot of farmland in this area. Grapes, other fruits, potatoes, and who knows what else was being grown. There were tons of workers in the field digging, planting, and whatever else they do all by hand. The only source of technology in the farming seemed to be a single plow. One row being pulled by a mule. Man, our farmers back in MN sure have it good! :o) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ok, finally, we arrived in Nazca! We had breakfast and headed out to the tiny local airport. Literally you wouldn't believe what they call an airport unless you saw it. We had been warned by a lot of people that travel in and out of this airport was very dangerous, and there have been a lot of accidents over the last few years. Anyways, we were planning to go out on a small plane to view the Nazca Lines. They are famous drawings done in the dessert over 2000 years ago by the ancient Nazca people. The lines are massive, mysterious, and can only be seen by plane. I won't waste to much time talking about them, but here is a link if anyone wants to learn more about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazca_Lines">Nazca Lines</a>. After some haggling over prices, we booked a flight. At about 11:30 we were loading the plane in some extreme dessert heat. It was a little scary being in a 6 passenger plane, but I was still excited. Once we were airborne, all worries were gone. We spent only about 40 minutes in the air. I have to admit it was better than I had thought. You really could see the lines and it was a pretty impressive view. The ride was quite shaky, and there was a moment I thought I may loose my breakfast, but I made it through with a smile! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTgMIaOjnww5DHCBTz1WjWWHrfhnHPefdrFR8WKIJZp7wOLY6-zGMY6nigtgkRp7V_3uNLkmvlKnoT09dbzpyON4oWAzhe1aPD-AdzmB3EI1G0c7Md2lfafoD24aPdqJgg5iaFXcUTFwO/s1600/DSCN0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTgMIaOjnww5DHCBTz1WjWWHrfhnHPefdrFR8WKIJZp7wOLY6-zGMY6nigtgkRp7V_3uNLkmvlKnoT09dbzpyON4oWAzhe1aPD-AdzmB3EI1G0c7Md2lfafoD24aPdqJgg5iaFXcUTFwO/s200/DSCN0270.JPG" width="150" /></a>Our next destination for the weekend was back to Ica. Outside of Ica there is a small oasis called Huacachina; it has a beautiful tropical lagoon and is surrounded by sand dunes. The sand dunes are a popular destination for sandboarding. Julio was pretty darn excited to get out there and try it, I on the other hand not so much. Intense heat, sand in the face, and knowing that it really doesn't work that well, were not very motivating factors. Anyways Julio had a pretty good time giving it a shot, and I did give it a half hearted attempt as well. I think it made for better pictures than actual enjoyment. Watching the sunset over the sand dunes was probably one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever scene. I've never taken the time to really appreciate sand before. We spent the evening enjoying the little boardwalk where vendors sold goods and there were several restaurants and hostals. We went back to our hostal to find that they were preparing for a huge party. Parties here typical begin at 11 and go until about 6 in the morning. We had to leave for Paracas at 6:30 the next morning. Needless to say, it was a long night, and not because we partied, we were far too tired for that. Sleeping through the music shaking the walls was worse than sleeping on the bus. And Julio freaking out and waking me up at about 2:00am to inform me that we were being eaten alive by mosquitos (or some bug that is like a mosquito) was really the icing on the cake.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt19WQwSdq2CJh2u_wyjG2rnjW7ZbagP4cxxY46hIWMbVXVgalXiIMgA3uTKRBwS6d3LKiGYGPpkPhgCh0WYXspXmW96eRJIPL2uF_6ufHfCvjLI0T5feyUve5XzVV3iZ8v2pBxPvf1ZyT/s1600/DSCN0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt19WQwSdq2CJh2u_wyjG2rnjW7ZbagP4cxxY46hIWMbVXVgalXiIMgA3uTKRBwS6d3LKiGYGPpkPhgCh0WYXspXmW96eRJIPL2uF_6ufHfCvjLI0T5feyUve5XzVV3iZ8v2pBxPvf1ZyT/s200/DSCN0291.JPG" width="200" /></a>We woke up early and headed out to Paracas. It is a small town on the ocean about an hour away from Ica. We took a boat tour to the Ballestas Islands. The Islands are actually beautiful rocks that are sanctuary to a lot of marine life and birds. A huge ( I mean 1,000s if not 10,000s ) colony of sea lions live along some of the rocky shorelines. There were tons of sea birds of every kind, and the rocks are actually a beautiful white color due to years of bird poop landing on them. The most surprising animal was the penguin. Apparently there are penguins off the coast of Peru, and I thought they only lived in Antarctica. They were a different kind of penguin, but a penguin none the less. There are also supposedly dolphins that live in the area, but we didn't get ot see any. After returning back to shore and having a little lunch, we went to the National Reserve right outside of Paracas. It is a dessert area with a beautiful sand/cliff coastline all along the bay that inlets from the ocean. We spent a couple hours on the beach enjoying the view and taking in the sun. Wow, what a packed full weekend it had been, so it was time to start heading home. We got on a bus to leave Paracas at about 4:00 and returned to Lima a little after 7:00. Since the weekend had been so full with virtually no sleep, I think we were both kind of glad to be back. I know I was. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have a million beautiful pictures that I will share online when I get the time! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have to do one last blurb about Peru. In all it's beauty, there is something that is really, really bothering me. I saw garbage trucks dumping trash directly into the ocean last week, and it really hit home with me. I did a little research, and I think water pollution is really a major problem here. Garbage, sewage, and who knows what else are directly dumped into the coast all along Peru. I could see it in small communities, but for a city like Lima, it is a great shame. Of course not all their trash is put in the ocean, but a good chunk. From what I could find online, it seems like the problem is kind of being pushed under the rug. Not talked about and hoping that everyone can just pretend it isn't happening. With Lima's economic rise and growing population you think it would be a topic worthy of debate, but it's not. No one seems to care. I've noticed traveling through the very poor regions of Peru that trash is just everywhere. Piled along the streets, thrown out, no one even tries to pile it up let alone bury or burn it. It seems like it's just a problem that is being ignored by the country all together. Maybe I can start a political campaign and stand along the shores with protest signs?? Well maybe not, but it's something I'd like to learn more about!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is far too long - so good night to all!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdVXJzdvcc77EctNl2s2iHgJIvQDujBCe6-rdANairjfQOvhtQTqp36qGkF7Sz77nbDRkI5PMh6AnK1fzlLNjhUJ0EIU7LVz-pBIC-DJ-BAzpKclpy0w171Tj4L8iX7XvQUN6rpvl038g/s1600/DSCN0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdVXJzdvcc77EctNl2s2iHgJIvQDujBCe6-rdANairjfQOvhtQTqp36qGkF7Sz77nbDRkI5PMh6AnK1fzlLNjhUJ0EIU7LVz-pBIC-DJ-BAzpKclpy0w171Tj4L8iX7XvQUN6rpvl038g/s200/DSCN0370.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrViuCe6KdYY_tYaknAXVosNejU9H_J76Apksw1YHJa8-r60L54fORZ_hheqq8uUtAR_l6X4lb2lKjZuNigzrXwVOkaMT8utK8Q1OeP0ZKlo8-CIAs9VAr5RgNWIx7bmWqTNd6n5x9zgAz/s1600/DSCN0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrViuCe6KdYY_tYaknAXVosNejU9H_J76Apksw1YHJa8-r60L54fORZ_hheqq8uUtAR_l6X4lb2lKjZuNigzrXwVOkaMT8utK8Q1OeP0ZKlo8-CIAs9VAr5RgNWIx7bmWqTNd6n5x9zgAz/s200/DSCN0275.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-29846290761424425342011-02-14T00:45:00.000-05:002011-02-14T14:28:40.061-05:002-13-11<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKSBWzJrw57LXBD_JeqhgiKc7ZRAyK3zQzESgIgz9UAYv-MpkPRj3Db8Ukl1uo92RbCCWPtNjxHfPyNHfpJzJp8Khu_GceSfvuSjmsubH6anuIOABSVR8HItrxDpQ5VYZNN8cbrkEBx9X/s1600/DSCN0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKSBWzJrw57LXBD_JeqhgiKc7ZRAyK3zQzESgIgz9UAYv-MpkPRj3Db8Ukl1uo92RbCCWPtNjxHfPyNHfpJzJp8Khu_GceSfvuSjmsubH6anuIOABSVR8HItrxDpQ5VYZNN8cbrkEBx9X/s320/DSCN0154.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Buenas Noches Amigos, Good Evening Friends,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It has been just about a week since my last post, so I'd like to give a little update on life in Peru. I did not keep a daily journal this time, so I'll just tell you a little bit about my week in general. This week has been really good overall, but there are definitely some struggles I will need to overcome! </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Spanish, spanish, spanish..... this is obviously my number one nemesis. Steps are being taken however to break down this barrier. I started private Spanish lessons last Wednesday. I was recommended this tutor by my landlord, Gloria, and the price was definitely more than fair. My Spanish teacher is a young lady, well maybe a few years older than me, named Carol. She used to teach Spanish as a second language in a school and has just recently decided to start teaching private lessons instead. She is great, we spent a lot of time laughing and getting to know eachother. Our lessons are completely in Spanish, no English is to be spoken unless absolutely, positively necessary. I was shocked that I could talk and learn in Spanish for the whole two hours of the lesson. Carol obviously spoke very clearly and said things in a simple fashion making it so easy for me to understand her. I think the most important thing I got from this first lesson was confidence. I know a lot of Spanish, but am not at all confident speaking. Carol really made me feel like I was doing great and that when I really concentrate and listen I can understand. I had my second lesson with her on Friday, and we will meet three more times this week. I definitely have noticed a big improvement in my ability to understand and speak even after just two lessons.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I hate to say it, but I began feeling a little bit bored this week. I have done a lot of exploring, but with no real purpose. I've done a lot of walking around, enjoying parks, shopping, eating at some local venues, learning to use the combis (little buses), and just trying to interact with others to practice speaking. However, during the week, everyone is working, and I'm wandering a little aimlessly on my own. I wouldn't really say it feels lonely, but I guess I just need more of a purpose or destination. I'm going to try to go see/do some more specific things or activities this week. I think that will help.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On a very positive note, I did have a small victory in my job search. I have been searching online and in the newspapers this week for jobs for English speakers. I have applied for a couple teaching jobs ( I have a TESOL teaching certificate through an online course I did) and a couple of jobs in the tourist industry. I actually got replies from two jobs right away, both wanting to do interviews. One was for a teaching position for a company that goes around giving English business classes to local companies wanting to educate their employees, and the other was as a travel advisor for a Peru vacations company. After doing some research about the companies, I realized I did not want to work for the company offering business classes. There were a lot of bad reviews from past employees online. So I decided to just go to the one interview on Friday for the Travel Advisor position. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The interview was in the business district in San Isidro, Lima, Peru. It is actually only a block away from where Julio works at Citibank. Obviously, I am excited that it is so close to his work, and it would be an ideal situation if we ever wanted to share rides or meet up after work. The business is actually located inside of a pretty nice house. When I walked up to the address, I was a little leary, thinking to myself what if this is some crazy guy luring girls to his home saying it is for an interview. So, I called<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOc0d_sb4uqITAHnHHNxlbZKufD7A_wHD6D_yveeC0Z6pkGCF1jHTqV-oEgwZ0Qs-ryxcbmqm41BL_YYANzZZS2oNzQnfYjPLDy2JrPw3J-oGtnyvjH0UBfVEoh5CjvXKVJ_K0QHIlMxx/s1600/DSCN0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 313px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 226px;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOc0d_sb4uqITAHnHHNxlbZKufD7A_wHD6D_yveeC0Z6pkGCF1jHTqV-oEgwZ0Qs-ryxcbmqm41BL_YYANzZZS2oNzQnfYjPLDy2JrPw3J-oGtnyvjH0UBfVEoh5CjvXKVJ_K0QHIlMxx/s320/DSCN0151.JPG" width="232" /></a> him from outside the home to double check and make sure everything was fine. A young lady came out to the door smiling, greeting me, and urging me inside. This made me feel much better. As I entered, I could see the home was set up with offices and in the style of a business with several people working. The interview was only about 30 minutes long and was pretty typical of what an interview would be like here. I think their main concern was that I was able to speak fluent English, which soon become obvious. He has a couple other interviews set up for this week, so he told me he would probably be deciding on Wednesday or Thursday and would get back to me. The environment seemed really relaxed and comfortable; I really hope I get the job! After the interview I was able to meet up with Julio for lunch. I had only seen Julio once since Sunday, so I was really anxious to spend a little time together. We had lunch, then went to the park and enjoyed the beautiful, but very hot, weather. All in all, it was a great day.</div></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Over the weekend I stayed at Julio's house with his family. They have been so kind to me, I feel very lucky. His parents do not speak any English, but have been very patient with me in trying to communicate. With a combination of words and motions we seem to usually come to an understanding. Julio's mother is very busy, always on the go, cleaning, cooking, running errands, and always making sure everyone has everything they need. She insisted on doing my laundry instead of me bringing it to a laundry mat, so, how could I say no? ;) Only one of Julio's sisters was home and she does speak English well. She has also been very kind to me and provides me with some assistance when my language skills are lacking. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On Saturday, Julio and I went to the Jockey Club; they have gyms, pools, courts, etc... It was great to hang out by the pool and do some swimming. It is a really nice venue, and we had a lot of fun. Julio and I are hoping to start playing some squash there. I have played a lot of raquetball, and squash is very similar. After returning from the pool, we had dinner and then headed out for the night. Some of Julio's friends were getting together nearby, so we spent the evening having a few drinks and hanging out. There were a couple other native English speakers here, and pretty much everyone spoke some English. Although, I should be practicing my Spanish, it was nice to speak a little English and socialize!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Overall, I can't say life here feels entirely different than being back home. Of course there are many cultural differences, but it doesn' t feel as different as I thought it might. There are definitely two different worlds here in the city. The middle and upper class live in homes and have lifestyles not entirely different than in the U.S. The biggest difference is in the large population that fall into the poverty level. Neighborhoods are very distinctly broken up between well to do and not so well to do. It does appear that effort is really being made to make improvements here though. There is a lot of construction and development happening. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'd like to just leave off with a couple notes about the differences in life here:</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- You can not flush toiletpaper down the toilet. There is a little trash next to every toilet and that is where you put the paper. (This is hard to get used to, I have more than once instincitively dropped toilet paper in the toilet!)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- They cut their grass with weedwackers. (yards are small, yes, but even workers in parks and on boulevards are walking 4 or 5 wide with weedwackers)</div>- Driving here is crazy. I don't think any laws are really enforced. Cops are usually just paid off or bribed with $10 or less for crimes. This is a real problem.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- Everyone whistles. Whether you are getting a friends attention, or referring to an action in a story, or see someone you think looks good walking by, everyone is always whistling in every conversation.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpf1910b_HgMqFs7QiIENboCgOwWLjXeUHtcWgguM47IYtYQ2VlxSxMyBkx141dj0IxfTYMCr4vPGK-gf2pA3uwdY3I6XIcZLM2FH5GcDBtt7XEXGyu3INWPYYbKi2Crul8gaLTcd3C6J/s1600/DSCN0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpf1910b_HgMqFs7QiIENboCgOwWLjXeUHtcWgguM47IYtYQ2VlxSxMyBkx141dj0IxfTYMCr4vPGK-gf2pA3uwdY3I6XIcZLM2FH5GcDBtt7XEXGyu3INWPYYbKi2Crul8gaLTcd3C6J/s200/DSCN0155.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7KLbjMyCPFyZjuy1cD7hd7ujum_P1-iwYEapcDiANxDhvrJ62f7Ph7120cXOOlNYsEEncPlYI-eiuwhYNqatligFFhBDG-A-2GyVzExZBzuA2PCYouSvFTel5M-93ZAi2-8ChlfZ66iv/s1600/DSCN0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7KLbjMyCPFyZjuy1cD7hd7ujum_P1-iwYEapcDiANxDhvrJ62f7Ph7120cXOOlNYsEEncPlYI-eiuwhYNqatligFFhBDG-A-2GyVzExZBzuA2PCYouSvFTel5M-93ZAi2-8ChlfZ66iv/s200/DSCN0156.JPG" width="200" /></a>I'd also like to attach a link of approximately where I live: <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Justo+Vigil,+Lima,+Peru&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.013085,86.396484&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Justo+Vigil,+Magdalena+Del+Mar,+Lima,+San+Isidro,+Lima,+Peru&ll=-12.098756,-77.062536&spn=0.074693,0.168743&z=13">http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Justo+Vigil,+Lima,+Peru&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.013085,86.396484&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Justo+Vigil,+Magdalena+Del+Mar,+Lima,+San+Isidro,+Lima,+Peru&ll=-12.098756,-77.062536&spn=0.074693,0.168743&z=13</a></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hasta Luego!</div></div></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-39942394554329769562011-02-07T19:15:00.000-05:002011-02-07T22:36:14.651-05:00Peru Arrival 2-3-11I would like to say a special thanks to my family for all their support and love! I'm blessed to have this opportunity, and I hope I can take full advantage of it. I want to immerse myself in this place and this culture. It helps knowing I will always have a safe place to come home to and continuous love from my family.<br /><br />I arrived in Peru late on Thursday night, February 3rd, 2011; it's hard to believe that was only four days ago. I would like to use this blog as a place for me to document my experiences, and also to share a bit of my life with my family and friends. I came to Lima, Peru because I was feeling a little stuck. Life was really good, but I could not shake the feeling that I needed to get out and do some more exploring. As many of you know, this is not my first time visiting Peru. I came here for two weeks in July of 2010. When I was here on vacation I got to explore the country by backpacking through the Andes and along the northern coast. Oh... and did I forget to mention that my boyfriend, Julio, lives in Lima, Peru. He just may be part of the reason I even know where Lima, Peru is, let alone that I am now calling it home for an undetermined amount of time.<br /><br />So the journey begins:<br /><br />February 3rd<br />- My flight left for Peru at about 9:30 am. I had stops in Houston, TX and Panama City, Panama. I was lucky enough to get out just in time to avoid an ice storm in Houston, TX. (yes, really - it was 27 degress in Houston!) It was a long day of travel, and I have to admit I was beginning to think to myself, "Am I crazy?"<br /><br />I arrived in Peru at 12:30 am. Julio picked me up from the airport and brought me to my new home. I had made arrangements ahead of time for a place to stay via the internet, and Julio had met with the landlord and received the key. The house is very quaint and pleasant, the neighborhood, better than I imagined it would be. I have close access to everything I need, and most importantly, the beach is only about a 10 minute walk. It was so great to catch up with Julio and have everything in place when I arrived. As for still thinking, "Am I crazy?", as soon as I saw Julio at the airport I knew the answer to that.<br /><br />February 4th<br />- I woke up early to the sound of birds chirping and the sun coming up. Soon to follow was the sound of traffic starting to move as people began their commutes for the day. Tired and anxious, I got out of bed and began to get acquainted with the house. Julio had to work all day, so I was on my own. There are two rooms in the house and two studios connected with outside access. I met two of my roommates in the morning. Luckily, both spoke English. I spent the morning unpacking my bags, organizing, and learning my way around the house. At about noon hunger started setting in. I was excited to go out of the house, and a trip to the grocery store would be a good start. Gloria, the landlord, had left me a hand drawn map showing all the streets and places that may be useful in the district. Since I have such superb navigation skills, I had no trouble finding my way to Vivanda (local grocery store). I was pleasantly surprised with how nice and safe the neighborhood felt as I walked to the store. I definitely felt like this is a place I could call home for a while.<br /><br />After having lunch, it was time to do what I had been most looking forward to! With my Spanish Vocab words in tote, I headed down to the beach. It was 82 degrees, and humid, I definitely worked up more than just a bit of a sweat on my way to the beach. (not that I am complaining or anything!) The beach is hard to describe. There are large dunes(sand/dirt) leading up to the coast. Below the dunes there is one coastal road and lots of parks and gardens right along the coast. There is a lot of construction and landscaping going on. The coastal area closest to my home is more of a pebble/stone beach. There are sand beaches developed, but along other parts of the coast. I will post pictures eventually!<br /><br />Later that afternoon, Julio informed me that we could head to his friend's beach house for the weekend about 20 miles south of the city. It sounded like a great idea to me! Julio came to get me after work and then we packed our bags and headed out. The beach we went to is called Punta de Hermosa. There are lots of houses and small shops leading up to the beach area. It appears to be pretty poor and run down, but as you get closer to the ocean there are lots of beautiful homes and clubs. There were about 10 people staying at the beach house; all friends and acquaintances of Julio. I really started to realize that my Spanish skills were lacking! It was still a good time though, and everyone was very kind to me.<br /><br />February 5th<br />- Beach, sun, and water. There really isn't much more to say. We spent the day laying out on the beach, taking an occasional dip in the water, and eating a little ceviche de pescada (a peruvian dish). I'm pretty sure I was by far the fairest skinned person on the beach and used almost an entire bottle of sunscreen throughout the day! After being worn out from the sun, Julio and I returned back to my house that night.<br /><br />February 6th<br />- After finally getting a full night's rest, I woke up feeling really at ease. Julio and I did a little shopping, attempted to get me a local cellphone(the store we needed was not open on Sunday), and stopped at his family's house for lunch. It was nice to see his family again. I was getting more used to listening and trying to respond in Spanish, but there is a long way to go! We took Julio's dogs to the park and spent the afternoon watching the horse races at the Jockey Club. We placed some bets and I won 8 soles! ($3) I completely forgot that the superbowl was on. I have to admit, I think the horse races were a little better. We then went home to watch a movie. Apparently in Peru, you can buy movies that aren't even yet out on video in the U.S. for only $1!! Julio brought me back to my house and tried to give me some lessons on how to use the bus system. There really is no system, I would just call it caos. Anyways, I felt confident that the next day I could get on the bus alone and get to the cellphone store and buy a local phone. I don't think Julio actually thought I would be able to do this.<br /><br />February 7th<br />- First thing in the morning, I headed out in persuit of a cellphone. I was a little nervous about using the bus and possibly getting lost in a city of 9 million people, but what better time to learn than now! Success! I made it to the store, got my phone (after a long drawn out conversation with the representative due to my poor Spanish skills), had lunch, and returned home. I think Julio was a little shocked when I sent him a text message from my new phone.<br /><br />I spent this afternoon trying to study my Spanish. The more I try to study, the more I realize I just need to go out and talk to people. I have 1000s of words memorized, but I need to actually HEAR people speaking them to really understand. At about 5 pm I needed to get out of the house, so I went for a walk. About 8 blocks from my house, I randomly run into Julio's sister on the sidewalk. What a crazy coincidence. I'm in a city of 9 million, only know about 1o people's names, and I run into her. It turns out she works only about a mile from where I live and she was on her way to meet a friend for dinner after work.<br /><br />Well that is it for now. Tomorrow I am planning to meet with a Spanish teacher, hopefully this will help! Gloria, the landlord, will also be taking me on a little tour of the area to show me around and help me find some information on getting a job! I'll give another update next week. Hopefully things continue to go well! :)Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556851834002421932.post-17195226427624679802010-03-01T23:45:00.000-05:002010-03-01T23:55:50.493-05:00<span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Right now...</strong> I am finishing up my evening at work. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Work...</strong> Consists of providing hotel/condo service to guests at a ski resort.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Ski Resort...</strong> A beautiful place in Colorado full of endless outdoor activities and excitement.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Excitement...</strong> What I was looking for after college.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>College...</strong> A vast education I received at Augustana College that opened my eyes to a world beyond home.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Home...</strong> A small town in Minnesota full of love, friends, and family.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Family...</strong> The people I miss everyday; who made me who I am.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Who I Am...</strong> An independent young woman; hoping to succeed, fill her life with happiness, and enjoy the <strong>right now...</strong></span>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493444586765057737noreply@blogger.com0