Week 1: Breathing is Difficult

The elevation is really high here, so everywhere I walk feels like I just ran a race. I'm excited to see how strong my lungs are by March.

In addition to elevation, Peruvian life is quite different than what I had imagined...


I had a very long journey coming to Peru, as I can imagine most others did to their final destinations. The engine on my first plane malfunctioned while in taxi which caused a delay that gave me 20 minutes to catch my next flight from Houston to Lima, Peru (the capital). On the plane were mainly Peruvians, and I was excited because I could finally get to practice some of my Spanish.
My first conversation was a girl, around my age, asking if I could buy internet so that she could upload a picture online. haha

I spent the night in Lima, which is a whole experience in itself and arrived in Arequipa, the next morning (6 January, Friday). I was so tired and worn out from sleeping on floors and against walls that I have to be honest, I was feeling a little defeated about the trip at this point. Despite the journey, when I walked down the steps from the plane to the flight line, all I could see were beautiful volcanoes and skies all around me. The air smelled amazing, and I automatically had a new burst of energy to get me to the Hostel I would be staying in for the weekend.

I arrived at the "Honey House", and proceeded to sleep through a good chunk of the weekend.
Initially I needed to be accompanied to go around Arequipa, just because I was nervous and had no idea what to expect, but now I can manage fairly well on my own and have a map handy at all times.

Life here is very slow, which is quite a nice change of pace. It is also summer vacation for Peru, so many people are taking advantage of it the most they can. This past weekend, I would get up and just walk around the districts for a few hours. The air here is very dry (opposite of humid Lima), but there is good deal of green everywhere. The buildings are all very old and are between a mix of Peruvian but mostly Spanish style. In some neighborhoods the roads are stone, others paved and the houses are either made of brick or are pueblo-esque. It depends on where you are. Even with the dust here though everything here is fairly clean, 'Arequipeñans' have a high regard for the presentation of their city. The people of Arequipa are also very tranquil and will tell you in a heartbeat that they are the pride of Peru. Needless to say, you can only imagine the things they say about the people from Lima.
                                                              Sometimes they put glass or cactus on top of their homes to keep out intruders. I believe this is a gate to a larger home.------->

<-Casa Hogar Torre Fuerte

My first day on the job was Monday, and I am to spend this first week, every day at the girls' home observing and adjusting. The girls are all very sweet and are very well taken care of. Eva, the manager of Volunteers Peru, has given me the position of 'Project Coordinator' while I am here, and her assistant in administrative tasks. In case there is any confusion, Volunteers Peru is the NGO in support of Casa Hogar Torre Fuerte, which is the Christian run organization that brings in the girls. Right now, lack of manpower seems to be the biggest issue overall for the girls. We're going to have to come up with some creative ways to amend this obstacle.
Monday night I arrived at the homestay, so far they are wonderful people, and their home is open to several different travelers at a time (I believe it is how they make part of their living). I haven't been able to spend much time with the family, but I'm hoping in the future I will be able to.
                                                                             Breakfast at the homestay->




                                                                             





Somethings that I have noticed about living in Peru:                      

• The birds have a very distinct beautiful song in the morning, its very refreshing. I wake up every morning and forget that I'm in Peru until I hear them sing.

• Even if you speak Spanish everything here is from hundreds of years ago and have traditional names.

•  Toilet paper does not go into the toilets, it goes into the bin next to it.

• Peruvians love carbs, especially potatoes. From what I've heard, they have 3000 different potatoes here.

• The juice here is amazing. Its all freshly squeezed from fruits I've never heard of and given to you in a milkshake glass.

                                                                                 Advertising is done through flyers and spray paint.

• There are three parts to a meal, the "snack", the entree and then dessert which is usually jello. This is the "snack", it is pasta fried together in an omelette.
  
  
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• Riding the bus here is insane: you basically just hop onto one of the tiny buses and pray there is space. A bus employee hangs out of the window and shouts out all of the destinations and "Avansa!" to all of the customers to get back and make room.

• Surprisingly, there are tons of Chinese restaurants here, they are called "Chifa". Its a fusion between Peruvian and Chinese foods.

• You cannot drink the water. It has to be boiled or bought.

• There are almost as many street animals as people, some of them are very large. Sometimes, the dogs will just take a walk with you. haha Its actually a really interesting experience.
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• It is easier to take a cold shower if it starts off warm. Today was my first 'warm in the beginning' shower.

FOOD~~~~

Lunch is the main meal of the day. This was my lunch today with the homestay family. This is rice, yuca, potatoes and beef. In the middle is roasted corn kernels with salt, you sprinkle them over your food. The purple stuff is "Chicha", which is black corn tea, its made with cloves and cinnamon and, you guessed it, black corn. The juice is papaya.

This is Peruvian Adobo. They say Adobo is from here but I'm not entirely sure. All I know is that its the best thing I've ever had in my life. They mainly eat it as a Sunday brunch meal. Behind the bowl is pickled "Rocoto" chilis. Its a very spicy pepper similar in taste to habanero but much more flavorful. Its incredibly spicy but you just can't stop eating it.















Sometimes they put their rice in the shape of a triangle or donut, don't ask me why. This is a popular dish called "Aji de Gallina" and is made by boiling a rocoto chili and then making it into a puree poured over potatoes and chicken.








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These things have save my life. Water, probiotics, water filter, body powder, Spanish class notes and a power converter.
















Being here reminds me that its the little thing you take for granted, like being able to breathe easily. Your "normal" may not always be there, but in its place can present something to you just as valuable :-)

**I keep a journal every day and also take a small one with me to the girls' home for observations. Next week, or may be at the end of this one I will have questions I need to ask myself as well as the organization.