My first day in Lima

Right now I am sitting in my cozy little bedroom on the third floor of my new house in Lima. So far, everything has gone perfectly. My family picked me up from the airport last night, and after a quick tour of the neighborhood and a midnight snack of some ice cream I finally got to bed at about 3 in the morning.

My family is wonderful! I have a host grandpa and grandma, mother, aunt, and sister (who is about 30 years old). They have all been very kind and welcoming to me. My grandpa is very sweet and loves to tell stories and work in the garden. So far I am closest with my host mother and grandma who took me around Miraflores this morning. We went to the beach which is the most beautiful aqua color, despite the fact that it is so close to a city of 10 million people. We also walked around the main shopping center, Larcomar, where we sat and ate lunch while looking overhead at the para-sailers gliding on the wind above the ocean.

Everything still seems a bit surreal, but I am already beginning to get used to the constant noise of the city. I have never seen so many people in my life! The roads are completely crazy because nobody pays attention to stop signs, lights, or street lanes. There is honking from every direction and yelling from car window to window. It is both overwhelming and very exciting!

Today I forgot my camera when i went out, but pictures are soon to come!

p.s. for those of you who know me well, you will be proud: for breakfast today I ate a bowl of fruit! chau :D

Getting Ready

After months of preparation and a last minute problem with the people that I was going to stay with, I am OFFICIALLY going to Peru!!! I am driving down to San Francisco in exactly a week, and will fly out the next morning, on January 30th.

It has been a challenge not to know whether or not I would be going for sure up until a week before I am supposed to leave, but it has definitely taught me that nothing is ever permanent and all you can do is try your best. In the end I also realized that wherever I am, I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

My new host family lives only two blocks from my school (San Jorge de Miraflores) and also just a 10 minute walk from the market and main shopping center in Lima. They seem like absolutely wonderful people, and are excited to have me in their home despite the fact that it was so last minute. I feel so lucky to be able to stay with them!

Well, I am off to go pack... I am planning to update my blog when I arrive in Lima and then once or twice a week, but we'll see how well I keep up that :)

Thank you to everyone who has helped me to put my exchange trip together during all the chaos and confusion. I am very grateful to you all, and will miss you!