Semana Santa

For Semana Santa (Easter) I went on two trips outside of Lima. Thhis was my first time out of the city and it felt great to get out of the constant noise and presence of other people.

The first place that I went to was called Lunahuaná. My host sister, 4 of her friends and I took a 3 hour bus ride to a little town that is known for its rafting and pisco. The original plan was to spend the day on the river but since it was Semana Santa all of the rafting places were full so we filled up Friday with a relaxing lunch of traditional peruvian food (ceviche, mariscos con arroz, chicha morada and pisco sours). It was my first time seeing what Peru is like in the parts that are not as nice as Miraflores from more than the window of a car. It was the closest I have ever been to extreme poverty.

After my intense cultural experience the day before, Saturday consisted of lying by a pool and suntanning in Asia (a beach town about 1 hour away from Lima where many families go on the weekends in the summer to get out of the city). This was the nicest place that I have ever been to in, I think, my entire life. In the middle of the pool was an island where a dj was playing music and was surrounded by waterfalls. Around the pool were canopied sofas and tables. For lunch that day we got to go to my favorite place to eat so far - Bembos. Embaressingly, this is a fast food restaurant but it is peruvian and absolutely delicious.

On Easter Sunday i spent the day with my host family at our house. This was my first year without an easter basket, but being 17 I told myself that I should be able to survive, and believe it or not, I did. However, my lack of candy on Easter was later made up for on Tuesday when my host brothers came back from Disney World with lots of american candy for me :)

It's hard to believe that I only have just over 3 months left in Peru; it seems like I have been here for no more than a month. I am beginning to think of all the small things that I never noticed, but now appreciate Ashland. Right now though, I have the perfect balance: realizing the positives of home and at the same time still loving every day of life in South America.