tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24828607894903551272024-03-12T19:13:35.849-07:00La Aventura Peruana de Whitney Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-27699942080403702902013-04-15T21:05:00.002-07:002013-04-15T21:05:32.864-07:00Final Reflection <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can’t believe
it’s time for me to start writing a final reflection of my time spent in Lima,
Peru this past semester. As cliché as it
sounds, it really does only seem like yesterday I was hauling my 3 suitcases to
the airport in Omaha. Now, those bags
are being packed back up and another chapter of my life is officially
closing. I truly can’t express in words
how bittersweet this feeling is, but I will do my best.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
First, and most
important, I wouldn’t have made it through the rest of this trip without having
a stable Peruvian family by my side.
However, my trip to Peru did not start this way. When I was originally told that I was living
with a 25-year-old male and his older brother I was extremely nervous, not even
to mention my anxious family and boyfriend as well. But, I told them to give it
a chance because he hosted a female student that was my age last year from UNK.
Things started out great. We got along
really well and it seemed as if I was getting that older-brother figure that
I’ve always wanted. But after we got
more comfortable with each other, it got even harder to live with each
other. He was no longer a gentleman, I
was no longer a priority, and I wasn’t being supplied with the meal plan that I
was promised. I could go on for hours about
everything that went wrong but, long story short, I had some good Peruvian and
American friends who let me live in their spare bedroom while I awaited the
confirmation of a new Peruvian family assignment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdbYZEIvS_00Z2ck8jySc9M7dt36FSztfKdk2itTxN9QZwcIeMcS9Qu8ubuQfHGjsfGLC7hHL_HWgln0dBG0km5326zfI_1EbWLBGg3sKUGct-ECrnzdWC0vTL1dXAbmYKWeysxVvIVvr/s1600/20130329_133740.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/AVvXsEhTdbYZEIvS_00Z2ck8jySc9M7dt36FSztfKdk2itTxN9QZwcIeMcS9Qu8ubuQfHGjsfGLC7hHL_HWgln0dBG0km5326zfI_1EbWLBGg3sKUGct-ECrnzdWC0vTL1dXAbmYKWeysxVvIVvr/s320/20130329_133740.jpg" width="320" /></a>I cannot thank my
new family, The Patrucco’s, enough for all that they have done for me. They’ve had to deal with a broken soul---a
homesick girl whose view about Peru was pretty negative at the time. With their support, love, and good cooking my
attitude was quickly changed. It was definitely hard for us to get used to each
other and for me to adapt to their family customs, but I am so happy that they
were willing to take me in on such short notice. They’ve done all the right
things: fed me, given me a bed to sleep in, medicine when I’m sick, and even
homemade chicken soup when I was sick.
Now that I think about it, I wish they hadn’t been so welcoming so it
would be easier for me to go home. I’ve
learned that an unwelcoming Peruvian family is an oxymoron in this
country. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Life in Lima has
been a complete turn-around for me. I
had no idea what to expect. I thought
that it would be a gigantic city with huge, modern skyscrapers and air
conditioning. Boy was I wrong! Of course
there are plenty of big buildings and it is 100 times bigger than what I am
used to in Nebraska, but Lima is so big that it is split up into little
districts that I didn’t even know about.
I live in Lima, but I really haven’t seen it all. I was also completely shocked that air
conditioners really aren’t that popular unless you are in a Starbucks or a nice
restaurant. Even in cars, people usually
just roll the windows down and drive fast. You live right on the equator for
goodness sake! I will never understand this, but I guess they are saving lots
of energy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
And while I’m on
the subject of driving, that is an entirely different story in this city.
Public transportation, even transportation in your own car, is an absolute
nightmare. And to top it all off,
everyone thinks that honking their horn will cure the traffic problem. I wonder when they’ll figure out that it does
nothing but make everyone else angry.
When I walk home from school I can’t even hear myself think because cars
honking and busses switching gears block it out. This is definitely something I won’t miss
when I get back to Nebraska. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Speaking of things
that I won’t miss let me list a few more and start with the bad news and end
with the good. Not fitting in: Ahh
Nebraska, where the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls all unite as one. I can see it now! I am sick and tired of walking down the
street and getting completely stared down, most of the time even whistled at or
talked to in some nasty-Spanish-talk. I
even got my rear end squeezed by a disgusting guy on a bike. Yes, you read that right. Some gross Peruvian squeezed my butt as he
passed me on his bike. I’ve learned that
here in Peru the men are either complete gentlemen or the exact opposite.
There’s no in between. None. A few other
things I won’t miss very much for obvious reasons are 3-hour long classes, the
blazing-hot sun in the middle of the day, the smog of the city, and not being
able to see the stars at night. Other
than that, there are lots of things that I am definitely going to miss, but I
will get to that later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are lots of
cultural differences that I have picked up on during my time in Lima. For example, time really isn’t much of a
priority here. Life is very
go-with-the-flow. If you have a meeting
at 2pm, no worries if you show up between 2-2:30pm. My conversation teacher was at least 15
minutes late to class each week. Also,
this means that plans aren’t really ever made in advance. Are you ready to go now? Yeah, I guess. Ok, vamos! That’s how it goes every single
time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve also noticed that family
customs are a lot different here.
Usually if you are going to the university and your family lives close,
you continue to live with them. Most of
the time you will continue to live with them until you are married. Not that I don’t love being at home with my
parents, but I couldn’t imagine still living under their roof past 20 years
old. Here that is very common, and even
people in their 30’s and up still live with close family. It is very different, but very cool that they
are so family-oriented. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One major thing
that I learned (was forced to learn) was that Peruvian’s are the true night
owls of the world. On the weekends, if
you want to go out to the bars or a dance club, you don’t even think about
getting ready to leave until 10 or 11pm at the earliest. And don’t think you’ll just be out for 2-3
hours. Ohhh no. You’ll be out until the
sun comes back up and the birds are chirping, usually 5 or 6am at the
earliest. The nightlife in Peru is
amazing and so alive, but this is definitely something that I would not be able
to get used to if I was going to be here longer. This girl needs her sleep. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbJFRq0w7jkIurEbwQUq49J315ODITWCSdRBeBqBunXU1lePrlP6cpPFmRxQpXmwTWi6r6YIza9RnITP2P95P2D4N456aQ9fSXd8eWFjEAAWBWDqbFEICG2HLb3jIAoeuyDetVX_KyHAb/s1600/IMG_1230.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/AVvXsEgFbJFRq0w7jkIurEbwQUq49J315ODITWCSdRBeBqBunXU1lePrlP6cpPFmRxQpXmwTWi6r6YIza9RnITP2P95P2D4N456aQ9fSXd8eWFjEAAWBWDqbFEICG2HLb3jIAoeuyDetVX_KyHAb/s320/IMG_1230.JPG" width="320" /></a>Well, now that
I’ve talked about some of the negatives and customs that have tested my
patience, I think it’s time to get on to all of the fun that I have had this
past semester. I was fortunate enough to
travel to four unforgettable sites in this beautiful country: Arequipa, Ica,
Iquitos, and Cusco. During each of the
trips I had the pleasure of viewing the very beautiful, historical sites of
Colca Valley, the sand dunes of Huacachina, The Amazon Jungle/River, and of
course Machu Picchu—one of the Seven Wonders of the World! How lucky am I? I could write at least five pages of details
about all of the fun I had on each of these trips, but that would be a little
much. Each trip had it’s own unique
feel, and it was impossible to decide which trip was the best because each one
had different aspects and excursions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our first trip to
Arequipa was awesome, especially our two day visit to Colca Valley and the city
of Chivay. The altitude was a little
much, but we all quickly got over it and had a great time. The trip to Ica was very relaxing at a very
nice resort, but of course with an excursion to go sand boarding and sand
buggy-ing in Huacachina. The trip to
Iquitos and the Amazon was extremely unique---we spent 3 nights in the jungle
in log cabins with no electricity or warm water. Although we all got eaten alive by mosquitos,
it was definitely a wildlife adventure full of fun and new experiences. Of course last, but not least, was our trip
to Cusco and the ruins at Machu Picchu.
This trip was well worth the wait, as we had to delay travels for over a
month due to kidnapping threats. The
altitude here was even harder to deal with, but the breathtaking views that the
entire city and surrounding area of Cusco contained were well worth it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HLU84lsW2GrmCgo1Ft_EjDnujoy1HOr2rIkPzmsiD4jBJ_9_kjlJThfJO_WYRxWjn5FmyRmNLDs6KNTCJPzAvWIRyUCDXqQcLXbAQTy-p0ZTH3M7BG2XE3kVJvUobvWzIvUqt9Inm9v5/s1600/IMG_1084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HLU84lsW2GrmCgo1Ft_EjDnujoy1HOr2rIkPzmsiD4jBJ_9_kjlJThfJO_WYRxWjn5FmyRmNLDs6KNTCJPzAvWIRyUCDXqQcLXbAQTy-p0ZTH3M7BG2XE3kVJvUobvWzIvUqt9Inm9v5/s320/IMG_1084.jpg" width="240" /></a>I suppose it is
time to start the water works and reflect on everything that I’m going to miss
about Peru. One of the things I will
miss the most is my host mother’s cooking…and Peruvian food in general. The food is very rich and full of flavor, and
I will definitely miss it. Of course,
along with this I will miss my Peruvian family—Luzmilla and Max, and their son
Iván who is my age. They have been
nothing but welcoming and I couldn’t have asked for a better family to stay
with. I never thought I’d say it, but
Inca Cola has really grown on me. I am
going to miss this bubble-gum flavored soda more than words can say. Also, I will miss other typical Peruvian
drinks such as Chicha Morada or the many different fruit smoothies that are
simply delightful. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have made some
pretty great friends here in Peru, not only from Peru but also from
Nebraska. I am definitely going to miss
seeing them every day, but of course I have made some friends that I will most
likely never see again (even though I would love to and hope to one day). Everyone is so nice here and they treat you
like family. I could make a long list
right here and now with the names of all the nice Peruvians I have met and will
miss when I leave, but that list would be endless. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqC0Z5T0sEHmr5W3s5VjNRVkojKGlgpx7LK1B2BaBnohxoxPnJzuVQNJVCN_7Nse3_vRi0vpkP0FUITYuG7ey3Jz61lR5RCYWxh6yZhtcODRTGhqdHLtKnvfnLAfBCeUSRYcs9lqBVRQmq/s1600/575635_503932779657183_1990862363_n.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/AVvXsEiqC0Z5T0sEHmr5W3s5VjNRVkojKGlgpx7LK1B2BaBnohxoxPnJzuVQNJVCN_7Nse3_vRi0vpkP0FUITYuG7ey3Jz61lR5RCYWxh6yZhtcODRTGhqdHLtKnvfnLAfBCeUSRYcs9lqBVRQmq/s320/575635_503932779657183_1990862363_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>I have friends I
met here in Peru that I feel like I’ve known for my entire life but it’s really
only been a few months. Two Peruvians
that have shown me the most hospitality and friendship since I’ve been living
in Lima are my friends David and Kevin Salinas, who happen to be the host
brothers of one of the students from Nebraska.
When I was having issues with my first host, they took me in, helped me
pack up my stuff, and made sure I was getting fed and had a proper place to
stay. For that, I will be eternally
grateful. Yes, they are my friends, but
I truly will always call them the brothers that I never had. I don’t think I would’ve made it through the
rest of the trip if it weren’t for their kindness and support when I was in
need. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What I will miss
most about Peru and the city of Lima is the 24/7 liveliness. Everyone is so carefree and full of
life. Everyone gets up early and stays
up until it’s almost light again…whether you’re dancing your pants off at a
local club or out eating at a restaurant with your family and friends. The family atmosphere goes right along with
it. Nobody takes any thing for granted
and they are thankful for every hour and every second that they get to spend
together. Although I have absolutely
loved living with a true Peruvian, mom-and-dad family, it has really made being
away from my family that much harder. I
have grown such a bigger appreciation for the ones I love and I am fortunate
that I still have all of them in my life.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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The weeks keep
passing by; days are getting crossed off the calendar quickly approaching the
day that I am returning back to “The Good Life.” My experience abroad in Lima, Peru has been
an unforgettable journey full of ups, downs, laughs, cries, and lots of
“wows.” I never in a million years
thought I’d be able to live in a foreign country on my own for an entire
semester. After much persuasion from my
family and friends, I decided to jump in with both feet. Words will never express how thankful I am
for getting that little nudge to take this adventure on. It was by no means easy, but I have learned
so much about Spanish, Peruvian culture, and life in general. For that, I am eternally thankful. I am more than ready to be home and see my
family, but Peru has really shown me an educationally and culturally awesome
time. I’m returning to “The Good Life,”
but life here has been pretty great. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks for the
memories, Peru. I will forever cherish
the moments I’ve spent with you and I hope to see you again one day. ¡Hasta luego! </div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-22539034166097895392013-03-27T20:20:00.005-07:002013-03-27T20:20:56.237-07:00La Última Gran Aventura Peruana de Whitney I feel like I can finally stop and breathe again! These last three weeks have been absolutely CRAZY! First we traveled to Ica, then Iquitos, and the grand finale (drumroll) ............ Machu Picchu! I seriously can't believe that I have been traveling, literally, at least 12 out of the last 21 days. I am exhausted and extremely behind on online class homework, but I am excited to share my pictures and my stories!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jHPnNlx451Lqab1Ar5FtETvPsWa2wH-wmWnGa5Q-xFE-00huyJ_DvA70yY_KmK_mm-EAKuO6c_himoILQOGKjD_vwslilx4ezrNR8gVmfZWvGfR1aoUN8Kuf0vY58eT9dpKZKwQTswJj/s1600/IMG_1201.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/AVvXsEh8jHPnNlx451Lqab1Ar5FtETvPsWa2wH-wmWnGa5Q-xFE-00huyJ_DvA70yY_KmK_mm-EAKuO6c_himoILQOGKjD_vwslilx4ezrNR8gVmfZWvGfR1aoUN8Kuf0vY58eT9dpKZKwQTswJj/s320/IMG_1201.JPG" width="320" /></a>As if we all weren't exhausted enough when we returned from Iquitos on Monday, we crammed in homework, studying for tests, and doing laundry so we could pack up again and head for Cusco at 3am Thursday morning. We knew that we would get a small nap in before activities started later that day, so we weren't too worried about the altitude sickness or exhaustion. But, I had no idea how high the elevation was in this historical town. There were some places we went to that had an altitude of over 13,000 feet, including our hotel! Lets just say this, walking up two flights of stairs to get to my room was the only physical activity I was up for on our first day in Cusco. It was a very hard adjustment, even after taking medicine. Even on the last night in Cusco, I rolled over in bed during the middle of the night and thought I was going to pass out...it took my breath away.<br />
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After a much needed nap and bowl of chicken noodle soup, we headed out to visit some very historical sights around Cusco. We visited Qorikancha--a convent near our hotel, Basílica Cathedral, Saqsayhuamán--Incan ruins pronounced somewhat like "sexy woman", Tambomachay, Pukapukara, and many other places and names that you have no idea what I'm talking about. Needless to say, after finding a nice cafe with American food and taking a nice hot shower, we were all ready for bed. (Which was a good thing because our journey to Machu Picchu began at 6am the next morning!<br />
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Bright and early, we loaded our mini bus to get to the bus station. Once at the bus station, we loaded a larger bus with a few other passengers and took an hour and a half ride to the train station. Once we were at the train station, we boarded our train and took a two hour ride to a little area called "Aguas Calientes". After this, we boarded our final bus and waited 30 more minutes before we finally got to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World! If you were doing the math and calculating bathroom breaks, train stops, and other issues, you would see that it took us from 6am to about 11:30am to finally get to our destination! I don't really have much to say about this trip other than...wow. The pictures I took are beautiful, but they will never do it justice. The view was by far the best few in the whole country! The long travels, homesickness, and exhaustion were all worth it. After spending the afternoon there and the rest of the evening to get back home, we were all ready to get some shut eye and prepare for Saturday's events.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydO476YIbrxyUfvTCX2jeLNc9PGoEtBozltv1wBg8dQ9uCkknfRQhAwf_gGD9UiNENZ2waJ9j13O4GMT9FL5fB3sHp-2KsuZUZy3Ust57yrRev1LoRrbOVuAy0FKjQJQfHxMsFJy0oGn_/s1600/IMG_1344.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/AVvXsEiydO476YIbrxyUfvTCX2jeLNc9PGoEtBozltv1wBg8dQ9uCkknfRQhAwf_gGD9UiNENZ2waJ9j13O4GMT9FL5fB3sHp-2KsuZUZy3Ust57yrRev1LoRrbOVuAy0FKjQJQfHxMsFJy0oGn_/s320/IMG_1344.jpg" width="240" /></a>On Saturday we got to wake up a little bit later and we headed to an animal refugee area about 20 minutes from where we were staying in Cusco. This place was so cool! We were able to see many different llamas, alpacas, birds, condors, and even a puma! All of these animals were rescued and are being nursed back to health in hopes of being returned to the wild. Later during the day, we visited other ancient ruins and had many kodak moments. Now I can also say I've visited the Sacred Valley! After getting back around 6pm, we all decided to rest for a while before going out to eat and finding a cool bar to hang out at. It was a very relaxing night, and we were all happy to go back to the cafe with the American food and eat some comfort food. Unfortunately, later that night we found out that we had to check out of our hotel the next morning at 9:30am. So, we headed home and tried to get some sleep before leaving early the next morning to do some shopping.<br />
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After a few hours of shopping the next morning, it was time to head to the airport and get ready to fly back home. Of course our flight was delayed for over an hour. (We have not had ONE flight from Peruvian Airlines leave or arrive on time. I've flown 6 times with this airline. So Peruvian Airlines is not recommended for any of you travelers out there.) We finally got home later that night and I was so happy to be somewhere where I could walk up a flight of stairs and not get winded. My family was waiting for me to get home with supper and I had a good time talking with them about my trip and showing them pictures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdulIdFyM2jP_xxnb4qOaTu_7GlUwowiGVEtJkrmK-BTMMOys4m9rSXbkHlxqTU4uvbOPne97tdnRlWm7TbuWPGupyPUK6MF4iN03UGLe2JPKl7D9h76KYP6wSlDxzgoW0q1JG2s2-0E-d/s1600/IMG_1355.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/AVvXsEjdulIdFyM2jP_xxnb4qOaTu_7GlUwowiGVEtJkrmK-BTMMOys4m9rSXbkHlxqTU4uvbOPne97tdnRlWm7TbuWPGupyPUK6MF4iN03UGLe2JPKl7D9h76KYP6wSlDxzgoW0q1JG2s2-0E-d/s320/IMG_1355.JPG" width="320" /></a>So what happens now? I am getting ready to finish my last few weeks left at UPC. It is so bittersweet. I am more than excited to go home and see my family and friends, but I am going to miss the liveliness and sense of adventure in the atmosphere of Perú. I'm sad to say that this is my last blog post that will have details about a big trip, but I am happy to be "home" and spending time in the good ole' city of Lima. So thankful for this opportunity and the amount of love and support I have gotten from everyone back home. I'm counting down the days until I go home as well as counting my blessings.Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-71115498412086096372013-03-19T11:23:00.002-07:002013-03-19T11:23:41.984-07:00Never-ending AdventureWOW. I can't believe how much I have experienced in these last two weeks. They went by so fast! First Ica, then Iquitos and the Amazon, now............(Drumroll).........Machu Picchu! I am so excited to announce that in 2 very short days I will be boarding a plane and heading for Cusco! The good news was announced last Thursday when we were getting ready to leave for Iquitos. Can you believe it? 3 trips in 3 weeks? I am running pretty low on sleep, but the excitement and adventure that I am experiencing are keeping me alive! Now, let me tell you about my unexpected, crazy, natural, buggy adventure in the Amazon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoFvrKiNqK03Fm2ACUYFsA0nJPo_LTpRts3Ur2f_turveh-hDX6rD6__gZXFcR-Ndjg1w7MwsBWUKRUArENToboccHm1J0aGj9WscnCyR8vOkIlragnaSihvofHV6WiGn4BtRtC94SJ-l/s1600/IMG_1100.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/AVvXsEhzoFvrKiNqK03Fm2ACUYFsA0nJPo_LTpRts3Ur2f_turveh-hDX6rD6__gZXFcR-Ndjg1w7MwsBWUKRUArENToboccHm1J0aGj9WscnCyR8vOkIlragnaSihvofHV6WiGn4BtRtC94SJ-l/s320/IMG_1100.jpg" width="320" /></a>I don't think anyone had any idea what we were getting into when we booked this tour of the Amazon. It included 2 nights and 3 days packed full of adventures and we were so excited, but we didn't know what to expect at all. Turns out, we got to Iquitos and took a long boat ride to our camp....literally IN the Amazon rainforest. It was a beautiful place that even had a room full of hammocks to hang out in. (See what I did there?) Haha. The biggest issue we had with our camp, no electricity. We did have it from 7-9 at night but that was usually when we were busy doing something or eating supper. Yes, this means no light, no phone charging, and cold water. We truly got to experience the nature of the jungle...bugs, wildlife, lots of rain, and the constant hum of noises they make. It was CRAZY hot and extremely humid, so we were definitely miserable during many points of the trip. But the adventures we had during our stay made it all worth it.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">The first day, we made it to our camp and went on a 2-hour walk through the jungle. We saw lots of different bugs and frogs, along with a tarantula! Eeek! Afterwards, we all went back to camp to rest and eat supper. After we ate, we even went on a night walk through the jungle! We saw gigantic spiders, frogs, bats, tree rats, and even a snake! It was terrifying....but I am so glad that I survived. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CjPBPjSWqXmWWrP6WzSwSnjYnwSalitFzG306XcmXY2tw-63PzTrD3-UEEW4WK4VwD3_TI-7hNjxT-t_eF8CRsLzna5hmBLmTyCUgX_rp4Y6EtJ2CBU3YKYoeE_AMAD9XKCRcsxahLbs/s1600/IMG_1070.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/AVvXsEh1CjPBPjSWqXmWWrP6WzSwSnjYnwSalitFzG306XcmXY2tw-63PzTrD3-UEEW4WK4VwD3_TI-7hNjxT-t_eF8CRsLzna5hmBLmTyCUgX_rp4Y6EtJ2CBU3YKYoeE_AMAD9XKCRcsxahLbs/s320/IMG_1070.JPG" width="320" /></a>The next day, we were supposed to go pihrana fishing but it was raining very hard, so we decided to travel to "Monkey Island" where we were really in for a treat. We got off the boat and everyone was hurrying under the building on the island because it was raining. On our way in, we saw this adorable little monkey who didn't seem to be too scared of us at all. Sam said, "I wonder if this little guy will get on my arm" and before he could finish his sentence the monkey jumped up and started climbing to his shoulder! We found out that lots of the monkeys on the island were pretty used to seeing and interacting with humans. Once we got inside the building, we were blessed to experience the company of many different monkeys, a turtle, sloth, parrots, a tucan, caiman, and a gigantic snake! This was by far one of our favorite parts of our Amazonian adventure. Once we got back, we rested for a while and then boarded the boat to go looking for pink dolphins. We did somewhat see a few gray dolphins but we didn't have very much luck. However, we did get a chance to swim in the river for a while before we went back to camp and I thought that was pretty cool. How many people can say they've swam in the Amazon River? Now I can!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Q4hzwDnWkcn0P5rGGwJQPPODQ4LqdNmHgWIGdoWuYN6inupuENvH7Cq8Nys-CKuEeomJ5VbeMzbs4vM-UbrktPvsobYhdaMQfTgeyGcVW3TM_v_zNKVtsEuMSTGjLcVCMdXi1hyov-OY/s1600/IMG_1084.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/AVvXsEg8Q4hzwDnWkcn0P5rGGwJQPPODQ4LqdNmHgWIGdoWuYN6inupuENvH7Cq8Nys-CKuEeomJ5VbeMzbs4vM-UbrktPvsobYhdaMQfTgeyGcVW3TM_v_zNKVtsEuMSTGjLcVCMdXi1hyov-OY/s320/IMG_1084.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
On our last day, we went pihrana fishing in the morning. Unfortunately, the pihranas that we were fishing for were mostly smaller than any goldfish I've ever had...but it is cool that I can say I tried. Nobody had luck in catching one, but Haley did catch a small catfish! While in this tree-covered cove, we saw a few iguanas and also a few snakes in the trees. This was my nightmare! I was afraid that the snakes would jump on our boat from the trees, but thankfully we survived! After our fishing excursion, we went back to camp and walked about 10 minutes through the jungle to visit a native indian tribe called the Yahua. Here, they gave us a short presentation of their culture and even showed us a few of their traditional dances, in which we had to participate. After this, we went back to camp and ate lunch before heading back to Iquitos.<br />
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This is where another adventure truly begins. First of all, the boat ride was over twice as long as before to get back because we were traveling upstream. So, 2.5 hours later, we finally arrived at Iquitos and got in taxis to head for the airport. We got to the airport, got our tickets, waited as they were delayed for over an hour, finally boarded the plane, waited another 30 minutes, and then we were told to exit the plane as they were having technical difficulties. Soooooo, we got off the plane, later to realize that we wouldn't be getting back on it that night. In fact, we wouldn't be leaving that night. A very long story short, we waited in line from 9pm to 1am in order to book a new flight for the next day and get hotel/transportation arrangements made. We finally got to our hotel, showered, and got some sleep in the AC before heading back to the airport at 11am the next morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAskEFRkk46dKwL18tvriGFhbQRBZcelmOJQ9MEKV80yyShdT04iqCpk4f0Nq1Yk0qG20gxMPcvQUcncJ9AV8ABGmOWT0cyZVJ5J52h_yqTSLAtUAp2ATKB7MVJYlIKuTweLBD1iu8U7M/s1600/IMG_1136.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/AVvXsEjJAskEFRkk46dKwL18tvriGFhbQRBZcelmOJQ9MEKV80yyShdT04iqCpk4f0Nq1Yk0qG20gxMPcvQUcncJ9AV8ABGmOWT0cyZVJ5J52h_yqTSLAtUAp2ATKB7MVJYlIKuTweLBD1iu8U7M/s320/IMG_1136.JPG" width="320" /></a>After getting checked in and through security, eating lunch, and waiting another hour due to delays, we finally boarded the plane and began our much awaited journey home to Lima. To make matters even worse, we had a stop in another airport to drop off/pick up other passengers before we got to Lima. We were never made aware of this so we were pretty upset that we got delayed on our trip home even more. To make matters even more worse, my taxi ride home from the airport took 2 hours! Usually if there isn't traffic it is a 35-40 minute drive. It was crazy rush hour times a million and I don't want to get in another taxi for a long long long long time.<br />
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But now, here I am at home in my room in Lima. I made it! I am so happy that I can say I survived a weekend in the Amazon with no electricity in the ridiculous heat/humidity. (Although I do have a ridiculous amount of mosquito bites all over my body.) It was a once in a lifetime trip and I will never forget it. Now, I am back home to do some laundry and pack up again to leave for Machu Picchu early Thursday morning. Hopefully we have some better luck with this trip and not too many complications. I can't wait to get back and share even more pictures with everyone! I have class in an hour, so I better get going. Thanks for checking in, as always. ¡Hasta luego!Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-29663026863201113812013-03-14T12:43:00.000-07:002013-03-14T12:45:00.595-07:00So much to do...so little time!These past two weeks have been absolutely crazy! I have had so much to do in terms of homework, studying for tests, online classes, and traveling that I had to actually had to write down a list of everything that I've done in the past week so I could remember what to write in my blog! I have seen and done so much in such a small amount of time.<br />
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Starting with last Saturday, I decided to stay home all day and work on homework, do my laundry, and pack for our trip to Ica. It was a LONG day and I had a lot of homework to do online so I could stay ahead while we were gone for the trip. Also, I was really looking forward to watching SNL that evening because Justin Timberlake was the host...but we had to be at the bus station at 6:45am Sunday morning so I decided I better get some sleep.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cmNQl3M29PJDdqFzgF1e2turQHQ0esVp8nEZrw5aa6lvOz7OeNh_X8AfuSUugcAi_hVHMl_gOUNjMNl-N19BpdGbLBZMRutOX4wqDtfClvXjvRDgrSOdr9G1guVPqbAr2kNURf4BPSh0/s1600/IMG_0935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cmNQl3M29PJDdqFzgF1e2turQHQ0esVp8nEZrw5aa6lvOz7OeNh_X8AfuSUugcAi_hVHMl_gOUNjMNl-N19BpdGbLBZMRutOX4wqDtfClvXjvRDgrSOdr9G1guVPqbAr2kNURf4BPSh0/s200/IMG_0935.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-06rUHf6pNBZerenuVsPVJcKFEUUislWc9ycbdWYrsLHIYe1s_adZD73kyOKlvjofhpQpgB9LgRDVxvlEvVSLbSNoqgeyF1qoSZIbPsSu8DqtubXwiEK7S_yFmmEVSB4LO3Gssfib7ec/s1600/IMG_0934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-06rUHf6pNBZerenuVsPVJcKFEUUislWc9ycbdWYrsLHIYe1s_adZD73kyOKlvjofhpQpgB9LgRDVxvlEvVSLbSNoqgeyF1qoSZIbPsSu8DqtubXwiEK7S_yFmmEVSB4LO3Gssfib7ec/s320/IMG_0934.jpg" width="240" /></a>Sunday morning we all arrived bright and early to the bus station and boarded one of the most luxurious busses I've ever seen in my life. The seats were extremely comfy and included a foot/leg rest and a recliner. They played good movies, had air conditioning, and served us breakfast. I was a little disappointed to have to get off the bus after the 4-hour ride...but once we got to the resort I was excited for our trip to officially begin!<br />
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We dropped off our things in our room and then decided to go to the center of town to eat some lunch. Then, we all really couldn't wait to go sand boarding, so we made some reservations and headed for Las Dunas in Huacachina. It was an absolute blast! We rode in giant dune buggies up and down some steeeeep sand dunes and then we stopped at 3 different dunes to give sand-boarding a try. (Hopefully I should have a few videos up on Facebook soon once I figure that out!) Once we were finished, we all were covered head to toe in sand...seriously.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVCLI2LKzXWl9Z33pXur6g_XLDbekEUx3rmKmr9GeNvIWBREimrU9jkwFGaV8n3zrzPdzWwDPJmBlZWggRJAnfR061M6ywlNLUZeedgO0G0HjvJUZNjDrLPkgMymQHhoueS8geuk6-pnL/s1600/IMG_0941.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/AVvXsEgjVCLI2LKzXWl9Z33pXur6g_XLDbekEUx3rmKmr9GeNvIWBREimrU9jkwFGaV8n3zrzPdzWwDPJmBlZWggRJAnfR061M6ywlNLUZeedgO0G0HjvJUZNjDrLPkgMymQHhoueS8geuk6-pnL/s320/IMG_0941.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Since we were out, we decided to go to a local winery on our way back to the resort. Ica is supposed to be well known for producing some of the best pisco and wine in the entire country of Peru, so we were pretty excited to see how it is all done. (If you didn't know, pisco is a very traditional/popular liquor here that is a brandy made from grapes. Not my favorite drink....but I guess I can say I've tried it.) After the tour and the taste-testing, we got back to the resort for just enough time to have a four-on-four basketball tournament in the pool before it closed. It was the perfect ending to a day that was chalked-full of adventures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bLj-2N9BoenHF5DRX788IMpF7qQOCSUXEwzjtbHTc4KpbaxiAtTsBv4FTgxBew9jwSmLXWtJKtUkmUy_GTrIUejhvBmeFSOkpEU_aK72iOAOA2MnsKuxwN-1uk27QIzXoGRtanN0Qw3P/s1600/IMG_0961.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/AVvXsEj2bLj-2N9BoenHF5DRX788IMpF7qQOCSUXEwzjtbHTc4KpbaxiAtTsBv4FTgxBew9jwSmLXWtJKtUkmUy_GTrIUejhvBmeFSOkpEU_aK72iOAOA2MnsKuxwN-1uk27QIzXoGRtanN0Qw3P/s320/IMG_0961.jpg" width="320" /></a>Monday, we all were up bright and early at 6:30 to head to the coast for our tour of Las Islas Ballestas. Unfortunately, we were delayed almost an hour due to fog and weather, but two cups of coffee later (yes, black coffee...mom and Grandma Terri should be proud) we were finally in our boat and heading to the islands! There were literally HUNDREDS of sea lions and it was so cool to see all of them together. We also saw quite a bit of them swimming along the side of our boat. We also got to see other animals like thousands and thousands of birds that proved to be pretty dangerous when flying above our boat with full bowels. (haha) We saw some gigantic jellyfish next to our boat and we even saw penguins! Who knew that I'd get to see penguins in South America? It was so neat! After the tour, we spent the rest of the day swimming at the pool and going down the pretty awesome water slide. We played about every single children's game that you played in the local pool when you were 7 years old with your friends and we had a blast. Later in the evening, we had a few drinks and played cards and had fun telling stories and enjoying each others company.<br />
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Tuesday, we all woke up fairly late in the morning with just enough time to pack up our things and drink our free frozen limonadas from the bar by the pool. I was sad to leave Ica, and I knew that the entire bus ride home would include studying for the grammar test I had the next day and doing homework. It was a much longer/more miserable ride than before because the AC wasn't really working the greatest, either. But we finally made it home.<br />
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Wednesday, we had classes all day because we missed class on Tuesday due to our trip. So, we had grammar class at 9am-12pm and then literature from 2-5pm like normal. Unfortunately, I stayed up until 2am studying for the grammar test we were supposed to have, and I didn't even hear my alarm go off for class. Needless to say, I was a good 45 minutes late to class. Thankfully we didn't have to take our quiz, but I was a little bummed that I stayed up so late to prepare for something I didn't need to! After classes, a few of us went to the store to get items we needed for our trip, and then I worked on homework again until almost 2am. It has been really hard for me to take 12 credits here along with 6 credits of online classes. Thankfully it's almost Spring Break for UNK so that will be a good break from online classes for me!<br />
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Today, I am getting ready to go to class from 4-7pm and then I plan on coming straight home, packing, and going to bed! Our plane for Iquitos (the Amazon) leaves at 6:30am tomorrow, so we are leaving my house for the airport at 3:30am. That's in almost 12 hours! I am beyond excited for this trip, however. We get to tour floating islands, witness the many wildlife of the jungle, and even go fishing for pihranas. I can't wait to come back and share all of my adventures with you all. I better finish this novel up so I can do some last minute homework before I go to class. ¡Chao!Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-26743451123274664722013-03-04T12:53:00.002-08:002013-03-04T12:53:41.512-08:00There's no place like home...Well I've officially been at my new home for a week now. It has been an absolute blessing and I can't express how thankful I am for the Patrucco's for taking me in when I needed them. Not only have I been blessed with their love, support, and company, but I have also been fed some Peru's finest dishes in the short time span of one week. The food has been absolutely incredible and I haven't had anything I didn't like. I've had all sorts of different dishes from cow hearts and pork to sheep and yuca...and I am not complaining! I've never been a picky eater, and I am so thankful for that. It has been really fun to have something different to eat every day. Each day is a new experience and I'm loving it.<br />
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Last week was one of the most stressful weeks I've had as a student at UPC. As if my online classes don't add enough work as it is, I had a test every single day of the week...Monday through Thursday. It was especially hard for me because I was also trying to adapt to my new life in the Patrucco household. But, I survived. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgq3xhs7F3qKKXANouY4zPmT0S0_IDZfLPM_CIlQg8b-FCbIWlil6YlrbP6Zg_DtlVYTnGxlo7Sxmzoi2_tAM_KxCAPgFeztqHz4HXyXSRl4DH3cOI83CMJyh-URCX8H4vLmM42YXNEUsP/s1600/hales.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/AVvXsEhgq3xhs7F3qKKXANouY4zPmT0S0_IDZfLPM_CIlQg8b-FCbIWlil6YlrbP6Zg_DtlVYTnGxlo7Sxmzoi2_tAM_KxCAPgFeztqHz4HXyXSRl4DH3cOI83CMJyh-URCX8H4vLmM42YXNEUsP/s320/hales.jpg" width="320" /></a>On Thursday evening, we went out with some of our Peruvian friends to a disco and had a great time dancing to great music. Needless to say I was very tired when I woke up on Friday morning. That evening, we decided to take it easy and go see Here Comes the Boom in theaters. It was a pretty funny movie, but our heads hurt after it was over because the movie was entirely in Spanish! I was definitely ready for bed after that. On Saturday, a few of my friends and I went to this well-known shopping market called Polvo Azules that was supposed to have really cheap goods. We went around 3pm and it was absolutely CRAZY. There were people everywhere and it was pretty miserable for me. I am hoping to return during a week day sometime to see if I can actually get some shopping done. That evening, we decided to go to Miraflores and walk around to some of the different bars/discos that were in the area. We had a great time together and it was nice to take a break from the stress of studying and homework that was so excessive during the week.<br />
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And here is the part of my blog where y'all get to listen to me whine and be all mooshy-gooshy and cliché. First of all, I know I say that homesickness has started to kick in before....but I think I've reached an even higher level. I Skyped my parents on Sunday and had them meet my Peruvian family, and I bawled my eyes out for the first 20 minutes I talked to them. Sometimes I wish I could slip on some red sparkly slippers and click my heels 3 times like Dorothy so I could go home just to hug and kiss everyone, but I've had to pinch myself a couple of times and remind myself that it isn't reality. I get to talk to my mom and sister quite a bit considering we all have iPhones, but communication with my dad isn't so frequent. This daddy's girl is having a rough time with that. I am not ready to leave Peru, but I am more than ready to go home and see my family and my puppies.<br />
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Secondly, I want to reflect on the friendships I've been blessed with during this adventure in Peru. I came here kind-of knowing a few people from Spanish classes at UNK, and I am leaving with 11 people I can call friends. I especially want to mention the friendship I've gained with these 3 hooligans.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sqFuIBNFZB2FI0Ev9-srddQvH7nsK0UWF8yJUL_flejjzZmiUzvnoUZKcQYoD2w6emabJcRdpWBVWOOjV0jNd0g0CauFhJTL2y5pfAC5ZxMGX-HxslYrt4kr5bVMEQKyjeZVMFEib0Gz/s1600/fabfour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sqFuIBNFZB2FI0Ev9-srddQvH7nsK0UWF8yJUL_flejjzZmiUzvnoUZKcQYoD2w6emabJcRdpWBVWOOjV0jNd0g0CauFhJTL2y5pfAC5ZxMGX-HxslYrt4kr5bVMEQKyjeZVMFEib0Gz/s320/fabfour.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Through troubles with host families, being homesick, and the stresses of being a student in a Spanish-speaking country, Sam, Luke & Haley have always been there. It is nice to have someone to lean on when things just aren't going right. It's also nice to know that I have friends I can be comfortable with and be myself around. Don't think I would've made it this far without them!<br />
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And last, but certainly not least, I have to stop and say something about missing this guy.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0AhgiId04m_0Ydinz5HHD1JEZMxKoAAy8DvvKTOioFp2RVD9G-7T9IMcNAozSqEEu8GALJ2wTTjoSbEKUOwUny3wPLoTsXAReiPLUyWWcKenMNt2BdfN3LMueELpUM_mmr55jtfU9XoT/s1600/zachy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0AhgiId04m_0Ydinz5HHD1JEZMxKoAAy8DvvKTOioFp2RVD9G-7T9IMcNAozSqEEu8GALJ2wTTjoSbEKUOwUny3wPLoTsXAReiPLUyWWcKenMNt2BdfN3LMueELpUM_mmr55jtfU9XoT/s320/zachy.jpg" width="288" /></a>As summer is quickly approaching back home in the US, I am reminded that in July I will have spent the last 5 years of my life with this crazy dude. Time has flown by so fast! Seems like just yesterday I was just the high school band nerd/cheerleader dating the homecoming king. Now My boyfriend is graduating and I am studying in a different country. Crazy! These last few months have most definitely not been easy, and I can't thank him enough for baring with me. I am having the time of my life here in Peru, but it kills me not being there for him during his last semester student teaching in Grand Island. It is exciting for me to hear about all of the wonderful experience he is getting out of this semester, and I can't wait to get back in April and watch him graduate from UNK! I am one proud girlfriend, and I hope he knows that. :)<br />
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And....that concludes the lovey-dovey posts of the week. Thanks for checking in and keeping up with my crazy adventure. On Sunday, we leave for Ica so hopefully I will have some fun pictures and stories to share. ¡Hasta luego!<br />
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<br />Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-40932341681547428352013-02-27T08:54:00.003-08:002013-02-27T08:54:58.752-08:00UPDATES<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Holy crap, I don't remember the last time I sat
down and wrote in this blog. A lot has happened in the past two weeks and it
has honestly been pretty rough to say the least. I don't really have any
pictures to share with you, and I don't have much to say about the events that
have taken place in the last few weeks, so here it goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">For starters, UNK gave us the no-go on our trip to
Macchu Pichu. I was really hoping that this blog post would be chalked full of
beautiful pictures and experiences to share with everyone, but I guess I will
have to save it for another time. There has been a kidnapping warning that went
out to all American travelers through the Embassy here in Peru and they advised
that it isn't safe to travel to Cusco and the area until after February. So,
unfortunately we had to cancel. We are all hoping and praying that we can
reschedule it for little or no cost during the month of April..so I will update
on this situation when I know more later in the month! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">To make matters even worse, my debit card number
somehow got hacked, so when I tried to get money with my card through the ATM,
it ATE my card and left me with nothing. So, I had no cash and no credit card
that allows cash withdrawal. And I am in South America. Ahh. Luckily I have
another card coming in the mail hopefully soon, and a friend had some money to
spare that I could borrow from them until I have a card of my own. Thank
God! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Another big even that occurred this last week was
that I decided to move host families. I very much enjoyed my time living with
Fabricio, but I found that living with two men in their late twenties and early
thirties was not so easy for a 20 year old girl like me. It was not an easy
decision to make, and it was a struggle living out of bags for almost a week,
but what I am about to describe about my new home life will definitely prove
that it was worth the trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I talked with Cynthia in the International Office
and she helped me find another family that possibly wanted to be my new host.
We visited them after I had class on Wednesday and I instantly fell in love
with the house and the people who could potentially be my new family. I was
excited to hear that they accepted me into their home and I just recently moved
in this Sunday. Besides the fact that I have an awesome mom, dad, and brother
here....I think my favorite part has been the AIR CONDITIONING! I feel so
spoiled. I am so very thankful to the Patrucco's for taking me in at such late
notice and for treating me like one of the family after being in the house for
the first 20 minutes. I've only been here for 3 days and I've been served some
of the best meals I've tasted in Peru. I go to bed at night now finally feeling
like I have a home and I belong somewhere. Sometimes I get teary because I can
finally be at peace and have the consistency of home life here in Peru.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">One fun thing that happened yesterday was the
birthday celebration for my new Peruvian brother, Iván. He turned 20 yesterday,
so there was a big supper with lots of family members that lasted from about 8
until midnight. It was so fun to meet everybody and experience some amazing
Peruvian food. I think I'm going to have to go on a run or two this week to
make up for the amount of food I ate yesterday! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">This new family life I've experienced this week has
really helped sooth the homesickness that has become worse since these issues
have arose. I miss my puppies, my boyfriend, my family, and my friends so much
it hurts. These last few weeks were really rough for me, especially without all
of those wonderful people here physically to support me. However, I can't thank
all of my friends here that have lent a hand. Whether is was lending me money,
giving me a place to stay, or simply asking me how I was holding up, I will
forever appreciate it. I have gained some great friends here in Peru, both from
Nebraska and Lima as well. Everyone has been so willing to help and support me,
no matter what it was that I needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">This week is pretty packed with exams, homework, and lots of tasks to do
for my two online classes. So, this is why my blog post is pretty straight and
to the point. On that note, I better go finish up my studying for my literature
exam. Adios!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-40141275450161040222013-02-12T22:00:00.002-08:002013-02-12T22:00:34.638-08:00Mi Aventura a Arequipa!Well, a LOT has happened since I last updated this blog. Nothing too exciting happened during the week. But, this weekend was such a blast! Me and 8 of my classmates from Nebraska journeyed to the beautiful Colca Valley near the city of Arequipa!<br />
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Our plane left on Friday morning bright and early at 6:00am. The problem is, we (thought we lived) live close to an hour away from the airport and we wanted to be there within at least 1.5 or 2 hours early. To make matters worse, our professor, Marta from UNK came down with a terrible case of food poisoning on Thursday evening, so she was unable to make the trip with us. We were so bummed for her! But, we met with Marta before we left and of course she said the show must go on. After some rearranging, we all met at UPC at 2:45am...some of us with only an hour or less of sleep. But, we were off!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSq6p18rufhN14azIPCIAQR2RMJ9kVX6jaWcYpFowUexPhCpvMt7rene8nRyDBDCIfnSFZlzY3lWmPH_pH2BFF4b7uQEA_yM-aBhxniUyCZJoJq2Jx3T1hkhVzAuJ7UjmzY36PGs19iZYp/s1600/IMG_0812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSq6p18rufhN14azIPCIAQR2RMJ9kVX6jaWcYpFowUexPhCpvMt7rene8nRyDBDCIfnSFZlzY3lWmPH_pH2BFF4b7uQEA_yM-aBhxniUyCZJoJq2Jx3T1hkhVzAuJ7UjmzY36PGs19iZYp/s320/IMG_0812.jpg" width="240" /></a>We arrived at the airport in Arequipa at 7:30am and had about a 2 hour wait for our guide to pick us up. Gonzalo picked us up and helped us carry our luggage to the bus as we met the other passengers from Peru and Chile who joined us on the journey. Colca Valley is about a good 3 hours or more from Arequipa, so we had a long day ahead of us. To top it all off, we were driving up into the mountains at a very high altitude. Needless to say, after the first hour or so of driving many of us were already feeling sick. Our first stop was at a little store with a restroom and people selling homemade goods. Here, we also tried mate de coca, which is pretty much hot tea with coca leaves in it. (tasted like green tea to me) It is supposed to help cure the symptoms of altitude sickness and make you feel better. Thankfully it helped for a while, but the trip kept getting higher and higher. After a while, the tea wore off and we were all ready to get off of that dang bus!<br />
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After we arrived at our hotel in Chivay (in Colca Valley) we took a short siesta and got ready to head to the hot springs with the group. The pool looked really dirty, but it was very relaxing...as it was natural, hot water being filtered into the area. After the hot springs, we got ready and ate supper with the rest of the group.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIkAk4cf5t5mUxa9EIhxOG7LZP5pErcg_RIkfaVZlkiu33AVI3iayToz2B9IWrjumNBnJsO07xxWHphe-RvJwF28etrQ-VvnrPgZlC0_G44BLxN1IUUYGZ4_Szo8JoEbY3FphtajoUYbK/s1600/IMG_0871.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/AVvXsEiTIkAk4cf5t5mUxa9EIhxOG7LZP5pErcg_RIkfaVZlkiu33AVI3iayToz2B9IWrjumNBnJsO07xxWHphe-RvJwF28etrQ-VvnrPgZlC0_G44BLxN1IUUYGZ4_Szo8JoEbY3FphtajoUYbK/s320/IMG_0871.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />We went to a nice little restaurant that had live entertainment for us. There were four men singing and playing instruments, and every once in a while there were traditional dances performed for us. During a few of the songs, the dancers would pick people out of the audience to come up and dance with them. Of course, I was the lucky one.<br />
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The dance I was talked into doing was a very odd one. It involved a piece of fruit being carried around by one dancer and the other dancer chasing after it. Once they receive the fruit they fall to the floor because it was apparently poisonous. In order to wake up the poisoned dancer, the other takes a whip-like rope and hits the unconscious dancer's legs with it. After finally awakening the sick dancer (the woman), the male dancer throws the female dancer over his shoulder and carries her away. Of course, when I was asked to come up and dance I got to reenact this. Yes, I was whipped fairly roughly on my legs and yes I was thrown over a dancer's shoulders like a sack of potatoes and carried away. It was a great time.<br />
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The next day, we woke up and began exploring Colca Valley very early around 6:30am. We stopped at many different view points and got some great pictures. (Check Facebook to see more!) Unfortunately the later it got, the cloudier it got so after a while we didn't have the best view. This was especially disappointing when we got to "el cruce de condor" where we were supposed to have a good chance of seeing condors. When I say it was cloudy...I mean we were literally IN the clouds. It was so weird. Luckily, we did see a few condors but they were so far away that it didn't really seem to affect me. I am, however, glad that this was really the only disappointing factor of the tour.<br />
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After touring more of Colca Valley, we returned to Arequipa and found our next hotel, which was really like a bed and breakfast. It was very, very nice and it had a full kitchen and living room that we were allowed to use whenever we wanted. Since we ended up spending more money on food during the tour than we thought, we decided to hit up the local grocery store and fix up a good old' supper of mac and cheese with ham sandwiches and fresh fruit. It was so delicious and we had a good time making it together! This will always be a special memory for me when I think about the trip.<br />
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One pretty scary thing we found out when we were traveling in Arequipa was the fact that there were about 18 deaths in Arequipa due to the insane amount of rain. Apparently this day was the most rain that they had ever had! We didn't see much of the destruction or flooding, but some of us had host parents and Peruvian friends calling/texting us to make sure we were safe. We had no idea rain could be so deadly!<br />
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After eating, we played cards and hung out together. Then, we decided that we wanted to go out downtown and see what the discos were like in Arequipa. We had a blast and danced until we were exhausted! We were all ready to go home the next day, but it was pretty hard to leave such a beautiful place!<br />
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This week has been pretty busy with homework for classes here and for my online classes, but nothing too interesting has been happening so far. I am really excited to say that next weekend (Feb 21st) I will be heading to Cusco to see Machu Picchu! I am so ready to go and I can hardly wait! Thanks again to everyone reading this and keeping tabs on what I'm up to. Homesickness has definitely started kicking in...especially when February rolled around. But, I am loving my time here and I can't believe how fast time has flown.<br />
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Hasta luego!Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-44894084702000337202013-02-04T18:51:00.002-08:002013-02-04T18:52:04.515-08:00Time Flies...I can't believe that I am almost a 3rd of the way done with studying abroad! Don't get me wrong, I am more than excited to go home and kiss my puppies and see my family and friends, but thinking about leaving behind all of these wonderful people I've met already brings tears to my eyes. I've even had dreams about it...so crazy.<br />
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Anyway, last week it seems as if I was buried under a mountain of homework. After the weekend, I feel as if I have somewhat recovered from that overload, but looking at my planner and to-do list it seems like this week won't be much different. One fun part of my week was making spaghetti with Fabricio! He recently accepted a new job, so we decided to celebrate and cook together. It was really good! Nothing special, but we added a few spices that made it Peruvian spaghetti in my eyes.<br />
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On Thursday, I went with some friends to TGI Fridays and we had some awesome "American" food. (I put this in parenthesis because I am told that Peruvians are also considered "Americans", so I suppose "North American" food would be more accurate) One cool thing we saw here was their birthday celebrations. They don't mess around with the free piece of cake and ice cream here, oh no. If it is your birthday, the servers come out and present you with a shot of what I'm assuming is tequila. Then they play drums and tambourines and sing a song, in which you are required to dance to in front of everybody. It was so fun to watch!<br />
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On Friday, I had a pretty lazy day. I went with a few friends to the mall and FINALLY found a personal fan for my room. Now, I don't have to sleep with my window open and worry about hearing car alarms, honking, and getting bit by bugs at all hours of the night. :) Around 6:30 Haley, Luke, Sam, and I met some Peruvian girls for the evening and they took us to Barranco. It is a little area about 20-30 minutes away from the university with lots of old buildings and restaurants...and it is right along the beach, too! I was so happy to finally become within walking distance of putting my feet in that ocean water! After much walking and walking and walking, we were all ready to go home and get some sleep.<br />
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We had a great time walking around Barranco and looking at some popular sites in the city, such as the bridge called "Suspiro." I don't know much about it, but Claudia and Joseline (our Peruvian guides) told us that it is a very romantic spot and on Valentine's day this place is packed with couples. Of course, we had to stop and take a quick picture at this romantic site. Haha :)<br />
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On Saturday, I had my first adventure surfing!! It was a blast! We left a little before 10am and finally returned home around 4 or 5pm. It was a long day, but so worth it. We rented a wet suit and a surf board, along with a short lesson for close to $10. I couldn't believe how cheap it was. We didn't even have a time limit!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggleO5XdKbsDyN7CLlQe9bt8bPrpf3_ioj-9HjOdPT6V5IJt8BEwvHUXMefhEpBJvkO9_KabM1_VrnuATREDUEtXSmaO_yXDSG8br8RqcwifJYyEg8QE_l2CurvjMzvXcf7MnPTWpeulqO/s1600/575635_503932779657183_1990862363_n.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/AVvXsEggleO5XdKbsDyN7CLlQe9bt8bPrpf3_ioj-9HjOdPT6V5IJt8BEwvHUXMefhEpBJvkO9_KabM1_VrnuATREDUEtXSmaO_yXDSG8br8RqcwifJYyEg8QE_l2CurvjMzvXcf7MnPTWpeulqO/s320/575635_503932779657183_1990862363_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> We had a terrible time trying to get me into my wetsuit! It took two people plus myself to finally jump into that thing! Every time I think about it, I laugh out loud because Sam and David hand to stand on each side of me and lift up my suit--suspending me into the air like they were trying to give me a wedgie. Haha :) I wish I could say that I was a pro and I rode every wave that came my way, but that would be a lie. I hope to try it again sometime before I leave because it was a great time! Next time, however, I will make sure to put sunscreen on my face, because I have the worst sunburn I've ever had in my life on my face. It is already starting to blister and I am radiating heat 27/7. </div>
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Thanks to Haley for being a trooper and watching us surf all afternoon. And of course, for taking some pictures!<br />
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Sunday pretty much consisted of napping and homework for me. I did, however take a break late in the afternoon to eat lunch with my friend, Hector, and his family at this really nice restaurant on the beach called "Hornero". The food was outstanding, and the view was even better. I was really nervous to go because I was to meet his entire family...but they were very welcoming and we had a great time trying to communicate with each other.<br />
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After lunch, I watched the first half of the Peru vs. Chile soccer game, and then decided I needed to take a siesta before I could start anymore homework. Quite a few of my friends got together to watch the Superbowl at a casino downtown, but I decided that I better finish my homework instead. It was a hard decision to make, because I really wanted to watch Beyonce at the half time show. That was really the only reason I wanted to watch the game. (Because the Packers weren't playing, of course.) So, I caught up on some homework and got to bed at a decent time for once.<br />
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Today began week 5 of classes at UPC. Time is flying so fast, and I'm having mixed emotions about it, but trying not to worry about time and think more about all of the adventures that are in store for me the next few months. We are in the process of planning trips to Iquitos (the Amazon) as well as Cusco and Ica. I am really excited because this weekend I am flying with some of my classmates to Arequipa for the weekend. We are going on a tour at Colca Valley and it should be a great time. Hopefully my next blog will have even more beautiful pictures to share with you all!Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-6384884573349204152013-01-29T10:12:00.001-08:002013-01-29T10:12:21.249-08:00Semana Cuatro It has been a crazy week! I have been so busy with homework and activities/trips I've taken with my class. It's been exhausting, but totally worth it! The rest of last week consisted of homework, homework, and more homework. And a little sleep, too. Haha :) With 2 online classes and 4 three-hour classes here in Peru, I am always busy doing something. On Friday, we took a trip as a class to Centro de Lima and visited La Iglesia de San Francisco. It was so beautiful! Unfortunately we couldn't take any pictures on our tour inside, but we managed to take a few in front of the beautiful architecture before we left. I also took a few pictures of other cool buildings we saw. It was VERY hot outside and most of us got pretty sunburned no matter how much sunscreen we put on. :(<br />
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When we arrived back home around 7 on Friday night, I finished some last minute homework and went to bed early to prepare for our trip to Matucana at 7:30am on Saturday. This trip was by far my favorite thing I've experienced in Peru the whole month I've been here. It was a very hard climb, as I am not in shape whatsoever, but the waterfall at the top of the mountain made it all worthwhile. Once again, it was very sunny and warm outside, so most of us got sunburned pretty bad again. We had a blast climbing up the mountain, through a "rock forest", and walking through the freezing cold stream of the waterfall. It was definitely a day that I will never forget. How many times do you get to say that you climbed a mountain to a waterfall in South America? Now I can officially say that I have and it is a memory I will cherish forever. We also got to meet the mayor who represents quite a few districts around Matucana. She gave each of us a book that talks about the history and culture of Matucana, so that was pretty awesome too! </div>
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It looks like the rest of this week with consist of more homework and catching up on some sleep. Still trying to recover from the long hike this weekend too. It's been nice keeping myself busy because homesickness is definitely starting to kick in. Also, it doesn't help that EVERYONE has a dog here in Lima. And for those who don't have one, there are plenty of strays. Makes me miss my puppies like crazy! Also starting to miss my mommy and daddy like a little baby. (maybe my sister...only a little) ;) and of course my boy and all of my friends back home. The only disadvantage of having such a wonderful support system of friends and family...having to miss them all so much when I'm gone this long! Hoping this homesickness will start to wear-off after a while. </div>
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Anywho, I better get ready to head to the university for my Advanced Grammar class. Thanks for checking in on me! ¡Chau!</div>
<br />Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-68846552115619322022013-01-23T14:43:00.000-08:002013-01-23T14:43:17.459-08:00¡Ay Dios Mio!Well, I can't believe that I am almost done with my third week of classes in Peru! Last week, I woke up everyday and had to remind myself where I was. It was the weirdest feeling. I am now finally remembering that I am in another country! Sounds so strange, but true. I'm at that stage where I ask myself..."am I really studying in Lima, Peru right now?" What in the world am I doing here? But it isn't a bad or sad feeling. It's just hard for me to believe that this is actually happening! It is like a dream.<br />
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Along with the joys and fun I've had during this 3rd week in Peru has come an overload of homework. I have been staying up very late into the morning every night studying and writing and reading and trying to understand what will go on in class the next day. Sometimes it is enjoyable, while other times my head hurts so bad I want to smash it into the wall. Haha :) To make matters worse, we were having troubles with our internet at the apartment last weekend so I wasn't able to work on my homework for my two online classes. It was a nightmare trying to catch up with the assignments I missed, but I am finally back on track and the wifi is up and running smoothly. (Cross your fingers it will stay that way!) <br />
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It is kind-of hard for me to think all the way back to last Tuesday and update everyone on what I've experienced since then, so I will try my best. Here goes nothing: Classes went pretty smoothly last week. On Thursday evening, I went out with some friends to Miraflores at a discoteca and had a blast. Then on Friday it was EXTREMELY hot outside. But, besides me and Haley's best efforts, we couldn't find a place to swim! The pool at my apartment and our friend Sam's apartment both were closed for the day. Just our luck. :) Saturday, Haley and I went South of Lima with Fabricio and his friends to a discoteca and it was a lot of fun. We danced until our (my) feet hurt and spent most of Sunday sleeping and trying to catch up on some last minute homework. One memorable moment from Saturday/Sunday was the fact that there was somewhat of a chicken/rooster farm right next to our hotel room. Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep do to the very loud, annoying noises of those dang chickens!<br />
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Monday, I unfortunately didn't make it to my class at 2pm. I have been dealing with a lot of stomach issues and was pretty miserable all day. But I did, however, HAVE to get some homework done, so I went to Starbucks so I could use their wifi. I'm pretty sure I'm the only "gringa" that goes to this Starbucks frequently, and I think they know I live with Fabio as well. They know my name is "Whitney" but they write it different on my cup every single time. This one was my personal favorite. :)<br />
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Monday evening, Haley and I went to TGI Friday's with Fabio and friends to celebrate our friend Hector's birthday. His birthday was actually on Tuesday, but in Peru it is common to celebrate the birthday at 9 or 10pm until midnight so you can sing happy birthday to your friend right as their birthday begins. We learned that this celebration was called "quema." It was so awesome to have some familiar food, as well!<br />
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Well, the rest of the week looks like it should be pretty eventful for me! On Friday, I am going with my classmates and our grammar teacher to downtown Lima for the day to sight-see and visit churches/museums/other fun stuff. Then, on Saturday we are going hiking at 7am (Yikes) with our grammar professor as well! I am so excited to finally be able to witness the beauty of the nature here in Peru. Should be a great weekend. On that note, better keep on keepin-on with my homework. ¡Adios!Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-49750484480028145362013-01-15T17:00:00.001-08:002013-01-15T17:00:38.472-08:00My First Week in Lima! (and then some)I can't believe its been a week since I've updated my blog. It feels like so much has happened since then! I keep telling myself I should write things down after they happen so I can remember what to put in my blog, but I haven't followed through, so here it goes!<br />
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I have survived my first week of Spanish classes at Peru...yay! It was very intimidating at first, considering we only have one 3 hour class every day, but the time seems to go pretty fast. I think the most difficult thing right now is the fact that you HAVE to stay focused for the entire 3 hour period. It is very hard to write down what a teacher is saying while they are saying it because you want to try and translate it and make sure you understand it. My brain usually feels pretty fried after class is over, which makes it very hard to come home and work on homework and online classes. But, I'm surviving!<br />
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I have ate some pretty awesome food here so far. The chicken here is so fantastic and flavorful! There are lots of different types of potatoes, and sweet potatoes are very popular here too. I had an awesome pork sandwich with onions and a sweet potato on the sandwich. It was so good! Also, Peruvians make the BEST smoothies. I have already decided that they are the number one food/drink item I will miss when I go back to the states. There are also a lot of really interesting fruits in the markets. Earlier this week, Fabricio and I went to the market and got some fruit for the apartment--one of them is in the picture below. It is called "granadilla" and it is muy delicioso! It reminds me of a pomegranate. The texture of the seeds like jello-like and then as you eat them it is crunchy. Very hard to explain, but very good.<br />
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We don't have class on Fridays, so a group of us students from Nebraska decided to go out on Thursday night to Miraflores. We packed 7 (yes, SEVEN) people in a taxi and had a very uncomfortable 15-20 minute drive, but it was a very fun place to go with lots of restaurants, shops, and bars. First, we stopped at this restaurant and ate some good ole' cheese pizza. Then, we walked around for a while to try to find a "disco" (club) to go to. We ran into a guy that told us a fun disco to go to and offered us a free "pisco" drink when we got there. Pisco is a very popular drink that is traditional here in Peru. Not my favorite, but it is ok. The club we went to was called "Sabor Peruana VIP" and we all had a blast dancing and hanging out! Below is a picture of Sam begging (yes...on his knees) Haley to dance with him. I think it is pretty known that our goal by the end of the trip is to get Haley to dance! Hopefully it will be a success. :)<br />
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Later that weekend me, Haley, Fabricio, and a bunch of his friends went to this exclusive club called "Bach." It was about 30 minutes away and you have to have your name on a list to get in. There had to have been nearly 1000 people waiting in line to get into this club at 11pm. That's when it opened! It was so crazy! After a little over an hour, we finally got in and had a great night dancing and talking with new Peruvian friends. I have blisters on my feet from dancing so much, so I will take that as a sign of a very fun night! On the way home from Bach (at 6am) we had the unfortunate opportunity to see a very bad car accident and a dead body on the side of the road. We couldn't see the entire body because it was covered up, but the feet were sticking out. To make matters worse, the man's intestines were scattered all over the road as well. Yiiikes, I keep trying to get this image out of my mind. So sad and so scary!<br />
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One more exciting thing that I've been doing in Peru is....driving! Fabricio has taken me on the roads a few times and showed me the ropes. (Even though there really aren't any rules.) I told myself I'd never in a million years want to drive in Lima, but I said "what the heck!" It isn't too bad, just a little stressful when traffic is high. (I don't think I've told my parents about this experience, so surprise mom and dad!) Crazy driving is definitely something I'm having to get used to here. Slowly but surely...<br />
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I am very excited that the students from Nebraska, and myself, are going hiking with our grammar teacher, Roberto, on Saturday! My first adventure in the nature of Peru! The only downer is the fact that we are leaving at 6am. Ahh! I haven't been up that early in forever (unless I am out on the weekends until that early in the morning, of course.) But I am still anxious to experience my first hiking adventure.<br />
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Maybe I should start updating my blog more than once a week so they don't blabber on and on and on...? Thanks to everyone who is keeping tabs on me and reading this! Hopefully my blogs in the future will be more organized and not so all-over-the-place. Adios!Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-32493228642721155562013-01-08T09:19:00.001-08:002013-01-08T09:19:17.030-08:00<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Well, I'm here…and I'm alive! I survived my first crazy weekend in Lima and had a blast. It still hasn't sunk in that I am actually in Peru. It seems like it was only last week when I was getting my passport and filling out paperwork. I'm finally here…and it's like a dream!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">First of all, the trip here was much more of a breeze than I thought. The only problem that I had was the fact that I am not a patient person. It seemed like it took forever to get my luggage! But, before I knew it, I met Fabricio and his friend Hector at the airport. They kissed me, handed me some beautiful yellow flowers and we were gone! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We got back to the apartment and I was pretty tired, so I went to bed right away. The next day, Fabricio took me around the city and showed me how to get to the university. It is about a 5-10 walk so it isn't bad at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After giving me the grand tour, Fabricio told me that we would be going to a party "a la playa" with his good friends Hector and Erick. It was a great time, but I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into! We left the apartment at 8ish and went to South Lima. There were lots of restaurants and shops, and quite a few bars/clubs as well. At about 1am, we went to the actual party at a really fun dance club. I was already yawning, and everyone laughed at me! They said it was too early to be tired…so I downed a couple of Red Bulls to wake up. I had absolutely NO idea that I would be up until 8:30am the next morning! Ahhh…I thought I was going to die. Aparently, this is a normal weekend in Lima. There were even people much older than me at the club, dancing their butts off all night long. Es muy loco!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 15px;">Needless to say, Sunday was dedicated to sleep and getting ready for orientation on Monday. It was very nice and the campus is very beautiful. It isn't too big, either, so it is easy to get around. I have one class every day for 3 hours…except Fridays. Monday-Wednesday I go to class from 2-5 and Thursday is from 4-7. (Each day is a different class) Today we had our class with Marta Moorman (the professor from UNK that traveled with us) so it was nice to catch up with the other UNK students and share stories from our first adventures. We also decided to go to Jockey Plaza so some of us could shop and get cell phones. It was quite an adventure getting there, as it was my first ride on the crazy </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">combis. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Today I have my first real Spanish class at the university, and I am very nervous! It is a grammar class, and I have a feeling it isn't going to be easy. On that note, I better start mentally preparing myself for that! Adios!</span></div>
Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482860789490355127.post-28534704566399020402012-12-18T21:57:00.000-08:002012-12-18T21:57:21.304-08:00The Countdown Begins...<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I cannot believe that it is finally time for me to start setting up this blog. It seems like yesterday I was reading the blogs of previous study abroad students like it was my job. I couldn't get enough of it! I loved reading about their experiences and trying to figure out some helpful hints on how I will survive this journey far, far away from home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I leave in a little over two weeks. Ahhhhhhh! I am so anxious to get on that plane. I am getting tired of answering people's questions about my trip and if I'm ready to go or not. Of course I'm not ready, folks! I feel like I won't be ready to be away from home for the first month or so that I am gone. I have done all that I can to mentally prepare myself for the homesickness I am about to encounter...and its time to get this show on the road! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I am so excited to meet my host family and get all settled in before classes begin. However, I am cherishing every last minute at home with my family, my friends, and of course my puppies! I have been so blessed with the most supportive, loving group of people surrounding me in my life...and for that I truly thank God every day. The only disadvantage of this everlasting love around me is having to move across the world from it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I am really looking forward to the personal growth that I believe this trip will bring. I am being forced to live in an environment where I'll have to constantly use my brain and be aware of my surroundings, independently. I still can't believe that I am going through with this journey, and quite frankly I don't remember when I made my final decision to study in Peru. But, I knew that I couldn't let an opportunity like this pass me by! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">To my <b>friends</b>: I can't thank you enough for all of your encouraging words of love and support these past few months! I will miss you all terribly, and I can't wait to see everyone when I get back and tell you all about it! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yIXJAASq6qYEHgwp4XmbftZ0G7J-Mg99zzkSdFCgewFRSuMrDEAdyv5FphWu7EwTLdTvPF_cLrn10hDVNolnXKSt_DRDGbS_7ZXKHWxZVkL-b33ZWnjRa5USFkdIeDNfQnisUv23cMg-/s1600/IMG_0396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yIXJAASq6qYEHgwp4XmbftZ0G7J-Mg99zzkSdFCgewFRSuMrDEAdyv5FphWu7EwTLdTvPF_cLrn10hDVNolnXKSt_DRDGbS_7ZXKHWxZVkL-b33ZWnjRa5USFkdIeDNfQnisUv23cMg-/s1600/IMG_0396.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">To my <b>family</b>: I wouldn't be preparing to travel across the world today if it weren't for you. I was very skeptical about going so far away from home, but I'm so happy that you all persuaded me to take a chance and live my life! It's only a semester, and you helped me realize that this is such a grand opportunity and such a small amount of time. I'll be home, armed with hugs and kisses, before I know it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">To my <b>puppies</b>: Don't be too cute while I'm gone! I think I'm going to miss you two just as much, if not more, than my family and friends. And don't let mom take too many cute pictures of you--then she'll have to send them to me and make me even more homesick!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFxBbWkAJiULM2yPlvdoTIx8ejzdqHlhhY49hfSNMO1qTRDzuz2c0EYLPA0p_TEpMOUgOA7yYSPZMLvBjnMMhEmzdvaK9iF4vVhXNkL1ff25qv47TWU0rQYl0JQOEEUnBf2xMFPEU4EUZ/s1600/IMG_0454.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFxBbWkAJiULM2yPlvdoTIx8ejzdqHlhhY49hfSNMO1qTRDzuz2c0EYLPA0p_TEpMOUgOA7yYSPZMLvBjnMMhEmzdvaK9iF4vVhXNkL1ff25qv47TWU0rQYl0JQOEEUnBf2xMFPEU4EUZ/s1600/IMG_0454.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And finally, to <b>Zach</b>: (Apologizing in advance for the lovey-dovey words you're about to read) I truly can't think of anybody I hate to miss as much as I hate missing you. I can't describe in words how much our friendship means to me. As I travel all the way across the world, I will have a small piece of me left here with you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm pretty bummed that I won't be here with you during your student teaching experience, but I'm excited to be back in the spring to watch you walk across the stage and officially become "Mr. Springer." I'm so proud of you! I haven't even left yet and I already miss you. Can't wait to be back in your arms at the end of April...with many exciting stories to share. I love you to Peru and back (and then some). :)</span>Whitney Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13562883255340536189noreply@blogger.com0