One Month?

I've been in Lima for a little over one month now, and it feels like a couple days ago I said goodbye to my parents at the St. Louis Airport. But, at the same time, it feels like I've been here for a few months already. I've loved the whole time I've been here and I've loved everything I've done. I'm already sad thinking that I only have 10 more months here, when it used to be 11.. crazy, right?

So, what have I been up to while I've been absent on my blog?

I've learned how to ride the micro by myself (the public buses), so I now have more freedom and can go just about anywhere whenever. My mom just tells me what bus number I should take, and I go from there. For instance, the bus I need to take to and from school is 16. I've already gotten slightly lost.. I was on my home from school and I got off a couple stops too early.. Luckily, I started walking in the right direction on a guess. I walked a block before I knew where I was and then walked another block before I was at the stop I should have gotten off at. The worst part? When I was on the bus, I was freaking out because I thought that we had passed my stop, so when I saw the hospital at the incorrect stop I got off at, I shot out of my seat and pushed my way to the front of the bus and said, "baja, baja, baja!" I made the bus stop to let me off... at the wrong stop. Oh well, now I know more of Lima I suppose.

I have mentioned previously that I am on the athletismo team at my school, which is Track and Field. Usually at practice, we just run a few sprints and practice long jump. And, neither of those things are things I'm good at.. So, I asked the coach about hurdling. But, I didn't know how to say that in Spanish. So, what I did, I went up to him and said, "Uh, Puedo.. corre, salta, corre, salta?" (Uh, can I.. run, jump, run, jump?) while miming jumping hurdles. The rest of the kids were laughing.. But, the coach understood and brought out three hurdles. Everyone watched me run them, and I wasn't able to run them correctly because there isn't lines to mark where they need to go. But, I didn't fall. So, that's a plus. I think I'm going to ask him next practice if I can run a long distance. The only down-side of that is I think I can only run on the track. But, at least I'll be running!

At school, little kids keep coming up to me and talking to me. It is so adorable. The other day, while I was sitting down eating with friends, two little boys came up to me and said, "hola!" I said hola back and they ran back to their group of friends who were laughing. Then, a little boy from that group came up to me and talked about 100mph and I only understood, You are beautiful, then he ran back. It was.. different, but still adorable. That same day, two little girls came up to me and talked to me. I stopped and talked with them for about a minute, by that time, they were talking really fast and I told them, "no puedo hablar mucho espanol, lo siento." They just looked at me, and then ran off. It was adorable, and funny.

I made Horseshoes for my family this week! Things weren't exactly correct, but they didn't know that. I tried my best. The funniest thing though, we ate the horseshoes while drinking Inca Kola. So, they were Horseshoes with a Peruvian twist!

Yesterday, there was no school because of a religious holiday, pretty sure it was something with St. Rose of Lima. (I've seen her skull, by the way). Anyway, my family and I went to the beach, Punta Negra. We have family that lives in a house down there. Punta Negra is about an hour south of Lima. We went with the intention of surfing, because my cousin who lives there could teach me. But, he was sick. So, we didn't go. But, we did go to the beach anyway. I collected sea shells and just walked along the seaside. It was really relaxing, and I loved it so much. I love living close to the beach. The water wasn't too cold, but not warm. The second beach we went to, I collected shells, but not that many. Yayo and I walked the whole length of the beach before turning back around, we were walking for about 1 1/2 hours in total. On the way back, we ran most of the way. I loved being at the beach, I loved tasting the salt water in the air, and hearing the waves pound at the shore. It was really relaxing, and I could spend all my life just sitting on the beach. At the second beach, I took my shoes off and rolled my pants above my knees, yet they still got soaked up to my thigh. But, I didn't care, because I was having too much fun. I liked acting like a child.

Today, I'm going to a football game with some friends, and I think doing something after that, too.

Oh, the Prom is in December, and I already have a date. It seems like everyone has one. That was the first question people asked me when I came here. "Do you have a partner for prom yet?" It was funny because I didn't even know more than 3 people's names and they thought i might have a date already. In October, there is a week break, Spring Break! It seems funny to me that Spring Break is in Oct. And, I only have 3 1/2 months of colegio left! So, while everyone back in the USA is just starting school, I'm on the downward slope! But, in April I'm going to University somewhere. We'll see how that goes, I guess.

Everyone here is really nice and helpful. I'm loving Peru, so far.

Until Next Time!
Emily