New Friends

I've finally started to become accustomed to my new life in Lima. After returning from Punta Hermosa, I had time to soak in my new surroundings and get to know my roommates and the city.The day after the beach, Serena and I met with Jorge (our friend who we met at OU last semester) and we took a tico to Plaza San Martin. It was my first experience in the historical center of Lima. It was difficult to walk past without taking photos..but i got by with snapping just a quick few. I have to remind myself that I live here. I don't have to take pictures of everything, becuase they will still be here in 5 months...as will I!!!!

A few words about Ticos...Daewoo Ticos manufactured starting in 1991 are apprarently moving death traps...this i was told at international student orientation after already having ridden quite a few. Ticos were especially popular in Peru and run on some sort of alternative fuel. I don't know that much about cars, but all Ticos in Peru have what looks like a huge propane tank in the back compartment and apparently fuels the car. If rear-ended, this is not a good situation. For more information, I reference wikipedia...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_Tico

Calle Union connects Plaza San Martin with the Plaza de Armas. You can then make a large circle from the Plaza de Armas to Ave. Abancay where you find a lot of small tiendas and restaurants. Once to hit Parque Universitaria (a beautiful patch of green and intimidating trees amongst the chaos of the city...often know at the reunion spot for intellectuals to discuss politics and the state of Peru) you can connect the circle and return to San Martin. Probably the same path as those gaudy bright red tourists buses...but on foot and not obnoxious.

President's House in the Plaza de Armas

We entered just one of Peru's many churched. Because Lima was once the viceroyalty of

Spanish territories in the new world, there is no shortage of catholic symbolism in Lima. Its been stated that a any one of Lima's "churches" would be considered a grand cathedral in any other city..and its true. The church we entered, close to the Plaza de Armas is absolutely georgous. The huge mahogany carved alters and the golden tributes to the Passion were breathtaking. Because a lot of the artwork was commissioned by the Indigenous peoples of Peru, many "indino" influences can be seen throughout the church, including darker skinned figures and symbols alluding to sun (the Incan god).

Grand Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas

Apparently the other churches in Lima awaiting my visit include the catacombs housing over 75,000 bodies and the catedral housing the two patron saints of Lima. Jorge is a fan of theology and it was interesting to hear his take and information about Catholicism in Peru. The faith in Lima, as in many South American countries i'm guessing, is palpable.

One of the many "other" churches in Lima

I have now met with my "compañera de PUC" twice and she became a fast friend. Of course it helps that she already knows some of my friends from her experience at OU. And we can equally talk as much about Lima as we can about Norman. Last Friday we met Lisset at the Antigua Taberna Quierolo. Its located in Pueblo Libre near the more historic part in Plaza Bolivar...duly named because the plaza is centered around Simon Bolivar's house. Thats right, we live/d in the same neighborhood. Though I might be the only person who thinks thats cool.

My compañera de PUC Lisset and our Piscos!

Anyway, we sampled pisco sours and pisco Algarrobina (pisco with milk, egg yolk and algarrobina-a syrup from the algarrobo tree, go figure). After that we crossed the plaza to have a sandwich and met possibly the nicest restaurant owner in Lima. She had studied in Texarkana when she was 15 and was all too happy to talk to us in English. A taxi ride to El Centro followed for more pisco at a bar located on the square. If you don't know where the bars are, you won't be able to find them. Its uncanny how well they blend into the beauty that is Plaza San Martin.

Finally, this past Saturday we had our first party at the Casa Rio Grande. It was our roommate Emeline's birthday. Everyone in the house cooked different foods and we were told to dress oddly. I acheived this by wearing pink tights, a pair of boxers, a bat winged purple sweater and a scarf as a tail. My roommates did an even better job!

Some of my roommates (from left to right) Carolina, Serena, Moritz, Emeline (birthday girl), and Laura.

I sampled a German cheese spread, Taiwanese bubble tea, Patatas bravas, Italian stuffed peppers, Peruvian pisco, wine and beer and i made a Texas 7 Layer Dip. I had never made it before, but it was a hit!! I've been told to make it once a month while I'm here...I might open my roommates up to the wonderful world of fajitas soon..they are missing out!

Luz, Serena, George, Carolina, Monica and Laura sampling our buffet.

After the house celebrations we took a carivan of taxis to Barranco, the club district of Lima, no joke. Music spilled out from every building of every street. Vendors sold cigarettes, snacks and sandwiches :) from the street corners and apparently if you want drugs...Barranco is the place to get it. Apparently also if you want to be roofied or robbed, Barranco is the place for that to happen as well. As our unfortuate birthday girl will tell you, as her purse was taken before the night was through.

I salsa'd. And I salsa'd my little heart out. My roommate Jorge (George, from Austria) was my dance partner/victim. It was awesome getting to know my roommates. While I was slowly but surely getting to know them, after Saturday we are all the best of friends.

George "dancing"

I am also due to start my German exchange program soon lol. This entails me and Serena teaching George and Mortiz english slang and them teaching us common German/German slang. I've learned Shlack-tee (obviously spelt phonetically) which means "going away." Careful though, because if you say it more like Shleck-tee it means "lick me." I have to take a second foreign language for my Spanish major, and I've been increasingly more interested in German listening to my roommates converse in their native tongue.

On the way back from Barranco on Saturday, sweaty, tired, and flushed...I thought to myself, I can't wait to get home and go to bed. Then I realized, I'm calling it "home" and it hit me I'm really here to 5 months. I am very happy :)

Things I can now successfully do:

-navigate the streets around my house

-walk to the grocery store, market, and centro commercial

-catch combis (the crazy buses) to my university and the historical center of lima

-pick out the safe taxis from the ghetto ones and negotiate my way home

Things I can now say I've done since being in Peru:

-surfed

-drank pisco sour

-salsa'd in Barranco

-ate anticucho (cow heart...I know)

-become addicted to Inca Kola

Classes start today...lets hope they go well!!!!