So Saturday my household decided the next day we were going to go to a small town outside of Lima to catch some sun, and maybe some fresh air. All full of hope and dreams we went to ask our host parents how to get there. We were immediately told it was a bad idea. I guess all the limenos (people from Lima) like to get out of the city and catch sun too. On Sunday. The traffic is thus so terrible that it would take at least double the time to go there and back. Panic ensued. We weren't going to have anything to do for one whole day!! After a flurry of guide books and google searches we discovered Punta Hermosa, a beach south of Lima with a forecast of 74 degrees! We left at 8:00 the next morning.
The ride took a little over an hour, and passed through a lot of poorer areas of Lima and its outskirts. Here, it looked as if houses were built upon houses, upon garbage, on these steep sand hills. For the first time, I was reminded that Lima is a desert. After some of the places we passed, I was becoming a little concerned about the beach. However we finally arrived in a cute-ish little town, where everything was closed and we were the only tourists. We got off the bus and started following a lady, hoping she was heading toward the beach.
The beach was beautiful, and we had it all to ourselves! I took a nap. When I woke up, everyone was ready for lunch so we walked back toward the main street and found a great, small Peruvian style restaurant. I had tequeños and Chaufa--like fried rice. After, we walked along the beach for awhile past all the boarded up summer homes. Things we discovered on the walk: crabs, seastars, surfers, a couple bird skeletons, and no bathrooms.
One thing that has been really hard here is the constant worry of muggings. Although it has yet to happen to anyone in my house, we attract so much attention as foreigners it is probably bound to happen sooner or later. And while the crimes are not violent, so many people here are so poor that stealing is extremely prevalent. When we arrived in this little town as a huge group of gringas and without too many other people around, it was a little hard to feel comfortable at first. This persistent worry is something I won't miss!
The return home was successful in that we took the right buses and a peruvian boy in front of me was rocking out to Ke$ha.
After this we had to wake up extremely early to register for classes the next day. At Católica all the exchange students have to register in person, on a first come first serve basis. We arrived 2 hours before registration opened and were in the 50s. Thus commenced the waiting. Our numbers didn't start registering until about 11:00. We were there at 7:00. This was one of the worst systems I have ever dealt with. And I am also not that patient. By the time I was through I was on the verge of losing my head. Literally. But, I got all the classes I wanted and hope that they all go well!
After this, Mari and I had to wait even longer to get copies for our classes. Here, instead of buying books, Professors send copies to a little room in the school and you have to go wait in line and have them make you a copy of the copy and buy that. It is a little complicated, but cost efficient. It also has long lines and an inefficient system. I think my whole day could of taken 30 minutes, but with waiting it was 6 HOURS.
Side Note: A trend in Peru seems to be multiple lines for things that could take one. For copies, you first ask to see the copies, then you tell them you want them, then you receive the price, then you go pay the price at the cash register, then you bring your receipt back and get your copy. For lunch, you wait in one line to purchase a ticket and then a second to pick up your food with the ticket. And I won't even explain registering because that was about 5 different lines. I'm not sure I have sufficient patience to survive in Peru.
Now, I am attempting to read 50 pages in Spanish for homework. It is going slowly at best. Which is why I am writing in my blog.
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