A Summary of Activites

I realized it had been a little while since I had written, so decided to do a little summary of the exciting/interesting/strange activities.

Sunday, September 11th: All the American students got invited to a 9/11 commemoration event at the U.S. Embassy in Lima. So, all of my household decided to go, partly to check out what the embassy was like. It is HUGE, looking slightly like a large prison. The first thing we discovered was that we had underestimated the dress code (we were the only ones in jeans). I should have guessed by the gold embossed invitation that my dirty red sneakers weren't going to go over well. The ceremony was sweet, I only teared up, some school children sang, and they served Inka Cola and coffee after. I also signed a book as proof of my commemoration.

Monday, September 12th: Mari and I volunteered at a children's hospital. This was a really wonderful and difficult experience. The hospital was nothing like I had ever experienced. Incredibly crowded, not welcoming, and the poor funding was very visible. They don't use computers for most things, all the doctors I saw were writing everything. I was paired with another girl and we went to play with a group of kids. I couldn't understand/say much to the kids but they didn't seem to mind. One little boy was quite the talker. We colored some pictures, played a memory game, and did some puzzles. They were all so sweet and so excited to have a distraction from the day to day. Most of the kids are there for long periods of time. The program I am working with also tries to do some learning activities, but the kids I was with were pretty little for that stuff.
 

Tuesday-Thursday: I went to class, had my first quiz! I wrote in Spanish and put English translations for the words I thought I might have made up. I signed up for rock climbing classes!

Friday: Katie, Mari, and I went to the Glee 3d movie. Katie is the biggest fan ever, so it was quite exciting. The movie theater was located in this underground shopping mall. It is cut into the side of the cliff a little. I don't know how to describe it. But when we were looking for it, we were across the street and couldn't see it. But if you are in the ocean you can. It's crazy. Anyways, I cried twice during Glee. We also got asked to take a picture with some Ripley department store reps, so I expect to rise to fame shortly.

They blend right in with the group.

Saturday: Kati, Mari, Erin, and I decided to walk to Miraflores. This turned out to be a longer walk then expected, but it was along the ocean and we discovered the park of lovers. So it turned out quite nicely. During lunch, we were interviewed by two boys about family traditions in the U.S. This is my third time being interviewed (on camera!) here. I never knew I gave the interesting opinions vibe before.  Later, we went to a get together at an international student house. My favorite part of the evening was when we packed a taxi with 6 people and all sang the Beatles. 

Lover's Park Mosaic

That's all! For those who don't want to read this all and skimmed, here are my highlights:

- 3 on camera interviews since arriving

- Drinking Coca-Cola in jeans at the U.S. Embassy

- Tried McDonalds here (tastes the same, possibly more expensive, slightly different menu)

- Continuation of hollering: "Hi ladies, what is up?"

- Beatles in a taxi

-The sweetest little kids ever
- Constant stomach problems (if you are traveling don't look up parasite symptoms if you feel sick)