The Best Part of Being American and Living in Peru

is that everything seems so darn cheap. Like this painting I bought for 10 dollars.

My Birthday

So this morning I woke up to find my host mom and sister standing over me with presents. I got two really comfortable shirts and a keychain dog. Then about 20 minutes after I woke up, my host aunt called me and sang happy birthday over the phone. And before I wokeup my host father called from the US, but they let me sleep instead. After showering my host brother made me breakfast. It was nice. Now I'm sitting here typing this. I'm about to go get a suit made in the city center. And then to the casino with my friends. And to end the day a giant fiesta back here at the house. Peruvians sure know how to do birthdays.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Cumpleaño (koom plee ahn yo) (Birthday)
Learn Quechua: I've actually ran out of Quechua words I know...I'll learn some new ones.

Editation: The rest of the day went well too. I got my measurements taken. Went out to lunch with a bunch of friends. Went to Spanish lessons. Came home and had a party. The party was fun and the cake was awesome. Here's a picture of me with a chocolate cigar, flowers, and ...apple juice.

Reading and Writing for Fun? What happened?

Since I got here, I've read 5 books. I think that's more books than I read in the year prior to this exchange (except for Honors English books, ;) of course). And in addition I'm reading two books now, one in English and one in Spanish. Now if only I had some good books. Everything I've read has been okay, but I want something that people have heard of. I am also writing a lot. Sometimes I get in trouble in school for writing stories instead of doing math (bleh math, who ever used that?). I've been writing news articles, short stories, scripts, everything. I think now that I don't I can't really speak English, I have to get my fix of it other ways. It's kind of enjoyable though. Hopefully, I keep these new found hobbies next year when I'm taking 2 AP English courses.

Learn Spanish: Traje (trah hey) (suit)
Learn Quechua: Itki (it kee) (Sun)

Where'd my money go?

Today I found out it costs 3 soles a minute to call the US. And I just bought a new Phone Card. And now it's empty and I have no more cash.

4 Weeks in Perú and Boy Do I Miss You

Today, I have officially been in Peru for 4 weeks. It feels like not that much time has passed. I´m not sick anymore (thank god). I am having a birthday party next Friday, so hopefully there will be more pictures to come. Not much is happening here. I´m starting to really understand people more. It´s a noticeable difference. I think I understand people about 70% of the time. It´s nice. I´m missing Elkhart a little, but I think that´s probably normal.


-Chris

Learn Spanish: Te Extrañas (teh ex trahn yas) (I miss you)
Learn Quechua: Piruw (Pee roo) (Peru)

Mi Familia Acqui

So, I´ve noticed I haven´t mentioned my family here really. The good people. My brother Marcelo speaks English and French. So I can talk to him when I don´t how to say something in Spanish and he helps me with my French homework. My sister Mili is funny. She´s twelve. My mom, Yudy, she´s crazy. She is always telling me, ¨if you don´t like something, you can tell me with confidence.¨ But then when I tell her I don´t like something she tells me to eat it anyways. She´s nice, though, a little overprotective. Yeah. Then I have about a thousand aunts (it´s impossible to tell how many, because they consider all adults who are in some way related aunts or uncles), one of which lives with us. Along with my mom´s brother, who is acting as my host father, because my real host father works in Washington. Then I have 5 cousins who live with us. They fun, and they make sure I´ve got something to do. Which is good, because sometimes it can be really boring in this house. Yeah it´s good.

In the picture are my uncle/father, his wife, and my host mom.


Learn Spanish: Quimica (kee mee cah) (Chemistry)
Learn Quechua: Llika (yee kah) (Web)

Ready for a laugh? Watch The Karate Kid in Spanish

It´s starting to sink in that this isn´t some Indiana Jones adventure, this is life. And sometimes it´s gonna be boring. But it usually is busy. I´m having fun still, but there is still a lot of time to sit and think. I´m going to Machu Picchu and Cusco in October. Also, Rotary has a way of making things in even the poor countries expensive. I´ve finally stopped watching CNN in English and switched to CNN en español. I don´t understand everything, but I understand a lot. Yeah.


Learn Spanish: Teclado (teh clah doh) (Keyboard)
Learn Quechua: Mamontekyke (muh mont ah kie kee) (Where are you from?)

Take Two of These and Call Me in the Morning

So yesterday I came home from school early, because I was sick. I took a nap. I woke up in extreme discomfort, told my host mom, she said ¨Vamos al medico¨ which means ¨We´re going to the doctor,¨ so we went. He said ¨Necesitas analisis¨ which means ¨You need testing.¨ So we went to a clinic where they needed a stool sample. I have yet to give them one. But I´ve been back 4 times.

On a lighter note, I was interviewed by a newspaper down here.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Estomago (es toh mah goh) (stomach) Learn Quechua: Wixa (wik sah) (stomach)

The World: So Big and Yet So Small

Today I ordered the next two books in the series I´m reading. Unfortunately, I have about 30 pages left in the one I´m on and it will take 6 weeks for the next ones to get here. And here we are living in a world where you can write on a blog and have people in over 150 countries read it, but it takes a month and half to get a book in English.

Today I also got a cell phone here. I think I have free incoming calls, but I really don´t speak Spanish well so I might not. But the number is 51549794438 and I think you have to hit 011 first. I know it´s probably not safe to put my number on the internet. I´ll risk it, for you guys.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Celular (cell oo lar) (Cell Phone)
Learn Quechua: Mamyke (Muh My Kee) (Mother)

12th Day of Chris

Things are going well here, I guess. I´m trying to find a place where I can take Spanish lessons. I´m finally understanding some of my classes (including French), which is nice. The mall here is called Saga Falabella, or as I like to call it, "The Oasis of North American Culture." I went there last night. Man, things are cheap here. Things have started to calm down and adventure is becoming life.


Learn Spanish: Pie (Pee eh) (Foot)
Learn Quechua: Are (Ahr ee) (Yes)

Colca and Friends

This weekend I went to Colca Canyon. For those of you who don´t know where that is, look it up. It´s the second largest canyon in the world. I saw lots of condors, the largest bird in the world. It was awesome. I also bathed in a hotspring. How many people can say they´ve bathed in a natural hotspring in Peru? Not many. I went with all the other Rotary exchange students. The bus ride was the best part. I finally have friends. So it´s less lonely. This trip was good. Except for the food, which gave me food poisoning. NEVER get sick in a Peruvian public restroom.
Learn Spanish: Cuy (Koo' E) (Guinea Pig)
Learn Quechua: Simi (See Mee) (Lips)

I´m here...now what?

So I´ve been in Arequipa for 1 week and 1 day. It´s nice. The mountains are beautiful the house are colorful, and the people are kind. I think I have the largest family ever. I don´t even know everyone´s names yet. And everyday I meet more tios and primos. The city center here is called the Plaza de Armas and it is gorgeous and hundreds of years old. Wednesday I went to a church that was built in the 1500´s. I don´t think I´ve ever been in a building that old.

School is nice. But the kids are insane! They just get up and color on people, throw dirt at eachother, or yell during the lesson. I think we´re better behaved in school, but maybe I just never noticed. I don´t understand anything yet. Well, Math, Chemistry, and English. But French, Geography, History, Language, and Investigation (which I have yet to figure out what it is) I don´t understand a word of.

I´ve been to 2 parties and I´m going to one in a couple of hours. I feel like a new car. My family takes me places to show me off.

Well I´ve got to go. Pictures soon.

Chris