tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47154733154852757162024-03-21T09:26:19.648-07:00Maravillas de PeruStories of the 2013 Calvin students exploring PeruUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-59028783841776789282013-12-16T07:04:00.000-08:002013-12-16T07:04:49.969-08:00Home Is Where the Heart Is.<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, WE MADE IT. All of us (with
exception to Leesha, Laurel, and Hannah K. who are doing some solo-travel) are
safely back, tucked cozily into our homes with our families, dispersed
throughout the States. We’re filled to the brim with home cooked food and a
multitude of emotions. On one hand we’re incredibly ecstatic finally be back,
running to hug our families, squealing with delight upon reuniting with dear
friends, receiving a happy lick from our excited dogs. But on the other hand,
melancholy thoughts often drift into our minds when we’re reminded of life in Peru.
It seems for every happy thing we re-encounter in our lives here, there’s
something we miss equally as much in Peru. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We’re happy to reunite with friends and family here,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But we miss
our friends and family there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We’re happy to eat pb&j’s, and drink tap water,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But we miss
manjar and jugo de fresa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We’re happy to speak in English guilt free,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But we miss Spanish words and
phrases that are sometimes the best/only descriptions we can find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re happy to walk
in winter wonderlands,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But we miss
our Arequipean sunshine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We’re so very happy here,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But we truly
miss it there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It seems that we’ve allowed Peru to
nestle itself deep into our hearts. That country, with its sunny weather and
even sunnier people, has become home to 22 college students, whether we
realized it or not. Home is an interesting concept. More than a house, home is
where we’re completely comfortable. Home is where we’re embraced and accepted
by family and friends. Home is where our hearts warm up. Home is here, and home
is there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And that is a beautiful thing.<br /><br /></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-34262100650368320302013-12-05T04:06:00.001-08:002013-12-05T04:06:46.232-08:00Maravillas de Peru: Faces of Arequipa, Peru<a href="http://adventure-in-peru.blogspot.com/2013/12/faces-of-arequipa-peru.html?spref=bl">Maravillas de Peru: Faces of Arequipa, Peru</a>: FACES Volleyball drills on Saturdays It’s exam week, and I signed up to write the blog this week so the students can study. ...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318494973500256211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-6193284993011246872013-12-05T04:04:00.001-08:002013-12-05T04:04:44.570-08:00Faces of Arequipa, Peru<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FACES</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLzoUOQ65mE6w2jQjvI82OKgW9v0diRrVoK86ub2HNFjZfX_RjYRM6DJUGyDX6LHJqZwO6Zd6wnu_qd5wBfPISCXbNKn4wwMdjT0Tb4ZxaKv3_KznYjOpuYHFnqVTOqX0jDMFHRJICrPZ/s1600/DSC_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLzoUOQ65mE6w2jQjvI82OKgW9v0diRrVoK86ub2HNFjZfX_RjYRM6DJUGyDX6LHJqZwO6Zd6wnu_qd5wBfPISCXbNKn4wwMdjT0Tb4ZxaKv3_KznYjOpuYHFnqVTOqX0jDMFHRJICrPZ/s400/DSC_0147.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volleyball drills on Saturdays</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It’s exam week, and I signed up
to write the blog this week so the students can study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I write any more, I need to say that
I’m the Calvin professor for this group (and I’ve written up a couple of the
exams they’re taking!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I want to say
“Mil gracias” to each student in this group and to the group as whole, because
they have made the time here truly extraordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband Neal and I will be taking home as
many great memories as they will.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
But it’s not just a week of
academic exams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a week full of
bitter-sweet emotions as we examine where we’ve come from, what we’ve done, how
we’ve changed, how we say good-bye, and where we go from here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve come a long way, faced challenges,
enjoyed incredible moments, and now we ask what we will do with all we’ve
learned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we’re looking forward to
seeing family and friends back home.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
we finish up the semester, I want to share some of the “faces” that we’ve come
to recognize during our semester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re so much a part
of our lives here that at times they don’t appear newsworthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they are important.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First of all, here are the faces of the Peruvian profs who teach the
special classes for Calvin, along with their faithful students.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Profe
Talía Pareja, with her linguistics students</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRIB7ssLcs8bT6t0n2jZn49c8KeCJ6-p4ZExkrFfiDXYOTpc8K7vvPT1hK5VDLjKUfyNdApXNOlTr7ilzZISdXcVAZQgqx2_uvDZXowM0XykyyHWoWm2XU4wLrg7Vv-KQBNf3GbZyRCZW/s1600/IMGP0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRIB7ssLcs8bT6t0n2jZn49c8KeCJ6-p4ZExkrFfiDXYOTpc8K7vvPT1hK5VDLjKUfyNdApXNOlTr7ilzZISdXcVAZQgqx2_uvDZXowM0XykyyHWoWm2XU4wLrg7Vv-KQBNf3GbZyRCZW/s320/IMGP0264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Profe
Lizet Valencia with her literature students</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3F9zz7sLS_KY0B6-P5EkoBb1-2Mbq8enj6ZJH8KwkvMDlLEvJAJKSYpv9UZuJhf1yL5XcKldYTqnRrEMksV2PPC13NPenn_S66EGSkUXdui4arI6Lo3G_hCA0XGgtTCxkWHSR8YMNKbT/s1600/IMGP0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3F9zz7sLS_KY0B6-P5EkoBb1-2Mbq8enj6ZJH8KwkvMDlLEvJAJKSYpv9UZuJhf1yL5XcKldYTqnRrEMksV2PPC13NPenn_S66EGSkUXdui4arI6Lo3G_hCA0XGgtTCxkWHSR8YMNKbT/s320/IMGP0277.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> And
Profe Juan José Lizarraga with his history students</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtozJggLLnSYRBUd6rxbUk3wTbzgGpZPpNJwdPTQpmHerVOf93IwjJB89uQNNbFStXSVB-hNJVTg5H6QmiHxBl1s9OQSInfXReiiGV1sEVSg2jiMOJeeeTCmdfx9MKJN4ws4c2SfY5s-eH/s1600/IMGP0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtozJggLLnSYRBUd6rxbUk3wTbzgGpZPpNJwdPTQpmHerVOf93IwjJB89uQNNbFStXSVB-hNJVTg5H6QmiHxBl1s9OQSInfXReiiGV1sEVSg2jiMOJeeeTCmdfx9MKJN4ws4c2SfY5s-eH/s320/IMGP0288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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And
here are two faces that greet us every morning as we enter the university:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>San
Pablo (the Universidad Católica San Pablo is named after him)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3kdTyuv2kSDbpUhz8KtbricJgYWZdR7jCmCb8lYUx52msKr9inCrvOGLG-1s1F9iSIdAk0GH5EHt_j1g2HtlzNNc_9PfAGxGJ7mmY7HEAa7z_ioKgodnFACJ7VOrQxASn5BFaJZ6kLWh/s1600/IMGP0274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3kdTyuv2kSDbpUhz8KtbricJgYWZdR7jCmCb8lYUx52msKr9inCrvOGLG-1s1F9iSIdAk0GH5EHt_j1g2HtlzNNc_9PfAGxGJ7mmY7HEAa7z_ioKgodnFACJ7VOrQxASn5BFaJZ6kLWh/s320/IMGP0274.JPG" width="219" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
la Virgen María, constantly visible from my office door.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNSxluiNcYmoUSE8e-Sixi6VQns6ouNKUTGXMS3QtAU9X6cVFqiV0YYbswYa4OLEI5qWq-RxXntKcLFGBVkAllQvqR9PNuetIbGJXcwrGU_J1HBUSIvCz2TDOyAwtewLaXxkNscc8oxhK/s1600/IMGP0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNSxluiNcYmoUSE8e-Sixi6VQns6ouNKUTGXMS3QtAU9X6cVFqiV0YYbswYa4OLEI5qWq-RxXntKcLFGBVkAllQvqR9PNuetIbGJXcwrGU_J1HBUSIvCz2TDOyAwtewLaXxkNscc8oxhK/s320/IMGP0275.JPG" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Next,
I’d like to show you several students at their Ethnographic Study and volunteer
sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Hannah D. and Lauren at their respective schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And Jae did her ethnographic study at the
Iglesia Fe Bautista.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUkmWku_02NZml2iekNiSGquNTlRO4Z5upP0IJPDKwNzCWeBAplwVg6Ie3oCHxzdpYgCOYADM4NexcP_uOaoV_ND1TRz7tGR6rIYr2uUaoOxuvVPjgOgSrY3xLTKE-5RqOZcSh1I3Lx21/s1600/IMGP0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUkmWku_02NZml2iekNiSGquNTlRO4Z5upP0IJPDKwNzCWeBAplwVg6Ie3oCHxzdpYgCOYADM4NexcP_uOaoV_ND1TRz7tGR6rIYr2uUaoOxuvVPjgOgSrY3xLTKE-5RqOZcSh1I3Lx21/s320/IMGP0103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Michael at the Mario Vargas Llosa Library (note the face
of Vargas Llosa) above the book stand.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipABsHeDODf-Gyy5qTWqPIqF7WuSs6F_kgEUmi-Pfzf5CpiMChreBbFiJTu4vz0UJmIUukhmJ7mfYSfpKUxVlubGD8wYFkUk93mO37Z4NWE7jeazXmxseMbod5CCtzP8YgUhEABJL_85l/s1600/IMGP0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipABsHeDODf-Gyy5qTWqPIqF7WuSs6F_kgEUmi-Pfzf5CpiMChreBbFiJTu4vz0UJmIUukhmJ7mfYSfpKUxVlubGD8wYFkUk93mO37Z4NWE7jeazXmxseMbod5CCtzP8YgUhEABJL_85l/s320/IMGP0116.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Jamie (and also Laurel) visited the “ancianas” in the
home for elderly women.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkRjpUQ_aqflYOqojO804cX27mtub7Re3Q15cdRCPfcqcbasAOBGKeuJ98IYhrd0magaZLqpj6cOJc-1BtWUhZmEKt6itOt9oWdJzvYvbbrcf_l5nU0xHq13w7q7BKSHGii7eWU3zbC9y/s1600/DSCN9953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkRjpUQ_aqflYOqojO804cX27mtub7Re3Q15cdRCPfcqcbasAOBGKeuJ98IYhrd0magaZLqpj6cOJc-1BtWUhZmEKt6itOt9oWdJzvYvbbrcf_l5nU0xHq13w7q7BKSHGii7eWU3zbC9y/s320/DSCN9953.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anna D. did physical therapy with children at the Clínica
San Juan de Dios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Leesha and Carmen B.
did rounds with doctors at the same clinic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And Hannah K. and Lori worked with Down’s Syndrome children at
Unámonos.)</div>
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Lindsey and Emily S. learned about alpacas and the
clothing industry at Incapalca. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdt4rzPRnFjlkaChTuh1SCPQ0HRLYonkJXYJ6DMGKqWyw9JpUK0RvoKq4S1ULL1CONwHvJWsaSfJ3HNYG1zb9RUfq2Q3CjaBA17eehYuY0NX9dPzPwhjmnzvKbx45EheUnfqpkjeEmPCv/s1600/IMGP0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdt4rzPRnFjlkaChTuh1SCPQ0HRLYonkJXYJ6DMGKqWyw9JpUK0RvoKq4S1ULL1CONwHvJWsaSfJ3HNYG1zb9RUfq2Q3CjaBA17eehYuY0NX9dPzPwhjmnzvKbx45EheUnfqpkjeEmPCv/s320/IMGP0194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally here are the faces of Fifí and Fufú, whom I pass
every day on my way to school (though their faces are usually down in the
grass).</div>
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We’re looking forward to seeing your faces soon on December
14!</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Marilyn Bierling, Dec. 5</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318494973500256211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-75637328760802318812013-11-29T16:20:00.000-08:002013-11-29T16:22:33.058-08:00Giving thanks...and thinking about goodbyes. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T-PZl0jbFAo/UpkG41GQvAI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/xbLikhMP1TE/s1600/936034_756912814336480_1603735179_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="215" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T-PZl0jbFAo/UpkG41GQvAI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/xbLikhMP1TE/s320/936034_756912814336480_1603735179_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
FELIZ DIA DE ACCION DE GRACIAS!!<br />
(aka HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!)<br />
I think I'm speaking for all of us when I say that yesterday was the most unusual but memorable Thanksgiving day we've experienced yet. While our thoughts and hearts often turned home to the states, thinking of our loved ones, we were truly blessed to have a wonderful Thanksgiving here, with friends that have become like a second family.<br />
<br />
The first odd thing about Thanksgiving here is that no one here realizes it IS Thanksgiving, and thus everyone goes about their work or school day as normal. We definitely were all feeling a bit sorry for ourselves as we sat in classes, thinking about our families gathered together at home.<br />
But after classes, the fun began! We headed over to the San Pablo's culinary school's kitchen and dining area for the evening. In addition to our whole Calvin group, we invited several faculty from the San Pablo, as well as a group of Peruvian friends, making a group of about 40 for dinner. What a wonderful evening it was.<br />
Let me assure you, however, it was not without hours of preparation! We had a chef help us with the turkeys and mashed potatoes, but the rest was left up to us students. I think each of us has a new appreciation for our moms and grandmas who have slaved away year after year for this special day. Check out the pics from the evening.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lA47RU5SVbE/Upj7m6YkKwI/AAAAAAAAAIE/mAx28117sgw/s1600/1475847_756912477669847_714314405_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lA47RU5SVbE/Upj7m6YkKwI/AAAAAAAAAIE/mAx28117sgw/s400/1475847_756912477669847_714314405_n.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">Decorating for the party...with Volcano Misti in the</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">background as always!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgpnMMNxI8c/Upj7pIz96aI/AAAAAAAAAIg/9vxiuYt-KkI/s1600/1486705_756912124336549_980378309_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgpnMMNxI8c/Upj7pIz96aI/AAAAAAAAAIg/9vxiuYt-KkI/s400/1486705_756912124336549_980378309_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">We students made a poster of our many<br />blessings for which we are so thankful!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h4j1l2lqofw/Upj7kMKwlMI/AAAAAAAAAHw/EK_fOFT8uuc/s1600/1422593_756912524336509_474793346_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h4j1l2lqofw/Upj7kMKwlMI/AAAAAAAAAHw/EK_fOFT8uuc/s400/1422593_756912524336509_474793346_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">Making Bonkets, definitely a hit with the Peruvians!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lA47RU5SVbE/Upj7m6YkKwI/AAAAAAAAAIE/mAx28117sgw/s1600/1475847_756912477669847_714314405_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UwXoHGiLMjs/Upj_o5vuUpI/AAAAAAAAAI0/kHD66WFEEXc/s1600/IMG_2769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UwXoHGiLMjs/Upj_o5vuUpI/AAAAAAAAAI0/kHD66WFEEXc/s400/IMG_2769.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">Some serious turkey-carving going on. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-keN0Ah6BwZ0/Upj7r7z0e7I/AAAAAAAAAIo/P8Lg1cu-jDI/s1600/996049_10202560186995740_1781605827_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-keN0Ah6BwZ0/Upj7r7z0e7I/AAAAAAAAAIo/P8Lg1cu-jDI/s400/996049_10202560186995740_1781605827_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">We shared an explanation about Thanksgiving with </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">the group, complete with hats for dramatic effect;)</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-size: 13px; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5Pfls1Uw5o/Upj7nkzKpOI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/pO7XnxM1sqg/s1600/1454783_756914691002959_112518991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5Pfls1Uw5o/Upj7nkzKpOI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/pO7XnxM1sqg/s400/1454783_756914691002959_112518991_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEKT7w_382g/Upj7k1GJHFI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ElbJoi_Cd1Y/s1600/1458622_10202560181155594_1786545774_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEKT7w_382g/Upj7k1GJHFI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ElbJoi_Cd1Y/s400/1458622_10202560181155594_1786545774_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">Good food and good friends.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rqxrwTtKsjI/Upj7pRBxkoI/AAAAAAAAAIc/YvC-nJ8gE_4/s1600/1476110_10202560184675682_2019451054_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rqxrwTtKsjI/Upj7pRBxkoI/AAAAAAAAAIc/YvC-nJ8gE_4/s400/1476110_10202560184675682_2019451054_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">Pies and pastries, the result of much labor and love!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
A really special time during the evening was when we all took a few minutes to split into small groups and share things for which we are thankful. Many mentioned thanks for what a blessing this semester has been, for our wonderful host families, and for friendships that will continue to last even past these four months. I think I speak for each one of the group in saying that this semester has blown us away in so many ways. We ultimately give thanks to the One from whom ALL blessings flow.<br />
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<div>
I remember when I signed up at the beginning of the semester for a date to write this blog, looking at the week of November 25th and thinking it was so far away, at the end of our time here.</div>
<div>
And here we are, nearly at the end.<br />
How does one begin to think about saying goodbye to a place that we've come to call home these past four months? We've learned so much, grown so much, become so attached to so many.<br />
<br />
I was reflecting the other day on how much we have have learned and grown, in ways both small and big! Check out this list:<br />
<br />
After four months we've FINALLY gotten used to not throwing toilet paper in the toilet! And not to forget to take the toilet paper BEFORE going into the stalls.<br />
<br />
We've learned how to take combis to school or other activities. (Ok, there may be a few exceptions to this one, like Carmen and Megan who got lost for 1.5 hours on a random combi...)<br />
<br />
Now we don't think twice about kissing others on the cheek when we meet, greet, or leave. (Watch out -we're so used to it, we may accidentally pull one on you when we get back;) )<br />
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We've learned how to get good bargains in the market, not gypped like the typical tourist.<br />
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We've grown accustomed to absolutely stuffing ourselves at about 1 or 2 in the afternoon and then eating a light meal late at night.<br />
<br />
We realize that we no longer stress about talking to people we meet about the city - we easily converse with them without thinking twice.<br />
<br />
We've learned about ourselves, our struggles, our strengths.<br />
<br />
We've grown to appreciate all of you back home even more because we've been separated.<br />
<br />
We've learned about God, his amazing creativity, his love, his beauty.<br />
<br />
We've learned about each other and become a close-knit group that wouldn't be the same without one single person.<br />
<br />
We've learned to make friendships across cultural barriers. And how rich and sweet they have been.<br />
<br />
Our Peruvian families have become just that - family. If we thought we loved them in the first month, we really love them now.<br />
<br />
And now we leave?<br />
<br />
By talking with many people in the group, it's safe to say that agree that our emotions have been all over the place lately. Excitement. Sadness. Panic. Uncertainty.<br />
One moment, as we daydream about reunions with friends and family; we can't seem to wait any longer. Christmas time beckons us home.<br />
But the next moment, as we think about the goodbyes that must happen, a tight feeling fills our chest. We think about leaving this culture that we've grown to love and be a part of, and in a panic we think, "But i'm not ready to say goodbye."<br />
<br />
But then we also realize that in a sense, we'll never be ready to say goodbye. Because we'll always be leaving a part of our hearts here. We'll be leaving people, a culture, a country that we've grown to love. And because of this there will never be a time when it will be easy. That's just part of saying goodbye.<br />
It's like the quote that says, "How lucky we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."<br />
<br />
We've got a week a half left in Arequipa. Amidst a week of finals and busyness, we hope to find time to slow down, enjoy relationships, soak it in, learn, reflect, and enjoy the precious moments.<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-65594371678746214182013-11-22T11:59:00.001-08:002013-11-22T12:05:41.130-08:00What would we do without them?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just a few weeks stand between us and our return to the
states. This is a fact that we try not to dwell on these days, as it causes us
a flurry of conflicting emotions. We are blessed to have many great things to
look forward to upon stepping foot in GRR being greeted by family or friends,
going home to celebrate Christmas, starting life back up again at Calvin, and
(most importantly?) eating peanut butter to our heart’s content. However, the
heartache caused by leaving behind our Peruvian families and friends, this city
that has become our own, this enchanting country, and this once-in-a-lifetime
experience is already beginning to taunt us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t think I am alone in saying that one of the biggest
blessings throughout this experience has been the people. Based on some of my
classmates’ posts, I am sure you have some sort of idea of how great our Calvin
group is. We love each other, speak Spanish, worship together, struggle
together, share adventures, try new things, and step out of our comfort zones
together. You may have also read about the blessings that are our Peruvian host
families. Each of us has had a distinct experience filled with mostly ups and a
few downs, but hey, that’s what makes a family a family, right? Personally, my host family has added so much love, learning, and laughter to my semester and they occupy a very
special part of my heart. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But finally, I would like to address a third category of
people: our Peruvian friends. I am so proud to be a part of this Calvin group
that has done an incredible job at opening up to relationships that cross
cultural and language barriers. It is so easy to stick only to each other, as
the very small non-Peruvian percentage of the university, but I can tell that a
lot of us have definitely taken advantage of the opportunities to branch out.
We have made friends through our conversation groups (students learning English
with whom we have been paired to meet and converse in both English and
Spanish), through the committee of students who welcomed us at the beginning of
the semester by answering our questions and giving us tours, through classmates
in our direct enroll classes, through flat out walking up to people playing
ping pong in the lawn behind school, and through meeting all of their friends.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I’m not sure that many (or any) of these friendships were
instantly comfortable or that we immediately thought we would grow to be bosom
buddies. Just like any friendship, they take time and effort. So imagine trying
to create a friendship in a brand new setting in a foreign country, and throw a
different language on top of the mix, and there you have what we’ve been
facing. I believe I can speak for many <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>when I say that these relationships have definitely
been worth the efforts on both sides (don’t forget the fact that the Peruvians
have had to sacrifice and put up with our hesitant and broken Spanish and our
unawareness of certain aspects of the culture).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is a tiny itty bitty glimpse of some things we have done together and ways we have been blessed in this area:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent a weekend with my friend Gabi in her hometown of
Moquegua. I felt so welcomed by her family and friends there that I was sad to
leave after just three days. She paints my nails, teaches me the salsa, and
reminds me to wear sunscreen when I go away outdoors for a long time and to
bring a “chompa” or jacket when I leave and won’t return before the sun sets. She
has been such a blessing to me. I have learned so much from her, we have been
by each other’s sides through many things, and I feel like I can tell her
anything that's on my heart.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vuInejGKLKY/Uo-xdTqs-tI/AAAAAAAAAEg/cnci-HZ77bo/s1600/20131020_134910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vuInejGKLKY/Uo-xdTqs-tI/AAAAAAAAAEg/cnci-HZ77bo/s320/20131020_134910.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hanna says, “<span class="uficommentbody">One evening Anna,
Hannah, and I went to Merengue's Pizza with our friend Joyce and her boyfriend.
I'm guessing it was date night for them, but she completely accepted our
invitation to do something that night regardless. They chose the restaurant,
and we got to try fruit pizza with cheese and milk which was delicious, and
also real hot chocolate. We had so much fun, and it was obvious they truly
enjoyed our company (even the boyfriend, being with 4 girls).”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="uficommentbody">A group of Calvin and San Pablo friends spent a weekend in the coastal town of Camaná. They enjoyed many of the town’s anniversary festivities and a day
on the beach.</span></div>
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<span class="uficommentbody">Yocely and Irvin joined us on our
excursion to Puno and Lago Titicaca and a number of Peruvian friends joined the group that went white water rafting.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wmi9asUx_j8/Uo-zwUCoFTI/AAAAAAAAAEs/O5VEfn_w74Q/s1600/1456622_744832588877836_1783167871_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wmi9asUx_j8/Uo-zwUCoFTI/AAAAAAAAAEs/O5VEfn_w74Q/s400/1456622_744832588877836_1783167871_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jamie’s conversation partner invited her to join a group of
friends to go mini-golfing and told her to invite others. So she invited a friend
from class and Hannah B, and Hannah invited her conversation parther. Jamie
says, “I love how it seems that here you can meet friends of friends for the
first time and everyone just gets along and has a blast.” Jamie and Hannah had
to swallow a little pride when one of the others who had never played before beat
them.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mao1yRXm4Vw/Uo-0gZwHpsI/AAAAAAAAAE8/hj2wPENVeT8/s1600/379646_10202613262632006_1461134875_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mao1yRXm4Vw/Uo-0gZwHpsI/AAAAAAAAAE8/hj2wPENVeT8/s400/379646_10202613262632006_1461134875_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Emily H says that her close friend “<span class="null">Azucena
is incredible. She is the epitome of an optimist and showed me true friendship
from the start. She is always very patient with my Spanish and loyal even on an
off day. We have had many wonderful conversation and adventures together. I feel
innumerably blessed by her trust even through everything with her mum. I am
glad I was able to be with her in the hospital on the day her mum passed away.
She continues to be an inspiration in the way that she has handled this
enormous loss. I love her so much!”</span></div>
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Megan describes that she is “still just so overwhelmed by
the amount of love and care they have to give. What's really been interesting
this whole semester is viewing the different ways people convey their love. The
peruanos do it in such a beautiful way. I have so much to learn from them!” </div>
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Throughout the past few months, some of our friends here have become
very dear to us. Through difficult times they are by our sides and we by theirs, we have fun and make great memories together, we laugh and cry together, we teach each other more than a textbook
could, we have deep conversations, and we have learned the best ways to make
each other tick. Through opening my heart to Gabi and the others here, I experience the best and worst part of the study abroad experience. We have no idea how we will say goodbye to some of these
people. It makes my heart hurt just thinking about it. But they have enriched not
only our semester in Peru, but also our lives as a whole.</div>
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It’s a wonderful thing, traveling and having connections in
other parts of the world. But it’s even more wonderful to be able to call
those connections friends. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-43736572785282863772013-11-19T19:02:00.000-08:002013-11-19T19:02:10.873-08:00Mt. Misti: we came, we climbed, we conquered, we collapsed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uJmhQUd_OX8/UowhUxIT68I/AAAAAAAAADQ/tziF8GmSp70/s1600/1457488_10201818410234923_2115144381_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uJmhQUd_OX8/UowhUxIT68I/AAAAAAAAADQ/tziF8GmSp70/s320/1457488_10201818410234923_2115144381_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">This past weekend, me, 11 other classmates, and Neal (profe Bierling's husband) climbed Mt. Misti. This volcano is unavoidable from the city of Arequipa. If I walk to the university, the city center, a friends house, or just down the road, Mt. Misti is in the background. From constant sightings, I have gotten quite an appreciation for Misti and it’s beauty, but my appreciation for it’s immense size was amplified after climbing to the very top.</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span></div>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>At 8:30 am on saturday we embarked for our journey. 4 by 4’s brought us to our starting point at 14,000 ft.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ui3D9Q22FfI/UowhS9o7hPI/AAAAAAAAADI/L5Ryvz0dPHY/s1600/1426723_749205705107191_1353984432_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ui3D9Q22FfI/UowhS9o7hPI/AAAAAAAAADI/L5Ryvz0dPHY/s320/1426723_749205705107191_1353984432_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">From there, we hiked for about 2.5 hrs. till 16,000 ft. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> Upon arriving, we bundled up against the cold and camped for the “night”. I put night in quotes, because we woke up at 1 am to summit Misti, so a night of rest wasn’t completely enjoyed. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxTiFqk48xI/UowhX6zH8fI/AAAAAAAAADY/SWVEOWE6Z8E/s1600/1460312_10152069511588938_382536147_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxTiFqk48xI/UowhX6zH8fI/AAAAAAAAADY/SWVEOWE6Z8E/s320/1460312_10152069511588938_382536147_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">We climbed in the dark until about 5 am when the sun started to rise. As we stopped breathlessly for a rest, we turned around and were stunned by a sunrise above the far off mountains. Needless to say, it was a sight worthy of National Geographic.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Our climb continued for six hours. During this time we took the guide’s advice and thought about nothing, but our next step. Looking up towards the peak was prohibited, because to see the extensive and steep path was disheartening. Also, thinking about the time till the summit was discouraged, because usually the answer was in hours. So we trudged on an only let our minds wander as far as “breathe, breathe, step, breathe, breathe, step”. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N6pXFzZrHqc/Uowhq2JJbXI/AAAAAAAAAD0/7DKfDSF7LRo/s1600/1458595_749206435107118_4068223_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N6pXFzZrHqc/Uowhq2JJbXI/AAAAAAAAAD0/7DKfDSF7LRo/s320/1458595_749206435107118_4068223_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When we finally summited at 19,339 ft., we collapsed. The climb had exhausted us so thoroughly that we needed to recover before taking in the beautiful scenery and relishing the fact that we had, in fact, conquered the Misti. </div>
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(Chichani)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r5DkCi1Y7zY/Uowg6lKLbJI/AAAAAAAAACw/yVUmuxiOkv4/s1600/1391746_10201818416675084_1554032076_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r5DkCi1Y7zY/Uowg6lKLbJI/AAAAAAAAACw/yVUmuxiOkv4/s320/1391746_10201818416675084_1554032076_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(crater)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9C1A_6YjZU/Uowhhiizb3I/AAAAAAAAADg/InH3-6tejaQ/s1600/1461583_749206795107082_412126909_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9C1A_6YjZU/Uowhhiizb3I/AAAAAAAAADg/InH3-6tejaQ/s320/1461583_749206795107082_412126909_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(our group!)</div>
<br />
The view at the top was stunning. We could see the smoking crater, blue mountains in the distance, Volcanoe Chichani to the side, and Arequipa below. It was an incredible experience to be on top of the Mountain Misti that always towers over the city of Arequipa. I proudly state that our entire group summited. Some suffered from the altitude more than others, fighting nausea and pounding headaches, but each and every one reached the summit.<br />
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Overall, it was a very hard and long, journey, but I think that the majority of us would agree that it was worth the suffering. I quote from my dear friend Megan Rozeveld who stated it perfectly, “The best miserable thing I’ve ever done." </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I conclude this blog post with two questions:</span></div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1"><span class="s1">Would any of us do it again? NO. </span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s1">Was it worth it? Yes. </span></li>
</ol>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-40608961384916810012013-11-09T17:38:00.001-08:002013-11-09T17:38:13.000-08:00Social Healing<div class="MsoNormal">
As you may have all guessed by the explosion of photos and
giddy posts on Facebook, we have returned from our excursion to Cusco and we
have been wonderstruck.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here’s the thing about excursions, not only are we learning
intriguing history and visiting stunning places, but excursions also provide
social healing. As much as we all adore our Peruvian families, a part of us misses
the daily social interactions with our peers that were so easily accessible at
Calvin. After an excursion we come back feeling awed and refreshed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Due to our trip lasting four days rather than two, we were
rewarded with more free time to explore. As soon as we were let loose, we
gallivanted around the city marveling at the toasty brown rooftops and
beautiful colonial architecture endemic to Cusco. When I asked the other Calvin
students what their favorite part of Cusco had been, many of them responded
with memories of laughter echoing throughout our hotel, nights spent drinking
hot chocolate in a discovered café, reenacting traditional dances from Sunday
dinner, or devotions together in Saqsawaman. Each memory involved fellowship
and was enhanced by simply being together. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On the day we were meant to journey to Machu Picchu we awoke
to the smells and sounds of rainfall. Typical tourists we were not. Jamie
commented, “I’ve never seen so many people excited to wake up to rain on a day
they are going to spend touring outdoors. Michiganders will complain about the
rain and the changing weather until you put them in sunshine for three
months…then they rejoice.” So like the pluviophiles we all are, we donned our
raincoats and happily skipped outside. As we took the bus up to Machu Picchu,
the mummer of thrilled whispers gathered in the air. We gazed out the window at
exotic mountains and foliage enveloped in wisps of clouds. Upon arriving, clouds
hung thickly over the ruins shrouding them from view, but we trekked on.
Together, we climbed the steep steps of Huayna Picchu, but stood disappointed
at the top as a blanket of white blocked our view from one of the wonders of
the world. Thankfully, just as we were about to head down, the clouds parted to
reveal Machu Picchu. The company of my Calvin group made exploring and learning
more about Machu Picchu even more incredible. Wonder is even more beautiful
when shared.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When our group gathers together in one place laughter is a
given, conversation swells, and we fill with giddy joy. This was exemplified
when we were trapped on the train back to Cusco due to an unexpected rockslide.
Most of the other passengers were annoyed and frustrated when the two-hour trip
became a six-hour wait, but as Lori described it, our Calvin group was in “very
rare form.” Very rare form meaning boisterous laughter, loud conversation, and
four hours of card tournaments. I was slightly worried about the animosity of
the other passengers as we filed off the train before everyone else, but one
lady said to me, “I am glad someone could enjoy the trip.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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And we did. Not only did we enjoy the train ride, but also
we enjoyed the excursion as a whole and we enjoyed one another. I am so
thankful to grow and share wonder with each person in our Calvin group. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-73399262716382894472013-11-08T18:56:00.002-08:002013-11-09T06:33:12.798-08:00Learning from the Incas in a "Maravilla del Mundo"<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">This past weekend and throughout the semester really, we have learned so much about the Incas not only in the "Maravilla del Mundo" (Wonder of the World) Machu Picchu on our latest excursion but also throughout all of Peru. Normally, I’m not one for history, but the history of the Incas and the Spanish Conquest is so interesting that I can’t help but share it! In general, what impresses me the most is not only how advanced they were, but more so how much they honored their gods and beliefs. For me, that is where I learned the most. Although their religion was different, I believe God’s grace and truth were present in the Incan culture. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSdk-nmr2UY/Un2_ZYXzkKI/AAAAAAAANcY/P3ogslJ1aEs/s1600/DSCN2765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSdk-nmr2UY/Un2_ZYXzkKI/AAAAAAAANcY/P3ogslJ1aEs/s320/DSCN2765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surrounded by fog on top of Wayna Picchu (the mountain that looks down on Machu Picchu)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx03YZGwGFo/Un3AF6v-h6I/AAAAAAAANcs/1bVmpSd1u7Y/s1600/DSCN2766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx03YZGwGFo/Un3AF6v-h6I/AAAAAAAANcs/1bVmpSd1u7Y/s320/DSCN2766.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of Wayna Picchu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1">While in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, we had the amazing opportunity to visit seven archaeological sites and learn the history of the Incan (and even pre-Incan) ruins. I would like to share some of what we learned at each site:</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><span class="s2">Pisak</span><span class="s1"> </span></u></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Originally, this was a pre-Incan site, but the Incas conquered it, and improved on it. (Unlike the Spaniards, they didn’t destroy when they conquered a town, but instead the built upon and added to what already existed.) The Incas had such a strong and impressive empire because they learned and improved on the achievements of those they conquered. (Our guide explained that the only two things that the Incas <i>invented </i>or <i>discovered</i> on their own was their perfect construction of walls and their terraces used to create micro-climates for their agriculture.)</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gd2RXv_OlEo/Un2T0OWenPI/AAAAAAAANZY/IJboUL_Mmow/s1600/DSCN2580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gd2RXv_OlEo/Un2T0OWenPI/AAAAAAAANZY/IJboUL_Mmow/s320/DSCN2580.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="p1">
Pisak</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">This site contains the only known cemetery of the Incas. There are thousands of bodies buried in the wall of the mountain, but sadly all have been sacked by grave robbers, so now what’s left are thousands of holes in the side of the mountain. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cYGgMgLweUM/Un2Vm1kdGUI/AAAAAAAANZw/M93qSNc4mXU/s1600/DSCN2633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cYGgMgLweUM/Un2Vm1kdGUI/AAAAAAAANZw/M93qSNc4mXU/s320/DSCN2633.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="p1">
All the holes are the tombs. Imagine the Incas lowering down the side of the mountain by ropes to get to the tombs...</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The most interesting part of this site was the story that went along with it. To talk with their god, the Incan priests used what they considered “connectors,” but what we consider drugs. With these connectors, they climbed up the mountain to receive instructions from their god. As our guide explained, you have to imagine the combination of their state of mind with the strong winds on the top of the mountain. They interpreted the sounds of the wind as the voice of their god, and many times the instructions they “heard” were to build another construction of some type. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GMBRrUf23q4/Un3CXqrFo3I/AAAAAAAANdY/dLn6ZCA9Vfs/s1600/DSCN2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GMBRrUf23q4/Un3CXqrFo3I/AAAAAAAANdY/dLn6ZCA9Vfs/s320/DSCN2631.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Pisak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b4wxbh7E3yQ/Un5Ha3V2ZHI/AAAAAAAANfA/IUYjg5AkF14/s1600/1441435_742826962411732_1357436724_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b4wxbh7E3yQ/Un5Ha3V2ZHI/AAAAAAAANfA/IUYjg5AkF14/s320/1441435_742826962411732_1357436724_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing around in Pisak<br />Photo Credit: Neal Bierling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<h3>
<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Pukapucara</u></span></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">This site was a pre-Incan fortress, but once conquered by the Incas conquered, it became a control for Cusco. This is where the Inca trail to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley starts.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WZCG2xGahwQ/Un2Z1XMya1I/AAAAAAAANa4/5qul1q9JeYU/s1600/DSCN3028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WZCG2xGahwQ/Un2Z1XMya1I/AAAAAAAANa4/5qul1q9JeYU/s320/DSCN3028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="p1">
Pukapucara</div>
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<h3>
<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Q’enko</u></span></span></h3>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">There are three areas of this site that represent the three worlds that the Incas believed in: that of the gods, the living and the dead. In the area of the dead, which is a natural cave, the Incas had a table where they performed mummification. This table is naturally so cold that it preserved the body to be mummified for about a month. According to our guide, if you were to lay on the table for 30 minutes, you would die of hypothermia. What’s eerie about this table is that it’s significantly colder than the rock of the cave itself, and according to our guide, they can’t scientifically explain why. (Most of the group touched the table, and it was definitely colder than the rest of the cave.)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E56K6t3D-zc/Un2Z24KakEI/AAAAAAAANbA/PahyWCmOV5w/s1600/DSCN3047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E56K6t3D-zc/Un2Z24KakEI/AAAAAAAANbA/PahyWCmOV5w/s320/DSCN3047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Mummification Table</div>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">At the entry of this site was a big rock formation in the shape of a frog. The Incas gave offerings to this rock, asking the gods for rain because they believed that the frog talked to the gods. (Frogs start to croak in rainy season...) In general when they wanted to ask the gods for something (rain, change of season, etc.), their first offering would consist of food and plants. Then they would wait about twenty days to see if the gods answered their request. If that offering didn’t work, they would sacrifice a llama and wait another twenty days. If that didn’t work, they would resort to their last option: a human sacrifice. This wasn’t something that happened often in the Incan culture; like I said, it was last option. However, as our guide explained, from their perspective, human sacrifice was often successful. Suppose they went through the normal motions, waited 20-30 days after each offering and then began to perform the ceremony of the human sacrifice (which took about a month). That would take a matter of 3 or more months. By that time, the climate will have changed naturally, so the human sacrifice was “successful.” </span></div>
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<span class="s2"></span><br /></div>
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<h3>
<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Saqsawaman</u></span></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Often called "sexy woman"(just say it aloud 3 times), this site is thought to be another temple for the sun god. This incredibly large construction was originally about 60 feet just considering the outer and lowest wall. Today, we can only see about 20 feet of it because parts of it were destroyed, but most of it is still buried underground (due to the efforts of the Spanish to hide it). </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Va2sCQw2Rpc/Un2ab8RhBoI/AAAAAAAANbY/awy_wd5prqU/s1600/DSCN3084-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Va2sCQw2Rpc/Un2ab8RhBoI/AAAAAAAANbY/awy_wd5prqU/s320/DSCN3084-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="p1">
Saqsawaman</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-azKTFld8zO0/Un2Z-A7eXKI/AAAAAAAANbQ/xmt-xxJZcRE/s1600/Sexy+Women+%2528Emily+H.%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-azKTFld8zO0/Un2Z-A7eXKI/AAAAAAAANbQ/xmt-xxJZcRE/s320/Sexy+Women+%2528Emily+H.%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sexy Women in Saqsawaman<br />
Photo Credit: Emily Harrell</td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
<h3>
<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Qoricancha</u></span></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">This was the temple of the sun god. Surprising to us, Qoricancha was more important to the Inca empire than Machu Picchu. We learned how to tell the difference in importance of Incan buildings by their construction: the more accurate and precise the Incan construction, the more important the site was.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVdmXpweH_w/Un2TnVyK80I/AAAAAAAANZQ/qPh9iFU_H3A/s1600/DSCN2425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVdmXpweH_w/Un2TnVyK80I/AAAAAAAANZQ/qPh9iFU_H3A/s320/DSCN2425.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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What perfect construction and alignment of the stones!</div>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">As part of the Spanish Conquest, a catholic church was built on top of Qoricancha. This was the Spanish’s way of showing power and imposing their catholic religion. Since much of the Incan construction was very hard to destroy, they built on top of it to cover it up. However, t</span>he Incan construction is anti-seismic, so after a earthquake in 1950, much of Qoricancha was uncovered</div>
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when the Spanish church fell and the Incan constructions remained standing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VrtHfnyLKKY/Un2UCq_RQnI/AAAAAAAANZg/pZWX8Q2K5Zg/s1600/DSCN2443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VrtHfnyLKKY/Un2UCq_RQnI/AAAAAAAANZg/pZWX8Q2K5Zg/s320/DSCN2443.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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The "Legos" of the Incas. To have such strong walls, the Incas used the idea of legos: where there's a niche, there's a protrusion to match it.</div>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Throughout the trip, I was continually shocked by the destruction done by the Spanish. There is so much they could have learned from the Incas, but instead the decided to impose their own ways, including their religion. Our guide explained that their way of forcing Catholicism on the Incas was to first forbid them to talk of certain things, such as a religious temple or a belief, and after something has not been spoken of for say forty years, a culture forgets the truth of its existence.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<h3>
<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Ollantaytambo</u></span></span></h3>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">This archaeological site is named for an Incan military general: Ollantay. Ollantay was a commoner during the time of the Incas. Ollantay, unlike most commoners, had the chance to talk with the noble class, and during his time amidst the noble class, he fell in love with the daughter of the emperor. When the emperor found out about this, he said either Ollantay had to forget about the woman or he would be put to death. Ollantay chose death, and due to this the emperor changed his mind and allowed the couple to get married. Their wedding took place in Ollantaytambo, and “tambo” means place of rest, so literally, Ollantaytambo means place of rest of Ollantay. In another way, it is and was a place of rest for anyone on their way to Machu Picchu because it’s on the way to Machu Picchu. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6iasf6ZLtHQ/Un2WCkSwFiI/AAAAAAAANZ4/qlsKiWuNgTU/s1600/DSCN2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6iasf6ZLtHQ/Un2WCkSwFiI/AAAAAAAANZ4/qlsKiWuNgTU/s320/DSCN2661.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Ollantaytambo</div>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">As I mentioned earlier, the commoners were separated from the noble class, so they could not enter into Ollantaytambo. One interesting section of Ollantaytambo was used to communicate between the commoners below and the nobles above. Several people would sing into individual niches in the wall to lead the people below in a religious ceremony. It was like their own form of a megaphone. (We tried it, but it wasn’t quite the same without the full construction.)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQR3RV4lEcc/Un5G59Odn6I/AAAAAAAANes/rSEpW45_ClM/s1600/Inca+megaphone+(Neal).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQR3RV4lEcc/Un5G59Odn6I/AAAAAAAANes/rSEpW45_ClM/s320/Inca+megaphone+(Neal).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying Out the Incan Megaphone (Yes, we are singing into the wall...)<br />Photo Credit: Neal Bierling</td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Ollantaytambo was a great loss to the Spanish conquest. It was decorated with gold and silver, but when the Spanish came, they stripped it away. Moreover, they ordered a carving of a Spanish face in the wall on the mountain opposite Ollantaytambo. They told the Incas that it was the face of their god Wiraqocha and that they were his messengers, so that the Incas would obey them. Ollantaytambo became a sacrifice to conserve Machu Picchu. Had the Spanish not stopped in Ollantaytambo, it’s likely that they would have made it to Machu Picchu. However, once the Spanish arrived in Ollantaytambo, the Incas sent a messenger along the Inca trail to warn those at Machu Picchu of the Spanish. On receiving the news, they hid the Inca trail, so that Machu Picchu would not be found. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">And last, but not least....</span></div>
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<h3>
<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Machu Picchu</u></span></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">This was originally a religious refuge. There are various temples throughout Machu Picchu, and the whole complex as a whole is stunning due to its complexity, construction and size. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gT-kbaiCs9I/Un2YNdxcOrI/AAAAAAAANac/FM_DY3ccBcY/s1600/DSCN2990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gT-kbaiCs9I/Un2YNdxcOrI/AAAAAAAANac/FM_DY3ccBcY/s640/DSCN2990.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the tall mountain in the back? It's called Wayna Picchu and we climbed it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VntXFzKRp50/Un2X8Ai-90I/AAAAAAAANaM/DrVGp23P8Qk/s1600/DSCN2801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VntXFzKRp50/Un2X8Ai-90I/AAAAAAAANaM/DrVGp23P8Qk/s320/DSCN2801.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Machu Picchu from above on the mountain Wayna Picchu</div>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Eventually, Machu Picchu is going to close for a year to restore Machu Picchu. Interestingly enough, our guide explained that there exists an archaeological site that is twice as big and just as beautiful as Machu Picchu, but it’s only accessible on foot by a 4-5 day trek. Our guide explained that there are problems with the Peruvian government concerning tourism, and this was one of them: that they haven’t developed the tourism to this newer site. (Think back to the fact that most of Saqsawaman is still underground--That’s because the government won’t fund its full excavation.) Additionally, they won’t fund many new excavations, even though almost every one conducted uncovers something new. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPqsatN0cJY/Un2YO2MIuNI/AAAAAAAANak/-U_L2J60MoQ/s1600/DSCN2951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPqsatN0cJY/Un2YO2MIuNI/AAAAAAAANak/-U_L2J60MoQ/s320/DSCN2951.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2iUljJ9OYfA/Un2YG8uSTYI/AAAAAAAANaU/nlv7KI889yE/s1600/DSCN2904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2iUljJ9OYfA/Un2YG8uSTYI/AAAAAAAANaU/nlv7KI889yE/s320/DSCN2904.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Within Machu Picchu</td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">While in Machu Picchu, I think it’s safe to say that we were all awestruck. Not only was it the creation of the Incas that was amazing, but also the creation of God that surrounded it. Just think, the God that made humans, including the incredibly intelligent Incas, has created wonders so much bigger and greater than Machu Picchu. We (or at least I) tend to think that religions like that of the Incas were so different from ours so much so that they almost bordered on madness because all their customs seem illogical to us. In reality, they have several similarities with Christianity. There’s a Incan myth that says the sun god sent his two children to the earth to make order and govern the bestial humans that existed on the earth. Sound at all familiar? It has several parallels with our creation story. Moreover, the Incas did so much to please their gods. They built structures of over 60 feet with rocks weighing a matter of tons using only a system of ropes and ramps! It makes me wonder: do I give as much effort to worship my God? Although we differ in many beliefs, I think we can admire some of the truths found in the Incan culture. Much of what they did, they did out of their faith; almost every section of their life was directed by their beliefs. I think many times it’s too easy to keep God in one section of our life, but I would like to do as the Incas did, making him the main character, so that His works may be seen throughout every section of my life. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGfo2GkemNE/Un3AAUw-PLI/AAAAAAAANck/nDa3eIP2dj4/s1600/DSCN2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGfo2GkemNE/Un3AAUw-PLI/AAAAAAAANck/nDa3eIP2dj4/s320/DSCN2794.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of Wayna Picchu inside its ruins</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-30814704652714026982013-10-30T15:23:00.001-07:002013-10-30T15:23:28.664-07:00How's the food?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MGo6zjlGzew/UnGCq0EOjlI/AAAAAAAAANM/SAYh4dJVTD8/s1600/1240555_10151831745012508_232280229_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MGo6zjlGzew/UnGCq0EOjlI/AAAAAAAAANM/SAYh4dJVTD8/s320/1240555_10151831745012508_232280229_n.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a>One of the most common questions people from back home seem to ask us is: "how's the food?" To which we all reply, "SO GOOD! You HAVE to try the bread here. It's amazing!"<br />
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I have to say, when I signed up for the trip, I was not expecting this to be the case. I even noted in my interview that one of the most challenging things here for me was going to be the food. I don't like vegetables or potatoes, staples in a Peruvian meal. However, I have been pleasantly surprised by the delicious bread, cheap pastries, amazing amounts of caramel, juicy fruit, and the unusual but tasty types of meat.<br />
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So... what do I eat on a typical day? I wake up to a glass of freshly made fruit juice and a warm oatmeal-like drink awaiting me. I also eat some bread with "mermelada" (jelly) or "manjar" (caramel). Then when I get home from school, I eat lunch. Lunch here is the biggest meal of the day so it is a big deal to make it home for lunch, rather than just buying something in the street. My lunch begins with first plate, which is usually soup with noodles or creamed vegetables. After first plate, I have my second plate which usually consists of some type of meat, a variation of potatoes, and rice. I drink freshly made lemonade or chicha morada, which is a drink made out of purple corn. Sounds strange, right? However, it's actually really good! Finally, I finish my meal with fruit, usually a banana or apple, but sometimes I get to try something new. I end the day with my dinner of tea and more bread with "mermelada" or "manjar." Every family has their own variations of every meal, but the majority are very similar to my meals. The only big difference is that many families also eat a lot of yogurt, and my family does not.<br />
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So, earlier I mentioned that we have tried some "unusual but tasty types of meat". What exactly does that consist of? In our houses we commonly eat chicken, pork, or beef, just like at home. However, many of us have been daring and have tried some of the other popular types of meat here. For example, on our excursions, we love to eat alpaca meat. In the streets, they sell "anticuchos" which is a skewer of cow hearts. Finally, for a one-time experience, many of us have tried the delicacy of "cuy," or guinea pig. I have not been fortunate enough yet to partake of cuy, but I can guarantee you it is an experience I am not planning on missing before we leave.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kI94M4oTp2s/UnGEXgxqWcI/AAAAAAAAANw/B-o9KuWkrrE/s1600/DSCN8224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kI94M4oTp2s/UnGEXgxqWcI/AAAAAAAAANw/B-o9KuWkrrE/s320/DSCN8224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alpaca, rice, and potatoes</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtftlp6Kkhg/UnGDkkL40OI/AAAAAAAAANc/Y6EUqoXyLnk/s1600/1265341_10151953330258619_1380497919_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtftlp6Kkhg/UnGDkkL40OI/AAAAAAAAANc/Y6EUqoXyLnk/s320/1265341_10151953330258619_1380497919_o.jpg" width="320" /></a>Finally, when we're having a bad day, or a good day, or have free time, or are bored, or come up with any sort of excuse, we LOVE to buy snacks, pastries, and ice cream. Although it is hard to find very rich chocolate or things made with peanut butter, there is no lack of caramel. Nearly every pastry here is a different variation of a desert with caramel. We have eaten unhealthy amounts of caramel. If you are lucky enough, maybe you can convince your loved one here to bring some back for you. We also eat a lot of ice cream. At McDonald's a large ice cream cone is only 2 soles (which right now is equivalent to 73 cents). As well, something well-known in Arequipa is "queso helado." This literally means "cheese ice cream," but I can guarantee you it tastes nothing like cheese. It simply shares it's color with cheese.<br />
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A pastry with caramel inside</div>
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Our favorite snack: pan y manjar (bread and carmel)</div>
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Basically, we are loving the food here. It is difficult not to constantly be snacking on something or another. However, we also miss the food in the United States and are excited to have rich chocolatey desserts, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and pizza with lots of sauce. All in all, the food was not something that I should have been worried about.<br />
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Some of the things here are just too strange to try...</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-60004620496441774192013-10-30T14:52:00.000-07:002013-10-30T14:52:02.929-07:00A Wondrous WeddingThis past weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a friend's wedding here in Arequipa! The venue was the founder's mansion, so I'm pretty sure they paid top dollar for this occasion. It was a Catholic wedding, which is the religion of the majority here in Arequipa. The wedding began with the bride, Claudia, walking down the red-carpeted aisle with her father. Many weddings here including this one don't have a procession with the maid of honor, bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc. Only the sisters get special matching dresses, and everyone else is just a guest. After mass we threw rice as the walked out (illegal in the US).<br />
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Cocktail hour was spent in the garden with waiters bringing around drinks like papaya juice, pina colada, and coca cola. I also had the opportunity to try a dish here called ceviche, which is raw fish in a sometimes spicy sauce. It was actually delicious, and I'm pretty sure I don't have mercury poisoning or anything :).<br />
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After sitting awhile, we were welcomed into the reception room, which had beautiful centerpieces of peach and white roses, a rose chandelier, and a fountain covered in roses as well. Another difference I noticed was that after the couple entered, there was no speech (because there was no maid of honor or best man). We simply had a toast of champagne with them to wish them good luck and to say congratulations. Dinner was probably one of the best meals I've ever tasted! We had shrimp cocktail in a special sauce with avocados, and the main dish was a mushroom, turkey, and cheese stromboli type dish, sort of like chicken cordon bleu. Dessert was a maracuya cheesecake, and maracuya is a fruit common here but not in the US. There was also a beautiful cake on display, but when they passed out slices, there wasn't a scratch on the display.....hmm....not sure what happened there.<br />
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Soon the dancing started with the father daughter dance, and then later the first dance. The first dance was to a fairly upbeat song which kind of threw me off at first, but it ended up being very sweet. If you're interested in hearing a popular song here amongst adults and young people, the song was called "Quiero casarme contigo" by Carlos Vives. It's very sweet and endearing, and the title means "I want to marry you." For awhile, most of the dancing was to a salsa/latin beat, but still very fun to dance to. And my family and friends are pretty much around the ages of 40 and up, so it was funny and very sweet for them to ask to dance with me (even though I hardly know what I'm doing!)<br />
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A little later, they switched from a DJ to a traditional band, and two young men in jester costumes lead the dancing. We were in a circle, and they danced around the middle. Ashamedly, I was pulled in for a good humiliating two minutes, not having a clue what to do! Peru has humbled me once again. After the band left, they started playing oldies music from the US, like Footloose, Staying Alive, and more John Travolta. And they all seemed to know the songs! But my favorite part of the night was when they passed out colored clown hair afros, crazy glasses, sequin ties, glow sticks, stick balloons, and all sorts of crazy stuff. We all put it on (even my host parents and friends) and continued dancing to more juvenile music. It was such a fun way to end the night as everyone was winding down.<br />
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I had an amazing time, and I am personally so incredibly grateful for my host family experience here. I was able to go on a 4 day trip with them to celebrate my host brother's birthday, and also this wedding of their dear friend. I feel so blessed to have this chance to grow closer to them and really get to know them as family.<br />
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~Hanna Silvey<br />
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Throwing rice</div>
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My lovely host parents</div>
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Host brother and friends</div>
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It's not a wedding without a few mischievous kids</div>
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A toast</div>
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Shrimp cocktail</div>
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Father/Daughter</div>
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SO yummy!</div>
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They concocted their own Pisco, a traditional Peruvian drink</div>
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Dessert</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-52986643649950763482013-10-24T20:45:00.001-07:002013-10-24T20:45:37.378-07:00Learning to Drive in Arequipa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"They say that if you can drive in Arequipa, you can drive in any part of the world." This is how my host mom responded when I once asked her about the traffic in Arequipa and if there are many crashes. Not surprisingly, her answer was "yes". The streets here are highly congested due to the recent population explosion, and to the eye of the foreigner, the rules of the road often appear to be replaced by pure anarchy. Lane markings are ignored (cars often travel three abreast on a two-lane highway), stop signs appear to be optional, and merging onto the street usually becomes a game of chicken between multiple drivers.<br />
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We have now officially crossed the half-way point of our time here in Arequipa, and looking back on past experiences, I cannot help but notice how what we often see in the streets is similar to how we have felt while learning a new culture. When we first arrived, many aspects of life were new and confusing. We cautiously tried to maneuver around without making any serious mistakes or forcing "crashes" between cultures. Despite our best efforts, we have often found adjusting to our new lives here difficult, confusing, awkward, and...well...hilarious and embarrassing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a fairly typical looking combi during the morning commute</td></tr>
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When I first arrived at the house where I am living this semester, my host mom showed me the bathroom I use and told me to turn the knob to the left for the hot water for in shower. The mornings here at a high altitude are quite cold, and I spent the first week showering in what felt like ice water. I gradually developed a workout routine before showering just to raise my body temperature enough to be able to stand under the water for a few seconds. One day I decided to see just how cold the water could actually get if I turned the knob the other direction and ... yup... you guessed it. I nearly burned myself because the water was so hot.<br />
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Many of us have noticed that public displays of affection between couples is fairly common here. This can be awkward enough in parks and street corners, but it reaches a whole new level on the combis, which are the van/bus combination public transport. As you can see in the picture above, these vehicles are often completely filled so that there is literally no room to move. One great night I had the privilege of being plastered directly up against a peruvian girl...who decided that this commute was the perfect time to cuddle with and kiss her boyfriend. I was stuck in this position for about 30 minutes...<br />
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Because embarrassment and awkward loves company, I asked some other members of our group for their own examples, and here are some of their stories:<br />
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Megan: <span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I went to go do some volunteer work at an elderly women's home with some other Calvin students. When I asked where the other students were a nice woman told me they were in the living room. When I walked into the living room there were not 20 Calvin students awaiting me but rather 20 toothless grinning old women. I was paralyzed, but put up with the "Que liiiiiiiinnnnddddaaaaas" (how beautiful) and listened for a while before I decided to leave. I had apparently gone to the wrong old women's home after calling my professor.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-reactid=".r[5excs].[1][4][1]{comment527867980624978_527869250624851}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[9]" style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-Talking to friends, "Soy Paruta" instead of "Soy Bruta" ("Soy Paruta" does not mean anything at all. Soy Bruta means I am an airhead. I think the point was clear)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br data-reactid=".r[5excs].[1][4][1]{comment527867980624978_527869250624851}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[10]" style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span data-reactid=".r[5excs].[1][4][1]{comment527867980624978_527869250624851}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[11]" style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-Talking to friends, "Tengo novio" instead of "Tengo enamorado" In the United States we were taught that "novio" means boyfriend, but in Peru it means fiance. So everyone was asking why we were getting married so young and where our rings were. </span></span><br />
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Carmen B: <span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I think my music professor is really funny, because he always seems to make the rest of the class laugh. I never catch on to his jokes and always end up just sitting there with an awkward, clueless smile on my face.</span></span><br />
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Hannah K: <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">One time in the Plaza de Armas, I got swept up in a war protest which was targeted at the United States just after the Syrian Crisis. There were torches and shouting and paintings of President Obama in devils horns. Of course, I happened to be the only person in the crowd with blond hair, and someone promptly asked me which country I was from. Uuuuummmm… United States? Awkward.</span><span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-reactid=".r[5excs].[1][4][1]{comment527867980624978_529104730501303}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0].[0]" style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">I told my cousin that I liked his fart (pedo) instead of that I liked his hair (pelo). </span><br data-reactid=".r[5excs].[1][4][1]{comment527867980624978_529104730501303}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0].[1]" style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><br data-reactid=".r[5excs].[1][4][1]{comment527867980624978_529104730501303}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0].[2]" style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span data-reactid=".r[5excs].[1][4][1]{comment527867980624978_529104730501303}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0].[3]" style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">I told a peruvian she was naked (desvestida) instead of that she was divided (dividida) from the group. I still have no idea how I did that.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsfC2juLbOi0CiLoGE9thEBQ6YrCE3R1-eThkG64lMPHjeevMFywtNncGCfhMFFKoitZwEm-9ryim5Xd6s65FOVr4NSCgOpXOxJdphVOnCpchatgQc8CLH7UOZK69BZnwWYAD578Dl3o/s1600/grupo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsfC2juLbOi0CiLoGE9thEBQ6YrCE3R1-eThkG64lMPHjeevMFywtNncGCfhMFFKoitZwEm-9ryim5Xd6s65FOVr4NSCgOpXOxJdphVOnCpchatgQc8CLH7UOZK69BZnwWYAD578Dl3o/s320/grupo.jpg" width="320" /></a>In addition to these stories, multiple people have asked store workers if they have colored eyes (ojos) instead of sheets of paper (hojas). Many of us have accidentally gotten on the wrong combi and ended up in unfamiliar parts of the city, and we have all experienced the awkward stare-down when we forget to greet someone withe the customary kiss or handshake. At least two of us have had bird . . . excrement fall on us while calmly minding our own business in the plaza. We have also learned how to pretend we follow conversations we do not understand and are able to laugh at the appropriate times, which works well until someone asks our opinion on what was said. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7AiBA0ez8VedWxBk2V_augtqj-xJ-Kg1Pc3UB4kdE6YI902II7h5gNR5ZYA2c2u2RkrkIL0sjPtNdLhsSLxx4Bukznz_Cpy6Anzpe6w9V5R0uDkFobDdrt76xkn1FbMaCGx_8iBxXWw/s1600/cuy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7AiBA0ez8VedWxBk2V_augtqj-xJ-Kg1Pc3UB4kdE6YI902II7h5gNR5ZYA2c2u2RkrkIL0sjPtNdLhsSLxx4Bukznz_Cpy6Anzpe6w9V5R0uDkFobDdrt76xkn1FbMaCGx_8iBxXWw/s200/cuy.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cuy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTHWZ_oa2B8O8rNW_NVSzKml844MbTzy-d0hIgz_dVHv-tNjBw-IA6JTZ_c3OrO3zARQ_a4g1M52Wx1a9Gb0BEPOTxZT5L8QVZqkWiL2YxS0jCVDMKal6mjOsu1X3pB9866uMkbc9Fg0/s1600/ceviche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTHWZ_oa2B8O8rNW_NVSzKml844MbTzy-d0hIgz_dVHv-tNjBw-IA6JTZ_c3OrO3zARQ_a4g1M52Wx1a9Gb0BEPOTxZT5L8QVZqkWiL2YxS0jCVDMKal6mjOsu1X3pB9866uMkbc9Fg0/s200/ceviche.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ceviche</td></tr>
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Despite these challenges, we continue learning and growing through new experiences, and what was once strange and foreign is gradually becoming familiar and comfortable. We have eaten (and occasionally enjoyed) new foods such as cuy (guinea pig) and ceviche (raw fish).<br />
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We are used to wearing long pants even as the temperature increases for summer, and we often find ourselves staring at tourists in shorts and sandals and find ourselves thinking "hehe, gringos." We are no longer confused when a class requires us to make a photocopy of an article with a front page that states: "the total or partial reproduction of this book is not permitted... electronic or photocopy..."<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D3sZoTrlC-aXJzNZxizuW2dv2Iu9hPIMeO5AfvMKAacGGPVRWPmhVDEaMwLHsI-3vbggeOuWHlYBRcEOiRTlZrIrC5aGib5d9haqun2BlY25BDjQQO7-e6KrgoSRh6VKv3ADPpXiXzA/s1600/paco:alto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D3sZoTrlC-aXJzNZxizuW2dv2Iu9hPIMeO5AfvMKAacGGPVRWPmhVDEaMwLHsI-3vbggeOuWHlYBRcEOiRTlZrIrC5aGib5d9haqun2BlY25BDjQQO7-e6KrgoSRh6VKv3ADPpXiXzA/s320/paco:alto.jpg" width="320" /></a>We are also able to order in the school café or photocopier station without waiting an hour trying to figure out where the line is of people ends - there isn't a line. We can also cross the busy streets without feeling like we are playing a human version of the old video game "frogger". It is becoming more common for tourists on the street stop us to ask for directions, and occasionally they even ask us first if we speak English. Although we occasionally stand out, we are learning how to blend into the culture. We are also meeting many new people and forming a number of meaningful friendships.<br />
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It is clear that we have all grown in our short two months hear. We have gained a deeper understanding of who God is and how he relates to His creation, and have seen how others relate back to Him. We are learning more about who we are and who we are becoming. While thinking about how much we have grown in just half a semester, we are excited to see where we will be and what we will have leaned after the next two months. Although there are still bumps along the road, it is slowly but surely becoming clear that we are learning how to drive through the culture of Arequipa.<br />
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<br />Michael Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12347138306703743662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-4114281639029682632013-10-14T11:47:00.000-07:002013-10-14T15:16:02.648-07:00Getting High in Peru: Studying the pre-Incan World of Peru and Relaxing in the Plaza de Armas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="s1"> [Submitted by Neal Bierling] Since my schedule differs from that of the students, I have been able to have different experiences in and around Arequipa. For example, during our first weeks in Arequipa, and since I am an archaeologist (in the Middle East but I have taught the Incas while I was a history teacher), I checked out the archaeology museums. The Incas were the <b>final</b> powerful peoples in this region before the Spanish Conquest and the events that followed the conquest of South America. However, from the museums in Arequipa, I am learning about the rich cultural heritage of Peru BEFORE the Incas. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Examples of pre-Incan ceramics</span></div>
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Feathered Cape</div>
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<span class="s1"> I am beginning to write this blog while in and around Trujillo, in northern Peru, where, within the past hour, I was in Trujillo’s National Archaeological Museum. Here, they too have on display beautiful artifacts recovered from the pre-Incan excavations around Trujillo. Arequipa has collections on the important pre-Incan civilizations, which, in some cases go back centuries before Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem. Peruvians have a right to be proud of their Incan heritage, but now I’m learning that they have a right to be proud of their pre-Incan heritage. The ruins of dozens (100s?) of mudbrick pyramids and other complexes exist in northern Peru; each pyramid required millions of mudbricks. The tombs and complexes that the Spanish conquistadors thankfully missed reveal beautiful ceramics and other artifacts. I have viewed (and photographed) Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s gold in Egypt countless times over the decades, yet here in Peru I have now seen more gold and silver artifacts than recovered from King Tut’s tomb. The pre-Incan peoples were highly skilled in metallurgy and other crafts. Alas, they did not write, and writing, speaking as an archaeologist, finding an archive of writing is more important than the pretty and shiny gold. The artistic artifacts on display here in Arequipa and now viewed in northern Peru are important, but if they had written about their society and if this archive had been recovered by archaeologists, this would tell us so much more about the intriguing pre-Incan heritage.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"> While exploring Arequipa, I witnessed parades on its streets while the Calvin students were in classes. I’ve taken the time to just sit in the Plaza de Armas and watch the activity of its residents and visitors. Arequipa is peaceful and has much to be appreciated. The traffic around the university and the Plaza de Armas can be very busy. This city has grown too fast for its so many narrow streets. Profe Bierling worries about all of us as we cross streets by weaving between taxis, combis, and buses. This too can be an adventure. There are more taxis in Arequipa than personal cars and perhaps it is safe to say that the majority of its population travel across the city by taxis, combis (small buses), and buses.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Arequipa Parade</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Activities in Arequipa’s Plaza de Armas</span></div>
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<span class="s1"> Now that we are temporarily in the Trujillo area for a week, I am even more appreciative of Arequipa’s sunny, cool to warm and low humidity days. I love waking up, opening the blinds to consistently sunny sunrises, looking at the decreasing amounts of snow on Mt. Misti, and then not wearing a light jacket until sunset.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Paz y Shalom,</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Neal Bierling</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-72604968313523591142013-10-14T11:27:00.000-07:002013-10-14T12:31:57.703-07:00Traveling Peru!! <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nazca Lines!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">This past week, the majority of students
took a rain check on their midterm exams and headed out to explore different
parts of the country and city of Arequipa. Peru is an incredibly diverse
country, hosting three distinct regions: the coast, mountains, and jungle.
Different groups of students headed to each of these regions, taking in
incredible scenery and meeting other travelers from around the world. Enjoy a
few snapshots of the beautiful locations we visited!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dunes of Huachina</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">These voyages put to the test everything that we have learned thus far about the language and culture here in South America as we traveled independently from our professor and in many cases without our Peruvian families as well. This may have been a week of vacation, but I would dare say that we each learned more about the geography and people of Peru and about ourselves than we could have ever learned from sitting in a classroom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harbor in Paracas, Peru<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Paracas National Reserve</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">Throughout our trips, we prided ourselves in not being your typical tourists. We enjoyed exploring the marketplaces and striking up deals with the vendors with ease, being confident and familiar with the custom of bartering. We cherished the opportunity to act as the facilitator between those who spoke broken Spanish and those who spoke broken English in our lodges and hostels. We rejoiced when a waiter in Cusco asked us if we were from Lima, confused as to why a group of gringos were speaking Spanish in a highly populated tourist café. We praised God when our Spanish-speaking guide asked us what religion we were and when we replied, “Christian” he replied, “I knew there was something different about you guys”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I think I can speak for all in saying that there have been sometimes through this semester in Peru where I think I can physically feel my brain growing and being stretched to think in new ways. This past week of travel was no exception. I now know just two languages and a handful of countries and already my understanding of the world has increased exponentially. I realize even more and more every day how big the world is and how little I know about it. I realize that there are conversations and relationships happening around the world in languages that I will probably never understand. It overwhelms me even more to realize that God knows and created it all. He knows every creature in the Amazon Jungle, each grain of sand in the dunes of Huachina, and every penguin on the Ballestas Islands. Moreover, he is the God of all people, of every nation and every tongue.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Lions on the Ballestas Islands, Paracas National Reserve</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising the Madre de Dios River in the Amazon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Macaw outside of Puerto Maldonado</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trekking through the mountains above Cusco</td></tr>
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<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-11494811530799869382013-10-06T12:07:00.001-07:002013-10-06T14:15:19.640-07:00Mi Casa es Su Casa<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a long week. The majority of us had "ex<span style="font-family: inherit;">á</span>menes parciales" (midterms) in at least one class and those of us in 308 (which is almost everybody) had a big history essay due on Friday. But now we can breathe. This coming week is when the rest of the students at UCSP have their ex<span style="font-family: inherit;">á</span>menes parciales, but since most of us are just taking one or two classes directly-enrolled at the university, we are taking (or have taken) those exams at a different time and are treating this week as a "semana libre" (free week) where we can travel. We (in smaller groups) will be exploring new parts of the country like Paracas on the coast, Ica, Nazca (home of the famous and mysterious Nazca Lines), Cuzco (the old Incan capital), the selva (jungle), or sticking around in Arequipa to spend time with Peruvian friends and family and do more exploring in this area. But most of us haven't left yet, so you will have to wait until later to hear about those adventures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since there was nothing super exciting that happened this week, I thought I would talk about what I think all of us would agree is one of the best things about being here in Peru: our wonderful host families. It seems like it's been an eternity since the first night when we arrived and were sitting in the auditorium at the university, all of us students one one side and all the host families on the other, anxiously waiting to meet them. Though they welcomed us warmly, they still seemed like strangers back then. But now that we've been living with them in the same house for nearly two months, it really does seem appropriate to call them "mi familia" (my family). They've walked us to school for as many days as needed until we knew our way, they put up with us when we butcher our Spanish and help us to improve, they always make sure we have more than enough delicious </span>home-cooked<span style="font-family: inherit;"> food, they care for us when we are sick, etc. But more than anything, they've taken us into their homes, included us, and treated us like we are truly part of the family. I think I speak for us all when I say that our host families have been such a blessing and that we'll miss them dearly when we leave.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I asked the members of our group to share a bit about what they like about their families and some of the fun things they've done with their families. Here's what they said:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jamie: I like to cook with my sisters on Saturday mornings. It usually takes all morning to make lunch but I love spending time with them and getting to know them a little better. In general, I just love that I have special relationships with each one of them: my mom, my dad, my older sister, and my younger sister. I really feel at home here. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Megan: My favorite thing about my host family is that my mom gossips to me like I'm one of her amigas. It's so funny and she is so dramatic. The first day they just whisked me away to a petting zoo without telling me where we were going.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anna: I love inside jokes and laughing with my Padre...I love how mi madre just exuberates affection and all her endearing nicknames for me: "Corazon, Anita, mi amor, Anni..." Honestly, some of my favorite times are just chilling at night with them...laughing and commenting on their favorite TV shows...ordering chifa (Chinese food with a Peruvian twist)...cheering on their favorite tennis player from Spain...or just talking about whatever <span class="emoticon emoticon_smile" style="background-color: #edeff4; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yc/r/ERwAtiRKR7Q.png); background-position: -43px -697px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; height: 16px; line-height: 12.71875px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;" title=":)"></span> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carmen: My parents are so goofy and I love it. My dad is especially funny and is always teaching me goofy-sounding Peruanismos/Arequipeñismos (words and phrases unique to Peru/Arequipa). I also love how warm and hospitable they are. I immediately felt like part of the family <span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12.71875px;"></span><span class="emoticon emoticon_smile" style="background-color: #edeff4; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yc/r/ERwAtiRKR7Q.png); background-position: -43px -697px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; height: 16px; line-height: 12.71875px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;" title=":)"></span>. I love eating meals and watching TV together. My family especially loves shows like Yo Soy and La Vos and we love discussing our favorite singers. They also watch a lot of soccer and tennis and we always get really into it. We also go to el Club Internacional together nearly every week to eat lunch and exercise. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hannah K.: I love sitting on the couch with Maria (mi mama peruana) and sharing our latest Pinterest inspirations (I introduced her to Pinterest; she's hooked) while we eat ice cream. And discuss everything from who is the cutest actor in the chick-flick we are watching to Arequipeñan politics. I love how we have pillow fights while listening to Pirates of the Caribbean music at full volume. The family is so loving and always laughing! I love how i feel like I belong here <span class="emoticon emoticon_smile" style="background-color: #edeff4; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yc/r/ERwAtiRKR7Q.png); background-position: -43px -697px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; height: 16px; line-height: 12.71875px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;" title=":)"></span> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me (Hannah B.): I love the talks I have with my host parents after dinner. We sit and drink tea and talk about random stuff. We often don't eat dinner until 8:30 or 9 so sometimes it gets pretty late and my homework gets pushed aside (don't worry, I still get it done eventually), but it's totally worth it. My host dad and brother are hilarious and I love joking with them. And I love holding my 1 month old "sobrino" (nephew). I love that my host mom calls me "hijita" (literally "little daughter" - they use lots of </span>diminutives<span style="font-family: inherit;"> here) and even introduces me that way to friends and family. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />And here are a few photos of us and some of our host family members:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVooFa_-qW4/UlCu1ifKAtI/AAAAAAAAAWE/lnfrPDtOZSc/s1600/laurel+and+lori+and+fam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVooFa_-qW4/UlCu1ifKAtI/AAAAAAAAAWE/lnfrPDtOZSc/s320/laurel+and+lori+and+fam.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laurel and Lori and their families</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anna and her host mom volunteering with Operation Smile.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Dml_wgT1kc/UlCuxgxi33I/AAAAAAAAAVM/eJIsOM4h2MA/s1600/carmen+and+her+host+parents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Dml_wgT1kc/UlCuxgxi33I/AAAAAAAAAVM/eJIsOM4h2MA/s320/carmen+and+her+host+parents.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carmen B. and her host parents</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carmen DB and her hermanita</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XH_mbIPP8ao/UlCuzEn4NtI/AAAAAAAAAVk/Qnf0bA9TP4U/s1600/emily+h+mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XH_mbIPP8ao/UlCuzEn4NtI/AAAAAAAAAVk/Qnf0bA9TP4U/s320/emily+h+mountains.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Emily H. and fam exploring the Reserva Nacional</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rfq2U-KI0KY/UlCuz349fqI/AAAAAAAAAVs/8CXSoYcvObA/s1600/emily+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rfq2U-KI0KY/UlCuz349fqI/AAAAAAAAAVs/8CXSoYcvObA/s320/emily+s.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Emily S. with her host sisters</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pfm4BRIcpY4/UlCu1C3BgQI/AAAAAAAAAV8/_YJw2n_4JPM/s1600/hanna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pfm4BRIcpY4/UlCu1C3BgQI/AAAAAAAAAV8/_YJw2n_4JPM/s320/hanna.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hanna and fam</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4M45F7cJZ-A/UlCu0sb3l2I/AAAAAAAAAV4/vBjpnufRlWM/s1600/hannah+k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4M45F7cJZ-A/UlCu0sb3l2I/AAAAAAAAAV4/vBjpnufRlWM/s320/hannah+k.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hannah K. and her hermanito</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jamie and her sister</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nlSXXJzS7lg/UlCu2Oq_QPI/AAAAAAAAAWM/PbdpDDhkIRI/s1600/lauren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nlSXXJzS7lg/UlCu2Oq_QPI/AAAAAAAAAWM/PbdpDDhkIRI/s320/lauren.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q9oKkeiMdm0/UlCu3lfoUWI/AAAAAAAAAWc/kvjNNYHC1Xc/s1600/lindsey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q9oKkeiMdm0/UlCu3lfoUWI/AAAAAAAAAWc/kvjNNYHC1Xc/s320/lindsey.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYDtHC4EtSc/UlCu3U7BlAI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Qt0zVfzMMu4/s1600/lori+and+host+dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYDtHC4EtSc/UlCu3U7BlAI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Qt0zVfzMMu4/s320/lori+and+host+dad.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lori and her host dad</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Bp3liBfWAA/UlCu6xCHzvI/AAAAAAAAAWw/7M11cg3Fi-Q/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Bp3liBfWAA/UlCu6xCHzvI/AAAAAAAAAWw/7M11cg3Fi-Q/s320/me.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me (Hannah B.) and my host family having our "desayuno americano" (American breakfast) that I made - pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ig8K09Dmi5A/UlCu4V8ABJI/AAAAAAAAAWo/UGRZAj4pQUQ/s1600/micah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ig8K09Dmi5A/UlCu4V8ABJI/AAAAAAAAAWo/UGRZAj4pQUQ/s320/micah.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Micah and his host brother, being silly as usual</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-63286143986532557512013-10-01T17:28:00.002-07:002013-10-01T18:59:04.246-07:00From Surviving to Thriving... and Everything in Between<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There we
were, occupying our usual strategic position, with our faces up against the
glass of the majestic… empanada case. Oh the cafetería, what a magnificent
place! It is full of wonderful smells, encapsulating tastes, and
life-threatening numbers of calories. And, oh, how we love it:) Hawaiana,
Italiana, Rocoto relleno, Triple, Lomo Saltado, Queso: these are just a few of
our favorite empanadas. Somehow, inexplicably, there is a group of gringos
(nickname for a white person from an English-speaking country) and Peruvian
friends waiting in line at the Cafetería for empanadas after every History 308
class. Maybe we are sucked into the Cafetería after class because we have to
walk past its open doors in order to leave the university, but more likely, it
is because we are mentally and physically exhausted after we leave history
class. We all just need that sweet, warm empanada-pick-me-up to revive our
dejected spirits. Sometimes, on really tough days, a churro will follow. And if
your name is Joe, a whole bag of granola would probably follow that. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back
to History class, the probable cause of this deliciously terrible health risk. Hispanic
World History 308. As those of us who take this class all know, 308 is both a
blessing and a nightmare. Yes, we are all intrigued to be learning about how
Huns crossed the Rhine River, upsetting all of Europe and eventually causing
the “Visigodos” to inhabit Spain. It is actually very interesting to understand
how God and His-Story shaped the Spanish language and formed cultures,
including the Peruvian culture. All of this novel information has helped us
understand the people here and the way they live. It is exciting, for example,
to understand the history of how this language we are speaking came to be the
way it is today. (I, for one, was just as excited to discover that “Germany”
isn’t G-e-r-m-a-n-y in Spanish. It’s “Alemania”! Maybe I just need to get out
more…). However, we are somewhat less enthralled with the fact that our
notebooks are filling up with maps and arrows and words that we can’t even
pretend to fully understand. Professor Lizárraga whips from one side of the
whiteboard to the other, drawing enormous maps and scribbling key words in the
remaining spaces. He does it all at the speed of light as well. While he is
writing furiously… “Ejercito Romano – > Acero, La cúpula, el aquaducto…”, we
turn to each other with dumfounded looks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Qué
significa ‘Acero’ (what does acero mean)”?! one student whispers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No sé (I
don’t know)”, one of us answers dejectedly, “Pero yo quiero saber por qué estamos
hablando de Roma otra vez! Pensaba que estábamos hablando del Peru. (But I want
to know why we are talking about Rome again! I thought we were discussing Peru.)”
Then the professor turns around and we sit quietly, every cell in our bodies
straining to hear and comprehend what he is saying. Finally, after countless
questions and explanations and even jokes have been exchanged, the period is
over, something Laurel or Emily S. has to remind Professor Lizárraga of just
about every class period. Thank you ladies! Either he doesn’t pay much
attention to the time, or he just really enjoys our company. Obviously, I’m
going to bet on the latter :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0tcLflNOGaI/UktWGCTPX8I/AAAAAAAAADY/6NrvY7qzgkI/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0tcLflNOGaI/UktWGCTPX8I/AAAAAAAAADY/6NrvY7qzgkI/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the best parts of 308: the view:)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that
class is over, we try to forget momentarily that the following day we need to
take a quiz in which we must recall a timeline of 103,488,009 dates (almost). We
wipe the cold sweat off our foreheads and head down the stairs to collect our
well-deserved empanadas in the cafetería.
This is where I was one day when I noticed Megan walking up to join the
empanada party. She was grinning as she walked; no, she was beaming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What
happened?” I asked her. “Why are you smiling like that?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I am just
happy; I love my life here!” she exclaimed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yup,” I had
to answer, “I know exactly how you feel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That pretty
much sums up our day-to-day lives in Peru right now. We are blessed and happy.
However, we still have a few discrepancies and frustrations. I’ll let the rest
of the crew explain…</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Confessions from behind the scenes</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="color: #2f4984; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hanna Silvey</span></b> tbt: papaya sometimes makes
me gag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Carmen Bilbao</span></b> The
amount of carbohydrates I'm taking in daily over here... Not good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Carmen Bilbao</span></b> I can't
stop eating empanadas - especially Triples. I had one after 340 this morning
and another this afternoon before theology... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Megan Rozeveld</span></b> My
digestive system is a joke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hanna Silvey</span></b> bombed a
couple quizzes, just for kicks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Carmen Bilbao</span></b> I wear
shorts around the house... Idk what my family thinks about that, if that's
alright... But mi abuelita commented on how I must be so cold and rubbed my
thigh, and I haven't shaved since we got here... (Since we never wear
shorts/dresses I don't see the point.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Anna Drechsel</span></b> i have
accepted the fact that my digestive system will not be normal...until December.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Anna Drechsel</span></b> the
thoughts, 'I am going to die' cross my mind just about anytime i take a taxi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Megan Rozeveld</span></b> I just
want to throw my toilet paper in the toilet...and sometimes I do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bethany Fennema</span></b> I'm
totally gonna get hit by a car. It's gonna happen. I'm convinced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hanna Silvey</span></b> NEVER
enough water. ALWAYS too many cookies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Megan Rozeveld</span></b> I WANT
MACORONI AND CHEESE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cbilbao"><b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Carmen Bilbao</span></b></a> I want
Qdoba and Spoonlickers. I almost cried the other day because I have to wait
another 14 weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hanna Silvey</span></b> I miss
the other 85% of my wardrobe...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Emily Harrell</span></b> My
family hates it when I don’t wear shoes/socks. So when I'm alone in the house,
I run/frolic/dance around in bare feet singing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bethany Fennema</span></b> Ruth (<i>Peruvian family member</i>) goes to the
bathroom in the dark with the door opened. So occasionally I walk in on her.
She also never flushes. Sorry if that's TMI, I just felt the need to share.
hahahahaha.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hanna Silvey</span></b> I’m so
pumped that we're missing out on the dreary, cold, slushy pre-beautiful snow
month or two!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Carmen Bilbao</span></b> I’m pumped
that I no longer get winded climbing the stairs at UCSP. I feel like we're
going to get back to Michigan feeling like superheroes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> Until our red blood cell count goes
back down... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Joe VanderWeide</span></b> I try
to see how close I can get to cars when crossing without getting my feet run
over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Joe VanderWeide</span></b>
Fitness has really become a joke to me. Whenever I get bored playing solitaire
(which I do for a solid 8 hours every day) I look at my arms and gut I've
developed for a good hearty chuckle/chortle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lori Dykstra</span></b> Not a day
goes by that I don't trip on the stupid cement blocks that we might otherwise
call "sidewalks" on my walk to class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hanna Silvey</span></b> I like
playing pinball every morning on my walk to class maneuvering and passing the
Peruvians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]--> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hannah Kwekel</span></b> I
want bacon!!!!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Jamie Cheeney</span></b>
Sometimes I smile and say "hola" to harmless little kids and other
girls. This probably makes me seem like a creeper but I just hate having to
look serious or stare at the ground ALL the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hannah Kwekel</span></b> I
spend nearly every second of my taxi rides wondering if I should break the
awkward silence or not. And then I do. Usually with something stupid about the
how busy the roads are or how nice the day is. And then the awkward silence
thickens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Emily Strikwerda</span></b> I
often wonder if people who have shirts with English on them know what they
actually say…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lindsey Ryskamp</span></b> Mi
mama is always late; when she says "en punto" it still means 15
minutes late.... I know it's part of the culture so I really don't make it an
issue, but deep down it drives me absolutely crazyyyy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lindsey Ryskamp</span></b> Also,
the fotocopiadora (<i>photocopy</i>) system
is wacked... and apparently copyrights don't exist in peru???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Emily Strikwerda</span></b> My
family probably thinks I'm a pig... I eat SO much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Micah Warners</span></b> One
night I was hungry so I literally ate thirteen granola bars at once... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]--> <b>Michael Jadrich</b> I went to a clinic and they even charged me for the
gloves that the doctor used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hanna Silvey</span></b> the mosquitos
look like little gnats. It's like they went into stealth mode or something. I
can't stop itching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Megan Rozeveld</span></b> I
almost passed out at the gym today: drink water kids. (<i>altitude!)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hannah Damsteegt</span></b> I
actually feel like a giant sometimes haha.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Megan Rozeveld</span></b> Sometimes
my digestive system feels so bad I actually want to leave my body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Joe VanderWeide</span></b> I
speak en english a veces (<i>sometimes</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Megan Rozeveld</span></b> I ate
an entire box of crackers a few nights ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Micah Warners</span></b> My cycle
is always messed up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hannah Kwekel</span></b> I
ate a box of cereal by myself... in two days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Anna Drechsel</span></b> My
mosquito bites are so big they literally feel like tumors...that itch like
crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bethany Fennema</span></b>
Sometimes I can't distinguish between healthy skin and bug bites because I have
so many of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lindsey Ryskamp</span></b> I
really just want a chocolate chip cookie right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lori Dykstra</span></b> The other
day I was typing in english and had to use spell check for the word
"traditional" because, for the life of me, the only way I could think
to spell it was "tradicional" which resulted in a squiggly red
underline every time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hannah Kwekel</span></b> Walk. Just. A little. Bit. FASTER. (<i>Peruvians walk astoundingly slow</i>)<span style="color: #2f4984; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clearly, we
have our frustrations. More seriously though, yes, there are times when we
struggle, when we just barely survive the daily pressures. There are times when
issues in the States, a world away, bring us to tears. Sometimes, we are
stressed out by the workload that comes with our Spanish classes. Even the
Spanish language or culture itself confuses and discourages us. Other times, spending
days in bed, in the clinic, or over the toilet eats away at our energy
physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Every one of us has had times in
which we felt depressed and helpless, times when we just wanted to be home
where everything in our lives is much more easy to understand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet, in all
of this, we truly are blessed. We aren’t just surviving the days anymore; we
are thriving. Even in our struggles. We thrive in our relationships with each other,
with our wonderful Peruvian families and friends, with professors, and even
with strangers that we encounter when we wander through the city. We thrive in
this beautiful language that has begun to feel almost natural as it rolls off
our tongues, and in the lively culture and open hospitality that defines
Arequipa. Most importantly, we thrive in the everyday challenges, the chances
to change and grow in Arequipa. Every day we are presented with opportunities to
observe and learn new things, and all at a level I have never before
experienced in my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Author David
I. Smith phrased this idea beautifully in his book, Learning from the Stranger,
“If we find ourselves among the privileged, members of a dominant language and
culture, used to thinking of ourselves as the center and "foreigners"
as oddities at the margins, then Jesus' call to "go and do likewise"
has a different ring. Is undertones whisper: humble yourself. Realize your own
need of mercy. Realize that God does not choose to live tamely within the
circles of belonging that you draw. Learn from those who are of other cultures;
God may be at work in them in ways that you desperately need.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have
discovered so many ways in which I desperately need to “Learn from the
Stranger” here in Peru. I think we have all discovered this in some way or
another. God has thrown these opportunities in front of us at the most
surprising moments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nzVE66EwYTQ/UktVMRpLdpI/AAAAAAAAACw/MJJpWIQJZFQ/s1600/photo+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nzVE66EwYTQ/UktVMRpLdpI/AAAAAAAAACw/MJJpWIQJZFQ/s320/photo+14.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful hall in the cathedral Companía</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of these
moments occurred during mass in a Catholic cathedral, of all places. Joycita, a
Peruvian friend, had brought me to the cathedral to observe the mass with her. As
I sat beneath the intricately decorated cathedral ceiling, I noticed long lines
of people, whole families, gathering in the side aisles. They were waiting
silently to confess their sins to the priests. I knew this catholic practice
but had never seen it. I was equally intrigued and humbled. How many of us take
the time every week to <i>actively</i>
humble ourselves before God and confess specific sins before Him as these
Peruvians were doing? Do we actively concentrate on His mercy to forgive and His
power to restore our souls every day? I am not always so dedicated, not like
these Peruvian Catholics. This was a crucial lesson that I needed to learn in
that cathedral.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are
many moments like these for us, moments in which we learn something from the
Peruvians that we might not have otherwise learned back at home. Every day,
among the craziness, the frustrations, and the triumphs, we are presented with
these opportunities to grow mentally and spiritually. We are oh so very blessed
by our gracious God! He is “directing our paths” in astonishing ways. Thank
you, Lord, for teaching us and for showing us how to thrive here in Peru!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S. If you don’t recognize us when we return
because we are “gorditos” (chubby), blame Hispanic World History Class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~Hannah
Marie Kwekel</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTYI6fqdZz4/UktVfCVXj1I/AAAAAAAAADI/ELtpM3Ll30I/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTYI6fqdZz4/UktVfCVXj1I/AAAAAAAAADI/ELtpM3Ll30I/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First empanadas, then churros!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><b>The Day-to-day<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt;">As you can all probably tell by now,
we have already had a ton of adventures and excursions here in Peru and each
new day always brings about cultural, fun, and eye-opening experiences for
every one of us. But let’s not forget that despite it all, we still are Calvin
students and yes, that means we actually have to – dare I say it – study! All
22 of us are now officially students at the Universidad Católica San Pablo, one
of the three main Catholic universities in the city of Arequipa, and we even
have new student ID cards to prove it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Just to assure you all that we are
still managing to focus on our academics here, please allow me to describe a
typical day at the university. All of us have our own separate schedules with a
variety of different classes, but we are all able to meet once a week in our
Peruvian Culture class on Monday mornings, which is taught by Professor
Bierling (or Profe, as she is also dearly called by her students). We also take
Calvin-specific classes, such as Linguistics and Hispanic World, to fulfill the
requirements for our Spanish majors and minors. But perhaps the most
challenging, yet rewarding academic experience is the opportunity to
direct-enroll in the classes offered here in the UCSP with other Peruvian students!
Some of the classes we’re taking include: Theology, Music Appreciation, Art,
Analysis of Peruvian Reality, and a whole lot more. These classes are also
taught entirely in Spanish and even though the language may create some
challenges for us, we actually have a lot less homework than in our Calvin
classes and sometimes even no homework for the week! All of the professors are
eager to help us if we need it and the direct-enroll classes are a great way to
meet other Peruvians and make new friends at the university.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt;">A number of us have classes both in
the mornings and during the afternoons and/or nights most of the days of the
week. Most of us usually have a couple of hours or so in between to return back
home to eat lunch with our families, grab a bite together outside with friends,
or stay at the university to socialize and study.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Aside from our classes, we also have many opportunities at the
“U” to hang out with each other and our Peruvian friends and to meet new ones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">•Conversation
groups: Each one of us is paired up with a UCSP student who is taking English
classes at the university. We meet once a week (and sometimes more!) to
practice our English and Spanish speaking skills with each other, 30 minutes in
each language. These meetings are very relaxed and a great way to socialize
while helping each other with our language skills. We can meet at the
university, over coffee, or even go out together in a large group to the cine
(movie theater).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QfEOTIELRKg/UktVEDntW1I/AAAAAAAAACY/t9SGDeK1xnU/s1600/photo+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QfEOTIELRKg/UktVEDntW1I/AAAAAAAAACY/t9SGDeK1xnU/s640/photo+11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our conversation partners have become our good friends!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 17px;">•</span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 13pt;">Talleres (workshops): We have the opportunity to register for a
workshop offered here at the U, which meet regularly at least once a week.
Again, this is a wonderful way to interact with the Peruvian students and form
lasting friendships, especially over common interests. Some of the workshops we
Calvin students are in include volleyball, basketball, Taekwondo, guitar,
volunteering, and many more!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-skMsJEgwvuc/UktVHW-nHlI/AAAAAAAAACk/KDWmzcJ4VB8/s1600/photo+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-skMsJEgwvuc/UktVHW-nHlI/AAAAAAAAACk/KDWmzcJ4VB8/s640/photo+12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taller de Vole (Volleyball), team "Gringo-Power"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g6p_KM7cuXY/UktWUxy4a3I/AAAAAAAAADo/rYN-Lq0twJs/s1600/photo+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g6p_KM7cuXY/UktWUxy4a3I/AAAAAAAAADo/rYN-Lq0twJs/s200/photo+8.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful smiles:)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt;">•Trabajo voluntario
(volunteer work): Many of us also volunteer in a variety of different places
and organizations in the city, from schools to hospital clinics to nursing
homes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zmq_UUZD1cA/UktWS00y7RI/AAAAAAAAADg/RkGNUefuM2M/s1600/photo+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zmq_UUZD1cA/UktWS00y7RI/AAAAAAAAADg/RkGNUefuM2M/s400/photo+9.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of work with these special children at "La Casa de Unamonos", a school for special needs children.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R8q4_GGvYx0/UktVHWa0lWI/AAAAAAAAACg/sm3sJi9CISo/s1600/photo+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R8q4_GGvYx0/UktVHWa0lWI/AAAAAAAAACg/sm3sJi9CISo/s640/photo+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna spent some time working with Operación Sonrisa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">•The U also sponsors many cultural events,
often free of charge, for the students that we definitely take advantage of.
For example, there are many musical concerts here and just this past Monday, we
had our afternoon classes canceled to enjoy the Día del Estudiante (Day of the
Student) at the campus where there were prizes, music, dancing, a talent
competition, and much more!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Lucida Grande;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">~ Christine Lim</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Lucida Grande;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"> </span></span><!--EndFragment-->
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QcKaRirDHbg/UktVMnGlqPI/AAAAAAAAAC4/vgtfLcspHcE/s1600/photo+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QcKaRirDHbg/UktVMnGlqPI/AAAAAAAAAC4/vgtfLcspHcE/s640/photo+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Día del Estudiante (Day of the student) at UCSP!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPmBWlV98DE/UktcOco_rlI/AAAAAAAAAD4/qhXBgH6Xulg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPmBWlV98DE/UktcOco_rlI/AAAAAAAAAD4/qhXBgH6Xulg/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anticucho (Cow hearts) at the Día del Estudiante</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-56656674178684793122013-09-29T19:18:00.001-07:002013-09-29T19:19:11.715-07:00Puno and Lake TiticacaThis past week our group had the wonderful opportunity to tour Puno and Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the whole world. Some of the first Incan civilizations were based around the lake for the obvious reason of fresh water. We boarded a boat early Saturday morning for a day long voyage on Lake Titicaca. The lake was a wonderful blue and since it's always sunny in Peru, the sun added for a nice glimmer upon the lake's surface.<br />
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Our first stop was after a few hours on a small floating island. The island only had about 20-some inhabitants and was purely man-made. Long ago they discovered a root that could float and this root is used to hold up the entire island. The island has to be reconstructed about every 3 months to ensure that no one falls through to a wet surprise. The main income of the people there is the tourism and most of their money is used to provide an education on the mainland for their children. Any extra money goes towards extra things like gasoline for fuel. <br />
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(above students sampling the reeds used to construct the island-but the white part is eaten by the people as well- there were mixed reactions)<br />
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/577989_718104734883955_1202353932_n.jpg" /><br />
(some students took a boat ride constructed by the island people)<br />
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The native children are so cute! (And so is Anna!)<br />
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Our next stop was a REAL island. The village was nestled on top of quite a large hill that we had to hike to get to. Atop the mini-mountain we toured the plaza of the village which included a small place to buy things made by artisans, a restaurant, a church and really not much else. The people here had a unique culture which majorly had to do with what they wore. All women wore shawls and if you were single the pom-pom on the end of your shawl was very big and colorful, if you were married then it was smaller, and if you were widowed there was no pom-pom. The men wore caps of different color to indicate whether they were single or married. I suppose you wouldn't waste any time flirting with someone who is taken in this society. We took a different way down to the boat which was somehow more beautiful than our journey up, but the natural steps were VERY steep!<br />
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That night we went into the village of Puno and enjoyed a nice birthday dinner for Neal where he even got to perform with the dancers that put on a show for us! Along with Neal's spectacular Dutch dancing we saw some traditional dancing.<br />
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The next day we had some free time in the village near our hotel where there were more artisans-which we always seem to take full advantage of. We may be Dutch, but these Peruvian women sure do have a way of making us spend! (Maybe that's just me.)<br />
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After a nice lunch we boarded the bus which took us to yet another lookout point over the city where there was a slide! Some of us were a little apprehensive since it appeared concrete but we're only in Peru once right!?! So all participated with success and some dirty butts since not all landings were completely smooth. The local people got quite a kick out of us.<br />
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Lori and Hannah weren't so lucky to land on their feet.<br />
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Our last stop for the trip was to a place that had a lot of chulpas, ancient tombs. While most of them were weathered away, there were several still standing in great shape. The rocks there were really incredible as they were huge, rectangular, volcanic and Andesite. The ancient people had to have carried them all the way up the mountain which must have taken a great amount of man power. It was incredible.<br />
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-Megan Rozeveld (And photo credits to Neal Bierling, Michael Jadrich, Emily Strikwerda and myself)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-62795516814469076022013-09-26T17:18:00.001-07:002013-09-26T17:18:29.684-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, We Actually Do Go To Class</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Greetings to all of our faithful readers out there.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This morning (September 25), I have about four hours of free
time, so I decided that this was the opportune moment to go ahead and write my
blog entry. I am VERY busy all the time with my school work and studies, so
this is a very rare moment for me. I will explain in a bit why I have so much
free time this morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As you all have probably already read and seen in the
pictures, we have gone on many excursions. However, one of our primary tasks
here is to be a student. Yes, we actually do go to class.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, I would like to take the time to talk about the classes
that we are all taking at La Universidad Católica San Pablo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All of us Calvin students are in a class called “Cultura
Contemporánea Peruana,” and it is taught by our very own Professor Bierling. We
meet once a week in the university, and the topics of the class touch many
aspects of the Peruvian culture. For example, before every excursion two
classmates give a detailed presentation about the location of the excursion,
its history, what to expect, etc. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In addition, we take the time to journal for this class. It
is of course written in Spanish, and it allows us to express our thoughts and
feelings; and at the same time we practice our writing in Spanish. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I really enjoy this class. Not only am I learning more about
the Peruvian culture, but I am getting to know my classmates more intimately.
And that is a beautiful thing.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another Calvin class (taught by Peruvian Professor Talía
Pareja Herrera de Krüger) is a Spanish linguistics class. I believe there are
about 10 Calvin students, so the relationship between student and professor is
strong and quite visible. The professor clearly loves her job and field of
study, for I cannot wipe the smile off of my face when I look into her face as
she teaches. She literally oozes joy and happiness.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of my favorite things of the Spanish linguistics class
is creating the “Bitácora.” When making the “Bitácora,” we students have to
record our voices in a voice recorder recounting an account that has happened
to us. It can cover any topic, so long as we speak in Spanish. In English, the
word is “binnacle.” And according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a
“binnacle” is “a housing for a ship’s compass and a lamp.” I wonder why the
professor chose to name the task of recording our adventures “bitácora” or
“binnacle.” Just as a ship needs to safe place to store its compass, so our
adventures and feelings need a safe place to be stored as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some of us Calvin students are enrolled in Peruvian classes
taught by Peruvian professors. Some of those classes include the following:
cine (cinema), la apreciación de la música (music appreciation), teología
(theology), el análisis de la realidad peruana (Analysis of the Peruvian Reality),
estudio etnográfico (ethnographic study), etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Out of the mentioned list of classes, I am currently taking
theology, Analysis of the Peruvian Reality, and the ethnographic study.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have taken a theology class at Calvin, and I am now extremely
grateful that I have already taken the course. The theology class at the
university is covering a lot of the material that I have previously studied.
However, it is going to be a long and hard journey. I find myself struggling to
understand the professor sometimes, and that is to be expected. The class is
taught in Spanish, and Spanish is my second language. I am still in the process
of dominating the language.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In addition, this particular theology class is going to
cover the theology of the Catholic faith. I know only the basics of the
Catholic faith, so perhaps this class will aid me in widening my horizons and
understanding the faith of a different branch of Christianity. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have also made some good friends in my theology class. I
don’t feel afraid or ashamed to ask them to explain a concept to me that I did
not understand. They are understanding and accepting of me, and for that I am
proud to call them my friends.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another direct enrollment class is the Analysis of the
Peruvian Reality. We are currently studying the aspects of the Incan empire
such as their type of government, the governing techniques, their religion,
etc. However, I will admit that this is the class that I struggle with the
most. I do not always understand what the professor is saying, but I am will
continue to try my best. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally, I am participating in an ethnographic study. I
believe that 6 students are participating in their own particular study. Since
I am a Secondary K-12 Spanish Education major with an ESL minor, I elected to
observe a Peruvian high school. Specifically, I am observing the English
learning classroom. At the end of the semester, I would like to present the
similarities and differences in the Peruvian language learning classroom in the
high school setting verses that of the American language learning classroom in
the high school setting.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every Wednesday, from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm, I go to El
Colegio Nacional Arequipa which is a high school for girls only. The experience
so far has been positive, and I look forward to forming lasting relationships
with the girls and the teacher.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And now, I return to my opening statement. Why did I have so
much free time this morning? The answer has to do with the Peruvian culture.
Here in Peru, things can happen slowly, spontaneously, without a plan, etc. I
arrived at the high school promptly at 9:00 am, and to my surprise I saw many
buses lined up along the side of the road and all the girls lined up at the
front gate. I knew right away that this was a field trip. I didn’t even have to
ask if there was class today, for I knew at that moment that there was no
class. Instead of pouting and becoming frustrated, I took the opportunity to
simply talk with the girls.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After all the girls left in the buses, I returned to the
house at 10 am and found myself with spare time. I don’t have an appointment
until 4:00 today. Obviously, this was the time for me to go ahead and write
this blog. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, we are having a good time down here. But yes, I assure you we are
always keeping busy being students.</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am quickly going to change the topic here, but while I was writing
the ending to this blog post, I experienced my first earth tremor. My desk
began to shake, and my bottle of water on my desk almost fell over. It only
lasted for about 6 seconds, but I will never forget my first earth tremor!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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Miss Damsteegthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09607771109039885473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-44884924593110718702013-09-13T11:57:00.001-07:002013-09-13T11:57:42.610-07:00Setteling in with The Word and the words<br />
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
It’s hard to believe that we’ve been here for a month already! The
intense weeks of orientation are over and our first excursions is behind us.
Now we are starting to settle into our weekly routines. Finding a rhythm is
good and I think we are starting to learn from consistency as much as from the
exciting mini-adventures we have every day.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
Part of the consistency that we are working to incorporate into our
lives is regular fellowship, worship, and study of God’s word. I believe many
of us have been feeling how necessary this commitment is to our spiritual
health and personal sanity; but it also seems like the only appropriate way to
respond to the blessings and challenges we experience every day. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
Within our group of students from Calvin College, we have started
four small Bible study groups that meet weekly. The groups meet in the homes of
our host families or in various cafes and parks around Arequipa. One group has
chosen to study Songs of Songs and Lamentations, another with join with
Calvin’s campus in the study of Exodus, the third group decided to study
Thessalonians and the final group is hoping to meet soon to choose a book. The
consensus among all four seems to be that we want to create a space for open
conversations to relate God’s word to our thoughts and feeling, our joys and
challenges, here in Peru. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
We are also finding ways to live our faith with our Peruvian
brothers and sisters. Many students enjoy going to mass with their host
families. We are learning about the culture through the Catholic Church in
Arequipa but more importantly it’s an opportunity to live deeper into
fellowship with our families. Some have even asked to attend churches with us!
Many students have found a church to call home at Baptista Fe, a Baptist church
in a close-by neighborhood, or in other local congregations. We have received
warm welcomes and look forward to opportunities like youth group, small groups,
and evangelism events. Opportunities to grow with our Peruvian brothers and
sisters in Christ are beautiful and endless so we begin to reach out with
excitement to see what God has in store.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hKBChFuvU7iAdkEuo3b0lPEJ7WDv7aqjnJ-SqFz_pLJHOQRPt1oiU5Of2xBxPXXJ1RNqq2-939ztwT56F5A_EgdEnvbwH8PPmqy5cg-gHf5AQYOi9OA1IOxsNAGeCM1Ne583d0ib7ys/s1600/diosfiesta1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hKBChFuvU7iAdkEuo3b0lPEJ7WDv7aqjnJ-SqFz_pLJHOQRPt1oiU5Of2xBxPXXJ1RNqq2-939ztwT56F5A_EgdEnvbwH8PPmqy5cg-gHf5AQYOi9OA1IOxsNAGeCM1Ne583d0ib7ys/s320/diosfiesta1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
Our group has also decided to meet all together once a month to have
a time of worship, reading scripture, sharing God-moments, praying for one
another, and fellowship. Here are some pictures from our first "Fiesta
para Dios" together at the Bierling's apartment. What a blessing! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLlyllcdEKL_z1iX5YpVf-1u72g6V3h3PoDtycLSNPUNuCoFCMJ2Txka4XZUt5mMAgdKBsypJP_6DY-zOXbS3F3r1jKZpShYwPdraFft6gBssvGU6WtE0i_0YsClSn2l69y4PHXAqd0s/s1600/diosfiesta2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLlyllcdEKL_z1iX5YpVf-1u72g6V3h3PoDtycLSNPUNuCoFCMJ2Txka4XZUt5mMAgdKBsypJP_6DY-zOXbS3F3r1jKZpShYwPdraFft6gBssvGU6WtE0i_0YsClSn2l69y4PHXAqd0s/s640/diosfiesta2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
One of the challenges we have faced through all of these experiences
is learning just how important language is to worship and prayer. Many times we
feel unable to express our deepest thoughts in Spanish. We want to keep trying
because we want to learn to express our faith and, more importantly, to pray
with and for our brothers and sisters in Spanish, here and around the world.
But is frustrating at times.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
Sometimes we find new truth in the words in a Spanish church
service. We even find that in some ways Spanish has words that help us express
more than English alone. For example, there are different words for inner
beauty and outer beauty – how handy! Or sometimes you need a word that is even
stronger than “hunger” or “desire” – Spanish has it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And sometimes we just fall into Spanish
simply because it’s becoming a habit. Yet other times we are relieved by the
English words that lift from our hearts in song or prayer. We have decided that
our commitment to speak only Spanish can and should be broken when we need more
words to express the Spirit’s movement within us. This struggle between our
hearts and tongues has resulted in Bible studies, worship, and prayer in our
language of choice for faith: Spanglish.<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span lang="es-PE">Padre nuestro, te damos GRACIAS…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span lang="en-US">God, we thank you for all of your many
blessings, sus bendicios, in our lives here in Peru. For putting in in spaces
where we have the chance to grow closer to you with your children, sus hijos.
Thank you for your church, su iglesia. But most of all, thank you for your
presence with us right now; we are grateful that you hear our prayers in
English, Spanish, and Spanglish. Amen. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span lang="en-US"></span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span lang="en-US">Photo Credit: Neal Bierling - Since he doesn't get to be in the pictures he at least deserves a big thank you for tanking such great photos. Gracias, Neal!</span></div>
<br />
<img height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hKBChFuvU7iAdkEuo3b0lPEJ7WDv7aqjnJ-SqFz_pLJHOQRPt1oiU5Of2xBxPXXJ1RNqq2-939ztwT56F5A_EgdEnvbwH8PPmqy5cg-gHf5AQYOi9OA1IOxsNAGeCM1Ne583d0ib7ys/s320/diosfiesta1.jpg" style="left: 506px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 570px;" width="96" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14004861500718126602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-14608680985353427202013-09-08T19:15:00.003-07:002013-09-08T19:15:55.825-07:00How neat is that? (Thoughts from the 1 month mark)<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Hello all! To start, the semester
so far has been an adventure. It’s difficult to think that we’ve already been
here for one month, it seems like we just arrived yesterday. During this month,
our group has seen some very exciting, interesting, and strange things. With
some of these things, such as the night sky that we were able to see in the Cañón
de Colca, the view of the mountains that can be seen every day from the
classrooms, and the things that can’t entirely be captured with our cameras,
there are only so many words and expressions that can be used to describe
things that somehow manage to escape a complete description. However, to start
with some descriptions, it’s easy to notice the differences that exist and to
juxtapose the things here with things in the Michigan or the U.S. in general.
For example, the stars in the Cañón de Colca have incredible colors of red,
blue, and white all the while twinkling with a strength that is muted in Grand
Rapids. When only the lights of the city can be seen, the feeling of awe about
the strength and number of the stars and the immensity of the night sky is
overwhelming. However, questions about the stars aren’t going to be the first
thing that pops up in everyone’s mind so I’ll skip to the more exciting topics
of food, language, and friends.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeNp-FdprAHcjj3hnTNvqv7VnAzsupSnJMRix2hKTg8iXyqQhR9zSxWgFdEA2uFQMiAvmg1Rr6jR5C8m_Rhb4-eTzJv3aWJZmztxud7Z14g21tjqLVcK_1mCkKA9NGEVBDJnsEfKFVRFN/s1600/DSC_0097+(800x530).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeNp-FdprAHcjj3hnTNvqv7VnAzsupSnJMRix2hKTg8iXyqQhR9zSxWgFdEA2uFQMiAvmg1Rr6jR5C8m_Rhb4-eTzJv3aWJZmztxud7Z14g21tjqLVcK_1mCkKA9NGEVBDJnsEfKFVRFN/s320/DSC_0097+(800x530).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the amazing views we saw</td></tr>
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Firstly,
the food. I still haven’t tried any food that is too strange, but before the
end of the semester, my goal is to try cuy. I’m not going to explain what that
is because you have a wealth of information available on the internet that is
more descriptive than what I can accomplish in this blog post. However, the
food that I have eaten during my time in Arequipa is not that strange or
different than the food in the U.S. In
my family, the breakfast normally consists of a plate of bread with butter, a
fruit such as pear, peach, or orange, and probably a type of oatmeal or other
light snack. With my lunch, I’ll have a plate of rice, potatoes (fried or with
soup), and a section of meat, all of which is preceded by either a light soup
or a small piece of corn. For supper, the plate is generally the same, but the
meat may be different or there will be a different type of soup. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Mike (and the seven other people not shown)<br /><br /><br /><br />
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Secondly,
the language. At times, it seems as though I haven’t learned anything or
improved in my ability to speak the language (despite the fact that all of our conversations are in Spanish, with the occasional word or phrase in English). During a normal day, there may be times when I can’t understand because it was spoken too fast or the words
were foreign too me. Very quickly in the beginning of the semester, I learned
that it is not a bad thing to ask someone if they could slow down a bit or if
they could rephrase that sentence. However, my current limitations in the
language aren’t too bothersome or worrying considering that we’ll be here for
three more months, which is plenty of time to improve significantly. As my Peruvian father and many of my Peruvian friends enjoy saying, "tranquilo, poco a poco." </div>
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Thirdly,
friends. With this trip, we are very blessed to have an excellent group of
people. All of the people in the group have a special place in my heart and I
can’t imagine my trip here if any of them had not come along. Also, in the
university, I have gotten to know quite a few of the students quite well and I am
extremely thankful for the opportunity to develop my relationships with friends from the university, inadvertently helping me with the language as well as helping me get to know a little about the
Peruvian culture and the lifestyle of a Peruvian student. En las dos areas, of
friends both Peruvian and from the Calvin group, the blessings are enormous and I cannot express completely the extent
of my thankfulness to have the group of friends that I have this semester.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQKPBHxNO08v1sRAImchJ1t1CseoBBuYtfSpsy21c69D3LAEOvR2E76SsDrnUs8YYSMY9z11VB0YJ1EqypXar64Pl9UYM4W2zMaHoy4WJ0q4dxESrPIvnfWpnFVNlwZFtgxrQrAGAt512/s1600/DSCN9678+(800x588).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQKPBHxNO08v1sRAImchJ1t1CseoBBuYtfSpsy21c69D3LAEOvR2E76SsDrnUs8YYSMY9z11VB0YJ1EqypXar64Pl9UYM4W2zMaHoy4WJ0q4dxESrPIvnfWpnFVNlwZFtgxrQrAGAt512/s320/DSCN9678+(800x588).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going down to the hot springs</td></tr>
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In
total, this semester has been most exciting and I am eager to
see what the rest of the semester has in store for our group. Thanks so much to
all of the families in Michigan and elsewhere for all of the support that you
all have given us in the form of letters, prayers, and skype calls. It is all
needed and appreciated very much! Entonces, necesito terminar este blog post pero
hasta luego y chau! (Enjoy the small language challenge, I recommend that you
use something other than Google Translate to solve that pequeño puzzle)</div>
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Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782630147951264101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-82190973318396855032013-09-08T18:01:00.004-07:002013-09-08T18:01:35.174-07:00Cañon Del Colca!!!<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sometimes there are just no words. Sometimes there are things which we see, which we experience, to which words can do incredibly little justice. Even pictures, I’ve been coming to realize, show incredibly little of the full picture, almost nothing of the smells, the atmosphere, the full surroundings. The past two days we spent on an excursion to a canyon about five hours from Arequipa and I’ve just felt repeatedly in awe. In awe of the sights we’ve seen, in awe of the power around us. It has been an amazing experience but over and over I was simply silenced by the majesty of God’s creation.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0LEovgk9QqbcFr-F2zEiogU7aRknGywUHJnSrdkBs1hCF7tRk0xo-7whST7Oc-YP-UotjNf-HKiZ-5ankbp_vhe2CUasBQNgxzwsX_WTQP1x4feyZ-m5rmIZMg968kTtdAbAQja_P40/s1600/998789_657482504261927_762368932_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0LEovgk9QqbcFr-F2zEiogU7aRknGywUHJnSrdkBs1hCF7tRk0xo-7whST7Oc-YP-UotjNf-HKiZ-5ankbp_vhe2CUasBQNgxzwsX_WTQP1x4feyZ-m5rmIZMg968kTtdAbAQja_P40/s200/998789_657482504261927_762368932_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">We set off at around eight o-clock on Friday morning, leaving a already busy Arequipa to the Peruvian countryside. Our trip included a few interesting things of note. 1. A quick stop to take pictures of vicuñas, a animal sort-off like a small deer, a stop which ended in a snowball fight. 2. More stops for llama and alpaca, at times they seemed to graze together by the hundreds. My little sister would absolutely adore them. 3. Another stop at a local coffee shop, where we sipped on very authentic coca tea. Not quite sure what sort of leafy materials we were drinking, but a very interesting experience. 4. A climb in altitude to a lookout at about 16,000 feet, after which we descended to our hotel and dinner (never had eaten alpaca before), another hour or so away.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Impossible to describe the whole weekend, and so I want to attempt to describe two moments, one friday and one saturday. I apologize because there is no possible way to begin to describe in words or pictures the full experience, but I am going to try as much as I can. Our destination friday was a hotel in the Colca valley. Nestled in the Andean Mountains, the valley included a few small villages and a lot of local agriculture, all still functioning since even before the Incas. Nestled maybe isn’t the best word to describe this valley, it is absolutely enormous. It spans miles across, including various small villages and a huge amount of agriculture (see picture!). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjN7MrZm2Alm-QLmj_BysN4sJkGo1i-iUnXy-QXj58ifHuYcdNK8acpvR1p5K95myD-cwL_bXRZIge5RIrBpHrQOrEEoMiP26xo9oLf3-XcNyJbtvfyLIqAY0Xe_9mxg5EHWnTqgWQdc/s1600/933987_10151912558161554_1340709673_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2ZipZj329JkEYzC0QSheI7Idb2eV6-1eCUlCx5F5DVTMocx1KtHEWEu0eWJvLMFh_kucjDkxvBdU5X3_wjXHQ8r3JtC1oj7_l5ugjCOw6nf_eSHWiGnq2_rOYb3CFGypqfDoQbX7ekg/s1600/IMG_3310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2ZipZj329JkEYzC0QSheI7Idb2eV6-1eCUlCx5F5DVTMocx1KtHEWEu0eWJvLMFh_kucjDkxvBdU5X3_wjXHQ8r3JtC1oj7_l5ugjCOw6nf_eSHWiGnq2_rOYb3CFGypqfDoQbX7ekg/s640/IMG_3310.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">After a short hike and an evening well spent at local hot springs on Friday, a large group of us went for a walk outside our hotel. Darkness had fallen as we left our hotel for a walk down an old gravel road down the valley. I have never seen stars like that Friday night. So bright, so many, a single whispy cloud streaking across the sky. Here we are, the Andean mountains surrounding us, feeling so incredibly small at the vastness of God’s creation around us. But I think what we found most profound was not the stars nor the mountains. A small group of five of us went a bit farther ahead than the big group we were with down the gravel valley road. We were walking downhill, and dipped down farther into the valley. We got far enough ahead that we couldn’t hear the group behind us, and so we stopped just to take in our surroundings. We fell silent and just listened. The next three minutes were amazing. Never have I heard a silence so profound. The valley, the mountains, the stars. And the silence. Just absolute silence. By the moonlight I looked around at my four friends, seeing tears rolling down two of my friends’ faces. I don’t know how to describe this moment further, but powerful only begins to describe what we felt. Something bigger, something greater, something so incredibly vivid. We walked a bit further down the valley and spent the next half hour laying out under the stars, just in awe of the power around us.</span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next morning we got up and drove an hour and a half up the side of the valley (yes, the many steep drops tested my fear of heights) to view the Colca Canyon. This third most visited tourist destination in Peru is the deepest canyon in the world, over 13,000 feet deep. A river runs down the basin, and Andean condors are a major attraction. These near-threatened birds can have wingspans up to 10 feet, and we were lucky enough to see them soar majestically through the canyon. We spent a few hours just trying to take it all in. The valley is incredible. So incredibly big, so incredibly grand, so incredibly stunning. Feeling so small, so humbled at the creation around us. I just felt so powerless. How do I even begin to soak it all in? How can I even begin to respond? But we ended the excursion as a group together, just worshipping our Lord and Savior. Sitting on rocks overlooking the canyon, we simply sang together, and it was the perfect response to our weekend. What a better culmination to the trip than just to adore the creator, the creator of the Andean mountains, the creator of Colca canyon, the creator of the silence we had felt so vividly. And the creator of us! A God this big took the time to handcraft each one of us. And as I sat overlooking the canyon, singing to the creator, I realized there wasn’t much more I could do. I can’t begin to describe the canyon. I can’t begin to take enough pictures. And I definitely can’t begin to explain why a God this enormous created and loves each one of us. But I can worship, worship the creator. No better way to respond than that.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpaca!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oops...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Profe no quería juntar :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El grupo!</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ps. Thanks for many of the photos, Emily, Emily and Lindsey!</span></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07112297967358484920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-15757467436421658292013-08-26T23:59:00.000-07:002013-09-02T04:50:05.146-07:00Oh The Places You'll Go: Arequipena versionIt has been a whirlwind here. Between adjusting to our families, going to classes, meeting Peruvian students, learning Arequipa's public transport, exploring the city, and doing it all in Spanish, we are both drop-dead tired and energized. Our professor, La Profe Maria Elena (as she is known here), has done her best to help us adjust by giving us opportunities to laugh at ourselves together, offering a shoulder to cry on, trying to fix every problem, and listening to us as we grow.<br />
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Our families and schedules are all different and we live in different areas of the city, but there are a few parts in common.<br />
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<ul>
<li>The largest meal is lunch and it is generally around 1:30 or 2. Dinner is later in the evening around 7 or 8 and usually consists of something very light. For example, we might eat one or two of the following: yogurt, bread, some avocados, some tea, or warm milk. </li>
<li>Most meals are eaten with the entire family present. Meals are definitely time to share life together.</li>
<li>Most families are used to their own children staying out late on the weekends (4 or 5am) so when we come back from hanging out somewhere between 12 and 2am, we sometimes surprise our parents. </li>
<li>It is very common to greet your family every time you enter or leave the house and the custom in Perú is a kiss on the left cheek with females or a handshake between males. </li>
<li>Instead of saying "Adios," the common phrase is "Chau" (pronounced ch-ow) and when we leave, our parents always say it. </li>
</ul>
<br />
So, what have we been doing besides adjusting to a new family, city, country, and culture? Arequipa excursions! Here are a few of the places we've visited:<br />
<br />
<b>El Monasterio de Santa Catalina:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPfC17hZ40xyNXMyksjcQTkfg_eIpj4iu93m-77mtRckIgkAjv0wjE4xICz_lpmTFY5qQfv6-fCzC2p0U0W9VlMaL3oBOUjBS_SfShUue0HIWNywVNWGKHTr8dzE444DtM0Hr94IKr-fu/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPfC17hZ40xyNXMyksjcQTkfg_eIpj4iu93m-77mtRckIgkAjv0wjE4xICz_lpmTFY5qQfv6-fCzC2p0U0W9VlMaL3oBOUjBS_SfShUue0HIWNywVNWGKHTr8dzE444DtM0Hr94IKr-fu/s200/DSC_0300.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2dl9796RQZ5kpU2dOsNNB54USSsoid4HWkbwuwWth2aCvpaA8WO4S8_mDn1oFBrzDUU4BP9EB6HLqADtjGu2inkAWKnd5RwY7PJvK3M_RYp-gHZqpDZC-LJcbW1qgpw1XkHB2atGC5Tu/s1600/DSC_0431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2dl9796RQZ5kpU2dOsNNB54USSsoid4HWkbwuwWth2aCvpaA8WO4S8_mDn1oFBrzDUU4BP9EB6HLqADtjGu2inkAWKnd5RwY7PJvK3M_RYp-gHZqpDZC-LJcbW1qgpw1XkHB2atGC5Tu/s200/DSC_0431.JPG" width="133" /></a>Welcome to the entrance of the monastery (left). The majority of the walls were this beautiful red. It is a natural pigment but we had to be really careful! It rubs off really easily and can turn any fabric red with just a light touch!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zyrrp_fpxfLpTGTOoqdLkLViP6p_rjHrT_6oQOk3URT4rnXVC1qj58WDYkoSMHfeJzju2pjpClQrtkuMGlV6EqjRotl0jcdnCz7nUD8eGKTB8-69IrLpmiACoDuRqLlO24mu23TltjeQ/s1600/DSC_0324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zyrrp_fpxfLpTGTOoqdLkLViP6p_rjHrT_6oQOk3URT4rnXVC1qj58WDYkoSMHfeJzju2pjpClQrtkuMGlV6EqjRotl0jcdnCz7nUD8eGKTB8-69IrLpmiACoDuRqLlO24mu23TltjeQ/s200/DSC_0324.JPG" width="133" /></a>Before the walls were tinted, they were this beautiful white (right). The people of Arequipa call the monastery a city within a city because there was everything needed to live there. Not only that, but the passageways have street names. This complexity meant that we weren't allowed to wander by ourselves; there are so many streets that getting lost is too probable.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvHKC1G3hrf67uuBApVgK55jZwC-XlRrn5XChGi_k_iXwoKCqr7HhzXQ1Qc_HTPYTyG5QAL_B2UidmookASPU3BWlKn_evfMIkTtvVnKJEfjfmC6L7bpuez537TCjCYvK0Oa9Cw3tcaT6/s1600/DSC_0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvHKC1G3hrf67uuBApVgK55jZwC-XlRrn5XChGi_k_iXwoKCqr7HhzXQ1Qc_HTPYTyG5QAL_B2UidmookASPU3BWlKn_evfMIkTtvVnKJEfjfmC6L7bpuez537TCjCYvK0Oa9Cw3tcaT6/s200/DSC_0370.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrOyRqsUi31w3nDv8e746p5EG1tnZvAsyTxTWZtY6gBJhF0O1T7y0yRH6-0bABAMKeTJRDruJS39fGV4cTAat74eoMYuGSZOZjZ0qnIp1y_jlZxQGB7l8C6-ABX8nT0eJFkyUfZlSphJ-/s1600/DSC_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrOyRqsUi31w3nDv8e746p5EG1tnZvAsyTxTWZtY6gBJhF0O1T7y0yRH6-0bABAMKeTJRDruJS39fGV4cTAat74eoMYuGSZOZjZ0qnIp1y_jlZxQGB7l8C6-ABX8nT0eJFkyUfZlSphJ-/s200/DSC_0353.JPG" width="200" /></a>The monastery did not actually house monks, but rather, it housed nuns. The nuns would wash their clothes in the basins (above left) and do a lot of artwork (right). The artwork was done because sometimes, the nuns couldn't speak each others' languages. With the artwork, it was much easier to teach the truths of the Bible.<br />
<br />
Our professor, Lizarraga, joined us in our tour of the monastery (far right in the picture on the right). He knows a lot and is teaching the history part of The Hispanic World as well as our Ethnographic Studies class. We were trying to read the older form of Spanish and found it difficult, but Prof Lizarraga helped translate it.<br />
<br />
<b>La Catedral:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAg9EMXCBglsVJI80WuRk5ogyQCYrHyBXSZegGP_RjV-B-0RI6_2KH5adFjKkCQfwZNeYghbKoBZeSiT3lyFsz8VA50ITxuzKafJHxdsDjFFcOFygz6jpnDXwW0WyA-6iI5AWxtuuvXDn/s1600/DSC_0615+(640x424).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAg9EMXCBglsVJI80WuRk5ogyQCYrHyBXSZegGP_RjV-B-0RI6_2KH5adFjKkCQfwZNeYghbKoBZeSiT3lyFsz8VA50ITxuzKafJHxdsDjFFcOFygz6jpnDXwW0WyA-6iI5AWxtuuvXDn/s200/DSC_0615+(640x424).jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIX4ub-_z1ydfH9cG_deYET76JYPMW2DATeEynUEPJg518hnEf2heNxlw86gvXu4FVmWXfPfNNyGnwN-PefYlpiGODq9NzjgKlW98LgFeFMc1C3rm4IElFWm66kpToAfNkGafaJ47itlID/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIX4ub-_z1ydfH9cG_deYET76JYPMW2DATeEynUEPJg518hnEf2heNxlw86gvXu4FVmWXfPfNNyGnwN-PefYlpiGODq9NzjgKlW98LgFeFMc1C3rm4IElFWm66kpToAfNkGafaJ47itlID/s200/DSC_0033.JPG" width="200" /></a>In the middle of Arequipa is the Plaza De Armas which is basically a public park with a fountain in the middle, lots of benches, and lots of trees. It takes up a full city block. On the north side of the park is the cathedral. The cathedral is beautiful and has an organ with 1,157 pipes!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieO0Bh9hwWW4C13kKu2SRop_wuQmVgqXGzXXZOHK1lZzSspeTclkLoACmzaWSDZNo9PAWQ-LABaYWQ-zs_8mYU4Rr0HJU6M0aQTvHM2bc0LSicSTXawEntOwOjWdnbep_7bVgGCv5E9bhs/s1600/DSC_0602+(640x424).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieO0Bh9hwWW4C13kKu2SRop_wuQmVgqXGzXXZOHK1lZzSspeTclkLoACmzaWSDZNo9PAWQ-LABaYWQ-zs_8mYU4Rr0HJU6M0aQTvHM2bc0LSicSTXawEntOwOjWdnbep_7bVgGCv5E9bhs/s200/DSC_0602+(640x424).jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Something super unusual in this cathedral is that there is a statue (left) that has the Devil in it. Usually, the Catholic Church would not want the Devil in any church, but in this instance, God is crushing the Devil and the Devil is crying under God's mighty power.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjragEbKfUk2VHbFz1ou2mmywm6Mu8andwAd2tlHW4OHtA9MVAe47FZiykR3bOioi-sv35UDK-ckQ5y6-Tc0gBHFCHub3VIVyPNC9ZlOKq3s43pBNwM7xNeQgiKST4AlkFxeYGHSrXu_iU/s1600/DSC_0645+(640x424).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjragEbKfUk2VHbFz1ou2mmywm6Mu8andwAd2tlHW4OHtA9MVAe47FZiykR3bOioi-sv35UDK-ckQ5y6-Tc0gBHFCHub3VIVyPNC9ZlOKq3s43pBNwM7xNeQgiKST4AlkFxeYGHSrXu_iU/s200/DSC_0645+(640x424).jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosJyZzGB_Xom88zuU82PWrh-8i3H5KMYj3S4d0anZQMHZc6xMPLGV2ED4fhJ8Y-VU_Qrp0sduwBxFI2nDzTTkt4G871U_f8zDrHdvDyJpMtc8tuQHjFddbniU7-WFPKyVmo9Ek8d4sZG5/s1600/DSC_0648+(640x424).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosJyZzGB_Xom88zuU82PWrh-8i3H5KMYj3S4d0anZQMHZc6xMPLGV2ED4fhJ8Y-VU_Qrp0sduwBxFI2nDzTTkt4G871U_f8zDrHdvDyJpMtc8tuQHjFddbniU7-WFPKyVmo9Ek8d4sZG5/s200/DSC_0648+(640x424).jpg" width="200" /></a>After seeing some of the historical items (no pictures allowed!), we went to the top of the cathedral. It was amazing up there. We took many pictures, marveled at the city, and people watched! The cathedral overlooks La Plaza De Armas so we could see everything that was happening down below.<br />
<br />
<b>La Momia Juanita:</b><br />
<br />
We were not allowed to take pictures of the Momia Juanita, but I'm going to use the explanation from <a href="http://introvertedgirlextrovertedworld.blogspot.com/2013/08/changes-in-wind-this-week-was-peculiar.html" target="_blank">Megan's blog</a> because she explained what happened really well:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">We had the opportunity to view the Inca mummy, Juanita, this week. We are lucky we are in Arequipa when we are since she is only allowed to be viewed at certain times of the year for preservation's sake. Juanita is a very special mummy because she is probably the best-preserved mummy to ever be found. If you know anything about the tops of the mountains here, then you know that they are very cold which is great for preservation. When Juanita was found, there were still significant remnants of skin (her hand!), hair, and her some of her clothes even! The two archaeologists that found her then carried her down the snowy mountain on their backs.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Juanita was probably the daughter of a chief in her village. We know this because of the large pins that tied her clothes together (the bigger the pins, the more important you are). She was offered as a sacrifice to the gods, which means it was most likely during a time of famine or drought. For this sacrifice, she was made to walk up the mountain with an entire caravan. She was only 14 years old, so it was very likely that she had to be carried some of the way as this mountain was HUGE. At the top there were some ceremonial rituals performed. She was then given a drink with high alcohol content to make her feel tranquil in her final moments. She was then given a fatal conk to the head (which was actually a lucky way to die as some child offerings were strangled or burned). After her death she was sat in her tomb with her back against the wall with her knees folded in front of her. The tomb contained all of the possible things she would need in her next life. After Juanita's discovery, there were several more child sacrifices found in the surrounding area but were damaged by lightning and were not as well preserved. </span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<b>El Tour de la Campiña: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjuxzAsbsQcJ6WzLfSzIEc5aLHU0gmd39gs1rGJpUH1G2CkezA_oxzo24jVYBWcbwhSF7FMGgQfHeQen3QBmWBa3lRnT5uIj1sVn4M2Ooqqdp722icWoSBk53zoCyjrz0Hp8FxraxY9NH/s1600/DSC_0447+(640x424).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjuxzAsbsQcJ6WzLfSzIEc5aLHU0gmd39gs1rGJpUH1G2CkezA_oxzo24jVYBWcbwhSF7FMGgQfHeQen3QBmWBa3lRnT5uIj1sVn4M2Ooqqdp722icWoSBk53zoCyjrz0Hp8FxraxY9NH/s200/DSC_0447+(640x424).jpg" width="200" /></a>We took a tour all around the city of Arequipa to see some of the countryside and some historic sites. Our first stop overlooked the beautiful mountains - Misti and Chachani. We hovered around the Ekeko which is a traditional god for a photo and you can see Chachani in the background.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLqbssCSSCbzlMhs5ZukPpTpx1p-P8PBbR0mwlaIzZbL54r26UcDu7W3QmD83KxiyGuK64yjjwLFpvsgP6bW9NmhgqI8pb5lUm9yD5SQMzPVUZEaIoU0tDobUVIZmcD8gaeBJ06Zv_wjd/s1600/DSC_0474+(640x424).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLqbssCSSCbzlMhs5ZukPpTpx1p-P8PBbR0mwlaIzZbL54r26UcDu7W3QmD83KxiyGuK64yjjwLFpvsgP6bW9NmhgqI8pb5lUm9yD5SQMzPVUZEaIoU0tDobUVIZmcD8gaeBJ06Zv_wjd/s200/DSC_0474+(640x424).jpg" width="200" /></a>The next stop was the lookout of Yanahuara. The arches are beautiful and we happened to stop by when there was a traditional dance going on! The dresses the ladies wear are so colorful and beautiful, even if the dance is not very intricate. There is a lot of spinning involved to see the full skirts and bright colors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsKpt-3aVhQVzfnB4uztuUDSDqqysDOswE7Hso2gV1gh55IlvwQQMCRwyff0pJVy0_TGwQdjixZ_6B3QclrFabs0xv9x5trLos99_ikuUaCiLUxDi3cFU-ANf92zhwG5zlEf5juzClRuv/s1600/DSC_0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsKpt-3aVhQVzfnB4uztuUDSDqqysDOswE7Hso2gV1gh55IlvwQQMCRwyff0pJVy0_TGwQdjixZ_6B3QclrFabs0xv9x5trLos99_ikuUaCiLUxDi3cFU-ANf92zhwG5zlEf5juzClRuv/s200/DSC_0825.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DbC95tGANsUqS4vIHR8jEuF4bQRuNfKhAL__F7uv1-9nKjjMedF5PBIplZ7-0Tvjb-lgYjnhXcNAFJZQxpAfKJOETyHRoCUJvVGFxFGwozM1dfS0q2oh4sY1vKXzx3SpA-wwe0QSLXuS/s1600/DSC_0497+(640x424).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DbC95tGANsUqS4vIHR8jEuF4bQRuNfKhAL__F7uv1-9nKjjMedF5PBIplZ7-0Tvjb-lgYjnhXcNAFJZQxpAfKJOETyHRoCUJvVGFxFGwozM1dfS0q2oh4sY1vKXzx3SpA-wwe0QSLXuS/s200/DSC_0497+(640x424).jpg" width="200" /></a>Our next stop was the house of the founder of Arequipa. It has a lot of history and rather than a house, it is more like a plantation! It has its own chapel, gardens, and animals.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbkfyA9UOB1pDd0aKLXUvP_J5qsEPVCfV77I1FKRAFnmlFYFgOcFnkyIVlo0-mKJqL6srCbyE2VGcbt7lvITSr3asYCxREVpfVmSh-jafe-3jEUoiieWTUhGRUOQndY-0yojOB613P2YC/s1600/DSC_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbkfyA9UOB1pDd0aKLXUvP_J5qsEPVCfV77I1FKRAFnmlFYFgOcFnkyIVlo0-mKJqL6srCbyE2VGcbt7lvITSr3asYCxREVpfVmSh-jafe-3jEUoiieWTUhGRUOQndY-0yojOB613P2YC/s200/DSC_0834.JPG" width="200" /></a>We particularly enjoyed the alpaca and llama that were outside We learned from a Peruvian brother that we can actually pet them and also learned that they spit, quite a lot!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlGJwf495OFHc2MqMChLNhdOp5bLl0lVsRpoWjOxKRK-t58LvfaKq-ijg69sWRUWMU71akDMWwe0_mBKJjNYELB-AQu1RGoBMltbjXnqaSq8ObpOrCTsi3o3IaKGKeRJFG6byiAavX2Nv/s1600/DSC_0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlGJwf495OFHc2MqMChLNhdOp5bLl0lVsRpoWjOxKRK-t58LvfaKq-ijg69sWRUWMU71akDMWwe0_mBKJjNYELB-AQu1RGoBMltbjXnqaSq8ObpOrCTsi3o3IaKGKeRJFG6byiAavX2Nv/s200/DSC_0924.JPG" width="133" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8bO0eX9qrg_QGfLmEzMqjpMitvf6tWnbJtMOtU9xrI-tikkAoT_DRR_vAEnDoyxKaf0YNzKEFAj2Onwo8eCVNmJbtI82gtvizqrYxlMxrmQxnRfd9L2mZjbeI6tCemKp7E1Rzedkp3T0/s1600/DSC_0561+(640x428).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8bO0eX9qrg_QGfLmEzMqjpMitvf6tWnbJtMOtU9xrI-tikkAoT_DRR_vAEnDoyxKaf0YNzKEFAj2Onwo8eCVNmJbtI82gtvizqrYxlMxrmQxnRfd9L2mZjbeI6tCemKp7E1Rzedkp3T0/s200/DSC_0561+(640x428).jpg" width="200" /></a>The next place we went was a mill (right). Although the mill might not look like much, it really is a grand area filled with gardens and lawns, animals and waterfalls, trees and flowers. We had a lot of fun just walking around, taking pictures of the beautiful outdoors, and jumping over the little river.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEezCXhBzvqL2hx__meL9FOjlcYjFvUgItPDuMIkpv7c6OaJ5f3THzAw_UWRpn9hbKpjtjW1UU2kxb9-uGP6GDRVMb-DaU8GnjEHg0ki6eXOidjZ1av4ij9CYA8FG_QqoIsZxWsSuna_8L/s1600/DSC_0945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEezCXhBzvqL2hx__meL9FOjlcYjFvUgItPDuMIkpv7c6OaJ5f3THzAw_UWRpn9hbKpjtjW1UU2kxb9-uGP6GDRVMb-DaU8GnjEHg0ki6eXOidjZ1av4ij9CYA8FG_QqoIsZxWsSuna_8L/s200/DSC_0945.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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All in all, it's been a crazy busy start, but we are loving it. Some of our group have been sick so prayers for health would be much appreciated. However, we are making lots of friends in our group and everyone gets along well. We've been making some Peruvian friends as well and they teach us a lot!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-89716504417090352612013-08-17T16:30:00.004-07:002013-08-17T16:54:58.771-07:00The Adventure Has Just Begun...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Greetings from the beautiful city of Arequipa, Peru!</i></div>
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After approximately 17 hours spent in airports and planes, an hour spent in line at customs to receive our visas, and a single night spent in Lima, all 22 of us have safely reached our final destination. We are already a week into our semester abroad, and what a truly wonderful and exciting week it has been!</div>
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Upon arriving in Arequipa on Saturday evening, we loaded up our buses and were shuttled off to la Universidad Católica San Pablo (UCSP, for short). All of us, despite being exhausted from our travels, were bursting with energy and excitement as the time came to see our new school and meet our Peruvian families for the very first time. Our first night was one to remember. One by one we were called up to the stage to finally be united with our host parents. This mini-ceremony was followed up by snacks, beverages, and listening and dancing to the music of the university's "tuna" (a student musical group). After a short evening of smiles and laughter we finally went our separate ways to go to our homes for the next 4 months.</div>
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Our Calvin professor, Marilyn Bierling, stressed to us the importance of hospitality to the Peruvian people, and she was not exaggerating! The people we have met thus far seem eager and excited to have us - <i>almost</i> as eager and excited as we are to be here! Our host families have truly taken us in as their own children and have been so kind and helpful. On our first day at UCSP we had a "Welcome Day" orientation in the morning where we learned a little more about the school, met our <i>compañer@s</i> (UCSP students that helped answer some of our questions over the summer), and took a tour of the campus. Overall there are 44 students studying abroad here at UCSP this semester, and Calvin College makes up half of this group! I feel as though we bonded almost immediately - we have already begun to form strong friendships as a group. Considering how kind, helpful, inclusive (and a little goofy) we are, this semester is sure to be amazing!</div>
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One of our very first adventures here in Arequipa was a short <i>busqueda del tesoro</i> (treasure hunt) in the city, which was notably helpful in orienting us to the city around us. After being split up into groups and given a list of directions and culture questions, we were set loose into the streets to visit several important landmarks. We visited the Plaza de San Francisco, the Plaza de Armas, the Monasterio de Santa Catalina, and several other places - including some artesanía shops selling a wide assortment of beautiful, handcrafted merchandise.</div>
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Next on our agenda was a tour of the Monasterio de Santa Catalina (St. Catherine's Monastery), a magnificent and large monastery. We were guided through the streets and buildings of this remarkable "city within a city" that once upon a time housed a subpopulation of women. Surrounded by historical rooms and buildings, fascinating artwork, and gorgeous scenery (especially atop one of the towers), we just couldn't put our cameras down!</div>
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Probably the biggest event of this first week was Arequipa Day! August 15th marked the 473rd year since the foundation of the city. To celebrate this important holiday, the people of Arequipa went out to the streets for festivities, food, fireworks, and a 6+ hour parade. Music, people, and the delicious smell of Peruvian food filled the streets. What a party! </div>
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In addition to all these things that we have experienced collectively, individuals in the group have also gone on their own mini adventures with friends and family, including trips to...</div>
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... the large local sports complex, "Club Internacional".</div>
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... a venue called the FIA to watch a concert performance by <i>Los Fabulosos Cadillacs.</i> </div>
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... Pura Fruta for smoothies and sandwiches.</div>
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... local "discotecas" (clubs) to dance and socialize.</div>
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Just one week, and already there has been so much excitement. We have another 4 months to look forward to, as we relish this wonderful opportunity to develop our language skills and learn more about this marvelous city that is so rich in culture. Already we have overcome several challenges that have helped us grow - talking and taking classes exclusively in Spanish, talking to locals, taking public transportation, and making purchases with Peruvian currency - yet there is still so much to learn and take away from this life-changing cultural experience.</div>
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This is just the beginning. Everywhere we look is adventure! We still have so many more exciting things to come - places to explore, people to meet, exotic foods to try, and many more things to learn!</div>
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<b>Bonus</b>: A 360° view of Arequipa from the top of a tower at St. Catherine's Monastery</div>
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Violet Hazehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07977030862727160690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715473315485275716.post-63118097559280686052013-07-27T11:54:00.000-07:002013-07-29T22:09:44.748-07:00We're Going to Peru!For those of you that don't know, we are a group of students from Calvin College, and we are all spending a semester in Arequipa, Peru! We are a group studying for majors and minors of Spanish, Spanish Education, Business, Kinesiology, Sociology, Fine Arts, Elementary Education, English as a Second Language (ESL) and more! We are excited, nervous, in disbelief, slightly horrified, thrilled, eager, and ecstatic to be in Peru! Obviously, with such a big experience coming up, we are feeling many different ways as a team, but mostly excited. We fly out on August 9 and we return mid-December. That means we will be in Peru in less than 2 weeks!<br />
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While in Arequipa, each of us will be staying with a host family. With our families and friends, we will only talk in Spanish in hopes of becoming more proficient in the language! We will be attending classes at the Universidad Católica San Pablo (Catholic University of San Pablo), so no need to worry; we won't fall behind on our studies.<br />
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This semester will most likely be a life-changing experience for all of us, which means we will need prayer for our time abroad. We want to make the most of our experience, but we recognize that we cannot do this from our own strength, so we would like to ask you to pray for us! As a group, we came up with the following things to pray for (although I'm sure more could be added to the list):<br />
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~Safe travels<br />
~Assimilating into the culture<br />
~Friends and family who may miss us<br />
~Lasting relationships with our Peruvian host families and friends<br />
~Our separation from family and friends at home<br />
~Learning our way around the city without getting lost<br />
~Good bonding as a team<br />
~That we will have life-changing experiences<br />
~Improvement in speaking Spanish<br />
~Not allowing the language barrier to hold us back from experiences and relationships<br />
~Discover how our growth in Peru will affect our future<br />
~Learning about ourselves, God and the culture<br />
~Quick adjustment to the new culture and living so far from home<br />
~Health (especially altitude sickness when first arriving)<br />
~That we may be aware of God's hand and blessings in Peru, our school, our families and experiences<br />
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We thank you so much for keeping up with us and for all your prayers and support!<br />
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