A Tourist Perspective...

I have been here in Peru for almost one week, and I can honestly say that I don't like it here...yet. There are so many different things here than the United States, like really different. I'll give you some examples.

1. The cars here, don't stop, for ANYONE. They drive in the middle of the street and it is very dangerous.

2. Everyone walks almost everywhere. I have walked here in these 5 days, more than I have walked in my entire life!

3.The people here are a lot nicer than the people in the US. They greet you with a kiss on the cheek. Making friends here, will not be a problem.

4. Peru is a third world country to most people, and it looks dirty to tourists, but not so much. There are some dirty places, but there are also nice places, like where I live. To some people I might be dirty and others might seem dirty to me. It's lfe.

5. The winter here is about in the 60s. I see a lot of Peruvian people who are freezng and they question why I am only wearing a hoodie with jeans. You think it´s cold, ha, go to PA.

6. I am homesick. I miss my family and friends. I want them all to be here with me, but that can´t happen. If any of my famly is readng this, I love you guys around the world and back again <3

7. I have eaten unimagnable things here! Cow hearts, stomach, corn juice, and Inca Kola. I lke most of it except the corn juice and Inca Kola. It tastes like bubble gum, yuck :p

8. Eating here is so much different from the US! My fellow Americans, you know how we eat breakfast around 8,9 in the morning, they eat at 12! We have eggs, bacon and sometimes cereal, they have bread. It is so weird, I am getting tired at dinner.

All I know is that I need to adapt, because I am here until next May. I mss my family and friends, but I have a new famly and friends. I know one thing for certain, I wom't forget any of you.

Thanks,
Erika

Culture Shock..

Well, today was my first day in Peru.

My flight from Miami was delayed 4 hours and I finally got on at 8 30. We landing in Lima around 2 in the morning. Going through immigration was easy, but waiting for my luggage was hard, taking over an hour to get my belongings. When I got out into the other side of the airport, my host family was there along with the district president, my counselor and my host club president. It was awesome! I loved how they greeted me. I have about 10 different balloons now!

When I woke up this morning, I went upstairs to the kitchen to find my mama and Sese. I ate with them and gave them their presents. I think they lked them! Andrea and Miguel then came up and we all ate together and went over my vocabulary. A little after that, me and my mama went to a "mercado" for some chicken and fruit. Time went by and we had lunch which was delicious! It was rice with chicken, peaches and green beans. I loved it!

After I ate, Miguel and I went to his friend Cecila's house which is also hosting my friend Rachel from Canada. I met her parents and grandma. I also had a chocolate candy with carmel in t and Inca Kola. They were both pretty good! All of us then walked to a bus station to get a bus to Larcomar. When we got there we walked around the city for a bit. Rachel and I both had a churro and we saw a lot of cool traditional Peruvan things. After that, we went down to the beach and walked around. We toke lots of pictures and it was beautful!! We then went back up to the city and waited for Rachel's counselor to pick us up.

When she did, she toke us to this city called Barranco "the city of love" as they would say it. It was very beautiful as well! We went to eat at this one place, I forget what it s called, and tried all knds of different foods. If you can believe it, I had cow heart and stomach, and it was delicious! I also had corn juice and Peruvian donuts. For dessert, Rachel and I had rice arroz con leache, which is rice with milk and some kind of sauce with it. I did not like the corn juice, arroz con leche, or Inca Kola that much. I also do not like their milk. But hey, I told myself I would try everything and I did, so far!

Miguel and I then walked home. He showed me where my school was and all kinds of stores. We then came home and ate some more. I only had a mandarin though.

Now I am in my room writing this, but that is all that happened today.

Thanks,
Erika

...I Hope You Never Forget Me...

Well, it all cones down to this. In 5 hours I will be leaving for the airport then for a year in Lima. This whole week consisted of saying goodbye to friends and family and even teachers. This past weekend I went to Ohio with my family knowing that that would be our last one in a year.

Saying goodbye to all of the people who are important in my life was very hard. It wasn't until tonight that reality finally hit me. Everyone would ask me, aren't you nervous and I would say no. But now I am, and scared. This is the first time I have been without my family, in my whole 16 years of life. It is also hard because family is the only constant thing in your life.

Anyway, today I finally packed. I have a suitcase, a duffel bag, and a carry on, not to mention loads of money! As I told you this is my first time on a plane before so I'm kinda nervous and a side note that my bags weigh a ton!

I have been in contact with my host family
who will be waiting at the airport for me along with my counselor and president of my club.

This trip will be an experience, but a invaluable one at that. I just pray to God that he will keep me safe and watch over me on this great year!

Erika (:

count down...?

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step"
So here's how it goes, I leave in 8 days.

My flight is from Dulles in Washington, D.C. to Miami and then arrive in Lima at 9:05 at night. This means I have to wake up at 2 in the morning and leave at 4 to drive my butt to the airport to beat rush hour and get there by 9, should be fun! This is my first time ever on a flight and the thing that I'm most nervous is about is, well, flying! I should be okay though since I will be wearing my blazer, i hope? I still haven't even packed yet! I have all of my clothes and stuff ready, but I still need to get some other things.

Tomorrow, I travel to my local Rotary club to have lunch with them and present a presentation. I will get all of my final things from them then, sorta nervous.

As of right now, these are the predictions of my trip....
1) How hot will it be? 68 degrees.
2) First meal? traditional family style.
3) What time will I get up in mornings? 6.
4) How many days to adjust to time? 1 day.
5) How long to get used to the language, 3 months.
6)  Number of packages? 3.

Well, that's all for now. All I can say is that I'm really excited!

Erika

So, What's Your Name Again..?

I thought it would be fun to do a little questionnaire about myself to get used to this blog thing...

1. Do you have any pets? Yes, 3 cats, Fritz, Greta, and Sabine :D

2. Name 3 things that are physically close to you. my phone, a window, and my name tag.

3. What's the weather like right now? it is beautiful!

4. Do you drive? If so have you crashed? yes, and no.

5. What time did you wake up this morning? six twenty-five.

6. When was the last time you showered?  this morning.

7. What was the last movie you saw? Morning Glory.

8. What does your last text message say? "here!"

9. What's your ringtone? Country Girl by Luke Bryan

10. Have you ever been to a different country? yes, and i'm going to another one in 20 days!!

11. Do you like sushi? not particularly, but it's alright.

12. Where do you buy your groceries? it varies.

13. Have you ever taken medication to help you fall asleep faster? not on purpose!

14. How many siblings do you have? one sister and one brother.

15. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop? desktop computer (mac) and laptop (dell)

16. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 17!

17. Do you wear contacts or glasses? i wear both.

18. Do you color your hair? i've highlighted it before.

19. Tell me something you are planning to do today. today is done, but lots to do tomorrow.

20. When was the last time you cried? i can't remember.

21. What is your perfect pizza topping? ham, i love ham on a pizza!

22. Which do you prefer-hamburgers or cheeseburgers? cheeseburgers.

23. What is your eye color? brown.

24. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? yes, i prefer pepsi, it's sweeter.

Something's Gotta Give..

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” -Robert Louis Stevenson

Hello people of the internet-roaming world. My name is Erika vonSchrenkel. This year I am spending my junior year of highschool in Lima, Peru. I will be leaving this month, and will be staying there for the next 10 months. Since I am going to be there for such a long time, I will probably have a lot of great stories to share with you. I have decided to start a blog so all of those who are interested, can follow what I have been up to.

I will give you an idea of what I have been doing for my upcoming trip. This past month I received my guarantee letter which says I will have a host mother, sister and brother. I have been in contact with them and they are very nice & I can’t wait to meet them! My school is a Catholic school so I will have to wear a uniform, even for gym! This is very different from my lifestyle at home, but I will enjoy it.

That's all for now, follow up next week for my countdown.

Thanks (:
Erika