Doce Dias already!?!? 

My oh my, where has the time flown!? It feels like it was just yesterday I was frantically running around my house anxiously packing my bags to head to Lima. It is crazy that I have been here for nearly 2 weeks now, however, I wouldn't change my experience so far for anything! First, I would like to start out by introducing everyone to my amazing host family, my time here would be nothing compared to what it is if it wasn't for them!
There are 5 people in mi familia: Jaime: My Dad, who is such a kind and funny man. He is so patient when speaking with me since he knows no English at all, and my Spanish isn't too up to par(it is improving though :)) However, he does like to make fun of my "deer in headlights look, or my constant usage of "sure" or "si, si, si" whenever I don't know what he is saying exactly :D Then, there is Giselle: My Mom who is such a kindhearted lady as well, who luckily for me, speaks very well English and can translate words/sayings for me that I do not understand. I also have 3 siblings: Jaime Jr. who is 26, Thalia who is 20, and Andres who is 23 I believe. Jaime and Thalia currently live at home so they help keep me company and also help me with anything in Spanish I may be confused about!

Thalia, me, Giselle, Jaime, y la Mama de Giselle

This picture was taken at one of my families' clubs they are members of, on my first day here! It reminds me of the country club in Kearney, just way fancier and with the ocean :) That night Thalia invited some of her friends over and we got some Peruvian wine from a local store here and had a relaxing evening at our house.

Maria, Thalia, Nathalia and I on our rooftop enjoying el vino!! 

These first two weeks have felt much like a vacation and it has yet to seep in that I am here until the end of April, but luckily we have multiple trips set up for the near future, so I'm sure that will keep us busy and from getting home sick :) (Even though I do miss all my friends and family dearly!) My first two weekends here have been exactly what I needed: TOTAL RELAXATION! Our first weekend was a bit of a confusing weekend trying to get used to the city and how to go about finding each other and things we need. For example, we all live very near in walking distance to eachother, but upon first arrival it seemed as if we lived miles away. Luckily, my sister Thalia and her friend, Nathalia navigated Finn, Emily, Missy and I around so that we knew how to get to and from eachothers houses by foot without getting lost :) After, we all voyaged to Jockey(minus Thalia and Nathalia) to purchase our phones. Next time I want to shoot my brains out at Verizon, I will think again! This was much longer of a process..took nearly THREE HOURS! Nonetheless, we paid equivalent to like 50 dollars for a phone, dinosaur phone may I add, and minutes. But hey, now we all have a way to communicate with eachother when we don't have internet!

Missy, Finn, and I were feeling brave the night before classes started and decided to take a taxi to Jockey(a HUGE shopping mall here), I even bardered with the taxi and made it so we had to pay less soles :) We ate at the cutest little restaurant and had our first cocktails here in Lima. It was a great time to catch up and wind down a before our first full week of classes! However, it was quite the process getting home because we told our taxi the wrong entrance, but luckily Missy's Mom Ayita picked us up and we all made it home safely!

And yes, I am aware that I am muy rojo, but it has now turned into a tan, and YES I did wear sunscreen:) 

Mi Universidad: UPC!!!

I am so in love with UPC's campus. It is absolutely beautiful! 

Every professor I have or have been in contact with has been so nice and welcoming, it's so great! 

However, each one of my classes meets once a week and is three hours long, so you can imagine how that goes :) 

They actually haven't been to bad at all, and I feel like my Spanish has improved tremendously already! My first prueba is tomorrow so we will see how that goes!!

Ah, sorry my first post is so long, but I've just done so many fascinating things while here so far :) But here are a few of my favorite!

Of course the first one has to be LA PLAYA!!!! It was my FIRST TIME EVER at the beach and it was definitely a sight to see when I hopped into the cold, salty water! We went to a part of the ocean that had rocks instead of sand, and lets just say the rocks did not feel too great when a huge wave came rolling in, but nonetheless, it was beautiful and I want to go back every chance I get!! 

Las chicas!!!!

I had a small little get together at mi casa as a celebration of our FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES! It was so much fun! We all went to Vivandas and purchased some beverages, and I stuck to what I know best, el vino hehe, and we all went back to my house and hung out on the rooftop! My Dad set up some speakers for us out here and played us his music, which was a combination of classic rock and mexican salsa music. Jorge and Daniel were drinking tequila and it just so happens my dad won a shot contest once in Cancun with tequila, so of course Daniel and Jorge gave him a few shots! My brother Jaimie and his girlfriend and one of his friends' joined us as well and we all chit chatted until about midnight and then all went our separate ways :)

 Mi Padre was so excited to hang out and chit chat with us :)

Whew, alrighty, that is it for now! Tomorrow will be my 2nd full week of classes, and boy am I ready for it to be el fin de semana! We plan to go to one of the discotecas here, so I am beyond pumped to let loose and BAILAR! 

Oh and here is a little fun list of random things I've noticed while here in Peru:)

1.) The people are SO kind! 

2.) Whenever you greet someone for the first time, or really just in general, boy or girl, you greet them    

with a kiss on the cheek. So don't be alarmed if I kiss you on the cheek when I'm back in the states :)

3.)Traffic is LOCO! I really don't think I've ever seen a speed limit sign here..and road lines or blinkers? pssht who needs to use those anyway!?

4.) Rice chicken, meat, and more rice and more rice and more rice is a main food of choice here

5.) CAR ALARMS! Oh my goodness, this is really one of my ONLY pet peeves here so far. I swear I hear at least 20 alarms go off a day. And they aren't just your basic alarms..they last for like 1 minute and are the most strangest sound i've ever heard!

6.) They eat a big breakfast and a big lunch and just a small snack for dinner ( No wonder they are all so skinny here :) )

7.) The Cambis.....Oh The Cambis..There is really no way to describe these until you experience riding one for yourself. No seats? No problem! Just stand and hold on to the handle bars for your life and you'll be just fine :)

Okay, that is all I have for now! Hasta Luego mis amigas y familia!