Navidad!

Hello! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  Mine was enjoyable, and a bit different from what I'm used to.

Well, I went with my host brother's to pick up our turkey at around 8 something, I don't remember...

At around 9:30, me, my host parents, and my host brothers went over to my host dad's mom's house (aka my host siblings' grandma) just to visit I guess, and I ate some turkey, then we returned back to our house at about 11. 

Then there was some more eating, and my host mom's family was over to celebrate with us. 

Preparing the table

Me with my host dad and host brothers

This is a bread they eat a lot around Christmas...I don't like it haha

So yeah, we ate at about 11, and starting around 11, people all over Lima started setting off fireworks, up until probably 3 AM.  So I went out and watched my host brothers set off some fireworks in the park in front of our house, and we also went up on the little roof of our building to see some.  And by fireworks, I mean fireworks, not just little fountains on the sidewalk haha.

Merry Christmas!

And then we returned inside to open presents a little after midnight I think.  As the youngest, I was appointed 'santa' ...in other words, I was given the job of passing out the presents, and announcing their recipients and whatnot. 

I got Froot Loops!

And then after everyone finished with their gifts, I was pretty tired, so I excused myself to bed at about 2 AM.  And then slept until like 12:30 the next day.

So then at about 1:30, I Skyped with my family.  And didn't do much the rest of the day.  The 25th was just a normal day, all the Christmas stuff was done on the 24th.

So that was Christmas! 

T'was the Night Before Christmas

Hello everyone!  Yesterday I decided to go out and do some 'errands'.  That began with me going to the post office to mail the post cards I had filled out, plus send a card my host mom wanted me to send.  And so I walked the 5 or so blocks to the commercial area (I don't know what else to call it, there are a few department stores, a McDonalds, a Starbucks, some shops, a few large banks, etc) only to find that the post office was closed (at 1 o'clock on a Monday...?) Not sure why haha...but anyways, I decided, instead of going home and sitting on the couch with my computer, that I would instead do just a little shopping.  And so I browsed some stores for a little while, bought 2 shirts, and returned home quite happy with myself.  I just felt very proud that I could go out and 'run errands' all by myself.  I'm sure it doesn't sound like much, but in a new, huge city, and in a different language, I find it quite an accomplishment just to go shopping haha.  I can't really explain it.

Then today, the 24th, I met Chachi at McDonald's and we had lunch.  Then I returned home.  Here, today is more or less considered Christmas, because they celebrate on Christmas Eve (family gets together and opens gifts and eats dinner around midnight).  It has not felt like Christmas, whatsoever.  About a week ago, someone said to me something along the lines of "6 days till Christmas!" and I couldn't believe it (and here's some of the reasons why):

1. It's 73 degrees out (5:20 PM, it was hotter earlier today).
2. I'm wearing shorts and a tank top.
3. I'm on summer vacation.
4. There is no snow, nor will you find any, in Lima.
5. I'm both tan and sunburned .
6. No Christmas tree in my house (I think there's one downstairs in my host grandma's house).
7. No Christmas lights on my house.
8. Very few Christmas decorations in my house.
9. No Christmas cookies.
10. I won't be going to my grandparents' houses to be with all my cousins.
11. No hot apple cider.

Just overall, no feel of Christmas.  There is some Christmas music on the radio, a few red bows and a red table cloth on our table, but besides that, if I didn't look at the date at the bottom right hand corner of my computer screen, and see that it says 12/24/2013, I probably would have forgotten that it was Christmas.

I was talking to Chachi earlier today, and I told him that in the United States we celebrate during the day on the 25th, and starting in the morning, the gifts are opened (because Santa (in spanish=Papa Noel) came during the night and left them under the tree) and then the family typically gets together that day to eat dinner. It was a weird concept to him haha.

So I don't exactly know the plans that my host family has...I think that we'll just be having dinner here but I have no idea... I will post about what we did tomorrow or within a few days.  Until dinner, I think maybe I'll watch Home Alone on Netflix to get me in the Christmas spirit.

And although it doesn't feel like Christmas, and nothing is the same, I don't feel homesick.  But I do know that for Christmas 2014, I'm going to go all out.  I'm talking lights covering the house, decorations galore, tons of presents for my family, insane Christmas sweaters from Goodwill, an astounding array of Christmas cookies and gingerbread men, and hot cider with candy canes.  And I will enjoy the time with my parents and siblings, whom I miss more than anything else...besides food hahahaha.

And in the mean time, here is a video that I found that I find quite hilarious (copy the link, right click 'open link') : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idnXrzDtusA&feature=share

And here is a video that a few exchange students made of all of us exchange students in Lima: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHXXcb7ezOI&feature=youtu.be

Enjoy your Christmas!  
Tons of love,
Ginger

Btw:  If anyone reading is willing to leave me a comment, I'd appreciate it.  Thank you.

Rotary Happenings

Well I've had several Rotary gatherings/events within the last week...I'll try to remember what they were haha.

Oh but before that, I almost forgot, one day we had something called "Clausura" at my school.  Each grade did a dance/performance, and afterwards, everyone in quinto went to our classmate Rocio's house and we had lunch and a secret santa gift exchange (I was not included because I'm technically not in quinto)

Quinto's dance

Some classmates and I at the lunch

And also, I think that same day...afterwards, me, Tami, Eduardo, and Solange went into Miraflores (a district of Lima on the coast) and went to a tattoo/piercing parlor.  Yep, that's right people.  I am now officially inked.   JUST KIDDING.  I did not get a tattoo, nor will I be getting a tattoo.  However, I did get my ear pierced (I had my host family's permission and my real family's permission).  I already have my lobes pierced, and my cartilage pierced (helix) and decided to get my rook pierced.  It's kind of a difficult piercing to get because it's a slightly awkward location to pierce...pictures will explain better than words, and I'd been considering getting it done for a few weeks but was a bit scared because I'd read online that it was a very painful piercing.  Anways, so I picked out my jewelery and held Tami's hands reaaaaally reaaaaaaalllly tight, the piercer clamped my ear (like I mentioned, it's an strange spot to pierce, so they have to clamp part of the ear in order to be able to actually pierce it) and that was a little bit painful, but then he pierced me with the needle and that was even more painful.  I didn't cry, but came close, I'm sure my face was puckered up as I struggled not to cry haha.  I mean, when I got my helix pierced, they used a gun, and it was like, 4 seconds of pain.  This time, he had to put the needle through, and then also put in the ring or whatever, so it was significantly more painful.  It bled a little bit, I continued strangling Tami's hands, and finally it was over and I took deep gulping breaths, I was a little shaky because it was kind of scary.

Clamping the ear

Smiling on the outside, screaming on the inside

That would be the needle in my ear

Final results (I quite like it) :

I like it a lot

It is just slightly sore now, 3 days later, can't sleep on that side of my head, only hurts if I bump it

I also ended up filling out like 10 post cards, but have yet to send them:

Firstly of the rotary events, I don't remember what day, but one day we took a tour/visit to the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), basically the equivalent of the White House, but Peruvian hahaha.  Anyways, it's where the president works and whatnot.  So we all went to the Center of Lima and waited for a good hour and a half before actually being able to go in.  Not sure why we got there so early when the tour didn't start until later...whatever.  And it was a fairly boring tour, we just went through like 6 different rooms and then it was over.

Center of Lima and it's so-called 'christmas tree'

Some nice chandeliers and stained glass windows inside

There were lots of those guard guys, just standing there completely still.  They wouldn't move at all, didn't react whatsoever if anyone stood right in front of them, waved in their face, wanted to take a picture with them, etc.

So that was the tour.  We didn't see the president, nor the changing of the guard, which was happening that day.

Secondly, my host rotary club, Rotary Club Nuestra Señora de Gracia, held an event in some little place outside of Lima (a poor area), for the children that live there.  There was a show with a Santa Clause, dancing, games and music, face painting, hair braiding, prizes and gifts, and at the end of the day, all the kids were given some clothing, a gift, and their parents were given vitamins.  Victor, Emilie, and I (the exchange students in our club) helped out with the prizes and gifts, and I took photos.

Before-hand

Getting her hair braided

Face Painting

Victor and I hahaha

The 'show'

There were a little over 200 children, and their parents

Victor and Emilie putting together some gifts

I think it was a very successful day.  

Thirdly, today, the exchange students organized a Christmas lunch and a secret-santa gift exchange.  Each exchange student brought a dish (most of them brought something typical from their country; we had about 3 plates of crepes from several french students haha).  I wasn't able to cook, so I went to the store yesterday searching for something to bring.  And I came across a tin of Danish cookies, so I decided to bring those as a little surprise for my friend Emilie.  I also got her some Haribo gummy candies (Haribo is Danish).  While I was at the store, I also picked up some nice chocolate to give as gifts to a few of my Peruvian friends.

There was a lot of food (taco salad, deviled eggs, turkey, various pies and cakes, sushi, rice, many other things I can't remember)

Irene from Taiwan with the sushi she made

Crepes!

Deviled eggs!

Yuuuum!

My plate haha

And then for the gift exchange; here's just some of the many photos I took:

Mandy (Taiwan) and Bastien (France).  Bastien got a t-shirt with a Peruvian beer logo

Ben (Germany) got hair gel and a comb haha

I got a cool wallet

Simon (France) got a bottle of wine

Marcel (Belgium) gave Felisa (Germany) a pair of underwear hahaha

I gave Brooke 4 cans of different American sodas and some cookies

Tami (Canada) gave Guillame (France) a shirt, but it was a little small hahahaha

And that was that!  It was a good day.  I returned in combi (bus) without getting lost, so that was a definite achievement, and now I am waiting for Chachi to come over to my house.  I think we'll watch a movie or something.  Well, that's about it I think!

Chau!
-Ginger

My Peruvian Prom!

I went to prom yesterday!  I began the day by getting up and showering, then had to stop by my school with my host mom.  Then we went to the salon, pretty early, at like 12:30.  My host mom got her hair done too because it was her birthday yesterday.  So for my hair, I got a tight little french braid on one side, just a little one for a bit of  'decoration' as the hair-lady put it...and just curls.  At first, the curls were suuuuper tight and bouncy and I felt kind of childish, like I was 8 years old and getting my hair done for my first communion or something, instead of my prom....hahahaha but by the end of the night the curls loosened up.  So we left the salon at like 2:30 and went back to the house, had lunch, and I wore a hair-net so my curls wouldn't completely uncurl by the time prom started (we probably went to the salon too early)

Here's some pictures of my dress and shoes and stuff:

Up close pic of my dress

my dresss :)  90 soles= 32 $ USD

First time in heels actually didn't go too badly!  But my feet hurt reaaaallly badly by the end of the night 

The bracelet that my best friend Chachi's mom lent to me

My wrist corsage thing (blanking on what it's called)

Fake but still nice :)

So then I got dressed and ready by like 5:30, and my date, Eduardo (from my peruvian school) got to my house around 6.  Then Solange and Renato (two more people from my school) also came to my house so we could all go together.  I wanted to take photos all together in the little park outside my house, but by the time everyone had arrived at my house, it was already past 7 and pretty dark, so I knew the pictures wouldn't turn out very well.  So we just took some in the hotel.

Here's how I looked at that point:  (I looked the best at this point of the night, my makeup was good and my hair was still curly haha):

My host brother walked in and said "you look like taylor swift!" it was hilarious

I think I looked quite nice :) hahaha

So prom started at 7:30, but we arrived around 8:30 because we decided to stop at starbucks and mcdonalds beforehand hahaha.  It was funny.

So then we took a taxi from mcdonalds to the hotel, Los Delfines.  It is a huge, elegant hotel, but our prom was in a surprisingly small room, basically just tables and a dance floor, and a little 'reception' area outside, but it was still nice.  Unfortunately, there was limited table space, so a few students and their dates ended up sitting at the parents' tables.  Oh yeah, that's a pretty weird difference here...parents come to the prom.  I think that's pretty weird.  My host parents didn't come.  I am really glad I was not seated at a parents' table.  Some teachers and the school principal were also in attendance.

So yeah, we got there late, as I mentioned, but, being Peru, a lot of people still hadn't arrived at that point, so everyone was just chilling in the reception area, taking photos, admiring eachother's dresses and whatnot.

Here are some pictures from that point of the night:

Me and Eduardo

Eduardo and Solange

Me and my friend Andre.  He used to live in Miami

Andre and Eduardo

Me, Eduardo, Solange

Another of me and Eduardo.  As you can see, my hair had uncurled significantly, but oh well, it still looked good.

Connor and Emilie (connor is an exchange student from the US, emilie from Denmark)

 

Chachi and his date, Sandra

Victor brought a girl from our school named Almendra, and also brought Marcel, another exchange student from Belgium

So when everyone had arrived and was ready to start (probably around (9:20, nearly 2 hours late) all the 'couples' were lined up in the reception area while all the parents and other guests were seated, waiting inside.  And then we were called in and announced, couple by couple, and we would take a little walk in a circle around the dance floor, and then sit down.  So Eduardo and I were called in, did the lap, and sat down.

One of the last pictures I got before my battery died...

And we were served drinks and dinner, as you can see by the pictures above.  Dinner was decent/so-so (I rarely like anything, so it's always hard to tell if it's just my pickiness or if it's cooked badly hahaha).  And that would be about the time that my camera batteries died.  That is my WORST NIGHTMARE and it happened.  After graduation, I didn't charge them, because I didn't realize they needed to be charged....so although I did get some good pictures, I was disappointed I couldn't take anymore the rest of the night.  There was a photographer there, taking photos of everyone...but I'm not sure where those photos are.  So then we finished dinner and dessert around 11 I think...and then everyone danced pretty much the rest of the night!  And I actually did dance, somewhat!  Well, everyone around me would be like "Ginger, come on, why aren't you dancing? Move your body! Do something!" and I'd be surprised, like, "what? this is me dancing!"  hahaha.  It was tons of fun, typically not something I would enjoy, but I did have fun, and I am so glad I wasn't just moping around in a corner the whole night while everyone else was dancing away.  But my feet did hurt from my heels...luckily I am a genius and brought a pair of flats to change into for dancing :)

And then Eduardo and I left at like 3 AM, although many people remained dancing at that point.  Prom was supposed to end at 4 but I don't know if it actually ended at that time.

So we took a taxi and I got dropped off at my house, and went straight to bed, still in my curls!  haha and my hair is still kind of curly now, at 4:30 PM the next day! 

It was such a fun, memorable night, I am sooo happy that I had the opportunity to go!  What an amazing thing to be able to participate in--prom in another country!