Back from the jungle!

So yesterday I got back from my school trip to Tarapoto, Peru!!

I always have a really hard time remembering everything...I'll do my best, and it may just be easier to do a post based on pictures (I'll use some of my own pictures and some of my classmates because I actually didn't take as many as I normally do...)

We left for Tarapoto on the 25th of October!  My host mom and I took a micro (bus) to the airport in Callao, Lima and we met up with everyone there.  Of the 4 exchange students in my school, only 2 of us were able to go on the trip (Tami from Canada and me).  We traveled with quinto (in case you don't remember, that's the grade that I was in for one month and then was switched out of) so I was really happy to get to spend time with them again.

Me enjoying Subway at the airport.  One of the many advantages (and also occasionally disadvantages) of living in Lima is that it is quite Americanized.  You can find a lot of American restaurants here (McDonald's, Subway, Pizza Hut, even TGI Friday's and Chili's)

For a lot of my classmates, it was their first time on a plane (how crazy it is that that was me 3 months ago...and now I've been on 6 planes!). The flight was realllly short, if I remember correctly, about an hour.  Here's where Tarapoto is located so you can get an idea of the distance:

So Lima is on the coast (the one with the star) and Tarapoto is more northern and central, kind of on the edge of the jungle.  So although we didn't travel very far, it was still a drastic change in scenery/climate/everything!  When we landed, we were hit by a wall of intense heat.  Arriving in the jungle from chilly, cloudy Lima was crazy.  The sun felt so strong (I always wore sunscreen on my face but occasionally forgot my shoulders and neck, leaving me with white stripes on my shoulders where my tank top was) and the heat was just unbearable sometimes (especially when we traveled in bus and had to wait for the air conditioning) and it could be so uncomfortable, with your shirt stuck to your wet back and your head itching from the heat (I wanted to shave my head at some points hahaha). 

Right off the plane, arriving in Tarapoto

Our hotel was small and rustic, and there weren't very many people which was nice.  We were in rooms of 3 or 4 people.  There was a pool, hammocks outside every room, tons of greenery and plants (duh, jungle) and it was just really simple and nice. 

One of my best friends, Chachi

And Tami enjoying the pool!

So, the first day, we arrived in Tarapoto and got to our hotel, and we just spent the afternoon/night there, using the pool and what not. 

The second day, we got up and had breakfast at our hotel (fried eggs and fried bananas) and then went to see a waterfall and tour the jungle and stuff. 

One of our breakfasts (papaya juice, fried cheese, fried eggs, fried bananas...it was good, but definitely too greasy and fried to sit well with me)

A lovely shot that someone snapped of me at breakfast

Chachi and I before our jungle hike

Welcome to la selva (the jungle)

Some of my classmates during our hike through the jungle. From left: Vannia, Zezur, Eduardo, Yllen

We didn't see a lot of wild animals, most of the jungle animals we saw were in cages actually, so it wasn't a completely authentic jungle experience, but oh, well. 

hello monkey

There was also a swing that everyone took turns on

And then we made it to the waterfall.  Some decided to be adventurous and jump off:

Some classmates watching everyone jumping off the waterfall

Tami at the bottom of the waterfall

Then I think we had a quick look at some artisan stands...and then I think we toured around the city a little bit...I really don't remember!  At some point there was a presentation of singing in Quechua/dancing in a little village called Lamas (I think..) with adorable little Peruvian children.  I got some great photos.  Some of us got up and danced with the kids.  It was a short presentation, but memorable.

The kids were so sweet

Some classmates participating in the dance

I danced with her for a few minutes and we had a brief conversation in spanish haha.  I think she was the oldest of the kids there, she told me she was 12.

Chachi and his dance partner

Tami with two of the girls

Then we returned to our hotel and I think had supper, some probably swam in the pool some more, I don't really remember.  I think I chilled with Tami in a hammock for a while. 

quite relaxing

Oh, now I remember!  That night there was a party at our hotel!  I wasn't even aware of what was going on because I was hanging out with some people in one of our rooms, but apparently it got pretty crazy out there.  There was blasting music until about 2:30 AM.  The next morning the pool was brown and everything was really trashed and dirty, empty bottles and garbage all over. 

That day, we went to a place called the Blue Lagoon.  We had to cross a river to get there (we and our vans went on a boat lol)

At one point we were driving and then it just randomly started down pouring.  It was really beautiful and apparently is typical for jungle weather.

Then once we got to the Blue Lagoon (which wasn't actually very blue) everyone enjoyed jumping off the long dock into the water and taking photos. 

Eduardo and Yllen

Chachi and Tami

Tami and Chachi hahaha

Most of the class

And Tami and I were just sitting on the dock at one point, relaxing.  I was just looking at some photos on my camera, and Tami was doing a short vlog on her phone (taking a quick video of herself) when all of a sudden, a large wasp decided to land on my leg and basically what happened was this:  I screamed (loudly) and attempted to swat it away, it stung me anyways (on my left thigh, on the side, a bit above my knee), the wasp thing died and fell into the water (it was a really big wasp and scared the **** out of me lol) and I was sitting there with it's stinger sticking out of my leg.  Tami pulled it out and called over help.  It was very painful and it was swelling up around where I was stung, with a large, blood red circle in the middle where the stinger had been.  And so I was basically crying and shaking on the dock while everyone was gathering around me and trying to help.  One of our tour guides cleaned it up and they gave me some pills for the pain and so that I didn't have a reaction or something... I don't really know.  I'd never been stung by anything before (just mosquitos, never a bee or wasp or anything).  It was really scary and it hurt a lot.  They helped me up and Tami helped me walk off the dock to where we'd be eating lunch.  And although I was kind of traumatized and in pain, it was still UNBELIEVABLY HILARIOUS when we realized that Tami had captured the attack of the wasp while she was doing her vlog!  Well, she didn't really get video of it happening, just of me screaming hahaha.  And so we watched that many, many times ahahaha and it is soo funny because it's just like Tami talking like "and now we're in the blue lagoon, as you can see, the water isn't actually blue, it's kind of -" and then I start screaming hysterically hahahahaha. 

This was pretty much minutes before I got stung

After that, the pills they gave me made me super sleepy and kind of out of it.  So we had lunch and then took a boat ride but I don't really remember the boat ride because I pretty much passed out and slept.  Then we returned to the hotel I think. 

That night we went out to some club/restaurant/karaoke place.  Me and a few others got pizza and then everyone did karaoke and it was pretty fun, actually.  Tami and I sang Don't Stop Believing and it was awesome hahaha.

The next day (our last day) we went to this place that makes chocolate, but it was a suuuuper disappointing tour that actually lasted 4 minutes.  And then some people bought chocolate.  And then we went and toured this place that made cigars.  It smelled really bad in there.  And then I think we went to some artisan place and I bought two pairs of earrings (I'm proud of how little money I spent on this trip haha the earrings were the only things I bought besides soda).  Then we had lunch in a restaurant and then we all rushed back to the hotel, loaded all our bags into the vans, and returned to the airport in Tarapoto to return to Lima. 

Oh and here was a nice sunset from one night

And there was really cool lightning but this was the best I got attempting to capture it

So that was the trip!  I got back yesterday probably around 9 or 10 PM I think... and I slept today until 1:30 PM.  And tomorrow I shall return to school, then we have Friday off because of a holiday or something, and then on Monday I go on another trip, this one to Cusco/Machu Picchu/Puno/Lago Titicaca and it will be my second rotary trip!  I have been having so many great opportunities to travel here!!! I'm unbelievably lucky!

Byeee!

Little Things

Yesterday (Friday), I had school like normal, and then later that day went and had pizza at a classmate's house!  It was really fun and I had an awesome night. 

For my class trip coming up (Oct. 25th to Tarapoto, Peru) I bought the plane ticket of a girl in the class that was planning on going but then broke her foot... so today I had to get up pretty early for a Saturday (8:30) and went to some place with my host mom and the girl's dad to change the flight ticket from her name to mine.  I have also paid for my flight for my Cusco/Machu Picchu/Puno/Lago Titicaca trip, so I'm glad to have that taken care of!  After that, my host mom and I had lunch at Mcdonalds, then returned to the house, where I immediately plunked myself down on the couch with my blanket and enjoyed a nap! 

It has been a really good week!  It is getting hotter here, and the sun actually comes out some days!  It is unbelievably pleasant to be sitting on the warm clay tiles in my school's courtyard with my best friends, basking in the sun, enjoying our half hour recess together.  I have felt so happy here the last 2 weeks.  I look forward to every day, to the little things that I love, like the moment I just mentioned above, sitting in the sun with the people that make me happy.  I'm really lucky to have several close, sincere friends, which makes all the difference.  I am hoping that this good mood continues. 

As I mentioned in the second paragraph, I'll be leaving on a trip next week! 

Tarapoto is where that blue thing points to haha

It's like, right on the edge of the jungle, I think that's what I was told at least... so it should be fun!!! :D

Byeee
-Ginga

Life is Wonderful

Hello world!  I'm in a fabulous mood this fine evening, and not even for any particular reason.  I just feel quite content in this moment!  Let's see, my last post... I was describing the beginning of my week long vacation from school.  Well, that vacation has ended (it was quite nice) and I am back at school. 

Some highlights from my week so far:

• Stopped at McDonalds with a few classmates yesterday
• Played volleyball in gym class (quite a nice change from the tumbling skills we've been working on for the last two months...)
• Got some info on prom!  Yeah, I get to go to my school's prom!  It's in December, and will be held at a hotel here.  I'm excited!
• Got some info about a trip!  It's called the Viaje de Promo-- basically it's the equivalent of a senior year trip.  The oldest grade here (quinto) has decided to take their trip to Tarapoto, a city in the jungle.  They'll be staying for 4 days and 3 nights.  I and the other 3 exchange students were informed 2 days ago that we will be allowed to go on this trip.  Unfortunately, due to the short notice in which they informed us (the trip is next week....) and the cost, 2 of us 4 exchange students will not be going.  However, I will be going!  I'm so pumped!!  I'm so unbelievably lucky to have all these opportunities. 
• I'm still learing lots of jerga (slang) at school!  I feel proud when I can use it correctly and sound like a real Peruvian teenager :)

 That's all I can think of for now... I guess I'll throw in a few pictures because this is a kind of short post. (some will be older pictures, not so recent)

All of my best friends!  This was at a "school olympics" day.  From left:  Chachi (classmate), me, Tami (exchange student at my school from Canada), Emilie (exchange student at my school from Denmark)

The American exchange students posing in Arequipa during our trip

One school day, we exchange students brought food from our countries and our flags.  Above, two of my classmates used my flag as a blanket haha

This is me and some classmates after school one day!  From left: Chachi, me, Andre, Paloma, Eduardo, Karina

I don't remember if I've already posted this photo...anyways, this is me and Tami posing in our school uniforms (this is the formal uniform, which we wear on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays)

Okay, that's all for now!  Bye!

A Good Start to my Vacation

So, as I mentioned, we had school on Monday and then the rest of the week we have off!  At first I wasn't actually thrilled by this news, because I figured it would just lead to me sitting in the house watching movies all day.  But I've managed to go out and spend some time with friends.

On Tuesday, my host mom,  my best friend Emilie from Denmark, and my other best friend Chachi (a classmate at school), and I all went to Callao, a district of Lima on the coast. 

First we went to a place called Real Felipe, which I think was like a castle/fortress thing...not sure...anyways we toured around that place and it was a little bit boring listening to the guide, but me and Emilie and Chachi enjoyed each others' company. 

Emilie and I at Real Felipe

After Real Felipe, we went to another spot in Callao called La Punta (in english= the point).  We just walked around and checked out the beach (but not to go swimming, much too cold) and came across a display of different country's flags, and the flags were made out of flowers!  It was interesting.  While we were looking at the flags, several people asked us where we were from, and then asked to take pictures with us!  It was so great!  I love being a gringa (sometimes) haha.

A lovely shot

Emilie and I at the beach

Chachi and Emilie at the beach

And this was a photo that Chachi took, and I edited. I really like it

After that, we ate pollo a la brasa (chicken and french fries) at a restaurant and then returned to my house, where we proceeded to watch Twilight: New Moon on my laptop hahahaha.  It was an awesome day, we laughed a lot and had a ton of fun, it made me really happy.

The next day I chilled at my house for most of the day and then went to Mcdonald's with a classmate, and then we were going to go to another classmate's house but we weren't sure how to get there, so we just went back to my house and watched a movie. 

And today I am planning on going to the birthday party of another exchange student!  It should be really fun.  I'm glad I've had something to go do each of the days of my vacation so far.  It's been an enjoyable couple of days and I'm feeling good!

Also, one other thing, my host mom bought cheese from Wisconsin today (a brand called Crystal Farms I believe).  It was delightful. 

Just a day

Well nothing significant has happened, and things are more and more routine now, like it's getting harder for me to thing of what to write about in my blog.  So I'll just go through my day yesterday so you can see what a typical day is like for me.

I woke up at 6:45 AM and pulled on my white button up shirt, navy school sweater, navy tie, plaid skirt, knee high navy socks, and black shoes.  This was one of the rare days that I actually decided to wear the complete uniform, correctly (typically I wear my own colored shirts, and wear leggings under the skirt) but I did leave my hair down although I'm supposed to wear it up. 

For breakfast I ate cereal.  Typically I would eat bread with jam, or bread with ham/cheese, but my host mom bought me Froot Loops the last time we were at the store so I've been eating those.  I packed a small bag of froot loops in my backpack to eat in class, along with two packages of cookies.

My host dad drove me to school at about 7:35, and I arrived at about 7:40 or 7:45 (right on time).  In the beginning of the school day, we all line up with our grades and do 'formation'.  Basically an irritated woman with a microphone shouts "Distancia" and we take a step apart from eachother.  Then she says "Descansa" and we go from standing with our feet together, to one foot out to the side (like a relaxed stance).  Then she says "Atencion" and we stand with our feet together and our hands behind our back and listen to announcements and other nonsense for typically 20 to 25 minutes.  But Mondays are a little different; not only do we go through formation and listen to the usual nonsense, on Mondays they also raise the Peruvian flag and sign the Flag Raising anthem, then the Peruvian National Anthem, then the school's anthem.  This all takes place in the school 'courtyard'.  After that is finished, we are dismissed and go to our classes. 

Yesterday I was the only exchange student who came to school because:

A: This week we only have school on Monday (vacation rest of the week)
B: Monday was exams for most of the day

So I'm still in class with cuarto, so I go to class with cuarto.  In the United States, everyone has a different schedule, and you go to many different classes with totally different people.  In my school here, everyone in the same grade has the same schedule.  AKA, we all have the same classes together all day.  So the only time I see my other friends/anyone else from a grade other than cuarto....is during our 30 minute recreo and 15 minute break.

I don't specifically remember what classes I had (a lot of the time I don't even know, I just follow my class wherever they're going) but here's a few highlights of the school day:

1)  At one point, some of the boys in my class came across a fluttering moth on the ground.  They proceeded to pick it up and throw it at each other, all screaming and laughing (I was laughing myself I'll admit) and this went on for several minutes before one boy finally stepped on it.  When that happened, all the others 'attacked him' (hit him/kicked him but not hard enough to hurt, more like pretending) for being a murderer. 

2) I pulled out my bag of froot loops in class and immediately heard a roar of "Invitame, pe!" "Por favoooooor, invitameeee" AKA everyone begging for me to share.  So of course I shared.  Mostly everyone liked it, except for a few who said it was too sweet for their taste.

3) During recreo, I sat by a few kids from quinto (the grade I used to be in) and they asked me about my trip and how it went, and asked me questions, and at one point they were holding my hair and examining it (everyone here is fascinated by my 'blonde' hair) and one of them even sat down so they could put my hair on their head.  It was hilarious because it was a boy, attempting to wear my hair.  Everyone was laughing so hard.  I just went with the flow.  And they all ask me weird questions... "what is your model guy? do you like chinese people? do you like black people? did you kiss victor on the trip?" they are convinced I'm in love with Victor, the other exchange student in my class from belgium.  It's so funny

4) In english class I listened to music with a kid that I had previously disliked (due to the fact that every time I saw him all he would do is give me the middle finger and was constantly teasing me) but we discussed it, and he explained and apologized.  Better to have a friend than an enemy.

Then at 2 o'clock, school ended (normally ends at 3 but it ended early yesterday because of the exams) and we all filed out of the school.  I waited for a few minutes to say goodbye to my friend Chachi but he had already left, so I started walking home.  I walk home from school everyday, and I think its about 7 blocks or so.  It takes like 20 or 25 minutes, but its not so bad.  On my way home from school, I believe 2 people called out 'gringa!' at me, trying to get my attention.  It still kind of freaks me out.

When I got to the house, I rang the buzzer by the door so my host mom could throw down the keys from the window (I lost my keys....).  She didn't realize I'd be coming home early, so lunch wasn't made, so she said we'd go out to eat.  We ended up eating at a cafe in a clinic.... which at first I was hesitant about but the food ended up good so whatever haha.  I had salchipapa, which is french fries with cut up pieces of hot dog on top, and people here typically smother it with mayo and ketchup but I prefer just ketchup. 

After this, we returned to the house and my host mom left to do a dance class.  I stayed home and watched movies on netflix on my computer because the last time she convinced me to go with her to her class (just to sit and watch) I discovered that the class was OUTSIDE in the cold, at 9 at night and that was no fun.  I finished watching the Matrix two days ago, also watched part of Forrest Gump, then yesterday watched Bruce Almighty and part of Twilight...... just because I read the books and was curious hahaha.  I always watch the movies with spanish subtitles so I can read along with it and possibly learn something haha.  While I watched my movies, I also chatted with some of my classmates on facebook and attempted to make plans for this week (as I mentioned, we are on vacation) and I have no idea what im going to do all week.

Then I ate steak, chicken, and rice for supper (we had supper at about 10 oclock, maybe a little later....that is crazy to me).  I can not handle the amount of food here.  Everyone says I eat like a bird (that I barely eat anything) but I just cannot finish the portions here. I'm a tiny person, and they give me heaps and heaps of food and I try to finish to be polite but every day they keep giving me the same huge portions despite my requests for less food.  -.-  I haven't weighed myself but I have to imagine that I've gained weight because I feel like I'm eating a lot more here.

Then I showered, and went to bed at around midnight or 11:30 I think...  that was my day!

Our First Rotary Trip!

Long time no post! I'm still alive people!  I returned yesterday from our first rotary trip!  We traveled around the south of Peru, and even ventured into the tip of Chile!  It was a tiring and crazy adventure that I'm excited to share with everyone!

But before I start the loooong post on our first rotary trip, I believe I did mention that a few days before the trip we all went to the peruvian congress for a welcoming ceremony.  It was filmed and was on peruvian television but I've been unable to find the video.  Here's a few pictures from that:

Dressed up and rotary blazered up!

From left:  Colin (Belgium), Me (USA), Laura (USA), Lara (USA)

From left: Ian (USA) and I (USA).  We are the two students from Wisconsin :)

The group of German students being welcomed!  From left: Romy, Felisa, Ben, Moritz

In the congress building! My best friend Emilie (Denmark) and I

So that was that!  And now for the trip!  Honestly, it was so long and packed full of activities that I will have some SERIOUS trouble remembering what we did from the start, but I'll do my best. 

The trip began on September 26th.  I woke up at the ripe hour of about 3 AM to get to the airport in time for my 6 AM flight to Arequipa, a city in the south of Peru.  Despite the early departure, everyone was really excited to get going.  Our plane landed in Arequipa as planned and I stepped out into the already thin air (significantly higher up than Lima) and had my breath taken away by the view.  We were greeted by beautiful mountains and shocking blue skies and sun (a rarity in Lima). 

Emilie and the beautiful view right off the airplane!

I don't quite remember what we did at this point (I'll be saying that a lot in this post) but I think we boarded a bus and started for Chivay, Peru with many stops along the way for pictures.  Many of us were affected by altitude sickness during this leg of the journey, and the winding, narrow, twisting roads up the mountains didn't help much.  I had altitude pills so I was pretty much okay, but one thing that did get to me was the dryness.  I had more than one bloody nose during the trip and a dry throat.
 

Taken from inside the bus.  Dry, dusty roads and dry, dusty cactuses (but a great sky!)

We stopped to view some vicuñas (similar to llamas/alpacas).  This animal is on the peruvian flag.

And we all took pictures by this amusing sign:

From left: Felisa (Germany), Laura (USA), Hannah (USA), Sascha (Denmark), Romy (Germany)

From left: Bastien (France), Victor (Belgium), me (USA)

Tea made with coca leaves to help with altitude sickness

Also candies made with coca:  here's an article about the benefits of coca if you're interested           http://www.livestrong.com/article/478795-what-are-the-benefits-of-coca-tea/

We stopped by a spot with tons of alpacas.  Me, Felisa (Germany), Emilie (Denmark) , Elise (Australia)

After lunch and touring by bus, we reached our hotel!  It was really nice! 3 or 4 people stayed in each room and we all enjoyed the hot thermal baths:

In the baths!

And a little alpaca/llama farm at the hotel

If I am remembering correctly, the next morning we got up early and got back on the bus to go to Colca Canyon:  http://wikitravel.org/en/Colca_Canyon

It's a really popular tourist spot...and normally you have to get up there SUPER early ( like 5 in the morning) to see the condors!  We got there around 9 AM and saw one condor for about 3 minutes hahaha.

There was also a lot of artisan stuff (I think it was a special tourism day or something).  I bought a pair of knit mittens and knit socks (it was pretty cold and windy up there)

One group went for a hike but I stayed back at the bus with Emilie for 2 reasons:

A:  She had been having medical issues (losing feeling in her fingers/face, nearly passing out) and I wasn't about to leave her

B: I myself was having trouble breathing up there (it was like trying to breathe through a dusty cloth) and the more I thought about the fact that I couldn't breathe, the worse it got and the more I panicked.  I decided that hiking in this altitude wasn't something I wanted to do hahaha (well hiking in any altitude isnt something I want to do hahaha)

Me and the canyon behind me

Me and Emily (USA) enjoyed taking mid-air photos hahaha

After that, we stopped at a small pueblo/village with more artisan stuff, and this:

hahaha

I don't know what happened after that.  I think we went back to Arequipa... yeah, that seems right.  I think we got to our hotel (also a pretty nice hotel) and I believe I was rooming with Tiphaine (from France).  I think we had some time that night to go out and explore a little bit of the city.  Our hotel was very close to the Plaza de Armas (I'll put a pic later, its like the center of the city) and therefore there were a lot of tourists and gringos (I didn't like it, I just felt like another tourist, and I like to think that 'exchange student' is ranked a little above that).  Anyways, we explored, got ice cream, browsed the shops and just enjoyed ourselves.  I bought a t-shirt :)

I think the next day we went to a school in Arequipa and did activities with rotary people there.... It was actually super boring and not at all the way I wanted to spend a day of my trip...but it was funny when all the exchange students decided to start pushing each other in the pool!  This is a common theme with us whenever we're together hahaha and the only reason I wasn't pushed in was because I had my camera in my hands.  

Ben (Germany) even went as far as to running up to the roof in order to avoid being thrown in the pool, but his efforts were for nothing.  He put up a good fight but met his fate minutes later: see photo below hahaha

Typically you were given a few seconds to take off your shoes and remove your cell phone from your pocket before you were thrown in the pool :) 

Liam and Tami (both Canadians obviously)

Again, I don't remember what we did... but I think we probaby had more free time in Arequipa.  Here is a picture of the Plaza de Armas by night:

I also don't know what happened the next day... it is so hard to remember all the stuff we did in a week... well, at one point we went to a monastery and several museums (kind of boring but I got some good pics of the monastery)

a cool setting on my camera (color selection)

If I haven't mentioned what Inca Kola is (and shame on me if I haven't) here's an explanation.  It's an extremely popular soda here (more popular than coca cola or pepsi) and it's basically only popular in Peru.  It's EXTREMELY sugary and therefore unbelievably sweet... many say it tastes like bubble gum.  At first I wasnt crazy about it, but now I love it .

Emilie and I in front of Volcano Misti in Arequipa

A lot of the time this trip was spent touring various spots by bus, so it all kind of runs together in my mind... I don't know what else we did in Arequipa.... well, eventually we left Arequipa and drove 6 hours to Tacna (right at the southern border of Peru).  

We mostly just explored, shopped, ate, and swam at the hotel pool.  At one point I was sitting beside the pool in my swimsuit and was pushed in from behind. (like I said, this is a popular theme with us).  So I got out, dried off, put on clothes, and was standing near the tables by the pool when they decided it would be funny to throw me in AGAIN.  I put up a fight, but tiny, 16 year old me against gigantic, 19 year old Laurent from Belgium led to an expected loss... and I was dragged, kicking and screaming, into the pool, in my clothes.  But it was all good fun :)  Well, I can say that now that I'm dry and warm haha.

In Tacna, I bought a sweater and a columbia jacket (we found a spot where stuff was dirt cheap, I bought a nice columbia jacket for 33 soles=12 dollars US).  

After Tacna, we spent one day in Arica, Chile!  It was a huge pain in the butt to get in and out of Chile (crossing the border took us about 2 hours each time) and after the this and the time difference, we only ended up with about 5 hours in Chile.  But I loved it.  Chile was beautiful and the city of Arica was just so....energized!  I don't know how to explain it, but I loved it.  

For those who don't know, Peru and Chile kind of have a rivalry going on, each believing the other stole their culture or whatever....like, people here hate it when I say my first country choice for exchange was Chile hahaha. Peru and Chile are always trying to be better than the other.  When we first entered the country, one of the tour guides joked "Y ahora estamos en Chile... huele feo, no?"  which translated to "And now we're in Chile....it smells bad, right?"  

 

Me and Emilie by the ocean in Chile

 

A lovely view of Arica, Chile

 

it was a cool city

We had lunch at a restaurant by the ocean, took photos, and visited a few museums (boring) and had one hour free time to shop (we all changed some of our money to chilean pesos) and explore the city.  I would have liked more free time in Chile but oh well.  I bought a cute little purse in our one hour free time.  Then we went back to Tacna.

I don't remember what else we did in Tacna but I think we had a free day before we had to go back to Arequipa to fly back to Lima and finish our trip.  After our last day in Tacna, we drove 6 hours back to Arequipa and then flew back to Lima.  We flew back on October 4th.  I was picked up at the airport by my host mom and returned back to Lima.  I loved the trip and reallllly enjoyed spending time with the exchange students but, crazily enough, I am looking forward to returning to school and seeing all my classmates.

Back in Arequipa at dusk, about to board the plane to return to Lima

The parts I enjoyed the most of our trip was our time in Chile and the free time we all got to spend with each other.  I loved browsing shops and comparing artisan purchases, shrieking and splashing in the pool, running across the street from the hotel to buy bags full of soda and junk food for that night, laughing and posing with our flags, and gathering in one person's hotel room to listen to music and pig out on previously mentioned junk food.  I love our group of exchange students, and how each and every person, from each and every country, is special and unique and awesome. Of course there are groups of us that are closer than others, some people are fonder of some than others, and of course we squabble and act immature occasionally but in the end we are all a family and we always have each others' backs.  

I hope you enjoyed this post, although I know it is full of gaping holes and blanks where I can't remember what we did.  Our next trip is to Cusco and Machu Picchu............so that will be amazing :)

Love you all,
~ Ginger