Day 25: Santa Maria

Today my family took me to an outside restaurant in Santa Maria to eat breakfast. The place was crowded even though it was early morning. It was interesting to know that the place serves only breakfast. 

Later we stopped by the beach in Santa Maria. That place had a beautiful beach. I enjoyed walking around. After leaving Santa Maria, we stopped by the apartment of my family in Miraflores. It was on the 16th floor and had the nice view of beach. My family will take me to the apartment at night some time again. 

Today was the best Sunday morning I've ever had in Peru! 

Day 24: Market, Lunch & Movie Theater

This morning, I woke up at 5 and got ready because my host dad was taking me to the market. The market was a lot of fun. I saw a lot of fruits that I have never seen before. Also, what surprised me most was the cheap price! 2 whole pineapples for 7 soles, 5 kg potatoes for 3.5 soles. Everything was so cheap there. I got 1kg of chia seed for 7 soles ($2). Chia seed has been popular around the world because of the nutrition it has. Chia seed is good for losing weight and skin. I think I will buy more for my family. Overall, I enjoyed walking around the market. I wish to come back some time.

After coming back from the market, I went to eat lunch with my host mom and her nephew and his fiancé. We had pollo a la brasa, which is a grilled chicken and French fries. It was so delicious. The place was one of my host family’s favorite. After eating, I went to his nephew’s house. I found out that the nephew, Maulicio used to work for Vogue Latin American as the youngest producer ever in Vogue. And her fiancé, Andrea has done modeling. This couple is amazing! They are so talented, brave, positive, loving, and thankful! I am very happy to meet these people. Andrea and I watched a movie El Gran Pequeño, and we both enjoyed it.

Later, my host mom, Maulicio, Andrea, and I picked up my host bother and we all went to the movie theater and watched La Gran Apuesta. It was a lot of finances and economies so it was a little hard to understand the story, but it was a good experience.

It was a good Saturday! Thank you for all who made my day!

Day 23: Post Office

Today my host brother, Francisco took me to the post office in Miraflores. In Peru, there are not many post offices. There isn't any in Surco where I live so I had to go to another district. I asked my host brother to take me and we went there by taxi. The post office I used was Serpost. It cost 35 soles to send a large envelop to Japan. I think it is the decent price.

Later we went to Inka Market and I bought some post cards. 1 card cost 1 sole, and I bought 6 cards. Also, we stopped by el Parque Kennedy before going home. I always love the cats there!

My host brother, Francisco is 18 years old. He is a little shy to talk to me. But I think we got close after going out together. He told me that he never hangs out with a girl because he is shy. Before he told me this, I sometimes felt he didn't like living with me or myself because he never talks to me. But today I found out that that was just because of his personality. It is always good to talk and ask people before you misunderstand. Thank you for taking me to Miraflores, Francisco! I loved talking with you!

Day 22: Jockey Plaza

Today I didn't have a class so I went to the Jockey Plaza to hang out with my friends. My friends were already there so I needed to go there by myself. First I went to UPC and tried to find a bus. However, I didn't see any bus going to the Jockey Plaza so I asked people how I can get there. They told me there was no bus that directly goes to the Jockey Plaza. So I took a bust and told a driver I want to go to the Jockey Plaza so he can tell me when I need to get off. I had to get off at Vivanda and it cost only 0.50 soles. When I got off at Vivanda, I had no idea where I can find a bus. There was a bus stop, but I didn't see any bus there so I decided to walk a little bit. Then a bus driver talked to me "Jockey!" Yes! I found a bus to the mall. The bus is not a big bus that Japanese people normally expects. (I have never taken a bus in Nebraska so I don't know how it looks to Americans). But everything was fine. Now I think this bus is s convenient because I can get on anywhere I want. There  is no specific bus stop. A driver just keeps shouting the name of the destination and people get on. From Vivanda to the jockey Plaza, it cost only 1 soles. Public transportations are very cheap in Lima, and I like that!

At the Jockey Plaza, I did some shopping at H&M and supermarket. I got pareo, swimwear, and body lotion. I also got sunscreen of 236 ml and SPF 50! It was just 17 soles. In Peru, sunscreens are very expensive so make sure you bring a lot. You will need more than you think.

Today I had adventure and successful shopping!

3 weeks has already passed since I came to Peru. These days, I often get bored when I am not doing anything. I am tired of being in my room and doing nothing. My host brothers don't like to talk and go out, and I don't have many friends here so I literally have nothing to do. I am tired of sleeping or watching Youtube. It's definitely time to take actions. Next week, I will try something new. Maybe I will go to a coffee shop and talk to somebody or maybe at the library. I challenge myself to try a new thing next week! That is my goal, and I will do it!

Day 21: Adventure

After the class, I was bored so I decided to walk around El Polo Centro Comercial. Luckily, my home is less than 10 minutes walk to get there. I wanted to buy a Pareo for the beach, but I couldn't find one. So I went to the book store. To be honest, it was chaos there. This is the scene I would never see in Japan. It was so funny to me. After leaving the place, I found two small markets. I wanted to buy some food, but strangely they didn't show the price. Customers were just asking shop staffs. I didn't buy anything today, but I would visit there again when they are not busy. Today I saw many new and strange scenes in Lima, Peru! I am learning every day!

El Polo Centro Comercial

El Polo Centro Comercial

Day 20: The San Franciscan Catholic Church

Today I went to the San Franciscan Catholic Church with professors and my class. We took a bus from Miraflores. The bus had two floors and our seats were on the second floor. I enjoyed the ride! The church was amazing. It was very beautiful. There was underground, and I saw skulls there! It was crazy! A lot of bones! Also, there was a library in the church. It was beautiful! Most beautiful library I have ever seen! The first Spanish dictionary was located there in addition to other 250,000 books. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take a picture so I don't have any, but this church is a nice place to visit. I appreciate I could visit this church. 

The San Franciscan Catholic Church

Day 19: Theater

Today a family of Magaly(a friend of my host mom) took me to the theater. The show was En El Barrio directed by Bruno Ascenzo. The show started at 8:30. It was musical. I didn't understand most of the story, but I enjoyed the music and dance! After the show, we had midnight supper at McDonald's. It was first time to eat at McDonald's. Menu was completely different from the one in the U.S. One meal cost about 15 soles ($5). And there were Peruvian sauces! Today I had many new experience in Peru. Thank you, Magaly, Joel, and Cesar!

Day 18: Family Gathering

I visited a family of my host mother. We had lunch together. All of them were typical Peruvian food.

Ceviche

Arroz

Causa

Choclo

Aguadito

Camote

Cancha

Flijores

Peruvian food are very healthy and there are so many varieties. There are so many fruits and vegetables that I have never seen before but most of them are delicious! When you come to Peru, please try Peruvian food as much as you can! I have been eating too much, and my host mom told me that I gained weight... But Peruvian food is too good to stop eating!