World Explorer

Whoops, it seems I have been sadly neglecting this blog for my entire time in Bolivia (which is pushing five weeks now). I'll try to briefly summarize some of the escapades I've been taking part in the last little while. After finishing up my volunteer position in Ancahuasi I happily left Cusco December 12. My first stop was Puno, near the Peruvian side of world famous Lake Titicaca (or locally Lago Titikaka). Lake Titicaca is the highest ''navigable'' lake in the world, which is an extremely strange title in my opinion and after some asking, have found it to mean that one can take a boat across the lake anytime of the year (without it being iced over). I first visited the Uros floating islands which are people-made and consist of reeds woven together to make ... read more

Well, I´ve been in Cusco (think The Emperor´s New Groove or Inca Capital or oldest countinusouly inhabited city in South America or city shaped like a puma) for over three weeks and it´s high time I sent out an update! I have been doing lots of activities, thinking about many issues and generally experiencing countless new things, so be warned this is likely going to be long, but hopefully interesting. I´ve decided to include a summary at the END (so as not to spoil anything) so if you want the one minute read instead of ten minute read, scroll down. Volunteering: Why don´t I start with the actual reason I am here? I am in Cusco for six weeks (so just under three more) to volunteer in the Ancahuasi Puesto de Salud, which in English terms ... read more

Today marked the last day of my Spanish classes after an entire month. I can´t believe how quickly the time went by! I do feel like I´ve learned A LOT of Spanish and am eager to be more or less completely immersed in it so that my speech improves (I´m a visual learner and as such am fine with the written language, but speaking and listening/understanding is a bit harder for me). Last weekend the Ch(K)ristines and I went straight up the coast to an adorable little surfing town called Huanchaco. We didn´t do much there except eat a lot of cebiche (raw, marinated fish and other seafood) and take surf lessons. I am pleased to share that the surfing actually went quite well (especially when compared to my attempt in Hawaii). I was able to ... read more

It´s hard to believe I´ve been in Peru for two weeks already! This trip is definitely feeling a bit weird because the first half of it is with my volunteering program and thus there isn´t that much travelling and exploring going on. On the flip side, I suppose I actually get to experience what life is like in Lima and will similarly get to know the ins and outs of Cusco when I go there in two weeks. Also, the whole learning another language deal is pretty awesome. I´m staying in the volunteer house in Lima for all of October with two other girls (Kristine and Christine) who are also learning Spanish and going to volunteer in Cusco, the program coordinator Kent and another girl named Rachel who is volunteering in an HIV/AIDS clinic here in ... read more

Hello friends! This is probably going to be my primary means of updating you all on my excellent adventures whilst in South America. I'll try to make a new post every week or two, internet availability permitting. The next post I'll be in Lima!!!! I can't wait!... read more