Surviving Lima

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HELLO FRIENDS I'M ALIVE!!(I hope nobody is sad about this)
Lima is a crazy city! I got here on Tuesday night at 2 a.m., so technically Wednesday. I had orientation Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. so I had to wake up at 7a.m. to get ready and get the bus at 7:45a.m. to make sure I got there on time. I live in Miraflores, which is a district in Peru that is supposed to be one of the safest districts in Peru with lots of entertainment like restaurants, bars, and shopping, but the downside is it's far from the university (up to an hour long bus ride if there is lots of traffic).
I live with a Sra. who is older and acts just like a mom, telling me, and another person staying with us (his name is Justin and he's from Milwaukee) what to do and what not to do.
The bus system here is very crazy, you just have to know where you're going and which bus to take and where to get off. There is lots of yelling and honking on the streets and there seem to be no laws to be followed. Cars do what they want, they honk and swerve and somehow make it through the small spaces of traffic.
My university is in the middle of Lima, but it's fenced off from the city and is much quieter and has plants and grass and deer running around!! My past two days have been busy with orientation and choosing classes which is a very complex process. Let's cross our fingers that classes are easy!!!!
Tomorrow I have no obligations, so me and two other girls staying in Miraflores are going to explore and become more accustomed to our district (and maybe LEGALLY buy our first alcoholic drinks!!).
The food here has been pretty good so far! It is nearly impossible to be a vegeterian here though. My Senora feeds me breakfast and dinner, so far there has only been meat at dinner, and when I get lunch I don't eat meat so that will have to suffice for the semester.
It's winter here which means the temperature hangs around the 60s everyday and the sky is always gray with clouds and we need jackets and longsleeves because the humidity makes it feel colder. I won't see the sun in Lima for another month or so, but I'm hoping to travel somewhere where I can get some sunlight so I don't get S.A.D. while I'm here. The city is pretty dirty and the exhaust from the cars is very stinky, so that isn't fun. But I live on the 9th floor of an apartment and it isn't so noisy up here. My bed is pretty comfy, and I have my own bathroom so I'm not complaining!
A side story-my plane getting here was delayed because of rain, and my suitcase must have gotten pretty wet because my clothes were wet when I started unpacking, so I hung them around my room and most of them dried so I was able to hang my shirts up in my closet. But my underwear was not really drying and when I got home the first day my Senora saw this and had our criada(maid) take them to dry, which I understood as put them in the dryer. That was not the case, I walked into the kitchen later and on the far side I see all of my lovely undies hanging up in her kitchen, which Justin has to walk by to get to his bedroom. So that was a little embarrassing!! ohhh welll.
I'm learning a lot everyday and so far my spanish speaking skills have worked for me. I hope to be able to not have to think so much about what I want to say though and the tense I'm speaking in.
Hopefully I get to do something this weekend because our classes start Monday so I'm hoping to learn some more about traveling around here!
I don't miss the USA too much yet, sorry guys. But I'm missing all of you and hope to talk to you soon!
Nads

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Photos

Campus
This is the center of our campus, it's a big grassy area and lots of deer hanging out. Don't get too close though, some of them bite!!!

Deer!
Big man on campus! Eating garbage...

Comments

[pat miller]

hello
Hello Natalie, Sounds like you are off to a good start! Sounds like the driving in Lima is similar to Rome-crazy to say the least. Makes you thankful you are on a bus... At least your undies were not hanging out the window. We frequently saw bras and underwear on clotheslines in the European cities we have been in... Elena is quite happy to have her rodent friend back! He will not be lacking any attention for sure. No poop on the floor yet so maybe he is not afraid to be here anymore. Hope you are finding something fun to do this weekend and good luck with the classes.

[nemmerich]

Hello Millers! Yes driving around here is very crazy. And I'm sure the girls laughed a lot when they saw bras hanging out the window, I hope that doesn't happen to me! I'm glad I have Elena to take care of Biggie Smalls, I could tell he missed her. My weekend was good and classes should be, uh, interesting...hopefully all goes well though! Thanks!!