Random cositas

Hello friends!

*BIG HUGS*

Ok so here are a bunch of random things that are different between Lima and, let's say, Austin...

The crazy combi, or transportation system, is there anything else like it?

The manner of driving in general, people come within inches away from each other at 'intersections', they are constantly honking, and it's almost like a game of push and shove...except with cars, combis and taxis.

The lack of rain. It doesn't rain here! awesome, the most precipitation we get is a mist.

But it's humid, year around

The bright colors of the city. A lot of the buildings and houses are painted in bright colors. My host mom told me it was because the sky in the winter time is always gray. Therefore, the bright buildings help brighten things up. Pretty colors!

Greeting people with a kiss on the cheek. Even when it is the first time you have met them. Still trying to perfect my salutations!

The money, el nuevo sol, which is about 2.9 per US dollar. Here you can get a meal for 1 or 2 dollars. woot! AND there is a salon where you can get a manicure for 10 soles...$3/4 :D

They REALLY like rice, and potatoes

The suns rays are stronger because we are nearer to the equator...so I'm getting tan :D and burnt :(

Lima is a really big city, about 10 million. Lots o' people!

People write notes on graph paper, not lined paper...apparently lined paper is just a US thing? haha

Most homes have maids. Here it's cheaper and creates more jobs for people, so it's a lot more common. Interesting!

They have really tasty fruit! and they drink a lot of freshly made juices, like papaya, pineapple, orange, mango..yum!

The most popular crime in Lima is pickpocketing. So I gotta be careful with my pockets and bags and such!

It seems like lunch is the most important part of the day, where we eat the most. and the typical lunch hour is about 1 or 2. My family cooks such good food! Espero que no me engorde!

The beach :D

there is a large chinese population. It's funny coming across Chinese people who speak perfect spanish. It seems so strange to me. haha. So there is really good chinese food here too, with a peruvian twist.

The telephone numbers can be up to nine letters long because they were running out of seven letter numbers haha.

can't put the toilet paper in the toilet!

the drinking water has to be boiled

the water pressure is very little, so it takes awhile to shower.

in restaurants you have to ask for water 'sin gas' or without gas, because apparently they enjoy fizzy water?!

The language, of course, but it's cool to learn about the different words that are different between peru and the rest of latinamerica. Like calato means naked instead of 'desnudo' because calato is a Quechua word. And cano with the tilde(~) means faucet but apperantly that is a really gross word in other countries. Or, avacado is 'palta' not aguacate. :P

People live at home with their parents for a lot longer. Until they are married? But yeah, people don't commonly just 'live on their own'

People say 'que tal' a lot more than 'como estas' and they say 'chao' a lot more than 'adios' they also use the word 'bastante' alot, instead of 'mucho' Hmm!


But anyways, still loving Lima! The only real culture shock I have experienced has been all the fun and excitement. Does that count? They call this the 'honey moon' period because after all the excitement other realities start to kick in. But we'll see!

It's also hard not to embarrass myself, like everyday. Like saying the wrong word, or not understanding someone, or not understanding how things run, or running into a glass window o_O

ok so sorry for no pics this time. I wish I could take pics of the city, but I might get jumped because for want of my fancy shmanshy camera. But I still need to show yall more pics of the beautiful house! Ok now for bed! :D