Primer Viaje.

Well, I returned from my first trip in Peru about a week ago.

What

A

Blast.

It started at 3am on a Thursday when Bastien and I woke up to catch our taxi to the airport in Callao. There, we met up with the majority of the group, checked in, and waited to go through security for our 6 & 630am flights. (The group was too big to fit on one plane to Arequipa.)

After landing in Arequipa, the 40 of us piled into a coach bus to start the looong, yet incredibly beautiful and sight-filled journey through the mountains to Colca Canyon, where we would visit some small towns and view the deepest canyon in the world. 

Now, Arequipa and Colca area are at incredible heights (3500 meters) and that led to altitude sickness. One remedy we were given was chewing coca leaves (not cocoa, coca) and drinking coca tea. This has been practiced for thousands of years, and while I still questioned the effectiveness, it was a pretty cool experience. That first day of experiencing the altitude was the worst for most of us. We made a few stops on our way to our Colca Lodge, including some stops to view llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas, a few rest stations to drink coca tea, and a restaurant that nobody really ate at because of the altitude sickness.

after arriving at Colca lodge (finally) we were given some rest time, so many of us went to the thermal pools that the lodge offered, while others toured the Alpaca farm the lodge had. I personally chose the thermal baths because I wasn't feeling good enough for a hike, and they were SO nice to be in. Very relaxing. 

The entirety of Colca lodge was very relaxing in fact, it seemed to be like more of a spa than anything, but we didn't spend much time there. At night, we took the bus into town for dinner at a restaurant that featured traditional dances and music. At one point, I stood up and danced too, and was given some traditional clothes to dance in. Pretty soon everyone was dancing in this little cramped room but it was so much fun.

When we returned to the hotel it was late and I was tired, but I couldn't help but notice something in the sky that we don't get in Lima-- stars. An entire sky of them, out in the country. That's one thing I really missed and it was nice to enjoy them again in their full glory.

Anyway that was day 1 of my journey. 

Check back soon for the rest!

It's been awhile

Well it's been so long since I've last posted, far too much has happened for me to write it all down on here. Kind of a shame, really, though it is all in my journal. 

I am becoming much more comfortable here in Lima. Every so often I get murderously homesick but it only lasts for a day or so. My grandparents from the states recently came down to tour Peru, and they were a me to find time to spend with me which was AMAZING of them. They also brought me things from the US that are either nonexistent in Peru or very hard to find/ridiculously expensive.

I took my grandparents to all my favorite places in my district, had them try some commonplace Peruvian cuisine, and even took them to the once a year food festival on the beach! The best part was when they met my host family. I think it took a lot of worry off my grammas shoulders when she realized what an amazing family I have down here. It means the world that I am with the family I have, and that my family back home is comfortable with them too.

School has been better, it's about as good as my Spanish. Both Spanish-speaking and school seem to have their good days and bad days with me. Some days are great, others... Well, those bad days usually instigate the homesickness.

But, all in all, I'm enjoying school and my friends, Peruvians and exchange students alike.

Speaking of spending time with exchange students.. 

Today everyone got out of school to meet at the congress of the republic and listen to the Vice President speak a bit! We all had our blazers and had a grand old time:) even got a pin from the VP himself! 

Also, our first trip is on Thursday. We leave for ten days to Arequipa, tacna, colca, and finally, Arica, which is in chile!

I will post about it:)

Because I am sick (2)

 At the airport there was about two minutes of goodbyes and.. Poof. Gone through security. I guess that's how it is. We went outside to see his plane take off with some other students and another family, and I started thinking about my own family and if I'd done enough for them before I'd left. As I watched Nicolas' plane roar through the air, I got goosebumps for him because I knew what it was like to be where he was, on a plane directly into the unknown.

I want to take this time to thank everybody who has gotten me this far.
Mom, dad, Zane, Zoe. My grandparents, Waupaca rotary. District 6220, central states, all of my other organizational families. Thank you.

Also my mailing address! Send me things! Letters especially!

Ian Johnson
Lord Cochrane 347
Dpto. 202, Lima 18
Peru, S.A.

Again, if there is anything specific you want to know, comment please!
Peace&love. Chao!
-Ian

Oh and more pictures.

Because I Am Sick.

Goodmorning, everyone! Yes, I am actually pretty sick with a cold and have been for about two days, but today I feel good enough to write to you all about what's been going on. Which is a lot.
Last Monday, I started school. Let me tell you, it has been nothing like America. I attend a private school, "San Ignacio de Recalde" in the San Borja district of Lima, along with six other exchange students from my rotary district. The first day of school for us was actually the beginning of second semester for the Peruvians because of the hemisphere flip over the equator. After about 15 minutes of class, we were led down to a gathering area where each student in the school lined up in short rows facing a center area, around a podium with several flags behind it. What was happening was a welcoming ceremony for the second semester. I didn't get much out of it besides the fact that a junior soccer team won a tournament and a student from my grade level went to a national debate tournament. Then the exchange students were introduced. One by one, our seven names were called and we were applauded (not that any of us knew what was going on besides our introduction). The whole ceremony lasted a good hour and a half while we stood there and listened without much understanding. I do feel blessed to be going to a school with so many exchange students. Many of us are alone in schools, which has got to be terrible. Our schooldays at SIR go kinda like this: 5 classes per day with one recess and one lunch period. Each class is an hour and a half long, and no one day is like the next in terms of class scheduling. One day for first period I have physics, and the next, chemistry. I kinda like it, it's never going to get boring, especially with the students in my particular room. (By the way, we stay in the same room all day and the teachers come to us). South American students have zero respect for most of their teachers, but the teachers don't really care. There could be total anarchy going on behind them and they will just continue lecturing. I kind of admire them for that, I really don't think an American teacher would last ten minutes down here. As far as my understanding of the classes, it's tough right now because of my less-than-stellar Spanish skills, but the two classes in English that I have should be just fine, same with art and gym.





Outside of school, I have been playing tons and tons of soccer, wherever we can. Usually I am with my friends Bastien and Moritz, other exchange students. There are some cement courts close to our school that we go to to play pickup games with Peruvians. I would like to say that my soccer skills have already improved a bit, I can't wait to see how I've grown by the end of the year. Also, I have been going to see several movies. Here, movies are dirt cheap, especially on Tuesdays, but the theaters are at least three times as nice as American theaters. Mostly I go only where I am taken (except to school) but in a month or so I think I will have a bit more freedom to be after school with my friends. There is a place very near to my house that is on the way home from school called kennedy park, named after JFK. It is a sort of shopping plaza with lots of great restaurants and stores. A few days ago we stopped there for some Belgian fries and inca kola, and I think we will make that a weekly tradition because it was great fun.



I've been around my extended family a lot as well. Last week, I was taken to a show in city center by my aunt. Called 'Brisas del Titicaca', the show featured about six hours of traditional highland dances and live music. I had so much fun watching, and even more fun dancing, when there was audience participation time. Next, there was a party for my aunt, who was turning 80, and let me tell you, this was some party. It lasted from 7pm until 3am, at one of the nicest hotels in Lima. About 150 family members were in attendance from all over the world, including Italy and Wisconsin! Arriving at 7 (two hours late ) we were among the first arrivals to this formal event (yes I wore my rotary blazer) and we began eating at around 830. Finishing dinner around 1030, the wall of desserts was soon devoured and the dancing began. It was honestly one of the most fun nights here so far and I can't wait to have some like it with my friends.

Finally, the departure of my host brother Nicolas to Belgium. After two weeks of him helping me around Lima, we took him to the airport Sunday morning to say goodbye. I remember my departure being very different, taking my time packing and saying goodbye. With Nicolas, he packed the night before, and

One week

So it's been a week, a week nothing short of a whirlwind. 

I arrived safely in Peru with 7 other American students at approximately 2am. I didn't get to bed until 4am, and I was up by ten for a party with extended family members across town. I was very grateful that my body handles Peruvian food well, and to be honest I haven't had many problems to speak of, barring language barrier..

Which is why I was also very grateful for the Spanish classes my district made up for all the inbounds this week. There are 37 of us, all with different levels of Spanish. I was placed in an intermediate class, for example. 

I will try to hit as many topics as I can in each post, but the best way for me to go about this I feel is to answer YOUR questions about Peru. So, comment your questions and I will answer them as best as I can!

I'll start with weather. Right now it is winter in Peru and I haven't seen the sun or stars since Ive been here. It seems to be perpetually foggy/ misty. Also, it's colder than you think. 60 degrees Fahrenheit probably doesn't sound too bad, but combine it with near 100% humidity all the time, and it can get pretty cold, especially at night, when the moisture in the air literally becomes rain in front of your face. 

I've gone out a few times at night with my host brother, Nicolas, and it's safe to say you can tell Ive never lived in a city before. I really enjoy myself here at night, especially with other intercambistas (exchange students). They seem to be a source of comfort and hanging out with other teenagers is always a plus compared to Rotarians and older family members. Though I do enjoy my family a lot as well. I've seen a few movies here and last night I went out to eat with two students from France, my host brother, and the sister of one of the French students. Bastien (France) and I each tried anticucho for the first time (cow heart) I really liked it too. I'll probably have more at some point.

Buses. Taxis. Micros. Combis. I've tried every form of travel here and am learning the streets so I can get around by myself once my host brother leaves for Belgium in a week. let me tell you, there are no rules for public transportation in Peru. They do what they want. I've gotten used to it. 

Anyway that's it I guess. I'll update when I get questions in the comments:) 

Peace&love.

Chao!

Also: some pictures:)

Grand Rapids

So tomorrow is the final conference before I head out of America. It is in Grand Rapids, MI at Calvin College. All outbounds and inbounds for the Central States region will be there, and so will many rebounds and rotex members. 

This conference will be the gateway to Peru for me, as I will get to meet kids who are also headed to Peru and kids who are from Peru. It is sure to be a worthwhile experience. Something sort of making me nervous is the language test, but at the same time I know I'll be fine. Spanish has been very easy for me to pick up thus far.

I haven't quite begun packing yet but I will be starting as soon as I arrive home from this weekend. My gifts are pretty much ready to go besides a few foods and candies I will be bringing with me. I have lots of tshirts picked out and some sports teams shirts as well. Hopefully my host families and friends like everything! 

Today I gave my RYE presentation to my home rotary club. It went pretty well, and the Rotarians pointed out several things I could improve upon, and that I did well with. I will be presenting  this PowerPoint to my host rotary club at some point, so it is important that it is a good representation of where I live. 

Exchange is coming :)

Peace&love

-Ian

Flights!

So, my flights to Peru were finalized today!
It's starting to hit me now, the fact that I'm actually leaving my home for a year. I'm starting to realize which of my friends and family I've already said goodbye to for the last time, tangibly anyways. Every minute here is becoming oh so precious.

Yesterday I participated in my town's 4th of July parade, along with the exchange students past, present, and future (like me!) We marched with our host/home country's flags draped around us and waved to the masses of people on main street. I really enjoyed it and have recently rediscovered how much I love being around other exchange students, even if I don't know them that well. They're a special sort of people for sure.

Peace&love.
-Ian