Over the past two weeks, I haven't been very active about posting on my blog, and most of my previous posts have been about the trips I have gone or insights I have had, so this post I decided to dedicate to telling you all about some of my favorite things about Lima. A sort of top ten, but this one doesn't have any particular order. So here we go...
1. The Malecon. It is this breathtaking set of cliffs, covered by ivy, overlooking the ocean here in Miraflores, perfect for walking, running, or just hanging out with friends. I can't believe how blessed I am to be able to live in just a short walking distance of this gem.
2. My host family. I love that I have gotten the chance to live with and get to know these guys. Whether it is long talks in the kitchen with my host dad or talking about sports games with my host brothers, I love having a family to come back to at the end of the day. Also a special shout out to Neri, she is the women who works as a house keeper at our condo. Although she is not pictured below, she has been a great source of encouragement and I have been lucky to have her around.
3. The combis. This is a love/ hate relationship at its finest. Hate because I am always too big for the seats and my knees will forever feel scrunched with the seat in front of me. Love because although the system is chaotic, it makes it super affordable and easy to get from place to another.
4. Lali, Mama Laura, and Maria Elena. These are the women that make the IFSA study abroad program run. No matter what you know that they are there for you, whether it is help with figuring out school stuff, adjusting to Peruvian life, or just simply cookies and a chat. Whenever you see one of these awesome people, you always leave smiling. In the photo, Lali is getting into the spirit of Halloween and helping us "gringos" feel a little more home.
5. The parks. Featured below is Parque Kennedy, but I really love how many parks we have in Lima. They are a great place to meet up with friends, and experience the cultural side of Lima. Whenever I get the chance I try to make sure my route includes a park because you never know what you will find. One time, I found a mime group, another it was group of elderly couples dancing to classic Limeña songs; life is full of surprises.
6. La Lucha. This sandwich shop is amazing and delicious, but I choose this to represent food here in Peru in general. It is delicious and cheap. I mean, I certainly couldn't get a three course meal and drink for $2.80 in the US!
7. The coffee shops. I have been able to explore the numerous cafes, like Arabica shown below, and have developed a love for the great study atmosphere and good cup of americano. They have given me just another way to explore the city.
8. Chifa (aka Peruvian Chinese food). It is a staple here with Chifa restaurants practically everywhere, you will soon fall in love with it too, after living here for a while. It is its own unique blend of two very different cultures that always makes my taste buds thank me.
9. The mixture of the ancient with the modern. Many cities can boast about having a cool mixture of the new and the old. Their version of old is 100 to maybe a 1000 years old, but in Lima it dates back to before Christ. This is a picture on the street just outside my house, and at the end of the street is Huaca Pucllana, the ruins of an ancient temple. How cool is that?
10. Friends. God has blessed me with some pretty cool friends here. They each have their own distinct, cool personalities that makes me love hanging out with them so much. I am glad to have them here on study abroad and it has been awesome to go through all of the ups, downs, and everything in between during our time here in Peru!
Anyway, I hope that gives a little bit of the flavor of what Lima life is like that maybe my other posts haven't covered. I just wanted to take this chance to share with you some of those "everyday thing" highlights.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
"Pray without ceasing, in everything gives thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
The parks look beautiful!
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