I have be in Peru for almost a month and I continue to learn more and more each day! Lima continues to amaze me, too! For example, one of my favorite ways to see Lima is driving around at night! This is when the most people are out and about and everything is lit. It is absolutely beautiful! I've been learning more about the language, school, culture, and food. I have been doing some fun things, too!
Language
Spanish is very phonetic, meaning how it sounds it how it is spelled. I love that Spanish is phonetic! It makes learning the language a little bit easier! However, the way it sounds does not always give you the correct spelling. In Spanish, "b's" and "v's" are pronounced the same way "b" is pronounced in "bay." Moreover, "c's, (only in certain words)" "s's," and "z's" are pronounced the same way "s" is pronounced in "say." For example, I thought "chevere" (which means cool in Peruvian-Spanish) was spelled with a "b" not a "v." You would not believe how many times I have seen ceviche spelled as both "ceviche" and "cebiche" at restaurants haha! I guess Peru can't make up its mind either haha! The first week I was here I had Spanish classes. When I asked my teachers how we were supposed to know how to spell a word when so many letters sound the same, I was told to just memorize!
Peruvians like to shorten their words. Because of this, I have found myself suddenly lost in a conversation because I have know idea what a word means. For example, they shorten "colegio" to just "cole." More examples include shortening "vamos" to "vao." Students also call their "profesores" "profe."
I have able to understand Spanish a lot better. I know there is still a lot of room for improvement, but I don't have to ask people to repeat themselves as much! Speaking is getting easier, too! I have been told by Peruvians that I have very good Spanish. But I have been warned that people will just say that to be nice without really meaning it haha! However, my host mom has bragged to other people about how I understand just about everything and my speaking is sufficient! I have been able to even understand my teachers a little better at school! Well enough that I am getting 100%'s on quizzes. But then again, the quizzes I do really well on are in math and science!
School
At school, in every class, there is a certain routine we follow. At the beginning of class the teacher writes down all the notes on the chalkboard while students talk. When the teachers is finished with writing, students are given a few minutes to copy the notes. Then, the teacher begins the lecture. Some teachers even ask students to close their notebooks while they are lecturing so they know they have the students' full attention. However, full attention is never given! Most of the students talk during the lecture! One of my biggest pet peeves is when people are talking when they shouldn't be. So, you can imagine how frustrating and annoying class can be sometimes. Especially, when I want to hear the teacher so I can learn the language. Don't get me wrong though, there are students that pay attention and participate as well. I can tell the students don't like sitting in the same classroom for periods of 3 hours sometimes because they like to get up and switch seats a lot. The teachers usually tell the students to be quiet or return to their seats, but nothing more.
The teachers at my school are strict in the oddest ways. For example, our notebooks have to look a certain way-- certain color of cover, notes are the same as the teacher has written them on the board, the notes are colorful and maybe even include pictures, and the quizzes have been pasted into the notebooks. Not following this criteria can mean a bad mark on your grade. Moreover, the teachers are to be applauded every time they walk into the classroom. Another thing I find odd is the openness of grades in the classroom. Being raised in an American educational system has made me very confidential about my grades. In Peru, however, the grades of students are for everyone to know. For instance, the grades the students get on their E.T.I. tests every Monday are announced out loud in class. In every class, teachers call the students who have scored low to the front of the classroom. The teacher than asks questions over what they learned the week before. When the student fails to answer the question the teacher usually gives a look of disappointment and the rest of the classroom laughs. The teacher doesn't really stop the laughing because he/she kind of uses this as a punishment.
Students in Peru have their similarities and differences than those in the U.S. For example, Peruvian students like to play with their pencils and pens on the desk like they're drummers (just like in the U.S.)! However, there are differences. In my school, no one uses calculators. I do not know if they don't use calculators because it is prohibited or they are just too expensive to buy. In chemistry class a couple days ago, we were using decimals when calculating some equations. The teacher had to get out her calculator. So I did, too! I'm so used to using it anyway! When I pulled out my calculator everyone looked at me with curious faces while they said, "Ooooo! Calculadora!" They were in aw. I never thought a calculator could get such a reaction! The students also like to ask me to do a British accent! They love it! I don't have a good British accent, but apparently it's the best they have heard haha!
Culture
This past weekend I had Rotary camp (I will get into more detail about this later). While at camp we learned many important things such as the culture and customs of Peru. One of the customs includes kissing everyone on the cheek when you're greeting or saying good bye to people. If you don't kiss everyone on the cheek, they take it as an offense. I learned a very interesting "paradox" about Peru, too. The camp staff very straight-forwardly told us that Peru is a discriminating country. For example, the official language of Peru is Spanish, however, it is supposed to be Quechua (a native language). When people speak Spanish with a Quechuan accent they are disowned by other people. But the interesting thing that makes this situation a paradox is that Peru is very proud of it's heritage and diverse culture. It's a very odd dynamic that I am still trying to understand! But you can tell how proud Peru is! For example, Peru is known for its gastronomy and they are very proud of it! If you don't eat something that is prepared for you at the dinner table, the chef will be offended!
I have come to learn, but I'm still trying to accept, the low sense of urgency and time in Peru. In the U.S., it's always GO! GO! GO! But in Peru, things happen at a much slower rate. For example, when people say an event is going to happen at 7p.m., that means it will actually start at 9p.m. I have experienced this time and time again. For instance, my host family will say we are going somewhere right now. They say, "Ya, vamos." But we end up sitting around talking or doing something else for 10 minutes. Then you hear again, "Vamos!" But we still hang around for a few minutes. Fifteen minutes (or more) after we have said we are going to leave, we are actually leaving. I think Peruvians are very aware of how the country's inner-clock work, too! When I have done Rotary activities, people will say to be there at 9:30 a.m. This time is chosen because they know everyone won't show up until 10a.m., the actual time they wanted the activity to begin at.
Peru: Alienated or Americanized?
I have realized that Lima not only has American chain restaurants and stores, but local businesses whose titles are in English. When I ask people here why a lot of things are in Enlgish, and not Spanish, they tell me it's because Peru is alienated. When I ask them to explain what they mean by "alienated," they say it means Peru likes foreign things. English is a foreign language and therefore makes everything more interesting-- cooler. So... this brings me to wonder, "Does Peru have American businesses because they are alienated? Or because America is that imperialistic?" This is a cultural topic that I will just have to learn more about on my stay here!
Although most Peruvians won't admit it, a norm here is to date/ flirt with people with great age difference. Peru is a very passionate and loving country. Sometimes this makes it difficult to know whether a person is being nice or flirting with you!
Fun Activities
Recently I have been to Kennedy Park and Larcomar. I went to Larcomar with friends last week. On our walk there we meet a group of college students raising funds to build houses in other countries. These students were dressed wildly, dancing, and playing the cajon. One of my friends just happened to have his cajon, too! So we decided to play cajon and dance with them in Kennedy Park. We did this for about 45 minutes. It was totally unexpected, but fun! We were just living in the moment-- one of the best ways to define Peru! Kennedy Park is so beautiful! There were venders everywhere! You'll never guess what else was everywhere... CATS! Awhile ago, the park had problems with rats, so they brought in cats to take care of the problem. After the cats had rid of all the rats, they began to reproduce. Now, there are tons and tons of cats! People just feed them, too haha! Other exchange students and I have nicknamed Kennedy Park "El Parque de los Gatos." I'm sure we aren't the first ones though!
This past weekend I had Rotary camp in Curayacu, San Bortolo. It was along the coast south of Lima. Here is a picture to give you an idea of the view we had!
While at camp, we learned a lot about Peruvian culture and about the threat of earthquakes and tsunamis. We learned a lot of valuable information! We also learned Peruvian dances such as the Salsa and pop culture dances such as the Balada Boa.
Peruvian Salsa!
Balada Boa
We also had a talent show! We got to see some people play guitar, dance, and do card tricks! I also got the chance to swim in the ocean! It was so cold, but I had fun! Definitely worth it!
We watched this video at camp, too! It's awesome! It can give you a taste of Peruvian culture, too!
Peru in Peru
This past week I also bake "Galletas de Blufy" (Blufy's cookies) with Sofia! I really like cooking with her! It gives us the opportunity to have fun and get to know each other! Plus, I learn new Spanish vocabulary!
Yesterday, I did a Food Drive with Rotary Interact as a service project! We donated food to a daycare for children with young parents!
Upcoming activities I have to look forward to include going to the water park, learning the cajon, and learning to surf (in September)!
Food
I have a few more Peruvian foods and drinks to share!
Mmmmmm! All the food here is sooooooo good! Good thing I got a membership to the gym! I'm so happy about that! I haven't been able to exercise while here, but now I can again! In fact, I have a physical I have to get ready to do at the gym! So until next time, chao! Mwuaaa (*my kiss)!
Very interesting! :)
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