Back in Lima for the "Christmas" holiday
Read that PWF, my friends. Yes, that's right, Pagan Winter Festival, the only holiday to speak of with trolls, ostriches with spaghetti and tin foil on their head, and electable dates.
Back in Lima. Yet again. It’s so funny, most travelers hate Lima, because although it’s a big city, there’s really not a whole lot to do here. I mean, I suppose I could do a bit more of experimenting with the live music in Barranco, but I’m not huge into the nightlife scene, especially not by myself. Dorita’s gone now, Vanessa works at night, which basically leaves me at the house at night. BUT. That has left me ample time to experiment with what is quite possibly my most wonderful computer program discovery—Skype. Big snaps for talking to friends and family for free! I know I already mentioned Skype before, but seriously it’s amazing. I’ve had two or three 3-hour long phone calls thus far. They’re the wonderful kinds of calls where I get to catch up with people I haven’t spoken to in a while, and then we inevitably get distracted by other internet tangents and the conversation is slightly less than focused. But I LOVE it. It’s like the other person is in the room with me, both of us doing our other things, but we’re together. Doing nothing with other people, easily one of my favorite activities.
It has been great to catch up with the family, though. The Peruvian Christmas is somewhat different than the Christmas back home. For starters, presents aren’t a humongous focus, and there aren’t a million people running around with their heads cut off looking for presents for everyone in their family. There’s only maybe half a million. : ) On Christmas eve, I accompanied Mama Peruana, Vanessa and Kelly to the market in Magdalena where we all picked up some last minute items. The streets were a bit more busy than usual, but it was different from the manic shopping that I witness every year in the states. I certainly don’t miss that, and the over-commercialism of it all and the stress and anxiety that accompanies it all. No, everything was pretty relaxed. And as it turns out, Peruvians have their big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve—late in the evening. We didn’t start dinner until around 11:00 pm. At midnight (or seven minutes after midnight, seeing as how we were on Peruvian time) everyone got up, said their Feliz Navidads, and hugged and kissed everyone else in the room. Aaah, it’s like a preview of New Year’s! After dinner we continued with the present exchange, where I received a new watch, silver shoes for New Year’s whose straps resemble strips of disco balls, and a shirt that says “Necesito un hombre de verdad”. I’m not sure if I should interpret that as:
a) I need a man, it’s true
b) I need a man, really
c) I need a man of truth
d) I need a real man
e) Please interpret at will
Regardless, that shirt is staying stashed until I have a place of my own, because it’s only comin’ out with the pajamas. Can you imagine if I walked out of the house with that on? I’d never have peace and quiet! At least not here in Peru. Bricheros, come and get me, come and get me! : ) (There should be a few, or at the very least one of you that read that sentence all the while flailing your arms into the air and looking up into the sky, and finishing with a, “Well what’s got into you?” and thinking UFOs, quilts and food in jars…)
Chill holidays, that’s how I dig it. I also completed the singular PWF ritual, though a few days despues. That’s one of the joys of PWF, though, is the fact that you elect when you celebrate the holiday—it doesn’t dictate you! Although I did sincerely miss talking about ostriches and their spaghetti and tin foil-laden heads this year. It’s just not the same.
Now I prepare myself for…I’m really not sure. I mean, at the moment I’m preparing myself for an interview in Buenos Aires. I’ve got about half of my outfit put together, I have my reference sheet updated, and I need to write out my own list of questions to ask during the interview (oh grand poobah of the UW Admissions office, how I continue to remember your interview advice…). My flight leaves tomorrow night (the process of buying that ticket took about a day—if you ever fly in Gol, go through a travel agent and save yourself the hassle!) Anyway, I went ahead and finally gave into the shopping bug and bought an interview outfit that somewhat resembles an Ann Tran/Sarah Graham ensemble. (Oh yeah, ladies, I bought a green sweater-vestish item that is quite long and has a plunging neckline--to be completed with my classic white button-up collar shirt. Yup, had to do details. I'll send pictures of interview day, regardless of the outcome.) :) I will be a girl. Oh wait, got that one under control.
I've been working on this blog over the last few days, and my departure for the airport encroaches. Four hours and counting. I'm nervous, not really knowing what to expect other than lots of walking and reading in the upcoming week. That and maybe some more internet searching for back-up plans. I love the back-up plan...
And I'm babbling! I will spare you all (whoops, just wrote "spear" you all...) any more of this blither blather. Happy holidays, Happy New Year's and just plain ol' happiness to you all! I love and miss you and am sending positive energy up there to y'all!
Back in Lima. Yet again. It’s so funny, most travelers hate Lima, because although it’s a big city, there’s really not a whole lot to do here. I mean, I suppose I could do a bit more of experimenting with the live music in Barranco, but I’m not huge into the nightlife scene, especially not by myself. Dorita’s gone now, Vanessa works at night, which basically leaves me at the house at night. BUT. That has left me ample time to experiment with what is quite possibly my most wonderful computer program discovery—Skype. Big snaps for talking to friends and family for free! I know I already mentioned Skype before, but seriously it’s amazing. I’ve had two or three 3-hour long phone calls thus far. They’re the wonderful kinds of calls where I get to catch up with people I haven’t spoken to in a while, and then we inevitably get distracted by other internet tangents and the conversation is slightly less than focused. But I LOVE it. It’s like the other person is in the room with me, both of us doing our other things, but we’re together. Doing nothing with other people, easily one of my favorite activities.
It has been great to catch up with the family, though. The Peruvian Christmas is somewhat different than the Christmas back home. For starters, presents aren’t a humongous focus, and there aren’t a million people running around with their heads cut off looking for presents for everyone in their family. There’s only maybe half a million. : ) On Christmas eve, I accompanied Mama Peruana, Vanessa and Kelly to the market in Magdalena where we all picked up some last minute items. The streets were a bit more busy than usual, but it was different from the manic shopping that I witness every year in the states. I certainly don’t miss that, and the over-commercialism of it all and the stress and anxiety that accompanies it all. No, everything was pretty relaxed. And as it turns out, Peruvians have their big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve—late in the evening. We didn’t start dinner until around 11:00 pm. At midnight (or seven minutes after midnight, seeing as how we were on Peruvian time) everyone got up, said their Feliz Navidads, and hugged and kissed everyone else in the room. Aaah, it’s like a preview of New Year’s! After dinner we continued with the present exchange, where I received a new watch, silver shoes for New Year’s whose straps resemble strips of disco balls, and a shirt that says “Necesito un hombre de verdad”. I’m not sure if I should interpret that as:
a) I need a man, it’s true
b) I need a man, really
c) I need a man of truth
d) I need a real man
e) Please interpret at will
Regardless, that shirt is staying stashed until I have a place of my own, because it’s only comin’ out with the pajamas. Can you imagine if I walked out of the house with that on? I’d never have peace and quiet! At least not here in Peru. Bricheros, come and get me, come and get me! : ) (There should be a few, or at the very least one of you that read that sentence all the while flailing your arms into the air and looking up into the sky, and finishing with a, “Well what’s got into you?” and thinking UFOs, quilts and food in jars…)
Chill holidays, that’s how I dig it. I also completed the singular PWF ritual, though a few days despues. That’s one of the joys of PWF, though, is the fact that you elect when you celebrate the holiday—it doesn’t dictate you! Although I did sincerely miss talking about ostriches and their spaghetti and tin foil-laden heads this year. It’s just not the same.
Now I prepare myself for…I’m really not sure. I mean, at the moment I’m preparing myself for an interview in Buenos Aires. I’ve got about half of my outfit put together, I have my reference sheet updated, and I need to write out my own list of questions to ask during the interview (oh grand poobah of the UW Admissions office, how I continue to remember your interview advice…). My flight leaves tomorrow night (the process of buying that ticket took about a day—if you ever fly in Gol, go through a travel agent and save yourself the hassle!) Anyway, I went ahead and finally gave into the shopping bug and bought an interview outfit that somewhat resembles an Ann Tran/Sarah Graham ensemble. (Oh yeah, ladies, I bought a green sweater-vestish item that is quite long and has a plunging neckline--to be completed with my classic white button-up collar shirt. Yup, had to do details. I'll send pictures of interview day, regardless of the outcome.) :) I will be a girl. Oh wait, got that one under control.
I've been working on this blog over the last few days, and my departure for the airport encroaches. Four hours and counting. I'm nervous, not really knowing what to expect other than lots of walking and reading in the upcoming week. That and maybe some more internet searching for back-up plans. I love the back-up plan...
And I'm babbling! I will spare you all (whoops, just wrote "spear" you all...) any more of this blither blather. Happy holidays, Happy New Year's and just plain ol' happiness to you all! I love and miss you and am sending positive energy up there to y'all!
Comments
Happy Holidays, my dear! I miss you