Dear Kayla | Lima's Eco-School and Plans for Home

Dear Kayla,

I want tell you a bit more about my trip over here, but I also want to record these things so I don't forget! Since I've had more free time this month I started volunteering at a primary school here in Lima. What's awesome about this place is that it is an eco-school--basically the whole school is a garden. There are plants everywhere! Plus there are a few chickens, rabbits, and even fish. The kids learn about gardening, recycling, animals, art, and more. I've got to say I would have loved going to this kind of school when I was a kid. Believe it or not, this is a public school! Enjoy the photos:)

Baby Bunny!

Fun with gardening and recycling

The staff and teachers believe it's important for the children to start learning about respecting the environment at an early age. It's such wonderful message, and very much needed. In my experience, the pollution in Lima is one of the saddest things about the city. This school is the first of it's kind in Peru, and hopefully more like it will begin popping up everywhere. It's really inspired me to do some gardening for myself. Of course when I say gardening I mean keeping one plant alive, hah. I've found a lot of ideas on pinterest about gardening with recycled materials, and having a plant in the house always seems to give me a bit of joy when I start missing the small town life. Gracias ninos, me han ensenado mucho :)

On the topic of going back home, I am partly excited and partly anxious. There are so many things about the future that I'm looking forward to, jobs, friends, art, Taco Bell (jk, maybe lol). I'll have an internship ready to begin (woohoo!), but it'll be strange getting back into the routine of home. I didn't really expect what it'd be like coming to Peru, and I was taken a back. Now that I'll be going home pretty soon, I preparing for the unexpected. As you know, Kayla, my boyfriend and I broke up. So that's one reason going back home is going to be weird and difficult. When you go on a trip you escape the everyday surroundings you've grow sick of for adventure and something radically new. When you come back, you realize you have to face the everyday again. Everyday is not always an adventure, but we can make it one and get through the days that are just plain shit. Mostly I'm ready to get to the Jungle. That, and move on.

Write back:)

<3 Ginny

Currently Reading: A  Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde
Lyrics: I used to think it was great/ when I got to look forward to seeing your face - "I Think It Would Be Great" by Best Friends Forever



What's In Your Noms? | Ceviche la comida de Peru

Ceviche is one of the best known and most delicious dishes of Peru. As I have only started eating fish again for almost 2 years now, I tired it for the first time last May. And let me let you, it is quite superb. Although there are different styles of ceviche here are the most common ingredients:

"Raw" fish / Pescado

Onion / cebolla

Lime juice / jugo de lima

Potato / patata

Corn / choclo (maiz)

 

Although sweet potatos, onions, fish, and lime juice might not seem like a savory combination, trust me, you've got to try it. It is my experience that Peruvians have a healthy appetite; my family of five orders plate loads of ceviche family platters, arroz con marisocs (rice with seafood), and pescado frito (fried fish), and by the end of the meal those plates are wiped clean. Interesting fact: although the fish is raw; it soaked in lime juice, which is one way to "cook" fish. The acid makes the fish firm and you can trust the fish is fresh as the Peru is so close to the coast of the Pacific ocean. I've travel quite a bit for my age, alone and with peers, and I know travelers can be hesitant to try new, strange, foods. I understand, believe me. But trying new things is part of escaping your comfort zone and a risk well worth taking. It also shows respect towards your hosts and their country. Peruvian are very proud of their cuisine.

Being a Veggie

Although I do not eat red meat (I haven't for about 7 years) for this trip I have made a rule for myself: If I am served a plate (with or without meat) I will eat it. For strict vegetarians, this may be a shock. However, this is what works for me. I don't buy or order anything with meat in it, but if someone serves me food, I believe it the most polite way for me to handle it. Now, I don't eat all the meat; as I am not used to it, I only eat a portion so my stomach doesn't react ...negatively. lol. I am also not worried about being a strict veggie because  here I am not eating meat from a fast food chain where the source of the meat and treatment of the animal is problematic. As my health was one reason I started eating fish again, a little more protein won't hurt me as someone with anemia. It is something I have question as I gotten older; whether I should continue being veggie, but one this trip I am content with my rule. Any veggies out there with a similar rule or opinions?

Chicha Morada

 

Corn Juice. Yup, I said it. Corn. Juice. PURPLE corn juice. And yes, it is also delicious. The typical ingredients include:

Purple corn / maiz morado

 

Fruits / frutas

Cinnamon / calena

Cloves / clavo de olor

 

Sugar / azúcar

 

Lime juice / jugo de lima

 

Besides tasting wonderful, chica morada is also very healthy. It contains high amount of anothocyanins and antioxidants, meaning the health of your skin and your regenerative tissues are improved in addition to other benefits.

 

My tios are visiting the US at the moment, so I am living here alone, sorta. My cousin is here, but he works a lot. I'll be cooking and eating out on my own now, but I'm excited. I have lots more family here in any case, and there will be plenty more traditional foods to try.

 

Chao for now,

 

Ginny

Dear Kayla: hobbies, work, and international living

Dear Kayla,

Dear dear dear Kayla, I miss ya bud. I've finally gotten used to life over here, and I'm busy!

I feel you with the post-grad what-is-my-life-where-am-I-going-what-do-I-want-ahhhhh-anxiety. As much as I prepared for this trip, knowing I needed to escape my comfort zone and challenge myself, being here is far from what I expected. Or at least, I haven't felt the way I expected. Now that's I'm a month in, I am more open to where life will take me. I know to expect the unexpected. Who freakin' knows man. It's scary and exciting. But to make things happen for myself, jobs, opportunities, adventures, friendships, I have to be active. I have to seek them, passionately.

The biggest problem for me is being interested to SO MANY THINGS. They all captivate me. I thought while I was in Peru I would have some much time to read and look for jobs and study, etc. And I have had time, I just worry I'm spreading myself too thin. I'm staying here with my aunt, uncle (tios) and cousin (primo). My tios have four kids, all of them grown (although it's common here for kids to live with their parents until they get married). Anyway my cousin Yulissa plays guitar, but she's living in the States now. So lucky me gets to use her old classical and electric guitar. Woooooo. I'm pretty used to classical guitars, so I've been fooling around with the electric a lot, learning power chords and some of my favorite songs. But I have to write lesson plans as well and REALLY study Spanish. I have to leave the house at 8AM XD and this sucks. It means I have go to sleep around 11 or 11:30, which is so strange for me. My previous bedtime was around 2AM. I have to do all my activities (including blog posts) from 12-5pm.

And it continues. I also read Tina Fey's book Bossypants about a week ago [which I totally recommend to you, Kayla, and all you other readers out there]. I am currently immersed in Ernest Cline's novel Ready Player One. It's kind of a problem [I'm half way through and oh-mah-g freaking favorite book of the year so far]. I had to force myself to stop reading it so I could prepare for my Spanish exam today. So how I'm supposed to be the best teacher I can be, while also studying, reading heavily, playing guitar, and taking in a healthy gulp of Peruvian life? Time to make with the schedule I suppose. As you posted in a WM once, spend your life doing what you enjoy. I don't want to give anything up [in fact I want to add Yoga classes and volunteering as well>.<] but I think after my second month of Spanish classes, I'll stop. I want to learn as much as I can, but just communicating will help with that. Stress is not becoming of a lady either lol and I want to put enough effort into each of my activities.

Also woo Game of Thrones. It's over so sad. The books are amazing I've heard, need to get on that too. I actually have watched Arrested Development, but haven't started the new series yet. I was watching a lot of The Big Bang Theory over here [a student recommend it] but I laid off the juice around mid third season. I'm replacing TV with YouTube and book for now. Also way to lay off the cheese haha I have as well although only because I'm no longer working at a pizza place. Eating my aunt's cooking and the Peruvian cuisine makes me feel in better health that I've been in for a long time. More on that later in a What's in Your Noms? post. I'll leave you with this image of Lima. I'm living behind to the left of those two white buildings.

Hasta luego,

Ginny

Weekly Motivation

It's been nearly two weeks since I arrived in Peru. To say things have been quite different would be an understatement. All my family here have been such wonderful hosts, and living in another country is mind blowing. But time seems to move differently here. When I was at home, being in such a day to day routine, one week, even one month could just fly by. But here every day is a new experience, and I'm learning new things about myself outside my normal surroundings. I've been going all over the place too, to Spanish class and English class, in crowded combis, and up mountains. I've only wet my toes--two week of a three month stay--yet part of me misses home, thinks that this challenge I gave myself is too much. Finally I had some time today to sleep in, meditate, and do some yoga. It helped me center myself. I know this won't be easy. Last time I was in Peru I remember writing that part of taking a trip is feeling uncomfortable. But I don't want to isolate myself and my feelings of loneliness is an unfamiliar place; I want to connect with people. Hope I can keep mediating to calm myself, and take each adventure or struggle one breathe at a time.

G