Enero en Lima

Well I have been here about a month. Today I signed a contract with a school in La Molina to teach for the school year (March-December). This employment comes as a result of many prayers from my fam and friends. I am SO GLAD TO HAVE A JOB!!!! The job market here isn't amazing, so I have been a little frustrated these past few weeks. I get my class assignment next Wednesday. In the meantime, I have much to do to prepare for my teaching year. For starters, I need to venture over to Gamara (the Peruvian version of a swap meet/Amvets/my mother's idea of heaven) to buy some cheap blazers and blouses. I need to look the teacher part. =)

Also, last week Javier and I went to the ORISHA'S CONCERT! It was awesome!! We had a blast dancing and fighting the Lima traffic. This last weekend we went to Peru's version of Lucha Libre fights. They are a bunch of locals that love the sport so their club does the fights for free. The kids got really into it. They had some funny characters for the fighters too. One of our friend's is the newest fighter. He is probably 6'5" and over 200 lbs. He is a giant!

Here are a few pictures from the concert/wrestling tournament:

LIMA, PERU

Now I live here! 
This is Lima - a gorgeous, busy and dangerous city with lots of history

This is a beach near Mancora.

Hello everyone! Well I am in Lima now. I left L.A. December 28th and I arrived here on the 29th. Emily and Kris took me to the airport - which was such a blessing. We had so much fun on the car ride down. I LOVE those two. Javier (a very dear friend I met in Cusco last time I was in Peru) picked me up. He was right on time! I was so excited to see him after being in airports for over 30 hours.

We left the next day for Mancora. Its a cute little beach town just a few hours from the Peru/Ecuador border. Javier's family invited me to spend New Year's with them there. They rented a beautiful house on the beach. It was so nice to relax for a few days. Cati (Javier's Mom) and Fred (Catí's boyfriend) treated us to wonderful meals and a boatride in Tumbes (the town where Pizzaro first landed). I got sick after eating a regional ceviche dish in Tumbes. This was a real bummer because I love ceviche and am a little more nervous after a verrrryy long evening in the bathroom. =) I had a very lovely New Yea'r's doing what I love to do....dancing!!

Now I am back in Lima and job hunting. Javier's family has been so wonderful and welcoming. We have gone to a beach near Lima. It is a Peru I have never known before --- a bunch of rich Peruvian yuppies. Ironically the beach mansionettes are inside a gated community while just outside are the shacks and poor people. I have had some interesting conversations about wealth concentration in the country. Although Javier says its the "real Peru" I just smile and shake my head.

I have tried Chifa (Peruvian Chinese food) and many other traditional dishes. Elena, the family's assistant (maid) is an excellent cook. I am dying for some MEXICAN FOOD. I need spice and cilantro and SALSA. My tounge needs to burn. The food here has much flavor but no SPICE. I lowered myself to eating Hot Doritos hoping to get my fix.

Tonight we are going bowling and tomorrow to a goodbye party for one of our friends that is leaving for Spain to study. I send my love to all of you!