Hello from Arequipa, Peru where the altitude and dry weather takes some getting used to...like for example...as I type this it is 9% humidity. I have spent one of the three months here in the ABC Espanol language institute and look to spend two more before returning to Pucallpa.
I usually get up around 7am and watch the news or Cartoon Network (in Spanish of course!) - both are really good for Spanish. I then head out the door at 8am and get on a combi, which is a small bus. The ride across town costs .70 soles which is about 23 cents. The combi is not really sized to fit Americans or at least Americans my size - most the time I am standing and chivalry is huge here especially to old women. The ride takes about 20 min or so.
I have a conversation class from 8:30-10:00 and a grammar class from 10:20-12:00. I then take the combi back to my neighborhood on the other side of town. I got a small gym membership and try to workout at least 4-5 times a week. Homework fills the afternoons and evenings - on top of living with Peruvians who correct you all the time - it really is a good thing.
I am making some progress and hope to be well advanced in my spanish by the time I leave in September. Arequipa is beautiful, though it is always cold here as soon as the sun goes down - and no one has heat. I have gotten "the chills" here a lot and found myself thinking of Jimmy Buffet's line "I wanna go where its warm!!!"
The next week I have to go to Arica, Chile to get my Peruvian resident visa. I know I know...its nuts...but once you apply for the visa and it clears...you have to exit the country to pick it up - luckily I am about a 7 hours drive from Chile.
I will try to post some pics this week of a combi and our institute.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Arequipa, Peru
Greetings from Arequipa! I am in Peru's second largest city 1,180,000 people. Arequipa is located in southern Peru at an elevation of about 8,200 feet. The picture above is of my plane at the airport and the volcano Chachani in the background. When I landed I got off the plane and noticed this towering mountain standing by itself - which I learned is called "Misti." Misti is another volcano that has not erupted since the 1700's and lets just hope that it stays that way. It is quite intimidating to see this monster perched over the city!
The reason I am in Arequipa and not Pucallpa is because I need to work on my Spanish! So, I am taking about three to four months of Spanish lessons. I go to school from 8:30 to 12:00 everyday - while having two sessions of Spanish - one being conversation and the other being grammar! I am staying with the program's director and his family.
I have included some pics of the house I am staying at as well as some street shots and of Misti the volcano!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
It has begun!
Hey there all!! Well it has begun!! I and my friend from my home church, Rob Magary came to Peru on Tuesday June 3rd. My thinking was to bring Rob here as a representitive of my home church in order to see what my ministry and Peru is really like.
We spent the night in Lima and on Wed. flew to Pucallpa, Peru (about 50 min flight). Rob and I were in Pucallpa Wed-Fri...where I showed him around SAM center and the surrounding communities. We traveled in motokars...eat in resturants...swam in the lake...rode in the back of a truck on a bumpy road...saw the Milkey Way with the Southern Cross...viewed an Inca ruin site in Lima and finally as a departing meal ate at Chili´s!
Now, Rob has flown to the states and is back in Gainesville and I am in Lima set to leave for Arequipa, Peru tomorrow to enter language school (in which I need much prayer!!) I will be in Arequipa for 3-4 months.
I am excited to get all this going! It was great to see everyone...and I am looking forward to all that God has set up!
Please comment here or email me... marshallkitron@hotmail.com
talk to you soon!! When I get some pics...I´ll post them!!!
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