An Adventure in Peru

 

I left Canada on April 10, and headed into this great adventure not really knowing what to expect. I had never flown in a plane or been abroad alone before so I was very nervous. As soon as I arrived in Peru I realized I had no reason to be nervous. The family I am staying with is very similar to my own, so I feel right at home. Settling in took a few days but finally I was comfortable in this new life.

 

I went to Markham College on my second day in Lima and although we are in separate parts of the world, the schools are similar enough for it not to feel too foreign. They have different blocks for each subject and you walk outside between classes. Because it almost never rains in Lima, it’s sunny and nice to always be outside. When I came to Markham I was put in a grade above me, so almost all of the subjects I was learning were more advanced than I have previously learned. Despite this, I enjoyed all my classes and there was always a friendly face to welcome me.

 

Although I don’t speak Spanish very well, it doesn’t seem to matter that much. The school is based in English, and all of the students speak English. Although I don’t need to learn the language I’m working on it. I want to learn as much as I can while I’m here.

 

I’ve been out with friends as Lima has a great social atmosphere and everyone here is really nice. The food is also so great. They have so many different dishes that are a fusion of different cultures. Because they have so many ethnicities from around the world, the food is amazing. It’s a great chance to try something new, and even though it’s so different, almost everything I have tried, I have loved.

 

I have been in Lima, going to Markham for a month now, and everything has settled into a routine. We wake up earlier than at LCS and we have longer days but it’s a nice change. We have school from Monday to Friday and then lots of free time on the weekends. Aside from walking around the city, looking at the art and just enjoying the views, my favorite part is the beach visits. The family I’m staying with is part of a club that owns many beaches in and around Lima, so I’ve been to many beaches and pools.  We are right on the coast so we get big waves coming in from the west. This makes it perfect for surfing. I haven’t done this yet but I plan to try it as a sport with the school next trimester.

 

Half-way through my exchange, my family flew down to Peru to visit me. While we were here we went up to Cusco to see the Inca ruins and to climb mountains. While there we saw so many different people, as well as llamas. The churches and the street shops were also amazing. After staying in Cusco for a few days we took a train to the mountains. We went up a mountain by bus and even though I thought we were going to fall off, we never did, and the views were incredible.

 

There is so much interesting history and culture in Lima and Peru as a whole; it makes for a fascinating place to visit or come to on exchange.  As such, I would definitely recommend it as a destination for any students thinking about going on exchange.