I haven't forgotten about you guys. Although this is supposedly our "down time" (because everyone is on summer break or visiting the States), it has been a whirl of activity for us. Our leadership and team members have been VERY hospitable to us. We've been invited to a Christmas dinner, New Year's Eve and Day dinners, two team meetings/fellowship days at the beach, a different church every Sunday with different families, and a host of other activities. As advised, we've also been driving around A LOT, trying to get our sense of direction because this city is HUGE (16 miles x 16 miles) and hosts 8 million +++ people!
Playa de Santa Maria (about an hour away from our home)
Checking out Miraflores
English classes and Bible studies are not too far off in the future. Mid-January, they will have fellowship cookout to introduce us to the students and translators that help work with our team. Sandi, who has been teaching ESL, has been very helpful to us, hanging around at the apartment showing us the ropes to our jobs, and helping us sift through materials that have been wedged in the closet for years at the office, or looking through things she has been currently using. She has also introduced us to REAL Peruano food....Lomo Saltado (a heap of rice, and a mound of fries, onions, bell pepper, & tomatoes mixture), Ceviche (raw fish "cooked" (really only soaked) in lemon juice and onions, and chicha (a sweet juice made from purple corn).
At first after arrival here, Sk. lingered in his room. It's easier to hide than to try to speak Spanish with others. He has a lot in his head from his daily classes in Costa Rica, BUT he hasn't practiced speaking it much, if any. Fortunately, God has already been working and preparing people to put into our paths. A sweet 8 year old Spanish-speaking Peruano introduced himself to Sk. and Sy. and WANTED to become their friends. He studies at a bilingual school here in Lima, and knows a little English. Therefore, they each can help the other when playing. I know he's a God-send because people do not always appear to be over-friendly here. We are also know as the M's because of the last couple who had our apartment. In addition to this sweet boy is his sweet mother. Usually, when the kids play she comes out to watch, and I can attempt to practice my Spanish with her. She knows some English, but she only uses it when I get stuck and do not understand. She is very friendly and helpful. She and her son have begun to introduce us to others in our complex. Continue to pray for friends to share their culture with us, to help us practice or Spanish, and that we may share our witness to. Pray for Brian a good friend, too. Men don't tend to hang outside in our complex area.
We have a huge mountain on the other side of our complex. Our apartment sits before the first set of mountains begin. It is a massive mound of rock and dirt. We live in a dessert here in Lima, but we also have grass, cacti, and other plants, because people water everything. The moisture and air currents from the Pacific keeps everything in a haze most of the time. They say that the sun rarely reaches parts of the city except for in the summer. Like most of you are experiencing, the weather is not the norm this year. In Costa Rica, it didn't rain much in the rainy season. Here, they say it's a cooler summer than last year. Compared to most of your temperatures, it still is warm. We've been getting into the low 80's when the sun does venture out. In our part of the city, it is very clean. Workers are always out in their uniforms, wearing face masks (to keep out dust, I believe), and have wheelbarrows, HUGE straw brooms, etc. They sweep the streets and keep everything nice around here. The sidewalks are even WAXED!! They shine, and I must say, they are slick.
View Outside on our Balcony
Today, we had an interview with the director and a school board member at Sk. and Sy.'s school. It sits on the other side of the mountain, where the sun does often shine. The school is a Christian (private) school. The schedule is a little different here than in Lucedale. It starts at 8:30, and gets out an hour later than the norm. Sy. will only attend kindergarten 3 days a week. Everyone is on summer vacation right now. Second semester will begin toward the end of February, and they will get out of school a little after mid-June. The classes are very small. Sy. will only have 2 other classmates, and Sk.'s 4th grade class will be joined with 3rd graders.
View of Kids' School
The traffic is horrendous here. Rules that we learned in the States are not the same here! For example, if you are in several (or even more!) lanes of traffic, and you decide you need to turn left but are several lanes over in the right lane, no problem-- you can cut across all the other lanes and turn! Also, there is no right on red, and there are many one-way streets. People don't really tend to follow the street lines as a guide. Sometimes a 2-lane may have 3 or more lanes traveling. What makes the traffic really competitive are the taxis and buses, who come to a dead stop in the right lane and try to get people to ride with them!! If someone wants to cut in front of you, they wave their hand out the window (if you are lucky!), and they move right on over! There is one part of the street in the BUSSYYYY part of town that there are NO lines, and everyone piles in, some turning left, others right, turned in all directions. We both have to get our drivers licenses here (although we are currently driving on our international driver's permits), by taking and PASSING the written test in Spanish. They say the English test is worded very trickily. Fortunately, we will not have to take the actual driving test because we have copies of college diplomas and of our driving records. We will also have to have mental and physical evaluations/exams to get our licenses. (Does that mean we have already failed!!? LOL) Seriously, do pray for our safety, as well as for us to pass the test!!! Do pray for me to overcome my timidity and fear (it's of the devil!!!), and that I'll become a PRO at driving soon!
Check out the traffic "stuck" in the intersection; especially in front of the cars, you'll see lots of buses wedged in
The 5-mile ride across town generally takes 40 min. to 1 hour during RUSH hours (which seem to be often) or about 25-30 min. during "normal" traffic.......I PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!!
Some things that we find interesting in Peru--
I've only found one type of hairspray here so far (VO5).
Toilet paper is not always found in restrooms (it may be in one receptacle BEFORE you enter the stall or it may not have any at all!).
We use (and fill) bottles of propane for our gas stove (& in the winter, for our gas portable heater).
It's all full-service gas stations here, filling up and washing windows.
In most parking lots (including the mall and our gated apartment complex (on certain mornings)), you'll find guys who will wash your vehicle for a little bit of nothing.
In the grocery stores, you'll find small pigs, in their entirety, to buy.
Life-sized sculptures of cows are displayed everywhere!! I must ask someone why soon!!
You'll find Inca Cola only in Peru (tastes similar to red cream soda)!
At many intersections, you'll find people who beg for money or sell items or perform (like books, fruit, candy by the piece, do acrobatic tricks or wash windows) for money. There are many who are physically handicapped who sit out hoping for you to give them money (blind, lame, without limbs, etc).
Can you guess who this cow is dressed as?
Clean sidewalks??? What would that be like? You mean...no dog ______ anywhere??? lol
Sounds like you are settling in...I am so proud of all of you. Give Skylar a big hug from me...I am proud that he is making a friend.
We miss you all and love you bunches!
Posted by: Kimberley Byrd | January 07, 2010 at 06:50 PM