Well, I made it! I started my trip yesterday at 6 am to drive down to O’Hare where I caught my first flight to Houston. The day started out well when both my checked bags were under 50 lbs (we were kind of touch and go there for a while, but they pulled through for me). I have never flown alone before, and certainly not internationally but I am happy to report that my trek could not have been smoother—I passed through security quickly (thanks to a new TSA protocol that allows you to leave on your shoes and adornments and leave everything in your carry on; there wasn’t a plastic bin in sight!), and got on my first flight which boarded and took off on time. George Bush International in Houston was easy to maneuver. The only disappointment of the day is that I couldn’t find a McDonalds in EITHER airport (what is our county coming to?!), and all I really wanted was a sausage and egg McMuffin to send me off. The day of travel actually proved to be more relaxing than any I have had in the last few weeks: I got to read, update my résumé, watch a couple movies, catch up on some sleep, and I even made a few friends in the airport! And finally when we touched down in Lima, I got my passport stamped, picked up my bags (with both arrived timely and unscathed), walked through customs without so much as a missed step, and met my host parents who were waiting to drive me to their home. I was prepared for much more hassle than I encountered.

            I am the fifth international student to arrive to my host home, and I believe two more are expected. After a long and placid night’s sleep I finished getting situated in my room and went to an outdoor market in Magdalena (the part of Lima where I live). There is so much to see, so much good food to eat, and so many cars to avoid. The traffic here is unreal. Cars are not likely to yield to pedestrians, which is a grand departure from Madison where it is not uncommon to play “frogger” while crossing the street. I had my first experience on the “Combis” which is the bus system in Lima and messed it up, but there is plenty of time to learn. Madison’s public transit system seems like a limo service compared to these buses, where I saw people running down the street to grab on before they pulled away, plow over speed bumps so to get at least 3 seconds of airtime, and approach lethal speeds (okay, I could be hyperbolizing a bit).

            I had a pretty good chicken empanada at the market, but I can tell you already that my host family will not let me go hungry. Everything I have eaten so far has been delicious. I haven’t even been here for twenty-four hours and I feel like I have seen so much already, but I am sure there will be more to report in a week or so. Until then, ciao!

Today's Weather:

64°F/59°F

Cloudy with no precipitation

Waiting for the shuttle from the parking lot to head into O'Hare with all my effects for the next four months

 My room in Magdalena del Mar

 Church of Inmaculado Corazón de María 

(Immaculate Heart of Mary)

 Building front with a cool metal Don Quijote sculpture

 My street: Calle Juan Luxardo

Needs no explanation