One in 9 Million

The second I stepped off of the plane, the humid air smelled strongly of the ocean, in a way that reminded me of home. The first day here, the most apparent fact was just how big this city is. Over 9 million people live in Lima, and it is a bustling metropolis. On the drive to our homes from the airport at two in the morning, we saw three separate games of fútbol going on. We are staying in Miraflores, one of the more affluent and urban parts of Lima, so there are lots of tall buildings and busy streets just like any other city. But Miraflores is also known for their beautiful parks sprinkled throughout the concrete jungle. Parque Kennedy, a park close to my house, is filled with stray cats who are very friendly and can be seen lounging around the entire park. It’s a very charming aspect of the park.

We did not have a distinct “orientation”, but we did take a few bus tours to get acquainted with the city. During one, we drove by Huaca Pucllana, an ancient pyramid built by native people. It is nestled in a very populated neighborhood and it creates a strange juxtaposition between the old and the new. Before the bus tour we went to eat a local staple, pollo a la brasa, which is basically rotisserie chicken served with french fries and a delicious hot sauce. We also drank Inca Kolas, which are very popular and taste a little bit like vanilla bubblegum. Another thing that stood out to me was the amount of restaurants and cafes here in Miraflores, which reminded me a lot of Europe.

I am staying with a homestay family while in Lima. I am in a 12th story apartment right around the corner from our school. I live with my host mom, Elsa, and her son, Phillipe. Although the language barrier makes it difficult to have long conversations, I still feel very comfortable and welcome here. And I enjoy experiencing the typical life style of a Limeñan.

I have found it surprisingly easy to meet people in my group. Everyone I talk to is so excited to be here and I like that there are people from all sorts of majors. Even though I have only been here for a week, I already feel very close with a good number of people here and I genuinely enjoy spending time with them. Which is a good thing since I still have a month to go!