Friday, March 30, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Week 3
This week has flown by. Granted I only have classes Monday through Thursday but it seems like time is moving fast. Too fast. I'm enjoying my time here and I don't want to take any experience for granted. I have to make the most of every opportunity!
This week's festivities included a trivia night at an English pub put on by the South American Explorers Club. We met some cool people from England and talked some smack about how good we were at trivia, only to get stumped by the question: What was the tallest mountain in the world before Everest was discovered? Answer: Everest.
Last night a bunch of us went to a sports bar to watch the Badger basketball game. And yet again, the Badgers let us down. There's always next year, right?
In other news, I haven't gotten sick yet! But me writing this is probably the kiss of death. God-willing I'll stay healthy despite trying new things. Like this tropical fruit below called Guabo. Who knew there was a fruit that looked like a green leather boomerang?
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
This week's festivities included a trivia night at an English pub put on by the South American Explorers Club. We met some cool people from England and talked some smack about how good we were at trivia, only to get stumped by the question: What was the tallest mountain in the world before Everest was discovered? Answer: Everest.
Last night a bunch of us went to a sports bar to watch the Badger basketball game. And yet again, the Badgers let us down. There's always next year, right?
In other news, I haven't gotten sick yet! But me writing this is probably the kiss of death. God-willing I'll stay healthy despite trying new things. Like this tropical fruit below called Guabo. Who knew there was a fruit that looked like a green leather boomerang?
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Stair Workout
So today I decided to go for a run along the coast. There is a beautiful running and biking path that goes through Magdalena del Mar and on towards Miraflores, with playgrounds, parks, and "mini gimnasios" along the way. After running for about 30 minutes I stopped at a "mini gimnasio" station to do some pull-ups and sit-ups. Two other guys were there too. Speaking my native tongue. We got to talking and I found out that one of them, in his late forty's, is a missionary stationed in Lima, and the other, a thirty-four year old lawyer doing research for the Ministry of Culture at the University of San Marcos. Unlike me they were just starting their workout and invited me to join them.
Sure, why not?
Turns out they were doing a stair workout. And not just any stair workout. They were running down and up stairs that go 130 feet down to the beach front. Three times. And doing push-ups and sit-ups in between the running.
"Okay, Mike, you got this. You're strong, young. They're old, show 'em what you can do."
Show 'em what you can do?? Where did I get my Lance Armstrong attitude from? I couldn't even keep up. After the first trip down and up I was dead. They made me look like I've never worked out in my life. But despite the fact that I almost saw my breakfast come up (key word: almost) and that I will be extremely sore tomorrow, I had a lot of fun and I will most likely work out with them again. Next time with a more humble attitude.
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
Sure, why not?
Turns out they were doing a stair workout. And not just any stair workout. They were running down and up stairs that go 130 feet down to the beach front. Three times. And doing push-ups and sit-ups in between the running.
"Okay, Mike, you got this. You're strong, young. They're old, show 'em what you can do."
Show 'em what you can do?? Where did I get my Lance Armstrong attitude from? I couldn't even keep up. After the first trip down and up I was dead. They made me look like I've never worked out in my life. But despite the fact that I almost saw my breakfast come up (key word: almost) and that I will be extremely sore tomorrow, I had a lot of fun and I will most likely work out with them again. Next time with a more humble attitude.
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
A Few Observations
1) Americans aren't the only ones that learn how to speak Spanish. It's so interesting to me how people from other countries have different Spanish accents. Por ejemplo, I have a Brazilian friend named Junior who has such a strong Portuguese accent when he speaks Spanish. It's hard to understand him sometimes because he adds Portuguese phrases into his Spanish. I also have a German professor whose accent is über thick when he speaks Spanish but when he speaks English it's with a perfectly British accent. It's a phenomenon I may never understand. Asians are especially interesting to listen to.
2) Public nose-picking is acceptable here.
3) In America, a piece of paper is usually 8.5"x11". Aquí, the paper is like 8"x12" and it really irritates me for some reason. Nothing fits in my folders!
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
2) Public nose-picking is acceptable here.
3) In America, a piece of paper is usually 8.5"x11". Aquí, the paper is like 8"x12" and it really irritates me for some reason. Nothing fits in my folders!
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Spanish King
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Today was the first day of orientation. It was so cool meeting other "intercambios" (foreign exchange students)! I met a German student who couldn't get rid of his ear-to-ear smile the entire day. I met a bunch of French people. A girl from Brazil. A guy from Argentina.
And what did all these people have in common? They're practically fluent in Spanish!!
I mean, I expect it from the Argentinian guy (who I thought was speaking a different language besides Spanish) but everybody seemed to be so fluent. The Argentinian asked me a question, and when I wasn't able to answer it a French girl explained it to me. In English. C'mon people!
So there are times when I feel like the Spanish King, and times when I don't. Today was not a Spanish King day.
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
Today was the first day of orientation. It was so cool meeting other "intercambios" (foreign exchange students)! I met a German student who couldn't get rid of his ear-to-ear smile the entire day. I met a bunch of French people. A girl from Brazil. A guy from Argentina.
And what did all these people have in common? They're practically fluent in Spanish!!
I mean, I expect it from the Argentinian guy (who I thought was speaking a different language besides Spanish) but everybody seemed to be so fluent. The Argentinian asked me a question, and when I wasn't able to answer it a French girl explained it to me. In English. C'mon people!
So there are times when I feel like the Spanish King, and times when I don't. Today was not a Spanish King day.
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
Quemé Mis Tobillos
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Today we went to the beach. It was overcast. Being the smart guy that I am, and being the pale guy that I am, I knew that even with an overcast day one can still get sunburned. For this reason I applied GALLONS of "bloqueador" to my body. However, I failed to put it on the tops of my hands and the inside of my ankles. Who gets sunburn on the inside of their ankles? This guy. Despite the fact that random parts of my body are on fire right now, it was a fun day at the beach.
Afterwards we all decided it was time to brag about how much music we had on our iTunes and it turned into a Share Fest. (I'll make sure to share my new music with anyone who wants it. Ahem: AWA)
We also went out to a bar in Barranco and danced the night away. But it's not as fun when you can't dance with the one you like the most. Until I'm able to, I guess nine girls will have to suffice.
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
Today we went to the beach. It was overcast. Being the smart guy that I am, and being the pale guy that I am, I knew that even with an overcast day one can still get sunburned. For this reason I applied GALLONS of "bloqueador" to my body. However, I failed to put it on the tops of my hands and the inside of my ankles. Who gets sunburn on the inside of their ankles? This guy. Despite the fact that random parts of my body are on fire right now, it was a fun day at the beach.
Afterwards we all decided it was time to brag about how much music we had on our iTunes and it turned into a Share Fest. (I'll make sure to share my new music with anyone who wants it. Ahem: AWA)
We also went out to a bar in Barranco and danced the night away. But it's not as fun when you can't dance with the one you like the most. Until I'm able to, I guess nine girls will have to suffice.
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
Sore Thumb
Friday, March 2, 2012
My first blog. I'm not exactly sure what to write. Do I need to be witty? Thought-provoking? Laugh out loud funny? Boring? I don't really care. I'm not really good at writing so you might get a little bit of everything.
So this is a blog about my time in Peru. My first experience: I stick out. Not only with my physical appearance (tall/lanky, ginger, extremely pale) but with my ability to speak the language. Wait, but Michael, aren't you a Spanish major and haven't you taken like a million classes in Spanish?
Yeah. I have.
If only I could converse or at least understand the Peruvians here I would feel a little more included in the culture. Or just feel like less of a tourist. Until I'm comfortable with the language I'll feel like a sore thumb. Time and effort is key though. Tiempo y esfuerzo. I'll keep that in mind. God-willing I'll eventually learn.
Hasta entonces, escribiré sobre mis experiencias acerca del idioma y otras cosas.
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
My first blog. I'm not exactly sure what to write. Do I need to be witty? Thought-provoking? Laugh out loud funny? Boring? I don't really care. I'm not really good at writing so you might get a little bit of everything.
So this is a blog about my time in Peru. My first experience: I stick out. Not only with my physical appearance (tall/lanky, ginger, extremely pale) but with my ability to speak the language. Wait, but Michael, aren't you a Spanish major and haven't you taken like a million classes in Spanish?
Yeah. I have.
If only I could converse or at least understand the Peruvians here I would feel a little more included in the culture. Or just feel like less of a tourist. Until I'm comfortable with the language I'll feel like a sore thumb. Time and effort is key though. Tiempo y esfuerzo. I'll keep that in mind. God-willing I'll eventually learn.
Hasta entonces, escribiré sobre mis experiencias acerca del idioma y otras cosas.
Que te vayas bien. Over and out.
-Mike
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