SST in Peru
[www.goshen.edu...] -- Hey friends and GC family. I'm currently sitting in a "Cabina de internet" in Miraflores, Lima, Peru. It has been quite the experience so far and its hard to believe that we're quickly approaching being a quarter of the way through my time here already!

I arrived in Peru on Sept. 4th and the next day met my host family: Mother, Leonor, and father Victor. I don't have any host siblings, which for me being an only child back in the states, that hasn't been that big of an adjustment for me. My host parents are great. My mother likes to cook a lot and my father likes to joke about lots of things, though, its usually in spanish so I laugh at what I can pick up.

Our group gets along really well and I've made some stronger friendships and even some new friends too. Thats the beauty of being somewhere else with people you don't know as well. You become close with people you may not have had the chance to otherwise.

Being gone also has had its fair share of reminders of things I miss from home, friends, family, the GC campus and annual events, food, and other amentities (such as the ability to flush toilet paper). With that said, there are also many things that I am already realizing I will miss about this experience as well. Maybe I can open up a panadaria in Goshen, or help to emphasize the benefits to public transportation.

On top of language barriers and learning my way around a completly foriegn land, its not hard to keep a smile on my face and continue being the person I want to be in a land of differences. If there is one thing I am being reasured of its that different doesn't mean weird, or strange, different means unique and beautiful. I'm excited to see what "different" exeperiences SST has in store for me yet, and I can't wait to share them with you. Until then, your cyber blogging amigo...

Tim
Posted at 18:07