Abby in the Amazon

It was a calm, relaxed Wednesday. Us girls had just finished class, and were casually waiting for our taxi to arrive, with chicken sandwiches and laughter filling the air. When our big yellow van arrived, I was blessed with the shotgun seat, my backpack crammed between my knees and the dashboard, but my excitement overruling the uncomfortable van ride. We knew the trek to the airport was going to take us a while, but had no idea we were going to be stuck in traffic for two hours, those of which consisted of some very random happenings. After buying a kilo of mandarin oranges right out of the window, witnessing a street dancer with life size puppets, and getting yelled at by Peruvian police for cutting traffic, we were glad to say sayonara to our taxi driver and hop on the plane.

We arrived at the airport with 10 minutes left before boarding time. In a state of panic, we rushed through check in and security. Gabi and I went through first, while a couple of others stayed behind to scrounge for some food, as the idea of 7 hungry girls on stuck on a plane wasn't appealing to anyone. Met at our gate by a calm, cool and collected Ashley (who had been at the airport for an hour already), Gabi and I's anxieties were relieved, as they hadn't even begun boarding the plane yet. We went back to spread the word to the girls who still didn't know that everything was A OK, and found them running through the airport with a McDonalds bag full of cheeseburgers and panic stricken faces. As the adrenaline wore off, we sat down and waited to board the plane for another 30 minutes. Finally we boarded and were off to the jungle.

Stepping foot off the plane, we were immediately greeted by hot, heavy and humid air. Our skin was sticky and our eyes were sleepy but we were so exciting for the following days. We met our taxi driver and drove through the city of Iquitos to get to our hostel. We could see the stars, there wasn't a speed bump every 100 yards, and the honking was minimal. It almost felt like Nebraska to me, and made me that much more excited to hop in my car and just drive. When we got to our hostel, we were welcomed by the owner telling us "sorry, I know you made your reservation in advance but I gave your room away anyways." Truthfully, she was very nice and helpful and got us into a different hostel, but nonetheless it was still awfully frustrating, as we were all so exhausted and ready to pass out. We made it to our new place, and definitely overindulged in the air conditioner. I woke up in the middle of the night curled up and cuddling right next to Claire #NoShame. 

The next morning, we walked through town and stopped for a quick breakfast before meeting our transportation to the jungle. I chugged some awful instant coffee, and away we went. We met our awesome tour guide, who has casually worked with several TV shows, like the National Geographic and the Travel Channel, and spoke fluent English. We rode with him to the port, where we boarded a little boat that we took throughout the Amazon. Before reaching our "resort", we stopped and admired some caymans and paiches AKA fish that could gobble up a baby in one bite. After that, we continued down the river and traveled down an Amazonian "backroad" to our resort. We dropped our bags off in our rooms that we would be staying in for the next three days. Basically, we stayed in a screened in  bungalow with two rooms separated by one wall. There were three beds, a toilet, shower and sink on each side. It definitely wasn't what I pictured as a resort, but I liked the authentic jungle feel we had going on.

We all opted to take a real sweaty nap before lunch, and woke up to them calling us over for some rice, chicken and beans. I was a little disappointed because I was expecting to try crazy jungle foods, but a bit later I was invited to eat piranha that was served basically the same as how it was caught, just the fried version. I immediately regretted wanting the crazy jungle foods, but tried the piranha anyways. A little disturbed from a girl telling us that sucking out the eyeballs is the best part, I timidly cut into my piranha and tried to find some meat to munch on, but there really isn't much to those little fish. 

After lunch, we boated over to Monkey Island. Monkey Island is basically my childhood dream, not a true island at all, rather a refuge for rescued animals that eventually just stay because of the companionship of visitors and of course, the food. As soon as our boat pulled in, a little monkey hopped right into the lap of our tour guide, took his water, unscrewed the cap and started drinking it. The guide was just laughing, as we sat there in udder shock. 

Stepping foot onto the island was like stepping foot into paradise. Animals were freely roaming around this "island" and right away, monkeys were hopping onto our shoulders. A bird stood on my head, a toucan was hopping around, and a little raccoon like animal was grazing. We later found a pond of water that we gave no notice to, until our guide started poking around the pond with a stick. Curious, I observed and later watched a thick, scaly anaconda slither around, trying to dodge the stick. Eventually our guide got a hold of him, pulled him out and picked him up. Trying to be brave, I embraced this opportunity with open arms and went and held the snake with our tour guide. When I handed the reigns to the next person, the snake tightened its grip on my hand, and I for sure thought it was the last time I'd get to use good 'ol lefty, but eventually freed my hand from the constricting snake tail. When we left the island, we looked for (and found!) pink freshwater dolphins! They were very timid and stayed pretty far from the boat, however.

After returning to the resort, we put on our ponchos, mud boots, and headlights and went for a nocturnal hike. Although the mosquitos were attempting to make me anemic, I still enjoyed the hike and saw frogs, ants and giant moths. I also spotted a huge butterfly, and wanted to see its blue wings, so I lightly brushed it and immediately regretted my decision when it landed on my chest and I realized my suppressed fear of butterflies. They're fun to look at, but they're actually kind of creepy up close. Flashback to a 5 year old Abby temper tantrum when a butterfly landed on my purse and I lost my marbles. 

When we got back, we took advantage of our three hours of electricity by charging our phones, and using the light to take showers. Tucked away in our princess bug nets that covered our beds, we were ready to sleep at 9 PM when the lights shut off. It was so relaxing to sleep with the white noise of all of the jungle animals coming alive at night, although later that night I woke up in a panic, as a drip of water hit my forehead, and I couldn't figure out where I was. 

The following day, we left early to go fishing for piranhas. We got to our buggy honey hole, took our sticks and threw our lines and hooks in the water. We used beef as bait, and right away felt the tug of nibbles. I finally figured out the appropriate technique to set my hook and eventually pulled in two piranhas! I was surprised to find they are basically sunfish with sharp teeth. The way my brothers described them to me I had pictured a monstrous fish, more like a river shark. 

Later we traveled to a little village, stopping to try to pull a snake out a tree and pick a tarantula off a leaf. Just normal everyday life things, obviously. At the village, we were greeted by a small boy and his pet sloth, and a small girl and her pet crocodile. Okay. There we had breakfast, scrambled eggs and piranha and then took a long boat ride back to monkey island. I was happy we had already been, because the second time around wasn't as awesome. A monkey even robbed me of an earring and my popsicle. 

We left monkey island and went to a "safe spot" (not sure how that is determined) of the river to take a plunge. I was very skeptical at first, and wasn't going to get in but peer pressure happened and I took a dive. With every passing brush of a leg, my heart skipped a beat, because you know, piranhas. But I made it back into the boat alive and in one piece. We went back to the resort to clean up and eat supper. After supper we took a nocturnal boat ride. We saw a spider SWIMMING !!!!, bats and a little tree frog that joined us on our journey and rode with me on my poncho. 

The next morning, we woke up at the buttcrack of dawn to try and see the sunset. To our disappointment it was very cloudy, so we didn't see much and went right back to sleep upon our return to the bungalows. For our last day, we visited a local tribe that demonstrated the customs and dances of their past. A little boy pulled me into the commotion and we danced around in circles. Later, we tested our blow dart skills and I averaged a .500. We all bought little souvenirs made by this tribe and returned to pack up our stuff and head back to Iquitos. 

We went back to the same hostel we were supposed to stay in the first time. This time we had rooms, but Ahnika and I drew the short stick and had to stay in a dorm with a couple of other guys. We didn't sleep much, as the room was basically a sauna, smelled like smoke, and a guy would NOT STOP COUGHING all night. I was actually looking forward to my 3 AM alarm, telling me to get up and get the heck out of that dorm room. We set off in the middle of the night to catch our plane back. 

Overall, my Amazon experience was unforgettable and is competing for the title of my favorite place in Peru. 

This is my last required blog, but I'm sure I'll have some other thoughts along the road, so for now peace out, but I'll be back I'm sure! 

XOXO,

Abby

5 Things I've Learned in Peru

As my final blog will be about my trip to the Amazon, I'm closing up the Peruvian blog series with 5 things I've learned while I've been in Peru (besides Spanish).

1. Independence
I've always thought of myself being very independent, in the sense that I could do things on my own and could think for myself. But I hadn't realized before coming how much I actually depended on other people. Now, it's not a terrible thing to depend on others, but I've learned it is so important to do what YOU want to do because YOU want to do it, not because of the influence of others. Find your motives, stick to them, be who you want to be and find your own ways to create happiness. Before coming, whenever I was alone I felt super anxious, but now it's so calming and relaxing to be by myself. 

2. Small Talk
I'm so good at small talk I can do it in two languages now, but that doesn't make it any less boring. The most challenging conversations I've had while speaking Spanish (and English!!!) were not surface material subjects. They've required me to dig deep, and to think of new ways to express myself. It's important to have people in your life that challenge you, that push you, and make you think a little harder, regardless of what language you're speaking.

3. Practice Makes Perfect
It's a common phrase we hear when training for sports or CrossFit, learning a new language, working on speeches, and basically anything in life. If you have poor flexibility and mobility (*fingers point back to self*), you SHOULD stretch. Not just one time, but like.... everyday (going to take this moment to confess I never stretch and it's something that I'll be working on...) The same concept applies when trying to mold the mind. If you want to be kinder, you have to practice. You can't one day say, "I want to be a better person" and boom YOU ARE Buddha. No, sorry, it doesn't work like that. You have to consciously apply yourself to change old habits, you have to TRY and change.

4. Effort
Effort is probably one of the most important aspects to a relationship, in my opinion. It doesn't work to go above and beyond for someone that doesn't even give you the time of day, but at the same time it's good to be generous with your time and presence. What you put in won't always be what you get out and if it's not working out, move on. Any kind of relationship requires a balance of effort, and you should never be the one pulling all the weight.

5. F.O.E.
Family Over Everything. My brothers both have it tattooed on their bodies, and it's what has gotten me through the homesickness I've felt here. Although they're not my family by blood, the Nebraska group, my Peruvian friends and host family have all made me feel at home here. While no one can replace your immediate family, having something that's close makes everything so much easier.

That's all for now folks, as I'll be heading out tonight for the Amazon Jungle!

XOXO abrazos y besos,
Abby

Major Key: Communication

Another week down here in el Perú, and only a couple more to go! Today officially marks 20 days left until I get to see my parents, who I haven't got to hug since January. As far as this past week went, I went to a Peruvian barbecue, started a new training program at the gym, ate lots of food, and went to Parque de Las Aguas!

Let's talk about communication. In the world of smartphones, iPad's, iMessaging, twitter, instagram, you name it, it appears we can connect to anyone, anywhere. Which, let's face it, is pretty cool. But what about real communication? What about when you actually have to make plans with someone by using your mouth and your words? I've learned a couple of lessons this past week about the art of communicating.

Lesson number one took place last Thursday night when Yurina and I went to Parque de Las Aguas. It's a huge park with several different lit up fountains and shows. I'm really quite mad at myself that I didn't go there sooner! I mean, we actually did try to go sooner (Monday) but upon arrival we saw that the park was closed. (this could actually count for communication lesson number one: always google hours of operation). The true first lesson was coming home, when Yurina and I sat down in three different taxis to get ourselves back to campus. Our first several attempts at hailing a taxi were unsuccessful, as they all tried to charge us way too much. Uhm hello just because we have accents doesn't mean we don't know a good taxi price.... right?! After bartering with another, we got him down to a reasonable price and got in... only to drive a couple blocks to have him tell us, no actually I'm not ok with that price, I want 5 soles more. We said "nope" and got out right there. Surprised, as this has never happened to us, we tried, tried again. Bartering with taxi number two, we all agreed on a price again and away we went. We told him exactly where to go (our campus, which is very well known to the taxi world), but after a couple of blocks he decided he didn't understand us, and he didn't know exactly where he was going, unless of course we settled for 5 soles more. So out hopped Yurina and I, deciding if we kept this trend up we may make it back to campus fo' free! Third times a charm, as we hailed a taxi and his initial price was 5 soles less than the other two we bargained with. We jumped right in as soon as the words, "quince" escaped from his sweet Peruvian lips. Lesson one: some people try to pull the, "oh sorry I don't understand your accent give me more money" card. Don't let it happen, your communication skills are great boo boo.

Lesson number two is group communication. Personally, I love group messages. I think they're fun and everyone gets to contribute and send fun emojis and they're just fun. But let's talk about group chats in real life, some may call these "meetings", "small gatherings" or "parties". Saturday night I found myself at a Peruvian barbecue. Much like barbecues in the United States, we ate lots of meat, drank some beer and were all gathered around talking. Now this wasn't the first time it's been brought to my attention, but there's something about being in a group of native speakers that makes me shut down. I'm like the friend that wasn't by their phone, has 47 new notifications, sees the funny joke made two hours ago and sends "lol" after the discussion is done. The speed of these conversations is astounding, not to mention full of slang and terms I've never heard. Sometimes I just laugh along with them, even though they know I didn't get it. I'm lucky enough to have made friends that understand this problem, and will later explain the joke to me. Little by little it's getting much easier to understand what is being said, but sometimes I'm just off in the distance, thinking "damn guys I have no idea what's going on." Lesson two: speaking one on one or in tiny groups is the easiest.

Overall, communication is key. Lots of lessons can be learned on this topic, and I'm lucky enough to have figured some of them out. Bear with me, as I only have a couple more weeks left!

Abrazos y besos, XOXO

Abby

The shoes on my feet, I bought 'em

In the home stretch of the trip, I'm still fighting between the the excitement of coming home and the sadness of leaving my new home away from home. The last couple of weeks have been full of fun, but a different kind of fun. It hasn't been as exhilarating as taking a trip to the beach, to the andes, or to Machu Picchu. It's been more of the everyday, simpler, kind of fun. 

I did, however, get to check going white water rafting off of my bucket list! Last Friday, some friends from the gym and I traveled about three hours away from Lima and white water rafted. It was a lot harder than I expected, and I was actually really sore in my shoulders the next day! We also got to try some local honey, wine and pisco. The trip was definitely worth it.

Most of the other fun has consisted of hanging out at the gym and running around with some of my new friends. We've created all sorts of fun, whether it's come from super painful pedicures, going to the movies, making a cooking show video, or my really really terrible attempts at trying to salsa. I've always claimed that the best nights of my life have been spent dancing, so I'm still in love with the fact that Lima is full of discotecas. 

On another note, the Nebraska girls (and our wonderful professors) have planned a trip to the Amazon, which I'm super pumped for. I'm just praying that my underlying fear of piranhas (instilled in me by my brothers, thanks guys) doesn't get the best of me. Maybe I'll stay in the jungle with my monkey cousins forever or maybe I'll come back and see my parents when they come to visit two weeks after! :) 

We've also found a sushi restaurant across the street from our school, and have made several trips back. It's literally the best, and I still can't believe the first time I tried sushi I gagged... ha. ha ....

*Although I absolutely love it here, I found myself with a list of complaints the other day while texting some of my friends back home. I've found myself missing the freedom of having a car, not having to depend on ANYONE to get anywhere, and being able to get across town in 15 minutes. Everyday here is taxis taxis taxis, and traffic traffic traffic. I also miss being able to put on solo concerts in my car, those ease the soul. I miss the independence of being able to cook for myself. I miss not having to ring the doorbell every time I come home. I miss not having to wake up anyone to let me out of the house if I want to get up at 5:30 AM to workout.  Basically, the theme is that I'm missing my independence. While spiritually, I've become so much more independent, physically there's no possible way of being independent. 

     *this section of the post was written while listening to Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson and Independent Women by Destiny's Child.... in case you were wondering ;) 

I really am having a hard time writing my blogs lately, probably because the excitement and newness is wearing down, and everything is becoming less and less foreign. My everyday life is becoming more routine and I've cut back on the traveling. Although I still have a lot of Peru to see, I'm enjoying spending more weekends in Lima, getting to know my host city a little better. 

Until the next post... abrazos y besos XOXO

Abby 

Our group white water rafting. 

My gym ladies!

Batman vs. Superman premiere

Bus rides with these goons! 

Cooking show :)

Noche de salsa :) 

Just a Nurse

And yet another blog that has nothing to do with Peru, but as travels wind down I'm being brought back to a bit of a routine that I'm completely okay with. As many of you have already seen, Friday I found out that I have been accepted into UNMC's Traditional Nursing Program on Omaha's campus. I immediately FaceTimed my parents, new roommates (shout out to Jory, Shayna and Trae!) and texted my otha brotha Loran who couldn't FaceTime because he is living la vida nightshift. 

Within this excitement was a pinch of sadness, as I realized I now HAVE to come back to the states and basically back to the real world. But more important than the sadness, I realized how much support I have behind me in making this dream become a reality. I'd like to share with you guys my personal statement I wrote on why exactly I want to become a nurse:

Throughout my life I was confident that I was going to go to medical school, until I had a change of heart. After taking some time to think it over, I decided to switch and pursue a career in nursing. When deciding to make the switch, I realized that a career in nursing would provide flexibility and diversity in the workplace. Many close friends and relatives of mine are nurses, and through them I have seen what a wonderful field I’m going into. I saw so much potential and excellence in choosing this career, but time and time again people would question me, “What happened to wanting to be a doctor? Now you’re JUST going to be a nurse?”

I am motivated to become more than just a nurse. The natural human tendency is to be selfish, and I want to be the person who steps outside of this tendency and helps people when they are suffering and in pain. I want to be the nurse that studied Spanish so that I can reach out to a vulnerable population who may be scared or intimidated because of a language barrier.  I want to be there with my patients and their families in times of happiness and grief. I want to be the physician’s eyes and ears. I strive to be not just a nurse, rather I strive to be the nurse that goes above and beyond the expectations for my patients and coworkers.

I want to leave a mark on healthcare that is significant to my patients and their families during their times of need. I may not even think of it as anything more than doing my job but I want to do it in a way that is profound to those who I come into contact with. Knowing I can come into work and make a difference in someone’s life really pushes me to become a nurse.  

Nursing will also provide a learning environment in the field, even after schooling is done. Whether it’s a disease I have yet to deal with, or a piece of history a patient tells me, I want to continue learning after nursing school. Ultimately, I envision myself furthering my career by going to graduate school to become a certified nurse anesthetist, maybe after I take some time to do some travel nursing. 

I also envision myself speaking fluent Spanish. Since the first day of Spanish class my freshman year of high school, I have made it a goal to become fluent. Studying Spanish has taught me that communication skills are vital to having good relationships with others. Going abroad this spring will really improve my ability to communicate with the Spanish speaking population, which will translate well to my nursing career. (I wrote this before I came to Peru, I am *almost* speaking fluent Spanish, yeeee!)

A goal without a plan is just a wish. I’m not wishing to become a nurse. This is my goal, and being accepted into nursing school is the first step to reaching my goal.  

F is for Friends

This past week has been one for the books, that's for sure. The underlying lesson of the week is that there is absolutely nothing like friendship. It's important folks.

Sticking to my promises of not wasting my days sitting around, I kept myself super busy this week. Starting with Thursday, Marki and I did a little shopping and found ourselves to be very successful... we love dat Jockey Plaza. Later that night I went to the gym to watch the announcement for the next Open workout! We all had a great time cheering each other on. Thursday nights will always have a special place in my heart, and I can't express enough how grateful I am for CrossFit. It's led me to some great people. Later that night, I "learned" how to salsa, and went out with a couple of friends from my gym. The salsa is a very sexy dance, and needless to say I haven't quite mastered it yet. For that matter, I don't think I ever will.

Friday morning, I got lost. I was supposed to meet one of my new Peruvian friends at her house, and all was going to be well. Except there were no Uber's out at the time, leading me to make the trek by walking. It really wasn't too far of a walk, but the whole time I was looking for the wrong house number (imagine that). I stopped and asked a security guard at a neighboring school for help, and we eventually called a cab to meet with another friend of mine. My security guard friend took such good care of me, he made sure I had a good price for the cab, and even sent pictures of my cab to my friend that was waiting for me. He had places to be but he ensured that this lost gringa found her way, and I'm so grateful for that!

Friday night was one of the best nights of my life. A couple weeks ago, a couple of us girls saw billboards for a Skrillex concert in Lima and we flew with that idea. Before this I had never been to an electronic music concert but I now know it's a whole new experience. Although we waited until about 1 am for Skrillex to preform, I will never forget this night. It's like I felt the music in my soul. It was awesome. I can't even explain it. We didn't get home until about 4:30 (not an uncommon thing here), but I'm chalking this night up as a win!

Saturday, after about four hours of sleep, our class went to central Lima to watch a show called Las Brisas del Titicaca. The show was full of all different types of dancing, and as tired as I was I still really enjoyed it. Between each type of dance, they had the band play and people from the crowd flocked to the stage to dance. We got pulled on to dance with a couple of ladies, and although it was blatantly obvious some of us didn't know how to dance, these ladies were having a blast with us!

Sunday I met some friends at an allllllllllll you can eat sushi bar. It was so cool! I tried so many different types of sushi and tried to keep up with the rapid conversation of my Peruvian friends. We ended up hanging out there for about four hours, trying to take advantage of our nonstop sushi service. Later Sunday night, I went to see Kung Fu Panda with my friend Clara. It was a challenge to watch the movie only in Spanish, but I'm glad I did it.

Our class also went to a local school, where the children live in a community that came to Lima from the jungle. A few of the kids knew how to speak Shipibo (a native language of the jungle) and we spent some time reading some stories and playing games. Then, we went outside to play some games and next thing you know the whole school is on recess, flocking to each of the girls to give piggyback rides, spin in circles and play tag. It was so fun to run around with the kids and see the joy on their faces. 

The rest of the week was spent going to class, going to the gym, and hanging around. One night I went to Claire's house, where we spent most of the evening chit chatting beside her rooftop pool. We talked about how crazy it was that only a few months ago we were all sitting in a room, awkward, because we didn't know a single thing about each other, and now we're each others support system.

Which brings me to the moral of the story, everything I've done this past week was in good company. It's so so important to fill your time with positive people that support you through and through. I'm so thankful for all of my friends, here and in Nebraska. As they say, you are who you hang out with! So make sure you hang out with super attractive and cool people... ;)

Hasta la proxima, abrazos y besos.

XOXO
Abigail Cristina Gasparin Crunchy Boyer


p.s. that is my new Peruvian name ^ .... Gasparin signifying casper the ghost...

my slump, my revival

They say that during a study abroad trip, you follow a certain pathway of feelings. You start in honeymoon, regress to homesickness, and then right before you leave you're on cloud nine and don't want to go home. This theory in my case is definitely holding true.

The past couple of weeks (excluding this weekend, you'll find out) have been part of the "regression stage". I sat in my room a lot wishing I was back home. I know, what a waste of time but hey sh*t happens. I watched a movie one weeknight here, called How To Be Single (for $1.50... step up USA). It was super cute and actually took me out of my funk, and also made me want to go to the Grand Canyon to see a sunrise on New Years Day. If you're a single 20 something female, put this movie on your to-do list.

AND THEN... something incredible happened. We spent this past weekend in Cusco, and let me tell you, it was absolutely breathtaking. Literally breathtaking too, as we found ourselves once again at about 12,000 feet above sea level and gasping for air after climbing two flights of stairs. We started the weekend super early Friday morning, finally arrived in Cusco, and checked into our hotel. We had a quick lunch and took a brief tour of some ruins and of the city. At one of the ruin stops, we went into a little tunnel, where it was pitch black and I honestly got a little anxious as I couldn't see at all where I was going. We finally, literally, saw the light and escaped this little tunnel. It was interesting to say the least. We also slid down some natural rock "slides" but we couldn't go full speed as our guide told us we would probably break our ankles. Taking into consideration my following day, I decided he was right, and "braked" the whole way down the slide. Afterwards, we stopped in a beautiful church where, unfortunately, we couldn't take any pictures.

Natural rock slides! So cool

These little guys were everywhere, they were so photogenic

The center plaza

If I had a list of the top ten days of my life, the following day would definitely make the cut. We started the day with an interesting hotel breakfast, consisting of pasta, bread and the best apples I've ever had. I was also sure to load up on coffee. We took a scenic two hour bus ride to a train station in a neighboring city. While we waited, I enjoyed another cup of coffee and then we boarded the train. There's no way to describe the train ride other than magical. I felt like I was on the Hogwarts express, waiting to arrive at my first day of wizard school. We rode alongside a gushing, brown, sediment filled river the entire way, passing through tunnels and approaching the more jungle-like scenery of Machu Picchu. We passed some trekkers, who were making a four day hike on the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu. This is another thing on my bucket list, as I can't even imagine the reward of coming over the top of the mountain and seeing the famous, ancient ruins after four days of trekking. When we arrived, we stepped foot into the small town of Machu Picchu. The girls were in awe, and said it reminded them of Estes Park (I couldn't make the connection, as Estes is waiting patiently on my bucket list). The town was cute, and filled with little shops, but we had to skip over roaming the city as we had to catch another bus that took us up to the entrance of Machu Picchu. *MOM SKIP THIS PART* The bus ride was super sketchy, (not a new sensation, unfortunately), as we passed oncoming busses with full speed, and no guard rails. *MOM START READING AGAIN* When we got to the top, we started our tour of the ruins. It was absolutely breathtaking. We were sure to load up with tons of pictures, and were guided through the ruins learning about each room, and what probably went on there. It was amazing, the architecture, the beautiful day we had, the llamas roaming freely, the general atmosphere... Everything was picture perfect and I soaked in everything I could. I'm ecstatic to go back with my parents in May (hopefully without a guide this time, as I wanted to roam and sit and take it all in, but we were rushed from stop to stop).

The little town underneath Machu Picchu

The Famous

The rest of the day was enjoyed by a little souvenir shopping, eating at a buffet with the best Alfajores (aka cookies filled with some sort of good frosting stuff AKA my new addiction), and a sleepy bus/train ride home. That night we hung around the hotel, had some girl talk outside our rooms that ended abruptly by a hotel worker yelling "SILENCIO" at the three of us giggling girls. We ran into our room like real adults and it made my heart super happy. Another happy heart moment was the blissful, chilled sleep I got while in Cusco. It got pretty cold at night and we had the heaviest, coziest blankets.

Our last full day in Cusco, we spent mostly getting bussed around to different archaeological sites and different markets. One of the archaeological sites was a big terrace, where I literally felt my spirits lift. It was nice and cool and breezy, and we were in a giant grass field and I felt like I was back home. We later spent some time buying homemade bracelets and other goodies from the local women. They were all so genuine, kind, and smiley. It's amazing how even with such a different life, working for maybe, maybe ten dollars a day, these women were genuinely happy. It really made me reevaluate the material aspect of my life, as I'm realizing day by day I'm enjoying more the money I spend on adventures and experiences, rather than the money spent on stuff, and most importantly I'm enjoying the free experience of the presence of others. We enjoyed another buffet that had a scenic view of the river beneath a giant garden filled with a couple of llamas. I took it upon myself to mount a swing and swing next to the river. I felt my energy rise and my spirits lift once more.

Looking back at the restaurant from the garden 

Our view from the restaurant

Full of joy :)

Upon arrival back to home base in Cusco, we put on our jeans and sweaters (insert heart eye emoji here) and headed to the main plaza. We enjoyed the best chica morada and an amazing meal served by our new Syrian friend that could speak Arabic, Spanish and English... impressive. We had a great view of the plaza from the restaurant and did our highs and lows, and by this time my glass was back to being half full, actually more like overflowing. We also came across a couple guys in Husker shirts (more like chased after them, but that's besides the point), and got to share a quick "GO BIG RED" why are you here? chat.

On our way back to the hotel this night, we all vowed that we're done sitting around. Our free time will now be spent exploring the unknowns of Lima together. I'm so grateful for the girls here, they know exactly what to say, how to cheer you up, and are straight up adventure enthusiasts. They make me want to stay here forever.

Another reason I don't think I have it in me to leave is my CrossFit family here. They are so sweet, welcoming and I love them so much. I am so glad I have something like CrossFit in my life, because it always brings me to the best people, and has connected me with so many locals here. As you can tell, they love to blow up my Facebook, and I'm enjoying competing in the Open with them here.

Mi familia <3

To tie back into the rhythm of a study abroad trip, I'm back to being in love with this country and the people here. I don't want to think about the short time I have left here, however I've already decided I will definitely be coming back in the near future. Thanks for sticking with this long, wordy blog.
XOXO Abrazos y Besos,

Abby

LOVE

Alas my journey to Peru, where I thought I was coming to learn me some Spanish. While I've done plenty of that, I've found myself searching the deepest innards of my being. Within my soul searching, I've found myself striving to be a better person. Everyday, I want to be the newest, best version of myself. But how? Where do I start?  

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

A common bible verse, that can often be misunderstood, looked over, or heard but not listened to. 

Huh? Abby girl, sister, sweetheart... you aren't in love! You ain't gotchu a man! Doesn't matter. The love I'm seeking is the smile-at-a-stranger, be-patient-with-your-barista, everyday, simple love your neighbor kind of love. The put-it-into-context love. But what happens when we actually put it into context? What happens when we switch love with something else? 

Abby is patient, Abby is kind. Abby does not envy, Abby does not boast, Abby is not proud. Abby does not dishonor others, Abby is not self-seeking, Abby is not easily angered, Abby keeps no record of wrongs. Abby does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Abby always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Woah. I'm smiling right now because I know I have my work put out for me. When put into context, I've realized I'm still in a galaxy far far away when it comes to loving like Jesus does. When replacing love with my own name, I can pinpoint exactly what I need to work on. It's so hard sometimes to know where to start. I'm full of flaws. I get jealous, I'm selfish, I hold grudges, but with these flaws comes a perseverance to fix them.

Not wanting to get on a soapbox here (definitely not my place), my message is simply that loving others can be easy, if we know how to do it right. 

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

As I write this, I'm teetering between feelings of "take me back to the homeland!" and "puuuhhhlease, I'm never coming back." I've decided that feeling homesick and never wanting to leave can happen simultaneously. I miss my bed, I miss allllll the foods, and most importantly I miss my family. At the same time, I don't want to leave. The people are so kind, class is just our excuse to be here, and sunny and 75 everyday will never get old. It's an odd mix of emotions that has hit me over and over again. Today's blog will feature the good, the bad, and the ugly of some past events here in Peru.

The Ugly

Because I love to end on a positive note, I'm going reversies on the order here. Today I was brought back to a hilarious memory of my brothers in a bathroom in Florida with a wire coat hanger. To spare some details, Lima's sewage system is subpar. I think us American girls could open up our own plumbing business when we get back. The only other "ugly" I can think of is nothing ugly at all. It was just the smell of bird poop and sea lions when we visited Isla Ballesta in Paracas this past weekend. We took a boat early Saturday morning, leaving behind our precious air conditioned rooms that our school provided for us. We were pleasantly surprised by several pods of dolphins on our way to the island, and upon arrival were greeted by the barks of numerous sea lions occupying a rocky beach. Isla Ballesta encompassed several of the most unique and breathtaking animals and scenery I've ever seen.

There was so many cool, rocky structures!

Sea Lions

I learned how to paddle board!

The Bad

If you've ever felt homesick you'll understand that no matter how much fun I'm having here, a part of me always wants to be in touch with my Nebraskan world, and I can't seem to shake it. I miss brownies and ice cream with my parents on a random weeknight. I actually MISS my brothers constantly making fun of me. However, we are pretty much at the halfway point, and I have so much more to learn and to see, so I'm pushing through. A couple of meals at the hotel this past weekend were spent doing "high-lows" which brought me peace and reminded me of home. To ease my homesickedness (not a word, english is getting harder), I've found comfort in hanging around at my CrossFit gym here. There's just something about a community that pushes you to be and do your best, day in and day out. I'll be doing the open here which makes me oooohhhh soooooo happy. I've also made a friend at my box who lives super close to me, so I'm going to start hitching a ride with her. Overall, the bad really isn't so bad.

My CrossFit Fam, celebrating a birthday together!

The Good

Last and definitely not least, there's so much good here. The people are so kind, and I almost always feel comfortable testing out my broken Spanish. They make me feel good for trying, and overall Peruvians just give off a good vibe. Several birthdays have been celebrated within the last week, and although the words to the spanish birthday song are not engraved in my general knowledge, the atmosphere is what matters. From everyone gathered around a table eating cake, coffee, and orange mimosas (YUM), to a night at the gringo bar, to burpees and cake at the gym, the birthday celebrations here are simple but so so so happy. I'm absolutely over the moon about the people here. They make me want to be a better person. Overall, my experiences here can never be replaced or replicated.

Shelby's birthday celebration! Such a fun night.

Celebrating Marki's host mom's birthday!

Sandy Cheeks

After a consistent 10 days filled with people, I'm feeling oddly at peace sitting in my room, alone, writing to my fans (hi mom and dad). The past week and a half was filled with some of my favorite days in the history of all of my being. I spent more time in my swimsuit than regular clothes, learned how to surf, maybe.... almost..... got my purse stolen (not so awesome), went scuba diving, read an entire book, and got to hang out with 9 of the chillest girls on this planet Earth.

It all started on a Thursday. I woke up super early to bid my friend Fabi adieu at our CrossFit gym. After that, I spent the morning hustling around to get everything done. I was locked, loaded and ready to take on spring break. A couple of us girls walked to school together with our suitcases, causing quite the spectacle for any onlooker. We arrived at the bus station to take an 18 hour bus ride to a place called Mancora, found in Northern Peru. This bus ride was actually pleasant compared to the previous two, as we decided to upgrade to "first class" where we had bigger seats, complementary movies, and thank the Lord... air conditioning. 

When we landed in Mancora, we immediately felt the difference in latitude as we were now only about 4 degrees south of the equator, the sun was beaming, and it was about 90 degrees outside. The second we stepped off the bus, we were flocked with drivers wanting us to ride in their mototaxis. We finally gave in, not knowing any better, and paid quite a chunk of cash (comparatively speaking) to get to the next town over. We arrived and were welcomed into our beautiful beach house, where we spent a ton of time relaxing, reading, cooking, and swimming in the pool.

The view from our deck.

The following days were long but wonderful.  We had a couple rainy days filled with nothing but good card games and laughter. A lot of my free time was spent reading Harry Potter and lounging around, so I won't fill you in on the day by day details but instead some highlights of the trip.

One of our first nights we decided to hit up the town, and get our discoteca on. Mancora is known for its night life so we were sure we couldn't be disappointed. Most of the girls weren't, however after a close call of getting my bag pulled away from me, (no worries, I had a natural instinct to karate chop the kids hand.... real tough Abby, real tough...), I decided I wasn't going to go back out in Mancora.

On a more exciting, and adventurous note: we went surfing. Yeah we did. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. We showed up bright and early (8 am) to a surf school, and I met my instructor who had probably just woke up from a quick nap, as many of the locals party until about 7 in the morning. Despite my grumpy, possibly hungover instructor, he actually helped me paddle and time the waves accordingly. When I finally got the chance to stand up, I felt free and alive and a little bit awkward because I had no idea how to steer the surfboard. Anyways, I caught about 6 good waves, only crashed into the rocks once, and will absolutely be found surfing again in the future. I can see why people make a life out of being a beach bum. I could honestly surf and bum around all day... but the bills need paid you know?

Another day we went scuba diving. Wow. That was another incredible experience itself. We didn't have to take a prerequisite class or anything. We started by taking a short boat ride out to an old oil rig that hosted several sea lions. They left when we started the dive, where we were guided down a rope into two different "levels". The first, where we began our descend, was fairly green and the visibility wasn't that great. Then all of the sudden the water got cold, blue and clear as we entered the second level. Here we swam through schools of fish, saw an octopus, and our guide even put a live starfish on our hands. It was so incredible, and I only panicked once, when I forgot that I could breath when I was 35 feet underwater. Scuba diving was an amazing experience, one that I would love to happen again.

About to plop into the water to scuba.

One of our last days in Mancora, we decided to take a tour. We weren't really sure what we were getting ourselves into (but are you surprised?). It turned out to be a tour of a couple of beaches and a visit to a crocodile zoo thing that was poorly kept, and quite sad to be honest. We were so far north that we could almost touch Ecuador, and a big alligator tear (hehehe see what I did there?) was shed because I would've loved to say I went to Ecuador (even if just in a bus). I could've done without the excursion, however, but hey it was 10 bucks and I got a nice tan so I guess it wasn't terrible. 

Returning back to Lima was bittersweet. I'm going to miss the sounds of waves crashing along the beach when I go to bed, however I'm happy to have slept through the night without sweating constantly. Speaking of sleeping through the night, last night there was a little temblor (AKA earthquake) which I'm actually kind of bummed I slept right through. More adventures await, and I will try to keep you all informed and up to date.

Until next time... XOXOXO,
Abby

SO happy to have seen a good sunset. 

NEATure

It's crazy to believe it's already been a month here in Peru. Time here is quickly passing, and I'm not sure I like the speed. Everyday here has been a new adventure, a lesson learned, and everything in between.

Bringing it back to last Tuesday, the whole group got to explore historical Lima aloft a double decker bus. Of course, our group took over the upper level and off we went. Every time I see a new district, it never ceases to amaze me how different each district of the same city is. As we arrived in the historical district of Lima, the architecture transformed. The evidence of European influence was strong, as the the roofs were no longer flat, and the streets became narrower. 

Our bus stopped at the Monastery of San Fransisco, where we were immediately flooded with vendors trying to sell us a variety of knick-knacks. When we entered the church, we wandered around and looked at the preserved tiles and art. However the highlight of the day was actually found underneath of the church, as we got to tour the recently discovered catacombs. Surrounded by bones and skulls layered thick with dust, I couldn't help but think I was in some sort of creepy horror movie. I loved every second of it. We also stepped foot into a library, which immediately transported my mind to Hogwarts. Hanging chandeliers, antique textiles and those little ladder things that slide back and forth had me believing that I was somewhere magical. Although I seem to enjoy nature more than the city, this historical site had me head over heels.

Some of the architecture from El Centro!

My bus buddy and I! 

Fast forwarding to Wednesday night, a few of the girls and I took our first overnight bus to Huaraz. I was super excited to spend a night traveling in exchange for all the daylight possible to explore. Unfortunately, our beauty sleep was interrupted by a screaming child who roared for about five of the eight hour trip. When we arrived Thursday morning we groggily made our way to the hostel, where we were greeted by one of the sweetest men I've ever met. The owner of the hostel (Emilio AKA Dad) welcomed us immediately like family. Throughout the weekend I was in awe over the hospitality he provided us. From waiting with us in the rain for a taxi, to waking up at 5 AM to let us out, he treated us like 7 of his own. 

Most of Thursday morning was spent catching up on sleep. When we ventured out of bed at about noon, Emilio showed us to a little family restaurant where we enjoyed a 3 course meal for only 5 soles ($1.44). After lunch, we walked around the city for a bit. We found a lawn full of llamas, the plaza, and an abundance of stores; one where I made the best purchase of my life, a pair of hiking boots. As the day drug on, I realized I hadn't ate much and "Abby" quickly transformed into "crAbby". One of the biggest lessons of the weekend was that me + no food = bad news. Luckily, the girls took great care of me, and we stopped for supper. I ordered a cheese pizza, and didn't realize it was made with kraft singles until about the 6th slice. 

Loved the clouds over this little plaza!

These girls are the best! They handled me well when I was at my worst... AKA hangry :) 

Friday morning we actually had no idea where we were going until we got on the bus. I thought I was ready to take on whatever the day brought, until I was told we were headed to hike a glacier... and I was wearing shorts. Luckily enough, I packed a pair of sweatpants just in case. Not to toot my own horn, but I would consider myself in decent shape, however upon arrival I was humbled by the fact that the lack of oxygen in the air can really alter everything. Climbing the slightest incline took my breath away, and given that we were 16,400 feet above sea level I chose to ride a horse up most of the mountain. I felt genuine fear as my horsey decided he wanted to sprint (do horses do that?) up the side of the mountain, and my ghetto saddle was shifting and sliding around everywhere. Let's just say I was pleased when I got the chance to get off and walk again. The last leg of the hike, the weather took a turn for the worse as we were pelted with sleet. We snapped a couple photos and returned to descend the mountain. By the time we got to the bottom, the altitude and hunger mixture had gotten the best of me. I sat quickly and refueled with some Cheetos before getting back on the bus to return to Huaraz and our warm beds.

This little pond was so colorful! The picture doesn't do it justice. 

Pastoruri Glacier

The next morning, we woke up at about 4:30 AM in preparation for the infamous Laguna 69 hike. We took a bumpy bus ride through several small towns and arrived at the start of the trek. In high spirits, we began the climb up to the turquoise waters of the lake. Our hike started off very simple and flat, and we were accompanied by some cattle. We walked next to a rushing river and shortly came across our first set of switchbacks. After this first set, we were sure we were almost there. Fighting the altitude and hunger (surprise, Abby's hungry!), my state of being took a turn for the worse. I somehow managed to hit my second wind, however, and we continued on. When we finally caught a glimpse of the magnificent lake, I think I honestly shed a quick tear. I had never been so happy to sit down and rest! We enjoyed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and took in the beauty of the lake. Our descend down was equally as grueling as the way up, and I was sure I was going to lose my lunch on more than one occasion, but I pushed through the sickness and made it down. Looking back, it was the hardest hike I've ever done, but the most rewarding. The view was amazing and I learned a lot along the way.

A PB&J has never tasted so good. 

Part of the hike.... We started at the very bottom of the waterfall, and made our way up to the tippy top!

The last day in Huaraz was very relaxing. Once again we had no idea where we were going until about halfway into the bus ride. We ended up in a small town called Chavin, where we got to explore some pre-incan ruins. I was overjoyed that the day wasn't too physically taxing. We spent most of the day in the bus, but I wasn't complaining. We got back to Huaraz late, and rushed to catch our bus back to Lima. As the girls and I looked around, we were happy to see that there were no toddlers aboard. However, this bus ride lacked air conditioning which called for another sleepless bus ride. 

Greetings from: Jesus... I loved this statue that stood at the entrance of Chavin. 

A view of the underground tunnels from the Chavin ruins. 

Another week down, and several busy ones to come! February includes midterm exams, a 10 day stay at a beach house for spring break, and a trip to southern Peru. If you've made it this far into my blog, I want to thank you for taking the time to read about my adventures. Hugs, kisses, and until next time! Mwuah! 

Couldn't have made it through the hike without these girls! Thanks for staying positive and rolling with whatever came our way :)