T-city Top Ten #1: A Taste

The most appropriate to way to start this T-city Top 10 series is with a blurb about the Peruvian cuisine.  Every country I have been to, I have been asked... "Do you like the food?" Japan, China, Korea, Mexico, Costa Rica... etc.  My answer is always yes, because I don't consider myself a very picky eater.  However, the cuisine is the PRIDE of Peru, and well-deserved.  They do have some tasteful dishes.

One thing they are known for is Ceviche.  SOOOO good.  It's fish, but not fishy fish.  It's fish cooked in lime juice, served on a plate with onion.  I love lime juice, ají (Peruvian spice) and onion as well --- so the combination makes my mouth water just thinking about it!  It's usually served as a starter plate/appetizer while you're waiting for your main meal.

Above is a plate of ceviche with potato and yuca, and the cup (which I think I've blogged before) is a cup of ceviche, but this has a different juice that includes cilantro -- YUM!!!

The Peruvian pop (soda), Inca Kola, is now distributed by CocaCola... no surprise.  It's yellow pop with some say a flavor of bubble gum.  I don't taste it.  It has a good flavor, and on a warm day, a cold Inca really hits the spot :)

thankful.

This was my meal for thanksgiving last year... I remember I took a picture because I knew it wouldn't be the same this year! :)  We for some reason didn't have turkey, oh man, that was a delicious meal!!!

This year... I didn't even have supper!  I went home right after work to quick clean up my humble abode because I invited some chicas to come over to make some cookies!  Pumpkin cookies that is!  My sister sent me a gift bag full of pumpkin goodies which I have been savoring, one thing which was a pumpkin spice cookie mix.


In the morning, I had my last pumpkin spice latte by Starbucks VIA in the morning, soooo good! After I assembled some of the new furniture I was able to buy!!!  Then I had class where I gave exams, and then after class was our cookie time.

 Only two lovely ladies could make it, but that's okay.... more for us, right?!  We were going to make 2 types of cookies, do a craft, talk, laugh, give things... fun things like that (minus playing football outside, haha), but since only 2 ladies came, we spent the time talking and eating... typical I guess.

It was lovely to have them, and lovely to send them home with goodies too.
This Thanksgiving, among so many other things I'm thankful for, starting and ending my day with pumpkin-something sure was a blessing.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.Psalm 9:1

T-City Top 10-coming soon & exciting news!

I decided in honor of my 10 months here, living in the Lord's grace day by day, I would do a T-City Top 10.  Not really sure what that means or what it will include.
Maybe in the 10, things I've learned, characteristics about T-city, and the like.
So that means 10 posts will be coming!!!  :) :)

Today is thanksgiving in my homeland, LOVE this day and this time there.
Wish I could be there with family and eating the delicious cuisine, but alas here I stay.  But I am content!!!

My thanksgiving post will be tomorrow so you can see how I celebrated.

The big news today is that my baby sister got engaged last night!!!

The mother-of-the-Bride, the BRIDE TO BE, and the Gramma-of-the-Bride!
(What Beauties!!!!!!)

Love her so much, and it aches me that I am so far when she will be planning, celebrating, etc.  And that I haven't even met the guy is hard, but I know he loves Jesus, treats my sister well and loves her & myli so much (and is patient, haha).  What more could one ask for in a future brother-in-law?!  For that I am super thankful, the Lord is so good.

Congrats Al, Love you so much!!!

disconnected.

oh wow..... it's really been 4 months since I've last blogged...

Well, it's official, I now have internet, so I now have no excuse not to:
A.) Blog
B.) Facebook
C.) Email
D.) Skype

But then again, I am working 40+ hours a week and helping in the church... so maybe I do have a little bit of an excuse still... :S

Although it's been hard sans internet, it's been a nice time away.
I don't feel as dependent on the internet, I forget I have it at times.
It's been good I think for the last 4 months, because it got me out of my house to explore my neighborhood.
My neighbors now know me, and I know them---maybe not their names... I just greet them by saying, "Vecino, Buenas Tardes!" (Neighbor, good afternoon!).  I love that here, you really don't have to remember many people's names.  In church, I just say "Hermano/Hermana" to the Brothers and Sisters in the faith that are older.  It's more respectable I think, and so much easier for me :)

I would like to do some good updates in the days to come... I'm in exam week right now at the school (every month it's the death of me!) and we're all getting ready for Christmas break!

I thought college was bad and I was so ready for a break... but after working 7 days a week for the last 10 months with very few days without some sort of class/work... I'm SOOOO ready.
Bring on the holiday season!
Paneton and Chocolate .... More on that later :)

But, if you've been wondering if I've been lonely, I'd have to say for the most part no.
I now have a roommate, Brella.
I might've had unexpected visitors in my first few months, so she was a necessary addition.
She's growing fast, I got her at 6 weeks.  She is super playful.
I think she thinks that EVERYTHING I own is a toy for HER.  Wrong.
(Please note my annoyed tone in that last sentence)

No, I am not a cat person, and I really don't like her that much.  She has her her bad times more often than good times, but we make things work.
I give her food, and play with her sometimes, and she scares away any unwanted visitors.

(Just now I kicked her out of the office for doing her nail thing on my great-grandmother's quilt... sorry Brella, not going to have it!)

apartment living :)

The Lord blessed me with a space of my own, but really it is going to be a space for many others!

This apartment is a work in progress, but I can't wait to make it more "home-y"... with time, and as the Lord provides.

First on the list to buy: a stove/oven, fridge and washer.
Next: furniture, plates, shelves, paint the floor..... and the list goes on there!

Here's a sneak peak at a look of my apartment:
(the dog is the owner's - who lives on the 1st floor.  The dogs have not visited since... which is okay with me)

Front door and the two bedrooms on the left - Look at that big window!

From the front door lookin' in (cue country song!)

Kitchen sans appliances

back patio/bathroom

Lessly helped me clean that night, and we had a little snack at my new table when we finished!

I've been in my apartment for a week now, it's so nice to live so close to the church!
I'm hardly home actually!
But I will continually add more pictures as I am able to buy some new furniture and appliances.

Home sweet home :)

la laguna.

i had 3 days off in between the May and June cycle, so Lessly took Catrina and me to 

a lagoon 30 min from T-city!

It was SO relaxing...

we were the ONLY ones there!

we walked around and had a picnic in front of the water.

beautiful afternoon, with beautiful friends, enjoying God's beautiful creation!Feeling...Refreshed!!!!

an S.O.(s.)

one medicine that is good for the soul is a good 'ol fashion Sleep Over :)

Ingrid, me, Less, la Gata

love these girl friends :: a night in with the gals is just what I needed at this time ~ 

we danced, we sang, we laughed, we talked, we snapped pics... and we slept (a little).

Praising God for great girl friends!

warmed water.

Warm water doesn't stream from the tap in these parts.  Normally not a big deal when washing your hands or dishes... you get used to it.

One can also get used to cold (more cool) water in the shower too!

It really wasn't that bad during the summer... being as I would break a sweat in our cracker box oven of an apartment (ha!), it was nice and refreshing. And also because the ground was warm, the water was usually not super cool/cold.

That being said, I still did have to get used to the water with every shower; 

the toe touch, and then slowly I was putting my head under the water.  

Since winter is upon us here (nothing like a MN winter, but it does get chilly...) 

the water has been exceptionally cooler... making showers more of a chore.

I have a "widow maker" in the bathroom/shower that I use {pic below}, but upon my arrival it hasn't worked.  I did ask about it, but didn't want to complain or be a bother asking about it, so I let it go.

Apparently I didn't ask the right person in the house, because the mother-in-law that has been staying in our house for these last 2 weeks placed her complaints about the shower as we are sharing a bathroom, and voila!  Hell-O WARMed water shower!!! 

Steps: turn on the water, flip the switch, wait for the "widow-maker" to warm the water (not long), enjoy a warmed water shower, turn off switch, turn off water.

the magic switch!

Even this little blessing made my hear so happy, and called my heart to worship!  Praise the Lord!!

SOOOOO grateful!

new kicks.

lovely family mailed these TOMS down to me for my birthday.
i.love.them.

aren't they perfect?!  just in time for fall/"winter" weather here!!!

thanks Bobichs!!!

gaby is 14!

my little host sister turned 14!

it was her delight to make her own birthday cake to bring to school to share

with her friends and teachers : )

she chose to make Banana cake with Cream Cheese frosting and top it with BonBons.

make a wish!

the Avengers/ los Vengadores.

Movie Night!

I went to see the Avengers 3D with some friends.

The 7:30 movie was sold out, so we went to the 10:30 show {yawn!}

So because we had time to kill, we went out for coffee before the movie in the Center of the city.

And we took some photos :)

Graciela, Jose Luis, me & Emerson

the wanna-be Avengers! haha

100!

this is my 100th post since having my blog (Septemberish, 2006).

Ha!  I've had it for awhile...

But to celebrate my 100th post, I wanted to share the 100 day countdown to London Olympics picture/video.

I.LOVE.THE.OLYMPICS!!!!

I can't wait for the London Olympics, I SO want to go!!  But I will just be a fan here in Peru, and try to get some Peruvians pumped for it too :) :) :)

this pic was taken on April 18th... there are now 70 days until the Olympics.. but who's counting??! (me)

Here's a video about the picture above:

world view.

a few weeks back i went to grab a bite to eat with a good friend after she showed me around the U.
we were, or more i was, talking about below's sermon by David Platt.

we were talking about the world, and at one point in the conversation my friend, L, asks:

"ok, well, how many continents are there?" (as a rhetorical question)

me: "7"

L: "7?! there's 5 silly!"

me: "hahaha, that's funny, there's definately more than 5!!! there's 7!  that's what I learned in school!"

L: "really?!  I learned in school that there are 5!!"

right there i was having a cultural moment.
my thoughts: how could Peru teach there were 5 continents when clearly there are 7!
ok, i'll step down from my platform and try to listen and wrap my head around this.

here is my view of the world:

7 continents : N. America, S. America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia & Antarctica

L's view of the world:

5 continents : America, Africa, Europe, Asia & Australia

Do you see the difference?

Ok first, L just disregarded Antarctica... she said, really no one lives there, so it really isn't a continent... Hahaha, I laughed, and thought, ok, so then there is 6 in her mind, but they just don't count one.

So the big difference: is North American and South America!!!!

They just include it all into one, it's just one America.

One is more North, and one is more South, but it's just one.

I admired this way of thinking, and it made me appreciate the collectiveness of her world view -- I've been raised in more of an individualistic society, and this small exchange has proven it true.

However I must say, it made me hate the name of my country because it's hard to identify myself.

I can't say I'm "American," because their response, "me too!"

I mean come on: Peru = Peruvian, Switzerland = Swiss, England = British, Germany = German... so easy for them!

So that is why I have accepted my name that they have given me: "Gringa"

and I receive it as a term of endearment : )

Annie the Gringa, it sounds nice, right?!

challenged & encouraged.

David Platt (one of my faves for sure) gave this exceptional sermon on Missions.

Here it is said to be "one of the best sermons on missions you'll ever hear."

It's well worth an hour of your time.

I was challenged and encouraged - not guilted - to be more pointed in praying for the advancement of the Gospel of Christ.

"The greatest news in all the world is that the slaughtered lamb of God reigns as the sovereign Lord of all."

my own kind of marathon...

Ruins (in the distance) in Chiquitoy --- see post below!

maybe i should just be honest and say that i'll be lucky to post once a month... :)
that's what i'll shoot for.
i'll share pictures, stories, cultural lessons, what i'm learning, etc.

i'm still running and running with the ebb and flow of life down here.
working 3 classes this month again, what a blessing!  i've been called to sub for other teachers which makes it a little more than 3 classes which helps me out financially.

although in American eyes i'm making peanuts as a wage, i'm so happy at the end of every month (you are paid monthly down here) to see that the Lord has provided for exactly what i need.
i have enough to cover my expenses, and a very little bit for necessities, taxis, and fun with friends.
it just fills my heart and calls my heart to worship my Provider.

i've had more days off in this last month since i've posted (7 collectively!!) than i've had since i've started-- which has been SO refreshing.

let me recap just what has been happening on this side of the equator...
- 1 trip outside T-city with friends
- 1 birthday
- 2 earthquakes (yikes!)
- 2 trips to the beach
- 3 trips to Starbucks!
- 3 months in Peru!
- 3 Easter church services
- 4 baking successes!
- 5 days under 80 degrees (more of that please!)
- 6 substitute days
- 7 vacation days
- 8 (ate) & cooked a meal with my small group
- 9 the number of times I was asked how old I am now from my students, ha!
- 10 minutes: how long it takes me to walk to work and get set up in my classroom

here are some posts about the end of march to april.
[i'm going to try to post them in order!]

giving thanks.

like i said in a previous post, when i was thinking about what to "lent" i couldn't think of anything besides chocolate... and really that's not even a struggle right now as the chocolate here is not even that good, and it isn't in the house.

so i thought that the lent season of 40 days, to best prepare my heart for Easter, i would jot down 10 things that I am thankful for, trying not to repeat any.  So i put a large piece of white paper on my door, and every night i jotted down {at least} 10 things i was grateful for.
it was a discipline for me (especially when you are just snuggled up in bed, and you remember you forgot to write!) and it really called my heart to be more grateful: something i'm really learning i need to be more of.

Easter in Peru was so wonderful.
 i feel like my heart was prepared to worship
and be in awe of the great sacrifice on the Cross...
which the center of Christianity.

By his wounds, I am heal.
Thank you Jesus.

side note: 

i still have it up, it's a good reminder to me, 

and it's fun to look back even to the end of february 

and see how the Lord was faithful and gracious.

pollo & caramel macchiato. (but not together)

after surviving my second month of teaching, we had 2 whole days off to recover, and then started the April cycle of classes.
what did i do in my 2 days?!
well, i entered the marks for my classes from March one day, and the second day i prepped classes for the next day :)
ok, i DID have some fun!

a lovely British friend from my school is heading home this month.  her and her Peruvian fiancé invited me out for pollo a la brasa.  that's fancy (or spanish) for grilled chicken & french fries!!
i hadn't had it yet, so they took me to a delightful chicken place: we ate, we laughed, and we had fun.  i will be sad to see her go :(
they brought me (and treated!) because 2 months back i helped her fiancé in asking for her hand in marriage with his to-be in-laws via skype.  it was really sweet actually to be a part of that!
praying that the Lord will bless this time as they prepare for a life together.

i also finally went to Starbucks that is here in T-city -- yes to carmel macchiato!!!
being in a starbucks i really felt like i was bolted into another world... a world so familiar.
it warmed my heart.
delicious coffee, dear friends, great chats.

as a side note: in coming here, i came knowing many people here, and having friends.  but as i was preparing, i felt that the Lord was asking me to be open to new friends.  in reality, i didn't want new friends, i was just so excited to build on the friendships i already.  but i was open, and have been open.  he has brought me friendships that, only of the Lord, have gone deep and real in such a short time.
again, so blessed by that.

chiquitoy.

i'm just so awful at making decisions!
after starting the April cycle of classes on a Saturday, we had 5 days of classes before Easter break (4 days! + I asked for Monday off for my bday and they gave it to me!! = 5 days offffff!!)

a group of my good friends invited me to go out of Trujillo for 2 days, 1 night.  they hesitantly invited me because they didn't have much planned, and it was expected to be pretty rustic.  it was a "last minute adventure."

the Chiquitoy gang --- Edson, Laly, Lessly, moi, Catrina (from Switerland), Kati & Alex

i was looking forward to 5 whole days off, and what did I want to do most??  clean my room and bake. 2 things I couldn't do outside of T-city.

much of the scenery in Northern-Costal Peru

after much contemplation, i decided to go midnight the night before.  i had to be at Lessly's house at 7am!!  i had no idea what i was getting into.

6 friends, one bus, and one bumpy convi ride through fields of sugar cane, we arrived to chiquitoy.
a pueblito--town/village.
we went to the house of one of the friend's grandparents.  however, it's been abandonded!
his grandparents recently moved to T-city.
no stove, running water at some hours during the day (thankfully a bathroom!) and a very dusty/dirty house welcomed us.
we started cleaning, me understanding this is where we were going to sleep.
we also went to the local market to find out what we would eat.  a few that were back at the house cleaning got a fire started in the back patio to cook the food over.
we came up with tuna, tomato, lime and onion salad, white rice (never go anywhere without your rice cooker!), potatoes and juice.
it was seriously like the fish and 5 loaves of bread... okay, there were only 7 of us, but this is probably the closest i've been!  the food was suffice to fill our bellies, and we gave thanks to the Lord.

next we went to the town's horse locale.  the owners opened the gates to welcome us in, and there were probably 100 horses in all.  we pet them, took pics, and maybe named a few of them!

then, a friend of a friend invited all of us to sleep on the beach with his family.
we agreed, and said we would walk to the beach.

the powerlines in the far off distance was 1/2 way :)

we were told that walking to the beach would be about 45 min-1 hour.  I just don't understand how they are ALWAYS so off on time here, it's nuts!  it took us 2 hours to walk, and it was about 10k.
We arrived when it was dark, so we set up camp and started to make our fire to cook supper (coffee to go with the bread we bought).

since it was Maunday Thursday (the day before Good Friday) we had a devotional time, prayer time, and song time.  it was so nice, and all with the sounds of the waves in the background!!
It was a really nice clean beach.  i think ALL of Chiquitoy was camping on the beach, there were so many people!!

the sleep got to be kinda hard at night, but it was nice.  the 5 girls crammed into 2-2 person tents.  the tent with only 2 girls (mine) had to hold all the valuables!
we ended up not having to walk back to Chiquitoy, thankfully!  we got a ride with the neighbor's in the back of their truck.



upon our arrival back at the house we prepared breakfast over fire.  having some spare time before our departure, we then walked to some old ruins in the midmorning/afternoon (another 45 min. walk each way---yes there are moto taxis, but we're too cheap!).

Ruins just outside of Chiquitoy -- Peru's history is SO fascinating!

hot and tired we returned, packed up our belongings, cleaned up the house, and were on our way back to T-city!

it was a nice trip, i look back on it with fond memories with great friends :)

birthday.

i had my first Peruvian birthday!

my birthday fell on the Monday after Easter, so I asked for that day off of work too, found substitutes, and i was set!!

in the morning Pastor Marco made me an omelette, yum!, and then i went up to the rooftop to spend time reading and journaling.  it was so refreshing and relaxing.  just thinking about this past year, the Lord's mercies, grace and blessings.  i've been blessed with another year of life, so grateful!  may i use this next year, if you will, to bring glory to your name.

Olenka and Gaby took me to Roky's for Pollo a la Brasa (again, yum!) and then my friend Lessly took me to the beach to walk, talk and watch the sunset.  so fun and chill.

the birthday sunset, a gift from above!

the ladies: Graciela, yo, Cinthia

the gentelman: Toño, Jorge and Sebastian

In the evening, my small group invited me out for Chifa: Chinese food!  I love Chinese food, but haven't tried it Peruvian style yet.

It was delish!!  But I enjoyed the company more, good friends, good food = good times!

When I got home, it was time to prepare for Pastor Marco's birthday!!  His birthday is the 10th, so Gaby and I walked the streets looking for ingredients to make him a birthday cake.  We decided on a Banana Cake, which turned out awesome!

The next day I returned to work, sigh.  No, it was actually so good to be back!  AND my students even threw me a surprise party!!  They took pics, hope to post them soon if they ever bring them for me!!

my Peruvian birthday was a success.  I also heard from many people via email, facebook, skype AND snail mail (packages & letters, so great!!) !!!!

Birthday singing on Easter Sunday from 2 sissys & 2 nieces!

Birthday singing on my bday from the rest of the fam!

Thank you all for your love!!