Hello faithful followers, readers and travelers,
I am now blogging for my travel study trip through the OU Education Abroad blog website. If you wish, you made find my blog at http://oublogabroad.com/category/journey-to-latin-america/
I hope you enjoy learning about Peru with me!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
3rd day in Peru
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Kim and I went to bed at 11 p.m. after blogging and editing photos, but we were still super sleepy!
Our schedule: We wake up at 7 a.m., eat breakfast at 8 and walk to class at 8:30 to be at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru by 9 for class. Lunch is at noon, and we ate in the cafeteria with other students for the first time today!
We learned about Peru’s diverse geography and how it affects the development of politics, economy, people and many others. We also learned about the ancient cultures.
We ate lunch earlier than most students, but the cafeteria was still very crowded, and all the tables were taken. Being innovative, I suggested we sit outside using benches as tables, so that's what we did. We had a Peruvian lunch (pear juice, rolls, avocado salad, fish, rice and beans) Asian style on the ground outside!
After lunch, we went to the ancient ruins of Pachacamac and drove by the beach, Charrillos and Shantytown. The view on top of El Templo del Sol is beautiful!
The "South Oval" of our university (PUCP) here is just as nice except there is deer instead of squirrels--so cool!
We had a Peruvian-style egg drop soup with homemade croutons and cheese, corn on the cob (SO sweet and the best I've ever had), mashed potatoes and fish and avocados for dinner. Our host and hostess are the best cooks!
All but one of the girls (that's 14 gals) went out on the town for the first time tonight! Our sweet Peruvian guide, Luis, arranged for taxis to pick us up at our host homes, and all the taxis drove together to "Atlantic City"–apparently Peru's biggest casino–on top of a cliff overlooking the beach. Although I didn't win anything, I had a blast!
Time to bed! Good night everyone!
Kim and I went to bed at 11 p.m. after blogging and editing photos, but we were still super sleepy!
Our schedule: We wake up at 7 a.m., eat breakfast at 8 and walk to class at 8:30 to be at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru by 9 for class. Lunch is at noon, and we ate in the cafeteria with other students for the first time today!
We learned about Peru’s diverse geography and how it affects the development of politics, economy, people and many others. We also learned about the ancient cultures.
We ate lunch earlier than most students, but the cafeteria was still very crowded, and all the tables were taken. Being innovative, I suggested we sit outside using benches as tables, so that's what we did. We had a Peruvian lunch (pear juice, rolls, avocado salad, fish, rice and beans) Asian style on the ground outside!
After lunch, we went to the ancient ruins of Pachacamac and drove by the beach, Charrillos and Shantytown. The view on top of El Templo del Sol is beautiful!
The "South Oval" of our university (PUCP) here is just as nice except there is deer instead of squirrels--so cool!
We had a Peruvian-style egg drop soup with homemade croutons and cheese, corn on the cob (SO sweet and the best I've ever had), mashed potatoes and fish and avocados for dinner. Our host and hostess are the best cooks!
All but one of the girls (that's 14 gals) went out on the town for the first time tonight! Our sweet Peruvian guide, Luis, arranged for taxis to pick us up at our host homes, and all the taxis drove together to "Atlantic City"–apparently Peru's biggest casino–on top of a cliff overlooking the beach. Although I didn't win anything, I had a blast!
Time to bed! Good night everyone!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Chinh's first two days in Peru
***This is where I will be updating and blogging. Everyone is welcome to subscribe to this blog (so my updates will be e-mailed to you) to keep up with our adventures!***
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Both of our flights (from OKC to Houston, Houston to Lima) were smooth. I sat between Kim, “Proomie,” and Lily, a Peruvian native from Lima. Kim and I had an opportunity to bond, and I practiced Spanish with Lily.
I didn’t want to sleep because I wanted to be able to sleep tonight. Plus, I managed to watch “When in Rome,” “Book of Eli” and “The Tooth Fairy” and read 12 magazines.
We had chicken pasta, a Caesar salad and Milano cookies on the flight. We were later given snack sandwiches and Kit Kat bars for a snack. I enjoyed airplane food, and I was very hungry.
Our plane landed around 11 p.m., but we did not get out of the airport until about 1 a.m. because of customs and the wait for everyone else. The Peruvians were nice and welcoming as soon as we stepped out of the plane. One woman had a 15-minute conversation with me completely in Spanish, and I actually understood most of everything she said.
We arrived to our host home around 1:30 a.m., and went to bed around 2:30 a.m. after packing. Jane, Carley, Kim and I are staying at the same host home as Dr. Kenney. It’s pretty nice to have him around to help us. Our host family consists of a man who owns a travel agency, his wife who is a dentist and two boys ages 7 and 4.
Our host home is five stories high with chairs and a hammock on rooftop. Imagine getting luggage up four tiny flights of stairs at 1 a.m. Let’s just say I’m sore…
Monday, May 31, 2010
Our host home has Internet, and our college campus has WIFI!
Kim and I woke up around 7 a.m. to get ready. I struggled to stay awake this morning because I slept a total of 6 hours the past two nights.
But I made it through orientation. Three students from OU who have been studying in Peru and other friendly Peruvians gave us advice. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!
We learned how fancy Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (PUCP) is because our lunch consisted of a reserved table, two private servers and a three-course meal. And we also learned it's not a wet campus because at every placemat was a "Pisco Sour" (Peru's version of a margarita with egg whites).
Our appetizer was a type of egg soufflé with peppers, carrots and broccoli. Our entrée was rice, beef and fries (pappas fritas). Our desert was “tres leche” cake. It all was so delicious!
The campus is very beautiful--modern architecture with outdoor art!
After lunch, we visited Huaca Pucllana, Municipalidad de Miraflores, ancient ruins built in 1600 A.D. It was built as a place of worship, but got buried under dirt and wasn’t discovered again until the 1980s.
It’s amazing how ancient cultures were able to build such elaborate architecture without the use of technology such as bulldozers and electricity!
Next, we visited the Museo Larco, which showcases work of the pre-Columbian history. It was founded in 1926 by Peruvian archaeologist, Rafael Larco Hoyle. I’ve never seen so many artifacts. The museum is inside a vice-royal mansion of 18th century. Gorgeous scenery!
The we went to a shopping center, Wong, to buy water, personal hygiene products and snacks.
Our last event of today was dinner prepared by our host family. Dinner consisted of real mashed potatoes, rice and roast. I got to have rice dishes two nights in a row! Peruvian food is nothing like Mexican food, but just as (if not more) tasty!
I am going to shower and call it a night. What a great first Peruvian day it’s been!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Both of our flights (from OKC to Houston, Houston to Lima) were smooth. I sat between Kim, “Proomie,” and Lily, a Peruvian native from Lima. Kim and I had an opportunity to bond, and I practiced Spanish with Lily.
I didn’t want to sleep because I wanted to be able to sleep tonight. Plus, I managed to watch “When in Rome,” “Book of Eli” and “The Tooth Fairy” and read 12 magazines.
We had chicken pasta, a Caesar salad and Milano cookies on the flight. We were later given snack sandwiches and Kit Kat bars for a snack. I enjoyed airplane food, and I was very hungry.
Our plane landed around 11 p.m., but we did not get out of the airport until about 1 a.m. because of customs and the wait for everyone else. The Peruvians were nice and welcoming as soon as we stepped out of the plane. One woman had a 15-minute conversation with me completely in Spanish, and I actually understood most of everything she said.
We arrived to our host home around 1:30 a.m., and went to bed around 2:30 a.m. after packing. Jane, Carley, Kim and I are staying at the same host home as Dr. Kenney. It’s pretty nice to have him around to help us. Our host family consists of a man who owns a travel agency, his wife who is a dentist and two boys ages 7 and 4.
Our host home is five stories high with chairs and a hammock on rooftop. Imagine getting luggage up four tiny flights of stairs at 1 a.m. Let’s just say I’m sore…
Monday, May 31, 2010
Our host home has Internet, and our college campus has WIFI!
Kim and I woke up around 7 a.m. to get ready. I struggled to stay awake this morning because I slept a total of 6 hours the past two nights.
But I made it through orientation. Three students from OU who have been studying in Peru and other friendly Peruvians gave us advice. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!
We learned how fancy Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (PUCP) is because our lunch consisted of a reserved table, two private servers and a three-course meal. And we also learned it's not a wet campus because at every placemat was a "Pisco Sour" (Peru's version of a margarita with egg whites).
Our appetizer was a type of egg soufflé with peppers, carrots and broccoli. Our entrée was rice, beef and fries (pappas fritas). Our desert was “tres leche” cake. It all was so delicious!
The campus is very beautiful--modern architecture with outdoor art!
After lunch, we visited Huaca Pucllana, Municipalidad de Miraflores, ancient ruins built in 1600 A.D. It was built as a place of worship, but got buried under dirt and wasn’t discovered again until the 1980s.
It’s amazing how ancient cultures were able to build such elaborate architecture without the use of technology such as bulldozers and electricity!
Next, we visited the Museo Larco, which showcases work of the pre-Columbian history. It was founded in 1926 by Peruvian archaeologist, Rafael Larco Hoyle. I’ve never seen so many artifacts. The museum is inside a vice-royal mansion of 18th century. Gorgeous scenery!
The we went to a shopping center, Wong, to buy water, personal hygiene products and snacks.
Our last event of today was dinner prepared by our host family. Dinner consisted of real mashed potatoes, rice and roast. I got to have rice dishes two nights in a row! Peruvian food is nothing like Mexican food, but just as (if not more) tasty!
I am going to shower and call it a night. What a great first Peruvian day it’s been!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
One for the history books!
One for the history books!
Planned entirely by OU students on the Campus Activities Council Executive Committee and the designated directors of each group, Sooner Scandals is a musical theater show featuring the performance skills of different student organizations, predominantly fraternities and sororities. The show takes place every spring semester during CAC's Parents’ Weekend. It includes a wide range of themes each year; this year's theme was “One for the Books.”
Six shows made the cut with history-themed story lines such as women in the workforce, the Oklahoma land run and the French Revolution. Each group is to put on a 12-minute show with the best acting, singing and dancing. Competition rises as Sooners all strive for the different awards such as first, second and third place overall, best interpretation of theme, best male and female leads and best costumes.
The victors this spring with first place overall was Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and Beta Theta Chi fraternity. Delta Delta Delta and Lambda Chi Alpha won best advertisement and Chi Omega and Delta Tau Delta took home the award for best directors.
"Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs”
Known for his pop culture literary works such as "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs,” writer Chuck Klosterman will visit the University of Oklahoma campus on Tuesday. He is asked by the Gaylord Ambassadors to speak about the media and journalism.
Klosterman graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1994 and started working as a journalist. "Fargo Rock City” was his first book. In 2002, he moved to New York City to work for publications such as Spin, GQ and The Washington Post. According to Variety, Half Shell Entertainment had optioned “Killing Yourself to Live” (Klosterman’s 2005 book) for film. "Killing Yourself to Live,” is about his experiences traveling to places where famous musicians died.
Just the titles of his works are interesting enough. I am going to try my best to attend. Who’s joining me?
From “OU to host pop culture author”
http://newsok.com/ou-to-host-pop-culture-author/article/3360627
To blog or not to blog? That is not the question.
From more “serious” blogs such as The Huffington Post to “low culture” blogs like Perezhilton, the number of bloggers is rising like never before. Blogs currently have such an impact in the technically-advanced world, but with so many, how are we to choose? It all depends on your interests.
Those not interested in politics may enjoy kotke.org. It is one of the older blogs with tracking as far back as 1998. The site took off partly through the help of…drumroll, please… Blogger! It has links to websites and articles rather than personal opinion with trends and happenings.
Icanhascheezburger.com is one of the most popular blogs in the world. Visitors stop by to see, create, submit and vote on Lolcats (captioned photos of characterful cats in different settings). Lolspeak, also known as Kitty Pidgin, is the 'language' used in the captions. For example, human is 'hooman', Sunday 'bunday', exactly 'xackly' and asthma 'azma'.
Treehugger.com, a consumer blog, has a mission to promote green lifestyles. It reminds the readers that going green does not necessarily mean sacrificing. Treehugger generates more than 30 new posts a day across categories such as fashion, beauty, travel, nature, science and technology. Once an MBA class project, it now generates through sponsorship and advertising.
With so many choices, you better get to researching. Which blogs are your favorite? Does this characterize you?
From “The world's 50 most powerful blogs"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/mar/09/blogs
Oklahoma High on Happiness and Livability
Oklahoma is ranked No. 6 on MainStreet.com for being one of the "financially happiest” states. This means Oklahomans are doing their best at weathering the recession. The site looked at factors such as household income, debt, unemployment and foreclosures. Oklahoma is doing well in all areas. Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas are three states listed ahead of Oklahoma.
Tulsa and Oklahoma City landed fifth in Forbes magazine’s listing of the most livable cities. The magazine looks at cost of living, crime, unemployment, five-year economic growth and a "culture index.”
Well, duhhh. I could have told you that, but I am a proud Sooner and there’s no other place I’d rather live and attend college. Reading this article makes me happy! Oklahoma has always been known for her friendliness and slower pace—does this have any to do with her ability to adapt to the economic crisis? Were you surprised with the results? Does this mean we have less to worry about?
http://newsok.com/state-scores-high-in-rankings/article/3360634?custom_click=pod_headline_opinion-oklahoman-editorials
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