"I'm Sorry I'm Not Sorry."

January 2nd, 2011. Two…thousand….eleven. Who would have thought that I would be here in Peru—Pacasmayo, Peru to be exact—to celebrate the dawn of a new decade? But honestly, I can’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year than in a country that I have grown to love like my second home.

I don’t think that I can even put into words how many amazing experiences and memories I’ve made here in Peru these last few weeks, so I’ll just list a few suggestions I’ve come up with from this New Year’s weekend in Pacasmayo.

1. Look both ways when you cross the street. This is actually true everywhere in Peru. You know how in the U.S. people just assume that cars will stop for them, so they don’t even look up from texting on their phones when they cross a street? Well, you have an 80% chance of being run over by a combi, micro, taxi, or rickshaw faster than you can say “tortilla” here in Peru.

2. Speaking of tortillas, they’re not what you think. Tortillas are not flat, thin breads made from corn or flour but are actually what we know in the U.S. as omelettes. They are generally made with a variety of vegetables, usually onions and tomatoes, and your choice of meat. Words can mean a variety of things in different Latin American countries, so I would suggest caution in your choice of verbage. I do know, with absolute certainty though that “uvas” do not mean “olas” and “centimos” does not mean “sentimientos”.

3. When you are tanning on the beach, reapply sunscreen every hour. Unless you want to look like burnt toast, I would suggest NOT falling asleep for a couple hours on the beach and forgetting to reapply sunscreen. Peru is a bit closer to the equator than Arizona, so the ultraviolet radiation is a bit stronger…

4. There is no time to be sick in Peru. I think all 32 of us were sick at one point or another from the change in climate, food, or other various reasons, but there is so much to see and do that it is really a shame to stay in bed all day. For example, in Pacasmayo, one can surf, walk along the shore, shop at the many street vendors lining the beachfront, or eat some great seafood.

5. Beware though! Food may take a while to be served. It’s not unusual to wait a couple hours or more for a meal in Pacasmayo. I don’t know if it is just this time of year or if it is a difference in lifestyle, but if you’re really hungry you should probably carry around snacks. I think the upside to this situation is that you can partake in a lot of conversation with your friends at the table while waiting. The food was delicious and reasonably priced though, so it was worth the wait.

6. My last and most important suggestion to you, my dear friends and family, is to come here with an open mind. I’ve always been a firm believer in “never staying comfortable”, i.e. taking a risk and always trying to make a positive experience out of it. I'm sorry I'm not sorry that I’ve had my share of laughs, awkward moments, and outdoors adventures here. I wouldn’t trade it for a million soles….or tortillas. :)

Chau for now,
Triza A.K.A Panda