Peru Itinerary

Follow along with the various cities here. :)

I thought I would offer a very general itinerary so that you are better able to "travel along" with me and Jana. More details to come after the trip. :)


Be writing again soon!  Off to the airport.










May 6: 12 hour flight from St. Louis to Lima (have to get up every 30min-60min to avoid getting blood clots)
May 7: Lima 
May 8: Lima
May 9: Fly to Cuzco (otherwise, it's a 22 hours bus ride)
May 10: Take train to Aguas Calientes (town right outside of Machu Picchu)
May 11: MACHU PICCHU (best.day.ever)
May 12: Back to Cuzco
May 13: Flight day = Cuzco-Lima-Trujillo
May 14-17: Trujillo 
May 18-20: Lima
May 21: Back to the USA.

Woe is me!

Progression of thinking in regards to 20 page papers..........
Level 1: "Oh my word, I don't want to do this. Why am I even in grad school? WHY?!"
Level 2: *cries because of only having five pages written*
Level 3: *pulls out hair because only half way through and already fed up with chosen topic*
Level 4: "Okay, woman, you just need to buck up and get this done!"
Level 5: "Hey this is finally coming around nicely and it’s kinda fun!"
Level 6: "Oh my word, I don't know if I can fit all my thoughts into 20 pages. Man."
Level 7: "Ehhh, why not shoot for 23 pages?"
Level 8: Finishes paper. Feels like the queen of the world for sixty seconds until….
Level 9: Recognizes that another 15 page paper still beckons.
Level 10: Start process over. Redirect to Level 1.
= This is my life currently. 

Two weeks left in graduate school.

Cuy anyone?

Currently, I am laughing to myself. I am almost 24-years-old, and I still love following my mom to work. For one, they have amazingly gorgeous computers that make my laptop look like it's from the 70s. Have you seen those new computers where the speaker is attached underneath the main screen? It's manna from heaven. Also, it's just nice to grab a few minutes here and there with the 'rents, especially since my time has been limited with my studies.

Spring 2012. Yes, it's my last semester in graduate school. Nonetheless, I will be spending my summer in Blo-Normal, Illinois preparing for my exit exams in August, where we are required to write four major essays over about 100 poems/short stories/novels that span over about a 500-year time frame. Mission possible?? It's gonna have to be. I recently was discussing the exit exam requirements with my grandma, and with great shock she responded: "I just don't understand how they think it can be humanly possible to impose so much upon you, dear! It's just dreadful." Bless her heart. Yes, grandma, some days I honestly must concur.

The end is in sight, though, and in May I am bustin' out... That is to say, I am heading to Peru for two weeks with a dear friend. We will be exploring the cities of Trujillo, Lima, Cuzco & Machu Picchu (one of the seven wonders of the world -- see picture). I can finally reunite with my lovely llamas and majestic Andes Mountains! What a blessing indeed! After my hiking trip in the south of Chile (Patagonia), I decided it was high time I invested into a proper hiking backpack = Moss Green Kelty, 4,500 cubic inches of goodness. The last matter of concern has revolved around my camera (see previous blog for more information). In the depths of my soul, I secretly want to smuggle in my huge camera and have these high-quality prints for later. Then again, do I really want to run the risk of a theft/accident and furthermore have to lug around the weight? The pictures taken in Chile were with my point-and-shoot, and I feel it's wiser to bring that little guy with me instead. Questions? Comments? Concerns?

Okay, I have procrastinated enough with my research (60 pages must be written before I can go to Peru, ahhh!!!). Therefore, I leave you with the word "cuy." Research it, be disgusted, have opinions -- that's all fine and dandy. But it will be eaten when I arrive to Peru. :)

One Year Later

I was browsing through a friend's blog recently and was fondly reminiscing about my past blogging days. Although my current chapter of life isn't nearly as dashing and daring as my international escapades, I do believe that my beloved readers deserve an update of the latest stepping stones.

Last Spring 2011: This was my semester from... well, not from heaven. I was taking four classes, still teaching LAN112 (the second-semester Spanish course at ISU), and trying to breathe in some oxygen ever so often. I think I wrote more than 100 pages that semester. I loved that during finals week this current semester (Fall 2011) my GA colleagues would come to me and say, "My, Isabel, you look a lot less stressed this time around!" I wish that I wasn't such an open book, but alas, 'tis true.

Summer 2011: To be completely honest, I was hoping to travel this past summer. It had been over a year since Chile, and my traveling bug was romping around inside; however, God intended another immense blessing in my life. For my certification in TESOL, I am required to teach 100 hours of English as a second language. Therefore, during the summer, I taught about 75 hours to a group of 12 students, probably from about 5 different cultures and/or languages. I must clarify one little misconception: teaching your FIRST language requires a different knowledge base than teaching your SECOND language. I find it almost easier to teach the "why" and "how" of Spanish than explaining those two devilish questions in English. I finished up the 25 hours this past fall semester conducting a small tutorial group at the same organization. Much to my pleasant surprise, most of these students have become close friends now. Yeaaaaa, I am THAT creeper type of a teacher. I know, I know.

The second aspect of the summer was that, after five years of praying for this opportunity, I was finally able to take a photography class. It was a BLAST! I am the proud owner of a Canon Rebel XSi. Although Nikon is a stellar choice as well, I am a bit partial to my Canon babies. Anywho, soon after the class, I was hired as an events photographer at a local retirement village for about 8 months. My "models" pretty much rocked off my photographic socks. Take that. My love of photography only continues to grow (and hopefully refine) -- I have so far had the honor of doing one wedding, couple shoots, family portraits, individual shots, and even a puppy shoot (and no, my obsession with Shea doesn't count for that particular category). It's brought in a little extra income (aka travel fund) and is an enjoyable side-job for me as well!

Fall 2011: This past semester was as normal as it gets for chaotic grad school. I took three classes, and the only other change is that I taught TWO sections this semester. Sometimes it became difficult to balance my classes, my teaching obligations, my TESOL practicum, and the photography side-job, but it was still a delightful semester for numerous reasons.

Future plans: Tentatively speaking, I am planning a trip to Perú in May for about two weeks. Even though I would love to revisit and reconnect with Chile, I do not feel that it is God's timing just yet. I am VERY excited to explore the Peruvian wonders! Nothing feels official though until you hit the "complete purchase" for the airplane ticket. Secondly, as you can see from my photos here on the blog, I am home for the holidays. From catching up with the family to dancing nights in St. Louis to cooking like a crazy woman, it's been nice to be home again. Lastly, I am in the process of applying for jobs after graduation. This summer (2012) I will be studying for my final exit exams, where in order to officially graduate with my Master's, I am required to read 50-100 books, retain all the critical information, and reproduce it all in essay format. After I officially pass the exams (asserting this by faith), I will hopefully be teaching English in South America (http://www.english.cedei.org/about.html) for a year or so. We will see.

Until then, ladies and gentlemen, it's always a pleasure.

MUCHO GUSTO.

The Old Man

Today as I was driving home from my classes, I received a revelation of sorts -- an ingenious idea . My poor 11-year old dog has it hard on Tuesdays; I have about 7 hours worth of classes that particular day. Therefore, today being Wednesday, I thought I would compensate for my lack of attention yesterday with a rigorous bike ride... with him attached.

I prepared my bike and the excited puppy-at-heart, and zoom we were off down the unplowed street. Thankfully, hardly any cars pass down my street so we were able to go at full speed for a solid 7 blocks. After making a loop and arriving back at my apartment, his wagging tail told me he was ready for round two. Therefore, by the end of the adventure, he had run intensely for 12 blocks. Upon entering the apartment, I made my way to the couch, breathing heavily like Darth Vader the whole way. Still overflowing with adrenaline, the dog was running circles around me.

Was our exercising experiment really a success therefore? ...considering I am the one on the couch writing this blog, and the old man is happily roughhousing with a bone.

Dancing the niiiight away...

Dancing the niiiiight away... *cough*.... I mean Saturday mornings for the next six weeks.

As most of you know and are already sick of hearing it by now -- I am taking a FLAMENCO dance class for the next six weeks in Peoria, IL (about 50 minutes away). If you are unfamiliar with this particular genre, I would best define it as the elegant and more proper tap-dance of Spain. Okay, that definition does it zero justice! Check it out on YouTube... I am amazed at how each genre demands a different characteristic, a different challenge. With this particular dance, COORDINATION is the factor that flashes in my mind. For instance, today (merely week #2) we learned a 6-step intricate walk/spin combination, along with making the strong, circular movement of the arms and making the traditional Flamenco fingers (in-out-in-out) -- ALL AT ONCE. I made a FOOL out of myself today in class, but that's beside the point, now isn't it? It was grand entertainment... for my comrades.

Also, did I mention that I am taking a HIP-HOP class? Yes, this was last minute. I hadn't planned on it, but the word "regret" is not even close to becoming alive. Now this genre of dance demands a constant awareness of steps. Whereas in other genres you have a transition time or step into the next move, THERE IS NO SUCH THING as a moment to breathe within hip-hop. Boring is the last adjective to describe it. Whenever I was in Chile, I got to learn this for the first time ever (go figure, in South America). Every last Chilean came to ME for hip-hop moves... until they found out this this poor American had no such moves in her inventory. It was the funniest phenomena to see how they perceived that every American is an out-of-this-world professional with a little yo-yo-yo sass in the genre. Not such much... Even today, I still have a long way to go. Don't doubt the stick though!! :)

Needless to say, every Saturday my heart is happy, my feet are smiling and my knees are sore beyond reason. I know dancing has a time and a place -- but as Americans, we hardly dance, even in its right time and place!! I enjoy this art form. I am not perfect by any means. But, I am ready to learn! One of my absolute favorite sights is being in an Hispanic country and seeing a 70-year-old couple dancing the merengue with all their might, through all the night.

Bust out a move ever so often please. Just sayin'
Buenas Noches.

Jots of Randomness

It has been only two months since I have last blogged (an official word in our contemporary dictionaries, ahh, linguistics) ... and yet with all the ACTIVITY of life, it feels more like six. I have decided to merely give you the snapshot this time around, instead of the full-length video. Snapshots are like random revelations received while eating out and further writing such delights on napkins. Simple yet delightful napkins...

First week in APARTMENT: Oven thinks that 250 degrees means BROIL. Delicious chocolate chip cookies along with beautiful, new cookie sheet completely destroyed -- with a side of shattered nerves from both the canine and the tenant.

Second week in apartment: Got locked out of apartment at 7:30am while in pjs, glasses, moldy teeth and mind not fully engaged. 4 step creative process in getting back inside.

Tenth week in apartment: Smelled gas after furnace was lit for first time. Nobody believed me. Called gas company and girl was right. Landlord sends repairman to fix the issue. Ohhh, but gas leak the following day yet again. Tenant calls landlord not so happy. After three days of dealing with the lethal issue, canine and tenant are appreciating fresh oxygen like never before. Talk about some pooped guardian angels.

First week in GRAD SCHOOL: Found there is an immense difference between over-the-top intellects and outright nerds. I being the latter.

Second week in grad school: Amazed by all the preparation and reading involved. Over 500 pages were read in one week's time, more than was read in the entire summer of 2010.

Fourth week in grad school: BREAK DOWN week. It has to happen sooner or later.

Sixth week in grad school: Getting used to the 8am-11pm schedule. Getting used to absolutely no social life. Getting used to reading endless amount of droll theory. Never getting used to the intellects.

Napkin revelations next time will include...
FLAMENCO dancing classes starting October 9th.

Goodnight ladies and gentlemen.