Jun
11
My housemates and I had our last walk to Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. It's our last day in Lima and last class at PUCP.
I like to spend time around the newsstands in other countries and observe people’s reaction to the headlines and watch them interact with others around news. Based on my observations, I’ve noticed that news is very important to many countries, Peru being one of them.
We went to the Santa Maria Magdalena Catholic Church in Magdalena, a district of Peru. Unfortunately, the doors were locked, but we were able to see the church with a closer view. It is beautifully adorned in pink and green with an elaborate dome and a statue of Mary on top.
I watched a poor Peruvian man pull a newspaper out from a trashcan to read it. Although he is poor and cannot afford to buy the paper, he has learned of ways to get his news. Watching this man pull the paper out of a trashcan, scan through the pages and put it in his bag reminds me of my reasons to be a journalist: to be the voice and ears to the powerless.
We had our last walk to Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. It’s our last day in Lima and last class at PUCP. I can’t believe we’ve been here 13 days, but I’m excited for Cuzco.
Happy World Cup premiere day! I wish we had more time to watch the World Cup and spend time with Peruvians to see their reaction to soccer, the most popular sport in Peru.
We had a briefing and discussed the observations we’ve had of Lima in today’s final class at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. We all have learned so much. Many, myself included, had no idea we would learn so much. What a pleasant surprise!
We split up into groups to discuss our observations and had an opportunity to ask Dr. Kenney questions based on our observations and experience thus far. Dr. Kenney knows so much about Peru’s history and culture. Where does he store all this information?
We had capresse, rice with fish, yucca, bell peppers and onions in a flavorful Peruvian sauce and key lime pie for our last cafeteria meal. I’ll miss this campus, but I’m excited for the next two weeks!
We went to the Santa Maria Magdalena Catholic Church in Magdalena, a district of Peru. Unfortunately, the doors were locked, but we were able to see the church with a closer view. It is beautifully adorned in pink and green with an elaborate dome and a statue of Mary on top.
Then we walked around town, found some Incan markets, shopped at San Miguel Plaza, had sweets at Zugatti Gelato & Café and took advantage of our last day in Lima! We also ran into a few of the other ladies of OU Journey to Latin America at the plaza. We later went to Magic City and Casino Miami, casinos by San Miguel Plaza. We ended up not playing any games in the casinos because there wasn’t very many people in them, and we got tired.
Because I am a journalism junkie, I tend to be extra observant and curious of many things. I like to spend time around the newsstands in other countries and observe people’s reaction to the headlines and watch them interact with others around news. Based on my observations, I’ve noticed that news is very important to many countries, Peru being one of them.
People of all social class buy newspapers and magazines from the newsstands in Peru. It seems that non-Americans pay more attention to news than Americans. For example, in tough economic times, newspaper subscriptions and the number of papers purchased tend to decline, yet the Peruvian poor continue to immerse themselves in the news. Many college students purchase the paper. Students usually surround the student-produced newspaper stand at PUCP.
Also, I watched a poor Peruvian man pull a newspaper out from a trashcan to read it. Although he is poor and cannot afford to buy the paper, he has learned of ways to get his news. Watching this man pull the paper out of a trashcan, scan through the pages and put it in his bag reminds me of my reasons to be a journalist: to be the voice and ears to the powerless. I don’t know if he can read or not, but I know he is interested in current events. Although he does not have a job, yet he has learned to make a living by finding reusable things in trashcans. He has also learned to educate himself by picking up a used newspaper and being aware of the world around him. He walked off with the newspaper and a bag (about the size of his body) filled with others’ junk in which he hopes to turn into treasures…or a few soles to make it through another tough day.
I Skyped with Mommy, blogged and e-mailed for what may be the last time in the next two weeks. I don’t know how much Internet I will have in the mountainous regions of Cuzco and in the Amazon, but who’s complaining?
I’m so nervous about high altitude sickness (13,000 ft) and falling while climbing Wayna Picchu (the very top of Machu Picchu, known for people falling and dying). But Dr. Kenney will be with us, so hopefully that will help my nervousness!
We had Chifa (Peruvian-Chinese food) for our last meal in Lima and spent time with our wonderful host mom. She does so much for her husband and two kids, works two jobs and dances–what a woman!
We are packed and watched reruns of the World Cup before going to bed. It was our first time to turn on the TV in two weeks!
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