Final Day in Peru

On day 3 of my trip, I was not at all sure what I would do, yet I knew I wanted to make the absolute best of the time I had left in this great nation! Because I was interested in the United State’s relation to Peru, I visited a warehouse, which contains consumer goods that may end up in the USA. I gained access to this area, for Carlos invited me. The fish he caught would, over a long period of time, end up in this warehouse to be later shipped off to major trade partners of Peru. These partners included USA, China, Chile, Colombia, and Brazil. This fascinated me, for it made me realize how much of a direct impact the man I stayed with really has on my country, even though, he is, after all, just a fisherman. After this, Carlos was granted the day off so he let me examine a factory in the heart of Lima. Here, at this factory, I observed several elements, petroleum, textiles, steel, and cement. These items are manufactured and eventually sold to help Peru’s economy. Lastly, when it was starting to get dark, a colorful Peruvian festival was taking place. In downtown Lima, this festival was, indeed, celebrating its patron Saint, just as every Peruvian town does. This cultural celebration was a fitting way to end a very cultural week for me. Now, after the festival concluded, I had to go grab my things from Carlos’ apartment and catch my flight. I thanked Carlos for allowing me to stay with him during my visit. Now, I had to  depart Peru, though, in no way did I want to leave. The three days I spent in the wonderful nation, Peru, were very beneficial to my life and I strongly encourage visiting any time possible!

2nd Day in Peru

On my second day in Peru, I decided to attend some compelling events that would directly relate to the culture of the country. I woke up bright and early. After enjoying some leftovers from the night before as breakfast, I headed to the city while Carlos went to fish and his wife went to make clothing that would eventually be sold. In the city, I would attend both a basketball game and soccer game. At the soccer game, fans were extremely passionate about their team and the way they play. In Peru, soccer is easily the most popular sport. This game was played at the National Stadium, where fans expressed their excitement through cheers and celebrations. After this game, I traveled out to a more rural community, right outside the city, to be entertained by a bullfighting. This was at the Plaza de Acho, and I was very pleased with the sport, for I have never seen it in person ever before in my life. In the afternoon, I met back up with Carlos and we visited his nephew, Diego. Diego is a 14 year old boy who attends school a Peruvian high school. In his case, Diego attends a private school, as Carlos’ family members are all middle class citizens, who can afford private schooling. Diego’s family chooses to send him to private school, for the free, public schools of Peru are currently having huge struggles. All the sudden, as we were walking out of school with Diego, he tripped and fell. He seemed to have been seriously injured, so I used my instincts to call an ambulance. Although, Carlos and his family have health insurance, Diego had to wait an extremely long period of time just to see a true physician. This is mainly do to the nationwide shortage of doctors, nurses, facilities, and services. This problem mostly occurs in the city I was in, Lima! After this stressful period of time, Carlos and I went back home to his apartment and I went straight to bed. The next day would be the last day I spend in Peru, so I was bursting open with true excitement for what I would next.

Day 1 in Peru

In October of 2014, I arrived in Peru’s capital city, Lima. I had now begun the first day in my 3 day trip into the South American nation. First once I was officially in the city, I met the father of the house I was staying in for lunch, Carlos Jose. Jose was a 28 year-old fisherman who got married just two months prior to me meeting him. Fishing, along with mining, are among the most popular jobs in the country and the largest sources of money for the country, altogether. At this restaurant, we ate food that was native to Peru, and this excited me, for I was already embracing true culture of Peru. We were soon served a delicious combination of chicken, fish, tomatoes, potatoes, and rice. After getting to know Carlos for quite some time, he drove me to his home that was also in urban Peru. He and his wife lived in a fairly nice apartment building in the city, as Carlos was a middle class citizen. In the car, Carlos discussed how much he enjoyed living in Lima, yet he expressed his disdain for the way the city is growing much too fast and becoming very overcrowded. Along with his fishing job, Carlos works as an editor for a popular newspaper in Lima called the Ojo to make extra money. Although, there is freedom of press in Peru, there is still a very large amount of government censorship on what the general public sees. At times, this aggravates employees, as they constantly have to watch what they write. When we arrived at Carlos’ apartment, I greeted his wife and had a few conversations about Peru’s culture. As she often earns money for creating clothing, she was able to give me an insight on the types of clothing citizens wear. She informed me that most clothing worn by people in Peru is of a western style, but also includes attire that is native to areas near the Andes, like hats, ponchos, skirts, belts, and other pieces. After a night of relaxing and speaking with Carlos and his wife, we had a dinner of fish and potatoes. Shortly after, I went to sleep in their small extra bedroom, ready for another great day in Peru.

Introduction to Peru

Peru, the nation located in South America, has many distinct qualities that truly set it apart from other countries in the world. Because of this, visiting Peru is an excellent choice, if you are planning on taking a South American vacation. The people and lifestyles of the country make it such a remarkable place. Though, there are a few things to be conscious of before your visit. Located in the western section of the continent, Peru borders Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador. Essentially, Peru is a tropical country, with most of it right below the equator. So in preparation of your travels, remember that Peru has relatively warm temperatures at all times of the year with the average temperature being 70 degrees. Geographically, Peru is split into three regions. These regions are the Arid Costa in the west, the rugged Sierra and Andes area near the center, and wet and forested Amazon area in the East. Along with its climate, you should also prepare for its national languages, Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara by being as familiar with them as you can. If you and your group, as travelers, efficiently prepare for Honduras, its climate, and its living conditions, I guarantee your trip will be exceedingly enjoyable!

Final Day in Honduras

Now, I am in my last day in Honduras, and I surely wanted to make the best of it! On this day, I wanted to include as many activities as I could in what little time I had. So, first I decided to take the Honduras National Highway, which a vital highway for the transportation of goods across the country, all the way to a cotton and corn plantation out in the Pacific lowlands. In advance, I spoke with the assistant president at the plantation about interviewing him and recording data about the economy of Honduras. When I arrived at the plantation, I was kindly greeted by the man, a mestizo, and he let me sit down with him for lunch. At lunch, we ate food similar to the food I had eaten at Emma Valle’s house and the restaurant. Once again, I was impressed by this local food. Throughout the meal, we talked about the way people make money in Honduras. He informed me that in the Pacific lowlands, people make money off sesame seed, cotton, corn, sorghum, and cattle. He also told me that in the central highlands, the main goods are coffee, wheat, tobacco, fruit, vegetables, pigs and cattle. After continuing to talk for a couple more hours, I got the chance to walk around the plantation and watch the citizens do their jobs. Later, I had only a couple hours left in Honduras, so I decided to return to the city to speak with a environmentalist about some important topics. He told me the interesting fact that, overall, Honduras is 40% covered by forests. He, being a Roman Catholic, along with most of the population of Honduras, is not only worried that Honduras’s development will call for a destruction of these forests because it will harm the environment. He also firms believes that God’s creations, like the forests, shouldn’t be destroyed. This was one of the more fascinating conversations I took part in on my trip, for it showed how passionate this man, named Francesco, was about his country and its environmental state. After thanking this man for his time, I went to the hotel, packed up my things, and headed to the airport. After these 3 days, I have learned what a unique and diverse country Honduras is, through direct contact with its people. I completely recommend visiting Honduras sometime in your life, so you can embrace its diversity, just like I did.

Honduras Day 2

Now it is my second day in the nation of Honduras, which I have now come to admire because of its diverse people and scenery. Today, I will venture into a different part of Honduras! This area is called the coastal highlands. Here, I hoped to meet a myriad of new people, but also go on a hike in the mountains. After eating some leftovers from my dinner last night for breakfast, I took a cab out to this region where I met an old friend of mine from college who is from Honduras. He lives in the coastal highlands and has 3 teenage children, who receive free education, like all youths in Honduras. My friend, Emma Valle, owns a cattle and pig ranch. Because he is a wealthier man, he can afford adequate health insurance for his family. Sadly, because of costs, many people of this developing country can’t afford health insurance. This contributes to the especially high death rate in Honduras. When I first arrived at Emma Valle’s home, I was served once again seafood, but this time the side items were beans and rice. This home-cooked food was even more delicious than the food I had at the restaurant the day before! After lunch, I was saddened by a story that Emma Valle and his children had to tell me. They explained to me that in 1998, their local community was strongly affected by Hurricane Mitch. There home was devastated, and even worse, they lost their mother. In general, Honduras, as a nation, is especially vulnerable to natural disasters, like hurricanes, due to its location. Because of this, homes must be built with stronger, more expensive materials. This, in itself, is a factor in how poor the people of Honduras are. Thereafter, Emma Valle and I took a long hike in the mountain range nearby in the coastal highlands. Next, it was time for me to say goodbye to Emma Valle and his family and thank them for having me at their home. Last, I took a cab back to my hotel, read some pages from my book, and went to sleep, giving my body a rest from the tiring activities that filled this wonderful day.

Day 1 in Honduras

It is January 26 and I have just arrived in Tegucigalpa, the national capital of Honduras. This urban area is very impressive, as I have already spoken with people of four different ethnic groups. These groups include include black, miskito, mestizo, and American Indian. I met a man named Frank from the Guatemalan border whose ancestors were American Indians. He was actually my waiter at the restaurant where I decided to eat. Here, I was served seafood with some delicious corn as a side item. Already, I was very much impressed by the way of life here in Honduras, and I had only tried their food! Next, I decided to walk around and observe the great scenery of Honduras. While walking, a black woman bumped into me. In our collision, she dropped the papers she was carrying and fell to the ground. She then explained to me that we was in such a rush because she was late for work. Though, I did not know this woman, Mercedez, I decided to ask her if I could accompany her to work, as it would help me in writing my National Geographic article on Honduras. She accepted my request. Thereafter, I drove with her out to a more rural part of Honduras where fruit grows, most especially bananas. On the way there, she told me about how she moved to Tegucigalpa from the Caribbean and about the most common goods that come from the northern coast area of Honduras. These products included bananas, rice, and beans. This is very fascinating, as I learned that 40% of the workforce in Honduras is in agriculture! Once we arrived, I watched her in what she does in her field of work. Her job is to sort bananas by if they will be edible or not after other workers pick them. The best part of this venture in my visit was getting to taste a fresh banana straight from a tree. It tasted fresher and more appetizing than any fruit I have had in my life! After staying at the banana farm for a couple more hours, Mercedez kindly drove me back to my hotel in urban Tegucigalpa. After a long and informational day, I went straight to bed. I already knew that I would fully enjoy my three days in Honduras by the great people that I met on this day.

Introduction to Honduras

The distinguished nation of Honduras, located in Central America, is a wonderful destination to visit. Here, you can undertake its unique living habits and culture just like the actual inhabitants of the country. Before you do, in fact, visit Honduras, there is vital information you must know. Bordering the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, be prepared for warm temperatures no matter when you visit, as Honduras has an average temperature of 79 degrees! There are 4 main geographic regions within Honduras that you, as travelers, must prepare for appropriately in order to enjoy your time in Honduras. There are the east Caribbean lowlands which are fairly mountainous, yet also very hot and humid. Second, there is the northern coast which takes up and eight of the nation’s land, yet a quarter of the total population. Here, is where most of the civilization of Honduras takes place. Also, located in this region are the coastal Sierras and the Alluvial Plains. Next, are the central highlands. This mountainous region covers ⅔ of Honduras’ landmass. Last, there are the Pacific lowlands, where a very small portion of the population exists. Another important aspect to understand is that the official language of Honduras is Spanish. Therefore, learning Spanish to a certain degree would be beneficial and would increase the enjoyment of your stay. As long as you comprehend what attributes of Honduras are important to think about and prepare for, you can trust me when I say your trip will be nothing short of magnificent!

Final Jamaica Day

Here I am, on my last day in Jamaica, and I’m sure this day will be the best one yet. This is because today I will attend one of the biggest festivals of the year for Jamaica, as a nation. This day is August 1st and it marks the celebration their national holiday, Emancipation Day. Here, at the festival, there is so much to learn and embrace about the culture and history of Jamaica. As I was so exhilarated just thinking about what the day will bring, I couldn’t even eat breakfast. On this day, Chad and his wife did not have work so everyone in the family was able to attend this notable celebration. In the car, we drove to the urban area of Kingston where I observed a huge costume parade taking place. It was very exciting for me to see the many types of costumes that were all distinct and unique in their own ways. This was another factor that contributes to my claim that Jamaica truly is an interesting nation. Later, while walking around the festival, I observed bands playing songs by a very well-known musician throughout the world who was from Jamaica, named Bob Marley. Throughout the 70s, Marley, Lee Perry, Peter Tosh and other artists revolutionized Jamaican music by making it an international export. The Jamaicans take pride in their music and the way it has excelled throughout history. Also, at the festival, I was offered food similar to the kinds I tried at the Bolts like jerk chicken, fish, yams, and rice! Towards the end of the festival, I was lucky enough to visit an art section of the festival which included paintings from famous Jamaican artists such as Albert Huie and Barrington Watson and a sculpture from the well-known Edna Manley. I was quite impressed with this art, and it is just another great thing that Jamaica has to offer. Thereafter, I met back up with Chad and the family. It was now late afternoon, and it was time for me to catch my flight back home to the USA. Chad took us back to the house where I collected my belongings and said my goodbyes to the Bolt family and thanked them for letting me stay with them for these three days. After taking a cab back to urban Kingston, I was saying my final farewell to Jamaica. Visiting Jamaica was an amazing experience I recommend trying to live the life of a true Jamaican as I did if you ever choose to visit. In conclusion, on my trip to Jamaica, I learned that there is an abundance of culture to accept and embrace in this great and diverse nation.

Day Two in Jamaica

Now, it is day two in Jamaica, my first full day. I am very excited to see what an all-embracing day from sunrise to sundown is like here in Jamaica. When I woke up on Monday, we had a short breakfast of fried plantains. A plantain is a fruit that is commonly fried to create a treat-type food in Jamaica. Chad, his wife, and I were in a rush, as today I would join them as they go to work! Both Chad and his wife work at a ranch with cattle, goats, and pigs, which  is about 15 minutes away from the house. The family owns one automobile which we drove to the ranch. While we would go to work, Chad’s mother, who lives with the family, would take care of the family’s young children. It is very common for three generations of a Jamaican family to all live together, especially when the wife also earns wages, like in the Bolt’s case. Thereafter, we said goodbye to the children and headed to work. While driving, Chad and his wife talked with me about the economy in Jamaica. I learned that, unfortunately, Jamaica currently is in very large foreign debt. This is a burden to the country’s economy, and is very stressful for working citizens and political leaders. Also, another large problem for the Jamaicans is the way that the Jamaican dollar has been losing value. Not long ago, the Jamaican dollar had similar value to the US dollar, but in 1990, a large financial crisis changed that. Soon, we arrived at work, and I was kindly welcomed by the owner of the ranch, Romario, an Indian man who immigrated to Jamaica in 1994 to seek new opportunities. Romario, a man wealthier than Chad, lives in the urban part of Kingston in a gated community, while Chad, a middle-class citizen, lives in a bungalow. Bungalows are, in fact, the most common homes for average citizens in Jamaica. After talking with Romario about his business for approximately 2 hours, I went to go observe what kind of work Chad does on the ranch. He and his wife’s job is to mend the cattle on the ranch. This interested me because of their direct contact with the animals. Cattle, along with goats and pigs, which are also on the ranch, are the most abundant livestock in Jamaica and a prominent source of money. Chad, his wife, and I would remain at the ranch for a few more hours. While at the farm, I even got to contribute to the work by feeding the cattle! This was a memorable experience for me to say the least, as I had never fed an animal before. At 5pm we headed back home to the kids. When we arrived back at the house, Chad’s mother had already prepared dinner for us! We were served fish, jerk chicken, and rice with black eyed peas. The local spiced jerk chicken was the highlight of the meal, as it was wonderful to eat something especially native to Jamaica. The most popular religion in Jamaica is Christianity, and the Bolts are indeed Christian, so after dinner Chad prayed to thank the Lord for the food. That night, I got to know Chad’s mother, and she explained to me how the house that they live in was actually the house that Chad grew up in many years ago. After about an hour of talking, I called in a day, and went to the sleep in the guest bedroom. It was not easy to sleep night, as I was overflowing with excitement for my final day in the country I had already come to love, Jamaica.

First Day in Jamaica

It is my first official day in the fascinating country, Jamaica, and I just landed in the country’s capital city, Kingston, less than an hour ago. Though, I have only been in Jamaica for a short time, I am already impressed by its diverse civilization. Already I have seen people of a myriad of ethnic groups such as African-descent, Indian, Chinese, Amerinidan, Syrian, Lebanese, and European. This just goes to show the diversity of Jamaica’s culture. Soon after walking around urban Kingston for quite some time, I took a cab out to a rural Jamaican community outside Kingston. I am staying with a family of an African-descent, the Bolts. I know what you are thinking, but I already asked the family, and they have no relation at all to the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt. They informed me that Usain Bolt has the all-time world record for both the 100 meter dash (9.7seconds) and the 200 meter dash (19.2). They expressed how proud the Jamaicans are to have such a prominent worldwide athlete be one of their own. Now, I will pick up where I left off. When I arrived at the Bolt household, I was greeted by the man of the house, Chad, a married man with four children. After speaking with Chad for a while, I walked inside the house and met Chad’s family! Because it was indeed Sunday, the only day in the week when lunch serves as the main meal of the day, the first thing we did was have a delicious meal. This family meal included chicken, yams, and rice with black-eyed peas. This is a common meal for Jamaicans, and I was very pleased with both its taste and nutrition. This lunch was my first big step in embracing the true culture of Jamaica. After getting to know Chad and his wife and playing with the children for countless hours, we had a much more casual dinner that included leftovers from lunch. At this point, I was worn out, ready for bed, and eager for my first complete day in Jamaica!

Introduction to Jamaica

Jamaica, the country in the Caribbean, is full of culture that you will be able to embrace, just as I did when I visited in October! Before travelling to Jamaica, there are a few things you must know beforehand, so you can prepare properly. If you prepare the right way and keep a good attitude about your visit, I guarantee you will very much enjoy your time in Jamaica. First of all, the physical geography of Jamaica mostly consists of lowlands, so no specialized clothing will be needed for your stay. Although, along with other Caribbean countries, warm weather is a custom, so be prepared with clothing that suits an average temperature of around 80 degrees. The national language in Jamaica is English, like the United States.  This fact is one thing about the transition from USA to Jamaica that is easy! Jamaica has so many interesting features that I will recap in my account from my 3-day stay back in October. Soon, you will be able to undertake its qualities as well!