Softball = PIZZA!

We had a softball game at 10am this morning in Jesus Maria. It was my second game with my new team, but at a different field than the first. One of the girls from my team, Angelica, who lives close to Plaza San Miguel as well, offered to meet me there to take a combi together at 8:30. I ended up calling her at 8:45 just to make sure she didn't forget me, but not to worry, she was just operating on Peruvian time while I wasn't. A couple practices ago I got the coach to agree that if we won, he would take the whole team out for pizza. After the 2nd inning we were ahead 7-0 but the game got interesting as it went on. I guess classless teams are international because the team we were playing against decided not to cheer for their own team. Instead they thought it would be perfect to try and beat down our pitcher, and catcher, and anyone from our team that was up to bat. I was at third base, right by their dugout and almost charged it a couple of times. I guess I got my revenge when a girl tried to steal 3rd and I tagged her out (I don't think she's ever been taught the art of sliding). She tried to knock the ball out of my glove so I took a page from hockey and inconspicuously elbowed her as I turned to throw the ball back to the pitcher. :) We did end up winning 8-7!! So that means pizza for everyone!!



Afterwards I went to Nini's house to celebrate my birthday. She's been so busy getting ready to open her store that this was the first chance to see her. Doraliz made Torta de Manzana, kind of like apple pie.



It was muy rica and just what I needed to get me jump started and ready to study, study, study for my final exams that start tomorrow. Even though Doraliz had to leave early to go to work, she was there in spirit. Nini, Max, Belen, and and I watched the film from the store opening the night before. After the tape ended, it rewound back to the beginning and we got to see Doraliz in a school pageant from when she was 14 or 15! Tomorrow we're having a girls night out (Nini, Belen, Doraliz, and me). Doraliz told me that Monday's special at Chili's is the honey-chipotle chicken crispers, and it will be the perfect way to start our day off on Tuesday :)

Estamos perdidas ... Donde estan? ... Los Olivos

So after months of hard work Nini and her business partner were finally able to open their store, PECOS=PERU, tonight at 5pm. It's an art store and each piece is made out of glass. She invited Sarah and Adela as well to the opening but Adela had a meeting so it was just Sarah and me. The store is in the district called Los Olivos, not too far from our depto. Adela warned us that it could be a little dangerous of a neighborhood but she tends to say that about anywhere we go that isn't school . . . Luckily we live in a part of Lima that is a huge public transportation hub, there are micros and combis that go everywhere. We hopped on a micro that said "Tdo. Universitaria" meaning that it covered that entire street. We got off in Los Olivos about a mile from the store. In hindsight Sarah and I actually walked right past Nini's store while trying to find it.



Nini had told me that the store was close to the intersection of Mayolo, inbetween blocks 8 and 9. What I didn't expect was that block 9 is 4 blocks long!! I'm wondering if the same people who planned the roads in St. Paul took a little trip to Lima way back when . . . I called Maxi, Nini's husband and he told me to go back to Plaza Vea (which is on the 2nd block of block 9). We found it after half an hour of meandering and asking in bodegas. Ariving fashionably late, the opening didn't start until close to 6:30 (Peruvian time can be a bit tricky!), we still got there with plenty of time to spare. All of Nini's friends and family had shown up so there were plenty of people to meet and talk too. There was a little ceremony, with a ribbon tied across the doorway.



The store and the pieces are beautiful, I can't wait to go back to shop (mom I promise anything I buy I'll wrap in my clothes and put in the middle of my suitcase). Eventually Nini hopes that they can start making and selling jewelry pieces as well. It was a lot easier to get home since Sarah and I knew where we were going this time, but I'm glad I got to see a different part of the city (perdoname Fransisco si te asuste cuando te dije que estaba perdida en Los Olivos!!)

Cuban Baseball

So today is Friday which means that most of the girls on my softball team don't come to practice. That's exactly why I like Fridays. I love the girls on my team but when more guys show up than girls it means that when we scrimmage, we play baseball instead of softball. I took infield practice at 3rd and managed to throw a few guys out as well as hit a double with runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs! The not so fun part is that many of the guys on the team think that if they try to throw me the ball normally, a hole will magically appear in my glove and the ball will go right through it and hit me in the face. At least the coach always hits me the ball just as hard as he does for the guys. The only down side is that with his Cuban accent and slang, I have a hard time understanding him. Normally he tells me the play, then hits me the ball, then I field it but have no idea where to throw it . . . then he explains the play again (which doesn't help me any) and repeat. Good thing the practices each day are 3 hours long so we have enough time for dialect barriers.

We have our next softball game on Sunday. I convinced the coach that if we win he should take the whole team out for pizza! Plus he told me that the field we're playing on has a very shallow right field so I'm aiming for a homerun this weekend :)

The Big 2-1! wait, I've been legal here for 4 months

Well today's the day. The day that I can go out, drivers license in hand, march up to any local bar, and (wait for it) get let in!!! One minor detail, Peru's drinking age is 18, making me legal to drink alcohol for about 4 months now, and effectively making the fact that I am 21 not all that different from any other birthday. Which is why at midnight last night I toasted the occasion with Inca Kola instead of the stereotypical 21 shots in an hour. It was a good decision since I had softball practice at 9am this morning. I was bombarded with hugs and singing and cake and more Inca Kola. :) I learned that the Cuban version of Happy Birthday uses the same melody as the version we sing at Spanish Camp (with different words).

Lunch was great. Rossy was busy in the kitchen getting everything ready and Sarah and Fransisco were there to celebrate with me. There were pisco sours with maracuya, papa a la huancaina, and of course lasagna!






It was a nice day and I've been promised that the real celebrating will take place this weekend. We all know what that means! SALSA DANCING!!!

Noche Cultural

I don't think I've ever made the connection before that the word "cult" is in culture . . . oh, sorry, off topic. So yesterday was the huge Noche Cultural! That's where each of the 12 colleges that make up PUCP present a Peruvian cultural dance. Fransisco was in the presentation for la facultad de ciencias sociales (social sciences). I don't remember the name of the dance but it's from the Andes area of Peru and the guys all wear these big red masks that represent the devil.



Fransisco didn't think I would know which one was him. Afterward I told him it was easy, I just picked out the tallest one. Plus they took their masks off halfway through the dance, which was unbelievable. Everyone was cheering. The fans really get into it. There were balloons, war paint, flags, cheers and chants.



I thought Sociales had an amazing dance and were going to win but they ended up tying for second. Everyone was a little bummed. Even though it started about an hour late and lasted 3 hours, I had a lot of fun. The other dances were interesting, especially since I've never seen dancing like that before. Many of the teams, including Sociales, had an authentic band come in to play. At the end they tallied the points for each college based on all of the competitions held all semester long: sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball; chess; and the baileton. The system is similar to that at Hogwarts where the 4 houses work all year long to gain the most points.

Bailetón!

Thursdays from 12 to 3, there are no classes. Instead PUCP organizes (often the students) activities and competitions for everyone to participate. Today was the epic bailetón, a mix between a dance-a-thon and a dance-off. Basically think of the dance competition from the movie Grease but it lasts for 2 hours straight. It was pretty intense, I think over 2,000 people came to watch.



The students really get in the school spirit. Each department comes with its own mascot as well.



Of course I had to root for the social sciences department.



During the 2 hours of dancing, the DJ played various types of music including Cumbia,



cultural music,



and some classics including the YMCA!



The winning pair was the same as last year. They were really excited when they announced the winner.



It was interesting to see the mix of culture with modern music and styles of dancing. I was really surprised to see how many people came out to watch. I had to fight to save a spot for Rachel! And I even managed to get a slight sunburn (of course!). Next Thursday there is a cultural dance competition. I know a couple of people performing so it should be exciting.

Dear members of the Heidi's Garage Society, please come to Peru.

It's that time of year again; classes have finished, friends have graduated and now many of the wonderful people who continually inhabit the vehicular living space on Scheffer Ave have returned for yet another fun filled summer of late nights at Bakers Square, extended games of Apples to Apples, and throwing about skittles and peanut butter M&Ms. To combat the knowledge that I am not one of those currently engaging in such adventurous activities I have decided to take the afternoon to simulate a day in the life of the HGS.

Step 1: Find a garage. Adela does have a parking spot, but it's not quite the same.




Step 2: Look the part. Gracias Caitlin!! Of course I have to go with the lovely tie dye T-shirt that she made for me with love :)

Step 3: Food. I've already checked and there isn't a Bakers Square but a slice of Nini's apple pie beats the regular waitress (what was her name? September??) any time. And while peanut butter M&Ms seem to be lost on Peruvian society, regular M&Ms make a fine substitute, but I don't think Adela or Rossi would be too happy if I started chucking them around the apartment. . .



Step 4: Companions. Since the HGS is a very exclusive group, I could never dream of coming up with a substitute. Instead I met up with the only other member who just also happens to be in Peru, Dr. Wembly.



All in all, I think the day was fabulous. Now if I could only find Walker Texas Ranger dubbed over in Spanish . . .