I love my Kindle. Actually, I more than love my Kindle. I can´t believe I used to read books without one.
Last July when I was visiting the States, my dad offered to buy me a Kindle because he thought it would give me access to more English language books than are readily available in Lima. Before this, I had never thought about having one, in fact, I was wary of switching to ebooks because of the "they aren´t real books" arguement. Yes, they aren´t real books, but that´s the point.
Real books are heavy, real books are bulky. Real books take up precious suitcase space that I would rather reserve for boots. Real books are simply too difficult to transport across continents. Ebooks are slim, lightweight and the perfect solution for any bibliophile traveler.
I can read and store an endless number of books. I have access to thousands of books ranging from historical fiction to cooking to language study. It has changed the way I read. And in recent news, you can now borrow ebooks from your local library. To my surprise, it even works while out of the country. Now I can read, for free, any book available from the Nashville Public Library.
I am a confessed convert, Kindle has changed my expat experience. It´s now on my must have list for traveling. Number 1. Miss Emmaline & Number 2. My Kindle.
What are your must have items for traveling?
The Boycott
Something I have learned about riding buses in Lima: it´s an active sport. If you choose to be a passive particpant you will never, ever get a bus to stop for you. In the race to get ahead of other buses that run the same route, some buses will not stop at a designated stop unless passengers are getting off. That´s where the active comes in. You must spot the bus, flag it down and inevitably dodge a few cars to board.
On my ride home, I make a transfer at one of the busiest stops. Of the eight or nine lines that run past that stop, there is only one that will take me towards my house. This provides quite a challenge because for some reason, this particular line rarely has passengers get off at the stop. Meaning I must flag down my bus or I lose my chance. This is difficult when you´re 5´2" and there is a wall of buses blocking your view.
Yesterday I tried to flag down Chance #1, going so far as to walk into traffic (no worries, Mom & Dad, it was a red light) to make sure they saw me. The driver looked at the coin collector. The coin collector looked at me. They both looked at each other and then simply shook their heads. I waited for the light to turn green, hoping they would fly across two lanes to pick me up. They didn´t.
I waited several minutes and finally saw Chance #2, but a few seconds too late. The bus was packed and in the middle lane. The smaller bus couldn´t see me past the sea of larger buses. I waved my arms, ran to the front, ran to the back, waved my arms again but all for nothing. They drove off.
Frustrated, I decided to walk a few blocks and catch the bus at the next stop. I was fuming at the inefficiences of the system and daydreaming of the day when I will once again have a car. I was walking using my angry stride and finally made it to the stop. As I stopped, a bus drove up. In fact, it was Chance #2. I´m certain the coin collector recognized me as "the gringa who was failing her arms like a crazy person at the previous stop". He looked at me and tried to get me on the bus. As if to say, "You wanted to get on before, why not now?"
Because I am boycotting you, that´s why. I prefered to wait five more minutes in the bitter wind than ride with those who had so boldly rejected me. Take that, coin collector guy.
On my ride home, I make a transfer at one of the busiest stops. Of the eight or nine lines that run past that stop, there is only one that will take me towards my house. This provides quite a challenge because for some reason, this particular line rarely has passengers get off at the stop. Meaning I must flag down my bus or I lose my chance. This is difficult when you´re 5´2" and there is a wall of buses blocking your view.
Yesterday I tried to flag down Chance #1, going so far as to walk into traffic (no worries, Mom & Dad, it was a red light) to make sure they saw me. The driver looked at the coin collector. The coin collector looked at me. They both looked at each other and then simply shook their heads. I waited for the light to turn green, hoping they would fly across two lanes to pick me up. They didn´t.
I waited several minutes and finally saw Chance #2, but a few seconds too late. The bus was packed and in the middle lane. The smaller bus couldn´t see me past the sea of larger buses. I waved my arms, ran to the front, ran to the back, waved my arms again but all for nothing. They drove off.
Frustrated, I decided to walk a few blocks and catch the bus at the next stop. I was fuming at the inefficiences of the system and daydreaming of the day when I will once again have a car. I was walking using my angry stride and finally made it to the stop. As I stopped, a bus drove up. In fact, it was Chance #2. I´m certain the coin collector recognized me as "the gringa who was failing her arms like a crazy person at the previous stop". He looked at me and tried to get me on the bus. As if to say, "You wanted to get on before, why not now?"
Because I am boycotting you, that´s why. I prefered to wait five more minutes in the bitter wind than ride with those who had so boldly rejected me. Take that, coin collector guy.
Culture Confusion: Chilled Drinks in Winter
There are a few things about Peru that I am afraid I will never understand. Try as I might, I just get can´t there. Peruvians views on chilled drinks are one of them.
At the start of winter, I noticed that every waiter asked if I wanted my drink "cold" or "not cold". Of course, I said cold every time. I´m not about to drink room temperature Inka Kola or chica morada. I wondered, why are they asking me? Have they asked me the whole time but I didn´t understand until now? Then I discovered teh truth: Most Peruvians beileve drinking chilled drinks in winter will bring on a cold. Now that´s a new one...
I stayed strong, drinking my chilled drinks and even one time drinking ice water at Alvaro´s house. As soon as his aunts heard the ice maker they rushed over warning me of my imminent cold. I walked twenty feet into the next room and his grandfather also warned me of my sickly fate. When I was still teaching at the language school, one night I brought in chilled water after a break. The students were overly worried and suggested that I change for tea instead.
For the whole of winter, I have stayed true to my preference and indulged in an array of cold drinks. I´m proud to say, to this day I have been cold free.
What unusual or foriegn beliefs have you encoutered while traveling?
At the start of winter, I noticed that every waiter asked if I wanted my drink "cold" or "not cold". Of course, I said cold every time. I´m not about to drink room temperature Inka Kola or chica morada. I wondered, why are they asking me? Have they asked me the whole time but I didn´t understand until now? Then I discovered teh truth: Most Peruvians beileve drinking chilled drinks in winter will bring on a cold. Now that´s a new one...
I stayed strong, drinking my chilled drinks and even one time drinking ice water at Alvaro´s house. As soon as his aunts heard the ice maker they rushed over warning me of my imminent cold. I walked twenty feet into the next room and his grandfather also warned me of my sickly fate. When I was still teaching at the language school, one night I brought in chilled water after a break. The students were overly worried and suggested that I change for tea instead.
For the whole of winter, I have stayed true to my preference and indulged in an array of cold drinks. I´m proud to say, to this day I have been cold free.
What unusual or foriegn beliefs have you encoutered while traveling?
Actually, I haven't met Hannah Montana.
For all my drinking water needs, I have to buy bottled water. I usually go through about ten liters of water per week, so I buy water in a pack of four, 2.5 liter bottles.
On the days when I buy water, I ask for a bag boy to walk my groceries to my apartment. Which is another fantastic Peruvian service and definitely a Point for Peru. Last week, a young bag boy who looked about as old as my nine-teen year old brother walked me home.
Bag boy: Where are you from?
Me: I'm from the Tennessee in the United States.
Bag boy: Tennessee, really? Hannah Montana is from Tennessee.
Me: (shocked and thinking 'That's not her real name') Yes, she is. Actually, we're both from Nashville.
Bag boy: You lived in the same city? Do you know her? Is she nice? Do you like her music?
Me: Actually, I haven't met her, but yes I do like her music.
Ok, that last part was a lie. I know very little about Hannah Montana's (or should we call her Miley Cyrus) music. The only song I know is "Party in the USA" and that's just from attending all those sorority functions in college.
What a small, small world. The bag boy from my supermarket has a crush on Hannah Montana.
Bag boy: Where are you from?
Me: I'm from the Tennessee in the United States.
Bag boy: Tennessee, really? Hannah Montana is from Tennessee.
Me: (shocked and thinking 'That's not her real name') Yes, she is. Actually, we're both from Nashville.
Bag boy: You lived in the same city? Do you know her? Is she nice? Do you like her music?
Me: Actually, I haven't met her, but yes I do like her music.
Ok, that last part was a lie. I know very little about Hannah Montana's (or should we call her Miley Cyrus) music. The only song I know is "Party in the USA" and that's just from attending all those sorority functions in college.
What a small, small world. The bag boy from my supermarket has a crush on Hannah Montana.
New Design!
I want to send out a huge thanks to Myla from Design Me Pretty for the fabulous makeover she has performed on my blog.
Lady in Lima has gone through quite a transformation over the last ten months. When I first arrived in Lima, this blog was just to keep friends and family back home up to date with my life in Lima. Over time, however, I became more interested in the expat and travel blog community and decided that I wanted to be more involved.
This required a major redesign which I was incapable of doing myself. I can do many things but let´s face it, web design is not one of them. I stumbled across Design Me Pretty and knew that Myla would be a perfect fit for me. She was patient with my constantly evolving design wants, answered all my questions thoroughly, was professional and friendly! I highly recommend her services to anyone needing help with the design of their blog.
Thanks again, Design Me Pretty, I couldn´t be happier.
To all my dear readers: Welcome to the new and improved Lady in Lima...
Lady in Lima has gone through quite a transformation over the last ten months. When I first arrived in Lima, this blog was just to keep friends and family back home up to date with my life in Lima. Over time, however, I became more interested in the expat and travel blog community and decided that I wanted to be more involved.
This required a major redesign which I was incapable of doing myself. I can do many things but let´s face it, web design is not one of them. I stumbled across Design Me Pretty and knew that Myla would be a perfect fit for me. She was patient with my constantly evolving design wants, answered all my questions thoroughly, was professional and friendly! I highly recommend her services to anyone needing help with the design of their blog.
Thanks again, Design Me Pretty, I couldn´t be happier.
To all my dear readers: Welcome to the new and improved Lady in Lima...
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