The next part of my journey I spent in Lima. The day I checked into my hostel I immediately made a couple friends and we went out to lunch and to the beach. I was sitting on a levee with Rachel, a Canadian just ending her round the world trip, when we met a surfer who offered to let us borrow his gear and teach us how to surf. After that I got hooked and surfed every single day in Lima except Christmas.

Christmas eve the family of a friend, the Morenos, invited me to come to their house. Christmas is celebrated quite differently in Peru. We drank Pisco Sour(a traditional drink) and set of fireworks until midnight when all the big fireworks went off and we ate dinner. Dinner was apples fixed prepared like mashed potatoes, turkey, and a type of bread similar to fruit cake. Then the relatives came over to great each other. There were only presents for the very little kids.

Christmas morning everyone slept after a late night. I went to my hostel and checked out, then came back and slept a little more. The Moreno family was so kind to me and welcomed me into their home like a long lost cousin. Later I went to the city center with David and to a disco for a while which was nearly empty because of the holidays.

I surfed one more day, then headed back to Chile. It was so good seeing my friends once more. The boys I lived with had a tea for me because Ester, the mom, was feeling sick. I went to the Valparaiso carnival with Alan. At night there was nothing official, but the streets with packed for blocks with young people, drinking, playing music, and having a good time. It felt somewhat like Mardi Gras. During the day there were people on stilts, silly costumes, bands, and floats. I was there a little early, so I didnt get to see the full show before I left for my long flight home.

My flight was just fine without any delays or problems. It was great to see my family again and very strange to be back on North American soil. I could probably write another blog about reverse culture shock and the excesses of American society, but with how sick I have been for the past week and how busy I will be trying to get "the real life" back in order, I do not feel like I will have time.

Thank you to everyone who has been following my blog.

Tara Brandenburg