Arequipa is like the Boulder, Colorado of Perú. The people of Arequipa ride their bicycles to get around town, eat organic foods, practice yoga, and are generally friendly and inviting. Also, the city is completely surrounded by mountains. Traveling to Arequipa made me realize that a wandering person can always find reminders of home, even when she is further away from home than she has ever been before. For me, that reminder of home was at its strongest when Rachel and I spent one of the mornings of our trip sitting in a coffee shop. It seems strange that a coffee shop would remind me of home, given that we have plenty of Starbucks in Lima, but this coffee shop was different. The tables, chairs, and other decorations were woody and natural looking, making the atmosphere comfy and inviting. I ordered an organic muffin and black coffee, and sat down on one of the couches with Rachel. That cup of black coffee was the best cup of coffee I have had the pleasure of enjoying since my arrival in Perú. The flavor was smooth and strong, and it made me anxious to return home to my daily dose of morning coffee and crossword puzzles.
Rachel and I remained in the coffee shop for a while after I finished my morning snack, conversing and reading our books. I was completely at peace in that little shop because I had been able to enjoy something that morning that I had been denied throughout the semester, and I was able to completely relax, not longing for home during the time that I was there. When I say that, I do not mean that I have spent the majority of my time here wishing that I was somewhere else, but I have learned a lot about myself on this trip. For example, traveling without my normal friend group or family is hard because I naturally want to share all of my experiences here with the people that I am closest to. Also, living in another country is difficult because every day presents new challenges. I could live in Perú for one semester or one year, and still find differences from Nebraska on a daily basis.
However, this weekend none of the differences between my home and my “home” could affect the beauty of southern Perú. Puno, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon, and Arequipa were all serene, mystical places that made any homesickness or hardships this semester completely worth the while. During our weekend travels I met more tourists from more countries than I have encountered during my entire semester, and meeting them helped to rekindle my adventure spark. Traveling for months can begin to wear a person down, but meeting these eager, expectant tourists helped remind me of the gift that I have been given by being able to study in another country for a few months. Apart from meeting wonderful people, I got to spend the entire weekend in the peaceful quiet of the Andes Mountains, and I do not think that there is really anything better than that. I would choose the mountains over the beach any day, and I have been fortunate enough this semester to be able to travel to the Peruvian mountains many times.
This last weekend was my final trip in Perú. Now I can only dream of returning someday to visit all of the other places that I wanted to visit and never had a chance to, and returning to all of my favorite places. I hope that no matter where my travels take me in the future, and no matter how far away from home or how close to home I am, I can always find that coffee shop that reminds me to relax and enjoy the time that I have in these special places, because home is never far as long as I keep it in my heart.
Rachel and I remained in the coffee shop for a while after I finished my morning snack, conversing and reading our books. I was completely at peace in that little shop because I had been able to enjoy something that morning that I had been denied throughout the semester, and I was able to completely relax, not longing for home during the time that I was there. When I say that, I do not mean that I have spent the majority of my time here wishing that I was somewhere else, but I have learned a lot about myself on this trip. For example, traveling without my normal friend group or family is hard because I naturally want to share all of my experiences here with the people that I am closest to. Also, living in another country is difficult because every day presents new challenges. I could live in Perú for one semester or one year, and still find differences from Nebraska on a daily basis.
However, this weekend none of the differences between my home and my “home” could affect the beauty of southern Perú. Puno, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon, and Arequipa were all serene, mystical places that made any homesickness or hardships this semester completely worth the while. During our weekend travels I met more tourists from more countries than I have encountered during my entire semester, and meeting them helped to rekindle my adventure spark. Traveling for months can begin to wear a person down, but meeting these eager, expectant tourists helped remind me of the gift that I have been given by being able to study in another country for a few months. Apart from meeting wonderful people, I got to spend the entire weekend in the peaceful quiet of the Andes Mountains, and I do not think that there is really anything better than that. I would choose the mountains over the beach any day, and I have been fortunate enough this semester to be able to travel to the Peruvian mountains many times.
This last weekend was my final trip in Perú. Now I can only dream of returning someday to visit all of the other places that I wanted to visit and never had a chance to, and returning to all of my favorite places. I hope that no matter where my travels take me in the future, and no matter how far away from home or how close to home I am, I can always find that coffee shop that reminds me to relax and enjoy the time that I have in these special places, because home is never far as long as I keep it in my heart.