Taxi Adventures

If you have ever been in a taxi in Peru, or even in another country you may have had similar experiences to the daily routine of riding in a Peruvian taxi. I believe my first taxi ride ever was in NYC, and as scary as that was to me as a 14 year old, riding in a taxi in Peru is much scarier. There are many, many, MANY taxis here, and is a cheap mode of transportation. The kind of taxis that are seen most of the time are “ticos.” These cars are about twice the size of a remote control car. There are other taxis, compact cars that hold more people or luggage.

One might ask: How many people can you fit into a taxi (other than the tico taxi)? The answer as I discovered the other night is 8+: 7 women, 1 male taxi driver, one cake, and 2 bags of groceries, not to mention at least 4 purses. Personal space? What is that in Peru? Guaranteed you will get to know your neighbor in a combi (minibus) or in a taxi more than you might want, well you’ll get to know their scent anyways (which I’ll leave several descriptions out for you).

One other interesting taxi ride happened last week when my friend and I were returning from the movies. We hailed a “safer” taxi, and as we were turning down a completely different street than normal, we made mention of the street we were supposed to be on, he mumbled something about gas, and sure enough (by the goodness of God) we pulled into the gas station just as he ran out of gas (this was in a tico taxi). The driver got out to push it, forgetting it was on a slope and he had the car in neutral, and yes, we started to roll backwards into the busy street. He jumped in and slammed on the brakes just feet from the street. Then 3 Peruvian men tried pushing it to the gas pump, and gave up after about 5 inches. (You know those rules that you read over and over at the gas pump because your bored, and one of them talks about not using any containers not made for or labeled for containing gas, yea well that rule was not observed this night!) Next we saw them pour gas into a 1.5 liter water bottle, then pour that bottle into the tank. Gratefully, minutes later we arrived home.

The taxis are another way I am learning to trust God!

Mí vida en Arequipa

My life in Arequipa: Most days are good. It is a lot like college in some ways, 2 classes a day, I walk to my school, I have homework in the afternoon, there´s usually a nap in there somewhere (most of the times accidental), 3 days a week spinning class (if I am not sick), and room and board. The only difference is that I can´t communicate very well right now. That is well.......FRUSTRATING, but fun at times. I am usually making a fool out of myself, which brings joy and laughter to everyone. The mornings and evenings are cool and throughout the day it is quite hot, and this is the winter here!

Here is a picture of me with Volcano Chichani, and Arequipa in the background.

I went horseback riding my first weekend here with some other students and missionaries. It was not quite like my last horseback ride in Tennessee, but I had to make the best of it. My horse didn´t want to go anywhere we were supposed to, but would often take the lead anyways, I think to get the dust out of our faces, and for that I am thankful!

¡Es un mundo pequeño!

It´s a small world! Last week I got to meet up with Luisa Calisaya, whom I worked with at Brookwood Medical Center. Arequipa is her home town. She is here visiting family, and we got together after my classes one day for lunch and her tour of Arequipa. That night we went to a Festidanza which was a program that had different countries representing their dances. It was so much fun! During the course of our day, we found out that the same people that are directing and teaching in the very small school that I attend, she went to high school with them! Arequipa is not a small city either! What a small world that I would work with her in Birmingham, Alabama and then go to a school in Arequipa, Peru run by those she went to high school with! ¡INCREDIBLE!

Here is a picture of me, Luisa, and her sister Margarita.


















Another small world story is that another missionary family here that are going to the same small school I am, are from Birmingham as well. I had heard about them before I came, but didn’t know we’d have any interaction. Steve and Stacie Brooks and their two adorable children Eli and Alex. In college Stacie roomed with Gayle Christopher (who is in the OMPC singles group), and Steve worked with Dave Smith in the service and Dave’s wife Dee was my mentor this past year. There are a few other people at OMPC that we know. How cool is that?

Here are some pictures of Stacie and the kids when we went horseback riding:

The Best Send-Off a Girl Could Have!

Exactly one month ago, on July 23rd a Peru party was held for me, a going away party of sorts. My friends Catherine, Whitney, and Julie even made shirts that said ¨I Love Becca¨. HOW SWEET!! I don´t think that I have been to a party that has been more fun than this one. Many people from different places in my life came, such as my family, friends from high school, college, Montgomery/Millbrook, Ridge Haven, and Birmingham, oh and even Peru! I had a blast! The house was full of so many people, and there was a dance floor in one section, with my friend Trent DJ-ing. It was so crazy at times and I sure hope that I was able to talk to everyone who came. One of the most memorable times was when the party and music stopped, and I was surrounded by my friends who lifted me up in prayer. One of the last songs I heard before the DJ station was shut down (and not by the cops) was Sweet Home Alabama, and I don’t think that song ever became more special! I have some wonderful friends back home and what a way to be sent off!

I’ll never forget it! Even if I become old and senile, I’ll be dancin’ the Cotton Eye Joe in my wheelchair--Some things just become ingrained! However, I don´t think I´ll dance to ¨Yeah¨ when I am old and senile because if I broke my toe dancing to it when I was 24, there´s no telling what I´d break at the age of 80+!!


Here are some pictures from the party: Me and DJ McCool, and a group shot as the party was coming to a close.




The next day was my commissioning service at Oak Mountain where Bob Flayhart, my pastor, and the elders of the church surrounded me and my parents, laid hands on us and lifted us up in prayer. When I stood up on the stage, I looked back and the entire singles class had come in and were standing in the back showing their support. It all was such a blessing and hard not to cry! That afternoon was so crazy trying to move all of my belongings, finish packing, visit my friends, and say goodbye. Saying goodbye was so hard for me! Now as I am here in Peru, I see why it was so good for my transistion and letting go, but that was so difficult! You know you have good friends when it is that hard!

Here are just a few of my many friends who came for the events:

(Roomies from the ¨Broken Hize¨)

(The McAllisters: John and Sara--JuannyMac and Sarita)

(Sarah Jones--aka to me, my ¨seeester¨)

Prayer Beyond Borders

I went to a women’s bible study tonight where there were around 20 women in the meeting. Such a sweet time of fellowship, even in the midst of me not being able to communicate well. When it came time to share prayer requests, my house mom, Eli shared about my dad whom had surgery earlier that day. How beautiful that he was lifted up in prayer, in a language different from his own, by women he will probably never meet on this side of heaven! But how much more beautiful is that these prayers lifted for him were heard by a Savior who has no borders and no language or cultural barriers. And this is the same God that has given me such a sweet opportunity to learn another language and culture of which I am falling in love with.

Motorcycle Diaries

I had a rare adventure a few weeks ago when our team was on a retreat in Cuzco, Peru. Just off of the main square downtown (Plaza de Armas) you can rent motorcycles for just 8 dollars an hour. Yep, that’s ocho dolares! How many people do you know that can say they rode on a motorcycle in the Andes riding past Incan ruins? If you know me, that’s at least one! I went with my friend Andrew up on a mountain overlooking Cuzco, and we passed several Incan ruins along the way (one called Saqsaywaman….which is fun to say phonetically). I wasn’t able to get pictures of them as we passed by, (you know… safety is important…yes mom and dad we were being careful!) but was able to get some pix of the sun setting when we stopped to turn around. It was such an amazing ride! I’ve ridden in the flat lands of Florida and Alabama, the hills of Birmingham, and the mountains of North Carolina, but this just might top them all! And if there are any arguments against this, I was at about 11,000 feet above sea level, so literally, it does top them all. (For those who saw the foreign film “Motorcycle Diaries” I might begin my own version! For those who haven’t… check it out at your local Blockbuster, you’ll get to see some of
Peru, and you might even learn a little Spanish)




Our driver is the one with the hoodie! (Me, Andrew Halbert, and little Aaron Matthews)

Some of my First Impressions

There are a lot of fun happenings and things I am learning about here in Peru. I thought I´d write more and share some of this. Before I do, let me give you a quick description of my day and environment. Arequipa is smack dead in the middle of the desert. Yes there is green, but if it is green, it is irrigated. I can see huge mountain peaks from about anywhere here, two with snow (don´t ask me how it got there b/c I haven´t seen a cloud for a week). I walk to my school (ha! That´ll be fun to annoy my kids with: when I lived in the desert, I had to walk to and from school, uphill, downhill.....). My classes are from 8:30-12 each day with one-on-one instruction (love that!). And my afternoons are filled with homework and trying to communicate with the family I am living with.

I have begun to embrace the familiar in my environment of the unknown. (Now some things are universal, such as Coca-cola, so I won´t write about those). Some fun familiar things (and other stuff) I have embraced are as follows:

1) Cotton Eye Joe- For all my Ridge Haven friends (and those who were at the rockin´awesome going away party and saw us dance) this song is so near and dear to my heart! I have heard this song now TWICE here in Peru, and no, not on my IPOD or on my computer, but out in public!! The first time in a restaurant in Cusco that unfortunately was too cramped and my 32-step moves were restricted to the space beneath my seat. The second time was here in Arequipa at a gym I just joined. I was waiting for my spinning class (bicycle aerobics) to start and the other class before mine was spinning to it before they ended. In this case I did have room to show off my best dance moves, but you know... I am still learning the culture and don´t want to offend if someone else can´t dance the cotton eye joe as well as me!

2) Movies- I knew once I got to Lima I would be able to go to the theater every now and then, but I wasn´t sure how many would be in English and how soon they would be released. Before I left for Peru I was determined to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for fear that I wouldn´t see it in Peru. So maybe I was worried for nothing! Last Friday I went to the movies with a new friend and we saw Sahara, in English (with Spanish subtitles), and right next door to our theater Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was playing. Now granted not all the movies will be making it down here, but the good ones will! (PS Whit--- I still loved going to see Charlie with you!!)

3) Radio: Right now there are only a few words every now and then that I understand on the radio, but there are many tunes that I know. For example the other day I was in a taxi and an advertisement had the Macarena music in the background. (yes, it is annoying here as well, to me anyways). The funniest thing I heard on the radio in a taxi last week was Latin rap. Watch out Eminem!!!

4) Call of a ¨bird¨ : Now granted this certain sound/whistle I have heard in the states, but not quite as frequently as I have heard it here. This call seems to come from certain male ¨birds¨ that always seem to be at construction sites for some reason, and is heard whenever I or another female walks by. I have also heard this call from taxis or combis (minibuses) passing by. Something else I am not too comfortable with but am needing to embrace about the culture.

5) Today I went to a huge celebration and parade here in Arequipa. It is its like 462nd birthday. I saw the Peruvian SUAT team (that was cool).
It was quite chaotic, with so many people, but highly entertaining! Some of the randomness in the parade was hilarious!!! There would be some brightly colored costumes that people were dancing in, then after they passed, so did Barnie. I mean, I know that he is a bright purple, but where did he fit in????








There are so many more small funny things that have taken place, but maybe that will come another time. I have enjoyed other parts of the culture. It is a serving culture. Daily my house mother straightens my bed or folds my clothes. My t-shirts were even ironed!!!!!! I am having fun along with my studies. Language school here is like my Spanish class in high school multiplied by 20! Immersion is the way baby(well as far as learning a language, baptism is another debate! )