Mi Trabajo

I officially am working at gainful employment! Maybe next year I can actually file taxes, as opposed to this year when I had no US income... ah, the life of a vagabond.

(Si quieres leer la mayoría de este en español, se puede ir al ultimo parte de este carta para la translación.)

Everybody in the office is very friendly and everyday I met about a dozen more people who work in the Embassy. A couple hundred work here in total. Later this week I will meet the DSM (second in command to the Ambassador) and Ambassador himself. That picture is of the Embassy; I found it online, obviously you can't take you camera into the Embassy so that will have to do for now!

Embassy life is very fascinating. Every facet of central building is designed with security in mind: small, bullet and bomb proof windows, fortified doors, Marines at the entrances, codes for entering areas with classified information, etc. Friday I have a security briefing where they attempt to scare the daylights out of me so I won't do anything stupid. There is also a commissary where you can buy grocery products from the US that you can't get in Lima. I've got two words for you: Diet Coke. It's better than Coke Lite, and I refuse to debate the difference further.

Parts of the Embassy do look like how you'd imagine it in movies and whatnot with black marble walls and floors with huge golden US emblems and flags. Other parts, however, not so glamorous. Take my cubicle. Need I continue?

Today I had lunch with 50% of the interns at the Embassy, which means Gabe. We're making some plans and hopefully there will be more interns in the future to join us!

Finding housing is one of my biggest concerns right now. Definitely need to employ some strategery these next few weeks to find a place. Also I'm still working on a church, Spanish lessons, and a place to volunteer.

Lima is surrounded by mountains that can best be described as huge mounds of dirt. Since we are in a desert (see picture), the land is incredibly dry and nothing grows there. However, within the city there are flowers and trees and many birds to sing and wake you up in the morning.

Aside from clouds of smog and dust, Lima has a lovely smell of summer that is difficult to describe but reminds me of Cone City, Lake Michigan, and relaxation.

Twilight is the best part of the day - relatively peaceful and cool, with the sunset always in view. It's also very short due to our location on the equator where the sun sinks very fast, but nice nonetheless

Overall, everything is going well. I'm excited to learn more and met more people. Thanks to everybody for their prayers and support!


... And now... En español...

Todo la gente en la oficina es muy amable, y cada día encuentro aproximadamente diez mas personas a quien trabajan en la embajada. Creo que 100-200 personas trabajan acá en total. A finales de este semana voy encontrar el DSM (el segundo mas alta persona en la embajada) y el embajador.

La vida de la embajada es muy fascinante. Cada parte del edificio central esta diseñado para seguridad: pequeño ventanas, fortificado puertos, Marines en la entradas, clave secreta para entrar áreas con información clasificado, y mas. Viernes tengo un reunión sobre seguridad cuando ellos van a tratar a espantarme asi que no voy a hacer algo estúpido. Hay un 'commissary' donde se puede comprar productos de los Estados Unidos que no se puede comprar en Lima. Tengo dos palabras para ti: Diet Coke. Lo es mejor de Coke Lite, y la diferencia mas.

Partes de la embajada son como se lo imagina en películas y mas, con paredes de mármol negro y pisos con grande emblemas y banderas de los Estados Unidos. Otros partes no son atractivo. Por ejemplo, mi 'cubículo.' Necesito continuar?

Hoy, almorcé con 50 por ciento de los "interns" en la embajada, solamente Gabe. Estamos haciendo planes y esperanzado va a estar mas interns en el futuro!

Encontrando un lugar para vivir es uno de mi mas grande preocupaciones ahorrita. Tengo que usar "strategery" en los próximos semanas para encontrar un lugar. También, estoy trabajando para encontrar una iglesia, lecciones de español, y una grupo para voluntario.

No tengo la energía necesario para traducir el ultimo parte... lo siento... voy a mejorar... quiero dormir ahora.

En total, todo esta bien. Estoy conmocionada aprender mas y encontrar mas gente. Gracias para su oraciones y apoyo!