finally.. I am here. this will be a quick post, I hope.. because i'm tired after such a long day. the flight was long and cold and kind of miserable, but i met a girl in my program in the NJ airport and then i met two other americans that are living in lima for the semester, one who i sat next to on the airplane. the best part of the flight was flying over Ecuador during sunset- BEAUTIFUL! when we arrived to lima it was just cloudy and dark.

the most interesting things i should mention about my first impression are...
1. CRAZY public transportation and traffic! (las combis.. like a van/bus that you just jump in and out of and cram into like sardines)
2. it's winter here, comparable to the end of our fall season. grey and cold but not too cold like our winters. we're all sniffling with the climate change.
3. the food is amazingggg!!!!
4. i think i'm going to love living near the coast, with an amazing family, with great people in the program from all over the united states (including a guy from mt lebanon, so close to me in pittsburgh!)
5. i learned some basic salsa already.
6. i understand 40% of the language, 85% of the context of what people are saying and
7. although i feel like i wish i understood more and definitely like i could say more, it's the first day and i'm trusting that with patience and confidence, i'm going to improve.. i can already see how it will be difficult to remember to speak english when i come home in december.