Bienvenida a Perú!

Hola! Well, I arrived in Lima last night. I find it very strange that you can wake up one morning in your own bed, your own house, with your own family, and go to bed somewhere COMPLETELY different. I feel almost as though I´m in a different universe. It`s a very strange feeling, but exciting none the less. My new family has welcomed me into their household with open arms, and even though communication with them is very difficult, I already feel at home.

Arriving at the airport last night was a very strange experience for me. As soon as I arrived, I was bombarded with hugs, kisses and Spanish! It was crazy and overwhelming, but I enjoyed it.

There is no WiFi at the house I`m staying at, so until I get my phone activated, I won´t have much access to the blog. Hopefully it won´t be long before my next post. Wish me luck!

Welcome!

"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

- Andre Gide

I'm Caroline Shapiro and this is my travel blog. I am a 16 year old adventure seeking, open minded girl who can't wait to get out of her comfort zone and see the world! I am leaving my hometown of Bexley, Ohio in only 11 short days to start my year long adventure as a Rotary Youth Exchange student living in Lima, Peru. I will be living with three different Peruvian host families throughout the year, I will be enrolled in Peruvian school, and I will be fully immersed in Peruvian culture. Choosing to participate in this program was a huge risk, but I am so excited to see how the experience will affect me as a person.

Stay tuned for pictures, stories and reflections on my experiences!