By Karen and Duane Sherer Stoltzfus
Peru SST Co-Directors, 2014-2015
Morgan and Peter dig into their picnic lunch of causa rellena con pollo.
Our first day of orientation began a little late, at 9:30 a.m, with a walk to Casa Goshen (of course when you don’t leave the airport until 1 a.m. that same morning, a little grace seems in order) in San Isidro.
We shared introductions and worship at Casa Goshen in the morning. Just before lunch, students received a copy of the Peru SST syllabus (parents and friends who wish to read along should finish the first two chapters of The Whole World Guide to Culture Learning, all of Foreign to Familiar, excerpts from Peru Reader and handouts. Quiz on Tuesday!).
Alicia Taipe Tello, who will cook for the SST group several times a week, prepared a picnic lunch of causa rellena con pollo, a cold potato dish flavored with lime and aji peppers and layered with chicken. With lunches in backpacks, we walked to a nearby promenade that ribbons along the Pacific Ocean.
The sky was impressively blue and clear for this time of year, when fall often brings cloudy and cool days. We found a shady spot on the grass in one of the many parks along the promenade. After lunch we had time for a couple of get-acquainted exercises, one of which required students to disclose a nickname, recite the Goshen College core values while walking backward and estimate the population of Lima — in a race to the finish.
A view of the apartment complex where Casa Goshen is located.
We enjoyed a midafternoon sampling of Peruvian fruits, including cherimoya, mango, granadilla, tuna (this is a fruit that grows on cactus — the U.S. tuna is called atún in Peru). Alicia also shared information about each fruit in sequence, including in which region and season the fruit grows and how it is typically used.
We took a walk to learn the route from Casa Goshen to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, or laCatedral del Buen Pastor, an Anglican church that serves as our academic home for classes, lectures and workshops. Rev. Jorge Zamudio, the vicar, will speak to the group on the first day of classes. Several students exchanged U.S. dollars into Peruvian nuevos soles along the way.
James and Josh sample the (unsweetened) maracuya fruit, in unison.
In the late afternoon, Celia Vasquez, the study coordinator for the Peru SST program, spoke about family relations and social norms in Peru, with practical lessons in greetings. Students will soon be experts in air kissing alongside the right cheek.
Following a delicious meal of chicken and rice with ensalada rusa (a popular salad made with beets and other vegetables), prepared by Alicia, students picked up several textbooks and filled up their water bottles. The men were able to walk to Cirque Hostel, and, with luck on their side, the women all found seats in the same combi van for a short ride along Avenida Angamos to their hostel, Miraflores House.
Our first view of the Pacific Ocean from the malecón near Casa Goshen.We were blessed with warm sunshine and blue sky: something you don’t take for granted in Lima, especially in the Fall!Kourtney looks out over the cliffs at the Pacific Ocean.Everyone found a spot to eat lunch – some preferred shade, some wanted to soak up the sun.Peter talks with Jessica during our picnic lunch.Morgan and Peter dig into their picnic lunch of causa rellena con pollo.Three GC chicos eat lunch looking out over the ocean.Philip, Zach and Josh look reflectively out to sea.Gathering to talk about our names and what we know about them.Did you know that when Duane lived in New York City as a child, he went through the entire phonebook to discover his family was the only one in the city named Stoltzfus?Let the contest begin!Phil and Kate, along with fellow SSTers, trade information for a signature.Morgan and Abbie, Hayley and Zach.Irene, Peter, Morgan and Abbie.Asia and Jessica. Phil and Kate.Kourtney and Becca trade information and signatures.Asia and Kourtney.Jessica and James share information.Josh receives a ‘creative’ blessing from Claire.Duane flips a Peruvian coin, best of three.Morgan and Peter compare notes.Alberto and Anna.Jessica and James, Asia and Claire.Kourtney receives a blessing from Zach.Irene is close to having all eight signatures.Josh, Becca and Hayley.Peter walks backward while reciting GC’s five core values.We think we have a winner!But why not keep going…On the steps above the park named for Maria Reiche, that has flower beds designed to look like the Nazca Lines, in her honor.Oops, we caught Hayley trying out one of the interesting exercise machines along the malecón.Alberto and Abbie stand by another machine along the malecón – not sure what this one is for!Of course we MUST have a group photo by the ocean.And perhaps another one?An ocean view on a clear day in Lima.Kourtney and Asia on the malecon.Walking (reluctantly) back up the steps for more of our indoor orientation.On the walk back to Casa Goshen – a delivery of toilet paper sits on the sidewalk.Duane introduces Alicia and her fruit presentation.Alicia stands by a table full of Peruvian fruit, ready to share information and samples.Mango-papaya, tuna, cherimoya and more make for a colorful display.Alicia likes to have a photo with the students before we sample the display.Alicia likes to have a photo (or 2) with the students before we sample the display.Philip, Jessica and Becca take a taste of maracuya.This side of the room tastes very thoughtfully.Morgan, Abbie, Hayley and Claire about to try a new fruit flavor.They seem pretty happy about the taste, yes?James and Josh sample the (unsweetened) maracuya fruit, in unison.The jury is still out on whether this will become a favorite.A list of some of the fruit we tried during the afternoon.Alicia demonstrates one of several ways to eat granadilla.Irene, Kate and Becca taste the granadilla while Phil decides to record it with his camera.First you have to crack open the outer shell.Alberto tries out granadilla.Asia and Kourtney share a granadilla fruit.Jessica samples granadilla.Irene and Kate decide to eat their fruit with a spoon.Trying out granadilla as a group.Peter demonstrates his chosen technique for eating granadilla.David considers what’s left of his granadilla fruit.Students pose in front of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd (El Buen Pastor) where they will start classes on Monday.During our walk through the neighborhood, we stopped for a photo in front of La Catedral del Buen Pastor, where we will be studying.Kourtney greets Celia during our family greeting practice.There’s not a lot of room, but everyone must try out their Peruvian greetings.In some cases we give a friendly hug, in other cases a kiss into the air by the cheek.Michael greets Celia, who will be his host aunt, or tia.
