Lessons From My Days in Peru

Today marks two months since I got back from Peru.  I've been back for almost as much time as I was gone (not very long) and it's about time I reflect on some of the things I learned from my trip.  

1. The Church is TRUE!  Some of my most special times while I was in Peru were while I was at church.  The curriculum, the order, the sacrament, the happy people--it was all just like it is here and it was so refreshing. While there I gained an even stronger testimony of our prophet, Thomas S. Monson and his apostles and how they are called of God.  I also gained a greater appreciation for the Hymns and the power of music.  My favorite part of each meeting was singing the hymns in Spanish.  So beautiful.  

 (Where's Waldo?! With the YSA from the San Jeronimo Ward)

2. Kids are the best.  Saying goodbye to these cute little rascals on November 27th was possibly one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.  Knowing that I probably wouldn't see any of them again just broke my heart.  They are so full of love and patience.  They never got frustrated with my bad Spanish.  Each time I lost my patience with them, they quickly forgave me.  Their warm hugs and shouts of "Profe-Tee-chair" greeted me each day.  We had so much fun together learning, laughing, brushing our teeth, reading stories, dancing, and so much more.  I understand why the Savior teaches us to become like little children.  They are just so pure and genuine.  I hope to become half as humble, kind, and pacient as the kids at Nuevas Americas.  

3. Everybody has something to give.  The people of Peru work for what they have.  Everyday I saw grandmothers, mothers, and young girls walking up long hills and hopping on and off busses with giant packs tied around their backs.  They did whatever it took to get to the market to sell their goods.  Everyone down there had something to offer.  Husbands spent months and even years working away from home to help support their families.  The youth worked after school was out, earning money to help buy food.  For the most part, people gave what they had to have a good life.  I was very inspired.  

(Her dry, cracked heels were on countless other hard workers as well)

4. I love my family very much.  As I was saying goodbye to my parents in the SLC airport I was somewhat shocked to find myself fighting back tears.  I had been looking forward to this trip for so long!  Why in the heck was I starting to cry?! That was when my mom said, "Isn't it nice to have something so great that it's hard to leave?"  She was so right.  Even though I was setting out to fulfill one of my dreams, it was hard to leave my family and friends.  They're just so great.  While I was gone I got excited about each FaceTime call, each email, and each Facebook message.  Family really is everything.

5. Be thankful.  We are so blessed to live in America.  We have drinkable water.  We have carpet.  We have pretty good sanitation systems.  We don't have a million stray dogs.  We take care of each other.  We have nice vehicles.  We don't have to worry too much about food poisoning or parasites.  We have great hospitals.  We have a great life. 

5. There's more adventurer in my soul than I thought.  While I was down there, I kind of thrived off of doing new things.  Everything around me was new, but I could have easily gotten into a routine and not tried new things.  I tried to do the exact opposite.  I took the public transportation everywhere!  A little sketchy at times--yes!  Culturally educational--you bet ya!  I would try different routes walking home from preschool each day.  I got pretty lost a few times, but I always managed to find a familiar landmark and I got to see a lot of the city that way.  I tried to see all of Peru that I could while I was there (money and time allowing...). I didn't care if I had a buddy to go with me or not, I was going to make the most of it.  At the time, I didn't feel too adventurous, but looking back I figure a young blonde girl, going to Peru --by herself--, finding her way around Cusco, visiting ruins, taking tours in Spanish, and just flat out living in a different country is pretty darn adventurous.  

6. I can do hard things.  You guys.  Learning a language is hard.  It can be frustrating.  It can make you want to cry.  It can also make you cry.  It can also be rewarding.  Spanish is beautiful.  

7. Let your heart love people.  Even though I knew I was only going to be in Cusco for a short time, I decided to love the people I was with.  I grew to love the other volunteers, the people in my ward, the family I lived with, and mostly the kids and Flor.  Putting my heart out there made saying goodbye so much harder, but made my time there so much more worth it.  

This list is not all.  In fact, I'll probably think of 5 more awesome things I learned tomorrow, but it's a pretty good summary.  The trip changed my life.  While I'm still the same Livi, I've learned so much about life, about friendship, and most importantly, about myself.  

"Look at that sky!"

"Look at that sky!" has been one of my most frequent sayings this summer.  Then, I snap a picture.  Cokeville seriously has some of the best skies.  I don't really know how it happens, but it just does!  And I'm lucky enough to be outside all of the time to witness them!  The other day when I told Sierra to look at the sky for the billionth time she replied with, "You're kinda obsessed with the sky, aren't ya?"  She's right, and here's a little proof. 

Now I know I'm no professional photographer and most of them aren't set perfectly, but these photos were just taken with my iPhone.  No filters, no special effects, just real, natural beauty.  After Sierra called me out on my obsession I started to think about why I am so obsessed.  I think this quote by Elder M. Russell Ballard sums up pretty well how I feel about nature.  

"Men and women in all parts of the world have a desperate need to take time from their demanding routines of everyday life and to quietly observe God's miracles taking place all around them.  Think of what would happen if all of us took time to look carefully at the wonders of nature that surround us…this world that God created for us!"

  I've always loved the earth and knowing that God created it.  Each day the earth changes, and to me those changes are made by God.  So, each time the sky is so beautiful and so different, it reminds me of God's hand in everything I do.  He is constantly putting stepping stones in my path.  I can choose to take a second and be thankful for them, or I can just keep going right along with my life.  Stopping to take a look at the constantly changing sky reminds me to take a look at my constantly changing life and love it.  Every different moment.    

The days!

Lately I've just been blogging about big events that are happening, but let me tell ya, the days around here are the best!  They are definitely blog worthy.  I had a guy in town ask me the other day if I'm ever even here or always just on trips and doing fun things?!  While I've done tons of fun things this summer, the truth is most days I don't leave this beautiful little valley--and that's MORE than fine with me!  

Most days consist of some kind of exercise (except last week-I was a super slacker!) and then up to work by 7:30.  Work is awesome!  Sierra and I talk and laugh all day, and it's so great! (I'll have to do another post about work sometime soon!) Then I seem to always be doing something from the time I get home until dark or later.  I've got a couple of lawns that I mow that I tend to procrastinate until I'm about out of daylight.  If I'm not mowing lawns or working on something here with my parents I'm out with friends.  Let me tell ya, there's only a couple of us here in Cokeville this summer, but I wouldn't pick any different people.  They're probably about sick of me, but I have so much fun with them!  Most of the time we just do a fire and some s'mores, but I honestly wouldn't rather do anything else!  There's just something so mesmerizing about a fire and when you're with some of your favorite people it's hard to top.  

I'm seriously never bored here.  If there's nothing to be done at home, I head out on my bike for a good ride or on a run.  I just can't seem to get enough of the open spaces and the beautiful weather this summer.  Life just doesn't get much better!

Here's two pictures I took while up at Pope's at a fire with friends.  The sunset was breathtaking and just kept getting better!  And can you beat that view with the American flag?!  I really do love America.  

I got to go up and watch these two crazies play some baseball.  They did great!  Never a dull moment with nieces and nephews around…

And here's a picture from a hike Trev and I took today.  There's just so much beauty!  

My days are SO good.  My parents love me and I love them!  I don't know what I did to deserve them.  They spoil me.  They call me and ask what time to expect me for dinner.  I came home the other day and my mom had done my laundry.  They help me haul the lawnmower around, and so much more! Plus, they just put up with me every. single. day.  That's a lot!  They're a huge reason the days are so good.  I don't know what I did to deserve this life, but I'm sure thankful I have it.  

I LOVE NYC

A while back Tess and I decided we were going to go on a trip to New York City!  Well, mainly I decided and Tessa hesitantly followed…but she followed, and that's what's important!  So, in December we had enough money from scrimping and saving and slaving away at the plasma center and we announced our big trip!  Dad didn't think we were serious. Mom was a little nervous.  Our brothers wondered why in the heck we would want to go to New York City of all places.  Our sisters were excited for us, slightly worried, and a lot jealous.  We opened the invitation up to all, but we didn't have any sure takers.  Taffy was kind enough to lend us her services as an awesome travel agent and she found us some cheap plane tickets and a hotel for a great price at a great location!  Through all the planning she caught the bug and decided to come along for the first couple of days.  We're so glad she did!  So, here's the rundown of our trip :)

Wednesday April 23rd: 

We left Cokeville around 7:15 to meet Taffy in Evanston and we headed down to the airport for our 11:59 pm flight.  The flight got cancelled, we had to rebook for a 5 am flight and we slept (or didn't sleep) in the airport.  

Thursday April 24th:

Because of some complications at the ticket counter we were running a little late, so we ran to the gate, but despite our efforts, we barely missed our flight… And yes, this candid photo is one of pure devastation.  

But, things always seem to work out and they rebooked us with a direct flight to JFK leaving at 8:30.  Thank you, sweet ticket lady!

When we got there we checked into our hotel, Hotel Carter.  This little gem of a hotel was half a block from Times Square.  The location couldn't have been better!  It was a little dumpy, but the price and location made it totally worth it!  And let's be honest, all we did in there was sleep and shower, so we didn't need anything too fancy.

Then, that night we just walked around Times Square and tried to get a little bit more familiar with our surroundings.   

Friday April 25th:

We picked up our New York Passes (a must have if you plan on doing touristy things in NYC) and headed off!  The first thing on our list was biking in Central Park.  It was amazing!  We laughed and talked and just had a ball!

Next, the Empire State Building.  We did the audio tour and learned so much about NYC.  I seriously felt like I was in the movies way up there!

Then we did the New York Skyride.  Seriously people, don't waste your time.  It's supposed to be a simulation of hang gliding over the city, but it was really horrible.  I had to close my eyes halfway through because I was so motion sick.  It took me about an hour to recover.  

That evening we went on a twilight river tour around the south end of Manhattan.  It was so much fun! The views were surreal!  

Saturday April 26th:

Our morning started out with a beautiful run in Central Park.  We really loved that place. 

Then we cleaned up and headed to Discovery Times Square where the Body Worlds exhibit was on display.  It made me a little queasy, but it was still pretty interesting.  Taffy and Tessa loved it and took their time in there exploring every detail of the human body while I chilled outside.

Then they humored me and we went to a couple museums.  First stop was the Museum of Natural History.  Then we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I loved it!  I got to see the original of one of my favorite paintings, Washington Crossing the Delaware.

We also got to see some really cool Egyptian stuff that dated back to about 2000 BC.  

Next was my long awaited trip to the Brooklyn Bridge.  I finally got to walk it, in the rain no less, and it was everything I always dreamed of :)

That night we went out to eat at a place called Stardust Diner.  It was so fun!  They entertain you while you eat some good ol' fashioned diner food.  We loved every second of it!

After dinner we headed to Madam Tussaud's Wax museum where we snapped some shots with our favorite celebrities.  It was more fun than any of us expected!

The last stop of the night was Cold Stone where we ended up enjoying ice cream 4 times throughout the week :)

Sunday April 27th:

First thing in the morning we took the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  The Spirit was so strong at both places and I learned so much about how important the birth of our country was, and how important immigration was from the audio tours. 

Brooklyn from the ferry

 The Registry room at Ellis Island

When we got back we went to the 9/11 Memorial.  This was the site in NYC I was most excited to see.  The attack on the Twin Towers changed my life, and I loved learning about the details of the events that occurred that day.  So many people volunteered and helped out in a time of crisis.  Americans came together to help out in a time of terror and even though I was just a young 3rd grader, that was the first time I remember feeling proud to be an American.  Going to the memorial and the tribute museum have just made me prouder.  I love America.  

We walked around the financial district a little more and then went to a Jewish Heritage Museum that was very interesting as well.  

Then we headed uptown and saw the temple and went to the Art Students League of New York where my great grandma Minerva Teichert attended art school.  We were pretty pumped about being there.  

Monday April 28th:

Taffy headed back to Wyoming really early.  We LOVED having her with us!  I'm so glad we have such a great relationship with her even though we're so far apart in age.  We had so much fun together!  After she left, it was just the two of us in the big city!  A little intimidating, but we did pretty darn good, if I do say so myself :)

Our morning started with a beautiful run along the East River.  Isn't Tess a babe?!

Then we went and walked around Little Italy, Chinatown, and Soho and did a little shopping.

Later in the day we headed up to the Bronx and Yankees Stadium. We couldn't go inside, but it was still really cool to see it! 

We got off the subway at Rockefeller Plaza and had fun walking around there for a bit.  

We did some more shopping and just walked around Times Square and enjoyed being in the big city.  

Tuesday April 29th:

First thing in the morning we made a quick stop by Madison Square Garden.

Then we headed to the High Line.  We LOVED this!  They restored a section of the old high line railroad system that ran in Manhattan and turned it into a garden/walkway.  The views were great, the gardens were beautiful, and we just loved it.  I snapped this gorgeous pic of Tess while we were there.  

Then we headed up to the Temple.  The city is so busy and crazy, and you walk through the doors and it is so calm and peaceful.  It was so refreshing.  We performed baptisms for the dead and it was such a great experience.  The Church is true people. 

That night was the big finale: WICKED!!  We were so excited, and it definitely did not disappoint!  Those people are so talented and the story line was great!  We left speechless.  We've been talking about it and singing to the soundtrack ever since.  

Wednesday April 30th:

This was our last day and we had to check out of our hotel at 11:00, so we decided to just take a good run in Central Park.  Well, it was pouring rain!  We did it anyways and loved every second!  We were soaked to the bone.  

Then we came back to our hotel to shower and clean up, but there was no water that morning at our hotel because of a fire hydrant that was gushing water out in the street…  So, we cleaned up as best we could, checked out of our hotel, hauled our luggage to the bus stop in the rain, and said our last goodbyes to the city.  

We sure loved you New York City!  Don't worry, I'll be back :)

(If you made it to the end of this, you're a champ!  But seriously, sorry it was SO long!)