I know I've already blogged twice today, but I just discovered that there is a psychic octopus in Germany that can accurately predict the outcomes of World Cup games. This "seer sucker" has predicted that Germany will beat Uruguay for third place and that Spain with overpower the Netherlands in the final. The Germans are not happy with their underwater clairvoyant. Some are suggesting that Octopus Paul might better serve his country on a plate. Spainards, however, (thought they love eating octopus) do not want to chow down on the tentacled telekinetic. They would like to rechristen him "Pulpo Pablo." After all, as the Spanish soccer players agree, Octopus Paul is obviously a Spainard. VAMOS ESPAÑA!
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Jumat, 09 Juli 2010
Lima: Living it Up on 4th of July Weekend
Last Friday, my ex-roomie and still best friend from Vanderbilt flew to Lima for July 4th weekend. She is a law student at the University of Illinois (I know...she's smart) and is doing a legal internship in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Unfortunately, I couldn't visit her in BA, because the Argentines charge an over $300 reciprocity fee. The United States makes is very difficult for Argentines to get visas to the US. They have to pay a $200 application fee (that's application fee...not to be refunded if the application is rejected). The $300 entrance fee to Argentina's is their response. Argentina is expected to lessen the price soon to encourage more American tourism. Anyway, Alyse (said friend) flew to Lima (no Peruvian fee).
Alyse, Annie, and I spent the whole weekend seeing the sites in Lima and eating incredible food. We went out for sushi Friday night and went to bed early. Saturday we ate breakfast crepes near Ovalo Gutierrez then caught a bus to Central Lima to watch the Spain v. Paraguay game on the big screen set up in the Plaza de Armas.
Annie and Alyse were smitten with the crowd-control police...
After the game, we went to the Inquisition Museum down the street. It's amazing how rude/extremely cruel and horrible people were to each other then (how, in many, places they still are.)
After the museum, we grabbed some food at a dive bar. We learned from a group of young guys with earrings that it was "Dia de Amigos." I think they wanted to become "amigos" with us, but we weren't having it.
We caught a bus back to Miraflores to do some shopping in Parque Kennedy. We ate some delicious Churros shown in the pictures below (which I thought was just a Spanish thing...apparently not.) Churros are delicious fried dough with chocolate, vanilla or dulce de leche stuffed in the middle.
We went home for a few hours to play with Miski (pronounced mishki), the dog in our house. Then, we headed out to Barranco to a beer bar to chill with some of Annie's university friends. At about 3:00 am we went to get salchipapas from a bar down the street. We got home around 6 am.
Slept until 1 pm on Sunday (4th of July). Once we did get up, we walked all the way to the beach. We stopped to pet the cats in Parque Kennedy.
We also stopped on Calle Jose Larco for some coffee at a Middle Eastern restaurant. One of the waiters approached us with this cute ball of fluffiness with a red ribbon around its neck. People randomly carrying bunnies in Lima is actually fairly common. I'm not sure why they do it though. It may be like walking your dog. Getting your bunny some air.
We stopped at Larcomar for pictures and shopping.
Then hiked down more than 140 stairs to la Rosa Nautica, a restaurant built on a rocky penninsula that juts out into the ocean. Yes, we hiked back up later (after a bottle of wine and a big meal.)
We passed a lot of surfers peeling off their wet suits for the day. Great surfing conditions apparently, but you wouldn't get me in Peruvian water. It's like ice.
This is the restaurant, La Rosa Nautica (The Nautical Rose).
The food was delicious. I had seabass covered in white sauce with a spicy jam-like topping.
We walked around Miraflores. Alyse found a cardboard cutout of an Argentine soccer player. We'll forgive her, cause she lives there (and she's supporting Spain in the finals.)
Then we stopped again at Starbucks (I know...but they have the best "Tres Leches" cake.)
Sadly, Alyse left on Monday morning, and I went back to work. So glad I got to see her though. It had been a year since I saw her last...at graduation.
I'm always at a loss about how to end my blog posts. I want to think of something catchy, but alas I am not Adam Moreland, Valerie Hendrix, or David Watterson. So I will leave you with this. VAMOS ESPAÑA!
Alyse, Annie, and I spent the whole weekend seeing the sites in Lima and eating incredible food. We went out for sushi Friday night and went to bed early. Saturday we ate breakfast crepes near Ovalo Gutierrez then caught a bus to Central Lima to watch the Spain v. Paraguay game on the big screen set up in the Plaza de Armas.
Annie and Alyse were smitten with the crowd-control police...
After the game, we went to the Inquisition Museum down the street. It's amazing how rude/extremely cruel and horrible people were to each other then (how, in many, places they still are.)
After the museum, we grabbed some food at a dive bar. We learned from a group of young guys with earrings that it was "Dia de Amigos." I think they wanted to become "amigos" with us, but we weren't having it.
We caught a bus back to Miraflores to do some shopping in Parque Kennedy. We ate some delicious Churros shown in the pictures below (which I thought was just a Spanish thing...apparently not.) Churros are delicious fried dough with chocolate, vanilla or dulce de leche stuffed in the middle.
We went home for a few hours to play with Miski (pronounced mishki), the dog in our house. Then, we headed out to Barranco to a beer bar to chill with some of Annie's university friends. At about 3:00 am we went to get salchipapas from a bar down the street. We got home around 6 am.
Slept until 1 pm on Sunday (4th of July). Once we did get up, we walked all the way to the beach. We stopped to pet the cats in Parque Kennedy.
We also stopped on Calle Jose Larco for some coffee at a Middle Eastern restaurant. One of the waiters approached us with this cute ball of fluffiness with a red ribbon around its neck. People randomly carrying bunnies in Lima is actually fairly common. I'm not sure why they do it though. It may be like walking your dog. Getting your bunny some air.
We stopped at Larcomar for pictures and shopping.
Then hiked down more than 140 stairs to la Rosa Nautica, a restaurant built on a rocky penninsula that juts out into the ocean. Yes, we hiked back up later (after a bottle of wine and a big meal.)
We passed a lot of surfers peeling off their wet suits for the day. Great surfing conditions apparently, but you wouldn't get me in Peruvian water. It's like ice.
This is the restaurant, La Rosa Nautica (The Nautical Rose).
The food was delicious. I had seabass covered in white sauce with a spicy jam-like topping.
We walked around Miraflores. Alyse found a cardboard cutout of an Argentine soccer player. We'll forgive her, cause she lives there (and she's supporting Spain in the finals.)
Then we stopped again at Starbucks (I know...but they have the best "Tres Leches" cake.)
Sadly, Alyse left on Monday morning, and I went back to work. So glad I got to see her though. It had been a year since I saw her last...at graduation.
I'm always at a loss about how to end my blog posts. I want to think of something catchy, but alas I am not Adam Moreland, Valerie Hendrix, or David Watterson. So I will leave you with this. VAMOS ESPAÑA!
Praises in Peru
So, I got some wonderful news this morning. (I'm totally drinking my morning coffee when Trina, Mircha, Becca, Anna, Jee, and others are going to bed. Still surprises me.)
Background first: I don't talk much about my project on my blog because so much of it is interinstitutional and, therefore, inappropriate to broadcast to the cyberworld. However, now that phases 1 and 2 are finished, I can disclose some information.
Phase 1: The executive director of my organization and two of our staff members travelled to D.C. in early June for the Women Deliver 2010 Conference. However, the conference wasn't really the point of the trip. Susana wanted me to organize meetings with organizations that could become "collaborators" of Promsex. "Collaboration" can mean anything from technical support to joint projects to funding. I developed a phone script including information about Promsex and their desire to meet with orgs in D.C. and got on the phone for about three days. In the end, three meetings were scheduled (I think out of ten called). Success...so I was told. Really, I hadn't the slightest idea what success would look like. I just tried as hard as I could and hoped it would turn out well in the end.
Phase 2: Same job only this time I targeted orgs in Europe. ED Susana and George travelled to Europe about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago. They arrived home late last night. During this trip, they visited six countries (multiple cities in Spain). I arranged several meetings for them in each country. Again, no idea what success would look like. I just emailed, phoned, re-emailed, re-phoned, badgered those poor people in Madrid, Barcelona, Finland, Denmark, and The Netherlands (your going down on Sunday). I saw Susana this morning for the first time since she left. She gave me a huge hug and said that I had done an excellent job! Said that my work has been invaluable, and they will be always grateful for the connections that I helped them make. I can't tell you how relieved I was. She told me that one organization that they met with wants me to do the same work in their Indian office. I don't know about that, but I am extremely flattered!
Phase 3: Researching fundraising strategies. Only 3 weeks left so I'm going to have to bust my butt to get a complete document finished before I leave. I don't want to have to continue working on my deliverable in the States. Also, I'm going to visit the Amazon jungle then take a 4 day hike up to Machu Picchu after I'm finished. No thinking about my project then!
Background first: I don't talk much about my project on my blog because so much of it is interinstitutional and, therefore, inappropriate to broadcast to the cyberworld. However, now that phases 1 and 2 are finished, I can disclose some information.
Phase 1: The executive director of my organization and two of our staff members travelled to D.C. in early June for the Women Deliver 2010 Conference. However, the conference wasn't really the point of the trip. Susana wanted me to organize meetings with organizations that could become "collaborators" of Promsex. "Collaboration" can mean anything from technical support to joint projects to funding. I developed a phone script including information about Promsex and their desire to meet with orgs in D.C. and got on the phone for about three days. In the end, three meetings were scheduled (I think out of ten called). Success...so I was told. Really, I hadn't the slightest idea what success would look like. I just tried as hard as I could and hoped it would turn out well in the end.
Phase 2: Same job only this time I targeted orgs in Europe. ED Susana and George travelled to Europe about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago. They arrived home late last night. During this trip, they visited six countries (multiple cities in Spain). I arranged several meetings for them in each country. Again, no idea what success would look like. I just emailed, phoned, re-emailed, re-phoned, badgered those poor people in Madrid, Barcelona, Finland, Denmark, and The Netherlands (your going down on Sunday). I saw Susana this morning for the first time since she left. She gave me a huge hug and said that I had done an excellent job! Said that my work has been invaluable, and they will be always grateful for the connections that I helped them make. I can't tell you how relieved I was. She told me that one organization that they met with wants me to do the same work in their Indian office. I don't know about that, but I am extremely flattered!
Phase 3: Researching fundraising strategies. Only 3 weeks left so I'm going to have to bust my butt to get a complete document finished before I leave. I don't want to have to continue working on my deliverable in the States. Also, I'm going to visit the Amazon jungle then take a 4 day hike up to Machu Picchu after I'm finished. No thinking about my project then!
Rabu, 07 Juli 2010
"The Most Beautiful Things in All the Universe"
About a week ago, I saw a Disney Pixar short before Toy Story 3. I haven't loved a Disney Pixar short this much since "The Birds." Disney Pixar shorts usually have a heartwarming moral accompanying adorable computerized characters. "Night & Day" is about living, learning from, and loving our differences while realizing that we are all fundamentally the same (a Paul Farmer-like ideology similar to "we are all citizens in the nation of humanity").
Below is the quote played in "Night & Day." The quote was said by Dr. Wayne Dyer during a self-help lecture he gave in the 1970s.
"Fear of the unknown. They are afraid of new ideas. They are loaded with prejudices, not based upon anything in reality, but based on...if something is new, I reject it immediately because it's frightening to me. What they do instead is stay with the familiar. You know, to me, the most beautiful things in all the universe, are the most mysterious."
Below is only a small clip that doesn't really show the point of the short, but I encourage everyone to look it up on iTunes.
Below is the quote played in "Night & Day." The quote was said by Dr. Wayne Dyer during a self-help lecture he gave in the 1970s.
"Fear of the unknown. They are afraid of new ideas. They are loaded with prejudices, not based upon anything in reality, but based on...if something is new, I reject it immediately because it's frightening to me. What they do instead is stay with the familiar. You know, to me, the most beautiful things in all the universe, are the most mysterious."
Below is only a small clip that doesn't really show the point of the short, but I encourage everyone to look it up on iTunes.
Sabtu, 03 Juli 2010
Selasa, 29 Juni 2010
Chinese food...in Peru
Gralon's blog post, specifically his reference to Chinese food, reminded me about one of the most important Peruvian foods of all! I can't believe that I missed it in my last blog post.
Chifa: Means "to eat" in Chinese and is also the name of a special mixture of Chinese traditional cooking and Peruvian traditional cooking. Chifa restaurants here are like Starbucks in Seattle, one on every corner. And you always know it's a Chifa restaurant, because all Chifa restaurants are called "Chifa." Have a said that it's delicious? It's delicious!
The picture above is a kind of like sweet and sour chicken except with spices specific to Peruvian food and limes. Limes are grown all over Peru so they are in everything. The side dish is Arroz Chaufa, fried rice with chicken, egg, and green onions.
I am definetly going to have to hit up my Senora for some Chifa recipes.
Chifa: Means "to eat" in Chinese and is also the name of a special mixture of Chinese traditional cooking and Peruvian traditional cooking. Chifa restaurants here are like Starbucks in Seattle, one on every corner. And you always know it's a Chifa restaurant, because all Chifa restaurants are called "Chifa." Have a said that it's delicious? It's delicious!
The picture above is a kind of like sweet and sour chicken except with spices specific to Peruvian food and limes. Limes are grown all over Peru so they are in everything. The side dish is Arroz Chaufa, fried rice with chicken, egg, and green onions.
I am definetly going to have to hit up my Senora for some Chifa recipes.
Let's Talk About Food: Postres, Pan, Papas, Pato, Pescado, Pollo...in Peru
One of the most important parts of going abroad (besides helping people and changing the world): the food. While it hurts my heart that some of my classmates are eating less than desirable food (sorry Val), Peru has the best food I have ever eaten in my entire life. Yes, Peru is beating Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France in the World Cup of Gastronomía (cause Peru sure as heck would not go anywhere in the actual World Cup).
Menu from "The Enchanted Garden," a traditional Peruvian restaurant in Ica, Peru
Okay, let's start with appetizers.
The above pic is of a very popular dish all over Peru, Salchipapas. French fries and hot dog. Papas=potatos. Salchicha=special type of spicy hot dog. Peruvians love, love, love salchipapas with mayonnaise. I prefer my salchipapas smothered in Ketchup.
Fruit is a really big deal in Peru. Peru has some of the world's best fruit. They frequently mix pineapple, papaya, grapes, apples, mandarines, etc. and cover them with peach yogurt and little rice puffs. Notice the drink: Lemonada Frozen. Big favorite.
The above is a plate of pata (duck) con arroz (rice) which is a pretty standard Peruvian entree. More importantly is the yellow and white mass on the left. That is what is left of "Causa," two thick layers of potato with chicken salad sandwiched in between. It sounds weird, but it is delicious. How many times can I say "delicious"?
The above is "choclo." Peruvian corn eaten since the time of the Incas. The kernels are huge and really good when served with white cheese!
Ok, let's move on to the main course.
The lovely Annie is eating a triple for lunch. This is a popular sandwich of bread + cheese + bread + meat + bread. Here it is grilled and covered with cheesy white sauce.
Lomo saltado: Sauteed beef, onions and peppers on rice. Don't forget to mix in the French Fries? They sell this everywhere....cause it's delicious. Even in McDonalds.
Ceviche: Raw sea fish marinated in lemon and covered in raw onions. Not my favorite, but the Peruvians rave about it!
Anticucho: Deliciousness on a stick. I'll spare you the rest.
My mother told me not to play with my food.
Dessert, anyone?
There are two desserts that are the greatest creations on Earth.
Suspiro a la limena. Caramel pudding with whipped egg and cinnamon on top. Served as early as colonial Spanish times. Greatest creation on Earth. Did I mention it was good?
And I couldn't miss Tres Leches, the cake made of three kinds of milk (condensed, evaporated, and milk with water). Throw in some caramel and whipped cream icing...yum.
Other desserts: homemade chocolate covered marshmellows that you can buy on the street.
Also, there are lots of these stands around selling gumdrops, gummy strawberry slices, and trail mix.
Finally, drinks.
Fresh squeezed fruit juice.
Chica morada. Boil purple corn, add sugar. It's actually pretty good.
Pisco Sour (the one closest), specifically Peruvian drink with lemon mix and whipped egg. Frothy deliciousness.
Straight up Pisco in a...well, I wonder how that shot glass ended up in the Peruvian desert.
Hopefully, there will be more food to write about! I will not be one of those to lose weight on their IPSP.
Menu from "The Enchanted Garden," a traditional Peruvian restaurant in Ica, Peru
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| From Food in Peru |
Okay, let's start with appetizers.
 |
| From Food in Peru |
The above pic is of a very popular dish all over Peru, Salchipapas. French fries and hot dog. Papas=potatos. Salchicha=special type of spicy hot dog. Peruvians love, love, love salchipapas with mayonnaise. I prefer my salchipapas smothered in Ketchup.
 |
| From Food in Peru |
Fruit is a really big deal in Peru. Peru has some of the world's best fruit. They frequently mix pineapple, papaya, grapes, apples, mandarines, etc. and cover them with peach yogurt and little rice puffs. Notice the drink: Lemonada Frozen. Big favorite.
 |
| From Food in Peru |
The above is a plate of pata (duck) con arroz (rice) which is a pretty standard Peruvian entree. More importantly is the yellow and white mass on the left. That is what is left of "Causa," two thick layers of potato with chicken salad sandwiched in between. It sounds weird, but it is delicious. How many times can I say "delicious"?
The above is "choclo." Peruvian corn eaten since the time of the Incas. The kernels are huge and really good when served with white cheese!
Ok, let's move on to the main course.
 |
| From Food in Peru |
The lovely Annie is eating a triple for lunch. This is a popular sandwich of bread + cheese + bread + meat + bread. Here it is grilled and covered with cheesy white sauce.
Lomo saltado: Sauteed beef, onions and peppers on rice. Don't forget to mix in the French Fries? They sell this everywhere....cause it's delicious. Even in McDonalds.
Ceviche: Raw sea fish marinated in lemon and covered in raw onions. Not my favorite, but the Peruvians rave about it!
Anticucho: Deliciousness on a stick. I'll spare you the rest.
My mother told me not to play with my food.
Dessert, anyone?
There are two desserts that are the greatest creations on Earth.
Suspiro a la limena. Caramel pudding with whipped egg and cinnamon on top. Served as early as colonial Spanish times. Greatest creation on Earth. Did I mention it was good?
And I couldn't miss Tres Leches, the cake made of three kinds of milk (condensed, evaporated, and milk with water). Throw in some caramel and whipped cream icing...yum.
 |
| From Food in Peru |
Other desserts: homemade chocolate covered marshmellows that you can buy on the street.
 |
| From Food in Peru |
Also, there are lots of these stands around selling gumdrops, gummy strawberry slices, and trail mix.
Finally, drinks.
 |
| From Food in Peru |
Fresh squeezed fruit juice.
 |
| From Food in Peru |
Chica morada. Boil purple corn, add sugar. It's actually pretty good.
 |
| From Food in Peru |
Pisco Sour (the one closest), specifically Peruvian drink with lemon mix and whipped egg. Frothy deliciousness.
 |
| From Food in Peru |
Straight up Pisco in a...well, I wonder how that shot glass ended up in the Peruvian desert.
Hopefully, there will be more food to write about! I will not be one of those to lose weight on their IPSP.
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