Iโve spent one month in Peru and Iโm now one month into Remote Yearโฆ Itโs only been thirty days (a few less, actually) and I truly canโt imagine my life without these past few weeks in it. Iโm writing this post on a Friday morning from my favorite cafe in Lima (El Pan de la Chola in San Isidro), with less than 24 hours until we get picked up to go to the airport to fly to Colombia. I woke up this past Monday feeling allllllll of the feelsโฆ I was so nostalgic about us Kahlitos only having one work week to squeeze in everything on our Lima bucket lists. And I may or may not have teared up in my Monday meeting with my managerโฆ I feel so unbelievably grateful that Iโve gotten to make this dream of doing Remote Year a reality. And I doubt Iโll ever be able to put my appreciation for these experiences into words that do it justice.
This week alone, Iโve done it all. Iโve gone surfing off the coast of Lima with my friends before work. (And ran barefoot down the side of the highway as a โwarm up,โ but thatโs a story for a different dayโฆ Our surf instructor was kind of crazy, haha.) Iโve also face-planted into the Pacific more times than I can count. Iโve learned to salsa dance, drank my fair share of Pisco, and taken a few tequila shots, too. (And bonded with Ally, one of my Lima roomies, over our love for espresso martinis.) Iโve laughed until Iโve cried too many times to count with my other roommate, Arielle. Iโve woken up early (before my alarm has even gone off!), eager to seize the day. Iโve gone to a goal-setting seminar and put a plan on paper for Q4. Iโve gone to Spanish class. Iโve skipped a Spanish class, too, in favor of going to the Mate Museum in Barranco instead. (And Iโm so glad that I did โ the museum is a must-visit!) I tried to order my favorite Arroz Norteno at Agallas in Mercado 28 three different timesโฆ Third time was finally the charm! Iโve gotten a crepe at cutest little cafe, and Iโve caught up with friends from Chicago. Iโve found a new store that I love in San Isidro and didnโt buy the little handbag I wanted in favor of saving space in my suitcase. Iโve taken too many photos to count. Iโve spotted my โBarranco Baeโ one last time and kicked myself for not saying hi when I had the chance the week before. I filmed a fun video with my friend, Dan, featuring some of my favorite spots in Lima. I celebrated a new friendโs birthday over delicious Mexican food at and spicy palomas at Frida Cocina, which oddly made me feel right at home.
On Wednesday night, we had our Town Hall meeting, where we reminisced about the last month and planned for our next. We shared some of our funniest memories and talked about the people that inspired us, too. We learned all about Remote Year Citizenship (and all of itโs perks once weโve completed our program) and I couldnโt help but leave the meeting feeling so full of light and love. Iโm surrounded by so many amazing people and a part of such a cool community, and itโs something special, thatโs for sure.
Oh, and Iโve gotten a good amount of work done, too.
Alex, one of my guy friends from Chicago, was in town on Wednesday night after our Town Hall and thatโs when it hit me (again) how in-effing-credible this month has been. I honestly didnโt have one bad thing to say about the last few weeks! Sure, this month has come with itโs fair share of challenges, but I wouldnโt trade it for anything. We chatted all things Lima (heโs been coming here for work for a few years now), Remote Year, Peru, pisco, Colombia, Cartegena, and food, tooโฆ A lot of conversations here in Lima revolve around the food. If youโre a foodie, youโve got to add Lima to your list of places to visit. Itโs unreal, trust me.
And that was just this week. This month? Wow, where do I even beginโฆ Iโve seen Machu Picchu in the Andes and hiked back down the mountain to Aguas Calientes. Iโve jumped into a cold plunge pool and relaxed in a natural hot spring (with a pisco sour in hand). Iโve ran uphill in Cusco (at 11.5k feet above sea level) at 4 oโclock in the morning because I forgot my train ticket to get to Machu Picchu and wondered for hours if my lungs would ever recover. Iโve met 25 people that I know Iโll never forget. Iโve eaten more food than I ever have before and have definitely put a few pounds that weโll call the Lima Lbs. (Iโve reallyyy got to get back on the workout wagon in Medellin.) No but seriously, Iโve eaten some of my favorite meals everrrrr… Lima is a foodie’s dream. I participated in our Positive Impact day here in Lima and dug up old sod and laid down new turf for a childrenโs playground at Inspira. Iโve gotten to see two beautiful sunsets over the water here in Lima, and I canโt imagine how incredible it is to be here in their summertime versus in their current winter season. Iโve toured the Historical District on a photography walk. Iโve checked out the Country Club Hotel, as well as the Belmond in Miraflores. I had the most insane pancakes at Sibaris. I went to a butterfly barโฆ Yes, a bar filled with butterflies. Iโve gone live on the Remote Year Instagram and it went so well that weโre making it a weekly thing. Iโve gone to a Rosh Hashannah dinner and learned so much more about the Jewish culture from Becca and Dan. Iโve watched Ray turn a concert into karaoke. Iโve essentially stalked a crush at the Comunal Coworking office in Barranco. Iโve Facetimed with my besties back in Chicago, and my brother and sister-in-law, too. I survived five days without heat or hot water in Cusco. Iโve watched an alpaca fashion show on a train through the Sacred Valley. Iโve also watched someone bite right into a guinea pig and somehow didn’t throw up. Iโve consumed my fair share of ceviche and learned that churros on the street are never as good as they look. (You gotta get that shit when itโs warm, trust me, I tried three different times.) I adjusted to the altitude in Cusco with ample amounts of Coca Tea. I found a Dr. Pepper can with the cutest llamas on it. I went dune buggy-ing and sand boarding in Huacachina, and did a few cartwheels for the โgram, too. I watched the sun set over a dessert oasis, ate Chinese food at a gas station restaurant, and got empanadas off a roadside stop on the highway. I learned so much about the Peruvian culture, and Iโve realized that one month is not enough time to see and do it all when youโre having to balance work with play.
Thereโs so much more I want to see and do in Peru, but Iโm excited to take on a new city with my new friends, or tramily as we call it here in Remote Year. (Tramily = Travel Family)
Before I got here, almost as a defense mechanism, I kept saying โitโs only four months! It will fly by.โ Iโll only have to be away from my best friends for four months… Iโll only be leaving my beloved Chicago for four months… Iโll only have to rely on Facetime to see my niece and nephew for four months. Itโs just four months!
But here I am, one month inโฆ And Iโm honestly shocked by my thoughts and feelings of โHoly shit, I canโt believe I only have three months of this left.โ Iโm nowhere near ready to come home, and to be honest, Iโm not quite sure Iโll be ready to go home come December, either. But weโll see how the rest of the year goes! As Iโve found out first hand this September, everything can shift in just one month.
Such an amazing experience you’re having – enjoy every moment!!
Rebecca | http://www.peppermintdolly.com
What an unbelievable month, Jess! I am so happy you took the leap, and will never forget our convo at the C+C dinner about whether or not to do the experience. You clearly made the right choice. Enjoy, and Iโm excited to see what the next three months have to hold for you!
Jess, reading this made me so so happy for you. It honestly gave me goosebumps. Gahh..those experiences are priceless. I can’t wait to see how the next few months unfold for you! xx
great tours! I really like it Thanks for sharing with us
Sounds like such an amazing adventure and learning experience!
xx, Merritt
The Style Scribe
Puro Amor!!!! This post made me so happy!!!
Jess – me and my best friend are traveling to Lima first week of November, what do you recommend packing (fashion wise)? Also, what is your rec for working out? Since we will be doing A LOT of eating & at the end of our trip we have a wedding! Haha LOVED your post and followed all of your journey on Insta!
This is so wonderful to read when considering doing a Remote Year trip! Thank you very, very much for sharing. However, I’m not sure my job will allow me to do this (I’m in phone sales and I’m not sure it’s realistic for me to be adjusting my time change that much to call clients in the Eastern Time Zone. What do you think? Do you mind me asking what you do?