Entering Lima was a really fun experience.  As we exited the airport I smelt the dank, pleasantly toxic Peruvian air and stale smoke and instantly felt different than I ever had before.  This was because of my anticipation of the cultural immersion I knew would shortly ensue.  For the entirety of the first night I would not shut up with "Whoa dude, we're in South America!", as I frequently said to Gino throughout the whole trip.  If for any reason there was some sort of feeling of boredom or anxiety or upset, it completely cured me just to remember that I was in South America.  Thankfully we had the opportunity to travel all over the country and really get the best experience by going beneath the touristy surface to the "real Peru".  We went many places where other white tourists did not.  I have always wondered why so many Americans wish to travel to other countries only to be pampered by resorts with the same amenities that they can have whenever they want at home.  Thankfully, our group did not operate under this selfish, closed-minded notion.  We sacrificed comfort because we wanted not only to observe the culture, but to truly be a part of it.  I grew from this trip because I was willing to step out of my comfort zone and try new things.  I have never taken Spanish in a classroom, but I had many conversations with Peruvians throughout the journey and learned a great deal because of this.  Even in a remote village where Qechua was spoken, not Spanish, our group helped restore an elementary school and gave backpacks to kids.  These kinds of things make me feel great about traveling.  I think that in general, American tourists do not set the best example, but we chose to do something different and actually contribute and give back to the communities of the country we were receiving so much from.  I am proud to represent our country in a positive, compassionate manner in other areas of the world.

There was another important aspect of the trip which is much less tangible and now somewhat of a blur to me.  This would be the spiritual journey that took place.  This really began on the Lake Titicaca where I and two of my friends were hosted by a Peruvian family on an island in the lake.  Having hiked to the top of the island (an elevation of 14,000 ft.), we sat for some time just observing this unfamiliar landscape around us.  Everywhere we went I noticed something new in nature that I had never before been exposed to.  Snow capped mountains, the Amazon Rainforest, old Incan ruins in the middle of wilderness, all of these contributed to a persistent and overwhelming sense of humbleness.  Nothing mattered except for the present moment.  During this trip, I witnessed the Southern Cross, a constellation I had desired to see for years.  Looking at the stars from the Southern Hemishpere from around a fire we built from nothing at the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere in Peru, was definitely one (of many) pinnacles of the trip.  These different experiences, combined with meditation (especially around 6 AM with Teacher Jacquie) were very conducive to my relationships with nature, God, and myself.

Returning home was of course a melancholy time.  I was very happy to see the Atlantic Ocean and my girlfriend but other than that, I didn't miss very much.  I came home feeling accomplished, and having a fresh mindset and heightened awareness of the rest of the world.  Everytime I look at the stars here, however, I always end up comparing it to that one night in Peru."