Peruvian party life is crazy. Typically, in the United States, when we party we try to start our night around 10 or 11, anytime after 11 is getting a little late, especially since the bars in Monmouth close at 2 am. Here in Lima, people don’t even go out until midnight or later. I have found it difficult to keep up! Welcome week was full of events and parties hosted by a group called “USIL Buddies” and it is a group of Peruvian students who host parties and events for the international students. The first weekend there was an all night party in a secret location about and hour outside of Lima. You could pay s./30 a ticket which is around $10, and this ticket “included” a bus to and from the party, drinks, food, and the house which also had a pool. Little did I know how unorganized Peruvians can be, the bus my group ended up on was a little micro bus, and for the hour drive we were packed in like sardines, standing rather than sitting because we could fit more people by standing. Once we finally got to the party there were hardly any drinks left at the open bar, it was WAY too cold to swim, and there was no place to really sit and relax. The first hour was a blast but once I realized I couldn’t get on the bus to go home for another 5 hours, I was a little worried. Luckily around 3 am they let people on one of the buses (a nice tour bus) to sleep until it was time to leave. It was fun at first, but I will know for next time to choose not to go somewhere that is an hour away, so that if need be I could get a cab home.

Don’t get me wrong the parties here have been AMAZING. The night life is great, it will just take time getting used to the late hours 🙂