At the jetty

One of the things we are working on here is helping the workers prepare for some upcoming training on the loading arms that load the LNG onto the ships for transport.  One of our students made all the arrangements so that we could take a tour of the jetty where the loading arms are located.  Going to the jetty-specifically where the loading arms is-requires two extra levels of security, so we were very excited to be able to go.

The loading arms are the 4 towers in the background

One of the first things that I noticed when I got there was the smell-it smelled like the aviary.  Strongly. When they first built the jetty, they had a lot of problems with the sea birds.  The bird poo is a big problem because it is corrosive to the pipes.  As a natural solution to the problem, they have these hawks that scare away the birds from perching near the pipes.

The hawks were watching us, well, like a hawk as we posed for this picture

It was really helpful to be able to see the arms up close and personal and they promise to invite us back when they are in action, which I am really excited about.

Our guide even took us under the jetty to take special pictures to remember the tour.

Plant Life

I know that it has been a while, but I have been busy settling into my job and getting to know my students here at the plant.  Instead of having to remember whether it is Mohammed, Mohammed Q (new or original), Mohammed K, Mohammed T, Mohammed A or Mohammed W, I am now spending my days sorting out the Jose's-Jose', Jose' Carlos, Jossimar, and so on.  It was difficult in the beginning, but I think I've got it down now and I'm really starting to enjoy the students in my classes.

I am teaching English to workers in a plant that converts natural gas to liquid natural gas (LNG) and loads it on ships for transport to other countries around the world.  (I actually understand this process thanks to the presentations one of my classes did for me in the beginning.)  There are workers from all over the world here, so it is important that the workers speak a common language-English-which is where I come in.  The students see the English lessons as a benefit from the company and are really motivated to learn and practice their English, so it's a great place to be a teacher.

Despite being a bit isolated (it's a 3 hour drive from Lima), plant life is pretty good.  We live in long trailers that are cleaned for us everyday.  [There are some rules about taking pictures here, so I am not able to post anything yet.]  The company provides us with meals, gyms, recreation facilities and laundry services, so it's almost like staying in a hotel.  I even have direct TV and an internet connection in my room.  It's great!

All in all I'm really happy I came.  I'm excited to be started in this new adventure and I can't wait to start seeing even more of Peru!  

Central Lima at Night

Last weekend I was really able to relax and start to see more of Lima.  First, I went with some co-workers to La Plaza de Armas, which is also called La Plaza Mayor:

On one side of the plaza is La Catedral de Lima next to the Archbishop's house.  This cathedral is built on land designated for the city's first church by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro and now houses his remains.

On another side sits El Palacio del Gobierno, the house of the President of Lima.  I'll have to come back here during the day sometime to see the changing of the guard ceremony.

The plaza is flanked on the other sides by various governmental buildings.  I love the enclosed balconies!

Huaca Pucllana

Since I got here, I've been thinking that Peru reminds me of India.  I think one of the reasons it does is because of the juxtaposition of modernity and traditional culture.  A great example of this here in Lima is the Huaca Pucllana-an archaeological dig right in downtown Miraflores.

It was first used as a place of worship and sacrifice by the Lima culture-a matriarchal group that worshiped the sea and inhabited the area from 200-700 A.D.

(They used this bookshelf technique to build the walls of the temple to withstand earthquakes.)


The Lima were conquered by the Wari empire, who ruled from 700-900 A.D.  The Wari used the temple as a burial ground for their governors.  The on-site archaeologists are working to excavate several tombs that were recently discovered.

Like the Egyptian pharoahs, they were buried with the supplies they would need in the next world...and a child sacrifice (the white cloth bundle near the body).


The Wari were succeeded by the Ychsma culture (900-1533 A.D.), who again used the temple of a place of worship.

As far as the archaeologists can tell, the Incas did not use this site after conquering the Ychsma.