Trip Statistics

Well, I've made it home! Its good to be back. Its taken me far too long to just sit down and finish this last blog entry, I've been procrastinating since I arrived home three weeks ago today. It involves numbers and statistics, not my favorite subject, but I wanted to put them together because I thought it would be interesting and possibly a good reference.

You may be curious, as was I, about how much a trip like this would cost. Below I have created a breakdown of roughly what I spent on the trip, and in each country. First, let's look at a few before and after shots. Here is my backpack before and after my trip. I doubled its weight, and had sent some souvenirs home via mail, but still managed to fit everything in one bag!:

Before, 3/8/2006:



After, 6/1/2006: The bag is taller and packed much more tightly, it came in at 19.6 kilos (about 45lbs)!










Now, let's see how my hair length and skin tone have "faired" (not the change I had hoped for):









I thought it would be warmer in places throughout my travels, but much of my time was spent in the highlands, which are cooler because of the high altitude. After that, we were moving further from the equator and into their fall and winter, so "beach days" were few and far between. Brazil was probably the warmest country, though if you asked them they'd say it was cold! Now, let's review some of the overall details of this trip:

TRIP STATISTICS
Time spent in South America: 84 days, 12 weeks, 3 months
Number of countries visited: 6 countries
Distance travelled by ground or air between Lima and Sao Paulo: 14,807 miles, or 23,830 km (this is an EXTREMELY rough estimate based on a ruler and a map - this is where I procrastinated until last night)
Closest Proximity to Antarctica: about 1,000 miles south from El Calafate, Patagonia
Number of overnight buses (10 - 17 hours): 5 overnight buses
Number of host families: 3 (though Carol's extended family could be counted as two more)
Most expensive accommodation: $20.00 per night (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Least expensive accommodation: $1.20 per night (you remember this one, Copacabana, Bolivia)

So, how much did this trip cost??? I've been going through my bank statements and putting together some rough figures. I spent more than I thought I did while I was down there, but not more than I planned. Before I left I allotted myself about $50 per day, and was hoping to spend only $4,000, but allowed for $5,000 if needed. Here are the details:

TOTAL OVERALL SPENDING
Number of days in South America: 84 days
Total money spent during this time: $4,004.74 (a very approximate figure)
Overall average cost per day: $47.68 /day

COUNTRY BREAKDOWNS
PERU:
Number of days in Peru: 28 days
Total spent in Peru: $1,273.54
Average daily cost in Peru: $45.48 /day
Conversion rate while in Peru: $1.00 = $3.30 Soles

BOLIVIA:
Number of days in Bolivia: 9 days
Total spent in Bolivia: $127.29
Average daily cost in Bolivia: $14.14 /day
Conversion rate while in Bolivia: $1.00 = $8.00 Bolivianos

ARGENTINA:
Number of days in Argentina: 24 days
Total spent in Argentina: $1,486.86
Average daily cost in Argentina: $61.95 /day
Conversion rate while in Argentina: $1.00 = $3.00 Pesos

CHILE:
Number of days in Chile: 4 days
Total spent in Chile: $274.49
Average daily cost in Chile: $68.62 /day
Conversion rate while in Chile: $1.00 = $554.00 Pesos

URUGUAY:
Number of days in Uruguay: 4 days
Total spent in Uruguay: $127.54
Average daily cost in Uruguay: $31.89 /day
Conversion rate while in Uruguay: $1.00 = $23.00 Pesos

BRAZIL:
Number of days in Brazil: 15 days
Total spent in Brazil: $715.02
Average daily cost in Brazil: $47.67 /day
Conversion rate while in Brazil: $1.00 = $2.24 Reais

These numbers are not precisely reflective of actual averages or equivalencies. In certain countries, such as Argentina and Peru, I did a lot of tourist activities which brought my spending up quite a bit. I also took three plane flights in Argentina. In Brazil I spent a lot less than I should have because I stayed with friends. It's all relative, but its interesting nonetheless!!!

Travel Secrets: I planned this trip far in advance, and did what I could to make it as affordable and easy as possible. Here were some of my strategies:

-My flight was free, aside from taxes - I had built up enough frequent flyer miles with United between flights and credit card points to earn a free flight to South America.
-With only a backpack and wanting to buy a lot of souvenirs, I mailed some home. I began my trip in an area of Peru known for their artisans and craftspeople, so I figured there was no better place to buy gifts. I stocked up and shipped them home from my volunteer program in Huancayo before heading out on the road. It kept my pack light and with space for other things I knew would come along. Ironically, the shipment cost more than the souvenirs ($60)!

Alas, one adventure has ended, but new adventures are beginning. As you now know, I will be leaving for the Dominican Republic in September to serve in the Peace Corps for 27 months. You better believe I'll have another blog for this one. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying my summer at home, trying to get by on my savings without working (money is going much faster than I am used to). I'll be taking another vacation beginning next week, joining my boyfriend Jeff in Manitoba, Canada for his friend's wedding before we head west to do some exploring of Canada and the United States. I'm taking advantage of opportunities while I am able!

Thank you all for reading, I'm glad you liked the blog. Hopefully it inspires some of you to take your own trip to South America, it is such an incredible place with so much to offer! If you need any suggestions, just let me know ; )

Sincerely,
Joan Perreault

My Peace Corps Assignment!

After many months of hard work, waiting, frustration, and jumping through hoops, I have finally received my invitation to serve in the Peace Corps! As of September 5, 2006, I will leave to begin my orientation to serve as a Youth Development Promoter in the Dominican Republic! I am very excited about my placement. It encompasses the work and personal experiences I hope to gain while learning Spanish in a beautiful Caribbean country.

Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, occupying the eastern 2/3 of the island. DR lies southeast of Florida, west of Puerto Rico, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and is only a 4 hour flight from Boston! Dominican Republic is also known for such Red Sox greats as David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Pedro Martinez. Maybe one of them will be my host family! ; ) My training will begin on Sept. 7th of this year and will continue for 11 weeks. I will then begin my two years of service on Nov. 22, 2006 continuing through Nov. 21, 2008.

Here are some facts about the country:

Capital and Largest City - Santo Domingo

Official Language - Spanish

Government - Republic

President - Leonel Fernandez

Independence - February 27, 1844 (from Haiti)

Area - 18,810 sq mi (48,730 sq km)

Population - 8,895,000 (July 2005)

Currency - Peso

Sugarcane Fields Forever

Since my return from Rio, I have spent my remaining days in a place called Jaboticabal, the city where Carol and her family are from. Jaboticabal is a cute, small city surrounded by farms, about four hours from Sao Paulo city. Carol´s parents (Cristina and "Junior") own two sugarcane plantations nearby. I spent the weekend visiting their farms, enjoying the scenery and trying sugarcane for the first time! Its a pretty amazing plant, it is where we get our sugar, and it can also produce juice, fuel, and a few types of alcohol. There are a couple of larger farms nearby which are run entirely on sugarcane. They use the plant for energy without the need for electricity. They even make cars in Brazil which run on Alcool, a fuel derived from sugarcane. Driving through this area, all you see are fields of sugarcane everywhere you look! I liked the farms, they are a peaceful break from the cities. Here are scenes of Jaboticabal, the family farm, and sugarcane: This weekend I met the woman who was my equivalent here in Brazil in regards to Carol´s exchange program in the US. She worked with Carol on this side during the application process, while I worked with her during her exchange in Massachusetts. Monica is the coordinators name; she is also the director of a language school here in Jaboticabal. I was unknowingly committed to visiting this school and meeting students, teachers, etc. I was not looking forward to this, and almost even backed out at the last minute. I´ve been tired lately and missing home, and volunteering in place with people I did not know at a time I did not commit to was one of the last things I wanted to do. I went anyway, figuring it wouldn´t last very long. Monica showed me around the school and afterward had me join one of her English language classes. As soon as I met the class and started talking to them, I started to cheer up. These people were so happy to have a native English speaker to talk to, and my visit to their class was a special occasion. I ended up having a blast and got really into it - writing and drawing pictures on the board to teach them more vocabulary and illustrate points I was trying to make. They were so thankful for my help, and stayed after the class was over just to thank me and talk some more. One woman even gave me a gift of cookies! I was so touched. It reminded me of why I am here traveling in the first place - to make real human connections, to not only see the sights but to meet the people who live in these countries and get a picture of what life is like in different parts of the world. When I began my journey in Peru, I was living and working with local people, and I really enjoyed meeting new friends and experiencing a different way of life. As I continued through the months, I got caught up in seeing the sights and felt farther and farther away from the local culture as I moved. I am very glad I had this experience in Brazil to cap off my journey and keep me focused on what really makes these countries and cultures unique and special. Tomorrow evening I will board the plane for home! I can´t believe three months is already over. Sometimes Peru and Bolivia seem like ages ago, yet hanging out at the Gulu Gulu Cafe in Lynn seems like yesterday. Overall I am excited to go home. What is the first thing I am going to do, you ask? Eat Thai food at Max´s place!!! There´s more to come.... Joan

Rainy Rio and Returning Home Thoughts

"The girl from Ipanema" - a few days ago, I was the girl from Ipanema! Or was it that, "her name is Rio and she dances on the sand!" My hostel in Ipanema was right down the street from the "COP-a....COP-a-ca-BAN-a". OK, so there have been a lot of songs written about Rio de Janeiro, and a few decades ago, this was really a place to sing about. Unfortunately, these days, crime and gang violence has taken over the city. Tourism is sliding, because it just isn´t safe to go out unless you are on a guided tour. Its such a shame that such a gorgeous city with so much to offer has been corrupted by so much....corruption. (Allow myself to repeat....myself.) This beautiful beach city offers lots of outdoor sights and activities. To my disfortune, it poured rain the entire time I was there, so without the outdoor activities there really wasn´t much to do. Luckily for me, the rain cleared enough Wednesday morning for me to be able to visit the famous Christ statue who watches over the city from high up on a hill (apparently he´s not doing a very good job). I´m very glad I got to see this famous sight, no trip to Rio would be complete without it. There are great views of the city from the statue, and on a non-cloudy day you can see even more! My sojourn is nearing its end. I am now within the last five days of my trip before boarding the plane back to Boston. There are things I will miss about South America, but even more that I look forward to returning home to. Here are some of them: Things I will miss: Dulce de leche, empanadas, people waving at buses, people being kind and helpful even when I give them an attitude, stylish mullets, making instant friends simply because they are foreign too, accommodations for $5, prescription meds over the counter, buying medicine by the pill, practicing my Spanish, dulce de leche ice cream, llamas, red rooves, scenic bus rides, palm trees. Things I can´t wait to come home to: Thai food, Japanese food, Vietnamese food, cereal, broccoli, the Simpsons in English, GOOD movies (none of this "Duplex" crap), buffalo wings, Seinfeld, salad dressing, not having to wear flip flops in the shower, cashiers having change for a $20; bathrooms with soap, toilet paper, AND paper towels all in one; throwing my toilet paper in the toilet rather than a trash can, being able to argue with customer service people in English, 88.9 WERS, not hearing "You´re Beautiful" by James Blunt every day (or is it still playing?), coffee ice cream, driving (wait...no more car!), different clothes, real towels, farenheit, refrigerated milk, pine trees. Also, here are a few random observations I have noticed along the way: There are BankBoston´s in every major city in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. Do they realize that BankBOSTON doesn´t even exist in Boston anymore? New York Yankees hats are in fashion down here, though I guarantee you they don´t even know what it means! I tried to counter this once, I´ll leave you with an excerpt from a conversation I had with a woman on a bus in Bolivia, wearing a Yankees hat: "You know, you should get a new hat. A hat with a `B´ on it. This hat is no good." "You mean, `B´ for Bolivia!" "No, no, `B´ for Boston." "Good idea, `B´ for Bolivia, thanks!" "OK, it can be for Bolivia AND for Boston. The hat you have now is very bad." "You´re funny."