peruvian-american
10.10.2017 / family, futbol, mundial, new zealand, peru, peruvian, peruvian-american, russia, russia 2018, soccer, world cup
Hoy Es El Dia
Buenas noches a todos,
Today is the day...hoy es el día. I've been my father's soccer watching companion for as long as I can remember, my earliest memory being the 1998 World Cup in France. Through soccer we've created a special bond that's so dear to me and that I'm sure many of you can relate to. That's the beauty of soccer, it's power to unite and instantly turn your day from a bad one to the best one in a manner of seconds. It's power to make us feel home despite being thousands of miles away.
Just like the Peruvians at home, we've suffered through the lows like when Peru missed the World Cup in 1997 by a difference of one goal and screamed our hearts in the highs like when Peru tied the Argentina game in 2010 in the last few minutes, a game they didn't deserve to lose.
Right now Peruvians all over the world are all united, with butterflies in our stomachs thinking about this paramount game. A game that can bring us back to the world cup after 35 years. Win or lose I know I will fall into my father's arms with tears in my eyes of happiness. Of happiness of all the wonderful moments this soccer team has brought us and the immense pride we have to wear the Blanquirroja today.
Que viva el Peru carajo!
Buenas noches a todos,
Hoy es el día que todos hemos esperado. Desde pequeña he sido la que acompañaba a mi papá por las mañanas para ver partidos de fútbol, como una fiel hincha. Mis recuerdos más tempranas son la de la Copa Mundial de Francia de 1998. A través del fútbol mi papá y yo hemos creado una relación muy cercana y especial para mi, y esa es la belleza del fútbol, su poder para unir y instantáneamente cambiar tu día de uno malo a uno bueno en solo unos segundos. Su poder de hacerme sentir en Perú aunque este miles de millas de distancia.
Igual a los Peruanos en casa, nosotros también hemos sufrido cuando perdimos la clasificación al mundial del 1998 por una diferencia de un gol. Y también hemos llorado de la emoción cuando Peru hizo un gol en el último minuto empatando a Argentina en el 2010, un partido que no merecimos perder.
Hoy Peruanos en todo el mundo estamos unido, no importa en qué partes del mundo estemos. Con mariposas en el estomago y con un nudo en la garganta pensando en este partido tan decisivo. El partido que nos podría regresar a un mundial después de 35 años. Ganen o pierdan, se que está noche con lágrimas en los ojos abrazare a mi padre de felicidad. De felicidad de todos los grandes momentos que nos ha brindado este equipo y con inmenso orgullo de vestir la blanquirroja nuevamente.
Que viva el Peru carajo!
Today is the day...hoy es el día. I've been my father's soccer watching companion for as long as I can remember, my earliest memory being the 1998 World Cup in France. Through soccer we've created a special bond that's so dear to me and that I'm sure many of you can relate to. That's the beauty of soccer, it's power to unite and instantly turn your day from a bad one to the best one in a manner of seconds. It's power to make us feel home despite being thousands of miles away.
Just like the Peruvians at home, we've suffered through the lows like when Peru missed the World Cup in 1997 by a difference of one goal and screamed our hearts in the highs like when Peru tied the Argentina game in 2010 in the last few minutes, a game they didn't deserve to lose.
Right now Peruvians all over the world are all united, with butterflies in our stomachs thinking about this paramount game. A game that can bring us back to the world cup after 35 years. Win or lose I know I will fall into my father's arms with tears in my eyes of happiness. Of happiness of all the wonderful moments this soccer team has brought us and the immense pride we have to wear the Blanquirroja today.
Que viva el Peru carajo!
Buenas noches a todos,
Hoy es el día que todos hemos esperado. Desde pequeña he sido la que acompañaba a mi papá por las mañanas para ver partidos de fútbol, como una fiel hincha. Mis recuerdos más tempranas son la de la Copa Mundial de Francia de 1998. A través del fútbol mi papá y yo hemos creado una relación muy cercana y especial para mi, y esa es la belleza del fútbol, su poder para unir y instantáneamente cambiar tu día de uno malo a uno bueno en solo unos segundos. Su poder de hacerme sentir en Perú aunque este miles de millas de distancia.
Igual a los Peruanos en casa, nosotros también hemos sufrido cuando perdimos la clasificación al mundial del 1998 por una diferencia de un gol. Y también hemos llorado de la emoción cuando Peru hizo un gol en el último minuto empatando a Argentina en el 2010, un partido que no merecimos perder.
Hoy Peruanos en todo el mundo estamos unido, no importa en qué partes del mundo estemos. Con mariposas en el estomago y con un nudo en la garganta pensando en este partido tan decisivo. El partido que nos podría regresar a un mundial después de 35 años. Ganen o pierdan, se que está noche con lágrimas en los ojos abrazare a mi padre de felicidad. De felicidad de todos los grandes momentos que nos ha brindado este equipo y con inmenso orgullo de vestir la blanquirroja nuevamente.
Que viva el Peru carajo!
9.16.2017 / daca, dreams, familiy, here to stay, immigrants, immigration, peru, peruvian-american, undocumedia, warriors
Mis Guerreros!
¿ Imaynalla kachkanki?
Yes, I have been MIA from my beloved blog and readers but I have a pretty good excuse, I got a new job over the summer that has been taking up most of mental energy and well in terms of physical energy, I've become immersed in different activities that have kept me exhausted. I decided to try kickboxing and I ended up loving it more than I imagined, it's an amazing way to get in shape and let out all that stress! I've also decided to try Colombian salsa and Brazilian samba classes after contemplating it for a while and they're both dances that require very quick feet movement. These are all things that bring me immense happiness and I've lately just been doing things that bring value to my life. No one will care or push you through your internal fears more than YOURSELF so always remember, to TREAT YO' SELF!
On that note, my blog has always been in the back of my mind, and now more than ever with what's been going on in the past few weeks with DACA. You guys are going through a difficult time and I would like to share a quote to anyone going through difficult times:
Life in general, the life of an immigrant and being part of an immigrant family is one filled with many obstacles but think about all that we've gone through until this moment. Find strength in all the times you 've pushed yourself through the lows of your life and overcame them. You know what is something we all have grasped from these painful experiences? We. get. through. them. Fate puts these experiences in our lives to make us stronger and wiser...guerreros, warriors.
This may sound cliche but my parents are my heroes. When I'm in a situation where everything just seems dark and it's impossible to get out, I think of all that my parents have done to get to where they are now. Our parents didn't have the option to say "It's impossible" when they got here, there was no turning back. These experiences gave us the thick skin and perseverent mindsets that have made us unstoppable.
Achieving a dream never comes easy, and for those who do have DACA and for those that didn't qualify, the path is not as smooth and filled with bumps along the road, but never lose faith and get to the finish line. The plan you originally had may not work but change the plan, not the goal.
If you need anyone to talk to for some uplifting, I without a doubt am all ears and you can email me or send me a message through my instagram; kay_monge
Also, application fees are very expensive ($495) and by going to Undocumedia's page you can help sponsor a DACA beneficiary!
To donate, click here
And to see what other ways you can support the #HeretoStay efforts, click here
With much love and support,
Karen
Yes, I have been MIA from my beloved blog and readers but I have a pretty good excuse, I got a new job over the summer that has been taking up most of mental energy and well in terms of physical energy, I've become immersed in different activities that have kept me exhausted. I decided to try kickboxing and I ended up loving it more than I imagined, it's an amazing way to get in shape and let out all that stress! I've also decided to try Colombian salsa and Brazilian samba classes after contemplating it for a while and they're both dances that require very quick feet movement. These are all things that bring me immense happiness and I've lately just been doing things that bring value to my life. No one will care or push you through your internal fears more than YOURSELF so always remember, to TREAT YO' SELF!
On that note, my blog has always been in the back of my mind, and now more than ever with what's been going on in the past few weeks with DACA. You guys are going through a difficult time and I would like to share a quote to anyone going through difficult times:
Tough times don't last, tough people DO
- Robert H. Schuller
Life in general, the life of an immigrant and being part of an immigrant family is one filled with many obstacles but think about all that we've gone through until this moment. Find strength in all the times you 've pushed yourself through the lows of your life and overcame them. You know what is something we all have grasped from these painful experiences? We. get. through. them. Fate puts these experiences in our lives to make us stronger and wiser...guerreros, warriors.
This may sound cliche but my parents are my heroes. When I'm in a situation where everything just seems dark and it's impossible to get out, I think of all that my parents have done to get to where they are now. Our parents didn't have the option to say "It's impossible" when they got here, there was no turning back. These experiences gave us the thick skin and perseverent mindsets that have made us unstoppable.
Achieving a dream never comes easy, and for those who do have DACA and for those that didn't qualify, the path is not as smooth and filled with bumps along the road, but never lose faith and get to the finish line. The plan you originally had may not work but change the plan, not the goal.
If you need anyone to talk to for some uplifting, I without a doubt am all ears and you can email me or send me a message through my instagram; kay_monge
Also, application fees are very expensive ($495) and by going to Undocumedia's page you can help sponsor a DACA beneficiary!
To donate, click here
And to see what other ways you can support the #HeretoStay efforts, click here
With much love and support,
Karen
-The Chic Engiruvian
2.15.2017 / blogging, dreams, family, immigration, life, love, peruvian, peruvian-american, sushi, valentine's day
How is it February already?!
Happy 2017 my lovelies!
This past month and a half has been filled with new changes that have taken time to adjust to and I really feel like I'm now in a position to get back on the blogging grind. Also the truth is that lately I haven't felt the inspiration to pour out my heart into this blog like I did last year and I didn't just want to write whatever for the sake of putting content into this blog. I have jotted down a list of things I plan to write about on this blog on my beloved bando 2017 planner for the next couple of months and I'm very excited!
Besides that, I will like to sort of update you on a few things I've been up to and share with you some of the things I did for:
- New Years which was one of the best thus far 🎆 (besides my Ano Nuevo in Peru)
- The going away party I planned for my sister who is studying abroad in Europe 🗺
- Some protests I attended (cause Immigrants Make America Great Again) 🗽, and
- A few pictures that I took yesterday for Valentine's Day 💖
New Years 2017
This was my first New Year's Eve that I spent away from my family and instead spent it alongside my boyfriend, his sister who came to visit from Los Angeles, and her best friend. His sister is friends with a DJ who's a party promoter for JunXion and they planned an incredible, one of a kind event! The party took place at the Paper Factory Hotel in LIC and the place was divided into different rooms that each had their own theme. There was an electrical Chinese dragon going around, aerialists, contortionists, body painters, drummers, and incredible performers that made the night memorable (sober or not). Some of the people who attended came in costumes and you danced around fairies and even an astronaut! The place was filled with nothing but positive vibes and I highly recommend any of their other events, you can check out their events here.
Johanna's Going Away
My jojo bear is currently in the Netherlands studying for the Spring semester and to celebrate I decided to throw her a going away/ early 21st birthday party with the help of my mom and her two besties. It was definitely not as easy as I thought since she's such a chismosa and I really didn't want her to even sense that there was any type of planning going on. I also don't know the majority of her friends and what type of food they will all like that is affordable yet delicious and presentable and I couldn't think of a better option than...PERUVIAN FOOD 😋. The place we went to is Mezquite Restaurant which has both Peruvian and Mexican plates, it's BYOB (yas!), and there's an Italian bakery AND awesome family owned liquor store across the street. It was difficult bringing her into the restaurant (did not expect that at all haha), but overall it all went great with the yummy food, moscatos, and the company of her great friends. Miss and love ya jojo.
SJW
It's been not even a month since the inauguration of...that person, and the country has literally gone haywire under the power of someone who is not even qualified to be president. As a first generation American, the order of the Muslim Ban ( which has thankfully been taken away) blew my mind not only as a human being, but as someone who lives in a strong Muslim community. Going to these protests gave me hope in the future of this country and that we do have an impact in what happens in this country. I've been told that going to these protests is a waste of time but history has shown that peaceful protesting not only increases the visibility of the cause but it demonstrates the power we the people have. Politicians and federal judges notice this and make the moves to go forward and make our voices heard.
Valentine's Day
Yesterday was literally the fastest I have ever gotten ready for a date.I got ready in less than an hour and anyone who truly knows me is probably shocked because I'm very well known for taking forever to get ready. My bf made a reservation at our favorite sushi spot for 8:00 pm and I got home at 6:45 pm!!! I still don't know how I managed to be ready by 7:35 pm but I did and I will be in awe from that achievement for a very long time haha. We ended up being in a food coma after underestimating their bento box but overall we had a great time laughing over random stuff and reminiscing on our past V-Day's experiences. So thankful for you. Also, shout out to the sushi restaurant with the sweetest waitresses, Aji Sushi House in Ditmars Blvd in Astoria, Queens.They were so busy yesterday yet were so accommodating to everyone and their food was bomb af 👌.
I will be posting a Peruvian goodies haul very soon!
Buenas noches and love always,
Karen
-The Chic Engiruvian
This past month and a half has been filled with new changes that have taken time to adjust to and I really feel like I'm now in a position to get back on the blogging grind. Also the truth is that lately I haven't felt the inspiration to pour out my heart into this blog like I did last year and I didn't just want to write whatever for the sake of putting content into this blog. I have jotted down a list of things I plan to write about on this blog on my beloved bando 2017 planner for the next couple of months and I'm very excited!
Besides that, I will like to sort of update you on a few things I've been up to and share with you some of the things I did for:
- New Years which was one of the best thus far 🎆 (besides my Ano Nuevo in Peru)
- The going away party I planned for my sister who is studying abroad in Europe 🗺
- Some protests I attended (cause Immigrants Make America Great Again) 🗽, and
- A few pictures that I took yesterday for Valentine's Day 💖
New Years 2017
This was my first New Year's Eve that I spent away from my family and instead spent it alongside my boyfriend, his sister who came to visit from Los Angeles, and her best friend. His sister is friends with a DJ who's a party promoter for JunXion and they planned an incredible, one of a kind event! The party took place at the Paper Factory Hotel in LIC and the place was divided into different rooms that each had their own theme. There was an electrical Chinese dragon going around, aerialists, contortionists, body painters, drummers, and incredible performers that made the night memorable (sober or not). Some of the people who attended came in costumes and you danced around fairies and even an astronaut! The place was filled with nothing but positive vibes and I highly recommend any of their other events, you can check out their events here.
Johanna's Going Away
My jojo bear is currently in the Netherlands studying for the Spring semester and to celebrate I decided to throw her a going away/ early 21st birthday party with the help of my mom and her two besties. It was definitely not as easy as I thought since she's such a chismosa and I really didn't want her to even sense that there was any type of planning going on. I also don't know the majority of her friends and what type of food they will all like that is affordable yet delicious and presentable and I couldn't think of a better option than...PERUVIAN FOOD 😋. The place we went to is Mezquite Restaurant which has both Peruvian and Mexican plates, it's BYOB (yas!), and there's an Italian bakery AND awesome family owned liquor store across the street. It was difficult bringing her into the restaurant (did not expect that at all haha), but overall it all went great with the yummy food, moscatos, and the company of her great friends. Miss and love ya jojo.
SJW
It's been not even a month since the inauguration of...that person, and the country has literally gone haywire under the power of someone who is not even qualified to be president. As a first generation American, the order of the Muslim Ban ( which has thankfully been taken away) blew my mind not only as a human being, but as someone who lives in a strong Muslim community. Going to these protests gave me hope in the future of this country and that we do have an impact in what happens in this country. I've been told that going to these protests is a waste of time but history has shown that peaceful protesting not only increases the visibility of the cause but it demonstrates the power we the people have. Politicians and federal judges notice this and make the moves to go forward and make our voices heard.
Yesterday was literally the fastest I have ever gotten ready for a date.I got ready in less than an hour and anyone who truly knows me is probably shocked because I'm very well known for taking forever to get ready. My bf made a reservation at our favorite sushi spot for 8:00 pm and I got home at 6:45 pm!!! I still don't know how I managed to be ready by 7:35 pm but I did and I will be in awe from that achievement for a very long time haha. We ended up being in a food coma after underestimating their bento box but overall we had a great time laughing over random stuff and reminiscing on our past V-Day's experiences. So thankful for you. Also, shout out to the sushi restaurant with the sweetest waitresses, Aji Sushi House in Ditmars Blvd in Astoria, Queens.They were so busy yesterday yet were so accommodating to everyone and their food was bomb af 👌.
I will be posting a Peruvian goodies haul very soon!
Buenas noches and love always,
Karen
-The Chic Engiruvian
12.06.2016 / dancember, family, gratitude, immigration, itsjudyslife, pencils for promise, peru, peruvian-american, unhcr
Count Your Blessings
Hello there,
It's finally December! Christmas is just around the corner (as well as finals week but lets get our minds off that just for a bit) and I know many people that have their mind set on all the gifts they yet have to buy for their friends and loved ones. I think we should also take some time to reflect on the billions of people in this world that have their minds set on how they're going to make it through the next day. I was actually going to write millions when I then decided to google how many people in this world are living in poverty and it's really heartbreaking to see the statistics that are part of our reality. Just a little over three billion people live on less than $2.50 a day and at least 80% of our world population lives on less than $10 a day...and to think that there's that 1% of individuals that owns 50% of the world's total wealth.
Knowing this makes me feel so thankful and full of gratitude for the circumstances I was born into which is better than 80% of the world. Escaping from the inflation and terrorism that was occurring in Peru, my parents didn't have much in the beginning and we were very humble yet very rich. Very rich for the simple fact that we had a roof over our heads, running water, yummy food to fill our bellies, and to be living in a nation where my sister and I had many freedoms and opportunities we would've been deprived of if my parents stayed in Peru.
We have the tools and laws in this great nation where with an education and hard work, you can make what you dreamed as a child a reality. There's so many children who wish to have the luxury of being able to go to school and become the person they envision themselves to be, and it's so important for us to not take that for granted. To not take for granted whatever tools we have here in this country, because by simply having access to the internet and by simply owning an electronic device, you are so much far ahead and wealthier than over half the population in this world!
Every single person in this world, as our brothers and sisters, deserve to have the right to every single life necessity. No one should be sleeping tonight on an empty stomach which happens very often for example in Yemen where their children are currently suffering with severe malnutrition. Every child deserves the chance to make their dreams come true and have the right to an education and not have to drop out to start working at very young ages. We have the means to restore faith in so many people around the world and an impact so much greater than a Huda Beauty Rose Gold palette for a make-up lover can for Christmas and it doesn't take much!
I don't have much, but I know for certain that the little amount I can give to some charities has contributed in making a difference in someone's life. And that by little by little, when we all come together, that 20% of us (especially that 1% on the top), we can make a great impact and monumental step forward in helping eradicate the severe poverty that is still existent. My mom always tells me,
It's finally December! Christmas is just around the corner (as well as finals week but lets get our minds off that just for a bit) and I know many people that have their mind set on all the gifts they yet have to buy for their friends and loved ones. I think we should also take some time to reflect on the billions of people in this world that have their minds set on how they're going to make it through the next day. I was actually going to write millions when I then decided to google how many people in this world are living in poverty and it's really heartbreaking to see the statistics that are part of our reality. Just a little over three billion people live on less than $2.50 a day and at least 80% of our world population lives on less than $10 a day...and to think that there's that 1% of individuals that owns 50% of the world's total wealth.
Knowing this makes me feel so thankful and full of gratitude for the circumstances I was born into which is better than 80% of the world. Escaping from the inflation and terrorism that was occurring in Peru, my parents didn't have much in the beginning and we were very humble yet very rich. Very rich for the simple fact that we had a roof over our heads, running water, yummy food to fill our bellies, and to be living in a nation where my sister and I had many freedoms and opportunities we would've been deprived of if my parents stayed in Peru.
 |
| My loves |
Every single person in this world, as our brothers and sisters, deserve to have the right to every single life necessity. No one should be sleeping tonight on an empty stomach which happens very often for example in Yemen where their children are currently suffering with severe malnutrition. Every child deserves the chance to make their dreams come true and have the right to an education and not have to drop out to start working at very young ages. We have the means to restore faith in so many people around the world and an impact so much greater than a Huda Beauty Rose Gold palette for a make-up lover can for Christmas and it doesn't take much!
I don't have much, but I know for certain that the little amount I can give to some charities has contributed in making a difference in someone's life. And that by little by little, when we all come together, that 20% of us (especially that 1% on the top), we can make a great impact and monumental step forward in helping eradicate the severe poverty that is still existent. My mom always tells me,
"Lo ultimo que se puerde perder es la fe" ~ "Faith is the last thing we can lose"We CANNOT allow them to lose hope in a better tomorrow. Here are some charities that are my favorite and where donations will be great Christmas gifts to give:
- itsjudyslife and benjimantv with their Dancember movement. Every December, they dance every year for their viewers in order to raise money for the charity of their choice. Other Youtubers also tend to tag along and I know this year is supposed to be HUGE! The charity of their choice for 2016 is feedONE, a Convey of Hope initiative where they plan to raise $500,000 to feed children in poverty.
- Angelina Jolie with USA for UNHCR, a charity that focuses on providing aid to dislocated people, refugees, where sadly the numbers keep increasing. They help those who are fleeing Aleppo and Mosul as well as many other places.
- Pencils of Promise where since 2009 they have been able to build 380 schools. It takes $35,000 to build a school, so if just the people of NYC each gave one dollar to this charity, and in NYC there's 8.4 million people, that would make 250 schools. Just one city with 1 dollar.
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| Gotta add a Mulan quote up in here because Disney can be deep. |
Count your blessings this holiday season and try to give the gift of opportunity and faith to those who need it so much. So little can do SO much.
With lots of love,
Karen
-The Chic Engiruvian
11.27.2016 / changes, dreams, eleanor roosevelt, fearless, gratitude, los angeles, peruvian, peruvian-american
Fearless Changes
Hello there,
Don't be scared to go with your gut feeling and what your heart is calling for. Don't be afraid to try new things, whether it be a new vegetable or a new hobby. Don't be judging to get to know someone just because of their appearance or religion or sexual orientation. Being scared, afraid, and judging are all fears, fears that are stopping you from being open to experiences in your life that you may come to love and value. I know so many people who have these fears ingrained in them and they are deprived of so many wonderful experiences.
A few years ago I was very fearful of many things, of thinking in a different way and leaving someone I was used to be around always. I was afraid of change because I was so comfortable with where I was. Little did I know, that this mindset and this person didn't go in sync with the kind of person I wanted to become. The decision to make this change in my life suddenly happened and I'm no longer the person I was when I started college and that itself has been very rewarding to me. I now care more about what I need to do to achieve the goals I've set for myself and what I can do to better myself in order to help out my community with my heart and soul. To be surrounded by only people who truly love and care about me, no matter how few of them it can be and to try new things that will lead me to enriching experiences. I became exposed to new places and new opportunities that I wouldn't have known of if I didn't make these changes.
If you are in a position where you're afraid of change and feel fearful of the unknown and uncertain, just know that, "Things happen for a reason"(life motto). What would've happened to the bird in the nest if it decided to stay comfortably and safe in there? It would've never learned to fly and discovered all the incredible places in this beautiful world of ours. Every mistake you may make comes with a lesson that will make you a wiser and better version of yourself. Every experience in life, whether it be bad or good, is intended to bring you closer to your dreams and purpose in life.
I believe that we are all destined to do something great in our lifetime, with a special gift that no one but YOU has. Destined to live life fully and this is only possible if we are courageous to overcome the fears that live in our mind and stop you from making the changes in your life that will lead you to your life purpose.
This week, challenge yourself and do something different everyday, BIG or small.
With love,
Karen
-The Chic Engiruvian
Long time no see! I've been a bit busy these past few days with assignments, work, and catching up with my sister who lives in Massachusetts and was back for Thanksgiving break. I've also been pretty pensive...can you believe that this week it'll be December, the last month of the year?! It blows my mind how quickly this year went by and also all the things I was able to do that I had my mind set on doing back in 2015. Many of these goals I achieved wouldn't have been possible if I wasn't fearless and accepted making some changes in life. Without overcoming whichever fear you may have, you will never see the change you want to see in you...in your life. In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt:
"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences."This quote happens to be my reflection of the day in my beloved National Geographic book, Daily Gratitude: 365 Days of Reflection (click on the title if you are interested in purchasing it). Through being fearless and accepting change, I've had wonderful experiences this year that have been enriching to my soul and have helped me in discovering who I am. Helping me to become the very best version of myself.
 |
| Overlooking Los Angeles from the Griffith Observatory. Always a dream of mine to go here at night. |
A few years ago I was very fearful of many things, of thinking in a different way and leaving someone I was used to be around always. I was afraid of change because I was so comfortable with where I was. Little did I know, that this mindset and this person didn't go in sync with the kind of person I wanted to become. The decision to make this change in my life suddenly happened and I'm no longer the person I was when I started college and that itself has been very rewarding to me. I now care more about what I need to do to achieve the goals I've set for myself and what I can do to better myself in order to help out my community with my heart and soul. To be surrounded by only people who truly love and care about me, no matter how few of them it can be and to try new things that will lead me to enriching experiences. I became exposed to new places and new opportunities that I wouldn't have known of if I didn't make these changes.
If you are in a position where you're afraid of change and feel fearful of the unknown and uncertain, just know that, "Things happen for a reason"(life motto). What would've happened to the bird in the nest if it decided to stay comfortably and safe in there? It would've never learned to fly and discovered all the incredible places in this beautiful world of ours. Every mistake you may make comes with a lesson that will make you a wiser and better version of yourself. Every experience in life, whether it be bad or good, is intended to bring you closer to your dreams and purpose in life.
I believe that we are all destined to do something great in our lifetime, with a special gift that no one but YOU has. Destined to live life fully and this is only possible if we are courageous to overcome the fears that live in our mind and stop you from making the changes in your life that will lead you to your life purpose.
 |
| With the sister at LACMA clinging for dear life. |
With love,
Karen
-The Chic Engiruvian
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| Wearing aviators while leaning on an aviator mural. |
11.07.2016 / beauty, book recommendations, diane guerrero, immigrants, immigration, influenster, october favorites, peru, peruvian, peruvian-american, skin care, voxbox, wet n' wild
~ October Favorites ~
Hello there,
The first week of November has quickly gone by and I'm sure most of us cannot wait for this week to be over with already. To sort of get my mind away from all this election drama (btw, PLEASE vote!) I've decided to make a list of my ultimate favorite items for the month of October. Some of these items have made a huge impact in my life and I know that they also would to my readers so I couldn't help but share them with you. If you happen to be interested in any of these items, I will be including links to purchase these 11 products. I hope you all had a productive and positive Monday and a wonderful rest of the week and once again, PLEASE vote tomorrow.
The first week of November has quickly gone by and I'm sure most of us cannot wait for this week to be over with already. To sort of get my mind away from all this election drama (btw, PLEASE vote!) I've decided to make a list of my ultimate favorite items for the month of October. Some of these items have made a huge impact in my life and I know that they also would to my readers so I couldn't help but share them with you. If you happen to be interested in any of these items, I will be including links to purchase these 11 products. I hope you all had a productive and positive Monday and a wonderful rest of the week and once again, PLEASE vote tomorrow.
11.02.2016 / alfajores, catholic, el señor de los milagros, immigrants, mes morado, new york, new york city, peru, peruvian-american, picarones, san benito, the lord of the miracles
Mes Morado in NYC
Wuynas nuchis!
Besides June (birthday is on June 11 btw) and December, a month I eagerly look forward to every year is October. In Peru, October is known as Mes Morado aka The Purple Month (cue Purple Rain please) and this month is filled with stunning processions every Sunday honoring El Señor de los Milagros ~ The Lord of Miracles, as well as eating yummy turrones and picarones with their orange scented honey. I'm about 3,648 miles from Lima,Peru but this doesn't stop my family and I from celebrating this very special month for millions of Peruvians all around the world.
We had the opportunity to attend two processions here in New York City and eat all the things that we would traditionally eat in Peru. That's the magic of New York City, there's people from all over the world, making sure to do all they can to keep their traditions alive despite being thousands of miles away. I hope that this past month, New Yorkers, regardless of their beliefs, were able to feel the moving devotion that can be felt from the fervorous chants of the women with white veils carrying the incense that perfumes the air for blocks, to the tears of gratitude in the eyes of the 32 men and the many others around there, overwhelmed by the sense of hope this image gives us, for the many hardships many of us have to deal with by immigrating to this land of opportunities.
This procession is extremely special, it's the largest procession that takes place by the Catholic community, every year. Peruvians that have immigrated to other countries have continued this tradition in their new homes for their children and later generations, and now there's processions in over 260 cities worldwide. I had the chance to attend two in NYC, one at Saint Patrick's Cathedral on October 16th and another at Saint Paul the Apostle Church on October 23rd , both were done by a group known as Hermandad de Cargadores y Sahumadoras del Señor de Los Milagros de NY, INC. (you can read about them here). New Yorkers have been able to witness processions that were once very small in the initial beginnings of the group on September 30th, 1971 and now thousands of Peruvians attend, in full faith that el Señor de los Milagros will be by their side in the most difficult of times and thanking Him for his miraculous blessings.
As a first-generation Peruvian-American, this experience has always been very overwhelming to me, especially when I see my mother's eyes filled with tears, year after year, through our roller coaster adventure in this country. Despite it being pretty emotional seeing so many people in tears. there's a sense of beauty in seeing all these immigrants, from all over Peru (mostly Lima though) come together. Seeing parents talk to their young ones explaining what makes this christ so miraculous and special to us (you can read about how the Lord of the Miracles came to be here) and the sense of enjoyment in seeing all these "entrepreneurs" selling Peruvian goodies like alfajores, tamales, Sublimes, Besos de Mosa, turrones, picarones, etc etc and finding the best ones and bargaining for the best prices of course!
I definitely look forward to sharing this tradition with my children just like my parents did with my sister and I, no matter where in the world I may find myself. We are the ones in charge of keeping our culture and traditions alive and the ones responsible to stand up for them. Without them, we would all be the same. This is what makes us unique, our fingerprint. We are a nation of immigrants, with thousands of traditions and cultures to share and embrace, how much luckier can we get?! If only we all had this same mindset, what a beautiful place this would be.
~ The original image of El Señor de los Milagros can be found at the Santuario de las Nazarenas in Lima, Peru. The mural was painted by an Angolan slave in 1651 and the image is still intact after several devastating earthquakes and the Spaniards who tried to destroy it were never able to do so.~
With lots of love,
Karen
- The Chic Engiruvian
P.S: A link to a video about how a procession in Peru looks like, click here
Besides June (birthday is on June 11 btw) and December, a month I eagerly look forward to every year is October. In Peru, October is known as Mes Morado aka The Purple Month (cue Purple Rain please) and this month is filled with stunning processions every Sunday honoring El Señor de los Milagros ~ The Lord of Miracles, as well as eating yummy turrones and picarones with their orange scented honey. I'm about 3,648 miles from Lima,Peru but this doesn't stop my family and I from celebrating this very special month for millions of Peruvians all around the world.
We had the opportunity to attend two processions here in New York City and eat all the things that we would traditionally eat in Peru. That's the magic of New York City, there's people from all over the world, making sure to do all they can to keep their traditions alive despite being thousands of miles away. I hope that this past month, New Yorkers, regardless of their beliefs, were able to feel the moving devotion that can be felt from the fervorous chants of the women with white veils carrying the incense that perfumes the air for blocks, to the tears of gratitude in the eyes of the 32 men and the many others around there, overwhelmed by the sense of hope this image gives us, for the many hardships many of us have to deal with by immigrating to this land of opportunities.
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| Carrying the image around Rockerfeller Center |
As a first-generation Peruvian-American, this experience has always been very overwhelming to me, especially when I see my mother's eyes filled with tears, year after year, through our roller coaster adventure in this country. Despite it being pretty emotional seeing so many people in tears. there's a sense of beauty in seeing all these immigrants, from all over Peru (mostly Lima though) come together. Seeing parents talk to their young ones explaining what makes this christ so miraculous and special to us (you can read about how the Lord of the Miracles came to be here) and the sense of enjoyment in seeing all these "entrepreneurs" selling Peruvian goodies like alfajores, tamales, Sublimes, Besos de Mosa, turrones, picarones, etc etc and finding the best ones and bargaining for the best prices of course!
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| Picarones |
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| Alfajores |
~ The original image of El Señor de los Milagros can be found at the Santuario de las Nazarenas in Lima, Peru. The mural was painted by an Angolan slave in 1651 and the image is still intact after several devastating earthquakes and the Spaniards who tried to destroy it were never able to do so.~
With lots of love,
Karen
- The Chic Engiruvian
P.S: A link to a video about how a procession in Peru looks like, click here
10.18.2016 / book recommendations, gratitude, peru, peruvian-american
The Conquest to My Heritage and Manuela Saenz
Good evening or good morning, wherever you are,
First of all I would like to share my quote of the day in my "Daily Gratitude: 365 Days of Reflection" book which I love;
First of all I would like to share my quote of the day in my "Daily Gratitude: 365 Days of Reflection" book which I love;
"When one door of happiness closes, another opens;but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."
- Helen Keller
Just two days ago I finished reading an incredible book that by fate I randomly came across at my local library, Nuestras Vidas Son los Rios by Jaime Manrique, which in English translates to, Our Lives Are the Rivers which by the way, the book was originally written in English. I've recently become very engrossed on Latin American History, especially on Incan Civilization and the birth of La Ciudad de los Reyes, Lima. Why? Well because I've been tracing back my family tree, in particular my mother's side as of now and I've always been curious on my ancestry and my family's position in the early 1800's when Simon Bolivar was starting to liberate nations from the Spaniards.
In order to learn more about the history of Peru, I purchased the book History of the Conquest of Peru by William H. Prescott and this book is a treasure to me, especially since I was lucky to purchase a collector's edition for a great price! About 2 weeks after buying this book, after work I felt this desire to visit my library and I had no idea what kind of book to get but when I went to the Spanish section, the first book I saw was this one and after a quick read of the back of the book, I was hooked.
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| La Ciudad de los Reyes taken by moi. |
This book is a novela based on real life events that occurred in the life of Manuela Saenz, an Ecuadorian political activist who is most recognized for being known as La Libertadora del Libertador and to Simon Bolivar, Manuelita. She had a difficult childhood as an illegitimate daughter of am Ecuadorian mother who died when Manuelita was very young and a Spanish military officer who already had another family and didn't come into her life until many years later. She played a pivotal role in the liberation of Peru from Spain with the help of her beloved friend, Rosita Campuzano and because of her contributions she was awarded with the highest award that is bestowed in Peru, the Order of the Sun aka La Orden el Sol del Peru (#goals).
Not only that, but this brave woman actively participated and combated in battles alongside Simon Bolivar and the rebels like in the Battle of Junin and the Battle of Ayacucho (where my father's side is from, Larcay, Ayacucho) where her cleverness in the battles led her to being promoted to Colonel. This was in the 1820's, a time where women had very limited liberties, were not even entitled to an opinion, had to spend all day being modest and praying and here was Manuela Saenz, fighting and killing off Spaniards dressed in her soldier attire of red and blue!
Her very liberal views and her romantic love affair with Simon Bolivar who in the end was the love of her life and the force that pushed Bolivar to continue his fight against the Spaniards led to her heart breaking ending. She was forced out of Colombia, Ecuador, and most of Peru except Paita where she lived her last days reminiscing on her golden days with Bolivar.
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| Manuelita, la Libertadora del Libertador with the Order of the Sun #goalz |
I can see so much of my great-grandmother in this remarkable woman, two women who were way beyond their time. Manuelita is definitely a Latina to look up to, she was ridiculed for doing the right thing during her time and paid a harsh price for it, but I'm sure she's now proud to see that her sacrifices didn't go in vain and is admired by many women like me. I will definitely go to the museum that was made in honor of her in Quito, Ecuador.
Wuynas nuchis and I hope you make the best out of this new day.
-Karen
The Chic Engiruvian
10.06.2016 / gratitude, peru, peruvian-american
The Power of Gratitude in My Life
Wuynas nuchis! (Good evening in Quechua btw)
So it's around 12:30 pm right now as I'm writing this so I'm settling down, doing my typical night time routine and there's one thing I've started doing this year that I'll like to share with you guys. Last year I noticed that many of the entrepreneurs that I look up to, for example Mimi and Alex Ikonn, all do something in common...they write down what they're grateful for everyday. According to studies done by psychologists like Robert Emmons, the world's leading scientific expert on gratitude, being thankful and expressing gratitude improves:
This means that the act of cultivating gratitude has resulted in wonderful changes in people, like heightened energy levels, confidence, heightened spirituality, greater likelihood to exercise and even a decrease in blood pressure! So...
I wanted to see if these changes would apply to me. When I got back from Peru in early January, I cut up 365 strips of paper and placed some of them in a cup on my desk and next to it I placed an empty mug. Every night, before I go to bed I write down an experience that I'm grateful for that happened that day. I fold up the paper and drop it into the mug. My goal is that by the end of the year, I can read up all these strips of paper and be reminded on just how grateful I should be for the life I'm living right now.
Another thing that has worked for me is an app called Gratitude Garden which I downloaded via the Play Store ( I'm an Android type of gal). You write down three good things that happened the past day and I usually do this in the morning to reminisce on just how happy those things made me feel. This allows me to start my day on the right foot.
I've found that expressing gratitude has been very effective in my overall mood and in pushing myself to make changes in my life to help make me the very best version of myself.
I strongly encourage you to be more grateful and incorporate routines like these into your life. Life is too short to focus on the bad things that happen in your life and to be anything but happy! Instead focus on what you have now, at this moment in your life, and how to make the best out of the opportunities you have now instead of what you don't have.
~ Mente feliz, vida feliz.~
Buenas noches.
Karen
- The Chic Engiruvian
So it's around 12:30 pm right now as I'm writing this so I'm settling down, doing my typical night time routine and there's one thing I've started doing this year that I'll like to share with you guys. Last year I noticed that many of the entrepreneurs that I look up to, for example Mimi and Alex Ikonn, all do something in common...they write down what they're grateful for everyday. According to studies done by psychologists like Robert Emmons, the world's leading scientific expert on gratitude, being thankful and expressing gratitude improves:
- mental
- physical
- and relational well-being
 |
| My happy self. |
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| I clearly don't have enough Peruvian objects in my room. |
I've found that expressing gratitude has been very effective in my overall mood and in pushing myself to make changes in my life to help make me the very best version of myself.
I strongly encourage you to be more grateful and incorporate routines like these into your life. Life is too short to focus on the bad things that happen in your life and to be anything but happy! Instead focus on what you have now, at this moment in your life, and how to make the best out of the opportunities you have now instead of what you don't have.
~ Mente feliz, vida feliz.~
Buenas noches.
Karen
- The Chic Engiruvian
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