Melissa Boyle plans to burn scarecrows as a celebration of the New Year in Peru

“It beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere we go …” these lyrics remind us of the holiday season that comes once every year, and brings joy to many.   The winter break provides many AHS students with an opportunity to go and visit their relatives in other countries.  It is an experience unlike any other for them.

“It takes about eight hours,” said senior Melissa Boyle about her last journey to Peru. “It is actually uncomfortable because the last time I went there the fight was at night-time and it was impossible to go to sleep, the excitement also takes over so the sleep does not kick in.”  

She is planning on staying a little over two weeks. “I am going to spend half of the trip in beach house which my family rented, and the other in my grandparents’ house in Lima,” said Boyle, who is excited since she has not seen her family for about three years.

“The celebration of New Year is so much different in Peru. There we build scarecrows, and put them in the streets.”
“Where my family lives, all the houses are connecting like townhouses. It is really cool, because in the U.S. houses are neutral colors, but in Peru the houses have diverse color,” said Boyle.

“ Unlike here [U.S.], in Peru whenever we pass someone we always greet them it common to do that,” said Boyle.  “Everyone is either burning scarecrows or doing fireworks, unlike this country, every person is allowed to set off fireworks. When the time reads 12 o’clock we light up the fire works,” said Boyle, remembering the celebration. 

“It is warm at this time of the year in Peru, it is summer time, and the winter is not that cold,” said Boyle while talking about the different climate of Peru. “My best experience in Peru is being with my parents, because I don’t usually see them. The best part is we have fun and make jokes on each other,” said Boyle.  “The unique thing about parties in Peru is that they start at night, and go on until the next morning.”