Spanish is spoken as a first language by approximately 85% of the population. The other 15% of the population speaks various indigenous languages, primarily Quechua and Aymara.
The currency used is the nuevo sol (PEN), or sol, for short. One sol is worth about 27 cents in USD. PLIN is also used often, which is similar to Venmo for Peruvians.
One bottle of water costs about two soles, or approximately 50 cents USD.
My best meal of the week was soltero de queso, a traditional Arequipa salad made of some of my favorite foods (cheese, olives, onion, tomato, potatoes, and more).
I listened to Los Nosequien y Los Nosecuantos, a Peruvian rock band that my students recommended me to listen to. Other artists that I listened to in order to practice my Spanish, although they are not from Peru, are Sebastian Yatra (from Colombia), Yami Safdie (from Argentina), and the band Cuarteto de Nos (from Uruguay).
