Hi, I'm from Peru

[DaniDimo 0]

My husband lives in Lima-Surco, 2 min. walking distance to University Ricardo Palma, his dad from Cusco and mom born in Lima.

[Susita 175]

Hi everyone, I'm new here... looks like you guys are having a good time in this forum so I figured I'd jump in the convo. My fiancé is from Peru, he works in Lima (in Ate) but lives in San Bartolo. I love it in San Bartolo it's such a beautiful beach and the people there are so laid back and it's just such a calm environment with wonderful people.

I don't really feel the same way about Lima. It's a bit too crazy and unorganized for me (haha... and I'm from New York, born and raised). I don't mind cities but I have never ever seen anything like Lima. Some of the things I loved about Lima were the food, (the ceviche was out of this world (and I said I'd NEVER eat raw fish, I don't even like sushi), Miraflores Parque Kennedy is really cool too, I was able to get an iced coffee at Starbucks there (although Luis almost had a heart attack when he saw the price) and there were a LOT of interesting things to see.

A question for all of the Americans with Peruvian fiancés...

Did the poverty shock you in Lima? It really shocked me. My fiancé isn't wealthy, and neither am I for that matter, but the way some of these people (mainly children) were living really affected me. We passed by different areas that I couldn't even bare to look at. One time, I started crying on the combi because a little barefooted boy that's about my son's age (3 or 4) came on begging for money. He was filthy and not even dressed properly, and it looked like he hadn't been eating properly either. The combi driver just yelled at him to get off. I just couldn't cope with that. In Perú, you either live well, have a maid and a house, or you're dirt poor. I just don't find that fair.

[athena_ny 1]

Hi everyone, I'm new here... looks like you guys are having a good time in this forum so I figured I'd jump in the convo. My fiancé is from Peru, he works in Lima (in Ate) but lives in San Bartolo. I love it in San Bartolo it's such a beautiful beach and the people there are so laid back and it's just such a calm environment with wonderful people.

I don't really feel the same way about Lima. It's a bit too crazy and unorganized for me (haha... and I'm from New York, born and raised). I don't mind cities but I have never ever seen anything like Lima. Some of the things I loved about Lima were the food, (the ceviche was out of this world (and I said I'd NEVER eat raw fish, I don't even like sushi), Miraflores Parque Kennedy is really cool too, I was able to get an iced coffee at Starbucks there (although Luis almost had a heart attack when he saw the price) and there were a LOT of interesting things to see.

A question for all of the Americans with Peruvian fiancés...

Did the poverty shock you in Lima? It really shocked me. My fiancé isn't wealthy, and neither am I for that matter, but the way some of these people (mainly children) were living really affected me. We passed by different areas that I couldn't even bare to look at. One time, I started crying on the combi because a little barefooted boy that's about my son's age (3 or 4) came on begging for money. He was filthy and not even dressed properly, and it looked like he hadn't been eating properly either. The combi driver just yelled at him to get off. I just couldn't cope with that. In Perú, you either live well, have a maid and a house, or you're dirt poor. I just don't find that fair.

We didn't spend a lot of time in poverty-ridden areas, and I didn't see anything like that even in el Rimac. When a little 8 year old boy came up to us at 4 am one morning selling candy, I got really upset, though. Mirko asked him where his mother was, and he said she was coming, and while as a rule we didn't give anything to the kids since they made it illegal for the children to beg (that's what Mirko told me, anyway?), he gave him 50 centimos and told him to keep his candy. That kind of stuff DID break my heart, but at the same time I do realize that not everyone has the same lease in life, and people do what they have to do to survive. I can't save the world, though I wish i could.

However, my husband's family does well for themselves, but they do not have a maid. None of his sisters do, and his other sister who only has an apartment and makes a modest living selling shoes and boots isn't dirt poor. I think the disparity between poor and even living modestly is a lot greater than it is in the US, but poverty levels have dropped. (54.3% in 2001 to 49.5% in 2006, and in 2006 the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement was signed, so I hope it would continue to drop.)

However, the poverty I saw in Lima was nothing like the poverty I saw up in the mountains over in Cusco.

I don't know the reasons why some people in Lima can live a good life and why others can't. It doesn't make sense to me completely either, but I didn't ask for explanations. Maybe I should when Mirko gets home tonight.

[amiquechu 0]

Hi everyone, I'm new here... looks like you guys are having a good time in this forum so I figured I'd jump in the convo. My fiancé is from Peru, he works in Lima (in Ate) but lives in San Bartolo. I love it in San Bartolo it's such a beautiful beach and the people there are so laid back and it's just such a calm environment with wonderful people.

I don't really feel the same way about Lima. It's a bit too crazy and unorganized for me (haha... and I'm from New York, born and raised). I don't mind cities but I have never ever seen anything like Lima. Some of the things I loved about Lima were the food, (the ceviche was out of this world (and I said I'd NEVER eat raw fish, I don't even like sushi), Miraflores Parque Kennedy is really cool too, I was able to get an iced coffee at Starbucks there (although Luis almost had a heart attack when he saw the price) and there were a LOT of interesting things to see.

A question for all of the Americans with Peruvian fiancés...

Did the poverty shock you in Lima? It really shocked me. My fiancé isn't wealthy, and neither am I for that matter, but the way some of these people (mainly children) were living really affected me. We passed by different areas that I couldn't even bare to look at. One time, I started crying on the combi because a little barefooted boy that's about my son's age (3 or 4) came on begging for money. He was filthy and not even dressed properly, and it looked like he hadn't been eating properly either. The combi driver just yelled at him to get off. I just couldn't cope with that. In Perú, you either live well, have a maid and a house, or you're dirt poor. I just don't find that fair.

The poverty was definitely an eye-opener for me. Being back in the US after being to Peru several times, I have very little patience for people in our country full of opportunities who choose to do nothing and always blame their problems on someone else. When I retire, I would like to live in Peru at least part of the year (maybe year-round) and help out maybe some aspiring students who have the drive to succeed but not the money. Maybe donate money and help at a health clinic.

[Vi Mazzella 4]

Yes, we have alot of poor people in Peru, Sil got a glance of it during his first trip, he went to visit some schools and give some donations from catholics schools from NYC,he got to visit the shanty towns and poor towns from Chimbote Trujillo and Chiclayo, so he got a clear understanding of the situation in Peru. He got robbed twice but he understands that because of the poverty people need to survive and feed their families.

He was a little surprised when he saw the nice areas of Lima, to be honest we spend alot of time in those areas, he felt safer there.

I was a little surprise too when I saw homeless people in NY, in Peru we have another idea of how life is in the States. I have to take the train to Grand Central everyday and I see people asking for money walking through the train, or sleeping in the train stations, I would never imagine in a million times that I will see something like that here but I guess that there are poor peole everywhere right?

Take care people.

Vi

[ardilla 0]

Hi everybody,

I notice that there are extremes in Peru between high and low income groups. But poverty is not just material. In the US, we have a "poverty of time" (no time for family, for vacation, for taking the time to cook and eat, to relax, to enjoy things, to live our lives fully outside of work, to enjoy those small moments with each other, for "ocio"). Not having enough time to live and really enjoy life, this too is poverty, for we have decided as a society to dedicate ourselves to making money so that we can buy things. Why are things more important than people? Does having more $ and things make people of any income group in the US "richer?"

Having said that, there are also extremes between the bigger cities in Peru vs smaller ones. In the smaller ones, there is less rush and more time for social life.

Just my dos soles....

[Susita 175]

Hi everybody,

I notice that there are extremes in Peru between high and low income groups. But poverty is not just material. In the US, we have a "poverty of time" (no time for family, for vacation, for taking the time to cook and eat, to relax, to enjoy things, to live our lives fully outside of work, to enjoy those small moments with each other, for "ocio"). Not having enough time to live and really enjoy life, this too is poverty, for we have decided as a society to dedicate ourselves to making money so that we can buy things. Why are things more important than people? Does having more $ and things make people of any income group in the US "richer?"

Having said that, there are also extremes between the bigger cities in Peru vs smaller ones. In the smaller ones, there is less rush and more time for social life.

Just my dos soles....

That's one of the things I loved about Perú... Life is more family-oriented and not so work-oriented. However, I feel I'll be able to create a good balance here with my hubby to be so that we can have the best of both worlds.

[athena_ny 1]

Hi everybody,

I notice that there are extremes in Peru between high and low income groups. But poverty is not just material. In the US, we have a "poverty of time" (no time for family, for vacation, for taking the time to cook and eat, to relax, to enjoy things, to live our lives fully outside of work, to enjoy those small moments with each other, for "ocio"). Not having enough time to live and really enjoy life, this too is poverty, for we have decided as a society to dedicate ourselves to making money so that we can buy things. Why are things more important than people? Does having more $ and things make people of any income group in the US "richer?"

Having said that, there are also extremes between the bigger cities in Peru vs smaller ones. In the smaller ones, there is less rush and more time for social life.

Just my dos soles....

Agreed agreed agreed.

[Shannon and David 0]

Yes, we have alot of poor people in Peru, Sil got a glance of it during his first trip, he went to visit some schools and give some donations from catholics schools from NYC,he got to visit the shanty towns and poor towns from Chimbote Trujillo and Chiclayo, so he got a clear understanding of the situation in Peru. He got robbed twice but he understands that because of the poverty people need to survive and feed their families.

He was a little surprised when he saw the nice areas of Lima, to be honest we spend alot of time in those areas, he felt safer there.

I was a little surprise too when I saw homeless people in NY, in Peru we have another idea of how life is in the States. I have to take the train to Grand Central everyday and I see people asking for money walking through the train, or sleeping in the train stations, I would never imagine in a million times that I will see something like that here but I guess that there are poor peole everywhere right?

Take care people.

Vi

Hi! My fiance is from Peru too... needed a little break from preparations for the interview on Thursday in Lima. So here I am!

David is from Chimbote. I've spent a bunch of time there. It's amazing how one is able to get used to the poverty that is in that city when you live there a while. I was there all summer (almost 2 months, winter for them) and I've taken 3 other short trips there as well. I still enjoyed myself when I was there tho regardless of the poverty. Spent time with good people, his family and friends. That's what life revolved around, because money for other stuff like vacations, etc. isn't really there.

There is an American church just a few blocks away from where he lives that does a lot of relief work in the neighborhood. Lots of Americans come down and work for chunks of time, so weird to keep running into them down there! They were the only other Americans that I saw. Tourists don't go to Chimbote, ha ha! People asked me all the time if I worked with the church because they were so surprised to see una "gringa" (my name in the neighborhood, what a surprise) living there.

I really liked Trujillo and Huanchaco though. Maybe I didn't see enough of Trujillo to notice the kind of poverty that exists in Chimbote. Chan Chan was pretty amazing.

There is poverty in the US, but to me it seems different because there are social programs set up to take care of people in bad situations. The social system isn't set up like that down there, ya know?? Had a long talk with one of David's relatives when I was there about this. But how could the country start social programs like we have in the States when so many people don't pay taxes because they can't afford to??

OK, back to interview prep! Besos, Shannon

[athena_ny 1]

Yes, we have alot of poor people in Peru, Sil got a glance of it during his first trip, he went to visit some schools and give some donations from catholics schools from NYC,he got to visit the shanty towns and poor towns from Chimbote Trujillo and Chiclayo, so he got a clear understanding of the situation in Peru. He got robbed twice but he understands that because of the poverty people need to survive and feed their families.

He was a little surprised when he saw the nice areas of Lima, to be honest we spend alot of time in those areas, he felt safer there.

I was a little surprise too when I saw homeless people in NY, in Peru we have another idea of how life is in the States. I have to take the train to Grand Central everyday and I see people asking for money walking through the train, or sleeping in the train stations, I would never imagine in a million times that I will see something like that here but I guess that there are poor peole everywhere right?

Take care people.

Vi

Hi! My fiance is from Peru too... needed a little break from preparations for the interview on Thursday in Lima. So here I am!

David is from Chimbote. I've spent a bunch of time there. It's amazing how one is able to get used to the poverty that is in that city when you live there a while. I was there all summer (almost 2 months, winter for them) and I've taken 3 other short trips there as well. I still enjoyed myself when I was there tho regardless of the poverty. Spent time with good people, his family and friends. That's what life revolved around, because money for other stuff like vacations, etc. isn't really there.

There is an American church just a few blocks away from where he lives that does a lot of relief work in the neighborhood. Lots of Americans come down and work for chunks of time, so weird to keep running into them down there! They were the only other Americans that I saw. Tourists don't go to Chimbote, ha ha! People asked me all the time if I worked with the church because they were so surprised to see una "gringa" (my name in the neighborhood, what a surprise) living there.

I really liked Trujillo and Huanchaco though. Maybe I didn't see enough of Trujillo to notice the kind of poverty that exists in Chimbote. Chan Chan was pretty amazing.

There is poverty in the US, but to me it seems different because there are social programs set up to take care of people in bad situations. The social system isn't set up like that down there, ya know?? Had a long talk with one of David's relatives when I was there about this. But how could the country start social programs like we have in the States when so many people don't pay taxes because they can't afford to??

OK, back to interview prep! Besos, Shannon

I agree that it's great we at least have social programs, but the people it takes care of when compared to the people who really need the help is grossly disproportionate, because the US government STILL thinks 2 people can live anywhere in the USA on what? A little under $17,000?

I've got a lot of issues with the US government lately, though. I may be biased.

Speaking of gringas...

My niece was asking me "los estados unidos tiene piscinas?" "si" "los estados unidos tiene playas?" "si" ad nauseum, and she starts asking me, "de donde estan sus padres?" and I'm like "...los estados unidos" and she's like "si pero que PAISES" so I tell her "mi mama esta britanica y [irish] y mi papa es polaco y griego" and she's like, "OOOOOO tu eres GRINGA"

Like you couldn't tell from my transparent skin. Haha.

[Susita 175]

Yes, we have alot of poor people in Peru, Sil got a glance of it during his first trip, he went to visit some schools and give some donations from catholics schools from NYC,he got to visit the shanty towns and poor towns from Chimbote Trujillo and Chiclayo, so he got a clear understanding of the situation in Peru. He got robbed twice but he understands that because of the poverty people need to survive and feed their families.

He was a little surprised when he saw the nice areas of Lima, to be honest we spend alot of time in those areas, he felt safer there.

I was a little surprise too when I saw homeless people in NY, in Peru we have another idea of how life is in the States. I have to take the train to Grand Central everyday and I see people asking for money walking through the train, or sleeping in the train stations, I would never imagine in a million times that I will see something like that here but I guess that there are poor peole everywhere right?

Take care people.

Vi

Hi! My fiance is from Peru too... needed a little break from preparations for the interview on Thursday in Lima. So here I am!

David is from Chimbote. I've spent a bunch of time there. It's amazing how one is able to get used to the poverty that is in that city when you live there a while. I was there all summer (almost 2 months, winter for them) and I've taken 3 other short trips there as well. I still enjoyed myself when I was there tho regardless of the poverty. Spent time with good people, his family and friends. That's what life revolved around, because money for other stuff like vacations, etc. isn't really there.

There is an American church just a few blocks away from where he lives that does a lot of relief work in the neighborhood. Lots of Americans come down and work for chunks of time, so weird to keep running into them down there! They were the only other Americans that I saw. Tourists don't go to Chimbote, ha ha! People asked me all the time if I worked with the church because they were so surprised to see una "gringa" (my name in the neighborhood, what a surprise) living there.

I really liked Trujillo and Huanchaco though. Maybe I didn't see enough of Trujillo to notice the kind of poverty that exists in Chimbote. Chan Chan was pretty amazing.

There is poverty in the US, but to me it seems different because there are social programs set up to take care of people in bad situations. The social system isn't set up like that down there, ya know?? Had a long talk with one of David's relatives when I was there about this. But how could the country start social programs like we have in the States when so many people don't pay taxes because they can't afford to??

OK, back to interview prep! Besos, Shannon

I agree that it's great we at least have social programs, but the people it takes care of when compared to the people who really need the help is grossly disproportionate, because the US government STILL thinks 2 people can live anywhere in the USA on what? A little under $17,000?

I've got a lot of issues with the US government lately, though. I may be biased.

Speaking of gringas...

My niece was asking me "los estados unidos tiene piscinas?" "si" "los estados unidos tiene playas?" "si" ad nauseum, and she starts asking me, "de donde estan sus padres?" and I'm like "...los estados unidos" and she's like "si pero que PAISES" so I tell her "mi mama esta britanica y [irish] y mi papa es polaco y griego" and she's like, "OOOOOO tu eres GRINGA"

Like you couldn't tell from my transparent skin. Haha.

LOL... yeah

What I found the most hysterical is that my future sister in law thinks I'm the laziest woman alive.

She basically told me that American women don't take care of thier kids or do housework because we have machines that do everything LOL (watching too many sitcoms!) and that we can't cook because all we do is eat fast food (love how she knows this, like she's been here). SOOO I respond,

I'm a single mom. I work 40+ hours a week and I go to college full-time as well. I pay for both of my kids to go to preschool. I'm surprised I'm still even alive. I study and clean my house all night, I don't sleep. Excuse me if I use a washing machine. And I'm too poor to own a dishwasher. But yes, I have a vacuum. Is that OK with you?

I still love her though. LOL, but she barked up the WRROONNG tree

LOL

[athena_ny 1]

Yes, we have alot of poor people in Peru, Sil got a glance of it during his first trip, he went to visit some schools and give some donations from catholics schools from NYC,he got to visit the shanty towns and poor towns from Chimbote Trujillo and Chiclayo, so he got a clear understanding of the situation in Peru. He got robbed twice but he understands that because of the poverty people need to survive and feed their families.

He was a little surprised when he saw the nice areas of Lima, to be honest we spend alot of time in those areas, he felt safer there.

I was a little surprise too when I saw homeless people in NY, in Peru we have another idea of how life is in the States. I have to take the train to Grand Central everyday and I see people asking for money walking through the train, or sleeping in the train stations, I would never imagine in a million times that I will see something like that here but I guess that there are poor peole everywhere right?

Take care people.

Vi

Hi! My fiance is from Peru too... needed a little break from preparations for the interview on Thursday in Lima. So here I am!

David is from Chimbote. I've spent a bunch of time there. It's amazing how one is able to get used to the poverty that is in that city when you live there a while. I was there all summer (almost 2 months, winter for them) and I've taken 3 other short trips there as well. I still enjoyed myself when I was there tho regardless of the poverty. Spent time with good people, his family and friends. That's what life revolved around, because money for other stuff like vacations, etc. isn't really there.

There is an American church just a few blocks away from where he lives that does a lot of relief work in the neighborhood. Lots of Americans come down and work for chunks of time, so weird to keep running into them down there! They were the only other Americans that I saw. Tourists don't go to Chimbote, ha ha! People asked me all the time if I worked with the church because they were so surprised to see una "gringa" (my name in the neighborhood, what a surprise) living there.

I really liked Trujillo and Huanchaco though. Maybe I didn't see enough of Trujillo to notice the kind of poverty that exists in Chimbote. Chan Chan was pretty amazing.

There is poverty in the US, but to me it seems different because there are social programs set up to take care of people in bad situations. The social system isn't set up like that down there, ya know?? Had a long talk with one of David's relatives when I was there about this. But how could the country start social programs like we have in the States when so many people don't pay taxes because they can't afford to??

OK, back to interview prep! Besos, Shannon

I agree that it's great we at least have social programs, but the people it takes care of when compared to the people who really need the help is grossly disproportionate, because the US government STILL thinks 2 people can live anywhere in the USA on what? A little under $17,000?

I've got a lot of issues with the US government lately, though. I may be biased.

Speaking of gringas...

My niece was asking me "los estados unidos tiene piscinas?" "si" "los estados unidos tiene playas?" "si" ad nauseum, and she starts asking me, "de donde estan sus padres?" and I'm like "...los estados unidos" and she's like "si pero que PAISES" so I tell her "mi mama esta britanica y [irish] y mi papa es polaco y griego" and she's like, "OOOOOO tu eres GRINGA"

Like you couldn't tell from my transparent skin. Haha.

LOL... yeah

What I found the most hysterical is that my future sister in law thinks I'm the laziest woman alive.

She basically told me that American women don't take care of thier kids or do housework because we have machines that do everything LOL (watching too many sitcoms!) and that we can't cook because all we do is eat fast food (love how she knows this, like she's been here). SOOO I respond,

I'm a single mom. I work 40+ hours a week and I go to college full-time as well. I pay for both of my kids to go to preschool. I'm surprised I'm still even alive. I study and clean my house all night, I don't sleep. Excuse me if I use a washing machine. And I'm too poor to own a dishwasher. But yes, I have a vacuum. Is that OK with you?

I still love her though. LOL, but she barked up the WRROONNG tree

LOL

I am lazy. I don't even want to run the vacuum. But that's a personal failing, and my dad making us scrub the bathroom until it was acceptable to him, nad he was the head of the housekeeping department for one of the largest nursing homes in the area. Hardly fair, so basically nothing was every good enough and I think I'm allergic to cleaning. Seriously, though, I am getting better. It's not so much that I'm American and have machines to do everything. I have a dishwasher in my apartment, but we never use it. It's easier for me to wash by hand (does that sound crazy?) If I was in a family of 4 or 5 and we filled up the dishwasher everyday like we did when both of us were at home at my parents', well, okay. But by the time the thing fills up, it smells like a garbage dump.

Seriously though, I think it's good to remember there are jerks everywhere. Peru...USA...wherever. (I work with a huge Peruvian jerk. I also work with a ton of American jerks.) FWIW, my sister in law in Peru uses a vacuum. The one who doesn't, doesn't have a carpet. She has a washer and a dryer in her house, too. Obviously luckier than some, but I'm luckier than I will be in 2 months when I'm hanging out at the laundromat.

[K & J 17]

Peru can be pretty poor, especially if we think of "wealth" as having air conditioning, cable, internet, etc. Sometimes people are not poor in the sense that they dont lack food, education, clothing or access to health services, but americans view them as poor because they lack modern-day amenities (this is particularly true in very rural areas). But most of these people dont view themselves as poor until someone tells them they are.

I am peruvian and I didnt realized how poor my country was until I went to college. I had attended a fancy private school all my life so I practically lived in a bubble. We would commute only between nice neighborhoods because that's were all our friends and relatives lived. The only time we would leave our comfort zone was when going to the airport (and it was usually very late at night so there was no one around). I didn't know there was another world "outside" until I started college. The best college in the country (yes, Universidad Catolica) was not even in one of those bad areas but it was a shock to me. And seeing the economic disparity among the students was an eye-opener (and this was a private college so there were not really poor poor people).

Yes, machines do help people do their chores faster. Try to hand wash the cloth of a family of five. Yes, americans spend less time cooking (if they cook). When you buy a carrot in Peru, it is not washed, cut and peeled. Almost everything is cooked from the scratch and that is very time consuming). Most mothers use cloth diapers and "gerber" is out of the question. Americans do have more free time but they use they time differently. It is just a matter of the things you prioritize. I work with low income immigrant families and a mother of 3 (2 in school) told me she didnt have time to do cook for children. I asked her: "how many children did you mother in Guatemala had?" She said 13. Did she cook for you? She said yes. Did she have a stove or a microwave like you? She said no. She said her mother had to walk to a river to get water. And I said "But you dont have time".

[Vi Mazzella 4]

Chicos!

How's everybody??? well here I'm a little nervous because we are planning to go to Peru for Christmas and the tkts are extremely expensive.

In the beginning of April I found tkts via COPA for $838 RT an unbelievable price but didn't buy them (don't ask)a week later we checked again and the same tkts were $1650 and now $2070. Do you think the tkts will go down?? or I should start looking of tkts for January???

cuidense todos y manifiestense!!!

saludos

Vi

[MandR 0]

Chicos!

How's everybody??? well here I'm a little nervous because we are planning to go to Peru for Christmas and the tkts are extremely expensive.

In the beginning of April I found tkts via COPA for $838 RT an unbelievable price but didn't buy them (don't ask)a week later we checked again and the same tkts were $1650 and now $2070. Do you think the tkts will go down?? or I should start looking of tkts for January???

cuidense todos y manifiestense!!!

saludos

Vi

Tickets to Peru have become very very expensive........... We can thank GWB and the rising fuel prices for that........

It's a gamble that ticket prices will come down..... but Rossy and I have both found that tickets closer to the travel dates do come down some.

We were going for Christmas, but we waited too long to use our air-miles and now prices have shot up over $700.00 and thats from Miami so we are deciding if we're going..... Rossy is going with the baby in August and I may go down to be with them for a long weekend, but tickets are so expensive I may not go.

I remember the days of paying $320.00 Miami-Lima-Miami

Edited May 25, 2008 by MandR