What I Like About Peru

Although the world is so interesting and there are always new things to be learned, it can also be said that everywhere is the same.  In every place there are good people and bad people, comforts and discomforts, hardships and luxuries, social classes, hard workers and lazy people, and of course things to love and things to dislike.  Sometimes when I get tired of having taxi drivers stop in front of me hoping I’ll take a ride with them, tired of mopping my apartment at least once a day, tired of listening to the honking traffic, tired of cat calls, tired of total disorganization and inefficiencies, I have to take a step back and remind myself of the good things here.

What do I like about Peru?

I like its fresh fruits and vegetables.  I like dancing.  I like its culture: La hora loca, traditional clothing and artisan crafts.  I like aji and rocoto.  I like its bright colors and the way people often work together.

I like the beach and colonial architecture.

I like the friends I’ve made, the warm hearts of many, the social atmosphere, the laughter of children, the ways people of all ages can interact.

I like the beautiful outdoors, the sunsets, the waterfalls, the hikes, the coastline, the ruins, the mountains, the bodies of water, the donkeys, the creativity, the resilience, some of the history.

I like being me: eating ice cream, dancing, hiking, running along the beach, talking, swinging, smiling, laughing, serving others, speaking English, speaking Spanish, listening, observing.