20. Sangria with Pizza, Aji on Hamburgers, and Other Such Brilliance
Because let's face it: sangria just goes better, and aji is sooooo much better than hot sauce.
19. Peruvianisms: "Que rico", "Que lindo", "Halo" and "Oye"
There wasn't a day that went by where I didn't hear these expressions at least ten times a day. And "halo" and "oye" are just so fun to say =)
18. Peruvian Innovation
Only have enough money for a motorcycle, but want to cash in on the public transportation market? Simple -- just hack off the back, weld on a bench, and you're golden. Don't even have enough for something with a motor, but need a vehicle to transport things? No problem -- take off the front wheel of a bicycle, jerry-rig a flatbed with two wheels to the handlebars, and BAM. Honestly, it may seem kind of strange, but then you have to stop and ask yourself: Why didn't WE think of that????
17. The Never-Ending List of Places to Explore
Four and a half months is not enough time to properly explore Lima, let alone Peru.... In the end you have to accept you won't be able to see everything, yet there's always that longing to visit more amazing places.
16. Street Vendors Who Have Things I Actually Want to Buy
Why yes, I WILL have some arroz con leche y coco for 80 cents.
15. Being Able to Buy a Plane Ticket to Anywhere in the Country for $30 and Getting Free Food and Booze
I'll take a white russian, porfa.
14. Peruvian Oddities
Singing in the streets, dancing cobradores, the restrictions for buying batteries, the sanctity of Inca Kola, unnecessary honking musicals, racing micros, an obsession with the color purple, fear of ice cubes, designer dog jackets, and so much more.
13. Peruvian Traditions That Are Just Plain Awesome
Greeting each other with a kiss on the cheek, and of course the cerveza ritual... need I say more?
12. The Ridiculous Amount of Fruit, and the Juices That Came From It
"Juice" in Peru is what we would consider "smoothies" in the United States -- just take a piece of fruit, add some nectar, mix it in a blender, and viola: masterpiece. The Peruvians I talked to were absolutely appalled at the idea of processed juice; as with pretty much all of their food, if it isn't fresh, it isn't acceptable. Plus the sheer diversity of fruits from the rainforest meant that you could never get bored. And don't even get me started on the deliciousness that is pepinos.
11. Having the Ability to Buy a 3-Course Meal for Less Than $10
Because it's the way the world should be.
10. Being Able to Leave the House with the Equivalent of $5 and Get Whatever You Want
So even if you get robbed, it's not THAT big of a deal.... (not that this ever happened to me)
9. Freedom of Expression and Lack of Regulation
Peru is the only country I've ever been to where you can go up to someone and call them "fat" and they won't get offended. Indeed, Peruvians tend to believe that censorship is dumb; "si es la verdad, debes decirlo" (if it's the truth, you should say it). While this may seem to us like doing so would cause tension between people, in actuality it leads to a much freer society, because on the flip side the person receiving the comment is expected to not take anything too seriously. Additionally, laws in Peru are pretty much optional; as long as you don't hurt someone, you're basically free to do whatever you want. Driving in Lima, for example, is absolute CHAOS. Therefore, I definitely believe that in a lot of ways, the "Land of the Free" is not as free as the countries it tries to dominate...
8. Hearing Spanish EVERYWHERE -- and Then Laughing When People Realize You Can Speak It Too
Being an obvious outsider in Peru, it's always really interesting being in situations where you are amongst native Peruvians, like in a restaurant or in a micro. Oftentimes I found myself sitting near people who wanted to communicate with me, but didn't know English and thus gave up. Or people who talked about things they clearly wouldn't want anyone else to hear but didn't think it would matter because they thought we wouldn't understand them. It was strangely satisfying to prompt them by asking them a question in Spanish, and watching their shocked faces. Plus, it's fun to practice, and the Spanish language is awesome =)
7. Polvos Azules and Being Able to Haggle
Polvos Azules was by far one of my favorite places in Lima. For those of you who don't know, Polvos is a huge, three-story warehouse that houses all of the goods for sale on the Peruvian black market. It's absolutely hilarious not only because of it's sheer size, but also because of it's supreme organization; much like a Macy's, there are departments, isles, even agents ready to set up your stolen cell phone after you buy it. In fact, it's so well-organized that even though the Peruvian police have tried to raid it on numerous occasions, they've never been able to do anything because the people who run it have the system down so well that they don't need records to keep the operation going -- and thus, the police can't actually prove anything is actually stolen. But by far the best part about Polvos, and about shopping in Peru in general, is the ability to haggle. The high number of vendors means that you can pretty much barter whatever price you want within reason for something you want to buy. Plus it's just sooo much fun... at least I think so.
6. The Time Standard -- Or Lack Thereof
I LOVE the ability to be 15 minutes late to class and it's not a big deal. And likewise with the professors. You'd be surprised how much less stress you have when you're not worried about getting somewhere within a certain time window.
5. Micros
I could go on forever about this. So in a nutshell: dangerous, ridiculous, and terrifying? Perhaps. Hilarious, adventurous, and fun? Most definitely. Certainly the most fun I've ever had for 30 cents, and one hell of a way to wake up in the morning...
4. The History
It's not just Machu Picchu. There's ruins here that date back thousands of years, far before Pizzaro and the Inca ever met. And according to archaeologists, only about 60% of these ruins have been fully excavated! Not to mention the fabled ruins yet undiscovered, like the Inca "city of gold." That was actually what Hiram Bingham was looking for when he stumbled across Machu Picchu in 1911. Just imagine what else is out there!
3. The Land
After traveling all across a country as enormous as the United States, I honestly couldn't believe that a county less than one-tenth the size of America could have geography just as diverse. But it's true; from the lush rainforest, to arid deserts, to snowy Andes, to sunny coasts... Peru really has it all, and all the raw beauty that comes along with such untouched wilderness. And it's not just this diverse range of geography either; it's the fact that Peru is the home to so many natural wonders of the world. Of course there's Machu Picchu, but there's also the 3rd biggest waterfall, the 2nd deepest canyon, and the highest lake in all the world. Pretty impressive, Peru.
2. The Food
I think this one is pretty self-explanatory: NOMNOMNOM
1. The People and My Host Family
From the White City to the jungle, Peruvians are to this day one of the nicest groups of people I have ever met. More than the land, the culture, and even the food... Nothing can compare to that contagious sense of hope within every Peruvian, that belief that even though their country may not be in the greatest shape right now, something good is coming along tomorrow. So even though they may work for $2/day and have corrupt leaders that put our worst to shame, they still greet you with a warm smile, give you a kiss on the cheek, and ask if you want to tomar un pisco sour with them. I know from being around them I've personally learned to appreciate the happiness you can get from the little things in life, just like Peruvians do. And it's all thanks to these amazing people, and my amazing host family. Te amo, Perú. Gracias por todo.
