I have to be honest - of all the places in the world that I've really wanted to travel to, South America has never been at top of the list. It's not that I didn't want to come, but I always just figured I'd travel to south east Asia and Africa first. However, being as Spanish is now my second (closest) language, I was hoping that I'd really enjoy Peru, as I'm sure my work will keep me in this area in the future. After just our first four days, I'm trying to recall back to whatever prior reservations I held about South America and cannot remember one.
Brianna and I have become almost enchanted with Villa El Salvador, an impoverished (or more accurately I would say, slum) suburb of Lima that we're living in. It's so refreshing to leave so many of our "westernisms" behind and immerse ourselves as much as we can in the lifestyle and culture. How freeing it is to get up in the morning and not only pull on the same pair of muddy jeans and tee-shirt that you've worn the last two days, but to also not feel in the least bit judged by your rather frumpy, and grungy appearance! I know it sounds a bit cliche, but as a Westerner coming from such an image-conscious country (perhaps Spain ever more so than the US), I feel so much more like myself in my dirty sneakers than my heels.
While life in Villa El Salvador does in one sense feel much harder and taxing, at the same time I find it be richer in so many different ways. The streets are rough; uneven and half-constructed sidewalks incongruously line the partially paved streets; flea-infested, scavenging dogs haphazardly dart out from every corner, and "hostel" signs signaling prostitution houses occupy more buildings than any other business. By taking a quick glance, Villa El Salvador appears incomplete, underdeveloped, and impoverished beyond almost all Western standards.
However when you get out, start talking to the people, and making your way through the neighborhoods, your initial impressions quickly fade away and you're left with a population of proud, and contented people. The pride they have for their country, as well as their area, is incredible. Instead of dwelling on their problems, they have found a greater state of contentment and ease that always seems to be just beyond our reach. Everyone appears quite satisfied with what they have, although it may be very little, or as almost nothing, to us. Yet still they are happy, and enjoy life. Those that have so little, often have the most to give.
