Can You Stomach It?

On June 4th, our group arrived at the Lima airport at 5:00 am local time, where we saw images of Lima for the first time. It was filled with pollution and run down buildings. The transportation in Peru is far different than that of Canada. Here it appears that the rules of the road are non existant and for someone who gets easily car sick, for example...myself, its quite the experience. It seems the only thing that slows these drivers down is the sound of a car horn or the speed bumps and potholes in the road. However, even though these travel experience are stomach turning, nothing can compare to the sights that can be seen in north Lima. Today was an eye opening experience; where one could see the clear cut differences between the rich and the poor. The city of Lima is an excellent example of how two different classes live in one city. On the peripheries of Lima, people live in unfinished homes due to a lack of financial means and poor infrastructure. Thousands of people are forced to live up the mountain side on unstable grounds - there is simply no where else to live. In the past five years the people have started breaking apart the rocks from the mountain side - they turn this into a business to make a small profit as a means to live. These people are breaking apart the foundations where their houses lay, compromising the structural intergrity of their homes to make some money for their family to survie. However, twenty minutes away there are rich, commercial shopping malls staring out at the mountain side where many live in disparity - quite ironic and certainly illustrates the gap between the "rich" and the "poor". It is quite a distrubing though to think that such poverty exists in the world but North America and the world still produces so much waste. The vast differences in the city of Lima provides a stomach turning thought and brings sobering thoughts to one´s mind. It is our responsability to provide a better future through the choices and actions in our day-to-day lives. -Jordan

So much to say... and it´s only day 2!

It is hard to believe that this is only our second day in Peru, because it feels as if we have been here for a week already. We started our day by waking up early to go to mass at the Christo del Mundo church affiliated with the Oscar Romero Retreat Centre. It seems that people in Lima are very involved during mass. Contrary to what I have experienced in churches back home where there is loud music but hardly anyone singing, this church had no instrumental accompanyment but the entire room was filled with the enthusiastic voices of the people. Near the end of the mass, an older man came around to shake every single person´s hand and wish them peace (la paz). I was touched by his warmth and sincerity. I find that the people here are very passionate in everything they do. There is so much emotion embedded into their culture and they always show what they are feeling. I find this a really refreshing atmosphere compared to the way people act in Toronto sometimes.

Yesterday our lovely friend Carmen took us for a tour of North Lima. It is an extremely poverty stricken area where most houses don´t even have proper walls, let alone a roof. Housing in the central city is expensive so the poor have been pushed to live on the side of the mountains where they have difficult access to central markets to buy their basic needs. The air is very thick and dusty and there is garbage everywhere. Despite the run-down look of it, the city itself still has a beauty to it. The topography is very mountainous and the hustle and bustle of the city gives it so much life. Even the people, though they have so little, seem to be happy.

Today we will be taking a tour of central Lima which is the richest area. This is where all of the government buildings are as well as reminance of beautiful European architecture. It will be very interesting to see the contrast of the class differences that live in the same city.

Today is also federal election day; a very important day for Peruvians. Schools are closed, many people will be taking work off and drinking and selling of alcohol is prohibited. Peruvians are obligated to vote and are fined if they do not, similar to Australia. The two parties that are running are Keiko and Ollanta. You can see political slogans for each party painted on streets and houses all over the city. Fortunately, tomorrow we will be learning a lot more about the Politics and Economics about Peru and we will be able to keep you all informed about what is going on. I am particularly looking forward to this.

I´m off to go relax with the group now before lunch and before our expedition to central Lima. I will be taking lots of pictures and the others will be blogging here from time to time to keep you all posted. If you are interested in more updates you can even follow our tweets.

Follow us on Twitter @StJeromesUni

Love form Peru,

Barbara

Tomorrow!!!!

Someone from my summer job called me and asked if I could work a shift for her on Friday, June the 3^rd . Without thinking, I told her I would have to get back to her. I soon realized that I would not be able to take this shift for her, as this had been the day I had been anticipating for 7 months. I was leaving for Peru! I feel like the retreat was yesterday where our group said goodbye for a little less than a month, and went back home where we are all anxiously waiting to meet at the airport in Toronto. When I left that retreat, I felt this new found closeness with this wonderful group of people who I would be spending 15 days with. I have seen various group members since, such as Jason, Katherine, Jordan, Glen and Megan, but I cannot wait for us all to be reunited and for us to start our great adventure to South America! After many shots, some lovely doses of dukarol, a few successful shopping trips, and a lot of excited messages between group members, I think we’re ready to go! I know I speak for all the Peru travelers when I say we are all VERY excited to embark on this journey and we are all very eager to get to know eachother, ourselves, and the people of Peru much better. I would like to say a special thank you to all those who came out to Mothers Day brunch in May. We received such an amazing response from the community, and it was so lovely to all of you there! Thank you so much for supporting this initiative, it really meant a lot to us!

Anyways, I am off to continue packing my giant backpack full of the things I am bringing with me! I had a lot of trouble choosing what to bring with me, but I think I’ve narrowed it down. Keep our travelers in your thoughts over the next few weeks, especially tomorrow as it is Seans first time on an airplane and I’m the lucky duck who gets to sit beside him! (Just kidding, can’t wait Sean!!) I can’t wait to see all my fellow travelers tomorrow in Toronto, and I cant wait to update this blog in depth once we’re in Peru!

Thanks for reading!

KB