Living in Peru : your everyday companion

By Diana P. Olano

In Peru, women have had the right to vote for about five decades. This Andean country was second to last in Latin America--Paraguay being the final one--in allowing woman the right to cast a vote in presidential elections. Incredibly recent, yes. So much so that many of our female elders here can likely easily recollect this time in Peruvian history; when the feminist revolution, that had reached other parts of the world decades before, had finally reached their shores. However long it took, Peruvian women should be proud and grateful that the day finally came in 1955. That was the first in a number of women's rights advancements Peru has seen. The fight, however, began long before...

By Phil Pittman

Since 2006, a unique initiative between children from Australia and Peru has taken place. The project “Our World through Children’s Eyes,” is a cross-cultural and conservation art project linking children from small villages in Peru with children from outback bush schools in Australia. The program focuses on educating children about the environment through the medium of art. It commenced in 2001 with a traveling exhibition of international children’s artwork at rural schools in Australia and has now developed into a more personalized program with children getting to know stories about the artists and their communities in both countries.

By Diana P. Olano

I don’t know about our readers, but I have my limits on public displays of affection (PDAs), whether I'm witnessing them or partaking in them. In the suburban county of Westchester, New York where I grew up, the most affectionate act a couple would ever do is kiss. And usually, the kiss was pretty lame; a chicken peck, at best. The most common PDA I'm used to seeing is a couple holding hands. Actually, it was the most common PDA I was used to seeing.

By Elise van der Heijden

Many visitors to the Cusco and Sacred Valley areas have been struck by the lack of basic services that many of the smaller communities suffer; lack of sanitation, a diet that lacks balance, little or no education, and most of all the feeling of having few opportunities to progress in the future. Many of these visitors have come back with good intentions and set up NGO’s, each with their own vision and method, to try and make life better for some of the wonderful people of the Andes.

By Stuart Starrs
Additional reporting by Diana P. Olano

I still haven't gotten used to the fact that in Peru the poor are the ones who live in the oldest, most historic and most culturally valuable buildings in the country, and in some cases most of South America.

(by Dennis and Blanca Mackler)

Yesterday I sent my son, Justin 21, and my daughter, Lauren 23, the article and comments on Helping Kids with Cancer at ALDIMI.org (-link-) that was posted on the LivinginPeru website and mentioned in their e-newsletter.

Knowing how spoiled my kids are, I figured I would call them and not wait for them to call me. Usually they only call when they need something. I called Justin first. You would figured he might congratulate and compliment me and say how proud he was of me for helping others.

The first thing he said was, "Why help those kids in Peru and not here in the USA". I paused for a split second. The answer was simple, except as usual he was to busy with his friends to listen. He said he would call back. I am presuming he doesn't need anything since I haven't heard back from him.

(by Jason Woods)

Public transportation in Lima is ......different.

First, we have walking.

Walking is my favorite form of transportation in Lima and I do it just about every day without fail. The biggest downfall of walking is that, well, if you walk in Lima, you will eventually have to cross the street. And cars drive in the street. I've heard that in Lima, six people are run over and killed every day. Not just run over. Run over and killed. And, after living here for four months, it seems like an Act of God that the number is so low.

Cars don't wait for you to cross the street. Ever. The courteous drivers will honk before stepping on their accelerator. I've actually found myself yelling, "What, you couldn't honk?" after narrowly escaping becoming a hood ornament. I have literally had to lift my arms in the air and contort my body to avoid being hit multiple times... and I probably get a good scare once or twice a week.

(LIP-wb) -- Dennis and Blanca Mackler, long-time members of our LivinginPeru.com community. Recently the couple sent us the following information asking our readership for their help:

It has been most rewarding. We recently lined up a day at the movies -most kids have never been to a movie theater- and yesterday we organized a Miraflores Bus tour. On a weekly basis we bring wool for the adult patients to knit, sweets for everyone, clothes, games, and toiletries which they win playing bingo.

2006 Mid Year Counterfeit & Piracy report: major links to illegal activity, the Internet, intellectual property reported

Over the first six months of 2006 a total value of US$699.3 million of counterfeit and pirated goods, specifically intellectual property theft, was discovered from 760 incidents in 69 countries. Major links to drugs, weapons and deaths were uncovered. In addition, a detailed analysis reveals the Internet is becoming a major factor in this illicit trade. Top brands counterfeited are also reported.

Calgary, 24 October 2006 – Gieschen Consultancy released the 2006 Mid-Year Counterfeit & Piracy Intelligence Report derived from BASCAP’s Daily Counterfeit & Piracy Intelligence Report statistics compiled over the first half of 2006 which focuses on intellectual property theft, citing major links to illegal activity, the Internet, and brands.

Photo: Los Hofmann Wing (Flickr)

(by Alejandro, Peru Food -link- )

In Lima, October is known as el mes morado, the purple month. Why? Purple is the color worn by the faithful who follow the processions of the most venerated religious image in Peru: El Señor de los Milagros, the Lord of Miracles, a uniquely Peruvian image of Jesus Christ.

During October, in the colonial center of Lima, this image is taken from its home church, Las Nazarenas, in a series of processions to other historic colonial churches. The smell of incense, the steady beating of drums, and the footsteps of the faithful accompany these processions which wend their way along the narrow streets of colonial Lima as they have for hundreds of years.

The origins of this image of Christ date back to 1651. According to religous belief, in that year, there was a group of African slaves from Angola living in the area known as Pachacamilla, where Las Nazarenas Church now stands.

The slaves had been converted to Christianity and one of them, unnamed in the history books, painted an image of Christ on a wall of a building where the new converts converged to pray.