Living in Peru : your everyday companion

What cell phone company do you use in Peru?   Claro (America Movil) Movistar (Telefonica) Nextel I use two I use all three

By Larry J. Pitman

“Don’t ya miss it?”

My friend recently asked me this question. Then he waited, looking at me expectantly as I pondered the answer.

I, of course, realized that he was referring to my previous life in California and how it compares to living in Lima as an expatriate.

I’ve had the good fortune to live part of my life in the San Francisco area. Certainly it has to be regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and a very nice place to live. I love the city, and I have a special place in my heart for California.

So I guessed that my friend was expecting to hear a litany of complaints.

As I hesitated, all sorts of things flashed through my mind.

What do I miss?

I should be able to come up with something.

In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to live in various parts of the world. Always, some of my expatriate acquaintances would fill their conversation with the things they missed from their home country. Often, our meetings would turn into a gripe session

It could be the food. They didn’t like the local food. They missed the foods that were familiar. For Americans it could be that they were dreaming about peanut butter, or tuna fish sandwiches or maybe the pizza from their favorite neighborhood restaurant.

Or it could be complaints about the host country. How they were so inefficient. How come they didn’t do things like the good old USA? These people said they couldn’t wait to get back to where they do things the “right way.”

Strangely, many of these disgruntled expatriates became dissatisfied when they returned to their home country. They found out that they missed the country of their previous overseas assignment. After a few tuna sandwiches, they realized that it wasn’t anything special. So they were unhappy living in a foreign country and unhappy living in their native land.

My first long term foreign living experience was as a volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps in Bolivia. It was a difficult and dangerous assignment. Some of my fellow volunteers were very unhappy with the conditions they faced and complained continuously. At first I joined them. Then, I realized that I was only making myself miserable.

I had a choice. I could go home anytime, or I could stay and get the most out of the experience.

I chose to stay, and I now realize that my time in Bolivia was a very important life experience for me.

This is what I learned, and how I have lived my life since:

Don’t ever wish you were some where else.
Don’t spend your time wishing for things you can’t have.


So, back to my friend with his question about “missing it.”

I smiled at him and said, “I don’t miss a thing. I’m very happy here in Peru.”

tags : expatriate America native Bolivia Peru

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6 Comments

# isabel meyer says :
12 January, 2010 [ 04:25 ]

Wonderful article! It is so true what you wrote: expatriats become most of the time "homeless and unhappy living in a foreign land and unhappy living in their native land.
How true your words are: "Don´t ever wish you were some where else. Don´t spend your time wishing for  things you can not have"
I will keep this posted in my desk so that when I get homesick again I will remember that if I will be on the other side of the ocean I wil also miss what I left behind. We just can not have both worlds!

# Mike Woronuk says :
13 January, 2010 [ 04:25 ]

Well there's one thing you missed mentioning:

Not every place suits every person.

What you do say is true, you'll never be happy by wishing you're somewhere else. However that certainly does not mean that anyone should be pressured into feeling guilty for not liking where they are.

In that case though, I agree hole heartedly, you'll be happiest in life if you focus on the positive side of things more often than the darker half.

# Gisela Kohler says :
14 January, 2010 [ 05:05 ]

Great article and a wonderful reminder to live in the "now". Thank you!
I am learning not to focus on what I consider negatives (e.g. total traffic chaos and disregard for traffic rules), but on the positives (loyal wonderful friends, delicious food, a huge variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, beautiful parks and that, where I am living, most of what I need to do on a daily basis is within walking distance!

# Mary D\'Angelo says :
14 January, 2010 [ 02:57 ]

Loved the article! I Love Peru and I love the USA torn between two countries it's hard...I will have to pick soon, but the unknown is very scary! I have lived in Florida since age 6, but go back to Peru many times and plan to retire there, but the country is so big and the weather so diferent in the north and the south so where to live and find a balance.

Wish I knew where to pick a retirement home...Scary but articles like yours make it feel better....Thanks!

# Canadian23 says :
14 January, 2010 [ 03:34 ]

Not every place suits every person.  Though, ignorance is bliss they say.

So in that case, I agree hole heartedly. You'll be happiest in life if you focus on the positive side of things more often than the darker half.

Let's just not get dillusional about it...

# Victoria Quispe says :
15 January, 2010 [ 12:59 ]

I'm so proud of reading these comments about your life way in my country ... I wish you continue here for years and years more and recommend to your friends to visit Peru .. it's a wonderful experience that everybody would have..

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