Living in Peru : your everyday companion

By Larry J. Pittman

I grew up in San Francisco, but have lived much of my life in other countries where my career has taken me. Now I am happily settled in Peru, and I really like it here. So I feel somewhat perverse as I touch on a feeling of melancholy that strikes me occasionally.

Usually two or three times a week, I go to the web-site of the San Francisco Chronicle just to see what is going on there. It is interesting, but nothing really grabs me. Then the other day, I came across a part of the web-site where the Chronicle has photographs of San Francisco from the past. On an impulse I decided to check it out. There are many photographs of events in the past and of famous people, but what really touched me were the photos of some of the beautiful parts of the city that I had known and loved.

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I came to USA 44 years ago.  I lived in Texas for 4 years, in California for 35 years and now I live in Georgia.  I have also travelled most of the world.  I have tried to integrate fully wherever I lived and  have concluded that I am not one culture and that my identity does not originate from the outside.  Love is universal and so is Hate.  We are just spirits with clothing.  I simply am. 

I am a 61 year old woman who has lived in San Francisco, California for 43 years... sometimes I don't know where home is...
Lima or San Francisco...?
I have all my childhood and teen memories in Miraflores, beautiful district of Lima but I've spent my adulthood in Northern California on the equally beautiful city of San Francisco.
I moved to The City, not a suburb, not around but to San Francisco a week after getting married, I have a full life here, my two daughters were born here, but when I travel to Lima, although it's once a year I pick up old friendships like I never left, like I've been with them the day before.
In essence, I think "home" is where your heart is.

I could'n make any additions or corrections but I want to add...

My mother lives in Miraflores as well as my brother and sister and their families, so no matter where I live, home will be Lima, Peru, but it'll also be San Francisco, California... Not to clear? well, that's the way it is...

I share the same experiences with the first 2 posts,
San Francisco is the prettiest city in the US and easily one of the best
places to live in the world.

Lima has many of the same characteristics plus a touch of seville, one day
in the near future it will be known again as one the most special cities in the Americas.

Great article Larry

JCW

4 September 2008

Larry Pitman´s article "where is home" (above) reminds me once again of the different stages of my life. During almost 70 years, I have lived(not only visited) and almost always worked in:

Germany (some 30 years)
Chile (30 months)
Honduras (almost 4 years)
Libya (2 years)
UK (London, 1 year)
New York City (US  - 18 years)
Peru (over 12 years).
(All years or months are approximate).

I also devide my life into three language stages, all of which I had to learn.:

German (mother tongue) some 30 years
English (almost 20 years)
Spanish (some 20 years).
(and some Arabic, French, Russian (in highschol in the former East Gerrmany)

For me, none - or most - of these place are home - or in my native language (German) "Heimat". There is no good translation for this word.

Wolfgang
gluschke@hotmail.com
Tel.: 446-8132

The feelings you got both Peru and San Francisco can't go away. Life is
changing every time, life is moving all the time. Keep those feelings in your
heart and get a new ones.

Wolgang,

What an interesting life you had!  You truly are a citizen of the world.  Home is where your heart is.  I agree with the previous comments about San Francisco.  It is a jewel of a city.  A unique city.  But as you well know, there are many other unique and wonderful cities in the world.  Therefore, for me home is an idea, a thought, a feeling, a memory, a group of people, family, warmth.  Wherever place you feel the most comfortable, happy and at peace with yourself, that is home.

NA

I lived in chiclayo Until I was 16 years old. I moved to Lima City and I happy now. My parents live in Chiclayo, I love them, homewer, I integrate with Lima, I like It. I think you can love the place where you live in adult.

Have you ever felt as a man without a country?? As if destiny took you to where you are now but it is not the place you would like to be..for ever..? Because you have been away from your mother land for so many years...can't call her home and where if the city you find yourself now is not quite home either...? And 'cause of the years and family here and family there...you are in a cross road?  "A man without a country?"