Until yesterday, we had been staying in Miraflores, the most "modern" and rich area of Lima. In my opinion it really lacked in personality and authenticity, but there was plenty of stuff to do nevertheless: we biked along the coast, ate Churros, visited Museums, went out at night, and paid to watch this fountain water show (very popular with the locals...I thought it was a bit of a waste of time).
Yesterday a tour was organised by the NGO (Alternativa) where we'll be working, in order to help us get to know Lima Norte. The guide said he was going to take us on a touristic tour in order to show us the cultural and economic highlights of the area..we ended up driving up and down these desert-like hills, where the slums were. The whole situation seemed surreal; one minute we were walking along the clean and organised Miraflores, and the next we are in the middle of an extremely poor area, with some of the most sketchy looking houses I have ever seen.
After the tour was over, we drove back to Alternativa and waited for our families to come and pick us up. Mine is composed of C, a 31 year old who works at the NGO, her 25 year old brother J, her father..J again, and the mother M. Yet C came to pick me up with her best friend R, who is this sort of independent, beautiful "Femme Fatale"who owns a hairdressing salon and lives alone with her, quite large, 13 year old son. Her and her son really make me think of Gloria and Javier in Modern Family... when I first met her she came across as a little crazy.
The first thing we did when we arrived at the casa was to sit on the sofas and play with the dog, Canela. It has to be one of the least attractive dogs I have ever seen: it's minuscule, they shaved the top of its head and it's got the biggest globulus eyes - kinda like a bug. We talked about the dog for about an hour (I must have only understood a quarter of what was being said), until I asked if I could see my bedroom.
So my headboard says "Yo <3 Jesus" and the drawing on my duvet is of a couple making out, written "Marry Me" on the bottom. I have to admit that I was more than confused about what was going on, and was honestly thinking "what the f am I doing here".
I made it through the night nevertheless, and went to work this morning still quite confused. But as soon as I got to work and shared my experiences with the others I felt much better, especially since the dog in one of the girl's families is apparently even uglier than Canela (he has crooked teeth). We worked on a bunch of different projects, it looks like it's going to be really interesting, so I'm happy about that.
Before I go eat some Pollo con Arroz, I need to share with you my casual ride home from work. C decided it was time for me to take a "Combi" which is basically a Little Miss Sunshine Combi Van, except there aren't only 5 people and a dead body in it, but more like 50 people who look like they are about to die. They stuff as many people in it as possible, I was literally hugging this man's armpits, and every time the driver braked I thought we were all going to go flying through the windshield. I joke. It really can't be that dangerous if it is what 2.1 million people use to go to work everyday.
This is the view from my house
My bed...
Who would have thought that a toilet could be cute?
No comments:
Post a Comment