And now I am in Peru! I have always fantasized about coming to this country – everyone who visits cannot express how much they enjoy the warm, welcoming country located in the center of South America. I am based in Lima, the capital, which is the only South American capital on the coast. The flight from Bogota to Lima was utterly beautiful – the mountains of South America were visible almost the entire time – but the shakiest I have ever experienced (aka I was holding on to dear life the entire 3 hours – not fun!) I arrived here about two weeks ago to be with Pedro for some high potential meetings. The first week here was just he and I and we made three great deals at the very start of the project! The business environment here is wonderful – people are very enthusiastic and love the combination of a Colombian guy and American girl working for a promotional TV program on Peru. Pedro knows the Latin business culture so well so really makes the CEO’s feel comfortable, and I am able to bring in a sense of intrigue being from another continent, so the mixture truly works. Also, because it is the beginning of the project, we have been meeting with the government and agencies as well as commercial companies. The other night I had the opportunity to interview the Peruvian Minister of Economy in front of cameras for our program! On Friday we also met with the Prime Minister, a wonderful, intelligent woman whom everyone in Peru really loves. This is by far the best part of the job, and until now I have not been able to truly participate in a country opening –I love it! Makes me want to be the next Diane Sawyer; interviewing influential people truly leaves you inspired and more conscious of the passion that leaders must portray about their own countries and citizens. However, one of the challenges I have faced is the constant switching of markets. In meetings I still want to say “our readers” instead of “our viewers” as I am used to print rather than TV. I sometimes say “Bulgaria” or “Colombia” instead of Peru, and forget name-drops of different government members so easily. There is also a lot more Spanish used in meetings here; nearly no one speaks English to me on the phone. Looking at the big picture this is wonderful, but day-to-day I can’t help but sometimes get frustrated when people cannot understand my gringa accent.
Meeting the Prime Minister of Peru!
Lima as a city is much more relaxed than Bogota. Peruvians are used to the slow, coastal way-of-living, and we try our best not to get frustrated every time it takes a waiter 20 minutes just to bring you the menu. However, Peruvians are extremely nice people who love to talk – all of our meetings are extra long as the CEO’s and Ministers passionately and eternally attempt to express the love they have for their country. Every meeting has centered around the theme of corporate social responsibility; it is sincerely amazing that almost every CEO here feels the need to do something to help the farmers and fishermen and children of Peru. Our program is created to promote ideas like this to the international world, and therefore the main theme of it will definitely touch upon the corporate social responsibility that almost every Peruvian company feels it should carry out.
The Peruvian climate is hot and humid and foggy – an odd combination but because Lima is on the coast there is often fog coming from the sea. It gets a little colder during our normal summer months, so the normal temperature right now is around 70 degrees F. Many days it has been sunny and wonderful, which I am still absolutely loving! I can also usually smell the sea and the beach when I walk outside – which again gives a calming feel to the city. The hotel we are staying in also contributes to my ease here. It is one of the nicest chains in Peru and the staff is SO welcoming and friendly. The hotel is in the center of district Miraflores and boasts wonderful fresh fruit and omelette breakfasts, a waterfall pool, sauna, fitness center, etc. (Although I here more American English here than Spanish due to all the tourists!) Miraflores is a central district of Lima with nice parks, some of the best outdoor restaurants and bars, hostels, a nice walking zone called Parque de Kennedy, the discoteque street called “Calle de las Pizzas”, and much more. It is by far the best place to be located in Lima and I love walking around the area.
Miraflores, the Central District of Lima
A whole paragraph is undoubtedly needed to explain just how delicious the Peruvian food is. Peru boasts the best cuisine of any country I have ever visited! Being directly on the coast, Lima restaurants offer fresh seafood year-round, and Peru is known as one of the top fishmeal exporters in the entire world. Ceviche is the country’s signature dish; I have downed the acidic masterpiece about three times a week since I have been here. Other fish concoctions I can’t put names to have filled me to the brim at every charming restaurant we visit; Pedro and I even went to La Rosa Nautica (a famous restaurant in a circular building at the end of the Costa Verde pier – you can hear, sea, and smell the waves from every table!). Fruit is another specialty and served with many dishes (aka fried bananas) and made into many juices (aka jugo de papaya y granadilla). Corn and potatoes are so prevalent they are also compliments of most meals – the corn is HUGE and the potatoes varied (yuca and sweet potatoes being my favorites). Lomo Saltado is a tasteful sirloin marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, and spices, and Argentinean beef has a large influence here as well. The drinks here are also one-of-a-kind, only-find-in-Peru kind of stuff. The legendary Pisco Sour is the signature cocktail – made of pisco, lime juice, egg whites, and cinnamon. The non-alcoholic specialty is termed chicha, and most Peruvians drink it with every meal. It is made with purple corn and to me tastes like sangria without the alcohol! Inca Kola is the legendary soft drink that is known as the only soda brand in the world which Coca-cola company could not take over (Pedro loves it, but to me it tastes like the gum you get from a blow-pop ew!) Needless to say, every restaurant we go to is wonderful and a new experience. We already have some favorites and have made friends with the waitors/waitresses there. Our new trainee, Nicky from Amsterdam, is getting used to everything, and I already like to pretend I am an expert in the food category and love recommending what to try!
Last weekend Pedro, Nicky, and our Colombian friend Vanessa road-tripped to Pachacamac Inca ruins, around an hour outside of Lima. Pyramids, burial sites, and housing from the ancient Inca times dominated the grounds which we both drove and hiked through. Peruvians are extremely proud of their ancient heritage and there are numerous sites throughout the country that give tourists a peek into the lives of the Inca tribes that inhabited the country around 1200AD. After a cultural afternoon we headed to Asia Beach which is as well outside of Lima, and where many politicians and businessmen have summer homes. We found a deserted spot and watched the sunset and dolphins over and in the Pacific.
Sunset at Asia Beach
This work week was of course long and busy, as our coach from Chicago flew in to check up on the team. Therefore the following week of Semana Santa will be a much-needed break. Rarely anyone in Latin America works during the whole week, so our office is giving us off next Thursday and Friday. Pedro and I are flying to Colombia Sunday, will work there for a few days, and then head to the Caribbean coastal town of Santa Marta for a long weekend! Vamos a la playa!
