A Chicago Connection
CRISTINA AGUIRRE writes: Our destination was to reach "Parque de Amor" (Park of Love) in Miraflores. But along our way to Malecon Cisneros on cuadra 8, a short blond-haired, blue-eyed woman with a thick accent enthusiastically asked my friend, "Where you from?"
Amber said, "Estados Unidos."
Woman replied back, "No, What part are you from?"
Amber, who appeared to be a little confused of what to say replied back this time in English, "The United States?"
The woman didn't give up and this time rearranged her questions to "What part of the United States are you from?"
I just looked at her and we both replied, "Chicago."
The woman couldn't believe us because she and her husband, who originally is from Chicago, moved from Detroit to Lima. Her curiosity was so immense that she kept walking with us to learn more about our journey. She told me, "I live here, right by the ocean with my husband! We moved here!"
I replied back, unsure what to say, "Really, right here. That must be a nice view."
She kept repeating this to us along the way until our professor Teresa Puente slowly sneaked into our redundant conversation about how she lived on the beach with her husband, who I later learned was native of the Southside of Chicago and was an engineer. Soon, the rest of the group surrounded her to catch the conversation. As she approached her building, she yearned for us to come up to visit. We left up the elevator that went directly to her home. Her husband was one of the sweetest persons I've met. He talked from student to student always with a smile. We even got a chance to go on his balcony and see the magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean. We could see the gliders in the air, hundreds of people enjoying the beach and walking. It was breathtaking and surreal to be in someone's home. The women, whose name remains a mystery, was a doll. It's just amazing to see the things we could encounter just by walking down the street and talking to a complete stranger. I knew back home, these kind of things don't happen. The women wanted us to stay and have some drinks, but we had to run off to get ready for our reception at IPAD, the institute where our class was held. She hugged and kissed all of us on the cheek.
It was all 15 of us. She wanted us to come over soon. And as we left, I felt like we broke her heart. She was so happy and enthusiastic to have met with us. Now I wonder if I'll ever see her again or if I'll encounter another perfect stranger, who would invite us into their home. This is an experience that I will keep forever. I wonder how much more of these encounters I'll experience in Peru. My only advice to people who go to the country is not be afraid of talking to the person next to you. Some basic greetings like, “¿Hola, como estas?" or "Buenas tardes," might actually go a long way--even if you can't pronounce it right. Just give it a try, they will appreciate it, and who knows, you might end up having an unexpected encounter. It truly is a small world after all.
