We've just had the privilege of living with a Peruvian family for 2 weeks. Was such a great opportunity to experience the culture first hand rather than tourist styles.
They were the loveliest family who were so hospitable and told us we couldn't leave, and that their family now had 7 members, not 5.
We were told they were a middle class Peruvian family. They definitely gave us a new definition of middle class! The father Gustavo worked from 7am until 11pm in a bank. He had one day off a week but had to go into work for at least 5 hours on that day. They had no fridge, washing machine or hot water and they all slept in the same bedroom - mum, dad, 18yr old son and 13yr old daughter. Steve and I had a single bed to share and an american traveller had the other bed. They lived on a dirt road (every road is dirt and rubble except for the main road). The windows are barred on any houses at street level and each house has a high fence, jagged with broken bottles to invite any would be intruders.
Breakfast was white bread buns, with occasionally a fried egg, luncheon roll or rice with potatoes on top of an egg. Lunch was the main meal, with a soup to start then some kind of meat with rice and potatoes. Dinner was white bread buns again... Guinea Pig is a delicacy here - they fry it and serve it whole, teeth and all. Yum yum
They lived very humbly but were happy. Saturday was washing day and this literally took the whole day, scrubbing clothes by hand on a wooden board.
They celebrated 2 birthdays while we were there and the tradition is to have birthday cake for breakfast with hot chocolate. Chicken feet soup was on the menu and Steve braved it but of course I could not. Spend a lot of time controlling the mind to keep my food down!!!! A thick drink made of purple maize was the other treat. When their son Ronnie turned 18 he had to present to the Army and they have put him on hold to be called up at any time - he is a bit scared and they have no choice in the matter. His parents are worried that if he goes to a disco at night the Army will snatch him and keep him.
They also have no oven so if they ever want to bake anything they carry their food to the massive neighbourhood oven which is where the bakers make their bread. They pay a guy for the use of it and to make sure he gets it out on time.
People work very hard here, especially the women, a lot of whom do very physical work. A lot of them also work with their small children alongside them all day, pretty amazing. The children have obviously learnt to be very well behaved.
Beautiful hot weather here - no humidity at all so cold at night and in the shade.
We were told that men that abuse their wives in Peru don't go to jail if they manage to have a small financial gift for the Judge!
We're off to do a 5 day trek to Macchu Picchu, the lost Inca city tomorrow.....
