I live in a place...

I live in a place where summer meant Christmas time, where Christmas day is spent playing in the waves and soaking up the sun while sand gets stuck in places it shouldn’t ever be in. I live in a place where rain floats down from the sky like snow and is never in large quantities. I live in a place where it is perfectly normal to see 7 year old girls holding and taking care of their baby brothers and sisters while their Momma is out working. I live in a place where they speak a language I don’t completely understand. I live in a place where I have foothills bordering on mountains in my backyard. I live in a place where if you step outside in flip-flops and stray from the sidewalk, your toes would be buried in sand. I live in the place where it is a rare sight to see a tree taller than me.

I live in a place where close friends are few and acquaintances are plenty. I live in a place where poverty has an iron hold, where the line between rich and poor is extremely distinct. I live in a place where squatting on abandoned property and saying you live in a mat hut the size of a small shed isn’t unusual.

I live in a place where belching is considered downright rude. I live in a place where the darker skinned you are, the more mean looks you get. I live in a place where when I go into the streets or cities, wolf-whistles and curious looks are all I receive from the locals. I live in a place where white people are glorified and all are considered rich. I live in a place where air conditioning and heating are nearly unheard of and only used in large buildings like grocery stores. I live in a place where the government is corrupt. I live in a place where children run around barefoot, in danger of stepping on broken glass and nails because their family can't afford shoes. I live in a place where dogs are not pets, but guards, and are beat and starved. I live in a place where seeing a cat is practically good luck.

I live in Peru.

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Hope you liked. It's a bit rough yet, but it's a glimpse into what I experience down here.

~Vicki