Peruvians know babies. Peruvians LOVE babies. Peruvians make it known that they love babies and know babies. When Peruvians see Amelia, their faces light up. When they find out she was born in Peru, they are thrilled, often thanking me for having her here. Amelia is a lucky baby to be born and raised in …
By Danielle L. Krautmann A local celebrity How did it get to be this late? I’m lying on Violeta’s bed in her one-room home in Baños del Inca. Actually, it’s not just her bed, she shares this queen-sized mattress which sits on cinder blocks with her husband and 11-year-old daughter, Alejandra. It’s four o’clock in …
By Danielle L. Krautmann “Six months ago, I was living in Seattle with roommates, working as an occupational therapist for a home health company. Now, I am a housewife in Lima, Peru.” Can you believe that in January I celebrated my one-year anniversary of living in Peru? This country and I have had a turbulent …
Culture shock refers to feelings of anxiety, depression, or confusion that often go along with adjusting to life in a foreign country. The process of adjustment can be broken down into three stages: The Honeymoon Stage, The Negotiation or Frustration Stage, and the Understanding or Acclimation Stage. The Honeymoon stage generally occurs when you first …
An American in Peru What time is it? Every greeting starts with a buenos dias (good morning), buenas tardes (good afternoon or evening), or buenas noches (good night). This is fine and dandy, but sometimes adds to my anxiety of beginning a conversation, entering a store, or asking for directions. In addition to figuring out …
