Don't you love to learn about a new place before you get there? Getting to know the do's and don’ts in a completely new environment? I thought I would write a blog that does just that.
Through Ivey Global Lab, I had the opportunity to explore Peru and also work at Scotiabank. I'd argue that Scotia's presence is as big in Latin America as it is in Canada. It comprises not only of exquisite infrastructure but the most hardworking people. The similar culture is ubiquitous across most of the companies is what I gathered after discussions with my classmates from Ivey who were working for firms like OYM Brands, Redbus, Edifica, and Visanet.
Now let's talk about things to keep in mind before you reach Peru. First things first, Peru is not a very cheap place to live in. Traveling to other countries within Latin America by flight is not a low-cost affair. Therefore, It is important to plan your finances accordingly. Beware of people who exchange money on the roads at a better rate. There is a decent probability that some bank notes they give could be fake, so it is better to change your money at a registered exchange center. Although Peru is a developing country, the value of their country's currency is only half of that of Canada's.
Secondly, the culture is mostly westernized and the standard of living is quite high. Most people party until the wee hours of the morning on the weekends. They believe in the work hard play hard culture. Public display of affection is prevalent and they believe in flaunting their love and lifestyle.
Thirdly, Peru has great food, but there is a catch. The catch is that this fact holds true if you are a meat lover and there is a lack of vegetarian food. This has been, by far, my biggest struggle in Peru. There have been multiple instances where I have ordered a vegetarian dish and there has been either chicken or beef in it. Coming from a religious family, where killing animals is considered unholy, especially beef as cows are considered as the ultimate form of God in my culture, this was exceptionally hard. Although Peru is known globally for its good food, I, unfortunately, missed out due to lack of options. The guinea pig and alpaca meat also the Lomo saltado and ceviche with a side of choclo (corn)are delicacies of Peru and the famous Peruvian drink- chicha morada are the must-try items is what I've gathered.
The fourth thing to be prepared for is altitude sickness. It is important to eat coca leaves and rest before the strenuous hike to Machu Picchu or Rainbow mountain. It is also critical to carry a sturdy pair of shoes.
Also, it is necessary to carry a jacket to Cusco as it gets very cold in the night. The weather is opposite to that of Canada as Peru is situated in the southern hemisphere, thus, we experienced winter when most other countries were experiencing summer. The temperature averaged between 15 to 18 degrees, which was a comfortable temperature but cloudy and lacked sunlight for a large proportion of the time. Thus, it would be helpful to pack accordingly.
The fifth thing to know is that you must have a good internet connection at all times, because Google translator and Google maps are going to be your best friends, apart from the adorable Alpacas and Llamas of course! There are certain unsafe areas in Peru. For example, it is not the safest to stay near the airport in Lima. Therefore, researching beforehand would the safest choice.
The sixth thing that is helpful to know is that the rates are negotiable in person. When the local vendors know that you are a foreigner there are chances of you getting blatantly overcharged. Thus, it is important to make sure you check the prices online before buying a 100% alpaca wool sweater so you pay the right price. One thing that is cheaper if you buy it in person as opposed to online is the travel tour packages to the local places. For example, online you might find a Salineras tour for 50 USD which might roughly translate to 165 PEN, but in person, we got the package just for 50 PEN which is three times lower.
The seventh thing to be aware of is the earthquakes. We experienced four earthquakes in Lima, but it crucial to note that these were of very low impact and I slept through one of them like a baby. However, some areas of Peru are prone to dangerous earthquakes but most buildings are well equipped with specific architectural features to ensure that in case of a crisis, everyone is safe and sound.
The eighth thing to know is an unusual problem. In Peru, there is a dearth of washing machines in some places or when available, will cost you a whole lot to do it as it takes up a lot of electricity to dry clothes repeatedly in the dryer because thick clothes take an inordinate amount of time to dry naturally due to the high amount of precipitation. Therefore to save additional expenses, you can either hand wash clothes or give them to the laundry or "lavanderia" as they call it. Therefore, it is advisable to not wear light-colored clothes while hiking as the mud stains are hard to wash off.
The ninth thing to keep in mind is that English is used very rarely. Therefore, Spanish must be used to communicate with the vendors, to order food and even at work meetings. I had the privilege of attending Spanish school for a bare minimum of one week. There, I emphasized on this daily problem and learned to order food without any meat by repetitively chanting “sin carne” but in vain.
The tenth and what I admired the most was how strong the women were. My department is single-handedly supervised by a woman. Women here are confident, without generalizing or any personal bias, in my opinion. They do give importance to appearance, they wear the highest heels and are always well presented but at the same time, they are accountable and are brilliant at their job. The country is progressing steadily, the previously male-dominated culture in Latin America is now moving towards equality. Due to the economy, both men and women have to work to lead a good life. Peru is slowly moving towards removing pay parity and is endorsing equality in every way possible.
The eleventh inspiring aspect is the sheer diversity in the country. Peru is truly, in all its essence, synonymous with the definition of diversity. If I were told to describe a Peruvian, I probably would not be able to, as they comprise of all skin tones starting from the deepest blacks to the shiniest blondes, their eye colors also vary from glazed golden to blue. I could also see a variation in height in every street I walked by. Peru is also a travelers heaven, with the presence of not only the Wonder of the world- Machu Picchu, but also Rainbow mountain, Salineras, and many more attractions!
The twelfth thing is that people are extremely passionate about football. A popular football player was Scotiabank's brand ambassador. This shows how much the people look up to the players and respect the sport. I was fortunate enough to sense the pure unity and excitement that shines across people through sports. The Toronto Raptors won the NBA in Basketball, Peru were the finalists in Copa America and India is also the semi-finalists in the Cricket World cup. These respective sports showed me that although there are various cultural differences throughout the world, the love for their favorite sport is the same. The way they celebrate a win in Peru is by sitting in their cars and honking away to glory!
The thirteenth thing to be aware of is that Peru has its fair share of underprivileged and unemployed. Thus, unfortunately, in some areas, people will try to steal your valuable belongings, especially your phone. I was advised to carry my phone in the front zip of a purse that I held at all times. I also had a brief scare when I lost my GoPro camera. I was in absolute disbelief as I knew it had to be in the hotel and checked hours of security footage. Thankfully, I ended up finding it. Nonetheless, I have seen instances where phones have got stolen, thus, it is important to be extremely cautious.
The fourteenth and final thing to be prepared for is the insane amount of traffic congestion. It took us 45 minutes one way to travel 4 km to work every day during peak hours, which means we spent an hour and a half just on traveling. It would be a smart choice to account for travel time while planning your schedule!
I hope this article helps everyone who is planning to come to the exceptional country of Peru! I highly recommend the place as it is worth it.