Lunch and Larcomar
Yesterday I visited Larcomar in Miraflores to meet up with one of my new exchange friends from Switzerland. After grabbing an extremely large coffee at Starbucks, (one of the downsides to just saying yes in response to a sentence in Spanish that you don't understand is that sometimes you get a bit more caffeine than you originally had in mind...) having a nice chat while walking through John F. Kennedy park, and stumbling upon a Swiss-inspired restaurant, we headed down the street for some absolutely delicious Asian cuisine. Believe me, it was to die for.
Soon after sharing stories over lunch, we headed up the steps to look over at the city skyline and out across the water just before sunset. After standing there a few minutes to talk, we encountered a Scottish photographer working for National Geographic who asked to take our photo. Upon learning where we were from, he asked, "So, how is it that you two came to know each other and become friends when you're from Switzerland, and you're from the U.S.?"
A good question, especially since we're both currently living in Perú, thousands of miles away from our respective continents. The answer, of course, is exchange, but although the answer is so simple, it often amazes me that I can have experiences like this so frequently. We had even just talked about the subject, knowing that we never would have imagined being in Perú, eating Asian food together, neither of us from the same location or way of life. It's incredible that we live in a world where we can experience and learn about so many people and cultures all at once, sometimes without even realizing it.
We also found out a bit about the documentary series that our local Scotsman was helping to film for National Geographic, and a story of his adventures while filming a part of it here in the jungle region of Perú. Then, after sending us our portrait, with some difficulty, ("Don't worry, [about not having internet or a phone number] I don't have an address." He joked,) and receiving our thanks, he disappeared.
Days like this where I get to share stories and experiences with people often reminds me of how grateful I am to be here living in Perú, going for walks in the city with friends in the afternoons and evenings, exploring beautiful places, making new friends from all around the globe, trying new foods, having crazy adventures every week, and, of course, taking lots and lots of pictures.
To me, my life here in Perú is a dream come true, and I'm beyond grateful for every second of it.
