Ways That Peru is Better Than The US
Posted on | May 3, 2012 | 31 Comments
Photo credit: kconnors from morguefile.com
Ok folks – as I promised with the last post, this post is going to be a rebuttal. 
And that last post sure got a lot of talk! People definitely have their opinions. I’m just glad that no one got mad at me and told me to go home if I thought Peru was so bad – because I love Peru! It’s been my home for 8 years, which is actually longer than I’ve ever lived in any one spot before. We may have changed houses a couple times, but we’re still about 10 blocks from where we first started here. And we just signed the lease for another year- bless my landlady for not raising the rent.
Now, like I said with the last post – this is all just my own personal observations; your experience in Peru may be very different. And in many ways, I’m comparing Lima with Cape Canaveral, Florida – the town I come from – as much as it is Peru with the US. So here we go!
1. FOOD! Can any list of great things not include food? Ceviche makes it all worthwhile in my book. But the food that I really love the most isn’t the main dishes – it’s the street food. Maybe if I came from NYC or Chicago – other cities famous for street food – I’d feel differently. But I love stopping off for anticuchos or empanadas or pollo broaster (deep fryer chicken). It’s so so so good! One of our very favorites is a cart on Av. Domingo Orue that sells sandwiches – big giants sandwiches, about 6 or 7″ across and so tall you can barely fit them in your mouth – loaded with chicken or hamburger or chorizo and topped with a fried egg, bacon, shoe string potatoes, lettuce, tomato and all the creams!
2. Health Care – I was just talking to my friend Rachael about this over on Facebook. Her little daughter was sick with a fever; it took two days to be seen by a doctor, and even then she didn’t even get a doctor but a nurse practitioner. And this is with insurance. Here in Lima, you show up at the clinic and they usually see you within 30 minutes. A few years ago, one of the boys cracked his head open on the playground at school and needed stitches. It took us longer to drive to the clinic than it did for him to get taken care of. The whole thing – exam, stitches, antibiotics – was less than $25. If I’d had to go to the ER back home with my previous insurance, I’d have had to pay my co-pay of $50 before they’d even look at him.
3. Transportation – This is another one that might be different if I came from a big city, but I love the transportation here. Taxis, buses, combis, micros, coasters… I don’t care that they’re run down and crowded. I love that I can get anywhere in the city I want to go for under a buck. And I just have to walk right out in front of my house to catch a bus.
4. Weather – I can deal with heat okay, but I really dislike cold weather. That’s why I love the mild weather here in Lima. I may complain about the clouds and humidity sometimes, but it’s worth it to know I’ll never, ever, ever have to deal with snow, ice or below freezing temperatures.
5. Prices – There’s been a lot of conversation about this over on the expatriate forums, lately – living in Peru isn’t as cheap as it used to be. And it’s true – when I first moved here, we lived for under $1000/month – now it takes us nearly $2000. Now part of that is we’re living larger than we used to – kids in a more expensive school, paying more rent. But part of it is also that there’s been a lot of inflation here. And with the falling dollar, my income doesn’t go as far as it used to. BUT! I know there’s no way that I would be living in a house as nice as this one, with two kids in a private school on less than $2000/month if I were back in the US.
6. Open Windows - ok, I know this goes against what I said on the other post about central air and heat; but I really do love having the windows and doors open all the time. At home, I was so nervous leaving windows open because even with our alarm system I worried that someone might come in through the screen. And forget about leaving the front door open. Here, I leave all the windows thrown wide open and the back door to the garden is open pretty much day and night all year. I love the fresh air and the feeling of being practically outside in the garden as I sit here and work. Of course, a lot of this is possible because of…
7. Walls – I don’t care what anyone says – I love the walls around the homes here. I love the fence and gate across the front of our house; I love the giant wall that encloses the back yard, making it feel like a secret garden. I love the sense of security I have with the walls. When I lived in Florida and heard a noise in the house at night, my first thought was “Drug crazed murderer!” Now when I hear a noise at night, I just hope it’s not a dog or a kid throwing up. 
8. Bodegas and Panaderias – From the day I moved here, this has been one of the best things about Lima for me. In most neighborhoods, there is a bodega and/or a panaderia on just about every block (bodegas are little stores, panaderias are bakeries). Even better is if you live next to a pasteleria – a cake bakery! That’s the only thing I don’t like about the home we live in now; the area is very residential, so there are no little bodegas as close as I’d like them. Most bodegas carry all the little necessities that you always run out of, some also carry a small selection of fruits, veggies or even fresh chicken. They can be a life saver when you forgot to get something for lunch. And of course, it’s wonderful to be able to pick up freshly baked bread every evening.
9. Markets – I’ve talked about the city markets before in great detail, so I won’t do it again here. But oh, how I love the markets! The prices are great, and you never know what you might come across that you didn’t even know you needed.
10. A More Laid Back Lifestyle – I always felt so stressed out in the US. Life was so hectic. I feel like my life is much more laid-back without as much emphasis on how much we can “get”. Peruvians tend to be less stressed out about life, and tend to have a better sense of humor about things.
I like that.
(If you missed it, check out Ways that the US is Better than Peru)
Comments
31 Responses to “Ways That Peru is Better Than The US”
Leave a Reply
Live your dreams and your passions.
Isn't that why you left home in the first place?
Need Secure Transportation in Lima?
Enjoy Your Time in Peru More by Taking
About
I got tired of life happening while I made other plans, so I quit my job and came to Peru. I live here with my Peruvian husband, two sons, three dogs and various other family members, depending on the weather.
Watch LIVE TV from the US for Free!
Thinking of Moving Overseas?
Expat Women Blog Directory
May 4th, 2012 @ 00:44
I know all about the debet that can go on regarding the US vs Peru. I am all for moving to Peru, wanting to escape to what I feel would be a better life style for me. But my wife Maria whom was raised in a small village called Chala then living in Huancayo till she was 21 does not want to move back to Peru.
I see a future there, she does not. I would go to work for Plaza Vea in a minute. She reminds me that I don’t speak Spanish. I want to help people in need, she again reminds me I don’t speak Spanish. We will be spending a month there this summer. Can’t wait to show her just how well I will get along.
Great post Kelly
May 4th, 2012 @ 01:20
I loved reading this post, Kelly! Makes me want to move to Peru. I’ve watched several Travel Channel shows that sure make it look like a great place, including all that fabulous food!
Having lived in a number of countries around the world, I have learned to value the “less hectic” part of life. It’s what I want more than anything else.
I’m glad you appreciate all the good things your new country offers.
Miss Footloose | Life in the Expat Lane´s last [type] ..Of Expat Despair and Turkish Delight
May 4th, 2012 @ 02:40
Abe – I understand how it could be hard for someone to want to come back, especially if they struggled for years to leave! Living here can be very difficult, but I feel like it’s worth it for us.
Hey there Miss FL! If you ever make it down here, you better put coffee with me on your itinerary!
May 4th, 2012 @ 03:07
Kelly, absolutely! Would be lovely to have a coffee and chat!
Miss Footloose | Life in the Expat Lane´s last [type] ..Of Expat Despair and Turkish Delight
May 4th, 2012 @ 06:31
Thank you, I have made several trips to Peru and this article has expressed my feelings exactly why at age 65 I am working toward moving from south Florida. The only thing you left out for me is the weekends in Barranco. I love the food area, I just don’t know when to stop. At least I can work it off with a walk down to the beach and back.
May 4th, 2012 @ 09:16
Oh, my God, Kelly! You hit it right out of the ballpark! From your first point – about the food, I thought “Ah ha! This is why I like this woman!” By the time I reached the end, I realized our lists are identical. The transportion, the medical care, the wonderful bodegas, panderias and pastelerias! I adore the street food and will probably have to go out now in search of that cart on Domingo Orue!
Great post!
May 4th, 2012 @ 10:40
James – weekends in Barranco are lovely! That’s another place on our “short list” of places we’d like to live. I also like weekends near Parque Kennedy, when the artists and artisans have all their work out on display.
Lauris – those sandwiches are sooo good – about 6 soles, but they really fill you up.
May 5th, 2012 @ 11:37
If you want to attract the attention of someone you don’t know, just shout “flaco” or “chino” or “joven” or “amigo” or whatever fits with no worries about insulting them.
May 6th, 2012 @ 13:23
Hello Kelly,
I am happy that you enjoy living in Peru. Your blog is a pleasure to read because you are so generous in sharing your love of Peru with others.
In regards health care in Peru, however, I do not share all your enthusiasm. I think patients can receive health care that is very good, equivalent to what they would find in the US, if they choose their physician and “clinica privada” carefully, and do not have a major disease with many complications and a poor prognosis, requiring surgery, the latest medical devices, and expensive patented medications.
In the US, there are national guidelines for the treatment of most every disease, including which medications to use. These guidelines are developed by national boards of medical specialists, often hundreds of specialists are involved in the review of all the research literature on the treatment of the disease. A consensus on the best treatment is reached after an exhaustive analysis of all the evidence provided by the research, and then a statement on the best course of treatment indicated by the evidence is published. Thus, for most diseases we could think of, like an ear infection or asthma in a young child, a sexually transmitted disease in a young adult, or high blood pressure or diabetes in an older person, there are guidelines for health care providers to follow when treating patients.
I have had medical treatment recommended at a prestigious “clinica” in Lima that clearly did not follow these medical guidelines. When my elderly relatives have been treated by physicians in Lima, they have been prescribed medications that are contraindicated in the elderly. These medications are not recommended because, in the aged, there is research evidence that they are a health risk. The US national medical guidelines, and reliable information on medications, are available on the Internet, yet were not followed by the Peruvian physicians that my relatives and I met.
US institutions like the National Library of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic, have a lot of very good information on diseases, treatments, and medications written for the general public available on the Internet. I would recommend reading these websites, and being well informed, before visiting a health care provider in Peru if it is for anything more than a minor injury.
And, finally, about your comment on nurse practitioners: The website of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners is a good place to start for information on their educational background and scope of practice. There are many studies published in peer-reviewed journals showing that nurse practitioners provide excellent care to patients, and that patients are pleased to have them as their health care providers.
May 6th, 2012 @ 18:37
Great post Kelly. My experience with the clinic when I got sick in Lima was very pleasant and satisfying. Living in the US, I can tell you that all the National Guidelines, etc. doesn’t guarantee the best health care. My advice no matter where you get health care, always be an intelligent patient and do your research before you accept any procedure or treatment from any doctor. Evidently, the 911 system is better in the US, as you have experienced.
May 6th, 2012 @ 19:26
Sonia – two days after I wrote this post, my step-brother died unexpectedly in the US. He had been having trouble for over a year with blood clots forming in his lungs. Because it made him unable to work, he lost his job and insurance. Without money or insurance, he was unable to get the medical care he needed. The doctors didn’t seem to be too interested in finding out why a 47 year old man who didn’t smoke, drink or do drugs was having this problem.
Like Mom says up there – all the guidelines in the world can’t guarantee adequate health care.
I’m lucky that I trained as an lpn in the Army and have a fairly good idea of what goes on with health care. I’ve been much more pleased with doctors here than I ever was at home, where you are hustled in an out of the office as quickly as you can. My experiences with my elderly grandparents was that doctors would sometimes visibly sigh when we tried to get more detail or question a treatment.
In fact, the only doctor I ever felt very comfortable with in the US was Peruvian (this was several years before I came to Peru)
My experiences with medical treatment here in Peru have all been positive, without exception.
And I didn’t mean any disrespect to nurse practitioners! I know they work hard and do a great job. Not all cases require being seen by a physician, and NPs are a great way to reduce medical costs while providing top notch care.
May 7th, 2012 @ 03:27
So we can safely say that there are a lot more important things than to be living in the US. For me, the best thing is that the cost of living is definitely way lower if you live somewhere else.
Harold´s last [type] ..where to find cheap travel deals
May 8th, 2012 @ 12:16
I wholeheartedly agree and would add: spontaneous parades/fiestas. =) Maybe this is just a Huancayo thing, but there’s always some event going on here whether it’s the flag-raising or a dance show or a Miss Something. =P
Also, warmth from others. People are more willing to take you into their homes, introduce you to their families and friends, and invite you to their weddings. =P I just had the lady who did my husband’s passport invite me to her wedding! =P
Samantha Bangayan´s last [type] ..Marriage in Peru: The Easy Way
May 8th, 2012 @ 14:23
Oh, I love the “antorchas” that the kids do on the anniversaries of their schools. We get these little parades through the street with all the kids carrying lanterns, usually a float and a band too. One year, the boys’ school had everyone bring a pet in costume – we put a dress on Reina and she was a (literal!) queen of the parade.
May 15th, 2012 @ 02:03
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for sharing with us this kind over view, hope you can share some more with us…
May 17th, 2012 @ 04:43
Oh god how I miss central heating so much!!!I’ve been living in Huancayo for almost three years(I do ESL teaching at “UNCP”)and it gets cold here at nights!!!After all we’re 10,00 feet up in the air but I still deeply miss not having central heating in my house.Will I stay here forever in Peru?Probably not!I miss the north american life-style as well as the diveristy of so many different peoples we have back in the states.I will eventually go to asia to ESL work because it pays more!
May 17th, 2012 @ 16:59
I imagine the cold is a lot worse up there in Huancayo than it is here in Lima – brrrr! We just bought a little radiator heather to keep in the kid’s room during the coldest part of the year – with the house so open, it does get chilly.
May 29th, 2012 @ 04:42
I just found your blog by searching for a lomo saltado recipe, and am loving reading through your blog archives! I grew up in Ecuador (an American expat kid) and now am an expat living in Indonesia, still homesick for all things Ecuadorian. I think a lot of the things you love about Peru are things I loved about Ecuador, too! Boy, I sure do miss the bread… they don’t really eat bread here in the part of Indonesia where I live. Ecuadorian food is still my comfort food… potato soup, ceviche, lomo saltado, arroz con pollo, potato pancakes, etc, etc… yum! Great blog, and I look forward to reading more of your posts
Junglewife´s last [type] ..A lesson in answered prayer
May 29th, 2012 @ 14:20
I think all the S. American countries have much more in common than most of the natives care to admit! I talk to a blogger from Brazil, and a lot of the things she experiences are very similar to the things I experience here. Thanks for stopping by.
June 10th, 2012 @ 17:45
@Sonia
Your peaen to the tight government control of medical care in the US is a compendium of things that I came to Peru to escape. Good riddance. I prefer to be thoughtful and responsible for myself rather than a mindless, mewling, dependent of the bureaucratic state.
June 27th, 2012 @ 13:13
You got to be kidding, healthcare I’ve been to Peru many times and would be afraid to go to the doctor or visit a hospital there they are so informal I just don’t trust them, as for the food, there is a greater variety of cuisines here in the US why even compare here you can find everything from Ethiopian to Peruvian who’s behind are you kissing. You live in Lima and you talk about laid back please. Lima is chaotic, dirty, with corruption flying all around. Back to healthcare my mother in law is Peruvian she went back to Peru to have a procedure done came back to the US and I had to take her to emergency due to a badly done job in Peru. Must be all the smog going to your brain. Sorry to disagree with you but you paint a picture that is not realistic my dear.
June 27th, 2012 @ 22:35
We need to get Esteban to start a group to tell everyone how horrible Peru is before everyone starts coming here. As more and more people hear those of us who live here continuously saying good things about Peru, there will be a rush to move here, which will tend to destroy much of what we love about the place as it is now. I recall that years ago when all the californicators were moving to Seattle, there was a big push among those who already lived there to put out false negative information in order to keep people away. Unfortunately it didn’t work and people kept flooding in, but maybe we should try it here.
LaurisB´s last [type] ..The Real Estate Boom Continues
July 18th, 2012 @ 23:34
Hi Im peruvian, I live in FL, Im going back to Peru next month and I have a 5 year old kid, he speaks english and dont want to talk in spanish, how did you donwith your kids, I really want to go back and make him as peruvian as I am, thanks by the way your article was great
July 19th, 2012 @ 13:50
Hi Carlo – I didn’t really have an issue with kids, because I’m the stepmom and my kids are Peruvian. But I would guess that once you get here with your son, and there’s only Spanish being spoken around him, he’ll get into it pretty quick. Kid’s can’t stand for people not to listen to them, so he’ll do whatever it takes to get people to understand what he’s saying!
September 12th, 2012 @ 14:55
MAN I THINK THAT PERU IS ALOT BETTER THAN USA IT IS MORE LAY BACK LESS STRESSFUL WHICH MEANS MORE HAPPINESS LESS HECTIC, I WOULD LOVE TO LIVE THERE OR COLOMBIA LITTLE CITIES IN COLOMBIA MAN THEY ARE AMAZING ….
September 12th, 2012 @ 14:58
AND ONE OTHER THING GUYS THE WOMAN IS PERU OH MY GOD THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL GUYS THEYRE ARE TO DIE FOR TRUST ME …
September 22nd, 2012 @ 23:11
Food – IF you are not native or careful welcome to diarhea city! They must slaughter millions of chickens because there are chicken resturaunts every 100 feet.
Healthcare – there are decent clinics but also very shady and dirty clinics
transportation – i personally hate the transportaion. laws are a suggestion, people drive erraticly, always a ton of traffic with old junk cars that spew ungodly pollution that makes the city stink. my wife is peruvian and tells me of many occasions where taxi drivers kidnap and rape/rob/kill women.
weather – humidity sucks!
prices – i agree things are cheaper EXCEPT anything electronic. technology is almost twice as expensive in Peru than the U.S. Oh and at markets if you are white or they know you are not peruvian they jack up prices. i always had my wife make all the purchases because of that.
open windows – can be ok if you live in a secure area. robbery runs rampant in peru.
walls – i think they look really ugly! but i understand why they are there, because people like to steal in Peru.
in all i think peru is a nice place to visit but i would never want to live there. its super polluted dangerous and corrupt. Also ive never seen a home not connected to another home. ive never liked that but thats just me. I think much of Lima is actually very ugly. Ive taken taxis through the ghettos of lima and thats some crazy shit! it makes Compton look like the Hamptons.
September 23rd, 2012 @ 06:55
WOW! I sure hope people reading this takes David’s post with a big grain of salt.
There is Good and Bad places and people in every place you live. The bigger the place the more Good and Bad. It seems that some people only look for Bad, but some of us are looking for the Good. My wife also is from Peru and I am from Kentucky. We now live in South Florida where you will find a lot of the same things that David finds bad about Peru. As for me, I am leaving next week for another trip to Lima and will be looking around for a place to retire. The food is great, the people are friendly, there are beautiful places to visit, and at an affordable price.
But you must remember, I am one of those that look for the Good.
Ps Driving is different, but I always liked bumper cars at the State Fair.
September 24th, 2012 @ 00:27
I have to agree with you, James – I guess I’m just more of a glass half full sort of person.
September 28th, 2012 @ 10:23
I couldn’t agree more with your posts, though I do want to point something out. Not all of Peru is the same as Lima, heck, even parts of Lima vary drastically. Wherever you decide to live in Peru, your experience will be different. I lived in Trujillo for 2 years and there are some big differences.
Food: If you ask most Peruvians, it’s likely that they will say that the northern part of the country has the best food. I lived in Lima for about 10 weeks, and as far as I could tell I did enjoy the food in Trujillo more.
Healthcare: While I was living there I tore a muscle in my hip. I went to several different doctors in Trujillo and each one just told me that they couldn’t figure out why it hurt and told me to stay off of it and take pain killers. I finally ended up traveling to Lima just so I could have it checked out there. The clinic that I went to in Trujillo was one of the best in the city, but it still came far under the acceptable standard.
Transportation: Transportation in Trujillo isn’t as crazy as it is in Lima. The roads are less congested than they are in Lima. Be very careful if you are white though, they will try to rip you off unless you’re with a Peruvian or you know how much the normal fare should be.
Weather: Trujillo is called the city of eternal spring and it doesn’t have the eternal fog during the winter like Lima does.
Prices: About the same as far as I know.
Open Windows: Now I do love having the windows open, but during my experience I found that the more you leave the window open, the more dust gets in. Since I’m allergic to dust this didn’t really work for me.
Walls: I did enjoy the privacy of the gates and hidden courtyards.
Bodegas and Panaderias: Ok, now you’re just making me miss Peru.
Markets: I never went to a market in Lima, but the ones in Trujillo always kind of scared me. If you are unfamiliar with the market, consider taking a Peruvian who is familiar with it, with you. Several are huge and easy to get lost in, or have dangerous black market areas that you really don’t want to get caught in. This one is completely my personal opinion.
Laid back lifestyle: This was one of my favorite parts of living there. I had several roommates from Peru and most of them didn’t really care what you did as long as you wore something on your feet and didn’t sleep with the fan on.
I think the only other things that I would add to my list is Inca Kola and the rich cultural history everywhere.
Thanks for helping me remember all the great things about Peru! Now I just have to convince my wife to go visit with me.
September 28th, 2012 @ 15:28
Thanks so much for such a great comment. I did mention that I was mostly comparing Lima with my home town in Florida, because I really don’t have experience living in any other cities here, so I’m happy to hear opinions about places outside of the capitol.