A couple of years ago, I traveled to Lima, Peru with my boyfriend for a conference he was attending. It was my first time in South America. We stayed in a nice area, Miraflores, a beautiful neighborhood that began to feel like home by the end of the week. What surprised me the most was the kindness of the Peruvians as I wandered through the city, an everyday blessing that I cherished each morning.

I quickly learned that working and living in Lima is not easy. According to a World Bank.org blog, “By 2022, Lima was ranked the fourth most congested metro area in the world.” I observed that reality directly as commuters crowded into public transit Metropolitano-standing room only, bodies pushed against each other with nowhere to move. I suspected most of the people I met working at our Marriott Courtyard hotel as well as the restaurants, shops, etc. were a part of this unbearable commute. Yet not once did I meet anyone who appeared to be agitated, rude, or even exhausted. When I visited a hair salon for an event, my hair stylist told me that she stayed with a relative in the area on workdays because her commute from home was too long.

As I walked the streets, driving looked more like a bumper-car ride at an amusement park than any organized traffic pattern. Drivers seemed to be accustomed to daily near-collisions, circumventing them with a shared resilience and understanding amongst them.

As a foodie, Lima was heaven! We went to Tomo Cucina Nikkei where I tried Nikkei cuisine-a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian elements-for the very first time. Once again, the kindness and hospitality of the Peruvian culture did not disappoint. It was our first dinner in Peru, and what a perfect way to start! (The photo at the top of this blog was taken at Tomo Cucina Nikkei.)

While we did not travel outside of downtown Lima, Peru, a story went viral in the Jicamarca suburb in 2025 that broke my heart. A young boy took his dog to school to be fed, because his family could not afford pet food. Showing the compassion that I witnessed in daily Peruvian life, the school principal comforted the crying boy and agreed to care for the dog.

Back in the U.S., whether caught the chaos of traffic or enjoying the privilege of pondering my next meal, I find myself thinking of the Peruvian people-and feeling a quiet reverence for how remarkable everyday life can be.