Peru
As a developing 3rd-world country, you may have to do without some of the comforts and efficiency that we all enjoy in the United States. Even when we go as servants prepared to make sacrifices, the vast differences in North and South American culture can still be a surprise. With that in mind we would like to mention a few differences so that your travel and service might flow smoothly, and so that you would have slightly clearer expectations. It would be impossible to list all of the differences that might be challenging; however we do want to mention a few.
Ø First, there may be a lot of waiting in line. Peruvians are accustomed to waiting in lines from 30 minutes to over an hour with no visible aggravation.
Ø Service in restaurants is often slow and your food may arrive at different times from others in your party.
Ø You may also have to wait a while for a waiter or salesperson to find change from someone else and bring it to you after you have paid your bill.
Ø Peruvians are a relatively quite culture. They are often very soft spoken and not loud, rowdy and rambunctious as we North Americans often are.
Ø First, there may be a lot of waiting in line. Peruvians are accustomed to waiting in lines from 30 minutes to over an hour with no visible aggravation.
Ø Service in restaurants is often slow and your food may arrive at different times from others in your party.
Ø You may also have to wait a while for a waiter or salesperson to find change from someone else and bring it to you after you have paid your bill.
Ø Peruvians are a relatively quite culture. They are often very soft spoken and not loud, rowdy and rambunctious as we North Americans often are.
Ø When in Peru, carry your own toilet paper and, if you like, wipes or a little bar of soap to clean your hands. It is very rare to find toilet paper, paper towels, or soap in bathrooms, except in nicer hotels or restaurants—but don’t count on it being there, either. Please remember to always place your toilet paper in the trash can and not in the toilet.
Ø Water availability, water pressure, and hot water can be unreliable in Peru, particularly during the dry season, the time you will be visiting. You may step into a shower and find the water temperature fluctuates a great deal. Be careful not to get burned. Frequently, the water shuts off in the late afternoon and evening in the dry season.
Ø It is possible that you will not have a private shower in your room, so a shower schedule may be helpful.
Ø Bottled drinking water is widely sold, and we will try to provide filtered drinking water on the work sites as well. We mention this because we’ve found that previous groups appreciated a little heads-up.
Ø Finally, the currency in Peru is the Nueva Sol. The exchange rate is roughly 2.80 Soles to the US dollar. There will be an opportunity to change money once you arrive in Peru.
