Written By: Larry Pitman
People often ask me about how I first came to Lima. I have told this story many times, but recently I have been hearing a voice whispering to me while I tell this story. It really bothers me.
The first time I saw Lima was in 1980. I was on a business trip to Latin America.
Dang it! That’s a lie. Tell the truth
Some of my wealthy investors were so grateful for the excellent work I did for them that they made donations to give me a trip to Peru so I could scout for new investment opportunities.
You mean that you stole some money, and you were on the run from the law
I chose Lima to start my trip because there is a town in Ohio, where I am from, with the same name.
Come on. You threw a dart at the map of South America and the closest place was Lima.
Lima seemed like it would be a pleasant place. I was impressed by the airport when I arrived.
Let’s face it. Lima in those days was on its heels, a backwater. Just the kind of place you needed to hide out. The airport at Corpac was strictly small time
It was weird coming off the plane because I didn’t know anyone in the whole country. However, I liked the idea of a new adventure.
Oh yeah, really you were scared to death, but you didn’t have any other choice.You were just glad that the police were not waiting for you at the airport.
I asked the taxi driver in my finest high school Spanish to take me to the best hotel in town.
He took you all right, charging you three times the going rate.
That was the Hotel Bolivar. They have a great bar there and, of course; I had to try their famous Pisco Sours.
Yeah, that’s no surprise since you are a drunk
That was where I got my big break.
Of course, you found another drunk
I was sitting there a few days after I arrived and this guy and I start a conversation. He is a Peruvian named Fernando. He spent some time in Miami so he speaks pretty good English. We hit it off pretty good. After a few drinks, he asked me if I would like to go to a night club. I always enjoy the night life so I said yes.
You mean, you and Fernando took off to the local whorehouse.
Fernando and I got to be really good friends and before long I was almost part of his family. That is how I met my love, Liliana, Fernando’s sister. Then, when I married her, I did become part of his family.
They were desperate to marry her off and you were the only candidate.
Soon after we were married, they asked me to be a manager for one of their companies.
What else could they do? Then, they put you in a position where you could not do any damage.
Even though the economy went up and down, I figured out how to operate in Peru and I did well.
You were lucky to be in the right place at the right time.
Now I am president of the company and an important businessman in Peru.
You are still just a crook on the run.
Why don’t you shut the hell up? I don’t need you.
Silence
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Juana's Story
Written by: Larry Pitman
It was to be the happiest day of her life. One she had worked hard for sacrificed for and awaited eagerly. She loved Hilario and looked forward to the life they would share. Maybe they would even get married. That would be better for their three children.
She was a country girl. Her people were from the mountains and spoke only Quechua, but they were relatively prosperous. Hilario was different, his family was from Ayacucho, and spoke only Spanish.
Her family sent her to Ayacucho to attend school. That is where she met Hilario. They fell in love. Then, they decided to live together in silvina cui* following the traditional custom of the mountains.
Juana and Hilario lived in his modest family home along with his mother. Three children followed in rapid succession. Juana, a natural care giver, also took care of Hilario’s mother until she died.
It had been a long hard struggle, she reflected, but they had decided to invest in their future by selling his family’s land. Hilario could then study for his Engineering degree, and she would stay at home and take care of the children. Because the university was in Arequipa, Hilario was often gone, usually only coming home during vacation times. The absences had gotten longer as he studied at the University and the fifth, and last, year she barely saw him at all.
Finally, he had his degree, and she thought they would be together again.
Hilario , when he arrived home on that eagerly awaited day, was distant and preoccupied. Just as Juana started to talk about their future life together, he looked at her and said,
“You are an ignorant and uneducated person. I can’t introduce you to my friends from the University because you would embarrass me. Actually, I now have someone else, a real lady, who will be more suitable. Since this is my house, you and the children must move immediately. “
With these words, Juana’s hopes and dreams broke into a thousand pieces. Still, it wasn’t in her to plead with him. She had to submit. His word must be obeyed, and she had no choice, but to leave.
She told the children that they were going to visit family in Lima. That was all; they didn’t need to know that they were never coming back.
The relatives she had in Lima weren’t eager to welcome a woman with three small children. That meant that the little family had to move frequently over the next few years. But they did stay together.
Finally they found a makeshift home, modest and ramshackle, in Comas, one of the settlements around Lima.
Juana was a hard worker and a wonderful cook. She earned enough to support the family and make sure that the children got an education.The years went by. She had had a couple of lovers; unfortunately they only wanted to live off of her hard work.
Even though her children now had an education and jobs, one was an engineer, another nurse and the third, a teacher, Juana kept working. Still the care giver, her mother, very ill, now lived with her.
One day Juana opened the door, and there was Hilario. He was badly dressed, horribly thin and looking thoroughly defeated by life.
He said, “Juana, forgive me. I need you.”
She stood there in the door way looking at him for a long time. Then she slowly, gently closed the door.
*Silvina cui – a trial marriage where a couple lives together for a time before deciding to make it permanent.
It was to be the happiest day of her life. One she had worked hard for sacrificed for and awaited eagerly. She loved Hilario and looked forward to the life they would share. Maybe they would even get married. That would be better for their three children.
She was a country girl. Her people were from the mountains and spoke only Quechua, but they were relatively prosperous. Hilario was different, his family was from Ayacucho, and spoke only Spanish.
Her family sent her to Ayacucho to attend school. That is where she met Hilario. They fell in love. Then, they decided to live together in silvina cui* following the traditional custom of the mountains.
Juana and Hilario lived in his modest family home along with his mother. Three children followed in rapid succession. Juana, a natural care giver, also took care of Hilario’s mother until she died.
It had been a long hard struggle, she reflected, but they had decided to invest in their future by selling his family’s land. Hilario could then study for his Engineering degree, and she would stay at home and take care of the children. Because the university was in Arequipa, Hilario was often gone, usually only coming home during vacation times. The absences had gotten longer as he studied at the University and the fifth, and last, year she barely saw him at all.
Finally, he had his degree, and she thought they would be together again.
Hilario , when he arrived home on that eagerly awaited day, was distant and preoccupied. Just as Juana started to talk about their future life together, he looked at her and said,
“You are an ignorant and uneducated person. I can’t introduce you to my friends from the University because you would embarrass me. Actually, I now have someone else, a real lady, who will be more suitable. Since this is my house, you and the children must move immediately. “
With these words, Juana’s hopes and dreams broke into a thousand pieces. Still, it wasn’t in her to plead with him. She had to submit. His word must be obeyed, and she had no choice, but to leave.
She told the children that they were going to visit family in Lima. That was all; they didn’t need to know that they were never coming back.
The relatives she had in Lima weren’t eager to welcome a woman with three small children. That meant that the little family had to move frequently over the next few years. But they did stay together.
Finally they found a makeshift home, modest and ramshackle, in Comas, one of the settlements around Lima.
Juana was a hard worker and a wonderful cook. She earned enough to support the family and make sure that the children got an education.The years went by. She had had a couple of lovers; unfortunately they only wanted to live off of her hard work.
Even though her children now had an education and jobs, one was an engineer, another nurse and the third, a teacher, Juana kept working. Still the care giver, her mother, very ill, now lived with her.
One day Juana opened the door, and there was Hilario. He was badly dressed, horribly thin and looking thoroughly defeated by life.
He said, “Juana, forgive me. I need you.”
She stood there in the door way looking at him for a long time. Then she slowly, gently closed the door.
*Silvina cui – a trial marriage where a couple lives together for a time before deciding to make it permanent.
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