2008 Jul 15 2008
1 A DAY, ARRIVAL IN LIMA
ALL'HOGAR
Lima 13 July 2008, at 22 local
My 35 hours of the day draws to a close. There are literally destroyed.
But we start with an order to revise this endless arrival.
The flight of the Peruvian national flag is not 'bad, because even', snack fake aside, I am crossing all asleep ...
And then the "bajada" for the landing ...
Mucha niebla, without discussion.
The misty gray Lima welcomes me with sympathy. The city 'seem (almost tetra) only after seeing the mist. That layer of something, I will say, "we do not ever go away" remains lassu 'was suspended on the City' to 30 meters high, it disguises from leaden skies, property and even a little 'sad.
That thick cloak of humidity ', which oppresses the immense town for almost eight months a year, and' call 'garu.
At the airport, where the air immediately feel so 'm'affatico heavy breathing, I expected Valentin, the driver dell'Hogar San Camilo.
From the driver's driving estrosa Peruvian hence I thought that Schumacher had to have a cousin that the Quechua and cousin must be unequivocally commands that the cart has the presumption of condurmi safely to their destination, including roads and total chaos.
Chat with Valentin, and I understand that if you "lead" in Lima, then you are a true ace of the steering wheel.
In the 16 km between the international airport Jorge Chavez, in the Province Costitucional de Callao, the center of the capital, already see 'of "everything" ...
In this white immanent, which is the sky of Lima, I see the case ...
Those in the district of San Cristobal, for example ... ubiquitous shacks made of sheet metal and rotten wood, a thousand, one supported by the views ... to appear as small squares of brown felt like a myriad of dice thrown there, in a vacuum ...
All'Hogar arrive (which I thank Valentín so already having a life ...), in the heart of Ciudad de los Reyes, so called "because 'founded January 6 - when I remember - the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro" (I said my friend peruano seconds after henrry).
The Hogar San Camilo is in a neighborhood by the name of misleading Barrios Altos (uptown), adjacent to the Convento de la buena muerte and a stone's throw from Parliament House.
Arrival and get catapulted into this fact of immense gardens and patios, corridors, ge nte, arcades, dormitories, kitchen and a thousand other meandering maze, through swarms of children who watch me curious: I am a white, tall and with the suitcases.
I come directly led by Father Zeffirino Montina, the head of the Italian center. I warmly fraternal spirit ( "I expected I was not so 'high' and 'the phrase that I have already elsewhere' heard ...), embracing as if I count on my arrival and could share with someone of the same culture and mentality ' , that his experience endless. E 'enthusiastic, and I with him.
I explained that today there are more than 400 children with their families from all over the Hogar Peru '(!!!) to wrangle Camillians Games, activities of' sports-entertainment for children. "They are all HIV positive" I said, as if to dispel doubt suffered some natural or potential confusion.
Smile, poso suitcases, and I put it to work: ie qu 'almost lunchtime.
Move dozens of chairs with an attendant who discovers lame 'called Esteban, distribute bowls of sopa caliente with Maribel and Aurora, two ladies on risolutissime fifty with the biceps of Cassius Clay, with whom conveniently and familiarises that presomi in sympathy, I recruit for the main courses: spaghetti scottissimi (here call them "tallarin) seasoned with pesto and tuna tremendous, above where you put 2 whole boiled potatoes, all washed down by a salsetta peppers piccantissima. It seems impossible, but you eat that "thing" ...
Opportunities for contact are many and easy, taking advantage of my position of power (cocinero) joke with some girl smorfiosa ... And I know Paul (Paul, as they call him here ...), the second and last Italian dell'Hogar.
Paul has 24 years and 'the project manager for international co operation center, and therefore what affects me. The torture of questions and curiosities', he meets beautiful and precise, perfectly understand my desire to know, know, understand.
Once you have fed half the world, consume a little 'of sopa together (sara' my seventh meal "today" ...) and then invites me to come out dall'Hogar to go to his Polish girlfriend who reached them '( she and 'Lodz, 200 km from Krakow and he calls Pauline, but I did not ask why' never ...), happy to accept ( "I make some pictures, I think), but look at me and said," laying the camera, here and 'dangerous', I run without alternatives. Tells me a lot of inefficiency and decadent living here that contrasts in inseparable mix ...
There are so drag 'on the end of the day placed entirely under the orders of General Zeffirino o. But is not 'yet here ... I have Gabriela, a girl like me voluntarily, Argentina Mendoza, who is here for almost 3 months. Together we prepare at least 300 sandwiches for children in the night to share their centers Peruvian ...
I stanchissimo, really ... I can barely even to exchange gossip with the loquacious Jesus, HIV-positive boy who dell'Hogar ' "happy that I am here," he says. Then the greeting to the children who leave (the girls hug me and kiss me, I beat the boys on five) and finally the last day of strong emotion: finished our dinner (we were only 50 ...) Father Zeffirino tells me: " Oscar, with Gabriela to feed the poor.. " There armiamo of the remains of chicken sopa and our dinner and leave the center, which means at night with a challenge Hulk scacciamosche.
Let us quickly about 500 meters walk with our pentoloni and, at the foot of a church, is formed in men who do not say a silent and orderly queue of about thirty people. They are marginalized and needy receiving the hot liquid with plastic bags and half bottles overturned ... are poor but with dignity 'to be ... a "photo" never forget that' never.
Returned to the center, now discarded, Father Zeffirino I made a room is prepared especially for me. I understand that giving is a luxury that I reiterated 100 times that I sleep alone and I have the "bath" in the room ...
Well, fly over, I say only that some of the basic shelters were the Sheraton Way compares ... but the fatigue and 'such and so that "I lighthouse' shower 'I think. Port adds: "Ah, the only thing 'that's not here' hot water, good night.." Register the information with a smile to Jack Nicholson. A men.
Closes so 'my day one.
What will happen 'tomorrow? Well, simple ... clear tomorrow ', what will happen'.
Hasta mañana, niños peruanos ...
Oscar
hello,
are marine, the younger sister of paolo. have happened by chance to read what I wrote ..
I was excited to hear so warmly to my brother and places to live (and where I was a few months ago).
I am writing to tell her that Pauline is the real name of the girlfriend of Paul ... I think that we have found ... paolo and Pauline, blond Italian and Polish blonde peruvian ....
Thanks for your contribution, Marina.
Sometimes the Internet and really small ...:)