The smog filled my lungs as I stepped out of the airport. As I inhaled the familiar scent, memories of my past life in Caracas, Venezuela played like a movie in my mind. “Hey what are you doing? Let’s go. “ My travel partner, Danny pointed to the way out of the airport as our travel companions marched on ahead.
This wasn’t Venezuela anymore. It took a while for me to realize that we were finally in Peru. Our hotel was a pathetic looking building which looked even worse after I had carried my bags up four flights of narrow, uneven steps into our room with hole filled walls that seemed to be on the verge of collapse. I could not believe that I would be spending the time with Danny in such shabby quarters. It was ten o’clock in the evening and I was suddenly questioning my sanity. Why did I sign up for this? Could I still go home?
My thoughts were quickly cut off by Danny asking if I wanted to take a shower first. I shrugged and mumbled, “Sure.” The thoughts of a warm, relaxing shower were coldly dashed when I saw something that made my eyes grow wide. A hole the size of my body lead directly to the public co-ed showers outside. I looked at Danny who had a look of disbelief in his eyes as well. We were probably thinking the same thing at that very moment. It was going to be a very long time before we both experienced our warm beds and enclosed showers.
I lay on a worn out mattress while trying to remove thoughts about the inconveniences I would be experiencing for the next few days from my mind. The cold breeze crept into the room, causing me to clutch and rub my body in an effort to warm myself while my teeth chattered away. Mr. Sandman was an elusive visitor for me that night. It was almost sun up when I finally drifted off to sleep thinking about how I was going to survive this trip.
The windows in the room did not have any curtains or blinds so the sunlight hit my eyes directly the minute it came up. It was time to get out of bed and get ready for the day. After a simple breakfast of bread and tea, the leaders assigned us a couple of verses to help us meditate. I tried to concentrate on my meditation but had a constantly nagging feeling inside me. I found myself stepping out onto the roof where I was greeted by what I later was told to be a murky grey colored sky. The color of the heavy pollution of the city.
Beneath all that carbon monoxide stood tiny shacks where people actually lived. I wondered how they managed to survive in such squalor. For me, it was unimaginable that the Peruvians could be thankful for the way they lived their lives. All I could see was turmoil and a citizenry that needed help. But how could I help make their lives better?
Later in the day, our group was gathered and told that we would be moving to a hostel. I heaved a quiet sigh of relief nothing could be worse than what I had come to term as “This cave of a hotel. ” The hostel was a marked improvement over our previous tower terror. With its brightly lit interiors, cleaner surroundings, and sealed up walls, I felt selfish that my spirits were being lifted. I felt like a jerk for enjoying this comfort when there were people living like hogs right outside the hostel door.
Night seems to arrive early in Peru. We were advised to attend the local church service as this would be our first real meeting with the locals. After donning my nice dress shirt, I slipped into a gleaming pair of new slacks and grinned as I inspected my final look in the mirror. Chuckling a little as I realized how silly I was being.
The church was nothing like I was used to back home. The church reminded me of our first hotel. Only this time we had walls and no roof. Even though I was too nervous to think about trivial matters, I still scolded myself for not wearing something warmer.
Finally, the church’s band got set up on stage and the speaker took the podium. I couldn’t make out what he was saying but I could feel from the eager fingers of the band members that something special and exciting was about to come up. The What happened next left me in awe.
The very people whose houses were pitifully tiny, had such a difficult time simply getting food on their tables, were robbed of blue skies, and had to drink filthy water, got up from their seats. As the music started, they began dancing their hearts out. Danny and I glanced at each other with dazed looks. Before we could think, the biggest grins came onto our faces and without realizing it, our whole group was up with the Peruvians, flailing our arms and legs as it if could be called dancing. We were all swearing like pigs, but it didn’t matter. I felt a most profound feeling of freedom and inner peace that I never wanted to let go. It captivated my heart to see that they were thankful amidst such barren times.
I set foot in Peru thinking that I would be able to effect a huge change and immurement for these people. Instead, the opposite happened. They taught me more than I could ever teach them. For the first time in the 16 years of my life, I came to realize how much I had to be thankful for. To appreciate even the darkest and most grim moments in my life because no matter what happens, I will always have a loving family and loyal friends to keep my hopes up.
