A toast to Perú

In one hour, I will be loading my backpack into a taxi, driving along Avenida Arequipa to La Marina and then to the airport to start a month of travels through South America. I've been reflecting a lot on Lima in the past week as my time here (for now) comes to an end.

As a final goodbye, I thought I would write a toast to Lima.

Here's to a city of 9 million people struggling to develop, a sprawling, active home to countless neighborhoods and people. Here's to the incessant honking in the streets, the jumps of adrenaline from near crashes, and the confidence of knowing where I am going. Here's to the strong presence of the indigenous culture, the traditionally dressed women I pass on the street. Here's to Peruvian pride, the signs that proclaim "somos Perú" (we are Perú), and the perpetually terrible Peruvian soccer team.

Here's to late nights at the discotech and evenings passed sitting on the roof. Here's to not being able to communicate, to working on my Peruvian accent, and to finally making it through a conversation without asking "what?". Here's to opening myself up to new people, to being able to identify changes in myself and to being proud of who I've become. Here's to traveling both near and far, viewing the most wonderful sights, and feeding a love to know. Here's to getting everyone through a trek, to meeting someone who does not know what McDonalds is, and to shopping in a traditional market.

Here's to getting cheated, to bargaining for Peruvian prices. Here's to completing errands, to visiting the pharmacy, to getting my glasses fixed.

Here's to sharing cultures, sharing food, sharing time, sharing love. Here's to feeling that pain in my stomach and pressure in my throat that reminds me of my sadness leaving. Here's to the wonderful workings of the brain that allow me to hold my memories of Perú in hand. Here's to old friends and to new adventures. Here's to life.