Written By David Gomez
It is sometimes difficult to live in a place so far from where you were born or raised. It’s even harder to come back for a few days and not feel nostalgic for the past. As many readers already know, I am originally from Lima, the capital of the South American country of Peru. I had the opportunity to travel for eleven days of vacation.
It was a short, comforting and very nostalgic vacation. I was also able to see my very extended family whom I had not seen for three years. It’s amazing how time goes by so quickly. I was surprised to see my maternal grandparents who, despite their age, have so much energy and enthusiasm for doing things. I have their promise that perhaps next year they will visit me here in Canada. The idea makes me
very happy.
Those eleven days have made me reflect a lot on the great differences that Canada and Peru have, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of having made the decision to leave my country of origin. However, I think it is important that we locate Peru historically, in order to understand more of what I am trying to explain. Peru is an ancient country; for example, the Caral civilization is more than five thousand years old – located about 183 km north of Lima - and is the oldest culture in America and the third in the world. For thousands of years many fascinating civilizations and cultures ruled the great and very diverse Peruvian lands. The Incas were perhaps the last empire I could mention now, although there were many others throughout the Andes, the large Pacific coast and the Amazon jungle.
When the Spanish conquerors arrived, the Inca empire was in a terrible civil war between two brother kings who wanted to take power. This terrible situation, including the help of other indigenous civilizations opposed to the Incas, led to the formation of the Viceroyalty of Peru in a few years in 1532 and the founding of the city of Lima in 1535.
Unfortunately, Peru has been marked by political and social chaos since its conception. Corruption, socioeconomic inequalities, and political violence have been and continue to be the bases that sustain Peruvian reality since colonial times. Currently, to these three factors we must include the constant insecurity, which has begun to expand not only in Lima, but in different cities and towns of the country.
During the 80s and 90s, we experienced a terrible armed conflict that caused thousands of deaths. We lived among the infamous violence caused by a Maoist terrorist group called the Shining Path, and also by the barbaric violence of the national army and police forces. Thousands of cases of sexual abuse, forced disappearances, and mass annihilations took place during this time. Everything got worse with the arrival of the dictatorship of the Japanese-Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori. He destroyed the remaining democratic institutions and controlled the country until the year 2000. After that, we have had weak democratic governments that have been controlled by excessive corruption and disgusting lust for power.
Nowadays, we have a female president who is accused of having ordered the murder of more than 50 people during protests against her government two years ago, including minors and medical volunteers. Furthermore, control of parliament by far-right parties makes the political and legal situation in my country more and more terrible.
I know this description can be depressing. And yes, it is depressing, but at the same time I always remain hopeful. Now I live in a country supremely more democratic than Peru, and I feel relieved and happy to know that my family can grow with tranquility and peace. The simple fact that I can practice free and independent journalism says a lot about the possibilities that can still be exercised in Canada. I also know there will always be problems or interferences as in any society or country, but I feel they are manageable because Canadian political institutions have been formed under the mandate of the law and deep respect for freedom and equality. There is much more to say about what my vacation has done to me, and I will probably write about this in future editions, but one thing I am completely sure of is how happy I am to call Canada my home.
