One Car Ride Worth of Thoughts

As we drive from the aiport into town, I´m nervous and restless but I sit still and silent next to Stacey in the back seat of the car. I don´t like how erratic this driver is driving, I don´t like the dark smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes, I don´t recognize these faces as trustworthy ones. I´m feeling ill-prepared. Why did I pack so much crap? Why didn´t I practice my Spanish more? Good thing Stacey´s with me. I owe her a cerveza.

We´re stuck in traffic. I try to make small talk with Stacey´s friends parents in the front seat but it´s frustrating because of the language barrier. All I can do is say "Gracias" and then "Mucho gracias" with as much sincerity I can muster instead of "Thank you so much for being so accomodating to a complete stranger, your kindness makes me feel right at home." It´d be a lie anyway. I don´t feel at home. I tell them it´s my first time in Lima. It sounds like a question because I´m not sure I´m saying it right. I laugh out loud and then stop because I realize I can´t explain to them what´s so funny. The driver honks for a good 20 seconds. We still aren´t moving.

I catch myself thinking about how nice it would be to get back on the plane and head back to the 401. I slap myself, mentally. You signed up for this. Relax. Oh look, there´s a Starbucks, KFC and Burger King right next to each other. What a relief...

Actually, I´ve changed my mind, it´s not a relief. It´s sad that these megacorporations make me feel at home. Why do I even want to feel at home? I´m in Lima. Now I´m disappointed that `the man´ has got me brainwashed. How unfamiliar can this place be if I can still grab a Latte and Whopper? Why is it familiar even though I´ve never had a latte or a whopper in my entire life?

What did I expect? Familiarity and excitement rarely coincide. There´s no consistency to my emotions. My thoughts are going a mile a minute. For one mile I´m excited, the next minute, I´m tired. I steel myself. I´m ready. This is going to be fun.