Peru: DIVERSITY

That's for sure! The Ethnologue cites 107 different languages and cultures in Perú, a country of approx. 33 million, the population of California and the approx. size of the Canadian province of Alberta. But the diversity among its peoples and cultures is AMAZING! Approximately 14 active dialects of Quechua, most of whom live in the high alpine valleys of the Andes, itself with an approximate population of 8-10 million (roughly 25% Peru's population). 

If one travels across the country by plane, very little of this cultural diversity surfaces. By car? That's a different story, IF you visit Peru's back-country, whether coastal, mountain, or jungle. Since Pizarro's arrival these vastly distinct cultures have continued to survive: Whether hidden within their respective villages, or couched within the barrios jóvenes of the major cities. The languages and cultural traits continue to (not just survive but) flourish. 

While with SIL International in Perú, we were honoured to have worked with some amazing field linguists who were dedicated to preserving said cultures and languages. As a consequence, I attended seminars/workshops scattered across coast, mountain, and jungle regions. These trips were long yet very fulfilling, from all five empirical perspectives! Peruvians have a fiesta for everything and they KNOW how to celebrate in so many different ways! They also know how to grieve when death occurs and can honour others through both extremes.

Our family has had to experience all of these events: Good and bad. We have been indelibly affected by them. My 26 and 24 year old sons (Peruvian-American-Canadians) have NOW been able to express great appreciation for these experiences, many of which they remember in detail.

When you have friends, even family, who marry, and suffer through trauma unto death,... ALL of this tends to unite the participants, perhaps for life. Baptisms, school graduations, birthdays, hospital visits, marriage, and death... all of these diverse experiences DEMAND participation and response. This is why the Spanish word compasión is so much richer in meaning than just "compassion"-- One truly "bleeds heartfelt tears"-- whether of joy or suffering. These experiences have made us RICH!