I’m going home. Finally. It’s been three years since I was there last. It feels like a lot longer.
The trip takes pretty much the whole day since there are no non-stops flights from Denver to Lima. Still, I can’t wait for the smell of my beloved Pacific Ocean to hit me as soon as we clear customs and the airport’s doors open to the outside world. I can’t wait to be embraced by my loving family who will undoubtedly be out there waiting for us, regardless of the fact that we’ll be arriving after midnight.
I know my uncle — mi padrino and my mom’s only brother — will be there waiting for us, punctual as usual, standing among the crowd of people waiting impatiently until we lock eyes and he can breath easily because I’m finally home.
After the besos y abrazos, the introduction of the new family member — they haven’t met my son Santiago yet — the ‘qué bien te ves‘ y ‘cuánto has crecido,’ we’ll get in his car and make our way to my abuelita’s home, the only place that remains the same in the sea of change in all of our lives.
Last night, as we finished packing, my daughter, Vanessa, said:
– Estás feliz porque vamos a ir al lugar donde naciste, ¿verdad? (Loosely translated as: “You’re happy cause you’re going back home, right?”)
And I was beaming because I think she gets it.
While getting to spend time with my family and friends and devouring my country’s delicious and world-renowned cuisine makes me happy to no end, I’m even happier because I’m able to do this trip with my children. Santiago will probably not remember anything, but I know Vanessa for sure will.
Either way, I can’t wait to share mi tierra with them. They’re going to spend a lot of time with la familia: their great-grandmother, my uncles, aunts, cousins, their cousins and even my childhood friends, who now also have children of their own.
I’m taking my children to the same beach where I spent all my childhood summers, to the bilingual school where I — and all the other women in my family — went to which is right around the corner from my abuela’s house, and to the park where I learned how to ride my bike many, many years ago.
I’ll introduce them to ceviche and helado de lúcuma, my all-time favorite ice cream flavor, impossible to find outside Perú. We’ll visit the same places and do the same things I did when I lived there as a child. We’re even celebrating my godson’s third birthday and my own birthday over there!
I hope all of these experiences give my children a glimpse of (part of) where they come from and that, as they grow up and we continue to make these type of trips, they come to love, appreciate and long for their heritage.
Because, in the end, what better way is there to teach our children about their heritage than to actually show them, let them live it, feel it, hear it, smell it, and taste it, albeit for a very short time?
Have you taken your kids back home? How was that experience? Do you think they truly benefit from trips like this?
Oh, Roxana, I am so happy for you! What a moving post!!!!! These trips are priceless and essential for our polyglot tots!!! For them to live and breathe the air of our beloved countries is what they need to let them know why we want them to speak our language too!!! I’ll be looking forward to hearing about your experiences and how your children evolve! Beautiful!
Thanks for your kind words, Maria. We´re having a great time surrounded by family. I´ll be sharing pictures and more soon.
Great post! Very moving. I look forward to our first trip taking our daughter to my husband’s native Argentina. She’s only 3 months now, so it will be a while before she “gets it”, but I imagine it will be a lot of fun when she’s Vanessa’s age and can have that understanding. Buen viaje!
Yes, Laurel, your daughter is too little, but if you can find a way to try to go back on a regular basis, it´ll be totally worth it. My daughter is having a blast!
Well, I am from Atlanta. Both of my kids were born in California. So, I moved back to Atlanta so they could see where I grew up…and, it is good to tell them thing sabout when I was growing up..
I hope you have a great trip
Querida Roxana..
Si me hubieses visto la cara al leer to “post” como me emocione!! Casi lloro -
I had the opportunity to take Anabella (my 3 old daughter) back to Puerto Rico last Oct. We stayed for 3 weeks y todavia habla de “El Morro” , the “piragua: (ice cone” ) she had at the Old San Juan. She remembers and talks about the trip to the beach with her “Abito” my dad – and the sound of the coqui!
Disfruta cada momento y por supuesto nos cuentas..
~BTW- Feliz Cupleanos!!
Lo máximo, Dorita! Qué linda Anabella con lo del coquí! I think it’s really important to talk to them about the trip afterwards and to show them pictures and video to help them remember. It’ll be a while before we can go back — it’s so expensive! — so I plan on doing this to help keep the memories alive!
Amiga!!
I am so thrilled you finally got the chance to go back home. I know how much this trip means to you and how huge of an imprint this will leave on Vanessa.
Disfruten cada segundo.
My husband always teases me when I tell him that my kids are part Pittsburghers. He is convinced that since they were born in California, they are just So. Cal. boys. I know that from me they are getting the values that I acquired growing up in a blue collar town. As much as I love where we live, I hope that they will appreciate where I am from. If nothing else, they will be Steeler fans! Ha Ha! Have a great trip! Love reading about your adventures.
What a beautiful story Roxana! I enjoyed reading it. Have a fabulous time in Peru. I cant wait to hear more about it.
I’m not a mother, but I thought I would chime in anyway because my mother is Hispanic. I’ve been blessed to go to Honduras with my family five times, and I think it was incredibly important for my brother and I to see where my mom was born and raised. In a strange way, it has become home for us, even though it’s still very foreign in many ways. I definitely think that we benefited from going to Honduras, and that all kids benefit by visiting the places from where their parents come, because it’s a glimpse into a part of ourselves. Where our parents came from necessarily informs who they became, and in turn, who we become. I am so thankful to have been to Honduras as many times as I have: they have given me a glimpse into why and how my mother has affected me the way she has.
That’s awesome, Annie! Thanks for sharing. You’re so lucky your mom did this for you and your brother and it’s obvious it was worth it from the comment you write.
I’m so happy for you guys and Vanessa’s photo it’s just great!I look forward to following your trip
Querida Roxana,
Que lindo post! La pasaras fantastico con tus hijos. I was born in Peru, like you and I take my daughter to Peru every year. Two years ago, after one of our visits to Lima (donde viven los abuelos y tios) and to Colca Canyon (Arequipa), I wrote a post about the magical experience of sharing “tu tierra” with your kids (it is published on my blog Con Ojos de Mama). Read below. Hope you and your readers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed your post.
Besos y que tomen mucha chicha morada y helados de lucuma!!!!
Paola
La herencia hispana: criar a un hijo entre dos culturas
Posted 9/6/2009 12:30 AM CDT
Para mí, visitar el Perú, es esencialmente un acto de reencuentro. Apenas bajo del avión, me reecuentro con el típico cielo nublado de Lima y con el abrazo infinito de mis padres. Pasan los días y me reencuentro con mi hermano, con familiares, amigos y compañeros de universidad y vuelvo a encontrarme incluso con el taxista que solía llevarme al periódico donde trabajaba.
En Lima, de la que emigré hace nueve años, me reencuentro con las ricas sopas de mi madre. Con el ceviche, la papa a la huancaína y mi añorado pye de lúcuma. Y por supuesto, también con las postales urbanas que acompañaron mi infancia. El caótico tráfico vehicular. La infinita vista del Pacífico desde la Costa Verde. Las bohemias calles de Barranco. El barrio de La Victoria. El centro histórico de la ciudad.
Desde hace cuatro años mis viajes de reecuentro han cobrado un efecto todavía más bonito. Y es que en el vuelo que parte de Houston hacia Lima me acompaña siempre mi pequeña Emilie, una nena nacida en Canadá y cuya vida ha transcurrido, esencialmente, en Norteamérica.
Si para mí viajar a Lima es un energético rito de reencuentro, para mi hija la experiencia es, más bien, una aventura de descubrimiento. Una caja de sorpresas que guarda el español hablado por su madre y por sus abuelos; las marineras y valses que le canta mi padre; los sabores sublimes como el del ají de gallina y la chicha morada y, cómo no, esos personajes y rincones, anónimos y extraordinarios que, en Norteamérica, ella raramente vé: el zapatero que arregla mocasines y sandalias desde que yo era una niña; la surtida bodeguita de la esquina; el bullicioso puesto de carnes (pollos enteros colgando pico abajo) en el antiguo mercado de mi barrio.
Emilie ha visto correr vicuñas y llamas a campo abierto; ha apreciado boquiabierta el volcán Misti; ha descubierto que existe un tipo de maíz que es de color morado y ha quedado hipnotizada, como yo, al ver volar al cóndor andino.
Parece pues, para alegría mía, que la niña disfruta mucho de nuestras visitas al Perú y cada vez que la observo, sea bailando marineras, comiendo con gusto un plato de arroz tapado o charlando animadamente con mi madre, compruebo que su conexión con mi cultura es real y que además crece.
Acabamos de regresar a Houston y, porsupuesto, aquí también la veo muy contenta. En Norteamérica nació (al igual que su papi); acá está su familia primaria, su casa, sus amigos, los parques en los que juega hasta el cansancio, su escuelita y tantas otras cosas y aspectos que dan vida a su rutina diaria.
Por estos días Emilie está hablando más español que de costumbre -es el precioso efecto de pasar un mes en el Perú- y mientras la escucho pienso en lo afortunada que es. No sólo porque se comunica muy bien en dos idiomas, sino porque está descubriendo, desde muy pequeña, que en el mundo hay lenguas, razas, comidas, paisajes y, en síntesis, culturas diversas.
Que mi hija pueda sentirse cómoda creciendo entre dos culturas para mí es una fortuna. Estoy convencida de que esa disposición, si logramos seguir alimentándola en casa, le abrirá el camino hacia lindas experiencias.
Por ahora me basta y me sobra con saber que tiene a la cultura americana que la vio nacer y a la herencia hispana de su madre, muy juntitas en el corazón.
Gracias, Paola! Qué lindo lo que escribiste y qué cierto! Gracias por compartirlo con nuestros lectores. Yo me fui de Lima cuando tenía 14 años y lo cierto es que no viví ahí toda mi infancia ya que mi papi viajaba mucho por su trabajo, pero igual el Perú seguirá siendo mi patria hasta que me muera!
Qué suerte que puedas viajar a Lima con tu hija todos los años. Me encantaría hacer lo mismo, pero se me hace muy difícil económicamente además de tener que dividir nuestras vacaciones a Puerto Rico que es la patria de mi marido y a donde vive toda su familia. Por suerte, mi familia vive acá en Colorado, así que mis hijos están creciendo con su abuela, tíos y primos.
A propósito, a Vanessa, mi hija de 4 años, le fascinó la chicha morada, lo que me causó mucha risa xq yo de chiquita la tomaba por toneladas!!
Roxana! I can feel your joy, Amiga!
What joy to share culture and home with your children…
I have the same heart-exploding joy when I take Maria to Miami. I want her to experience the sun and palm trees and beach, and loud Cubans and pastelitos, and hugs from Tias and make it all a part of her story — just as growing up in Tennessee is part of her story.
Can’t wait to read more.
xo
Yes, it is a complete joy to share my culture and home with my children. But you just helped me realize something. In a way, for me Miami is also my home because I spent 21 years of my life there from when I was 14, so I guess next time I’m there, I’ll make sure to let her know a bit about that part of my childhood too!
So happy for you! I feel the same way when I land in Lima… it’s so special… I’m going back in 3 months for a visit and taking my two kids with me. Your post made me feel like a kid on Christmas Eve… I know it’s coming but it can’t be soon enough!
Enjoy and keep us updated
How exciting, Monica! How old are your kids? What do they think of Peru?
Roxana,
Lo vas a pasar de maravilla y tu hija va a quedar encantada con toda la familia!
La proxima vez que vengas a California, te llevo a todas las tienditas latinas que venden Helado de Lucuma!
Uy, qué suerte, Melissa! Aquí no existe nada así. Creo que en Miami había un par de lugares que vendían helado de lúcuma, pero nada como un vasito de vainilla y lúcuma Donofrio, no crees?
Vanessa quedó encantadísima con toda la familia y yo más de verla jugar con sus primos como si hubiese crecido con ellos.
A propósito, la lleve al San Silvestre y hablé con alguién en el front desk que me dijo que ya no aceptan niños temporalmente porque habían tenido muchos problemas en el pasado… A ti te han dicho algo diferente?
So incredibly happy for you. Somehow reading about the your excitement brought a tear to my eye. I can relate in so many ways to how you feel about Peru. I was supposed to be on my way to Panama tomorrow, but we had to change our plans.
We will be on our way in December and I cannot wait to show my babies mi patria. So funny how I have lived here in the US since I was 6, but still consider Panama my home. So proud that Sienna will be able to speak Spanish (even if just a little) to her familia.
Thanks for sharing!
Oh, Christine! I´m sorry about the change in plans, but look at it this way, your son will be a bit older and you might be able to do more things with him. I know that Santiago won´t remember a thing, he´s only 18 mos old, but I´ll just have to show him pictures and videos of him running around in my grandma´s apartment!
Sienna will do awesome and after all the exposure to Spanish while you´re there, I´m sure she´ll be speaking a lot more after you guys come back. I want to know all about your trip!
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Te comente en otro de tus blogs (el de los encargos) que tengo la suerte de ir al Peru todos los anos. Mi hija mayor que tiene a penas 5 ha ido desde que tenia 2 meses de nacida y ahora mi chiquito de dos anos tambien ha ido desde que tenia mes y medio. Para mi es super importante llevarlos y que tengan la coneccion con el Peru. Mi hija de 5 se acuerda perfectamente y ya sabe lo que es ir al Peru. Espera con ansias el proximo viaje. Las fotos ayudan mucho. Me encata que sepa que tiene tios, primos, etc. porque en Denver no tengo familia. Pudo conocer a su abuela que aun recuerda muy bien y que lamentablemente ya no esta y siempre quiere ver a su abuelo. Mi chiquito lamentablemente no se va a aocrdar de la abuela porque era un bebe pero si de su abuelo y demas familia. Seguire llendo siempre que pueda principalmente por los ninos. Ahora me falta ver como organizamos la visita e El Salvador de donde es mi marido y aun ni yo ni los ninos hemos ido y mi marido esta hecho ya todo un peruano. La prueba, prefiere la inca kola a la kola champan increible. Ya me dijo que llegando del aeropuerto nos vamos directo a comprar jugo de maracuya a la San Antonio, lo mio la lucuma claro. Besos