LOCAL CULTURE TIPS

Kissing in Peru!!!

The socially accepted and appropriate way of greeting Peruvians is for men to kiss women and for women to kiss women. Only men shake hands, and there is never any greeting by hugging here! Instead, throughout Peru it is just one kiss and on one cheek only, right cheek to right cheek and it is without lips coming in contact with the skin. It won’t take long for you to get use to this custom and enjoy it!

Security/Crime

OK, we don’t want this to be a downer, but we want to be honest with you. Crime is on the increase in Peru. The threat of terrorism in Peru has not been rated “high” by the U.S. State Department for years, but instead, street crime has grown and now is the nation’s leading security concern. Lima shares many of the same problems that plague all major cities of the world. By exercising caution and common sense, you can avoid becoming a victim of petty street crime. By street crime we are referring to purse snatching, pick pocketing and jewelry theft.

Here are some of our recommendations: Only carry with you what you need. Whenever possible, carry your cash and identification in your front pockets. Do not carry credit cards or other items that you do not need or intend to use. It is recommended that handbags, if you have to carry them, should be tucked into the crook of your arm. A general rule to follow is if you are going to be walking on the streets, never carry anything that you cannot afford to lose. These general precautions apply to jewelry too. Whenever possible wear post type earrings in place of larger earrings, and keep necklaces covered under a blouse, scarf or sweater so they are not visible. You should also be careful when visiting tourist areas in Lima. On a much more positive note, we have all adapted and learned to be more aware of our immediate surroundings, and in general we feel successful in learning to live calmly with these security concerns. We should note that street crime is less prevalent in the cities outside of Lima.

While at school, it is best to keep your classroom locked when you are out of the room, or at least keep any valuables you have locked in a desk or a file cabinet.

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