Big Car

As we've been walking around the city getting used to our new surroundings, Eli has started to do more and more talking about his observations of Lima.  His favorite phrases are "big car," "mas bus," and "big dog."  And it is true that most of our walks around our neighborhood involve many a big car and bus and the occasional dog.  Traffic in Lima is something I really dread having encounters with on my own one day. For now, no driving for me! Alan and Valerie drive and I usually sit in the passenger seat with my fists clenched and my jaw tight with fear.  It seems the citizens of Lima could use a lesson or two.  Lanes might as well not exist, using a blinker is unheard of, but fortunately, people do respect the stoplights.  And funny enough, the stoplights have this modern feature of counting down the seconds that you have left on red, yellow or green and the same for pedestrians crossing the street too. It has just struck me as funny that you can find something so logical in the midst of total traffic chaos.  And of course walking a child in a stroller and being pregnant does not mean drivers have any sympathy for your attempt to cross the street.  

Despite the chaos on the streets, it has been great fun to watch Eli develop an interest in cars, buses and other modes of transport! This is his first real interest I would say.  He spends a good deal of time playing with his trucks and cars on loan from his cousin Yoav and he crashes them into each other, pushes them off the bed or couch, and wheels them around the apartment and loves to make car noises during this play.  He also has loved his transport vehicle puzzle which makes the noises of different kinds of vehicles...car, motorcycle, airplane, train.  He has even gotten pretty good at saying ambulance!  The other day we took his cars and trucks to the nearby park and found a ramp he could push them down and that made him squeal with joy drawing the attention of passersby.  

And so just like the juxtaposition of traffic chaos and orderly traffic lights, Lima also has one beautiful serene park after another right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of city life.  This is something we really missed in Ghana.  I assume that the number of parks found is our upper class neighborhood would not be the same in the majority of Lima's districts but we are certainly enjoying the green outdoor space! We try to go everyday and what's wonderful is that there are plenty of other kids his age playing there as well.  He's made "friends" over blowing bubbles and over chasing balls so I see potential for me to make friends with other parents as well.