Why Choose Peru Over Argentina and Brazil?
Insights from a local practitioner:
Life in Lima is quite calm. Compared to Bogotá, Lima is a very conservative city. I also love Peruvian cuisine, which is considered one of the best in the world.
The culinary culture here is very sophisticated, although most dishes are simple, usually some type of meat with rice or potatoes, but the way they are mixed together is very delicious.
In Peru, you also feel somewhat excluded—people treat you differently right from the start. Given the racial composition of Peru, with over 80% of the population being either indigenous Quechua or mestizo, I attracted a lot of attention and interest. It feels like everyone wants to talk to me.
Business and Work Relationships
I am surprised by people's enthusiasm; they never say "no." They are always willing to talk, listen, and offer something. My first impression of this exhibition was that everyone was very interested in what I had to offer. But this is actually misleading, as it is a cultural trait. Even if people are not really interested, they will engage in serious conversation and listen.
Sometimes it's hard to judge whether they will cooperate with you. In conversations, people nod and agree, but that doesn't mean they are really interested.
Therefore, after the first conversation with potential partners, I usually try to arrange a follow-up meeting immediately. This way, you can judge their real intentions based on their reactions.
Usually, if they are interested, they will agree to a specific schedule and action. If not interested, they might say, "Let's contact later this week" or something similar.
Does Cultural Difference Significantly Affect Workflows?
In Latin America, people always seem to be positive and relaxed, unlike many Europeans who are often busy and worried. This simplicity and positive attitude are very pleasant and make communication easier. However, there is also a downside: it is difficult to schedule work.
People always say "yes" and do not like to refuse. If you ask someone to complete a task by a certain deadline, Latin Americans will never say they can't do it. If the deadline passes and the task is not completed, they think, "Well, it happens, it's not a tragedy."
People understand that if work is not completed, there is always a reason. So, when planning, you should always allow a few extra days to cope with this situation.
Cultural Characteristics of Latin Americans
COVID-19 has caused considerable damage to Peru's online poker industry. However, Peru still has a poker community developed by enthusiasts. I mainly interact with people from within the industry, rather than Peruvians.
However, cultural barriers still exist. Take typical conversation topics, for example. Locals mostly like to talk about food and sports, especially football. By the way, in Spain where I lived for a while, people also like football, but the passion in Latin America is much stronger.
About Safety Issues
The first piece of advice I give is about housing. Initially, it's best to stay in a hotel or hostel while looking for permanent housing. There are many rental ads on the streets.
Just walk around the neighborhood you're interested in, and you can find very good rental deals. Moreover, this way you are more likely to deal directly with the landlord. If you search online, you might need to go through a real estate agent, which is more expensive, more complicated, and more time-consuming. This applies to both Peru and Colombia.
You should also be careful in choosing where to live. The socio-economic conditions in Latin American countries are very complex, and cities are not the safest, especially for obvious foreigners. Therefore, when choosing a place to live, you should inquire about the crime rate in the area, which is not always intuitive.
