Water shortage is common in Peru and often due to problems with water tanks. The struggle unites the community.

Dear: Homeowner or Occupant,

Your neighbour’s water service has been turned off due to problems with their water service. A temporary water supply has been set up to your neighbour through a jumper hose running from your house.

The jumper hose is connected to your outside tap. Note that if you remove the jumper hose or turn off the tap supplying it, this will cut off the water supply to your neighbour.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your co-operation in supplying your neighbour with water.

Waterworks Operations Branch
City of Vancouver

It had me thinking about Eisenstein’s gift economy: the idea that exchanging gifts or favors creates bonds. As waterless days are common in Peru, I couldn’t help but reflect on how differently this situation would have panned out.

The neighbors in Vancouver didn’t have a need to approach my parents and this may partly explain why we don’t know our neighbors very well in Canada. On the contrary, a problem such as water shortage forces the community together in Peru. We’re motivated to help each other because we know that we’ll probably need our neighbor’s help in the future. The common struggle further unites us in that it’s a shared experience that we can all relate to and look back on.

Struggles are often the source of many life lessons and Sandy Hubbard has had more than her fair share of both as she balances life priorities including family, work and school. Co-owner of Luxurious Pet Supplies, Sandy shares about her mom, Linda, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Please send some encouraging words and love to Linda if you get the chance.

Linda shared words of wisdom that Sandy lives by to this day.

Growing up, my mom always worked 2-3 jobs at a time. My parents had divorced, and she was desperately trying to save the house she, my sister, and I lived in. She missed school functions and didn’t always know what we were up to at night. We never held a grudge. We knew she was doing what she had to — for us. But to this day, my mom constantly apologizes for missing so much of our pre-teen/teen years. In one of these apologies, she gave me the best career advice I have ever received. “Don’t ever forget what you’re working for. You work for a living, you don’t live for work.”

As important as your career is, your family and life are much more important. Don’t let your job overwhelm you, and take away from family time. When you leave the office, leave the job behind. Focus on your family, relax and enjoy every minute.

Spending time with my niece always makes me smile.

The little things I loved about the day:

• Seeing old photos and hearing the stories each conjures up.
• Visiting and remembering relatives I’ve never met at two beautiful cemeteries where many other families were also spending time with their loved ones past.
• Packing up to 8 of us in taxis to get from one place to another.
• Having raspadillas (a shaved ice dessert) after being out all day in the sun.
• Being a part of over 40 relatives spanning 4 generations and coming from all over Lima.
• Mingling inside and outside of the house with aunts gossiping, uncles having a beer on the sidewalk, cousins playing video games, neighbors throwing water balloons in the street, and music blasting to encourage spontaneous dancing throughout.
• Looking for dogs around the block with my 2-year-old niece from Quebec who speaks in mixed French and Spanish.
• Making funny faces to see my 8-month-old godchild and niece smile and laugh.
• Munching on homemade picarones (doughnut-like snacks) in the evening at a makeshift stand in front of the house where an aunt sold picarones to neighbors walking by as she chatted with us.

It wasn’t a particularly eventful day, but that didn’t seem to make it any less perfect.

When it comes to role models, Rebecca Bangayan Ting has grown up with her fair share. Now that she’s a successful businesswoman, she reflects on how she observed different family members living with gusto and the lessons she learned from those elders.

Some key family members were important role models for Rebecca as she grew up.

It has been said that modeling has a greater impact than mere talk. We live above a textile store and I grew up watching my papa constantly teaching and admonishing his proteges. Sadly though, my papa had a stroke when I was in college. He was paralyzed and couldn’t speak. However, I’d say that although advice was not directly given to me, I gathered my first career wisdom from Papa’s “teachings.” He not only taught, but he “walked his talk”; that is, to be honest in all your dealings with people in all aspects. This establishes your trustworthiness as a person.

The first career wisdom that was actually imparted to me directly was from my brother Ruben. He saw it fit to “preach” me with “the ethics of being true to your word” since papa wasn’t in the physical condition to do so and he being the big brother and all. Having a “palabra de honor” (word of honor) as they call it is also part and parcel of being honest and establishing your trustworthiness.

Although both pieces of career wisdom from my papa and my brother Ruben were meant to be applied to all aspects of my life, they have translated into my work ethic and have impacted my life a great deal. I am very thankful to my family for equipping me well. It has helped me avoid a lot of pitfalls in my career.

Roy and I just got back from surveying the Peru hip hop scene in Lima where Henry Link taught a 2-day workshop.

Our most recent adventure involved the Peru hip hop scene in Lima. Roy attended a 2-day hip hop workshop in Lima led by Henry Link of the Elite Force Crew who is considered one of the founders of freestyle hip hop. I was lucky enough to be able sit in and even ask a question the second evening:

Do you think someone can learn how to dance hip hop even if they don’t have the rhythm and attitude?

Link’s answer was a resounding and eloquent “Yes.” To summarize, he believes that rhythm can be learned through practice, and attitude is expressed through understanding how music is meant to make others feel. In response to another question, he went to explain that once you learn a dance move, it’s yours. It’s not about perfect imitation because he’ll look around the dance room and even admire how others do his move in a slightly different way.

So I’m back to my lofty dreams. I liked it here in the clouds anyway.

Being a software development engineer plays a part in but doesn’t define Kin Ming Li and his passions. Below, Kin shares thoughts on his path to passion and how you can carve out your own path:

Kin’s theory is that you need to question your passions.

When I was asked to write about my passion, I had to think twice about what my passions truly are. Despite having written a section about my passions on my personal web site, today I still constantly question myself whether those are my true passions. I mentioned that my main passions are technology and sports, but like many of you I am a person with many interests. However, it is definitely because I question my passions, it made me realize that those are my true passions.

There had been many times in the past when I was too lazy to play sports. Yet, I find myself being drawn to sports-related activities. I would be watching sports on the television, or reading fan comments on sports forums, or looking up sporting events in the future that may be of interest to me. Simiarly, with technology I would read blogs with news of the latest or trending technology. I could easily spend hours and hours on what I am passionate about, albeit not the most healthy lifestyle to have.

No matter how I question my passions, my life naturally gravitates towards related activities. The more you question them, the more you realize that those are unquestionably your true passions! So sit back, relax, and spend some time to question your passions. You will soon weed out the pretenders and find your true passions.

The president of Peru shook my hand during a country-wide earthquake drill.

• The first time I touched down in Peru, I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to communicate with anyone. Thankfully, my high school Spanish came back to me and I was speaking within the first week.
• The first place I stayed at in Peru was my friend’s relative’s apartment in Lima that was filled with art and culture. I still feel that it was a perfect introduction to the country.
• The first time I “watched a movie” in Peru, it was in a cabina: a little room with two beach chairs and an old TV. They put the movie in a DVD player. Huancayo has since graduated to a movie theater.
• The first week I was in Peru, I went to a huge celebration typical of the Andes with hundreds of people packed shoulder-to-shoulder in two plazas passing beer around and dancing to groups of orchestras. I still have a scar from a castillon (pyrotechnic tower) spark that burned a hole through my shirt.
• The first Peru blogger I ever met in person was Karen from Karencita de Peru. She has since moved back to Vancouver where I’m also originally from, so it’s easy to stay in touch.
• The first pet I ever owned on my own was a cat and I became addicted. Roy and I ended up welcoming a second cat into our home, not knowing that there could be territorial issues. Thankfully, they ended up loving each other on their own.
• The first time I met the president of Peru, Ollanta Humala, he shook my hand. It was during an earthquake drill at the main plaza in front of the government place in Lima.
• The first time I was ever hospitalized was this past November when they found gallstones in my gall bladder. After all my concerns about my health in Peru, the most serious issue turned out to be a condition that probably has nothing to do with Peru at all. I’m currently waiting for surgery to get my gall bladder removed and I’m scheduled in for March, much earlier than I expected!

In this short video clip, Alan introduces us to his many facets as a Rasta, reggae artist and entrepreneur:

Ganja (or marijuana) is a double-edged sword. If you are guided and know how to use it, you can get to know yourself better, but it can also take you down a bad path when combined with other drugs or used for the wrong reasons. This doesn’t have anything to do with being a Rasta.

Smoking marijuana puts me in a state of meditation so that I can analyze myself and see my environment as it really is. As Rastas, we believe that the world is contaminated and is under the control of the demon. We live in Babylonia (in confusion) and the demon doesn’t want people to open their minds, so he prohibits marijuana.

Reggae is popular music from Jamaica. It’s separate from the Rasta culture, but Rastas propagated their beliefs through reggae music. It was a form of communication and this is how it arrived in other countries like Peru. Some Rastas don’t even listen to reggae music because they consider it as coming from the devil.

Alan simplifies life by delineating good vibes and bad vibes.

Six years ago, I finished high school and entered university under pressure from my parents. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I studied administration for two years. The experience made me feel like another servent of the system, so I left. My heart asked me to find my true self. My whole family is more conservative and responsible. As the youngest in my family, they went crazy about me becoming a Rasta and leaving school to start a business based on my talents, something that I had dreamed about since I was a teen. Only my Rasta brothers understood me and my way of life.

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of government support in Huancayo. The government has funds for youth, but they don’t use it. It’s a waste because Huancayo has a lot of potential and talent. Worse yet, people that are part of the system discriminate against us. One time, I was hanging out with some friends in front of a Rasta brother’s house when a police officer told us to disperse just because of the way we looked. This is why we need to know our rights. We asked for respect and spoke with authority without putting ourselves at his level. He eventually left. I think people like that lack culture and education.

Someone thinks I’m inspiring? What an amazing feeling!

• I need to nominate 7 other inspiring bloggers who have inspired me in my journey.
• I also need to include 7 favorite words or phrases, which I’ll try to do in languages I’ve learned, understand, or speak.
• Finally, I need to share 7 little-known facts about myself.

1. Dare to Dream Big! by Sandy — It was an utter surprise to hear that Sandy passed away just last month. She blogged every week on inspirational people, young and old, and the last post is her children’s tribute to her.
2. Don’t Hang Up! by Pennie — Although Pennie’s blog is on hiatus, there’s much inspiration to peruse and I’m sure that she’ll be back blogging again soon. I’m subscribed and can’t wait for her to be back!
3. My Rivendell by Bonnie — There is so much humility and peace in Bonnie’s posts. She finds that perfect balance between identifying with her readers and encouraging them to be the best they can be.
4. What If Today… by Betsy — It’s such a joy to imagine alongside Betsy as she presents different scenarios that have us reflecting on why we are the way we are and how we can be better.
5. JanetteFuller.com by Janette — Through her expertise of writing book reviews, Janette is a well of information and the books she shares range from resources that can help us with our businesses to heartwarming children’s books.
6. Get Out of Stuck Excel by Roberta — We all find ourselves stuck again and again in one way or another. Roberta opens our eyes to how we can find ourselves stuck, and provides practical ideas and solutions.
7. Leaders West by Jim — Consistently packed with information on business, the Internet, and social media, this is a blog that has truly exploded within a year and it’s all because of Jim’s savviness and personality.

1. Perspicacious – Deceivingly sounds like “perspiration” when stuttered through but has nothing to do with sweat.
2. Guacamayo – Spanish for “macaw,” Roy’s favorite type of bird.
3. Katakataka – Filipino short form for “makes you wonder,” a tongue twister that’s easily misread.
4. Waa Ka Kuyapi – Cebuano slang for “You must be kidding” (literally, “Haven’t you fainted?”). Note: Cebuano is a Filipino dialect my dad speaks.
5. Cusi Cusi Japarispa – Quechua for “happily whooping for joy” (loose translation) from a children’s song a neighbor in Peru taught me. Japarispa refers to joyful shouts that go with the music during traditional Andean dances while Cusi means happy.
6. 金魚の糞 – Japanese for “goldfish poop” (pronounced kingyo no kuso), used to refer to clingy people, followers, or groupies as goldfish poop can “cling” to the fish.
7. 雷 – Chinese for “thunder” (pronounced Lui in my dialect, Minnanese), my Chinese surname.

My parents got a kick out of when I sang and danced to “I’m Too Sexy.”

1. A memory I have of childhood is singing “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred to my parents. I vaguely remember some sort of dance involved, accompanying “I do my little turn on the catwalk.” Phantom of the Opera’s theme song was another favorite.
2. I’m slightly allergic to kiwis, peaches and apple skin.
3. I used to run 10 km races and my fastest time was around 48 minutes, which is not a very competitive time but a huge improvement from when I first started.
4. Sometimes, I still accidentally say “it’s so traffic” and “open the light” because this is how they’re literally translated from the Filipino-Chinese language blend we speak at home.
5. I got my first smartphone, a BlackBerry, in December.
6. I’m a non-serious collector of unique American and Canadian coins I come upon, and movie tickets of movies I’ve been to. I haven’t collected many movie tickets from Peru because they’re ugly and just look like receipts.
7. I can count the number of times I’ve used makeup in my life on one hand.

A psychologist by profession, Hajra Khatoon has been through such a journey these past few years as she has been rediscovering her passion with gusto. Catch more of her writing at her blog, Life, Laugh and Me.

Hajra has spent the last few years rediscovering her passion for writing.

As a kid, I always loved writing. I thought it was the best thing ever happening to me and that I could be the best writer ever. But then, I was a kid. I could think anything and everything. Somehow I lost touch with the interest and shifted to different fields.

Through a stint with voluntary unemployment (which was longer than I hoped for) and encouragement from family, I went back to writing again. I began with freelance content writing and juggled between blogging and writing. And I love it. I do like my work but writing is what makes me really happy. That is how I discovered my passion – writing. Although I am more practical and don’t think of myself as the best, I am trying my best. I have also joined a freelance writing course to indulge in my love for writing.

Though many people go around for years searching for their one true passion, I feel it is right there in front of us. We just have to realize it. Maybe I was lucky enough to pick up the pen and write and find my passion. What if I had never thought about giving it a try? So I don’t really feel that you have to go out there. Whatever makes you happy and gives you that joy might as well be your passion. Writing is mine and I have been very lucky to find it.