This article is from the pen of a New Zealander currently living in Lima, Peru.

I have never experienced anything like this!

This is not the first developing country I have ever lived in, The situation here is chaotic and that is being kind!

Lesson # 1. In Peru you must wait, dont expect anything in a hurry!

You will wait in line to enter the Hospital to visit your loved-ones, make sure you have the required documents that the hospital security demands or you will be refused entry. I have seen first hand a man in a wheelchair turn up for treatment only to be refused entry. The mans relative had to go to the security station and summon a hospital nurse to persuade the officer to allow entry for treatment!

Lesson # 2. In Peru you must accept the word No!

Lets go to the Italian Institute of Culture. Its 7:30am Monday Morning and you are in the line. You are number 12 by your calculation, thats good as there are only twenty tickets given out! A Security officer appears and tells everyone that no one is in attendance today, come back tomorrow. There is No ADMITTANCE TODAY, never mind that you have been waiting in line since 5:00am!

This goes on day after day. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the three mornings of attendance!

Lesson # 3. In Peru be prepared to pay bribes!

You are at immigration; you arrive at 10:am in the morning. You are in the line to revalidate your passport. The security officer approaches, checks your form is filled out correctly, that you have all the photocopies required and of course your passport and D.N.I (national identity card). Then he offers you his service,

Want to skip the line and go straight to the bank to pay for your revalidation, only ten soles. This will save you thirty minutes to an hour of wait time. So you take the offer.

Now that you have paid your revalidation fee, you find yourself in the line to get your photo taken. Another security officer approaches, Then surprise, surprise he offers you his service,

Want to skip the line and go straight to get your photo taken, only ten soles This will save you another one to two hours of wait time! So you take the offer and get your photo taken. Then you proceed to hand everything in and wait the hour for processing!

All done in two hours and it could have taken four to five hours!

Lesson # 4. Take all information with a grain of salt!

I am sure that the Government departments change the rules every day just to add to the confusion! When a Government employee gives you miss-information you have no right for review. The Department is always right even when it is wrong! Dont expect any compassion, understanding or apology here!

Lesson # 5. You must pay with your money and your time!

Obtaining a single certificate, Police certificate, Judicial Certificate etc, will cost up to fifty soles for each certificate and then there are the legalisation stamps from the various departments. Each stamp will cost you up to fifty soles and some certificates will require three or four of these!

OK, you apply for your certificate, then go to the Bank of the Nation to pay for it.

You wont find a cashier at any Government Department!

Then you go back with your bank receipt. Your certificate will be ready for pick up in the next day or two!

Once you obtain your certificate it will take around a week to get it stamped. You have to visit each stamping department and this kills your time and is very frustrating!

Remember that Government Departments only receive on a part-time basis!

In Summary.

Peru has a lot of nice people; their democracy does not promote civil liberties, but rather controls how things are done. This is a poor nation; A large part of this has to do with the Government and its corruption. Ministers constantly say there is no money for this need or that need. The reason for this is simple; Government officials are busy lining their own pockets with public money! The Peruvian Government maintains the nations level of poverty very well. I believe that if the Government cleaned up its act, Peru could and would do a lot better. Peru has a lot to offer the world, If only the Government would play an active and appropriate part!

Why should the poor have to suffer? THIS IS NOT THEIR FAULT!

DOES ANY WANT TO START A REVOLUTION?