Back in Indiana
Just in time for a fresh snowstorm and brewing political shitstorm
The taxi ride to the airport through traffic-choked Lima seemed to take as long as the flight to the USA. But I finally made it back.
On my last day in Lima, I did a whirlwind visit with several old friends, starting with Nelida Silva, who needs no introduction (but in case you haven’t heard — folkdancer, subject of the Soy Andina and Return to the Andes docs, coach for women micro-entrepreneurs.
Still dancing of course, and hasn’t lost a step:
Then I caught up with Delia Ackerman and Carlo Brescia, two remarkable filmmakers and cultural activists:
Delia showed me the trailer for a new film-in-progress about llamas and made a delicious lunch for me (featuring chicken, not llama).
Carlo updated me on WikiAcción Perú, a project he leads that explores ecology, gender and culture in Ancash (the region where Nelida, my wife Doris, and the Andes films are from).
Thanks for all the lovely messages about my father-in-law’s passing. I shared them with Doris and her family, and wanted to share a few with you:
“You are lucky to have these people in your world. We all learn from each other. This is a message our divided country needs. Empathy and compassion is the only way.” - Brian, Bloomington, IN
“Peru has always been one of my top travel dreams. It makes me happy to hear you feel at home there even with the circumstances of this trip. And, yes, Spencer is turning into a place in the US I really want to go.”- Mary Wall, filmmaker, Buffalo, NY
“I am glad you and your wife were able to fly to Peru. At age six, I emigrated from Argentina with my family during which time there was a military dictatorship. Never did I think that this would happen in the U.S.” - Cintia Cabib, filmmaker, Baltimore/D.C.
“Nélida is a gift to the Andes. Having 20 years of doing non-profit work with education and nutrition in the hamlets in Ayacucho, the Return to the Andes film brought me to the places I know.” - Melanie Ebertz, Art Andes, Stillwater, MN
“You are are amongst few who has managed to bridge the cultural divide between Peru and the USA… Do you think you might live in Peru? With the current incumbent in the White House I wouldn’t feel comfortable living in the USA. Society seems to have polarised to such an extent that the absurd appears normal. Democracy seems to have failed to deliver anything other than bigotry. That cannot be right, can it?” - David, London, UK
“Lamento mucho escuchar sobre el fallecimiento de su suegro, aunque parezca que llevó una vida plena y satisfactoria. No hay nada como la familia.” - Jack, Bloomington, IN
“Congratulations on you excellent documentaries. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them— and your dancing at the end!”- Jacqui, Los Angeles, CA
My niece in Lima Paola Loayza is a really talented visual communicator, including graphic design, video editing and social media content. She speaks English (and understood Kendrick Lamar’s rapping at the Super Bowl better than I). She is seeking freelance work. Portfolio and contact info here.
Before rehearsal started, I asked Nelida if she had any message of hope for our friends in the USA:
“I would say, everybody should be dancing. Not only for your emotional health, but for your physical and spiritual health. I think everybody should be dancing.”
Hasta pronto - Mitch