Sampling some of Peru’s World Cup football fiesta
LIMA went ‘loco’ with with football fever this month and one Kintyre man is at the heart of it. Michael Fee, who has lived and worked teaching English in Peru for the past four years, is taking in the highs – and lows – of the country’s football team’s first World Cup since 1982 – including a 100,000-strong street party in the Peruvian capital. Michael, who grew up in Carradale and later Campbeltown, attending Campbeltown Grammar, spoke about tournament. He said: ‘The excitement for the World Cup has been steadily building since qualification last November. ‘Everywhere you go in the city there are Peru flags flying and the people are so happy just to be a part of this massive event. ‘It is the biggest sporting spectacle in the world and it is the first time in 36 years Peru have qualified for it. The atmosphere here is just amazing.’ Away from the World Cup frenzy taking place across the country, Michael described life and work in Peru’s capital, the third-largest city in the Americas. He said: ‘Lima is a crazy, bustling city. A real metropolis. There are more than eight million people living here, a quarter of Peru’s population, so it is always hectic. ‘Rush hour is madness. The mentality can be very ‘‘me, me, me’’, with people doing anything to get in front and on their way home. ‘My job teaching English takes me around the city to clients, so I will either get the bus or get on my bike, but you have to be alert when on your bike as there isn’t the same network of cycle paths you see in many European cities.’ First visiting Peru in 2013, Michael returned on a longer-term basis a year later, and after extensive travel with friends and family around the Andean nation, is settled in Lima – breaking down the language barrier in the process.
The 28-year old said: ‘I have enjoyed learning Spanish, and it allows you to communicate with local people, and get things done in everyday situations. ‘I speak Spanish at home with my girlfriend Carla, who is Peruvian, conversing every day, and that helps you learn more. ‘It has opened up work opportunities too. ‘I advertised my language skills on Gumtree and was hired by an American businessman for a day’s interpreting, helping him tour a quinoa farm, a product native to Peru. ‘Being in the country of the language and immersing yourself obviously helps but I didn’t take any formal classes - deep down I just wanted to learn.
Opportunities
‘It gives you little opportunities you might not otherwise get without the language.’ Now fluent in Spanish, and growing up speaking and hearing Dutch through his mum Ineke, Michael could be set for polyglot status as he explores learning Portuguese – and ponders future travels. He said: ‘I would perhaps like to live in Brazil in the future. ‘Brazilian Portuguese is an interesting language and sounds really musical. I have practised more and more with Carla as she speaks it fluently and I would like to become fluent too.’ Back in football-mad Lima, Michael described the scene before Peru’s play-off win over Oceanian champions New Zealand last November, which sealed qualification. He said: ‘Peru’s fans knew they were one game away from the World Cup, and rightly or wrongly, did everything to help their team advance. ‘People set off fireworks and cars beeped their horns outside the New Zealand squad’s hotel in the early hours of the morning of the match. ‘When Peru won 2-0, there was pandemonium. It was as if they had won the World Cup. ‘Whole families were out on the streets enjoying the party atmosphere, grannies, parents with their young children, young people who can’t remember a World Cup with Peru in it. That shows how proud they are to be there.’ Despite the country’s 1-0 defeat to Denmark in Saransk, Russia, - in front of 40,000 travelling Peruvian fans, making them one of the best-supported nations at the tournament – those back home were still kept in good spirits. Michael added: ‘No matter the result the massive street parties were going to continue. ‘It was only 1pm local time and the football was finished, but there were marching bands, thousands of people chanting songs and TV cameras everywhere. ‘Peru loat 1-0 to France and beat Australia2-0 on Tuesday and everyone was be back on the streets supporting the national team. ‘Deep down the people know this might be a once-in-a-generation experience so they are determined to enjoy it as sport fans, and as proud Peruvians.’