In Angoteros, a small village along the Rio Napo (North of Peru), we met Oscar who offered us to stay in his former room provided by the medical center of the village. Oscar was great company, giving hints about traditions in this Quechua community, as well as enabling our first Internet connection so far along Rio Napo.

Oscar is originally from Tacna, the most southern town of Peru. Surgeon is his profession. He came in December 2007 to Angoteros dedicating 2 years of his life to the indigenous population of the village and inhabitants living in the surroundings. He works there as a doctor for everything, and when nothing happens during the day, he enjoys spending his time in front of his laptop, communicating with the outer world. His humor is great, and his attitude to always smile and be happy is truly inspiring.

I think that for some reason God creates our lifes each time a bit shorter; shorter for being with our families, with our friends, and with all persons we appreciate. If only we all could understand this small detail and make our short lifes really worthwhile. Many times we are discontent about things that happen to us and we say that we do not have what we deserve. But do we ever think and appreciate what we really have? Nearly never!!!... I think that our object in life is to search with all our desire for happiness. To be honest, this is not near as easy because this happiness we cannot buy, nor rent or borrow from anyone. Yet true happiness we find only within ourselves, the one which gives our lifes a sense. This is the reason why each day left in our lifes, we should search for what really fills us with joy. This way we will live our lifes the way God wanted. And once you part from this life you will be able to put on a big smile and be sure that you have found what you were always searching for. BEING HAPPY.

Pilar is a friend of Egle, a Lithuanian girl who was doing a research project about Shamanism in Peru. When approaching Iquitos she suggested us to contact Pilar, with whom we finally stayed a months.

Pilar has a sweet, energetic personality, and finds herself the most happy when she can walk around all day long. She is from a small village in Rio Ucayali, about 3 hours south from Iquitos and is one of 9 sisters and brothers. Pilar lived for many years in the coastal regions of Peru to become a technical nurse. After her studies she finally came back to Iquitos, working in Iquitos hospital as a nurse. After three months she quit her job due to not receiving any salary. In July 2008 she expects her first child together with her boyfriend Keith from the US. One year ahead, approx. in mid 2009, Pilar wants to move with Keith and their child to Panama.

Thinking in greatness makes us unhappy. Each day we search joy in it without taking in account that life is simply a gift of God. We should feel happy about being given a chance to live. We should share all good with our families, and should not forget these moments no matter if we shared happy or sad times. Happiness is in ourselves, thus do not waste time anymore searching it elsewhere.

We met Carla in December 2007 in Juan Pablos place in Guayaquil, Ecuador. We all are members of CouchSurfing.com and HospitalityClub.org, and at the same time hitch-hikers. Carla invited us then to stay with her in Lima, which we finally did in March 2008.

Carla is a bundle of great energy. She works as a theater teacher for children, organizes theater workshops, helps children in poorer regions with initiating creative activities, works for the Canadian university Windsor promoting their study programmes, and trains twice a week for folk dances. The way she walks through life shows pure self-confidence. Carla is highly intelligent and creative, and dreams of changing the world in many ways. She loves travelling and does so for many years purely by hitch-hiking. Her love for adventure is endless, and her dreams go far to Asia and Australia. Carla lives and works for realising her dream of travelling, but before she would go to enjoy her journey she would always assure that her mom and brother are well of. Carla is exceptional in many ways, and a big inspiration to us. Her sense of hospitality is touching, especially the way she includes her guests into the daily life of her family.

A loving word, a sincere hug, a selfless stroke, something that makes us feel apreciated and loved are necessary when our soul demands affection. When, without wanting, we let us wrap around by the cold of vanity, we forget our friends. Especially in such moments people get concerned about us, but their advises feel like a burden since we do not value their reasons. Once we realize the dark scenery which reigns our surroundings we crave for the presence of this inexhaustible beings, because there is no emotion leaving us more empty than this one. Loneliness makes us small, destroys our last piece of hope, and irritates us; it has happened to me some time that I prefered to be dead to being alone. However, in this loneliness I discovered a personal solitude and this state taught me to discover my weaknesses and virtuousness which I denied to accept. Loneliness made me stronger and taught me to value what I before disparaged. This change does not come in a day or a month, it takes years; and is accompanied by lots of pain. But the reward is triple gratifying, because now that you have learned to value yourself, unconcious or conciously you cause the same effect among others; a group of 5 friends multiplies and though hard to believe your life converts into an example to follow. A million downfalls wait for you, fight warrior!