Vida bajo del Puente

Vida bajo del Puente

“Once you’re in [this life style], it’s so hard to get out.” (Evan, 33)

Lima, Peru is a city of eight million people. Much like any large city, it is home to people who differ in economic status. The city houses many persons who can not for whatever reasons afford some sort of shelter. Through out the city there are numerous areas that have become communities for the homeless.

         One of the main factors of the homelessness in Lima is drug use. In the city there are different communities of people who live together as “families”, under bridges and try to survive life. They work, eat, sleep and partake in mind-altering substances together.

         A common drug that is used on the streets of Lima is Phencyclidine (PCP), it is known as “angel dust” or “wet”. The drug comes in many forms and may be ingested, smoked, or inhaled. PCP is very harmful to a person physically as well as emotionally. Some effects of the drug are: unsteady gait, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, loss of balance, anesthesia, convulsions, severe changes in body image, loss of ego boundaries, paranoia, depersonalization, hallucinations, euphoria, suicidal impulses and aggressive behavior.

          Society may view these people as “unvalued bums”, but if one were to take the time to hear their stories they would see valuable people who lost their way.

         Evan, Martin, Carina, Carlos, Jesus, and Juan are some members of a group that live under a bridge in a poor area of the city. Their stories are all similar. Their need for drugs has driven them to the point where they feel completely hopeless.

         Each one of these people has been through a lot. All of them having hard childhoods; growing up in families that are not the norm, such as having parents that are prostitute or drug dealers. A lot of them have children and husbands or wives. They have houses and family members who they love. But because of their addictions they haven’t seen them for years. They are either to ashamed, scared or angry with them selves to return home. Take Carina for example, she is the mother of four children, aged between twelve years to six months. The three oldest live with Carina’s second mom and the youngest lives with his father.  She never see’s any of her children. It’s not due to a lack of love; on the contrary she loves them just as much as the average, caring mother. The only thing that holds her back is the drugs; she does not want her kids to see her the way she is. This scenario applies to not only Carina, but also to Jesus and Evan. Jesus has a daughter that he has not seen in six years, and Evan has three kids that he has minable contact with. When asked, why they don’t go back and be with their families their answers are similar to Carina’s, they are too afraid of what their families may think and do not want to let their families down.

         Their addictions have taken them so far from where the dreamed they would be. All of them have attended post-secondary education, and have studied subjects like engineering, accounting and theology. Today, most of them work cleaning cars on the streets that stop for red lights. Martin has an interesting occupation. He goes on to buses and begs for money from the passengers. He tells them a little slice of his story then does a “trick” to get people to give. His “trick” is putting the end of a normal size spoon up his nose. He learned how to do this one day while he was drunk. He kept practicing it, and now uses it to help inspire people to give him money.

         All of them have also been in jail for numerous reasons including possession of illegal substances, selling illegal substances, assault, and murder. The drugs that they have abused have made them do things that they would never in they right mind think about doing.  They all can tell times when they and their loved ones have seen how the drugs have changed them. “Who are you? Who are you! Who are you?!”Jesus’s girlfriend screamed at him after one circumstance where he lost himself to the drugs.

         If one were to observe the group that lives together under the bridge, first impressions would be “social fall outs”,  “less worthy” and “average drug addicts”. However, if one were to take a risk and get to know the persons who are behind the “druggie” life style, they would find normal people. People who enjoy salsa dancing, and who like going for walks. People whom like hanging out on the beach. They are people who like to collect dolls, eat traditional Peruvian food, and play football (soccer). They are people who lost their way and just need help getting out.

“[If I could do anything right now] change my life and be with my kids, no drugs…be home.” (Carina 24)

“…go back home to be with my family…I want to be sure that I can quit drugs for good, so I can be [home].” (Evan 33)

“I would get out of here.” (Carlos 44).

“I know that there is a time for everything, and my time to get out of here is soon.” (Jesus 43).