» I came back to help my niece when her mother passed away. Family is really what matters at the end of the day. «
Name : Paola Bravo
Gender : Female
DoB : 02.12.1979
City of Birth : La Oroya, Peru
Status : Single
Family : 2 Sisters
Hometown : La Paz
Education : Business Management
Job : Hostel manager
Religion : Catholic
Politics : –
As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?
JOB – How did you decide to do this job?
When I was young, I wanted to be a veterinary. I was not scared of anything, killing cockroaches and I loved animals. Then, turning teenager, around the age of 14 or 15, I started to be scared of blood and needles… Afterwards, I decided to study business administration. At that time, I was helping my mother with all the paperwork at the bank and I pretty much liked it. I applied for an exchange program at university, and was working at the same time for a billing service in a medical center. That’s how I got my first job.
With my sisters we used to call Lima the mountain because of the high buildings
HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now?
When I was a little girl, living in Lima was the big dream. At the time, I lived in the countryside in a small village where life was safe without crime or earthquakes. Lima was the big mother city, far away from home, with buildings, many people and so on… With my sisters we used to call Lima the mountain because of the high buildings (laughing).
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Striking and memorable events…
IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life? Well, when I was in college, one of my teachers beat me. It affected me in a way that I used to be an happy teenager and from one day to another I became a shy girl with few friends around.
IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in? The first one is the cultural differences between countries (I lived 7 years in the USA and 2 years in Canada). In Peru, every neighbor is a friend and every one is taking care of each other. Whereas In Canada, people are so cold and selfish. The second one is the earthquake in Ica that occurred in 2006, almost all town disappeared… A real disaster that reminds us all how insignificant we are…
BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory? I would say the all period of being a child, it was like living in paradise, the streets were safe, people were friendly and I was living without any concern.
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT – I am proud to be here in Peru, close to my family. I came back to help my niece when her mother passed away. Family is really what matters at the end of the day.
Looking back / Reviewing expectations
10 YEARS AGO, I thought by my 30s, I would be living in the USA in my own house; married to the boyfriend I was with (we dated for almost 8 years), with children and working as a medical biller.
TODAY, my life is totally different, I live in Peru, I work as an hostel manager and I am single without kids. I am so happy and proud of the person I became. I was the victim of theft identity by my ex-boyfriend in the United States. Because of him I have a lot of debts in the USA and might not be able to return to the country. I decided to flee in 2011 and go to Canada, leaving all my life behind.
Paola helping her niece with her homework.
Paola’s favorite spot in the city is the shore of the Pacific ocean.
30 years old, a turning point?
WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO?
Of course! I trust less people or not that easily, in the sense I am less naive than before (I learnt a lot from the learning curve experience). I also feel better in my body, I stopped eating junk food and I exercise more … and as a result I am slimmer than before.
I am convinced that the more important is how you feel in your head.
OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »? I am not young anymore but I am not old either. I am just a more mature person. I am convinced that the more important is how you feel in your head.
CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change? I wish I wouldn’t have been so naive when living in the USA, it would have saved me time, money and life.
My Values
My Typical day
And tomorrow?
YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years?
I want to live in Lima, to buy a second hostel in order to increase my business. One of my goals is also to travel more around the world, even if this is not that easy for a Peruvian to get the visas.
THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years?
I think that the future of Peru is not that bright. I see it equivalent to the USA, the economy is now booming, especially in the real estate. People are consuming a lot without saving, using credit cards and making loans. In the next few years, the bubble will burst and people might be discarded of their houses, left behind with nothing.
Fears and Dreams…
FEARS – What are you afraid of? I am afraid not to be able to have children.
ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve? I want to find stability on both professional and personal grounds.
DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams? Without any doubt I would say ravel around the world.
