Just before paying at Wongs, a question crossed my mind: do you tip the person bagging groceries? I asked the man behind me, and he replied, “No, in Lima, you don’t tip them.” I explained that in Mexico, it’s customary, especially since elderly baggers rely on tips for income. He seemed surprised. “How interesting,” he said.
It’s in these moments of cultural contrast that I feel something special. Standing at the edge of two worlds, watching how customs shift from one place to another. I catch the small, unexpected details that open my eyes wider and leave me fascinated.
Inspired by a supermarket visit in Lima, Peru, in January 2025.
