Hernando Torres-Fernandez has affirmed that U.S. citizens have a very positive perception of the Peruvian community within his consulate's jurisdiction.
"The image of Peruvians is very positive. It is an integrated and hard-working community. When I arrived, I visited the main authorities in town and asked them about the community. They said everything was fine with them," the diplomat commented.
Of course, it depends on whose perception you are referring to. In this case, the consul refers to the educated Californian locals, who admire the history of Peru.
"When I introduce myself, I realize that
they are familiar with our gastronomy, and almost everyone has visited Peru. There is no educated Californian that has not traveled to or is not familiar with Peru and its history. Besides, authorities have a very positive perception, too," he added.
"It is a very integrated community. Many of them have naturalized as U.S. citizens, have both nationalities, and have got married to U.S. citizens. This community works in a very integrated way."
On the other hand, the presence of Peruvians might no longer be limited to the culinary scene, as several have started to stand out in new fields, such as technology and innovation.
It should be noted that the third annual meeting of Peruvian high-tech professionals living in the United States, Techsuyo, took place in Berkeley from September 13 to 14, 2019.
“This was a very important meeting because it convened delegations from Peru, but above all, it gathered Peruvians working in giant corporations like Google, Facebook, Netflix, Apple, and those who have their own startups. There is a very interesting group of compatriots who are already immersed in high tech,” the authority remarked.
However, most Peruvian nationals work in service, construction, electricity, carpentry, and hospitality (hotels and restaurants) sectors and at mechanical workshops.
Moreover, some professionals work independently as lawyers, dentists, and doctors.
Besides, the positive perception might be the outcome of a strong tourism image, which is positioning itself because of the country’s history and past.
"Our country has a rich history, an extraordinary past, a very diverse geography, and people here appreciate it and are familiar with it," he stated.
It should be noted that in addition to Northern California, this Consulate has jurisdiction over the State capital Sacramento, as well as other states: Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii.
(END) RMB/MVB