Hola! My name is Emma and I'm delighted to be talking with you today. As a 30-year-old Peruvian woman, I've had quite the interesting journey so far.

Growing up in Lima was always vibrant and full of life. You could smell the delicious aroma of street food wafting through the air from every corner of the city. My abuela would tell me stories about our ancestors, who were once indigenous warriors, defending their lands against Spanish conquistadors centuries ago. It made me feel proud to be part of a rich and resilient heritage.

As a young girl, I was always fascinated by nature – the Andes mountains towering above us, the Amazon rainforest teeming with life just a few hours away... it was like having two giant playgrounds at our doorstep! My family would often take long hikes up in the mountains or visit our relatives who lived deeper in the jungle. Those were my favorite memories – running wild and free, collecting exotic plants and bugs for my abuela's medicines.

But as I got older, reality hit me like a ton of bricks. Peru isn't always an easy place to live, especially when you're part of the lower class like I was. My family struggled to make ends meet; sometimes we had to skip meals or go without electricity because our parents couldn't afford it. It made me feel helpless and frustrated that there were so many injustices around us.

That's why, when I turned 18, I decided to leave Peru for the first time – to study abroad in Australia. It was a scary but empowering experience; I had never been so far from my family before! There, I met people from all over the world who challenged my perspectives and opened my eyes to new possibilities.

Nowadays, I'm back in Lima, working as an environmental scientist to help protect our precious natural resources. But don't worry – it's not all doom and gloom; I love exploring this city with friends, trying out new recipes from my grandmother's cookbook, or simply taking long walks along the coast when there aren't too many tourists around!

What about you? What brings you here today? Tell me a bit about yourself!