Not just another chocolatada, it was a life lesson.

This year I lived an experience I will never forget: my first chocolatada outside of Lima—a journey that took me along the beautiful roads of Huancayo and Huancavelica, visiting small towns where life is simple, but joy is immense. From the moment the trip began, I felt something different. As we traveled down the highway, the landscape opened up like a book I had never read before: towering mountains, green fields that looked like carpets, humble little homes full of history, and pure air that seemed to awaken the soul. It was impossible not to feel moved by so much beauty.

When we arrived at the first towns, I immediately understood that this trip would be special. Children appeared from everywhere—some running at full speed, others walking shyly—but all with eyes full of hope that melted your heart. And when we began handing out the gifts… there are no words. Seeing them receive their hot chocolate, their panetón, or a small toy as if it were the greatest thing in the world broke my heart and healed it at the same time. Their little eyes shone so brightly it felt like they carried their own sun.

But the most exciting moment was when it was my turn to dress up as a mascot to entertain them. At first, I thought it would feel strange, but the moment they saw me, everything changed. The excited screams, the laughter, the hugs, the jumping—I felt that the children of each town in Huancayo and Huancavelica gifted me a kind of pure joy you rarely see anymore. They ran toward me as if I were a magical character, tugged at my hands, asked me to dance, to jump, to do anything that would keep the laughter going. And without realizing it, I was just as happy as they were. At times, I felt like I became a child again—free of worries, simply enjoying the moment.

I returned to Lima tired, yes, but with a heart so full I can’t even describe it. That trip wasn’t just another chocolatada—it was a life lesson. Among the beautiful landscapes of Huancayo and Huancavelica, among the hugs, laughter, and those sincere smiles from the children, I learned the true value of giving. They received gifts… but I received something far greater: a memory that will stay with me forever.

If one day I’m asked whether I would go back, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. Because the magic found in those small towns, the immense joy of those children, and the peace of those mountains are things you want to experience again and again.

*translated from Spanish to English with ChatGPT*