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Hi-Tek Peru
Your technology connection in Lima
Web addresses of interest - a brief synopsis
By F. P. Nagle

Editor's Note: This is the ACAP Newsletter's inter-active column. You can reach the interactive forum at http://groups-beta.google.com/group/Hi-Tek-Peru - where ACAP readers and others can sign up, ask questions raised by this column, post comments and suggest future column topics. It is also available for general discussion on technology issues pertinent to expatriates in Lima. Go to this web site and click on “Join this Group” to participate.

Now that you have an internet account and can move about your home wirelessly, where are you going to “surf” today? During my few years here in Lima, I've come across a number of web sites that offer valuable information, much of it in Spanish, that has helped me to acclimate to living in South America. I hope they may be of help to you as well.

Banking - I've had the need to send money to family in the provinces, and Banco de Credito has an on-line function which allows me to do this without having to leave home or office (http://www.viabcp.com). Other banking web sites are: Banco Sudamericano http://www.sudamericano.com.pe and Interbank http://www.interbank.com.pe

International Drivers License - Even though you may have your U.S. license and a passport, Peruvian law requires an International Drivers License (US agency: http://nationalautoclub.com/html/idp_app.html). You must have a valid U.S. license, and it is much cheaper and easier to handle this when you are in your home country than from here in Lima. But thanks to this website, it is possible.

If you're looking for satellite communications, one that has a local representative here is Gilat (http://www.gilat.com/ContactUs_Offices.asp )

Here are a few key Peruvian government sites that may come in handy:

The main Peruvian government website (http://www.peru.gob.pe) You can go to the “Tramite” section to see the information for obtaining a Peruvian driver's license.

The SUNAT is the Peruvian government tax agency (http://www.sunat.gob.pe)

If you happen to be in the market to buy a used car you may want to check Servicio de Administración Tributaria SAT at (http://www.sat.gob.pe/default.asp). Here you can find out if there are any outstanding fines or fees. You do have to register, but there is no fee.

At the official Peruvian Immigration site (http://www.digemin.gob.pe), you can find some of the forms necessary for the various visas offered by Peru to foreigners. Select “Formularios” from the menu on the left side of the screen to see a list of forms that can be printed out.

If you want to find out information regarding your community or district, many have their own web sites. Here are three of them: San Isidro (http://www.msi.gob.pe/msi/indice.htm), Miraflores (http://www.miraflores.gob.pe) and Magdalena del Mar (http://www.munimagdalena.gob.pe).

Before spending a lot of “soles” you can check the community standing of businesses in Lima by going to the Lima Chamber of Commerce site.
(http://www.viabcp.com/viaempresarial/camara/consulta_historial.htm).

After getting all your “paperwork” done, you feel like going to a movie, so check out what's playing by visiting http://cine.peru.com. You can search this site by either movie title or Movie/Cineplex name.

Having problems with your English / Spanish? You can always do some studying on line at http://www.studyspanish.com. Want to study with a partner? Look into this webpage: http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/Default.asp. And even the BBC offers language study at http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages.

Feeling a little homesick? Why not read a US newspaper on-line? Select the state and then the city from this site: http://www.usnpl.com.

Just as the “expat” list is of interest to many expatriates in Peru, the following is the page to go to for all types of e-mail lists regarding Peruvian interests, including classifieds (Clasificados) and touring (Turismo). You can “cancel” your membership in these lists at any time, so if something looks interesting, sign up and check it out (http://listas.rcp.net.pe/LISTAS/listas-interes.htm).

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