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husband who sought refuge and work in the selva (tropical region of theAmazon). At that time a large population of refugees from Huancavelicaand Ayacucho had built temporary shelters on the fringes of the city, wherethey occupied a piece of unused private land. Gradually, the space wastransformed into a new neighborhood composed of a mosaic of smallwooden and adobe houses and numerous small shops and workshops (e.g.,tire-repairers, hardware shops, restaurants, hairdressers, retail stores, barsand informal market traders). A large proportion of the population workedas day laborers in construction, transport and agricultural enterprises. Yetdespite all this economic activity, most households continued to face aprecarious living, especially those without adult men.4.2 Critical Moments in the Lives of the Daughters in MilanEventually, after some years of schooling and a period working as childminders and domestic servants in Lima, Camila’s two daughters (first oneand then the other) seized the opportunity to leave Peru to find work inItaly. This came through Ines, their mother’s brother’s wife, for whom theyhad worked as nannies for her children. Ines has many relatives abroadand two cousins who operate a business in Lima recruiting Peruvians fordomestic work in Europe. She agreed to assist them to leave the countryand it was proposed that they head for Italy. The cost of the migrationarrangements were guaranteed by Ines and her husband, who offered theirhouse in Lima as security for the 6,000 dollar loan needed to finance thefirst journey. Once in Italy and working, the first daughter was able to payoff the full sum in only eight months, and on the basis of this, the seconddaughter could join her. Each of them was routed through Spain and Franceto reach their final destination of Milan. Thus, by 1997, both were settledthere working as domestic carers for the elderly.48Since then Camila’s daughters have exchanged regular news with theirmother, describing the “unforgettable experiences” they had undergone,and assuring her that they were doing fine. The writing of letters plusregular contact by telephone once a week became the modus operandi forkeeping in touch. Something of the content of these exchanges is capturedin the following extract of a letter written by Rita, the elder daughter, in1998:Mum, now I have got used to being here, there’s everythinghere. Nothing is lacking: food is plentiful and everything isdelicious. Now, I only have to clean two living rooms and thebedrooms and serve young Santiago [the handicapped son ofthe Italian family], who curses me when I don’t understand