Living in the Zona

have lived in the Zona Americana of La Lima for my whole life, enough time to know everything there is about it. The Zona Americana is a very safe place, having guards keeping an eye everywhere all the time. La Lima has about everything anyone could possibly need to survive. There’s a huge soccer field, where the older teenagers get together and play soccer all Sunday afternoons. There are two tennis courts, where my friends and I were taught to play when we were about 7 years old. The large swimming pool, where every generation of limeños gave their first strokes. The Club, a restaurant where every Friday night there used to be a “Bingo Night,” and all the residents would eat, play, have fun and win! The most distinguishing feature of La Lima is probably its enormous golf course, where people from all around go to play. And last, but not least, The La Lima Campus School, where about one third of EIS’ High School students come from because it only gets to the 8th grade.Being the Zona Americana such a small community, everyone knows each other’s name and everyone is everyone’s friend. This makes the relationship between neighbors becomes very personal. Having so many guards keeping the community safe makes it easy for parents to permit their young children to go bike riding and playing games in the streets with their fellow friends because they know that they are not facing any real harm, they are safe in an ambiance where everyone cares for everyone. This fact is evident especially during Halloween. This celebration counts with the collaboration of many neighbors, those who want to participate, open their house doors, sit on their garage with a bowl full of candies and fill children’s bags when they come up to their doors yelling “trick-o-Treat” in their variety of costumes. La Lima is a very family oriented community where nature plays a huge role. The palm trees are all around the golf course, providing enough breeze and shade to anyone walking or playing golf. The owls hooting and the flying bats provide just the right mood for a creepy story at night. As you can see, such small things like trees, plants and animals, also contribute in making the community feel welcoming.

-By C. Bogran