Some things I've noticed

While I've been in Perú I've been trying to see how things are different from the States. While this is by no means a comprehensive list, below are some things I've found interesting.

In reality I know nothing about growing up in the 50's. All I think I know I've learned from movies. If I had grown up in the 50's, however, I would imagine it would be somewhat similar to living in Perú. While I live in a city of about 300,000 people it seems like it is well divided into distinct neighborhoods and within these neighborhoods everyone knows everyone. For example it seems that all of the friends of my host siblings live within about a 3 block radius of our house. I often see my brother just hanging out in the streets talking with friends, or trying to organize a pick up game of soccer on the next block. When it's time to get in contact with friends, it seems more common to walk to the friends house, knock on the door, whistle from outside, or yes, even throw rocks up to a window rather than make a phone call.

In addition to this, I've enjoyed getting to know the local markets. Rather than going to Meijer (Vons, Ralphs, or Kroger for those of you not from Michigan) once a week to stock up on food I see my host mother almost every day going to the corner market (literally on the corner of our block) to pick up some fresh vegetables or sending my 10 year old host cousin with a few cents in change to pick up some freshly baked bread each morning for breakfast. While the main meal of the day here is lunch rather than dinner, it is always eaten together with the whole family and not whenever everyone has a second to spare, but promptly at 1:30 every day!

After 2 months I'm now feel like I'm learning Spanish a bit better and am finally starting to fit in around here. I am excited to tell that I am officially a regular and known by name at the following places:

• The local internet cafe
• Gladys's juice stand (best place ever...and only $1 for 3 glasses of freshly squeezed or blended juice)
• Lucia's hamburger stand
• Inka Team (An amazing discoteca playing the latest American hits and rigatone)

In addition to this, I've found it very interesting how in touch people are with their Incan heritage. As I truly cannot go one day without hearing something about the Incas, it really feels like they are still alive and well. I often hear about new ruins being discovered, the crusades of in Inca great Pachacutec, or old Incan traditions like cooking the meal watia in an adobe stove. Last week when going to a ceremony where people poured drinks into the ground, buried food, or put leaves from the coca plant in the ground as an offering to the earth I had a 20 minute conversation with my taxi driver about how doing this truly increases crop yield and improves the health and luck of all in the community... truly amazing for me.

I've also been surprised and saddened to see how in some cases people are very well educated, but at the same time very poor, something I really haven't seen in the states. Often times here it is the case that there is not enough work to go around. I have seen lawyers as taxi drivers and in the case of my host siblings for example a dentist and an architect go without finding work for years. With the difficulty to find work, sadly, I realize I have benefited from the low costs of goods and services. For example:

• 3 large glasses of freshly blended juice $1
• A 15 minute taxi ride into the city $1.20
• 4 hour bus ride $4
• Hair cut $3

I have at times been entertained by seeing the joy something very commonplace in the states can bring to people here. For example one time my host sister was reading a book while in a conversation with the rest of the family. I told her that she was a good multitasker and then joked that I can't even walk and chew gum at the same time. With this common US phrase the family laughed for what felt like a good 2 minutes! (I let them think I made that one up on my own :) Other times I have been frustrated by the common culture of those that live in the rural villages pushing and shoving their way through lines and crowded areas. All in all it's been a good experience thus far and I have enjoyed much of what I've seen.

Until next time, keep livin' the dream!