Call it like you see it

While I am particularly used to being PC and accustomed to using terms that would not offend, it is not really the norm for one to do this in Perú. From a young age most Peruvians are used to having little nicknames that describe exactly what one looks like. So it is not at all offensive, in fact it is considered “cariño” or caring to be called fatty, skinny, whitey, moreno (brown, or “darky” one could say) or chino (based on the fact that you have asiatic features). Even gringo is considered a word of endearment for someone that comes from a foreign country. I am often referred to as “gringo” or “joven” when I am in public.

At first this is a bit uncomfortable and one wonders whether or not this is beyond a culture shock moment. Is this type of behavior more detrimental to a person, or have I just been studying too much psychology? I definitley have tried to take all this with a graing of salt. I am in a different country with a different culture.

I still often think this after months of being in Perú that I can’t quite get the idea of smiling while I look at my neighbor and call him piggy or refer to that girl with the chinese eyes. It definitely begs the question, where do conflicting cultures meet? Am I in the right to think this is bad behavior, or are we overly sensitive and censored as a whole.

Daily Dinámica: Popping the Bubble

Keep and open mind about the world around you, there are often things one takes for granted as truth, when it really comes down to perception.

"It was such a blast, it was from the past."

Breakfast of Champions

Two eggs (over easy), toast (with butter), maybe some home fries, and bacon/sausage was my staple growing up. Almost every weekend this was what my dad would fix us. This is a pretty typical American breakfast, and a tradition that I even kept when I would have friends over after shopping at the Farmer’s Market. In Perú, that is just not the case.

Here is a list of foods that I have received in my time in Perú:

Ø  Quaker (pronounced Kwak-air): a liquidy oatmeal usually with cinnamon and/or sugar. This is usually served with any variety of the next items

Ø  2-3 Eggs

Ø  Bread and avacado (my favorite)

Ø  Fried Chicken and french fries

Ø  Eggs and rice

Ø  Ceviche (a cold fish dish, with a lemon juice sauce, onions and other spices), with a yam

Ø  Eggs with stewed tomatoes and onions

Ø  Hamburger

Ø  Varieties of soup

Ø  Spaghetti

Ø  Sauteed onions and tomatoes with bread

Ø  Escaviche de chancho (pickled pig’s feet, with onions) and a potato

Ø  Hot dogs and eggs…or just hot dogs

Ø  Fried sweet potatoe sandwich

Luckily this is sometimes served with warm juice, made fresh, especially if you buy your family fruit from the market. My favorites are pineapple and strawberry.

Daily Dinámica: “Clean Plate”

Trying to finish your plate can be a real challenge, and all you need is a positive attitude and a determined Peruvian to make it happen. When you can eat no more, you may hear “do you not like it?” or “is there something wrong?” which will give you that extra push to make your stomach swell just a littttle bit larger. Of course this may be more difficult when you are presented with pig’s feet; pickled pig’s feet; cold pickled pigs feet. (Which I was told you cannot cut, you must pick it up and chew off the “meat” for future reference.)

Lessons in Note Taking

Every so often I hate that I cannot understand everything that someone is saying. For example, every time my 13 year old host brother opens his mouth. Or when people are trying to scream into a microphone (why scream, that is why there is a microphone?). On the flip side, it can be gosh darn convenient! Many of the strange situations I have been in, such as meetings, conferences, “charlas”, or other events, speakers will drone on as if they were being payed by the hour. They do not seem to have the slightest “verguenza” or embarrassment that A) no one is listening or B) speaking for the hell of it does not convince people you know what you are talking about.

Finding that sliver lining in each situation, I managed to write this entire blog entry while it appears that I am taking important notes on what is going on in the Parents’ Conference that I am involved with. I can sit calmly and watch the parents’ eyes glass over, while Milton—the psychologist—talks about…well I’m not really sure, I can’t understand him.

Daily Dinámica: “Attentively Unaware”

Materials: Paper and Pencil

Start a tally of the strategically placed nod, “ok” and “de acuerdo” during meetings. Throw in the occasional “lo siento, no entiendo” or “puede repetir” so that they don’t catch on to the fact that you are just faking the conversation. The tallies will look like you are taking notes.

Pizza Hunt

Few and far between are the “Pizza Haters”, but I do believe there are a select few of us in this world who are truly Pizza Lovers. I base this statement on my undying need to find Pizza wherever I go..in the world. For many of my years, I have had Pizza as a weekly staple in my life. I could rant on about why, but that is not the point of this blog.

Searching for good Pizza is though. The qualities of a good Pizza are simple: crust, sauce, cheese and toppings. For me, sauce is the most important, which seems to NOT be appreciated in most countries. Brazil…just give up and get Domino’s otherwise you are eating cheezy bread with mayonaise, ketchup, and mustard (it comes with the pizza). Spain…frozen Pizza was the way to go. There was enough sauce (decent at that), and you could personalize them in any way that you wished—three in a pack at Mercadona in Murcia. So now that I am in Perú I am at a loss. I have been to all the local Pizza places I could find, and nothing really satisfies my craving. It’s just all wrong. Pizza Hut (which is fine dining here in Perú) was the best I’ve had so far; real pepperoni I might add. This does not help me when I am in my sight and Pizza Hut is 12 hours away, and I am one of those not so down with chains kind of people. I could recommend a good place in Trujillo, but that is 15 hours away from me, so my Pizza woes may just continue on for the two years to come unless I find a solution.

I am working on finding a place here in Camaná, my prospects are limited though…there are two places. I am attempting to become a regular at one of these places (more because of their wine), so tha I can try and sway them into making Pizza the way it should be made…they way I like it.

Daily Dinámica: Find a great pizza recipe that you know and love and send it to Richard at rich.k.cochran@gmail.com or richard_k_cochran@yahoo.com or on Facebook. All you need is internet and e-mail!

A Cleansing Experience

As Americans we often take for granted the fact that showers, baths, and hot water are constants, not luxuries. Well, that expectation definitely went out the window when we all arrived in Peru. The first weeks were filled with adventures in bathing, with many stories including buckets, cold (I mean freezing) water, and a wide variety of qualms concerning where and when it was appropriate to wash. After the two months of a quick game of freeze tag with one’s shower, I am truly starting to understand the joy of cold water trickling down, shortening my breath, and waking my spirit. The blood pumping vigorously attempts to heat one’s body; and I now question whether or not a hot shower is the way to go. In fact, many Peruvians love it so much that cold water is preferred, while hot water is considered bad for you.

Daily Dinámica: Create a fantasy story about dealing with strange misunderstanding concerning water, for example.

Once upon a time there was a young girl living a quaint village in a country called Peru. She had a lovely family that took good care of her, and even though her customs were strange, they treated her as one of their own. One day, the young lady came to here training center and told her comrads about a glorious shower she had with warm water spewing from the fosset like a rainbow of skittles in a commercial she once had seen. Oh how joyous she was, but the next day…her expression was much more of confusion and dismay. Her family had brought her to this same fasset where the magical warm water came from and started to explain “Oh lovely girl, no worries! It is fixed! The water is no longer warm! You may take all the cold showers you wish!”

The End

Passing Time with Old Timers

One of the beautiful things about every country is that there are babies, kids, teens, adults, and old people…geriatics if you will, or viejos if you want to  be Peruvian. For those that truly know me, or have met me period. I love to talk, chat, and talk some more whenever I get the chance, so why would that change in another language? It does not. I have to say Peace Corps picked the right country for me, because this place really has some people that know how to..exercise their ability to extend their lung capacity. My favorite conversationalist are the viejos though, the elderly of Perú.

In any place on this planet, the viejos are the ones that have been there and done that.  They know what it was like when time began and how much the road they stand on has changed (literally and figuratively). Not really having grandparents growing up, it is a special treat to turn any random wrinkled woman lazing about into my future foster grandmother.

I am pretty sure I have seen Peru pass through the ages while talking to these vibrant women (usually a couple times since every stories is repeated like a scratched CD during your your favorite song). I have spoken to a man in his 100’s, women in their 80’s, and the stories are some of the most interesting, amusing, and informative in my three months here.

Juana Alua (85): She moved to La Libertad as a 10 year old because both of her parents died (one may have been murdered, I’m not sure) and she helped raise her brothers and sisters. She is still in good health and has few pains. She told me their were two types of pineapple…”blanco y colorado” white and colored. I got to hear about the various time periods of Peruvian history and the diffculties of a young woman in the 30’s and 40’s.

Oldest man in Perú (107): Looking good for his age, take this man’s advice. “Meat and chicken are shit; eat lots of fish, vegetables, and salads.” He actually pulled out his ID so that we could double check his real age.

Iliana (¿?): When she was a girl her mom made her a leather hat so that when she went and robbed oranges, she could keep her head safe. I am not sure why she would need protection, but she is somewhat deaf, so I could ask. Camaná, which has no oranges now, once had the sweetest and best oranges in all of Perú. She misses the variety of sugar cane that once grew here and is was suprised to see all the onions growing. (Even though her son-in-law owns an onion farm).

Daily Dinámica:  Timing Old Timers

Materials—your watch (or cell phone) and patience. As you begin a conversation with someone that is at least 75+ years old, start the stop watch. Be careful, you may think the conversation may end quite a few times, so be sure it is not just a long pause or they may just be starting over again, so hold out to the end. Take notes, they may be useful.