Sunday, October 30, 2005
MOVE
The city of Cajamarca has emptied out completely this Sunday afternoon. People have flocked to either church or the greatest advertised event that this city has ever seen: MOTOCROSS.
This all day event involves many motorcycles of all sizes and colors going around a dirt track from dawn until dusk. Of course, like all Peruvian events, it involves rice, potatoes, many meats, and beers passed around in tiny cups: one shot before wishing SALUD to the next person.
We too will leave this city behind on Sunday, October 30th. However, it will not be for church nor to watch men in once piece suits on motorcycles, but rather we are leaving for new and better things: Ecuador!
As we have left it with work and neighbors, we many be back, although we do not know when. This city way, way, high, up in the hills has gotten too small, too rainly and too dusty, the food too repetive, and the job opportunities too limited. So as freelance travel writers we depart, with the sunny coast our destination.
This all day event involves many motorcycles of all sizes and colors going around a dirt track from dawn until dusk. Of course, like all Peruvian events, it involves rice, potatoes, many meats, and beers passed around in tiny cups: one shot before wishing SALUD to the next person.
We too will leave this city behind on Sunday, October 30th. However, it will not be for church nor to watch men in once piece suits on motorcycles, but rather we are leaving for new and better things: Ecuador!
As we have left it with work and neighbors, we many be back, although we do not know when. This city way, way, high, up in the hills has gotten too small, too rainly and too dusty, the food too repetive, and the job opportunities too limited. So as freelance travel writers we depart, with the sunny coast our destination.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
me vs. la hermana
Meté la pata (I stuck my foot in my mouth).
A few days ago at the orphanage one of the workers announced to the hermana "Did you hear the news? Two men got married in Trujillo yesterday."
Extremely disturbed, the hermana responded "that is happening all the time in Spain now, but I cant believe here too. What is this world coming to?"
Shocked that in such a Catholic country two gay men were able to legally get married, I, unable to keep my mouth shut, declared "QUE BUENO!"
The hermana gave me the evil eye, but the girls at the orphanage were surprised and intrigued. I was quickly overwhelmed with questions, ¨"why do you think this is good?", "DO you believe in dios?", "No crees que eso sea malo?". To which I could only respond, "This is a great step for human rights."
Mental note: avoid la hermana
In the last week:
I also attended a 36 hour party celebrating the small town of Icochan, in which i danced, drank, and partied with very drunk Peruvians in the pouring rain. Unable to stay awake the whole night, we went to bed at 2:30, only to be woken up by still very drunken peruvians at 7 am singing happy birthday and yelling, get up crazy gringos!!!
I started giving an English conversation class at the NGO SNV. It specializes in development projects from farms to small businesses. i met my peruvian grandpa (well i want him to be my peruvian grandpa) he is a civil engineer, specializing in water and we talked about the Peruvian government, south american relations, Bush, and travel.
Saw a west african peruvian dance.
Had another bout of food poisoning.
A few days ago at the orphanage one of the workers announced to the hermana "Did you hear the news? Two men got married in Trujillo yesterday."
Extremely disturbed, the hermana responded "that is happening all the time in Spain now, but I cant believe here too. What is this world coming to?"
Shocked that in such a Catholic country two gay men were able to legally get married, I, unable to keep my mouth shut, declared "QUE BUENO!"
The hermana gave me the evil eye, but the girls at the orphanage were surprised and intrigued. I was quickly overwhelmed with questions, ¨"why do you think this is good?", "DO you believe in dios?", "No crees que eso sea malo?". To which I could only respond, "This is a great step for human rights."
Mental note: avoid la hermana
In the last week:
I also attended a 36 hour party celebrating the small town of Icochan, in which i danced, drank, and partied with very drunk Peruvians in the pouring rain. Unable to stay awake the whole night, we went to bed at 2:30, only to be woken up by still very drunken peruvians at 7 am singing happy birthday and yelling, get up crazy gringos!!!
I started giving an English conversation class at the NGO SNV. It specializes in development projects from farms to small businesses. i met my peruvian grandpa (well i want him to be my peruvian grandpa) he is a civil engineer, specializing in water and we talked about the Peruvian government, south american relations, Bush, and travel.
Saw a west african peruvian dance.
Had another bout of food poisoning.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
pooped
Pooped on two pairs of pants today.
Every day, walking to our apartment we take a moment to stop and peek through our neighbor´s door to see if Valentina, the monkey, is around. If so, we stare longingly, hoping for a moment of play time. Sometimes, our six month old neighbor even puts on a show: dancing, jumping, and scratching.
Today as we stood in front of the door, one of the sisters of the complex saw us, and invited us to come in, and not only play with Valentina, but take her out and borrow her for as long as we desired. Valentina either loved, hated, or got very nervous when brought into our room. To express this she pooped everywhere! First on my lap, then scurrying off me, on my pants lying on the bed, then on the bed. She then left a trail as she quickly climbed up the curtains. I even ended up with poop on my face. Needless to say, we returned Valentina sooner than we would have liked, wondering "Can a monkey be potty trained?"
Equally pressing questions of the times are "Will we ever get a hot shower/a shower?", "When will it rain tomorrow?", "Will the rotary club meeting differ from the lion´s club meeting and are we betraying the lions club by going to the rotary club meeting?", and "Where did all the bread from this morning go?"
Every day, walking to our apartment we take a moment to stop and peek through our neighbor´s door to see if Valentina, the monkey, is around. If so, we stare longingly, hoping for a moment of play time. Sometimes, our six month old neighbor even puts on a show: dancing, jumping, and scratching.
Today as we stood in front of the door, one of the sisters of the complex saw us, and invited us to come in, and not only play with Valentina, but take her out and borrow her for as long as we desired. Valentina either loved, hated, or got very nervous when brought into our room. To express this she pooped everywhere! First on my lap, then scurrying off me, on my pants lying on the bed, then on the bed. She then left a trail as she quickly climbed up the curtains. I even ended up with poop on my face. Needless to say, we returned Valentina sooner than we would have liked, wondering "Can a monkey be potty trained?"
Equally pressing questions of the times are "Will we ever get a hot shower/a shower?", "When will it rain tomorrow?", "Will the rotary club meeting differ from the lion´s club meeting and are we betraying the lions club by going to the rotary club meeting?", and "Where did all the bread from this morning go?"
