PERU

Country Overview:

"Arequipa, the white city of Peru and the gateway to the Colca Canyon, offers travelers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty."

Located in the heart of southern Peru, Arequipa is a city that showcases the best of what the country has to offer. From its stunning colonial architecture and rich cultural heritage, to its beautiful natural surroundings and delicious cuisine, Arequipa has something for everyone. Arequipa is a hidden gem — it's a place where you can experience the very best of Peruvian culture and history, all while enjoying the beauty of the Andes mountains and the Colca Canyon. Whether you're looking to explore the city's historic center, sample its delicious cuisine, or simply relax in its peaceful surroundings, Arequipa should definitely be on your travel list.

I lived in Arequipa, Peru from September 2011 to November 2012. I taught English, practiced Muay Thai, and got really into learning Peruvian slang. I also visited Lima, Cuzco, Colca Canyon, and Playa Mollendo.

Degen Hill 12/3/12 Degen Hill 12/3/12

Oh look, a gringo!

Got invited to a birthday party last night and I accepted, thinking it would be at most 20 people. Nope. There was a dj, lights, fog machine, full free bar, couch areas in the backyard and more food than was necessary. Of course, I was the only ‘gringo’ which means that everyone and their mom wanted to speak their broken English with me. So I politely put up with 5 minute stories that could have been explained in a sentence, then courteously asked if we could continue the conversation in Spanish.

This happens quite frequently and the worst offenders are the taxi drivers. This is how most of my taxi rides go.
“Where you from gringo?”

“States dude”

“Oh you speak Inglish?”

“Ah, once in awhile”

“Oh me too, mira: One, too, tree, foooor, five!!” Then they start laughing

“Wow, impressive” And then I just start babbling in English until they look confused enough to stop talking. Never fails.

Degen Hill 11/20/12 Degen Hill 11/20/12

Spanglish?

For as proud a people as Peruvians are, they certainly use a lot of English in their everyday speech. Here’s the list:

1. Twist off - For bottles

2. Full - As in ‘lleno’ or a lot of something

3. Trailer - For movies

4. Crazy - Loco

5. Hello - Usually when answering the phone

6. Brother - What happened to 'hermano’?

7. Watch-i-man - Name used for a guard or a 'watchman’

8. Gay

9. Spoiler - Telling someone about a movie

10. Laptop

11. Fan - Aficionado

When I need to ask for an American brand name item, I find myself having to use a Spanish accent. Such as Facebook, Twitter, Coca Cola, names of bars (Frogs, Wild Rover), names of US states, and names of sport equipment (Nike is pronounced like 'mike’). Living abroad has never been so linguistically interesting.

Degen Hill 6/21/12 Degen Hill 6/21/12

Ambulance In Peru

Hadn’t seen an ambulance for awhile so it’s good to know they exist. Sun caught the lens, don’t worry about it.
After teaching in El Salvador last summer, I thought to myself, how am I ever going to learn all this Salvadorian slang? Almost a year later, I find myself asking the same question only this time it’s Peruvian slang. My students are constantly teaching me slang, or more often than not, I am looking at them with a blank stare asking, “Come again?” It’s a challenge, but I love it. Slang is essential to any language, so if anyone out there has any Spanish slang for me, send it my way and I’ll be the guy using it out of context until I get it right.

Degen Hill 4/1/12 Degen Hill 4/1/12

Soccer / Fútbol

Me:I'm excited for some soccer this afternoon
Student:It's called 'Fútbol'
Me:Not in America kid
America renaming Europe's most popular sport. TFM.