More from MP in Peru

No big deal, just one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the world. WHAT’S UP MACHU PICCHU!?!

And just for kicks, I thought I’d whip out ‘The Easterner’ and give it a read seeing as how I was so bored. Proud to be an Eagle?

Fancy Lunch

My buddy is visiting from Camaná, so we and some other buddies decided to go out for some real food today. Went to “La Terraza” which overlooks ‘La Plaza De Armas’ here in Arequipa. Legit.

1st pic is chicken something, I forgot the name

2nd pic is ceviche, which is always delicious with 'chelas’ (beers) 

Peruvian Beer

2nd Superbowl in Peru. Still no little smokies, kegs or pizza pockets to be found, but with all 4 types of Cusqueña and chips w/ guac, I’m all set. 

I’m going with the Niners on this one. Despite the fact that I don’t care, and I don’t like Kaepernick (Nevada vs. Boise 2010), it’s still a West coast team and I respect that. 

Juggler

Peruvian street performer who collects money from the taxis at the red light. Along with the jugglers are little kids trying to sell candy. Quit tugging at my heart strings ‘chibolo’. 

Off to the gym to fight this morning. High kicks are killing me. 

50/50

Universitario o ‘La U’ cost me S/. 20 this afternoon after losing 2-1 to Melgar. Although half the reason I go to soccer games is for the food. Chicken sandwhiches, anticuchos, cremoladas, queso helado, and palomitas more than make up for the loss. 

“Estofado de Res”

Beef, carrots, potatoes, peas, and of course, rice

Yayo

Psi Alpha Psi Theta is reppin it hard here in Peru. I know it might send the wrong message to all those ‘chibolos’ out there reading my blog, but seeing as how Peru is the 2nd, if not largest exporter of Cocaine, it seemed fitting to see this written on an alley wall. 

Typical...

Peruvian: A person who has no sense of time

Ayyy, lo siento, xfa, solo 10 minutos mas, te lo juro!

10 minutes later

Pucha, olvidé hacer *algo*, solo 15 mas, lo sientoooooo

Peru Logo

National Peruvian symbol on a random wall here in Arequipa. 

Sunset

Peruvian sunset: It’s almost unreal. Every night at 6:30, from my rooftop perspective, it looks like a painting. 

Sticklers...

Money. Peruvians have a trust issue with money. Every time I pay, regardless of the bill size, they inspect it as if it were a rare diamond, searching for any and all imperfections. Oh, but don’t worry, the minuscule tear has been taped up. “WE CAN’T ACCEPT IT”.  I recently tried to pay a taxi driver with a S/. 5 coin and turns out, it was fake. A fake S/. 5 coin, who would go to all that trouble? At this point, I am used to this lack of trust and while the cashier is examining my bill I like to say, “It’s fake, pretty good job eh?” To which they give me a, “That’s not funny” look and hastily give me my change. 

Peruvian Thanksgiving

The Peruvian Thanksgiving spread.

Arroz Con Pollo

I know what you’re thinking and no, that’s not turkey. Unfortunately, finding a turkey has proved to be a non-successful endeavor. Although ‘Arroz con Pollo’ was delicious. Already celebrated a Thanksgiving breakfast at 7am with my first class and am looking forward to my next 2 'potluck fiestas’ this evening. Bought wine for my neighbors, so hopefully they can forgive me for 'playing’ my guitar at all hours of the night. Whipped out my tie for the first time since being here and sure enough, it’s causing more stares than usual. Nothing like Thanksgiving in a 65 degree, Spanish speaking country.

‘Seco de Res’ - a typical Peruvian plate found in 90% of Menus here in Arequipa

The lady who cuts my hair and I are what some people would call friends. I play chess with her 8 year old son and run around the streets with her other son, a Mr. Juan Manuel. So, in the non creepiest way, here is a picture of him. Watching him try to take the wrapper off of a sucker is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. 

Peruvian 'Efficiency'

After 3 unsuccessful attempts at the Peruvian post office to pick up a package, I finally figured it out. Only 25 people a day (15 morning, 10 afternoon) are allowed to pick up international packages and securing a spot is…challenging . Arriving an hour a half before the allotted time should be plenty, I naively think. Fail. So this morning I figured two and half hours should do it. My buddy and I show up at 6am to sit outside ‘Serpost’ thinking there has got to be an easier way. But apparently this is normal behaviour because every 20 minutes, someone would show up, ask what number they were, then proudly declare their number to make sure there were no discrepancies once we got inside. The question that followed was always the same, “¿Quién es primero?” Serpost opens, and as 'numero uno’ is called, I pridefully walk into the back to greet the customs officer and pick up my package. I had beaten them at their own game. 

More pictures from the parade. Cute little kid in front of me, so of course I creepily took a picture while her mom wasn’t looking. Peruvian kids are adorable, but I think 10 is the cutoff between cute and obnoxious. 

Guy with the dreads is my main man Victor from Madrid, our first couch surfer to stay with us in Peru. Celebrated Peru’s Independence Day in style by only drinking Pisco and Peruvian beer followed by lomo saltado / chaufa for breakfast. I’m just living the dream down here, one day at a time. These past 6 months have flown by. It seems like yesterday that it was pouring rain as I hopped from one sand bag to another trying to avoid the inevitable soaking of my shoes. 

“A moment of troubles for a life without troubles”

At least they acknowledge the fact that tearing up the main street in Arequipa causes a bit of a hassle for traffic.

This is the booth where I get keys made for about 60 cents a piece. If you need something in Peru, there’s always a way to get it. Every week I ask my Peruvian roommate a more ridiculous question about obtaining illegal merchandise. It started with brass knuckles and yesterday it was an automatic machine gun. With every response he says, “Why the hell do you want a machine gun? You’re crazy. But seriously, if you need one I know a place…”

This is the view from my shower. And this is the part where I acknowledge that people probably don’t care.

Asked a student to use “Get over” in a sentence to which she responded, “I got over the fact that my boyfriend had sex with my cousin”. Well done, but perhaps it’s best to keep stuff like that to yourself. Never a dull moment in my classes, that’s for sure. 

Debating about China or South Korea for my next ESL job so I can make some cash for the World Cup in Brasil. Any input would be appreciated. Cheers