Life In Arequipa, Peru

There are little hundreds of these ‘we sell everything you need from the convenience of a corner’ stores around Arequipa. You can buy gum, water, candy, nuts, you name it. After I took the picture the 2 guys looked at me weird, but at this point I’m quite used to it. 

Lookout! Another picture of Misti, the prominent volcano that I can see from literally every street I walk down. Taught my students the slang word “Shucks” and realized that I only use it sarcastically. To be frank, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say “Shucks” sincerely. 

Shout-out today goes to Ratemystudyabroad.com! Quite an honor to be the weeks featured blogger on such a helpful website. Having studied abroad myself without any outside information, I would highly recommend this website unless you’re a, “Ah I prefer to wing it” type of person. Thanks again and good luck to: http://www.ratemystudyabroad.com/ !

I'm bartering, of course I'm going to low ball you...

So there I was, standing in a tankie and shades inside of a corner store (of which I am allowed to go into, get with the times El Salvador) with one sol in my left hand and an avocado in my right, so perfect for guacamole that even Vicente Guerrero would declare it worthy of being mashed. “Buenas!” I yell, working to establish my superiority as a tiny old man hobbles out of the back. As soon as he hits the door way he freezes, shoots his gaze down to my right hand and then to my left. We lock eyes but if for a moment and I realize I’m going to have to be smooth if I’m going to get away with this deal. He creeps over to me and grabs the avocado, holding it up to his face as if it were a precious diamond. The señor throws it into the air and catches it as it lands into the palm of his hand. “Un sol cincuenta” I am told. Surely this can be negotiated I think. I palm the sol, knowing that I won’t settle for anything more and smugly I counter with “Ochenta centavos”. He eyes the avocado in his hand trying to visually determine the weight, “Un sol veinte”. I methodically move my sol to my thumb and flick it into the air knowing that the shiny coin will capture his attention and as it lands softly into my palm I thrust it forward and say “Una luca o nada”. He shifts his eyes to the left and right, looking a bit uneasy but finally I hear what I’ve been waiting for since I entered the tienda. “Tenemos un acuerdo, pero no digas a mi esposa”. He snatches the coin, tosses me the avocado and shuffles into the back as I smile and turn to leave with my lush green prize in hand.