Why Latinas Love Me and More San Jose Basketball
SUMMARY: I start dating two new girls. I analyze why Latinas like gringos. I talk more about basketball in Peru.
I have two potential girlfriend-replacements lined up. However, I’m reevaluating whether either one is worthy of replacing Rosa. I was pretty drunk when I met each one and almost didn’t remember what they looked like. They’re attractive but not girlfriend material.
Anita, the lawyer, came to watch my basketball game. She comes from a basketball family and later admitted that she wanted me after hearing I play for San Jose. She and I went to this Irish pub with Nicolas – it was his first Friday night in Arequipa and he had nobody to go out with. After Anita told me she had a three year-old daughter, we made out a little on the cab ride home. … Read more
Cold Gringo and Homosexuality in Peru
SUMMARY: I describe a culture shock about interacting with other men and, unrelatedly, homosexuality and tolerance in Peru.
I feel the warm culture of Latin America is a better fit for me, but there are ways in which I am and may always be a cold gringo.
I have many friends already and am getting along well, but something occasionally bothers me about my male friends. When males become friends, they typically insult and poke fun of each other. This is completely normal. Having been in a fraternity and always had macho asshole friends, I can hang with the best of them. However, a certain amount of time is needed for the friendship to incubate and develop before the insults begin. In the warm culture, guys become good friends in less time. I’m a cold gringo because I need more time before I’m comfortable with this kind of joking. … Read more
Rosa Done Lost Her Mind and San Jose
SUMMARY: I describe how Charo lost her mind.
I see the end of me and Rosa coming soon. If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you may have gathered that I am not in love and I cheat on her whenever possible. But I always liked her enough to keep her around. She has started to go a little crazy, which happens with all women in my experience. After some time, they begin their efforts in trying to change a man. Standard operating procedure. The future of the couple depends on (A) if the woman cares enough to change the man and (B) if the man cares enough to tolerate it. In my case, I don’t like her enough. She has started nagging me to clean my room and polish my shoes. … Read more
Cholos, Cholas, Cholo Power, and Cholita Brown
SUMMARY: I discuss the meaning of the word ‘cholo’ with examples and antecdotes.
Before moving to Peru, I misunderstood the term ‘cholo’ to mean what it means in the States. In America, cholo has morphed into meaning Mexican gangster – the stereotype having a shaved head, tattoos, and knee-high ankle socks pulled up. The 70s and 80s era cholo was stereotyped with the slicked-back hair, maybe under a hair-net, and a tank-top muscle shirt or flannel with only the top button fastened.
So when I moved here and heard the word, I assumed they were talking about gangsters or thugs. It wasn’t long before things didn’t make sense and I got clarification. … Read more
Colca Canyon
SUMMARY: I describe my trip to Colca Canyon with pictures at the end.
Rosa and I planned to see Colca Canyon in the province of Arequipa. Initially, it was going to be a romantic weekend just the two of us. Then we were going to go with another couple: Rosa’s best friend, Jessica, and her new fiance, Anthony. Anthony couldn’t find tickets so I enlisted the help of Beto. Beto bought eleven tickets and added seven more trekkers, including himself. So we were eleven altogether: Me, Rosa, Jessica, Anthony, Beto, Karen, Emilio, Patricia, Giancarlo, Cesar, and Rocio. Ironically, I was the only one who knew everybody in the group. We all got wasted until 4am Saturday night so the early Sunday morning departure was hell.
The altitude in Colca is ridiculous, higher than any of these other ridiculously high altitudes in Peru. Colca Canyon is technically deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but the walls aren’t as clearly defined or vertical so it’s less recognized and the pictures are less canyon-esque. The bus made five or six stops on the way, making a three-hour drive into a six-hour drive. On one stop near a flock of llamas, I asked the tour guide if there was enough time for whichever males may be so inclined to have sex with one. Nobody laughed. Nobody. Blank stares. Oh well, you can’t be funny all the time. … Read more
