Combi Strike
SUMMARY: The combis struck in Arequipa. I talk about strikes in Peru.
The combi employees went on strike last week. The government (again) tried to mandate that all public combis be less than 25 years old. This caused enough outrage among combi operators that they organized a strike. There were almost no combis on the road. I think the combi workers own their buses, but the companies own the route while taking a percentage from operators, and maybe even selling them the combis. This would explain why the rank and file combi drivers and attendants care about this new law – because they don’t want to buy new combis. … Read more
Contributed Story: Chasing Women in China
SUMMARY: Featured story from an American studying in China. Our Man in China experiences a brothel, a drug called ‘king’, and more Chinese women.
This story was contributed by an American studying in China:
I travelled to mainland China to meet Jason, a Chinese-born fraternity brother from America. I stayed with him at his parents’ place in Ganzhou. In my 1000-page China edition of Lonely Planet, this city of 600,000 isn’t even listed in the index. It was a five-hour train ride from Hong Kong.
Jason picked me up at the train station. After a few minutes of catching up, he suggested we go to the red light district of Ganzhou. “What? Red light district?” … Read more
Nasty Follow-Ups
SUMMARY: Developments to old stories sometimes get left out of this blog. This post sums up those most interesting regarding hazing, basketball, racism, sex, work and Peruvian culture in the following sections: From Hazed to Hazer, San Jose Basketball, Cholo Cholin, AQP Gringo Tours, Anita, Milagros, and Scrawny Anorexic.
From Hazed To Hazer
A week after the team put Icy Hot in my ass, I met Sebastián – a new addition to the team who wasn’t at our initiation. Coach said Sebastián must adhere to tradition. I was in the back of the locker room but Flaco singled me out – probably due to my performance when the team subdued me. He addressed me in English while pointing at Sebastián, “Kah-lahn, fetch.” … Read more
My Big Gringo Christmas
SUMMARY: I spend ten days with friends and family in America. Subsections of my reflections include: American Food, Wal-Mart, The Porn Star, Christmas in America, A Doomed Friendship, American Opulence & Materialism.
American Food
Before baggage claim, diarrhea set in. I thought it was the altitude change but Steve suggested it might be the water. I’ve been drinking bottled water for nine months (Peru water isn’t drinkable). I drank a lot of tap water during my layover in Atlanta, which is drinkable but rich in chlorine. The chlorine may have made me sick. The diarrhea continued at home until I tried to drink through it. I had five drinks before I went to a nice Italian restaurant for a family dinner. Then a few drinks with dinner. I puked in the restaurant toilet before leaving for my welcoming party. … Read more
