Tag Archives: cholo
A Mexican-American Experience
Posted on 09. Oct, 2010 by Colin.
SUMMARY: My observations of Mexican-American culture in my experiences over the summer, which include a trip to immigration court and a small rumble at a bicentennial festival.
I learned Mexican Spanish in America before ever moving to South America. I’ve lived in Orange County, Tucson, and Denver – all have huge Mexican populations. Ironically, however, most of my contact with Mexicans came in St. Louis, which has one of the tiniest Latino populations in America.
I’ve known one particular family for almost ten years, when they first came to America. … Read more
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The Final Word on Bricheras
Posted on 08. Apr, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: After a year in Peru I explain what it means to be a brichera and categorize them into Type 1′s or Type 2′s.
In retrospect my first Peruvian girlfriend was a brichera given she offered to marry me. But the Peruvians said she wasn’t. She didn’t speak English and never had a gringo boyfriend. So my first bona fide, gringo-hunting brichera (an English-speaker studying tourism) came my last week in Arequipa … Read more
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You HAVE TO See Machu Picchu!
Posted on 20. Mar, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I finally go to Machu Picchu in Peru. Pictures at the end.
My Machu Picchu trip was saved after The Cusco Incident.
Machu Picchu was the most spectacular scenery I’ve ever seen. The view above Rio de Janeiro from Christ the Redeemer previously held the title, but has been dethroned. Jump to pics… Read more
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Public Urination in Peru
Posted on 11. Feb, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Two of the more interesting incidents of public urination in Peru described.
One night I was riding the combi home. The driver (a male) said to the cobradora (a female) that the little girl sitting up front (about six years old) had to pee. It’s common for the children of combi workers to ride the bus with them all night after school; not everybody can afford child care … Read more
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Nasty Follow-Ups
Posted on 10. Jan, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Summing up developments regarding hazing, basketball, racism, sex, work and Peruvian culture in the following sections: From Hazed to Hazer, 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 he must adhere to tradition and singled me out, probably due to my performance when the team subdued me. He addressed me in English while pointing at Sebastián, “Colin, fetch … Read more
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Cholos, Cholas, Cholo Power, and Cholita Brown
Posted on 16. Aug, 2008 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I discuss the meaning of the word ‘cholo’ with examples and antecdotes.
Before moving to Peru I misunderstood the term ‘cholo’ for what it means in the States, where 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 had slicked-back hair, maybe under a hair-net, and a tank-top muscle shirt or flannel with only the top button fastened. … Read more
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Colca Canyon in Arequipa, Peru
Posted on 01. Aug, 2008 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I describe my trip to Colca Canyon with pictures at the end.
Eleven of us went to see Colca Canyon in the province of Arequipa: 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. … Read more
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Human Rights in Peru
Posted on 23. Jul, 2008 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Some ugly details of Peru’s human rights record.
I recently wrote an article on Peru for an American publishing company. In my research I learned details of Peru’s human rights record. While America has come under fire for things like denying due process to Guantanamo detainees, waterboarding, and rendition, this is child’s play compared to what’s happened here. My friend Lucia wanted to know specifically what bothered me. Where to start? … Read more
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Cusco, Peru for Corpus Christi
Posted on 27. May, 2008 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I take a trip to Cusco to hang out with Carlos’s girl’s family. Plenty of pictures.
Carlos invited me to Cusco for Maca’s baby shower. She’s from Cusco and all her family is there and had already been there for a week. We left at 8pm Friday night and arrived at 6am Saturday morning. Carlos had a joint that we smoked before we got to the bus terminal.
After loading our luggage on the bus, we raided the food stands in the terminal. We lost track of time and the bus was leaving when we got back. We barely stopped the bus in time at the gate. We laughed at how much trouble he’d have been in if we missed that bus and he wasn’t at the baby shower. I was sick when we left so I wasn’t anticipating a wild weekend. … Read more
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