The Final Word on Bricheras
SUMMARY: After one year in Peru, I discuss my final impression of what it means to be a brichera. I categorize them as Type 1′s or Type 2′s. Sections include My First Brichera!, Type 1,and Type 2.
Well, I’ve written extensively on the phenomenon known as bricheras in Peru. You can freshen up by reading these posts: Amigos and Bricheras and The Brichera Scowl and the Second Date. I’m now leaving Peru, so I thought I ought to share what I’ve learned. Plus, I scored a one-night stand with my first bona fide brichera during my last week in Arequipa… Read more
Public Urination in Peru
I wrote in an earlier post that public urination in Peru is common and more accepted. I saw two incidents this week, both worthy of mention.
One night I was riding the combi home. The driver (a male) said to the attendant (a female) that the little girl sitting up front (about six years old) had to pee. It is common for the children of combi workers to ride the bus with them all night after school; not everybody can afford child care. The driver and attendant may have been a married team or maybe just one of them was the little girl’s parent. Anyway, the female attendant at the side door picked up the little girl and got off the bus at the next stop. She didn’t take the girl’s pants down or anything. The little girl just stood there on the sidewalk while the attendant waited for her. After a few moments, the attendant picked the little girl up, got back on the bus and put her in the front seat.
Another day I was walking past a bridge that goes over Avenida Ejercito, a major thoroughfare in Arequipa. Under the staircase leading up to the bridge, I saw a bare ass in a squatting position. Then a strong stream / explosion of urine came out the other side. An older, poorer woman was urinating under the bridge staircase for all to see.
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
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
Human Rights in Peru
SUMMARY: While researching for an article for an encyclopedia company, I discovered the not-so-stellar human rights record of Peru and detail the most troubling points in this post.
I recently finished an article on Peru for a publishing company in New York. I had to research quite a bit and learned a lot of things I did not want to know – specifically the 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 I read about Peru. My friend Lucia wanted to know specifically what bothered me. Where to start? … Read more
Cusco
SUMMARY: I take a trip with Carlos to Cusco to hang out with his girl’s family. Great little, calm weekend. 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
