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
Amanecer: Brothel in Peru
SUMMARY: My first whorehouse in Peru. That’s basically it. (Sorry, no pictures)
My buddy Javier and I somehow got into a conversation about women and sex. In America, prostitution is a taboo conversation even among guys. In our conversation, however, it came out within a couple minutes or so that each of us had paid for sex before. The reason Americans never talk about it is for the same idea expressed by a Peruvian here when I asked him if he had ever paid for it. He told me ‘he didn’t have to’. Neither do I, tough guy. That doesn’t mean it’s not fun. I don’t have to do anything. What does anybody have to do? Like Marvin Gaye said, “There’s only three things that’s fo’ sho’: taxes, death, and trouble.”
One friend back in America, a connoisseur of prostitutes, explained that he just needs a basic service like getting his engine oil changed. He doesn’t take the oil-change guy out for dinner. He doesn’t get to know the guy beforehand. There is no seduction process. He pays the guy and the service is performed. The difference between prostitutes and non-prostitutes is the same as the difference in work performed by a professional (someone who gets paid for it) and an amateur (somebody who does it as a hobby). Sex professionals and amateurs are like their equivalents in boxing. Professional boxers have had a lot more practice, know a lot more tricks, and are simply better at it.
Javier has a girlfriend but he says that, concerning sex with prostitutes, “es necesario.” It’s necessary. So whenever she goes to Chile on business – about twice a year – he goes to Amanecer (Sunrise). Amanecer is one of the nicer brothels in Arequipa. Javier says you can get a puta for as little as ten soles downtown, but she’d be “horrible.” He prefers Amanecer for the most attractive putas in town for 100 soles ($35). … Read more
Initial Culture Shocks, Part 2
SUMMARY: Another round of initial culture shocks: Things I don’t like and things I do.
I am in full-blown honeymoon phase for my new life here. There are already things I don’t like, but those are greatly outweighed by how much I do like. So I will start with what I don’t like and finish with what I do to leave you with the correct impression that I absolutely love my honeymoon phase.
Things I Don’t Like
I don’t like the security precautions I have to take here… Read more
