El Mercado

This morning I went to the market with my madre to do some shopping. We left the house and walked for awhile until we encountered a moto-taxi. I have no idea who was ever sitting around and thought, “Ah yes, a moto-taxi will be a good way to transport people and goods around a country.” These things are terrifying. They have three wheels (one in front and two in back). The driver sits up front on a motorcycle-esk seat, and the passengers sit in back under a canopy of sorts on a bench that is open to the air on the sides. They are smaller than a Smart Car. Every single one looks like it’s about to fall apart, and I’ve seen several go up on two wheels while attempting even the most benign corners. They are all red or blue. They have the acceleration capacity of your average bicycle (or maybe tricycle…), and yet this does not prevent them from pulling out in front of giant buses on the main highway or blatantly cutting off cars as they turn. I’ve seen more than one with its back “window” shaped like Batman’s call sign. So, my madre and I got up into the moto-taxi and I hoped for the best as we zoomed to the market. The market of Chaclacayo is just like any other run-of-the-mill Latin American market. There are large slabs of meat hanging from hooks, most of which are still very recognizable as animals, many of which still have tails/fur, and some of which are bleeding onto the floor. There are stalls of fresh fruit and vegetables as far as the eye can see in every direction, and you’re as likely as not to have ever seen the fruit before in your life. They even have pitaya!!! Hooray!!! (I discovered them yesterday and have already personally consumed three.) The aisles are jam-packed with women (and some men) with a baby in their arms and several kids in tow. Other vendors push their way through the crowds selling sandals, soap, and dish towels to anyone who will stop to hear their schpeel. Today my madre headed straight towards the chickens, and ordered four chicken breasts. Then we stood around as the chicken-vendor-woman prepared them. Call me naïve, but I thought this was very chevere (cool), as they say here. She took what looked exactly like a rubber chicken, only bigger, cut off the bottom part with the legs, cut off the head, scooped out the innards and the heart, and then cut the breast from the bone. Lo and behold, what was left on her counter looked exactly like what I buy at the super-market in the States! I mean, I knew this was the process, but I had never seen it done before, and I was surprised at how exactly the breast from the giant “rubber” chicken resembled the stuff in the Styrofoam container back home. Who woulda guessed? I also now know that if there is a market at my site I can have them prepare the chicken for me there instead of attempting to take it home and do it myself- disaster. I ate the aforementioned breast for lunch today, and it was delicious.

Some things I love about Peru so far:

1. The llama chiclets commercial: This commercial has llama close-up after llama close-up of llamas “saying” chevere. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a llama close-up, but the things are butt-ugly. The idea of them saying chevere is hysterical. The commercial closes by saying simply, “Chilets son chevere.” I think I’ll go buy some this afternoon.
2. Anti-idol: This is a show of people attempting to sing karaoke in English, who do not speak English. Believe me, you haven’t lived until you’ve seen a 20-something Peruvian male who’s never attempted English before in his life belting out “We go together like shamamala, badingidy diggidong.” Or whatever it is.
3. Lima! We went yesterday as a group, and it’s great!! There is so much to do and see there, and it is so alive. Don’t believe people who tell you that Lima is a dirty thieving dump. I mean, it is unbelievably dirty (when I blew my nose last night it was black), and there are un monton de thieves, but it’s so much more than that!
4. Alan Garcia- the president. Right now he has a 19% approval rating, and so he makes me feel right at home! ;)
5. El Comercio, the national paper. Today they had an article from the Economist! The ECONOMIST!! Oh, Economist, te quiero.
6. Internet for 33 cents an hour.
7. Argentina. Why? I was walking through Lima yesterday speaking Spanish, and a guy stopped me and said (in Spanish), “Are you Argentinean?” “No,” I said, “I’m from los Estados.” “But you speak Spanish so well!” was his reply. Yay for Latinoamericanos who are actually pale, blue-eyed, and tall like me so guys like that can stroke my Spanish ego :).

I can’t wait to get to know more of the “real” Peru, but for now we are mostly stuck in classes at the training center from 8am-5pm six days a week. Sigh. Pues, today is Sunday, and I’m off to Lima with the fam. Miss you all!

Besos,
Sarita (not one single Peruvian has called me Sara yet, it is always Sarita, including in my classes)