Monday was a national holiday so there was no work or classes. There wasn’t a fiesta in my town because the mayor/event planner (I wasn’t entirely clear on the translation of this person’s actual role) had a death in the family so had left town. My family and I spent the day watching Michael Jackson videos. Peruvians LOVE the 80’s, so MJ’s death was especially tragic down here. We watched an entire concert, live from Bucharest circa 1990. Trying to explain where Bucharest is was tricky. Most of the people I’ve met here, even the well-educated ones, have a very limited knowledge of world geography. I really want to get a map/globe to share with people (hint, hint to any ambitious care-package senders). Saying “you know, near England, in Europe” doesn’t mean much to people who rarely leave their department.
Anyway, I digress. So, we had a three-day weekend. Like I really have a strenuous schedule from which I need a break. Nevertheless, I was excited to take advantage of the extra free time and check out the nightlife. I’d planned to get home early on Friday night to please my over-protective family…well, a few beers and several rounds of “never have I ever” later, I decided I was having way too much fun to go home. I did call my host dad, so I wasn’t in too much trouble when I rolled in at 11.30. I was with a group of about 7 or 8 other trainees on the combi back to Yanacoto when someone had the brilliant idea of getting off the combi and trying to find a discoteca. We get off the combi and are waiting to cross the street when this crazy lady comes out of nowhere and starts yelling at us. She picks up a pile of dirt and throws it at two girls. We couldn’t understand and word she was saying, but it was quite clear she did not like us. We start walking on the other side of the road and she is chasing us down hurling rocks and bricks at us. She could have been an extra in “A League of Their Own.” She had an arm, and aim. A brick hit one of the guys on the leg, leaving a huge bruise. It was pretty scary, and really bizarre. And of course the discoteca wasn’t even open. I did not tell my host dad this story. Hence I was still allowed to go out Sunday night.
I made plans to meet some girlfriends in Chosica (the biggest town nearby) for a real night out. No curfew. Karaoke bars on the agenda. Big time.
Kim and I left our town to meet up with our friends, but after waiting for nearly half an hour, we went to the karaoke bar that my host sister told me about (and where I was supposed to meet another neighbor). That karaoke bar was closed for a private party, but we didn’t realize that until after we’d busted through the door into the middle of a circle of staring Peruvians and their babies. It was 9pm…at a bar…with a baby shower. This country cracks me up. So Kim and I left and walked back through the park looking for other gringos. No luck, so we headed to a different karaoke bar, just the two of us. It was awesome. And hilarious. Some highlights:
- You sit at tables at karaoke bars here, there’s no stage. The waitresses bring around the mics when it’s your turn and you just sit at your table and sing.
- A man who had been sipping wine at a table by himself gave a stirring rendition of “Candle in the Wind” as a video of German countryside played in the background. I get a sadistic kick out of hearing non-English speakers trying to speak English. It makes me feel better about my Spanish. This is especially funny when listening to a Peruvian sing “goodbye England’s rose.”
- Kim and I’s rockin’ version of “I Will Survive” was a crowd favorite. Forgiving crowd + being the only gringas in a bar = instant fame and adoration.
- The mic getting taken from me during what I thought was a pretty decent version of a popular cumbia (kind of like salsa) song. Apparently my angelic voice loses some of its appeal in Spanish.
- Our new friend who knew only three English phrases (“Welcome to Peru,” “You’re beautiful,” and “I love you.”), which he repeated endlessly over the course of several hours. He then walked us to a taxi, holding our hands, paid for our taxi ride and expressed an eternal and undying love for Kim. His girlfriend didn’t seem to mind at all.
Sadly I did not have my camera to capture these magical moments. Oh, did I mention the karaoke bar is situated directly between an ice cream shop and a Chinese restaurant? It’s my new favorite place. And all the fun described above cost less than S./20 (less than $7) for about 5-6 hours of beer-soaked enjoyement.
**The above was written yesterday (June 29). Update: due to the transportation strikes around the country, we didn't have class today either, further extending my weekend. I spent the day with some other trainees, baking bread and drinking beer. Because what else would you do in Peru on the day of a transportation strike? I think families around the world can agree that four straight days of togetherness can wear on even the most die-hard cultural integrators. Though four days with my REAL family would be heaven right now. Miss you all!!
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