January 2015
The guy outside working for one of the mobile phone shops spits out advertisement stats through the mike like a Hip-pop revolutionary in the making. He doesn't miss a beat, non-stop all day over the top of Peruvian pop music pumped out by three PA systems playing different songs on full tilt into the street below the flat. He has good rhythm and relentless zeal, reminds me a bit of KRS one, not sure why. If he had a few phat lines he could be honing his skills as a subversive Hip-pop radical whilst simultaneously promoting a global capitalist venture in a developing country, everyone's a winner.
Been in Peru nearly four weeks, thought I'd have a go at doing some of that TEFL stuff for the first leg of the trip, try and keep it steady for a couple of months. I got offered a volunteer position in Jaen, a city on the outskirts of the Amazon. It's the first month of the project so it's a bit thin on the ground. There's one other volunteer here at the minute, Raphael, a French fellow, he's a good craic. I do three, one and a half hour lessons a week teaching English to 12-15 year olds, with seven, one and a half hour lessons doing music stuff. The hours are steady so there's lots of time to take it easy, reading, playing geetar, drinking Cerveza (Beer), and scribbling. The kids are a funny bunch, in the English classes they're very aware that my Spanish speaking isn't too good and spend a great deal of time taking the piss in their native language and laughing at me. Yeh well funny, muppets. We get free accommodation and a well appreciated taste of Peruvian cuisine every dinner time at the family house of the husband of the project manager, Yasmin. Friendly folk round here thus far, we're known as 'Gringos' to a lot of the locals; 'Hey gringo' squeaks a 2 and a half foot tall child as she crosses the street under my feet, 'hey amigo'. It's been teetering between beaming hot sun and piss pouring rain thus far, I've got sun burn on me nose, and an impressive bout of the shits.
The first weekend was spent trekking the mountains surrounding the city, managed to get hold of some coca leaves to help us along, a good clean, steady kick up the arse, climbed the mountain and had a chat with a family who lived in a house on the road on the way up to the mountain, they asked us to come back the next day and play some music and speak some English at them, so we did. We then went to one of the bars in Jaen, there are around 9 or 10 I think. Every time we go into this one they change the music from Peruvian pop to well-known 80's power ballads, I'm no stranger to a bit of Pat Benetar though so not complaining. The following two weekends were spent taking trips (excursions) out to some of the neighbouring cities; Tarapoto and Chachapoya. Some good hikes through the jungle, had a swim in a few waterfalls and whatnot. Went to Kuelap, a site of pre-inca ruins near Chachapoya last Saturday, then drank some beer. Visited Gocta Cascada on the Sunday, about an hour's drive from Pedro Ruiz, third tallest waterfall in the world they say, I can't find much information on it, although I haven't looked that hard, it's quite a sight anyway. Met up with some other 'Gringo's' along the way, all Europeans except one American girl. It can be good picking up short term buddies, “single serving friends”, can meet some funny folk, and if someone gets on your tits you know you won't have to put up with them for long. |
The two main brands of beer in Peru that I've come across so far are 'Cristal', a lager akin to Redstripe or suchlike in the UK, and 'Cusquena', it comes in three different flavours, a bit more like real ale. There's also Pisco sour, a nationally celebrated spirit booze (Pisco sour day on the 1st Feb), sour as you like, drank with egg white, lemon juice and Cinamon. You only need a few before your stomping round town thinking you own the place.
I go for a run most mornings and am chased by angry, territorial dogs every time without fail, stupid dogs, they never learn. I'm yet to be bitten, didn't get the Rabies jab either, never learn.
Am working on an article that's been accepted by an online political publication pending heavy editing, it almost needs to be completely re-written. I’m having a bit of trouble moulding an anger fuelled rant into a palatable argument but reckon it can be done, just needs some time and patience, both of which I've have at the minute. I do want to be careful not to sacrifice the potential potency of the original piece in favour of confirming to intellectual norms mind, will see how it goes aye.
The public transport between the cities is mainly in the form of Combi-buses, minibuses running through the day and night that stick around in the terminal till they have filled the van with people and then head off to the next place. Quite steady and 'normal' thus far, till next weekend; off to Huancabamba, a city in the mountains famous for it's San Pedro cactus's, and the Brujo's (witch-shaman types), the main active ingredient in the cactus's is Mescaline. Raphael is thinking of coming along, I'll be going on me own if not.
Check back soon if you like, I reckon it'll get more interesting...
Am working on an article that's been accepted by an online political publication pending heavy editing, it almost needs to be completely re-written. I’m having a bit of trouble moulding an anger fuelled rant into a palatable argument but reckon it can be done, just needs some time and patience, both of which I've have at the minute. I do want to be careful not to sacrifice the potential potency of the original piece in favour of confirming to intellectual norms mind, will see how it goes aye.
The public transport between the cities is mainly in the form of Combi-buses, minibuses running through the day and night that stick around in the terminal till they have filled the van with people and then head off to the next place. Quite steady and 'normal' thus far, till next weekend; off to Huancabamba, a city in the mountains famous for it's San Pedro cactus's, and the Brujo's (witch-shaman types), the main active ingredient in the cactus's is Mescaline. Raphael is thinking of coming along, I'll be going on me own if not.
Check back soon if you like, I reckon it'll get more interesting...
2014
Quite a year that it was More ups and downs than a chimp at the mad hatter´s tea party Gin and Psycho-delics Opening doors and making relics Of friends and loves, lost and found But dwell not, onward bound The heart breaks, again, and again In a short space of time But Freidrich was right, it grows back finer Than old grapes from the vine Glad to have people to miss Even those I pretend not to like And that which is sweeter than honey Stays on my mind, though out of sight |