Brittany McGee

Music is blasting through the speakers just outside the window. The chairs along the wall are filled with people, some sitting quietly, others laughing with their neighbor. Slowly, people begin to clap. Clap, clap, pause. Clap, pause, clap. No one pays attention to the musical rhythm; everyone just claps along how they please.

The birthday girl enters the center of the room and begins dancing with her son. Then her daughter. Then, wait, it’s my turn? Okay. Daughter-in-law. Nephew.

People are still clapping to their own beat as they watch and cheer her on.

The birthday girl, or my first host mom, turned 49 and she keeps telling me that her 50^th will be an even better party. I’ll hold her to that.

One thing I’ve come to admire about Peruvians is their desire to celebrate everything, and anything. I’ve been to parties for saints, children, adults, the deceased, weddings, school anniversaries, holidays, etc.

Each party includes dancing, and everyone dances. It doesn’t matter if they dance well, they just dance. Children, women and men alike. Until the wee hours of the morning.

Each party also includes at least a plateful of food. And my host mom’s 49^th was no exception. We feasted on duck (I didn’t like duck before I had this duck, OMG), rice and beats. My rectangular Styrofoam plate was overflowing.

And, each party includes a drinking circle. Peruvian drinking circles can be dangerous, as you can quickly lose track of how much you’ve had to drink. You poor yourself a glass, typically of beer, pass the bottle to your neighbor and say, “Salud,” then drink your glass, dump out any foam and pass the glass. Yes, everyone shares the same cup; this isn’t for the germaphobes of the world.

I left the party early (11PM) and they told me they’d be up celebrating until 5AM. My money is on 2AM or 3AM, but I wouldn’t put it past her to celebrate until 5AM for her 50^th.

Until next year!