As I cautiously made my way through the muddy streets of Olmos, I realized something had changed within me. With each careful step I took, I noticed the eyes staring, curious as to how I would navigate the trenches of mud and slippery mounds. Not only could I feel the gawking, I heard their conversations. … More Embracing the Gringa
Bright colors. Loud music. Gallons of water. Even more baby powder. Carnaval. Or at least, that’s how they do Carnaval at my friend’s site in Bernal, Piura. Like Mardi Gras, Carnaval is celebrated in the days leading up to lent (though, unlike Mardi Gras some of them continue a few days past Ash Wednesday). I … More Carnaval Bernal
Yellow is the lucky color for New Year’s in Peru. According to tradition, anyone who wears yellow underwear going into the New Year will have luck the entire year. But, the underwear has to be brand new, and it’s better if the underwear were received as a gift. Any more yellow that one can wear … More Ringing in the New Year
I spent most of the month of December reminding myself that it was in fact December and Christmas was around the corner. I played Christmas music while sweating and imagining decorations around me. Slowly but surely, the decorations began to appear. Unlike in the States, people don’t start decorating right after Thanksgiving (though the stores … More Feliz Navidad
Three weeks ago, I went on a late afternoon/early evening walk with 3 neighbors and my 5-year-old host niece. We crossed the Old Pan Am Highway and walked through fields of mango, maracuya, banana, and a variety of other produce. The chacras seemed to stretch on for miles and the site of green everything was … More Sick Day
Brittany McGee 