The author of this blog would like to congratulate a certain Katherine Meyer and soon to be Duffy Meyer (hehe). Personally I feel responsible for bringing the two together—10 years ago, when a guy called named Duffy looking for my sister, I relayed the message, and from that day forward, this writer was in love. The author of this blog learned about such wonderful news October 11th, and even though no one here besides me actually knows Katherine and Duffy, we celebrated the shit out of the news, and the way things go here (there seem to be a lot more holidays here) maybe it'll be Katherine and Duffy day each 10/10—I'll talk to the Mayor.
With such joyous news, we move onto the blog I started a week ago, the very day Duffy proposed to Katherine. While Duffy was preparing to ask the biggest question of his life, I was looking for a haircut. And although I am not a small business volunteer, today's entry will have to do with business. Besides, I was an Economics Major (just like my dad!--that worked out for you huh dad? jeje). But first a note on being an Economics major in Perú.
In a normal conversation here—the first question asked is: where are you from? Unfortunately my tan fools no one—although I have been confused 2-3 times for a 19 year old German that works here as well. The second or third question oftentimes following what religion are you? (I go with más o menos católico pero no practico mucho jaja) is what did you study?
I explain to people that I studied “economia” and “historia.” No one ever remembers that I studied history (this always irks me because I did after all have to write two theses for history—one on Pope Innocent III for christ's sake), but anyways—people always remark happily afterward that “entonces, ¿eres economista?” (So then, you're an economist!). Initially I tried to explain to people that 10 classes at a liberal arts school hardly makes me an economist, but eventually I've just started to accept the title, yeah, fuck yeah I'm an economista!
My fellow PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) Kyle, who lives 10 minutes away is a Psychology major. Unfortunately Kyle doesn't have a blog, but fortunately I do—so this story will get published. Anyway, Kyle had been experiencing the same issue as I—just instead of thinking he was an economist after studying a few classes at Grinnell College—people assumed Kyle is a straight up psychologist. As the son of not one but two psychologists, I know Kyle lacks a few years (or ten) of training. This is fine and all, let people think what they think--until the day where a woman arrived from Huaraz (a half hour trip) searching for Kyle's psychological expertise to help her through a rough emotional stretch. 22 year old Kyle, lacking a couch or any therapy skills whatsoever called our PCVL (Peace Corps Volunteer Leader) and asked what the hell he should do. Sophie and Kyle worked out a way to diffuse the situation, and with a few suggestions, the women and her sisters who had come to support her returned to Huaraz, un-counseled, and probably very confused about their referral. Mom maybe I can send her to the Creamery?
So, now I'm just waiting for any day soon for President Alan García to show up looking for advice on whether Perú should maintain a floating exchange rate or peg the nuevo sol to the dollar.
Anyway—back to where this blog began—a Business Entry (though after a re-write I realize that it actually began w/ a Congratulations to my sister and my new official brother Duffy). Matthew recently asked in a phone conversation (these are great gifts to me, I highly recommend them-43-944-426-755) if I actually read my blog entries before publishing them, as they seem disjointed. I in fact do read over the entries, but as I write them, I always like them, and for the first year out of 22 no one (outside of Matthew hehe) is grading these entries—so I say enjoy the Freudian trip through my mind.
Back to business—today, as part of my community assessment, I am going to do an analysis of a local business. Jeshu runs a local business, that I would like to bet you can't find in the EE.UU. Jeshu both cuts hair, and fixes shoes. And as I have hair that is bordering on me entering the side door at Duffy's apartment (hippy), and my New Balance shoes are off balance, I will be paying Jeshu a visit today. Sneakers are not easy to come by around these parts—my South American size of 46.5 is not sold in Huaraz my regional capital—so off to Jeshu I go—it's better for the environment anyway. Wish me luck, I'm writing this live—I promise to post a picture soon—if anything it can't be worse than the cut I got in Spain by Paco, whose last client was Francisco Franco. Jeshu, just like Pop Pop was an army man. Off I go, I think I'm going to buy a hat afterward, just in case.
Well, apparently Jeshu doesn't work Sundays—I think he's off to the corrida de toros where I'll be soon.
OK, now it's the following Saturday, my shoes are at Jeshu's waiting to be fixed, and I'm still a dirty hippy. We've started drawing the World Map—this is NO easy project, right now we've almost put the grid up (that'll get done today). After working for an hour and a half, my friends here decided we should take a 3 hour break—I'm an easy boss (and what am I really gonna say to three guys that are volunteering their time to help me out?), so we're going to meet at 2.
OK, finally this journey through time, space, relationships will end now. In the time I have taken to write this blog entry, an engagement has occurred, a wedding date and place have been set, our World Map is completely drawn, falta Europa, the lab results say no parasites (SCORE!), and the rainy season has started with vengeance (luckily it only lasts until April). Por fin, tonight was the big night. We had worked on the world map, and I was hanging with what is becoming my regular crew—Marco my host brother, Cabo my host cousin (through the host family I'm related to half the town, including the mayor who just lost the re-elect, whose family voted against him hehe), Lux (I have no idea how this is spelt), and his brother Yosh. A solid group of good guys who have helped me out through every stage of the World Map (plaster, ocean blue, grid, drawing, now onto painting, labeling, and finishing).
After deciding the Europeans could wait another day for a completed section of our world map, we were hanging outside of a store, when I asked Marco if Jeshu was perhaps open for business. He said yup and that we should all go check it out.
The big day had finally come, and as an army of five we went to Jeshu's for the big cut. I have to say, Jeshu did one hell of a job with my lego-man hair—it really does look like it could pop off now. I'm definitely satisfied, Jeshu was a fine barber—and after the cut, Jeshu returned my shoes, glued up and fixed. The price? Haircut: 4 Soles, Shoe-Repair: 2 Soles (exchange rate 2.85 S./$1), Time Spent working on this blog entry: Two weeks. I challenged anyone to find a better price, and suggest to all friends planning a visit to wait till you get here to get your cut, you won't regret it.
Next Week: The story of how Kyle and I spent 2 soles to go to thermal springs, which ended up being an awkward 25 minutes together in a más o menos dirty bath up.
I Love You all Very Much! Congratulations to Katherine and Duffy—and if you're a non-family/close friend reading this blog, you have no idea what the hell this is all about. Enjoy!
