Elections in Peru

Yesterday were the elections here in Peru. Although I was asked on two separate occasions if I was voting (ummm…como se dice duh), I was a mere observer. To start with, they have many many candidates, and each party has a symbol. At first, I wondered why sometimes on the advertisements the symbol was x-ed out. But, in conversations I learned that they use the symbols because not everyone can read, and there are a lot of Quechua speakers, who don’t know Spanish. This still didn’t answer my question as to why the symbols were x-ed out, but with further exploration, those billboards said marc asi(mark like this). Ahh, the x’s are good, that’s how they want you to mark your ballots.

A couple of weeks back, I saw a group of people in ASHRIEL handing out goods. They had bags of stuff marked for family with kids, family with young adults, exc. I was intrigued and wondering who they were, I watched to figure out more about this aid group. After they had handed out most of their bags I saw that they had t-shirts with one of the candidate’s picture, symbol and slogan to give out. I didn’t want to be cynical, but wow. Yes, I agree with the aid, but how easy is it to manipulate these people? If elected, would he continue with the aid? But, then I also asked myself, how many of these people actually vote?

At dinner one day, Jackie mentioned a voting fine. This puzzled me, so I asked a bunch of questions and posed a few hypotheticals to understand. Everyone in Peru votes. If not, they have to pay a fine. From age 18-70, if you do not vote the next time you try to use the bank, or go to a doctor, or do anything of an official capacity they charge you 120 soles. So figuring this out, brings me cynically back to the people I saw in ASHRIEL.

Saturday, I got to watch THE game. I was so pumped! This was going to be my first Buckeye game of this fabulous season. Generally I am supposed to work with the church on Saturdays and haven’t been able to figure out where/how to watch. This Saturday, however I was working at a Christmas Bizarre selling our Bridge of Hope products. It was a huge fair organized by the US Embassy. We did really well and sold about 5500 soles worth of our artisans’ items (3 times what they did last year). I left at 2:30 to make it down to a gringo-ish bar in Miraflores that shows American football. I walked in and saw OSU gear. I was happy. There weren’t any empty tables downstairs. So, I walked up to a table with some Buckeye fans and asked if I could sit with them until my friend arrived. I had my national championship hoodie tied around my waist, and showed them, see I’m a fan. It wasn’t cold enough to be wearing a hoodie, but this is the only gear I have here(and some boxers, but I didn’t think I could get away with those, so I wore them under my shorts). I ordered a water because they were drinking cokes at the table. When Jason arrived he asked you’re drinking water? I told him I was waiting on him to get a beer. Friends that he had made last time he was there were sitting upstairs. I was a little hesitant to leave the atmosphere, but people were cheering for OSU upstairs as well. So I said ok, thinking it would be a good idea to make some friends who were living here, rather than vacationing(like the table I was sitting with). Upstairs I picked up the drink menu, so ready for a cold beer, but the group at the table all told me no, its dry today. My response was – you’re kidding, right? - But no, Peru was dry for the whole election weekend. Apparently, you can’t sell alcohol because they don’t want their citizens to be drunk and voting! I did get some yummy, yummy onion rings though. I wish I could have talked to my sister(I had told her on Friday that she didn't need to drink a beer for me this time, because I was going to be able to). It was nice to meet and talk to these people, but they were watching the game a little half-assed. So, towards the middle of the game I was missing my table with the fan, fans. But, I chose the attempt of friends over dedicated fans. And, this was the risk I took when I went upstairs, but by then it was too late to renig. All in all, I was thoroughly happy. And yes, I did sing Carmen Ohio at the finish.

Yesterday, I made lunch for the host family. I chose grilled cheese and tomato soup as a traditional American meal. It was a success!

I realized last week that I put the wrong links up to my picture albums. You should be able to view these:
http://owu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2008228&l=152b4&id=24100417

http://owu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2006974&l=4978d&id=24100417