I’ve talked about all of the following at some point in my blogs, but thought I would clarify my Peruvian “vocabulary” for all of you.

Important Vocabulary:

1. Gringo/Gringa: That would be me- an American or white foreigner. This term can be both endearing and condescending. It tends to be endearing if it ends in “ita”- for example, I am always a “gringita” to the little old women in town. Generally, I’ve found that it is more of a positive term than anything, but it can get a little old.
2. Combi: Small, usually ghetto mini-vans that are the main form of transportation in Peru. They run along main roads and are come fairly regularly to even the smallest towns. The seats are narrow, hard, and provide about enough leg room for a 4 year old. The ceilings are also precariously low and I tend to hit my head multiple times per week. They are most often filled with people, chickens, sacks of potatoes/pineapples/other produce, ice cream carts, etc.
3. Cobrador: The man in charge of the combi. He sits on a little bench in the aisle and skillfully jumps in and out of the combi as it barely comes to a complete stop. He is usually found yelling “SUBE SUBE SUBE!!!” or “BAJA BAJA BAJA!!!” (get on, get off!). He is in charge of collecting pasaje (fare), which fluctuates based on the person who is paying as well as the cobrador’s mood.
4. Hora Peruana: An excuse for Peruvians to show up anywhere between 5 minutes and 2+ hours late for meetings, events, and gatherings.
5. Cerros: Mini-mountains without trees- kind of a cross between a large hill and a mountain. Peruvians are famous for the Andes, so anything less than serious mountains are classified as cerros.
6. Caserio: Small little pueblos that surround a more populated town. These are especially common in agricultural areas where the main town is surrounded by fields and farms. The main town may have several small stores, casual places to eat, and a main school, but the caserios are often composed only of a few small houses of local farmers. They may have schools, but they’re usually early education schools and often lack resources.
7. Charla: Education Session that focuses on informing a certain population about a relevant topic; for example, HIV/AIDS, Self Esteem, Leadership, Healthy Lifestyles, Basic Business Practices, etc. These are a big part of Peace Corps, but also Peruvian culture. They can be conducted in schools, at meetings, and with different groups and organizations.
8. Arroz y Papa: The staple food groups of Peruvian culture. Rice and Potato. They love ‘em. Clearly your belly can’t be filled without both arroz y papa at every meal. Luckily my host mom knows I don’t want to “engordar” (get fat) so she takes it easy on the arroz.