My English classes are going well and I’ve also started two series of “tutoria” workshops; one focusing on self-esteem and responsibility for the 5th and 6th grade primaria students in Shiran, and another focusing on youth issues like alcohol, drugs, and peer-pressure for the 5th grade secundaria students in Poroto. I was a little intimidated to give an alcohol session in Spanish to a group of 16 year olds, especially because I’ve seen about half of them drinking shamelessly in the local streets and restaurants. However, I was surprised with how well it went, and they were relatively willing to participate. Alcoholism is such a huge problem in Poroto, so it was interesting to hear their reflections on why students might start drinking or what kinds of influences affect their decisions. Of the most interesting responses; fathers who condone and/or encourage drinking, boredom, curiosity, pressure from others. Drinking seems engrained in the culture, and Peruvians don’t seem to need any excuse to drink. Alcohol is prevalent not only at parties and dances, but also baby showers, baptisms, quincineras, religious holidays, political rallies, and every Sunday afternoon. The infamous Peruvian “drinking circles” are extremely common just about any day of the week, which consists of a group of people who sit in a circle with a large beer bottle in the center and share one singular glass. The first person pours himself a small glass, drinks it quickly, shakes it out (because that clearly kills all the germs), and then passes it to the next participant who repeats the process. This can continue for hours as they polish off various “cajas” (boxes) of beer. I’ve seen drinking circles that range in size from 2 people to over 15 people. The whole thing can be complicated, and there are special rules if women are participating in the circle. In fact, we practiced a drinking circle during our training (with water, of course) to learn how the process works. At many restaurants they will only give you one glass with each bottle, so we quickly learned what this crazy Peruvian drinking circle entailed. There’s obviously a difference between people who participate in these drinking circles and festivities on special occasions and those who are drunk more often than they’re sober.