What's popular in Peru?

One of the things that I think is cool about being a long term missionary is that I have been here long enough to understand what is popular here. We've met a few short term volunteers throughout our time here, people who are here for weeks or months, and it's hard to imagine them being here for so little time. If someone was visiting you from Peru for a week and asked you to show them the most popular things in the U.S. where would you even begin? Over the past five months I've been able to pick up on some of the more subtle things about what's popular in Peruvian culture.

First, if you were walking down the street today in Chimbote, it wouldn't be long before you heard this song playing:

It's actually a song from Brazil so it's in Portuguese, but since Brazil is our neighbor, this song made its way across the border and onto every playlist made after August 2011. An artist recently redid it in Spanish, but this is still the version I hear on my way to work, at work, when someone's cell goes of, in the taxi...

Next is a viral video from Argentina that a lot of people are passing around right now. With over 9 million views some of you may have even already seen it. Basically from what I understand "wacho" is a derivative of gaucho, the name for the Argentinian version of cowboy. Apparently it's a slang term to address a boy around the age of 10 whose name you don't know. Turro is the name for a style of dress that includes mostly name brand sports wear, like Adidas jackets/shoes. Together the two words form the name of a popular Argentinian cumbia band Los Wachiturros that has a particular dance style. But, the question is, do you need to know any of that to think this is funny:

Peruvians are pretty serious about their clothes. It was one of the first things that Katie and I read on the packing list, "Peruvians always try to look their best, bring some nice shirts." They weren't kidding. Since I live near the coast and its summer time people have switched from jackets and pants to shirts, shorts and bathing suits.What surprised me were all the brands I recognized.

A common Peruvian store has at least these well known brands.

Peru has really nice beaches. Even a couple of world-class surfing beaches which has obviously impacted the style of clothing that they wear. I think people, especially guys my age, were a little disappointed at my billabonglessness. Especially since I talk about growing up near a beach.

Whereas fast food to me means a Whataburger all the way with cheese, mayo and jalapenos. Here they eat something called pollo a la brasa. Basically you get a piece of rotisserie chicken with french fries, a bunch of sauces, salad and a glass of chicha morada or Inca Kola.

It's no Whatachicken but it is pretty good.

Cremas: Spicy mayo, spicier mayo, spiciest mayo, ketchup, mayo mayo.

Chicha morada is a really popular drink here made from purple (morado) corn. Essentially you boil the purple corn in water with cinnamon sticks, cloves, a special kind of tiny apple. After about fifteen minutes you drain off all the liquid, add sugar, lime and a little bit of pineapple juice and chill it.

It's like a Peruvian version of kool-aid and now that it's hot outside, nothing beats drinking a glass of it ice cold.

Finally: La Marca Peru.

This past year, to promote tourism and general diffusion of Peruvian culture, the Commission for Promotion, Exportation and Tourism unveiled a new "symbol" for Peru, calling it "La Marca Peru."

  

Taking a cue from the Nazca lines, the symbol has become extremely popular throughout Peru. 

and it's taken on a life of its own. Owning at least one shirt with La Marca has become almost essential.Symbolic of Peruvian pride and style. Instead of people searching out Inca Kola shirts, people are now demanding La Marca.

Alright, that's it for now. I hope everyone's Friday the 13th wasn't too unlucky.