Carnival

Carnival is the equivalent of Mardi Gras. A huge party that lasts for weeks, as it leads up to Ash Wednesday. Its different in Peru than other parts of the world. The way we celebrate it here is with water. In between New Years and Ash Wednesday its an “Official Undeclared Water War”. At any time of any day you have full rights to completely drench anyone you’d like with water. Women, children, the elderly, disabled and pregnant are all fair game. Its mostly done with water baloons but super soakers, buckets or hoses all work too.

This time of year Sunday becomes my favorite day of the week. Sundays everyone comes into town to go to the market. The streets fill with people and they all make great targets. As a former Gore Associate, I am a proud owner of many waterproof articles of clothing. I gown up in my jacket and boots, fill 14 waterballoons, place 7 in each jacket pocket and head to the streets.

If you were to actually pay attention, I’d look quite lumpy through my jacket. But as I casually stroll down my street no one ever seemed to take notice. At the sound of an exploding balloon and kids screaming across the street I’d secretly whip one out and pelt a innocent passerby. The people in the streets got a kick out of it – because ok, in reality it is mostly just children who partake in these festivites. One day I was like James Bond, hiding out side the door of a house, waiting for three guys to walk out. Meanwhile the people sitting across the street were giving me tips as to when they were sneaking out the other door so I could go and get them from behind.

My favorite was get the students from my old English class. They’d walk by and BAM!!! Never expecting it.

One time there was a little punk boy bothering my at the internet asking me a million questions and when I politely asked him to leave me along many times, he just kept on talking to me. Well, I sure showed him. One Sunday afternoon I was casually walking by the plaza (or so it seemed). I spotted that kid – and WHAM! Right in the back of the head. I never thought I had such good aim. Maybe my years of playing softball finally paid off.

Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of me throwing water baloons but here are a couple of great shots of some kids playing down the street.