The little girl on the kombi

As many of you know, I've been visiting an English institute here in Huancayo called ICPNA for the past couple of weeks. The majority of my time there has been spent visiting various classes for half an hour at a time and answering questions that the students have for me - which have ranged from the topic that there class is currently studying to American culture to how I feel about Perú. At first I expected these class sessions to simply serve the purpose of helping the students by letting them practice forming questions in English and listening to a native English speaker. However, I found that the many of the students had such poignant questions that I was really foced to think about my place as an American here in Perú, as well as what my opinion is on many issues, from immigration in the United States to pollution problems across the globe.

Yesterday was my last day visiting classes at ICPNA, but it provided for one of the most interesting and thought-provoking questions that I experienced during all of my visits. In one class a student asked me, "How do you feel here in Huancayo as someone who is visibly different than everyone else? How does it make you feel when people look at you because you are physically different?" Needless to say, that question really took me off guard...sure, I've been aware of the fact that I stick out like a sore thumb here in this city in the central Peruvian Andes, but I really hadn't expressed my feeling about that fact yet. So, it was a little tricky for me to come up with an answer on the spot in front of 20 or so Peruvian students. I don't exactly remember what I said, but all day today I've been thinking about that question and here is a quick reflection.

First off, this morning I had one of the most common experience here in Huancayo that makes me realize that people are noticing that I'm different - I was noticed on a kombi, a small van that serves as public transportation, on the way to work. Now, a lot of times I get a few looks from people here and there on kombis, especially when I'm standing, hunched over because of the low ceiling, and it obvious that I'm taller than your average Peruvian. But today I was noticed by a young child, from whom I receive the majority of the stares that I encounter on kombis. This morning there was a young girl, probably no older than 2 or 3, in the seat in front of me, and she kept looking at me for the majority of my 15 minute ride. A lot of times kids will stare at me a bit and then lose interest, but she had her eyes locked on mine with intense interest. After a while she was smiling and laughing as well, so I guess she wasn't afraid of me or anything. But as she was looking at me, I couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were probably going through her head. "Wow, that guy has really light skin, I've never seen blue eyes like that, why does he have so much hair on his face?" I wouldn't be surprised if she were thinking those things, because at the comedor where I'm working kids often vocalize some of those same observations or questions to me.

With experiences like the girl on the kombi, or any other strange look I get, or each time someone yells "gringo!" at me as I'm walking down the sidewalk, it is very clear to me that I'm in the minority here in Huancayo. At first it was a little bit hard for me to get used to this fact...in some situations it was easy to feel somewhat uncomfortable because of the fact that I stuck out so much. At first when I started thinking last night about how I get singled out at times here in Hyo, I started thinking that I might be able to relate to what minorities in the United States feel, but then I realized that there is one a very serious flaw in that reasoning - even though I am a minority in this city, I am part of a privileged minority. In the U.S. I am a white male and part of a privileged majority, here I am a still a white male and still privileged, even though I'm in the minority. This is a country with a strong machismo culture, and also a society that values lighter skinned people, so in both of those regards I receive benefit. As I hear people shouting "gringo" in my direction, I have to remember that it is not an insult towards me, but almost more of a compliment. A white male from the U.S. is someone that is often times looked up to. Many people have curious questions for me about my country...I am not approached in a hostile way or singled out in a prujudiced way.

After thinking today, I still don't exactly know how to answer that ICPNA student's question. When people look at me in an odd way, or I feel like I'm sticking out because I'm white, I don't exactly feel uncomfortable. I've gotten used to the fact that I am different, but it has been very easier for me to get used to that fact because people around me are not prejudiced against me because of my difference. I'm not sure what to do with the fact that I'm still a privileged as a white male here in Perú, as I would be in a majority of countries around the world. Right now I feel that all I can really do is get to know the people around me...answer questions that strangers might have about my home country, but also ask them about them and their home country. I want people to realize that I am just as curious about them and their culture as they are are about me and my culture. I'm not sure at this point what else I can do, but that seems to be the best approach right now to connecting with people here in Perú in a genuine, positive way and moving past our physical differences that may be so obvious.