JP's around the world adventure: Judgement day for the "Cuys"

22nd of January, my first week in Peru.

Yesterday was an exciting day for me: I surfed the best wave of my life to date in Huanchaco, ate Sudado de pez for the first time and went to my first Peruvian party. But the best part is that I was told that today we would eat the cuy!

The wave was a long left hander, it felt like it went on for ever and ever. When you catch a wave it feels like time has stopped, when you catch a long wave it feels like time has stopped and you are in paradise. The best thing is that you carry the good vibrations around with you for the rest of the day. After the surf I went to a Restaurant called El Pez Cholo and had a delicious 2 course meal for 5 soles (~1.8 CHF/USD). In the evening I taught my second conversation class, the topic was "Globalization/business". I enjoy teaching the conversation classes because I feel I learn as much as the students if not more. I teach young Peruvians, so to hear their outlook on life and view of the world is very interesting for me. After the conversation class we went to a goodbye party for Elena, a Swiss volunteer at USDA (una sonrisa de amor) that will be returning home. She was very sad to leave her new found friends and got a very warm goodbye party. I also received an impromptu Salsa class. Everyone in Peru can dance! I think they learn how to dance before they learn how to walk. In Europe I could get away with "pretending to know how to dance"... no chance around here. I will have to take dance classes, because at parties the music is Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue and you have to know how to dance, else you look out of place. My favorite music here is Regueton, not because I like the sound of it, but because it is the only dance that doesn't have any particular dance style.... "wiggle around just a little bit."

DISCLAIMER:if you are opposed to animal cruelty do not read any further ;) You have been warned!

As I already mentioned, yesterday Carmen said we would eat cuy today. This was like music to my ears.
You are probably wondering what cuy is and why I am looking forward to eat it...
Well, cuys are guinea pigs. I knew they were a local delicacy and to say the truth I wasn't dying to try it... however that was before I moved here. Now, I know what most of you are thinking "oh, how disgusting, how could you eat the poor little pet"; I would like you to stop for just one second and consider the following: I am sure that in the region you live in it is acceptable to eat certain dishes that are considered disgusting in the rest of the world. In Southern Switzerland it is perfectly acceptable to eat horse meat or rabbit, this is seen as abominable in many other parts of the world. In most parts of Europe and the USA people eat pork meat, this is seen as disgusting and impure by other cultures. In Botswana people eat the Mopani worm, in Southern Korea some people eat dog meat, in the Amazon people eat ants, the list is almost endless! And last, but not least, have you ever tried Guinea Pig? How do you know it is disgusting if you have never tried it?

Today's lunch, with BIO certification

No, the air of Peru didn't make me crave eating the cuy. You see, the thing is: I live right above the courtyard with a guinea pig enclosure. I remember that in Europe many people would have them as pets. Because guinea pigs are cute, right? WRONG! They are not cute, they are high frequency squeaky beings that are predominantly active at night with the sole intent of keeping me awake. They sound as if they had swallowed one of those squeaky toys that babies or puppies play with. So ever since I moved into my room I have been secretly hoping that David's family would have a celebration of sorts and we would eat the cuys. My prayers have been answered, David's mom has come to visit us, and as I type this I can smell the aroma of frying meat fill the air... ahhh, the sweet smell of revenge over the cuy.
They are calling me for lunch now. More about the cuy in the next episode.

So we just had lunch, my intention was to run to Huanchaco for a surf, but the delicious fried cuy I ate is still lingering somewhere in my intestine, I will therefore wait a little while and tell you about the cuy.
The meat is tender and reminds me vaguely of chicken although it has a distinct taste of its own. With the cuy we had Inca Kola, the national drink. Inca Kola looks like radioactive urine samples from Chernobyl and tastes like Big Bubble Bubble gum with a twist. How it became the national drink, I really don't know, but truth be said I cannot bring myself to dislike it.


Left to right: Henry (one of David's students), David, Tia Carmen, Sam (David's brother), la Señora Mercedes (David's mom).

David's aunt Carmen is amazing, she always makes extra sure that I am doing well and even cooks for me every day despite the fact that I told her not to. I have stopped protesting because her food is just too good. She won't even let me do the dishes when we finish our food.