I´ve been in Peru for less than a month and I think I'm already getting jaded.  I came here thinking that I would learn about the beautiful aspects of the anti-material life and understand the bigger systems that were perpetuating poverty and oppressing the people.  But I'm beginning to think that it's not necessarily "the system" that's the problem, but the individuals.  There are opportunities for education and work and prosperity, but very few will take advantage of them because they just don't want to work.

I sound like the crunchy old capitalist that I would normally roll my eyes at...

But what can you do?  These people live in poverty so you give them a fish.  But that's not sustainable, so you teach them how to fish.  But they don't feel like fishing when it's cold, or early, or inconvenient.  For example, I was talking with Sabina yesterday (the 'empleada' de la casa) and she asked me what kinds of businesses there are in the U.S. that someone could open here and make money off of the novelty.  And that's exactly the mentality of the people here: they're looking to take, borrow, pirate (just look at the DVD industry in Cusco).  They don't believe in their own ability to create, innovate, compete.

There are no sports.

EPIPHANY!  Oh my gosh, running is the answer to the universe (damnit, Matt was right). 

I want to start a little running club here in Urubamba.  I've told a few people about the idea and they've all laughed at me and asked what kind of incentive I could possibly offer to convince kids to run.  Honestly, I don't know if it will fly or not, but I might as well try, right?