Ironically (or maybe unsurprisingly) Peru has brought out the American in me that I never thought existed.  I never considered myself to be a big consumer (in my 3 years of college I think I ought 5 articles of clothing...all from Goodwill) and I´m generally fairly stoic when it comes to luxuries--that and I´m really stingy.  But recently, my whims and cravings have had a power over me that I´ve never experienced before.  I eat chocolate candy bars and go shoe shopping (ok, still at second-hand stores but still...).  I take naps and go out to restaurants. I bought supplied to Feng Shui my room.  I´ve been doing things that I previously would have deemed frivolous and unnecessary.

Maybe it´s because I have too much time on my hands or maybe it´s because I´ve been spending too much time with the rich Princeton kids.  But I also think that living among poor people is slowly killing the puritan in me (the one that says that too much prosperity is bad)--especially when I don´t see any strong desire for abundance among them.  I always condemned greed as one of the worst sins, but now I´m torn to decide the lesser evil: materialism or material apathy.  My American capitalist framework can´t understand why someone won´t put forth a decent effort to climb up the socio-economic latter, especially when they´re on the bottom!  If you want a slice of cake or a piece of art on your wall or a new bike or a house with running water, get it!  You´re capable, so work for it!  Just do it! Follow your heart!  Reach for the stars!  The American Dream! (oh my gosh, who am I?)

I´ve also found that I have developed a bit of a Big Brother complex when it comes to the US.  I can criticize everything about ¨Merica!¨ all day long (just ask my brother), but as soon as one of my Peruvian family members starts trash talking, I immediately get defensive.  I´ve always tried to be P.C. when it comes to different cultures and maintained that each one has it´s advantages and distadvantages.  And I still believe that, but now I just have more appreciation for why I personally prefer American culture--even with all of its evils (of which there are many... don´t get me started).