yankee foolishness

Today in the market I bought a pair of llanquis – sandals handmade out of tire rubber. The word is pronounced yawn-keys. I asked one of the guys I’ve been painting with at the orphanage if they’re called this because only yankees are stupid enough to buy them, but it turns out it’s just because they’re made out of llantas (tires).

You’d think I’d know better. Tire rubber and nails doesn’t really sound like it would make for the most comfortable podiatry, but at $1.70 I somehow convinced myself it was worth the pain of breaking my feet into them. I’ll have plenty of time, because apparently they last about five years.

Now comes the self-examination/recrimination/justification that follows most of my purchases. Did I buy them because the sandals I’ve been wearing got chewed up by a dog, or was it a symbolic act intended to identify myself with the extremely poor folks who usually wear them? The jury’s still deliberating on that one.

Speaking of juries, are you aware that in Peru you are guilty until proven innocent? If someone doesn’t like you and you’re a poor sap without powerful friends, they can write out a denuncio against you and then pah! You’re off to jail until you can prove you didn’t do it. This is entirely off topic, I realize, but I think it important to remind you - after all my ranting and raving - that there are some real upsides to living in North America where democracy is still occasionally quasi-functional.

The reason I say this is that my time here has me considering returning somewhat permanently to work/serve and I realize it will take a bit of self-discipline to avoid making a big decision like that lightly.