Elections

So it turned out that all of the guys tryng to run for reelection lost out. Our new mayor of Tacna was symbolized by a little drop of water (but all dressed up as superman). Ironically, since Sunday, water has been cut up in the center. Everyone claims its the ousted mayor´s revenge, which is funny and possibly true. It seems like democracy worked out quite well for the most part, as there is little discussion of any disenfranchisement or issues here with the voting. The lines were very long and slow, but if that is the worst there is, then one cannot complain too much, right?

It was actually a really exciting experience to be with some Peruvians as the polls closed at 4 pm. The radio kept playing dramatic sound effects and throbbing the word ¨flash¨ over and over again. They did that for about 45 minutes with lots of filler talk before finally anouncing the results. I don´t know if the results mean any particularly drastic in terms of changes for Tacna, but one of the neat developments on a national scale is that a woman won the mayor race in Lima, and she is the first female mayor in Peruvian history. I will miss some of the loud music, parades and general excitement a bit, but I hope the fact that Fidel Carita won here in Tacna means that we will still get to see the gotita (little water drop), all over the place.

Physical Education in Peru

So, right now, all the rage in our school is the drill routines that all the classes of secondary and 4th, 5th, and 6th grade of primary have been preparing. Drill is basically rhythmic gymnastics and is absolutely hilarious to watch: http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoYr-p1Y67A. I don´t mean to mock it at all (especially considering I do step areobics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmqZ_okcTfM with Edith - the mother of Jason, the student who died last year - at least once a week), but it is quite funny to watch.

I think the best part of it is how into the kids get. Their final performance on Monday will pretty much determine their physical education grade, but whole classes of students have been out on the streets of Habitat for hours after school practicing. It really has taken over here at school.

On a wider scope, the October 3rd elections have really come to dominate local discussions and local radio. Besides the flags and posters up all over the place, many of the campaign songs (simple remixes of all the current big hits) can be constantly heard and very often their are parades of the different canidates going through the center.

Elections here are very interesting - on the ballot, for example, they do not even put the canidates name, but simply their party´s symbol. These symbols range from a single letter to a number to a characterture of the canidate himself (the guy running for re-election as mayor of Tacna simply runs on his personality and so is known as the Gordito Simpaticon. He doesn´t really have any other platform than a subtle ¨you can´t help liking me, can you.¨ Check out his video, which has many shots of Tacna. Also, the big guy dancing in the background is the canidate: http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=2cJBO8k3QOs).

As a volunteer and foreigner, I don´t take any stance or support any canidate, but it is a little disheartening to hear the way many Peruvians see their political system: as one of corruption, manipulation of the voting procedures, and the buying of elections. Additionally, there is not any stable political party system. One interesting point, however, is that everyone must vote (if you don´t, one of the ways that get you besides a fine is not allowing you to make any bank transactions). I haven´t decided yet if I feel like that is good to make voting obligatory, but I definitely feel that it has wide ranging effects, especially when there is such confusion with a plethora of canidates.

Any thoughts from those out there?