How I became a Stanford Professor overnight.

I was supposed to be at Kuelap, the Machu Picchu of Northern Peru, however plans changed. Now I was headed for Rodriguez de Mendoza, the high jungle eastern edge of the department of Amazonas. On Saturday night, a friend of mine, who I will call X for privacy purposes, invited me to accompany them to a political meeting in the region, and to meet some mayors and possibly secure some work teaching English. Being too good an opportunity to pass up, I promptly returned my ticket to Kuelap and on Sunday morning we set off on a four hour car ride on the bumpiest, most pothole ridden, cliff clinging, stream filled, muddy road I´ve ever experienced. It was beautiful. As we wound down from the high mountains of Chachapoyas, the trees became denser and taller, the air more humid, flowers drooping, palm trees abounded, rivers roared.....finally the road opened to the steamy valley of Mendoza.

On the way we stopped in a small village, Molino Pampas, for some coffee and the converse with the Alcaldera, the mayor of the district. We were greeted by the mayor and sat down for a quick cup of coffee. The rain was relentless, and locals glanced at us (the mayor, the gringo, and X) over steamy bowls soup. In short time, with out me knowing it, X had secured me a room and board in exchange for teaching English to children. I was informed afterwards, and it occured to me that I was in fact in one of the remoter regions of Peru: Amazonas as a department is off the beaten path, and the muddy, bumpy, difficult 4 hour road to Mendoza even more so.

X, I discovered (and for this I refer to them as X) was a former very high ranking governmental official who worked extensively with mayors all across Peru. Now X is traversing amazonas, meeting with mayors, holding meetings, and building a foundation to run for Congress in the 2011 elections. Congressmen and women are very powerful In Peru. The government is divided into the judiciary, the president and his cabinet, and 130 members of congress, that´s it.

We arrived in district or Longran, in Mendoza, and pulled up on the steamy muddy road next to the house of the mayor. He paid our cab fare, and welcomed us into his home for a late lunch of juicy fried dried meat and plantains and yucca. During lunch the mayor and his wife kept looking out the window across the street. I had no idea what was going on. Finally everyone got up, and said come on, and we walked across the street to a building with benches where 50 townspeople were assembled. How interesting I thought to myself I get to watch a political community meeting. There were four chairs and a table at the front of the room. When I went to grab an inconspicuous seat the mayors wife grabbed my arm and pointed to the front of the room ¨up there, that seat is for you.¨

Oh.....

So there I was facing the roomfull of Mendozans, and the mayor began to introduce us. He introduced me last ¨And Daniel Carr, a professor of English from Stanford University¨ What?! I shot an incredolous stare at the back of X´s head. A professor from Stanford?! I regained my composer, though lost it quickly when I realized that I was expected to give a speech in Spanish. Thank god they were passing around a cup and bottle of sugarcane whisky. My speech went over well. Afterwards I was approached, welcomed, invited back, and the mayor offered room and board to teach English.

And that is how I became a Stanford Professor.

........................
I´m amazed. I now have 3 mayors who have invited me to come live in their communities and teach English. All in Amazonas, Peru. Looks like I´ll be returning to the region. But for now, I have week left in Chachapoyas, then I set off for the desert coast once again.

Lots of love,

Daniel