The Art of Small Talk

Repetition is a part of my life here. I eat the same food day in and day out. I walk the same path to the school every day. Better yet, even my conversations are even set on repeat. Most the time I don’t mind these mundane conversations as I have them pretty well rehearsed and therefore, seem better acostumbrar-ed by the locals. Now, I’m sure you are thinking “I can chit chat with a Peruvian, no problem!” But before you start flapping your lips, there are a few things to know first. Read these 7 easy rules and you’ll be on your way to mastering the art of small talk in Peru in no time.

Rule #1: Greet every person you come across, even if you don’t know them

While this can be quite the task someday, for the most part, I enjoy it as it brightens my mood every time. Now if you are lazy, like I get some times, you can shorten the normal “Buenos Dias” to just “Buenos”. This works for both “Buenas Tardes” and “Buenas Noches.” With that said, a normal 15 minute walk might take up to 30 minutes. So if you are in a rush to get to a meeting on time, don’t be, as we all know this is Peru and meetings never start on time anyway.

Rule #2: We are family!

When approached by an elderly person, it’s best to refer to them as “Tia” and “Tio,” which is aunt and uncle, respectively. When I first arrived here, I was astonished at how big my family was as every person right and left was my aunt and uncle. Then my oh-so-smart -12-year-old brother enlightened me. In Peru, referring to someone as aunt or uncle is a term of endearment usually reserved for the elderly.

Rule #3: Do the campo-pat

The normal greeting in Peru and other Latin American countries is the kiss-on-the-cheek greeting. In the sierra though, this is not always the case. Many a times, I have gone in for the cheek kiss when the person obviously is pulling back, so then you are left with just an awkward pat on the shoulder way…way…too close (Quite the rookie mistake). It’s best to gauge the situation by first going in for the campo pat, which is just a slap on the back or on the shoulder, sometimes even a squeeze of an arm. Once you are in, you can view the reaction of the recipient to see whether a kiss is warranted or not. But if ever in doubt, just do the campo-pat.

Rule #4: State the obvious

When I say state the obvious, I mean state the obvious. Example: You meet a man walking up the hill as you are going down and you say “walking up?” to which she replies “Yes, you walking down?” “Yes.” Done and done. This can be applied to any and all action verbs with some of the more common ones being: walking up, walking down, resting, working, knitting, drinking, celebrating, eating, milking cows, and passing by.

Rule #5: Use jerga

In order to sound like a true local, you’ve got to throw in some jargon (jerga) every now and then. The favorite around my neck of the woods is “pues,” which is directly translates to “well,” but is basically a filler word used after every other sentence. Example: Someone asks you for aji with your rice and potatoes, you reply “Si pues!”

Rule #6: Weather

While bringing up the weather in the states may seem like the bottom of the barrel when it comes to conversation topics, but here in Peru, its number one on people’s list. Whether you are trying to stay dry in the sierra or seeking refuge in the heat of the coast, weather is always a great topic of conversation. Sometimes this goes hand in hand with rule #4, as it is sometimes the most obvious statement. Example: Talking with an old man in the plaza “It’s been raining a lot” “Yes, a lot of rain” “Yes, and a lot of mud” “Yes, lots of mud.”

Rule #7: Don’t forget to say goodbye

Even if you will never see this person again, it’s best to close the conversation with a “see you soon” (“nos vemos”) or “see you tomorrow” (“hasta mañana”). Chances are yes, you won’t ever see this person, but why smash the hopes of your new friend? If warranted, you may also close the conversation with another campo pat, just for good measure.

Now let’s put it all together… Here’s an example conversation with a local Peruvian (directly translated):

Old Lady: Good Morning
Me: Good Aunt. How are you?
Old Lady: Just here.
Me: You going up?
Old Lady: Yes. You going down?
Me: Yes.
Old Lady: That’s good. That’s good.
Me: Yes, it’s good.
Old Lady: Lots of rain, no?
Me: Yes, lots of rain. Very cold.
Old Lady: Yes, very cold.

(Silence)

Old Lady: See you soon.
Me: Yes, see you soon.


So there you have it folks! You’re very own guide to chit chatting it up with the locals in Peru. If you are hesitant at all or forget one of the rules, don’t sweat it. Never underestimate the power of a smile. Use this guide the next time you are passing through the market or waiting for your bus. With this guide, the locals will think you’ve acostumbrar-ed in no time!