Interview with a waitress:

Rosa Castro

works 8 hours a day - 9-5, monday through sunday, there are no free days. earnings = 300 soles a month

Do you like your job?

I like the job, but I'd like to get paid more. I like to work with people from other countries, tourists. They are more peaceful than Peruvians, they don't bother me as much. I like to learn different languages. I want to learn more about people from other countries.

What do you think about the US?

I have heard a lot about the US. There are many conflicts with the president and other countries? There is so much war. I don't like war. It is bad. It is the worst, the worst. The worst for everybody.

What do you think you would do if you were the president?

After 9/11 I would talk to the terrorists, but I understand that you cannot always do this. First I would talk to them, if at all possible, to see what they wanted.

What would you do after 9/11

I would kill the terrorists, just like Bush tried to do.

What do you think about the War?

I haven't heard much about that...only that there are wars there, but I don't know much. I though Saddam was very bad? They need a new government, there are many poor people. The US wants to govern Iraq?
ME: Kind of
Well, that's good. They have more money, they can help other countries right?

What do you think about your life?

It's good. I'm okay working here, I want to study more though still. I'm normal, kind of in the middle.

What do you think about your self-image/body?

I think that I'm a little fat, sometimes i don't want to eat, just so I don't get overweight. But I'm not totally preoccupied with this.

What type of food do you eat?

Vegetables, fish, sometimes meat, all things. I like candy, but I don't eat much. Sometimes I eat condiments, but most times no.
ME: Do you know what the food pyramid is?
No, I don't know what that is.
ME: Why don't you eat lots of sweets and chips?
I don't want to spend lots of money, and I don't want to gain weight.

What do you think about nature?

I like nature. Always I like to go to the country when I have free time. There's more space to do things, it is much cleaner than here. I have respect for nature, everyone should.
ME: If you had to pay higher taxes to clean up Cusco, would you?
If I had enough money, I would help pay for these taxes.

What would you do if you were a millionaire?

Travel a lot. I would buy a house and a car. I would pay for my brother to get through his school. I would buy clothes and presents for people in the country who are very poor. I would buy my parents what they need. I would continue with my studies though.

What do you think about religions?

I am Catholic. I don't think anything bad about other religions. People have the right to practice how they want. This is equal with race too.


That's what I have for today. More tomorrow....