Foot in the Mouth

Totally had a horrible “whoops!” moment last night!

We were at one of the chapels and like three sets of missionaries come in. They made the rounds, said hello and shook each of our hands.

Sidenote: For some reason, the white elders won’t talk to us! I mean they say “Hola” and shake our hands, but that’s it. They never want to talk about where we/they are from or anything in English. Is that normal? Brothers, were you like that around white girls? It doesn’t offend us or anything, it just caught us off guard.

So there is this one ethnic Elder named Elder Nicaragua. I said hello and asked him where he was from, of course….he said, Nicaragua, and then he turned away from us and began a discussion with another Elder. 

I turned to Brittany and Abigail and said (in English) “I think he’s lying to us…”

Without hesitation, Elder Nicaragua turns around and says (in English): “No, I’m not lying!”

Me: “You Speak ENGLISH?!?!”

Him: Yes :D

Oh boy did I feel silly. 

Lesson learned: Just because you’re in Peru don’t assume that every non-white person here doesn’t speak English.