1.  Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto Guevara

 Too bad Gael García Bernal doesn’t come with the book. 

2. The Lazarus Project by Aleksandar Hemon

Yeah, I know. I have a lit crush on him. What do you expect?

3. Mischiefs of the Bad Girl (Travesuras de la niña mala) by Mario Vargas Llosa

 I picked it because I liked the title and Llosa was born in Arequipa. Simple. as. that. Thanks Oscar!

4. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz 

Terry Gross’ Interview with Diaz

I first heard about this book on NPR.  Gross interviewed Diaz last October and he seemed to be a good story teller with a dorky sense of humor. And Leah recommended it. I think I trust both Terry and Leah.

5. A travel/history book about Peru (To be determined)

6. Spanish dictionary and grammar book plus 501 Spanish Verbs 

For the second night in a row, I’ve had the same dream. I’m at the airport in Perú and suddenly I realize I don’t have my passport on me. I start to explain my situation to a woman, an employee of the airline, and she replies back in a language I can’t understand. I try to speak Spanish again. Then she speaks another language. I try to speak English and she finally replies back in Spanish. Suddenly, two policemen arrest me. And then, the dream uneventfully ends. 

This is my first time leaving the country and probably the reason I’m having strange dreams. 

In my life, I’ve only visited a handful of places in the United States: Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, and Pittsburgh….

And once, my roommate and I decided to drive from Chicago to Austin, Texas to see my friend. Then my friend, my roommate, and I decided to drive to Big Bend National Park, located on the border of Texas and Mexico. MY BIG AMERICAN ADVENTURE! ….Of course, an American adventure would not be complete without an uncomfortable stop at Border Patrol, where my Lithuanian roommate was questioned about her current visa status. The Border Patrolman’s first name was J.P. He seemed like a pretty cool guy. As he used his super, American computer to check my roommate’s visa status, he told us about how he wanted to grow up to play guitar professionally. Don’t we all want to grow up to be a different person? Even the border patrol guy? Well, this story also has a dull ending. Eventually, JP confirmed my roommate’s visa status and he let us go.  

Nonetheless, I’ve always dreamed about traveling outside the country. While at Big Bend National Park, I saw the Rio Grande, the lanky river separating Mexico and the United States. For some reason, I always imagined Mexico to look vastly different than United States, especially at the border. In truth, they look the same. Mexico disappointedly looks like the United States and the United States disappointedly looks like Mexico. Our differences we know, we can count them on our hands and feet, but it’s our similarities that always surprise us. 

My father has been finally convinced I won’t be kidnapped by Columbian terrorist in Peru. This is a good sign.

However, my mother has fervently kept track of every American kidnapping; cholera epidemics;  travel tours with drug dealers (pictures with dealer not included in price); Viagra handouts;  a constitution proposal to include a woman’s right to sexual happiness; Hugo Chavez;  near legalization of gay marriage in Cuba; and a nasty border rivalry propelled by the United States. 

If you ask me, the news sounds a little mild compared to the U.S.. 

Okay, I’m going to be in Peru for two months. I want to bring five novels (in English).

Which five books do I bring? 

Anybody who knows me, understands how I love many of my books equally. Okay, except Joseph Conrad.  Okay, I never finished The Girl with Curious Hair, but one day I will try Infinite Jest. Still, I don’t want to develop scoliosis based on the fact I can’t decide what books to bring.

 Yes, minimalism. It’s essential for traveling. 

Here’s a tentative list:

1.  War and Peace (I think that book alone might cause scoliosis)

2.  A collection of short stories?

3.  Something by Ernesto Guevara’s. Perhaps Motorcycle Diaries 

     (suggested by  Stefan via Meebo chat with Leah)

4.  Something by Mario Vargas Llosa 

5.  Talons of The Eagle by Peter H. Smith (Thanks Julieta)