I feel as if I am trapped in a latin american soap opera. We are in the midst of a family living life to epic proportions. Carmela is the hard nosed matron of the house. She has incredible eyebrows; I am sure there are some hairs in there somewhere, but I am mesmorised by the broad strokes of black make-up that arc from the bridge of her nose up across her forehead. She is small by Peruvian standards which makes me feel like a giant. However, she rules the house with an iron fist. Her English husband will not do the slightest thing without her permission, indeed he only speaks to her to ask for instructions. He is a mouse who divides his time between watching endless games of football on satellite television and looking at the internet. He doesn´t seem to leave the house unless he is giving a guided tour around some of the local archeological sites and eats by himself at the dining table while the rest of the family eat at the big table in the kitchen.
Carmela´s most popular topic of conversation is just how good for nothing her only daughter is. Her only child is Delicia: nine month´s pregnant and living back at home with her first son, her husband dashing in and out and never a good word to say about her mother. Erika and I get to hear both sides of the coin. Mother and daughter relay the latest episode in the family sagas to us in hushed tones. At least they begin in hushed tones, but rise gradually as they are carried away by the emotion of the situation. I have trouble following the details of their complaints but the gist, gestures and raised eyebrows are more than enough to understand exactly what is going on, as Delicia gets closer and closer to popping.
Histrionics are a daily event as the battles between Delicia and Carmela escalate in a never ending crescendo. Delicia´s son Wilder is six years old and spoilt rotten. He refuses to eat and so it seems that one of the maids has to spend at least three hours a day trying to convince him to eat. I think when his little brother enters the household it will be a major shock to the system. The maids are one of the household’s saving graces; the two of them work their fingers to the bone, seemingly there every hour of the day but Viviana and Tatiana are unfailingly generous with themselves and their time and always quick to laugh.
