Kolleggerium

I’m nice. When I arrived last week I dropped my bags on the sidewalk to help a taxi driver who was trying to self push-start his car. Cynicism is important. Be critical. Just don’t use it as an excuse for doing nothing. Question everything, including yourself. Make fun of the cabbie, wonder why his car is even allowed on the road, then give him a hand.
Cynicism can make being nice seem un-cool. Here in Peru, it does not have to compromise your machismo. Yesterday my Nacho Libre-esque cabbie drove like a madman, bullying his way through traffic, flicking on a faux police siren when anyone got in the way, but sat patiently holding up traffic to allow an elderly man cross the road. He’s nice.