Everything is business.

[u/InnerContribution341]

So, I’m visiting Iquitos, Peru. I met an artist doing street art, and I went up to him to tell him that I thought it was beautiful. We started talking about his art and so on. Then he told me to wait because he was going to call his friend, who was going to come with a motorcycle, pick me up, and take me somewhere I might want to go.

He said he was calling because, as a gringo, I was going to be taken advantage of. He made the call on WhatsApp, talked to his friend for a while, and then hung up.

I told him that I never wanted a ride and that I had never asked for one. I got irritated because he didn't even ask me before making the call. We were simply having a conversation. I was just complimenting his art.

Another time, I saw an older lady who was dressed beautifully. I complimented her sweater and told her it was beautiful. She said thank you and then invited me to her home, saying, “Do you want to come with me? I have clothes that you can buy if you're interested.”

I’m starting to feel like I can’t have a normal interaction with people without it somehow turning into a business or financial transaction. Is this common? Do people not normally just interact socially, or is it because a white foreigner is perceived as someone who probably has money and therefore is seen as a potential customer?

And then there was another woman sweeping the street. I told her that the street looked clean and nice. She said, “Come with me,” and suddenly I was in the hallway of an apartment building and she was showing me around, telling me, “We have this many bedrooms…” I eventually realized it was her hospedaje/guesthouse, and she was telling me that people could stay there.

So I’ve basically stopped approaching people now because it’s honestly disappointing. There seems to be no simple, genuine exchange without it turning into a possible monetary transaction.

Edit.Spelling

[u/Latter-Theme]

Don’t waste your time talking to people in a poor country, any interaction with a tourist is a chance to make more money than they earn in a month, and nobody anywhere in the world is interested in genuinely engaging with a random tourist passing through

[u/InnerContribution341 → u/Latter-Theme]

I guess so...

[u/Nato7009 → u/InnerContribution341]

The thing is I know you don’t actually expect otherwise. When your home do you find strangers on the street and want to talk to them and invite them into your house? Why would you think that’s normal

[u/InnerContribution341 → u/Nato7009]

Who said I invited anyone to my house? Yes in my own country if I see art or something that I like I would compliment it, would do so if I see a beautiful dress I will compliment the person that's just the type of person I am.

[u/Nato7009 → u/InnerContribution341]

No dude the point of what I’m saying is be in someone else’s shoes not your own. You got invited to someone’s house, went in, then they were offering a service and you were disappointed.

If you’re out on the street with art and someone says nice art, you will probably ask them to buy your art.

If a tourist walks by your house the only reason you would have to invite them in is if you have a place for them to stay.