From my fourth floor “flat” I have a great view over Tarapoto. I can also hear all of the various noises that drift across the city – the birds chirping, the drone of the mototaxis, the horrific wailings of karaoke singers and the continually monotonous background static of cumbia music. I love my view. As for the sounds, I have grown accustomed to them, I even kind of like them.
The children's entertainer is a nightmare, but Tarapoto kids are really cool
I’m Going to Strangle the Children’s Entertainer
There is, however, one sound that I just cannot tolerate. There is a popular children’s entertainer who seems to be particularly sought after for birthday parties in Tarapoto. When this woman performs, she uses a screeching, childlike tone of voice. This voice is then amplified to a ridiculous level, deafening the screaming children as she sings her standard repertoire of stupidly catchy songs. You can hear her from twelve blocks away.
She’s singing right now as I type these words. I hate her. She has the kind of voice, whether shouting or singing, that makes sensible men throw themselves off balconies to certain death. It is, unfortunately, the only escape. “Hola niños!” she squeals, “que linda!” she shouts eternally. Then she sings “Rompe la Piñata” for the eighth time and I can feel the bass rumbling through my floor. Government agencies such as the CIA, FBI and more covert departments reportedly use awful, looped pop music to torture prisoners. Hell, if they gave this woman a job they could bring the whole world to its knees.
I love Tarapoto, but I really do hate that children’s entertainer. She is an ungodly curse upon the city. Rant over. Thank you.
Unfortunately,in Tararpoto, like in most other Peruvian cities, the locals have no desire to keep down noise levels, and never consider that some might find it objectionable.It’s quite common in many cities in Peru to hear music played at top volume at all hours of the night. It’s part of the culture, and if you complain to a native about it, they’ll look at you as if you’re crazy.If someone decides to live in Peru, party noise comes with the territory. If one cant deal with or adapt to that part of Peruvian culture, one would be well advised to live somewhere else!
I disagree. I love PEACEFUL admosphere. It is not true. I am a Peruvian and dont like noises either.
I agree with you completely Vinny. I actually like the attitude to noise in Peru – it’s a good country for parties!
I threw a New Year’s Eve party in my flat when I was at university in Brighton. There were loads of people and it was all very loud, but I thought that that was expected on New Year’s Eve. Not in England – someone called the police (and the firebrigade!) and me and my flat mates almost got arrested!
Peru is totally the opposite. As you said, if you ask your neighbor to turn down the music in Peru they’ll think that you are crazy. I definitely prefer the Peruvian attitude. The only noise that annoys me in Tarapoto is this children’s entertainer woman. She honestly has the most annoying voice I have ever heard!
It’s a very valid cultural point that you’ve brought up. If anyone is thinking of living in Peru they certainly need to be able to withstand a degree of “noise pollution.” Either that or go live somewhere away from any urban areas. I guess one of the positives about Tarapoto is that all of the really big discos are out in Morales, away from the city center.
Anyway, thanks for the comment!
Tony.
Dear Tony
Thanks for responding to my comment on noise levels in Peru,Here in Baltimore where I live, it’s exactly the same as in England. If you play music too loudly in the evening{and at other times to boot,] you’ll probably get a nasty visit from the police.
As an aside, My wife ,who’s a native Peruvian, said the following about the matter: if you call the police in Peru complaining about party noise, they may respond to your complaint, but they’ll do nothing, except hang around hoping to be invited to the party, and will leave very upset if they don’t.
I enjoy your blog and keep up the good work
Vinny
It is a big truth, for the people outside the city of Tarapoto, one of the most annoying things is the noise, small town, noisy people, I think it’s a bad combination, especially on weekends, and especially at this time of political campaigns and national holidays.
Saludos, always is good to read your blog and know the opinion of foreign about Tarapoto
What is even more annoying then hearing party music is being victim at the party itself. Not only makes the noise level it impossible to have conversation, but also the sound quality is in general horrible. Speakers are broken, the sound is distorted, and singers nor animators know how to use a microphone. Ok, maybe to my standards. Maybe in Peru it only sounds good if the sound is violated.
You wonder why at a party of 20 children there needs to be amplified music. Why mothers voluntarily expose their princes and princesses to noise levels that can damage their ears.
That having said, I find in general Peruvian people not loud at all. To compare, I find people from the states much louder.
Ruud (also living in Tarapoto)
I know that this is the wrong forum for this but…
If you are the Ruud who posted recently on Expat about mi-fi devices in Lima, please, please, please contact me. I need more info on this. I tried registering over at expat but was not successful.
Thanks
Hi Ed,
The two Ruuds are the same person. I’ll send him an email and let him know that you are trying to get in touch. He was planning a road trip a few days ago, so he might not be around. I’ll see what I can do.
Cheers.