My flight was on Saturday and I met the rest of my SIT: Indigenous Peoples and Globalization study abroad group on Sunday. We're all from different parts of the United States but are all like minded individuals (lets face it, only a few 20 something year olds really want to study indigenous groups in Peru's rugged landscape!)
Sunday was spent getting rested and familiar with the Lima's Miraflores neighborhood. After lunch a big group of us decided to go to the beach. Even though Lima is right on the coast the city is at 5,000 feet in elevation, so the walk was pretty much going up and down Mount Philo, but next to an interstate. When we got to the beach we had to cross a four lane highway which was an adventure within itself. Pedestrians are not given the right of way in South America so a few of us almost became a roadkill delicacy.
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| The beach was definitely worth it, even if there was a four lane highway impeding us! |
Monday we went to Comunidad Shipiba de Cantagallo, an indigenous community outside of Lima that was removed from its homeland in the Amazon due to government enforcement. It was definitely like nothing I had experienced before. Since the Shipiba had to drop everything in leave the community definitely had a makeshift feel. Some people leaved in four walled tarp shelters while others lived in simple plywood huts. Even though the Native Americans in the United States have a had a sad history there still is a Department of Native American Affairs to defend indigenous rights but that doesn't even exist here in Peru. We've only skimmed what it is like to be an indigenous Peruvian but from what I can understand they are mere objects that subject to obey any government demand.
After visiting the community we went to Lima's Chinatown where I probably had one of my biggest meals since Thanksgiving (the food just came on coming!) Afterwards we had a tour of the Congreso del Gobierno. Our tour guide took a hundred photos of us (got a bit a tiring) but while there I was surprised how low key the security was to enter the government building (I brought a whole liter of water). What'er!
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| We were all trying to pose freely after having posed for our tour guide. |
Following the government we went to the African Peruvian Museum. This was interesting because African history seems to be better documented better in Peru than the US and there Peru seems to be a much more racial mixed culture (Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and indigenous peoples).
Tuesday we left for Cusco at 5 AM! When we landed I started feeling light headed but I fought it because I'm a rugged chick. We took an hour bus ride to Pisaq where we stayed at a hotel called the Royal Inka. While there my arm muscles started spazzing, which I thought was because I had done push-ups the day before and the lack of oxygen, but then I started feeling flushed. Long story short I got altitude sickness. The worst of it was when an indigenous man came from the Amazon to lead us in an offering to Pachimama, or Mother Earth. If I wasn't feeling so sick I would have had my eyes glued but right then all I could do was lie on the ground and gaze at the offering.
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| This photo was taken while lying down, but lets face it, I had to stay attentive somehow! |
Wednesday was a crash course for us to learn how to be awesome, yet cautious, university students studying abroad in a foreign country.
Thursday we did a drop off, which was when we divided into five different groups and received an destination and an assignment to accomplish at that site. My group was assigned to Taray where we were supposed to find a place called Casa Glopal. The receptionist at our hotel said that Taray was only a 30 minute walk. After 10 minutes we asked a storekeeper who told us that it was 40 minutes. The rest of the trip ended up being like this, until we arrived at Taray but none of us could complain since we were laughing so much and taking in the scenery.
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| Sample of our interesting walk |
When we got to Taray we asked a tax driver where we could find Casa Glopal. He pointed in a general direction and we followed. In reality we were directionless so we asked a woman, also named Luisa, and she told us that Casa Glopal had a white roof. We kept on walking until we got to an hacienda. When we entered ten huge, barking dogs came running towards us. I though I was going to die! Thankfully the owner came out and pointed us in the right direction (we had to retrace our foot steps). After an hour and a half of walking we ended up finding Casa Glopal, which ended up being a spiritual community that had been founded in India but moved to the Sacred Valley due to it's sacred powers.
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| Casa Glopal and my friend Shiva Sham (the toddler with the stick) who really like showing me edible plants |
Friday we went to the Pisaq ruins. Since they were on top of a mountain I definitely felt like I was doing Level 4 intervals at a Level 1 pace. On the way back down I channeled my inner Outing Club leader by teaching people how to properly walk down a mountain through lining up one's nose, knees, and toes. It ended up being a really fun walk down! Lots of singing and laughs had by all!
In the afternoon I met my host family, which consists of six members- Marina (the mother), Redy (the father), Manuel (son/chef (has a restaurant out of the house every Saturday), Pamela (daughter and is currently finishing her masters in economics), and Gabriel (son/psychologist in an elementary school). They're really nice and everywhere they introduce me as their daughter!
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| Pisaq |
There you have it! I hope this entertained you so way during your day! More is yet to come!
