Machu Picchu/Rafting

Machu Picchu is the most famous ruins in Peru, although there are ruins all over the country. I visited this place about 2 weeks ago now. It was definitely an unforgettable experience. Machu Picchu was “founded” in 1911 by a professor from Yale. But as my tour guide for day countered, Machu Picchu was never found because it was never lost. The villagers who lived around this area had now about Machu Picchu for years before the arrival of the western professor. They are more unanswered questions rather than answered ones about Machu Picchu and its form and function during its historical prime. Some people say that it was something like a university where people from all over the Incan empire came to learn about religion and other important affairs. Other anthropologists think that it was a summer home for the actual Inca (the name for the Incan king). Both ways it was a very exciting experience and I hope to be able to find my way back there before they close it to the public.
The same weekend I went rafting for the first time ever. SUPER FUN! I decided that I need to be outside and have scenery when I work out. I get really bored at the gym when I am just on the treadmill or elliptical counting down the minutes. I need to be visually stimulated when I am exercising lol. And when I say rafting was a workout…it was a workout lol. My whole body was sore the next day. I feel like there are many outdoor activities in Michigan that aren’t competitive sports. I could take up snowboarding or something but I hate snow so that sounds like a fail lol. Oh well I will figure it out once I get back to the states. It’s my last week in Cusco, I only have 6 weeks left in total in Peru. CRAZY!
Hasta Luego

Corpus Christi and Cuy

Last week was a really big festival in Cusco. The entire month of June is called the month of parties in Cusco, Peru. There most important festival is Corpus Christi. The celebration was originally a festival in the Incan empire when they would march through the streets of Cusco the mummies of important figures in the community. When the Spanish invaded Peru in the early 1500's they found this ritual to be primitive and replaced mummies with Catholic saints. An inspiring fact about Cusco/Peru is that the indigenous people here have be able to retain a lot of their culture despite European imperialism. Even though the cusqueñas march saints through streets instead of mummies the people carrying the saints are all drunk. Also everyone here is so knowledgeable about Incan and preincan civilizations and its inspiring because I feel like as an American I am very ignorant of my history but that is not the case hear.

Another intriguing cultural fact about Cusco is the food that is eaten during Corpus Christi. The Peruanos eat cuy (guinea pig) and a special plate of food called chiruchu. This concept is so strange to me because in the U.S we have guinea pigs as pets but here it is only viewed as food similar to chickens in the U.S. The traditional chiruchu dish includes seaweed, fish eggs, chicken, cow, guinea pig, and a special type of bread. I actually tried some cuy...it tasted like chicken lol. Going to MachuPicchu this weekend and looking forward to my third week in Peru.

Hasta Luego!

Weather and Cultural Adjustments

I only have two complaints about this beautiful country so far, the weather and having to search hard and far for a strong wireless connection. Primero, I am currently 11,000 miles high in the mountains and it is winter(not summer) here in Cusco. During the day the sun is high in the air and is beating down heavily making you think that “hey I should wear shorts because it’s really hot” then you step into the shade and you then think to yourself “yea…why didn’t I wear pants again”. Also to make matters a little more complicated very few business and no homes have heat. I wear about 3 layers to bed, including thermal underwear, and I have 4 blankets as well. This leads into my second topic about cultural adjustments. I think being a USA citizen makes me take for granted several luxuries that are not promised to others in the world. Approximately 50% of the world lives on 2 dollars a day or less. However, light, heat, electricity and access to safe, healthy food is a luxury that most Americans enjoy on a daily basis. I have already had my moments when I complain about no heat and get extremely frustrated that no public places have wifi. I attempt to counter these moments by recognizing that the reasons for my irritation is due to the vast amount of privileges that I possess. I am learning on a daily basis that I need to adapt to Peru and not be frustrated when it doesn’t adapt to me. Unlike in America, I am the foreigner, the other, the one that no one understands in this country not the other way around. Besides getting use to no heat, wifi, hot showers, and no one speaking English, Peru has been a wonderful experience thus far. I am really looking forward to my second week in this beautiful city!

Hola Peru!

So I decided to randomly start a blog as a way to keep track of my happenings in Cusco as well as let people know what I am doing. Primero, why am I here? Well I have always wanted to do a study abroad and last summer I discovered this trip while browsing through MSU's study abroad website. The name of my trip, Community Engagement and Interdisciplinary Studies in the Peruvian Andes gives a good summary about my upcoming Peruvian vacation. Currently I am located in Cusco, Peru which is near the southern/middle part of the country and is in the mountains. I am living 3,300 meters (15,000 feet I think lol) above sea level! Very high! A lot of people who venture here get altitude sickness. Luckily I have not had the misfortune but walking up hills can sometimes be a pain. The weather here is a little funky, but luckily thanks to Michigan I am use to weird weather lol. During the day it can get as warm as 70 degrees but in the early mornings and late evenings it can drop to about 35-40 degrees. Dressing for the weather has never been as hard as it is now lol. Regardless of all of this, Cusco is a beautiful city. The central part of the city called Plaza de Armas always have something going on. A lot of restaurants, bars, cafes. The drinks here are pretty cheap too :-)! Thus far, I am loving Cusco and its people. I can't wait to see what kind of mischief I get into next.