Well, the last four days have definitely passed in a whirlwind. On Thursday, we traveled to Arequipa where we stayed the night and explored the city. The church there was absolutely beautiful! On Friday, we traveled to Colca Canyon and were able to get some amazing shots of the Andean condors in their natural habitats! On Saturday, we got a city tour of Arequipa including the monastery and famous cathedral of the Plaza de Armas. In the afternoon, we had some free time. For me, the most interesting part was seeing the body of Juanita, a sacrfice to the mountains which they considered to be Gods. The children were chosen from birth to be sacrifices because of their perfect beauty, health, and purity, but they had to go willingly. They then spent the rest of their life in a home chosen for them and were well taken care of. Juanita was at the very top of the mountain, and was therefore very well preserved. She was about 13 years old and was half Peruvian and half Asian. There were three other sacrifices found on the way to Juanita, but since she was at the very top she was the most important part.
Yesterday was a long day full of airplane rides and car travel home, but it was definitely worth it. Dr. Seals took the time to speak to us before we left the airport. I would like my final project to be something that I can use in my children's classroom and possibly involve a children's book. If you have any ideas for this, please let me know. He also told us to do some introspection and decide what this trip meant to us. The whole fact that I even went to Peru is still sinking in, but I know that I gained so much from the experience. I was able to get past a lot of personal barriers and realize a lot about communication. I also learned how lucky I am to have the opportunities that I have in America.
This has definitely been a life-changing experience and I'm so grateful that I was able to go on this trip and learn so many things! Thank you to everyone who supported me, including my family, friends, and CRL. I really appreciate all of the effort into making sure this trip was worthwhile. I love you and hope you have enjoyed this blog!
Love always,
Chels :)
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Musings of a 20 Year Old Girl (Who Probably Has No Idea What She´s Talking About)
¨And how do you wait for heaven?
And who has that much time?
And how do you keep your feet on the ground when you know you were born to fly?¨
--Sara Evans
Note: This blog post written from a boat a couple of hours ago and is now being transcribed.
Right now, I am overlooking Lake Titicaca and the beautiful island of Taquile. It still feels surreal to me that I am here, on the highest navigable lake on Earth, at the highest altitude I have ever been at in my life. Learning about Lake Titicaca is one of the few things I remember from Mr. Irland´s class. Our tour guide told us that at one time, there were many pumas who surrounded the lake. Titicaca stands for the grey color of the puma´s fur. Lake Titcaca is truly breathtaking--although I still don´t think it is quite as beautiful as Lake Superior. Nothing can quite compare to that. :)
Well, I have a three hour boat ride to reflect on everything that has happened over the past few days, and I hope I can capture everything that I thought and felt as perfectly as possible.
On Monday, Elisabeth and I said goodbye to Monica, our host mother, which was hard. She asked us to write, which I fully intend to do. Then we took a really nice double decker bus to Puno, complete with a TV, movies, and free drinks. It was amazing to have some space to myself and I slept most of the way there. We did make some touristy stops along the way, including ¨The Sistine Chapel of South America,¨ or Archillagos. It was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen, and I wish I could have seen it in all of its old splendor. There were paintings covering each wall and several golden altars--although most of the gold and silver had been stolen in the 1990s. Nevertheless, it was beautiful. They work on restoring it more and more everyday. Something I found very interesting were the mermaids all over the wall--the fish to represent the animal side of humands and the body to represent human intelligence. Unfortunately, we weren´t allowed to take pictures, but it was one of my favorite parts of the trip so far. We also stopped at Raqchi, which are archeological remains right on the path of the Incan Trail. The same general who built Machu Picchu and Cusco also built Rachqi--Machu Picchu in the shape of the Andean Condor for the heavens, Cusco in the shape of the Puma for the Earth, and Rachqi in the shape of a snake for the underworld. Surprisingly, Raqchi had the biggest temple, but archeologists bbelieve this was to bring the three cities together. Raqchi was in a strategic point. They also used mud bricks instead of just rocks and had round buildings for warehouses, which was something that we hadn´t seen in other ancient cities. We got to Puno at around 6 p.m. and stayed one night in a very nice hotel beside the main plaza.
Yesterday, we started our journey on Lake Titicaca. We started in Uros, or the floating islands. It was truly amazing to see what these people had done to escape the influence of the Incans & Spaniards. Each family has their own island, and the base is made of cork. They pile reeds on top of the island every 15 days, always going in opposite ways. They actually eat the bottom of the reeds, which contain iodine to keep their teeth very healthy--no dentists! They have domesticated ducks and eat dry duck meat, fish, and other vegetables for food. Typically, the women are a bit large. Men swim, row boats, and fist to stay healthy but there is very little exercise for women. Women wear colorful pom-poms in their hair to represent that they are single and dark pom-poms to represent that they are married. They rely on tourism a lot for their income, and some have stereos/TVs. Katie Parker and I actually got to tour the house of the king of the island and were then dressed up in traditional clothing.
After visiting the Uros Islands, we had a 3 hour boat ride to Amantani. This experience was hands-down my favorite part of the trip so far. We stayed the night with a host family in an area that seems largely untouched by time. The people there speak Quechua and are entirely self-sufficient--They farm for themselves and take care of their own, dressing in the traditional clothing of the old times. It was so peaceful and beautiful; it just amazed me that there was a part of the world that still exists like that. Unfortunately, Elisabeth was feeling nauseous after the boat ride and the high altitude didn´t help. I was blessed because two other Alma College students were also staying in the same house, Shelby and Andria. We were in a home with two families--a grandmother (who took care of me) and her son´s family. They had a two year old girl, named Tanya, who was absolutely adorable! Although we couldn´t communicate much, it was fun to play volleyball and make the best of it. After a simple lunch (Quinua and vegetable soup with fried cheese) we headed to the community center. A bunch of students played soccer, but I headed up the mountain to one of the highest points, Pachatata, to watch the sunset. They have two temples where they celebrate once each year--Pachamama (Mother Earth) and Pachatata (Father Water). Before drinking anything, they often pour out some of their drink onto the ground in offering. In most all of Peru, there is a mix of the old pagan ways and Catholicism. On our way home, I watched the full moon rise over Bolivia in only a matter of minutes. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. After dinner (Quinua soup, veggies, and rice) I was able to go to a dance dressed in traditional clothing: a colorful, billowing skirt, white smock, and black headdress. Apparently, it used to be the fashion to be bigger because it meant that your husband/family was feeding you well, which was the reason for the big skirts. The dances were simple and fun, and I was very grateful to my host father for dancing with me. I´m sure I looked ridiculous, but I had a really good time. :)
After a good night´s rest, we woke up to visit another part of the world that has managed to escape time--the island of Tequile. They live by the old Incan rules: 1. Don´t lie 2. Don´t steal 3. Don´t be lazy. They have a 0% crime rate and no policemen, just local workers who go around to make sure everyone is okay. They are famous for their weaving projects, and you can see sheep everywhere you climb. The men knit and the women weave when they are not farming. The climb on both islands was steep and very difficult. Apparently, locals have more red blood cells and bigger lungs than foreigners, which explains why we get tired so easily. We are only breathing 40% of the oxygen that we are used to at the altitude of the islands on Lake Titicaca. The local people were so nice! Small pom-poms and a colorful hat signify that you are married; large pom-poms and a red/white hat signify being single and pure. If men have a girlfriend, they will wear the long side of their hat behind their heads. Men and women must date for 3-4 years before getting married and there is a very low divorce rate. After getting married, men wear belts made of their wive´s hair. The atmosphere on Tequile was much less touristy and I enjoyed how welcoming the people were. We stopped at an elementary school and the teacher asked us to play with the students, which I really enjoyed. Although the local language is Quechua, the students are taught in Spanish and most go to school for 11 years. It was only Mary Seals, Dr. Seals, Dr. Molina, and I that stayed behind to play with the children but I loved the opportunity--even if the children won. ;) In Cusco, there were no playgrounds so it was difficult to do anything active with the kindergarteners. Most people get married young, usually right out of high school. There is only one leader of the island who is elected in the town square each year by a show of hands. We at lunch on the island (an omelette, quinua soup, and quinua) and has some time to enjoy the beach of Lake Titicaca. I feel like we have lost so much by losing our simplicity, and sometimes I wish we could have it back. These people have so much love and respect in their hearts.
At Aguas Calientes, Alexa G. asked me what one thing I would take away from this trip. It was a difficult question because I haven´t been able to take time to reflect. We are always on the go. Since then, however, I have made a conscious effort to think about what this experience actually means and what I am going to get out of it that I can take home. At first, the nerd that is inside of me automatically thought: the history! I feel like a sponge that is absorbing new information and facts too quickly each day, afraid of losing the new knowledge. I hope that someday I can teach a unit on South America so I can bring this information into my classroom. It goes so much deeper than that, though--the people here genuinely love their culture and heritage and do everything they can to cling to it. They are so willing and welcoming to share it with us because they want everyone to know what life was like and could be like. I guess what I´m trying to say is that ultimately, it doesn´t matter. For the first time in my life, I am extremely out of my comfort zone. I am an obvious minority (I have never been the minority!) with difficulty communicating with everyone here. But, it doesn´t matter. It doesn´t matter that we have limited communication skills or different skin colors or cultures; we´ll find a way to make it make sense and to help each other along the way. Yesterday, Andria told me that what makes experiences so special is that we have someone to share them with, and I couldn´t agree more. Each and every day, I share an experience with someone new and even if I can´t communicate with them it´s worth it just to see them smile. I hope to share as much as I can of myself with everyone in the future, even if I´m afraid that I won´t be able to connect with (a) certain person(s). I know it will be hard; I am far from flawless. I can be selfish, overly analytical, unobservant, insecure, and a perfectionist to the point of ridiculousless. But you know what? I have climbed mountains, handled myself in a major city (sometimes when I´m all alone), spent the night on an island with no electricity, worked with children who do not speak my language, and gone days without eating chocolate. Things that I thought I could never and would never do--but maybe all that it takes is perseverance and the right attitude. :)
Well, it´s hard to believe that this trip is almost over. IT´s so beautiful here and the time has flown by. Tomorrow, we visit the Colca Canyon in hopes of seeing the almost extinct Andean Condor and then we spend Friday and Saturday in the cities of Chivay and Arequipa. I can´t wait to see your face; believe me, there are days I´m tempted to call home despite how expensive it is. Thanks for reading this blog and sticking it out with me. I love you.
Love always,
Chels :)
And who has that much time?
And how do you keep your feet on the ground when you know you were born to fly?¨
--Sara Evans
Note: This blog post written from a boat a couple of hours ago and is now being transcribed.
Right now, I am overlooking Lake Titicaca and the beautiful island of Taquile. It still feels surreal to me that I am here, on the highest navigable lake on Earth, at the highest altitude I have ever been at in my life. Learning about Lake Titicaca is one of the few things I remember from Mr. Irland´s class. Our tour guide told us that at one time, there were many pumas who surrounded the lake. Titicaca stands for the grey color of the puma´s fur. Lake Titcaca is truly breathtaking--although I still don´t think it is quite as beautiful as Lake Superior. Nothing can quite compare to that. :)
Well, I have a three hour boat ride to reflect on everything that has happened over the past few days, and I hope I can capture everything that I thought and felt as perfectly as possible.
On Monday, Elisabeth and I said goodbye to Monica, our host mother, which was hard. She asked us to write, which I fully intend to do. Then we took a really nice double decker bus to Puno, complete with a TV, movies, and free drinks. It was amazing to have some space to myself and I slept most of the way there. We did make some touristy stops along the way, including ¨The Sistine Chapel of South America,¨ or Archillagos. It was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen, and I wish I could have seen it in all of its old splendor. There were paintings covering each wall and several golden altars--although most of the gold and silver had been stolen in the 1990s. Nevertheless, it was beautiful. They work on restoring it more and more everyday. Something I found very interesting were the mermaids all over the wall--the fish to represent the animal side of humands and the body to represent human intelligence. Unfortunately, we weren´t allowed to take pictures, but it was one of my favorite parts of the trip so far. We also stopped at Raqchi, which are archeological remains right on the path of the Incan Trail. The same general who built Machu Picchu and Cusco also built Rachqi--Machu Picchu in the shape of the Andean Condor for the heavens, Cusco in the shape of the Puma for the Earth, and Rachqi in the shape of a snake for the underworld. Surprisingly, Raqchi had the biggest temple, but archeologists bbelieve this was to bring the three cities together. Raqchi was in a strategic point. They also used mud bricks instead of just rocks and had round buildings for warehouses, which was something that we hadn´t seen in other ancient cities. We got to Puno at around 6 p.m. and stayed one night in a very nice hotel beside the main plaza.
Yesterday, we started our journey on Lake Titicaca. We started in Uros, or the floating islands. It was truly amazing to see what these people had done to escape the influence of the Incans & Spaniards. Each family has their own island, and the base is made of cork. They pile reeds on top of the island every 15 days, always going in opposite ways. They actually eat the bottom of the reeds, which contain iodine to keep their teeth very healthy--no dentists! They have domesticated ducks and eat dry duck meat, fish, and other vegetables for food. Typically, the women are a bit large. Men swim, row boats, and fist to stay healthy but there is very little exercise for women. Women wear colorful pom-poms in their hair to represent that they are single and dark pom-poms to represent that they are married. They rely on tourism a lot for their income, and some have stereos/TVs. Katie Parker and I actually got to tour the house of the king of the island and were then dressed up in traditional clothing.
After visiting the Uros Islands, we had a 3 hour boat ride to Amantani. This experience was hands-down my favorite part of the trip so far. We stayed the night with a host family in an area that seems largely untouched by time. The people there speak Quechua and are entirely self-sufficient--They farm for themselves and take care of their own, dressing in the traditional clothing of the old times. It was so peaceful and beautiful; it just amazed me that there was a part of the world that still exists like that. Unfortunately, Elisabeth was feeling nauseous after the boat ride and the high altitude didn´t help. I was blessed because two other Alma College students were also staying in the same house, Shelby and Andria. We were in a home with two families--a grandmother (who took care of me) and her son´s family. They had a two year old girl, named Tanya, who was absolutely adorable! Although we couldn´t communicate much, it was fun to play volleyball and make the best of it. After a simple lunch (Quinua and vegetable soup with fried cheese) we headed to the community center. A bunch of students played soccer, but I headed up the mountain to one of the highest points, Pachatata, to watch the sunset. They have two temples where they celebrate once each year--Pachamama (Mother Earth) and Pachatata (Father Water). Before drinking anything, they often pour out some of their drink onto the ground in offering. In most all of Peru, there is a mix of the old pagan ways and Catholicism. On our way home, I watched the full moon rise over Bolivia in only a matter of minutes. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. After dinner (Quinua soup, veggies, and rice) I was able to go to a dance dressed in traditional clothing: a colorful, billowing skirt, white smock, and black headdress. Apparently, it used to be the fashion to be bigger because it meant that your husband/family was feeding you well, which was the reason for the big skirts. The dances were simple and fun, and I was very grateful to my host father for dancing with me. I´m sure I looked ridiculous, but I had a really good time. :)
After a good night´s rest, we woke up to visit another part of the world that has managed to escape time--the island of Tequile. They live by the old Incan rules: 1. Don´t lie 2. Don´t steal 3. Don´t be lazy. They have a 0% crime rate and no policemen, just local workers who go around to make sure everyone is okay. They are famous for their weaving projects, and you can see sheep everywhere you climb. The men knit and the women weave when they are not farming. The climb on both islands was steep and very difficult. Apparently, locals have more red blood cells and bigger lungs than foreigners, which explains why we get tired so easily. We are only breathing 40% of the oxygen that we are used to at the altitude of the islands on Lake Titicaca. The local people were so nice! Small pom-poms and a colorful hat signify that you are married; large pom-poms and a red/white hat signify being single and pure. If men have a girlfriend, they will wear the long side of their hat behind their heads. Men and women must date for 3-4 years before getting married and there is a very low divorce rate. After getting married, men wear belts made of their wive´s hair. The atmosphere on Tequile was much less touristy and I enjoyed how welcoming the people were. We stopped at an elementary school and the teacher asked us to play with the students, which I really enjoyed. Although the local language is Quechua, the students are taught in Spanish and most go to school for 11 years. It was only Mary Seals, Dr. Seals, Dr. Molina, and I that stayed behind to play with the children but I loved the opportunity--even if the children won. ;) In Cusco, there were no playgrounds so it was difficult to do anything active with the kindergarteners. Most people get married young, usually right out of high school. There is only one leader of the island who is elected in the town square each year by a show of hands. We at lunch on the island (an omelette, quinua soup, and quinua) and has some time to enjoy the beach of Lake Titicaca. I feel like we have lost so much by losing our simplicity, and sometimes I wish we could have it back. These people have so much love and respect in their hearts.
At Aguas Calientes, Alexa G. asked me what one thing I would take away from this trip. It was a difficult question because I haven´t been able to take time to reflect. We are always on the go. Since then, however, I have made a conscious effort to think about what this experience actually means and what I am going to get out of it that I can take home. At first, the nerd that is inside of me automatically thought: the history! I feel like a sponge that is absorbing new information and facts too quickly each day, afraid of losing the new knowledge. I hope that someday I can teach a unit on South America so I can bring this information into my classroom. It goes so much deeper than that, though--the people here genuinely love their culture and heritage and do everything they can to cling to it. They are so willing and welcoming to share it with us because they want everyone to know what life was like and could be like. I guess what I´m trying to say is that ultimately, it doesn´t matter. For the first time in my life, I am extremely out of my comfort zone. I am an obvious minority (I have never been the minority!) with difficulty communicating with everyone here. But, it doesn´t matter. It doesn´t matter that we have limited communication skills or different skin colors or cultures; we´ll find a way to make it make sense and to help each other along the way. Yesterday, Andria told me that what makes experiences so special is that we have someone to share them with, and I couldn´t agree more. Each and every day, I share an experience with someone new and even if I can´t communicate with them it´s worth it just to see them smile. I hope to share as much as I can of myself with everyone in the future, even if I´m afraid that I won´t be able to connect with (a) certain person(s). I know it will be hard; I am far from flawless. I can be selfish, overly analytical, unobservant, insecure, and a perfectionist to the point of ridiculousless. But you know what? I have climbed mountains, handled myself in a major city (sometimes when I´m all alone), spent the night on an island with no electricity, worked with children who do not speak my language, and gone days without eating chocolate. Things that I thought I could never and would never do--but maybe all that it takes is perseverance and the right attitude. :)
Well, it´s hard to believe that this trip is almost over. IT´s so beautiful here and the time has flown by. Tomorrow, we visit the Colca Canyon in hopes of seeing the almost extinct Andean Condor and then we spend Friday and Saturday in the cities of Chivay and Arequipa. I can´t wait to see your face; believe me, there are days I´m tempted to call home despite how expensive it is. Thanks for reading this blog and sticking it out with me. I love you.
Love always,
Chels :)
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Machu Picchu
I am writing this from an internet cafe in Aguas Calientes, a small tourist town with natural hot springs. It´s beautiful here, but it´s almost too touristy and I absolutely hate that! It´s still so interesting to me to see the people from all around the world, especially students, who are drawn to Peru to study and explore. Maybe it´s just me and my small town attitude, but I didn´t actually realize how many people try to travel the world! Just sitting here, I can hear English, French, and at Machu Picchu today there was definitely Chinese and Russian.
Well, after waking up early yesterday morning to head to the Academia, we boarded a bus to Ollaytaytambo where we caught a train to Machu Picchu. The whole trip took about 4 hours. I really enjoyed the train ride, but I always do. It was so peaceful, and we had a beautiful view of all the mountains and what I believe was the Sacred River. We stopped in Aguas Calientes, where we checked into our hotel before enjoying a really nice Peruvian buffet. Afterwards, we followed Victor, our tour guide, along the train tracks to a beautiful waterfall! It was about an hour and a half walk, but it was definitely worth it. We were actually in the jungle, and the plants were so big and beautiful! It rained, which made me feel like I was in some scene from a movie or something. After that, we had a quick break before heading to the natural hot springs. The water was really nice, but it was crowded and they had built it to man-made so it was basically like a hot tub. When I got back to the hotel (I´m rooming with LinLin and Hyeoung, some really nice girls!) I had a hot shower with actual water pressure. It made me so happy! Then I went to dinner and collapsed from being so exhausted.
This morning, I woke up at around 3 a.m. to hike up Awanapicchu. They only allow 400 people to hike it a day, and we had to be one of the 200 who got to hike it at 7 am. Luckily, everything went smoothly and we all got our tickets. The hike was steep and long, but definitely worth it. I hung out in the back with Dr. Seals, who was so kind to me . . . there was one point where I was really out of breath and he told me I was doing great and to just take my time. LinLin, Hyeoung, and Adam were nice enough to take it slow with me too. I loved the walk though! It was quite the adrenaline rush. It usually takes about an hour but it took me an hour and fifteen minutes. I was unbelievably proud of myself, and the view was magnificent. We could see all of Macchu Picchu and the Inca Trail. The hike back was easier but also a little bit more scarier because there was a constant fear of falling, but I did just fine. The hiking boots I got for my birthday are so strong and durable . . . Thanks Mom! :) The tour of Macchu Picchu took approximately 2 1/2 hours and everyone was exhausted, but I found it so interesting. Victor says that it was an academy for army men and other students, and it is the only Andean city not found by the Spaniards, possibly because it was abandoned by the time of their conquest. They were so intelligent, and I found all of the monuments, temples, and ways of life so interesting! I just wish I knew more about the history because it is mostly speculation at this point. I don´t even know how to describe it though . . . it was like being taken back in time. In all the museums I have ever been in, none has ever captured the history so well. It truly is a great wonder of the world.
Well, I´m sorry to cut this short, but I only have 5 minutes of time left on the computer and our train leaves in about 45 minutes for our last night in Cusco.
I love you and will be home soon!
Love always,
Chels :)
Well, after waking up early yesterday morning to head to the Academia, we boarded a bus to Ollaytaytambo where we caught a train to Machu Picchu. The whole trip took about 4 hours. I really enjoyed the train ride, but I always do. It was so peaceful, and we had a beautiful view of all the mountains and what I believe was the Sacred River. We stopped in Aguas Calientes, where we checked into our hotel before enjoying a really nice Peruvian buffet. Afterwards, we followed Victor, our tour guide, along the train tracks to a beautiful waterfall! It was about an hour and a half walk, but it was definitely worth it. We were actually in the jungle, and the plants were so big and beautiful! It rained, which made me feel like I was in some scene from a movie or something. After that, we had a quick break before heading to the natural hot springs. The water was really nice, but it was crowded and they had built it to man-made so it was basically like a hot tub. When I got back to the hotel (I´m rooming with LinLin and Hyeoung, some really nice girls!) I had a hot shower with actual water pressure. It made me so happy! Then I went to dinner and collapsed from being so exhausted.
This morning, I woke up at around 3 a.m. to hike up Awanapicchu. They only allow 400 people to hike it a day, and we had to be one of the 200 who got to hike it at 7 am. Luckily, everything went smoothly and we all got our tickets. The hike was steep and long, but definitely worth it. I hung out in the back with Dr. Seals, who was so kind to me . . . there was one point where I was really out of breath and he told me I was doing great and to just take my time. LinLin, Hyeoung, and Adam were nice enough to take it slow with me too. I loved the walk though! It was quite the adrenaline rush. It usually takes about an hour but it took me an hour and fifteen minutes. I was unbelievably proud of myself, and the view was magnificent. We could see all of Macchu Picchu and the Inca Trail. The hike back was easier but also a little bit more scarier because there was a constant fear of falling, but I did just fine. The hiking boots I got for my birthday are so strong and durable . . . Thanks Mom! :) The tour of Macchu Picchu took approximately 2 1/2 hours and everyone was exhausted, but I found it so interesting. Victor says that it was an academy for army men and other students, and it is the only Andean city not found by the Spaniards, possibly because it was abandoned by the time of their conquest. They were so intelligent, and I found all of the monuments, temples, and ways of life so interesting! I just wish I knew more about the history because it is mostly speculation at this point. I don´t even know how to describe it though . . . it was like being taken back in time. In all the museums I have ever been in, none has ever captured the history so well. It truly is a great wonder of the world.
Well, I´m sorry to cut this short, but I only have 5 minutes of time left on the computer and our train leaves in about 45 minutes for our last night in Cusco.
I love you and will be home soon!
Love always,
Chels :)
Friday, May 13, 2011
Museums, Stargazing, and Other Things That Make Me Happy :)
What we have learned
Is like a handful of earth
What we have yet to learn
Is like the whole world.
-Avvaiyar
I am ridiculously tired right now but I realize that this is probably the last time I will have steady internet access. Therefore, I am going to do my best to update this blog in a way that makes sense.
On Wednesday, Elisabeth and I headed to Pronoei for our third day of service. By Wednesday, I think we were finally starting to get the swing of things. My main project for the day was to create some vases for Sra. Vargas and to help the students color and paste different parts of the body and teach them the names in Spanish. Unlike in America, the schools here are not shy about what differentiates a male from a female. In the afternoon, classes were cancelled so we could go to a soccer game! It was a big game, so I was surprised by how few people were in the stands. Despite the big size of the stadium, As everyone who knows me knows, sports aren't exactly my strong suit, so I didn't understand exactly what was going on. It was definitely very intense though . . . the fans were very into the game. The most memorable moment for me was when one player jumped over an opponet and landed on his shoulder, dislocating it. In America, it seems like most players would simply shake it off, but he was writhing in pain on the field. It was crazy. Another intense moment came when one player tried to grab the ball from the opposing team's goalie, and then fell which definitely looked fake. He received a penalty which the goalie believed was unfair, and before anyone knew what was going on a fight broke out on the field and the police became involved. In the end, Cusco won the game by one point. Apparently the team they played had gone through the season undefeated, and Cusco's win put the team in the lead for the championship. Needless to say, the fans were thrilled. After the game, I headed back to the market to do some final souvenir shopping with my friends Adam, Jackie, and Stephanie. Afterwards, I walked home to grab Elisabeth (she decided not to go to the game) before heading back to the academy for a movie night! The academy provided popcorn and we watched The Tourist, a movie I highly recommend that keeps you guessing.
Yesterday was my last day of service learning. =/ It turned out to be very interesting. Since things can be a little chaotic, the doors were left open while all of the adults were preoccupied. I noticed and ran after them immediately. One boy, Sebastian, only lived a few minutes down the road and he managed to go home. When I got there, his grandparents laughed and expected me to take care of the situation. I had to climb a ladder to get to his room, a small space with dirty cement floors, two beds, and one shelf of toys. I tried to coax him into coming back to the school, but he would not come at all. He was crying, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. Eventually, his grandma tried to help, but when it was apparent that he didn't want to come she just asked me to go home. Expectations are much different here than in America. I left a little downtrodden and wishing that I had the ability to communicate more effectively, but it definitely taught me a lot about expectations. Education is something that is so important to me and ingrained in my mind that it is hard for me to understand when others do not feel the same way. However, I need to accept other cultures and be open to their wants and needs. After that, I came back to the classroom. Sra. Vargas asked me to make her some copies, but there is no photocopier in the classroom. I had to go to a shop a few blocks up the road, but I had no idea where it was. I asked three people along the way in my scattered Spanish, and I could tell that I was confusing them. One adult actually took me to a back room to show me her child because I mentioned "ninos" in my explanation. When the people finally understood what I was talking about, they went out of their way to try to help me as much as possible. One teenager actually left her shop unattended to try to point it out to me. However, they talked so fast that I couldn't comprehend what was going on and finally went to another school with Alma volunteers to try to get some insight. The teacher there slowed her speech way down so that I could understand what was going on. It made me truly appreciate human kindness and the fact that even though I may not be able to communicate fluently with other cultures we can find a way to make it work. I spent the rest of the morning finishing up vases and helping students learn the parts of the face. When that assignment was done, I took orders for animals that some boys wanted. Although I tried to teach them what the words would be in English, most were adamant that one thing could not have two names. I loved working with all the students, but it was the younger students like Lizandra, Anyela, Ruth Karen, and Diego that really stole my heart. These students were only 2-3 years old and most didn't say too much, but they were so cute! The experience of working in the classrooms here definitely taught me not to take education for granted and to try to connect with students in whatever way I can--even if it is only through a few words. After service learning, we returned to the school for our final day of classes and a beautiful closing ceremony complete with certificates and a meal. After that, we headed to the theater to watch some native dances. I was amazed at how the costumes played such a huge part in each dance and also the ability to keep the traditions going for such a long time. I then came home before heading out to Mythology, a club, where I went dancing for the night with a group of about 10 other girls. I did have my first scary encounter in Cusco last night. Since Elisabeth didn't want to go out dancing, I stood on the corner to wait for Alexa and LinLin, who only live a few blocks away. They were running late, and a man in a white car saw me. After parking and watching me for a while, he came and asked me to wait in his car with him before they came. He said he was a taxi driver, but his car didn't have the yellow and black checkers that signify an official cab. After many "No, Gracias's" and a pointed attempt to look anywhere but at him, he finally left. I was proud of the way I handled myself and the fact that I was ready to run at any time, but it also taught me a valuable lesson--I need to learn to be more assertive and also realize that there are always dangers. For the first couple of hours at Mythology they had salsa, and Alexa did her best to teach me all of the right moves. After that, they had contemporary American music. It was nice to just relax and have fun. We finally left at about 12:30 a.m. when the dancefloor became too crowded.
Today was our free day! Instead of going mountain biking, I decided to spend the whole day looking at museums. I met Dr. Molina and Heidi, my partners for the morning, at 8:30 a.m. We headed to the Cathedral of Santa Domingo which is next to the Temple of the Sun. As always, I was amazed at the intricate details and gold leafing surrounding everything involved. This particular temple had paintings for the 12 stations of the cross and also an altar to the Incan Jesus, a darker-skinned version wearing a loincloth of traditional Incan colors and symbols. When the Spanish came to overtake the Incan population, their ruler told them to go with it but to keep their own religion in their hearts. To this day, many indigenous people find two meanings for every symbol in the Catholic church--one for the old and one for the new. After that, we headed to the Museum of Contemporary Art, a small museum full of paintings that signify both the old and new culture of Cusco. It was interesting to see them and discuss what they may have meant. Dr. Molina treated us to traditional hot cocoa and pastries before taking a taxi to the zoo. The zoo was very small and some animals, like the llama, had free reign. It was definitely not as well-kept as an American zoo, but they had some very intersting animals. I was able to see an Andean Condor, which is an endangered species, and hold hands with many friendly monkeys! After the zoo, I headed home to make lunch for our host family. I made one of my favorites, Tomato Basil Pie, but it made me realize how much I take for granted at home. Cheese does not come pre-shredded and pie crusts do not come ready made. Shane, the student from Denmark, also made a local favorite (Key-nah-wah: I don't know how to spell it) and Rafael made garlic bread. It was my last lunch with my host family and Shane leaves today as well. It was absolutely delicious! Afterwards, I headed to the Inca Museum with Heidi, LinLin, and Dr. Molina. I loved it! There is so much history in Cusco, going back beyond the Incan times. It is truly amazing to say. The Incans were the most famous because they were like the Romans--they were good at expanding their territory. In many ways, this was their downfall. The Spanish were ridiculously outnumbered, but they married into other tribes that didn't like being under Incan rule and therefore gained leverage. We were able to see many artifacts, but there are only three books with Incan history in existence. The rest is guessing. We were able to see many skulls though, and something that really interested me was the fact that Inca rulers elongated their heads, much like the Chinese would shorten feet, to differentiate themselves from common people. After the museum tours, we headed out with a group of people to exchange money and get ice cream before heading home. When we got home, Adam stopped by and needed to go to the Plaza de Armas but didn't know how to get there so I walked with him there and back. Amazingly, I was good with directions for once and didn't get lost! When we got home, Rafael got out his telescope and we had an amazing night. He is a true stargazer, and with his technology I was able to see the craters of the moon and Saturn's ring. You can imagine how excited I was!! I have never been able to see either one so closely before, and I love the stars! After that, Adam headed home and I said my final goodbyes to Rafael, one of the nicest people that I have ever met. I then started packing my stuff for the weekend and now I'm here.
Tomorrow, we head out for Machu Picchu. I have to be at the school by 6 a.m., so I have a long day ahead of me. We will spend the day in Aguas Calientes, a small town with hot springs near Machu Picchu, and get an actual tour of Machu Picchu on Sunday. To climb to the top, I have to wake up at 3 a.m. I'm slightly nervous, but I should be okay and Dr. Seals and Adam have agreed to take it slow with me. :) We will return to Cusco Sunday at 10 p.m. before heading out to see the rest of the country. I am slightly sad to leave Monica, Rafael, and the beautiful city of Cusco behind, but also excited to visit Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, and the many other wonderful sites of Peru.
I don't know when I will have internet access again and it seems like I am constantly busy, but I will try to stay in contact as much as possible. I love you and thank you for reading!
Love always,
Chels
Is like a handful of earth
What we have yet to learn
Is like the whole world.
-Avvaiyar
I am ridiculously tired right now but I realize that this is probably the last time I will have steady internet access. Therefore, I am going to do my best to update this blog in a way that makes sense.
On Wednesday, Elisabeth and I headed to Pronoei for our third day of service. By Wednesday, I think we were finally starting to get the swing of things. My main project for the day was to create some vases for Sra. Vargas and to help the students color and paste different parts of the body and teach them the names in Spanish. Unlike in America, the schools here are not shy about what differentiates a male from a female. In the afternoon, classes were cancelled so we could go to a soccer game! It was a big game, so I was surprised by how few people were in the stands. Despite the big size of the stadium, As everyone who knows me knows, sports aren't exactly my strong suit, so I didn't understand exactly what was going on. It was definitely very intense though . . . the fans were very into the game. The most memorable moment for me was when one player jumped over an opponet and landed on his shoulder, dislocating it. In America, it seems like most players would simply shake it off, but he was writhing in pain on the field. It was crazy. Another intense moment came when one player tried to grab the ball from the opposing team's goalie, and then fell which definitely looked fake. He received a penalty which the goalie believed was unfair, and before anyone knew what was going on a fight broke out on the field and the police became involved. In the end, Cusco won the game by one point. Apparently the team they played had gone through the season undefeated, and Cusco's win put the team in the lead for the championship. Needless to say, the fans were thrilled. After the game, I headed back to the market to do some final souvenir shopping with my friends Adam, Jackie, and Stephanie. Afterwards, I walked home to grab Elisabeth (she decided not to go to the game) before heading back to the academy for a movie night! The academy provided popcorn and we watched The Tourist, a movie I highly recommend that keeps you guessing.
Yesterday was my last day of service learning. =/ It turned out to be very interesting. Since things can be a little chaotic, the doors were left open while all of the adults were preoccupied. I noticed and ran after them immediately. One boy, Sebastian, only lived a few minutes down the road and he managed to go home. When I got there, his grandparents laughed and expected me to take care of the situation. I had to climb a ladder to get to his room, a small space with dirty cement floors, two beds, and one shelf of toys. I tried to coax him into coming back to the school, but he would not come at all. He was crying, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. Eventually, his grandma tried to help, but when it was apparent that he didn't want to come she just asked me to go home. Expectations are much different here than in America. I left a little downtrodden and wishing that I had the ability to communicate more effectively, but it definitely taught me a lot about expectations. Education is something that is so important to me and ingrained in my mind that it is hard for me to understand when others do not feel the same way. However, I need to accept other cultures and be open to their wants and needs. After that, I came back to the classroom. Sra. Vargas asked me to make her some copies, but there is no photocopier in the classroom. I had to go to a shop a few blocks up the road, but I had no idea where it was. I asked three people along the way in my scattered Spanish, and I could tell that I was confusing them. One adult actually took me to a back room to show me her child because I mentioned "ninos" in my explanation. When the people finally understood what I was talking about, they went out of their way to try to help me as much as possible. One teenager actually left her shop unattended to try to point it out to me. However, they talked so fast that I couldn't comprehend what was going on and finally went to another school with Alma volunteers to try to get some insight. The teacher there slowed her speech way down so that I could understand what was going on. It made me truly appreciate human kindness and the fact that even though I may not be able to communicate fluently with other cultures we can find a way to make it work. I spent the rest of the morning finishing up vases and helping students learn the parts of the face. When that assignment was done, I took orders for animals that some boys wanted. Although I tried to teach them what the words would be in English, most were adamant that one thing could not have two names. I loved working with all the students, but it was the younger students like Lizandra, Anyela, Ruth Karen, and Diego that really stole my heart. These students were only 2-3 years old and most didn't say too much, but they were so cute! The experience of working in the classrooms here definitely taught me not to take education for granted and to try to connect with students in whatever way I can--even if it is only through a few words. After service learning, we returned to the school for our final day of classes and a beautiful closing ceremony complete with certificates and a meal. After that, we headed to the theater to watch some native dances. I was amazed at how the costumes played such a huge part in each dance and also the ability to keep the traditions going for such a long time. I then came home before heading out to Mythology, a club, where I went dancing for the night with a group of about 10 other girls. I did have my first scary encounter in Cusco last night. Since Elisabeth didn't want to go out dancing, I stood on the corner to wait for Alexa and LinLin, who only live a few blocks away. They were running late, and a man in a white car saw me. After parking and watching me for a while, he came and asked me to wait in his car with him before they came. He said he was a taxi driver, but his car didn't have the yellow and black checkers that signify an official cab. After many "No, Gracias's" and a pointed attempt to look anywhere but at him, he finally left. I was proud of the way I handled myself and the fact that I was ready to run at any time, but it also taught me a valuable lesson--I need to learn to be more assertive and also realize that there are always dangers. For the first couple of hours at Mythology they had salsa, and Alexa did her best to teach me all of the right moves. After that, they had contemporary American music. It was nice to just relax and have fun. We finally left at about 12:30 a.m. when the dancefloor became too crowded.
Today was our free day! Instead of going mountain biking, I decided to spend the whole day looking at museums. I met Dr. Molina and Heidi, my partners for the morning, at 8:30 a.m. We headed to the Cathedral of Santa Domingo which is next to the Temple of the Sun. As always, I was amazed at the intricate details and gold leafing surrounding everything involved. This particular temple had paintings for the 12 stations of the cross and also an altar to the Incan Jesus, a darker-skinned version wearing a loincloth of traditional Incan colors and symbols. When the Spanish came to overtake the Incan population, their ruler told them to go with it but to keep their own religion in their hearts. To this day, many indigenous people find two meanings for every symbol in the Catholic church--one for the old and one for the new. After that, we headed to the Museum of Contemporary Art, a small museum full of paintings that signify both the old and new culture of Cusco. It was interesting to see them and discuss what they may have meant. Dr. Molina treated us to traditional hot cocoa and pastries before taking a taxi to the zoo. The zoo was very small and some animals, like the llama, had free reign. It was definitely not as well-kept as an American zoo, but they had some very intersting animals. I was able to see an Andean Condor, which is an endangered species, and hold hands with many friendly monkeys! After the zoo, I headed home to make lunch for our host family. I made one of my favorites, Tomato Basil Pie, but it made me realize how much I take for granted at home. Cheese does not come pre-shredded and pie crusts do not come ready made. Shane, the student from Denmark, also made a local favorite (Key-nah-wah: I don't know how to spell it) and Rafael made garlic bread. It was my last lunch with my host family and Shane leaves today as well. It was absolutely delicious! Afterwards, I headed to the Inca Museum with Heidi, LinLin, and Dr. Molina. I loved it! There is so much history in Cusco, going back beyond the Incan times. It is truly amazing to say. The Incans were the most famous because they were like the Romans--they were good at expanding their territory. In many ways, this was their downfall. The Spanish were ridiculously outnumbered, but they married into other tribes that didn't like being under Incan rule and therefore gained leverage. We were able to see many artifacts, but there are only three books with Incan history in existence. The rest is guessing. We were able to see many skulls though, and something that really interested me was the fact that Inca rulers elongated their heads, much like the Chinese would shorten feet, to differentiate themselves from common people. After the museum tours, we headed out with a group of people to exchange money and get ice cream before heading home. When we got home, Adam stopped by and needed to go to the Plaza de Armas but didn't know how to get there so I walked with him there and back. Amazingly, I was good with directions for once and didn't get lost! When we got home, Rafael got out his telescope and we had an amazing night. He is a true stargazer, and with his technology I was able to see the craters of the moon and Saturn's ring. You can imagine how excited I was!! I have never been able to see either one so closely before, and I love the stars! After that, Adam headed home and I said my final goodbyes to Rafael, one of the nicest people that I have ever met. I then started packing my stuff for the weekend and now I'm here.
Tomorrow, we head out for Machu Picchu. I have to be at the school by 6 a.m., so I have a long day ahead of me. We will spend the day in Aguas Calientes, a small town with hot springs near Machu Picchu, and get an actual tour of Machu Picchu on Sunday. To climb to the top, I have to wake up at 3 a.m. I'm slightly nervous, but I should be okay and Dr. Seals and Adam have agreed to take it slow with me. :) We will return to Cusco Sunday at 10 p.m. before heading out to see the rest of the country. I am slightly sad to leave Monica, Rafael, and the beautiful city of Cusco behind, but also excited to visit Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, and the many other wonderful sites of Peru.
I don't know when I will have internet access again and it seems like I am constantly busy, but I will try to stay in contact as much as possible. I love you and thank you for reading!
Love always,
Chels
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Los Ninos =]
My service learning has finally started! It definitely has been quite the experience . . . Dr. Seals told us to expect something different from American schools, but I never expected this. I am working in Pronoei, a government funded kindergarten program which holds students ages 2-5. Yesterday morning, about 12 other students and I rode the bus to Santa Rosa, which is about a 20 minute bus ride. The whole living in a big city thing is crazy for me, but riding the bus was definitely a new experience. There are no real safety laws here so we were packed in like sardines. I had to stand and hold onto the pole, and I'm glad that the other students around me were from Alma so I wasn't knocking into a complete stranger (although I did run into someone on the street the other day and got quite a nasty look from the police officer nearby, even though I said sorry . . . as Elisabeth tells me, I need a leash :P). After getting off the bus, it's a short walk to the Proneoi school that Elisabeth and I are working at. We were warmly welcomed right away by Sra. Vargas, the teacher of the school. The program runs from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and shortly after we arrived the students started arriving. Since then, it has definitely been an adventure! The teacher and students speak no English, so there has been a lot of facial expressions and miming to communicate. I guess what surprised me the most was the complete lack of scheduling. As a detailed, well-organized person I have been programmed into the American way of life--plan things weeks in advance and stay on schedule as much as possible! That's how the kindergarten classrooms in Alma worked, but definitely not here. Students are allowed to do whatever they want to do, a concept that is foreign to me. The door to a small outside area which is enclosed by a fence is open, and students run in and out whenever they choose. There is no designated snack time; students eat and play whenever they want. Discipline is basically nonexistent. In fact, there is only one lesson a day, and often it is only done by a few students at a time. With such a large age range, it is hard to plan lessons and make sure that everyone is on the same page. Yesterday, our teacher got a new curriculum textbook which led to chaos in the classroom as we tried to help students write their names. Today, we taught the students the different parts of the body. I help as much as I can, especially with organizing the textbooks and trying to make sure the lessons run smoothly. My favorite part of the day is playing with the students or helping them finish puzzles. Today, a student was crying because her mother left, and I set out an animal book and quizzed her on the different animals and told her the names of the animals in English to keep her distracted and she stopped crying (classic EDC Psych moment!). I was so proud of myself. The hardest part for me is not being able to settle disputes between students. When a child comes up to me crying and I can't understand what they're saying I just try to comfort them and hug them, but it doesn't feel like enough! One student cried for over one hour yesterday and the classroom teacher simply ignored him, and so that is what Elisabeth and I assumed we should do. After working with young students in America and constantly being the mediator, it's hard to just stand by and watch the students work things out for themselves. However, it's wonderful to be able to work with the students because you can tell that they love having someone to play with, and they quiz me in Spanish all of the time. In fact, they are often adamant that English is nonexistent and there can't possibly be two words for one thing. :P I love holding the younger students on my lap and watching them scribble or try to figure out puzzles. I also like knowing that I am helping Sra. Vargas as much as I can. She is truly appreciative of all that we do. Tomorrow, I'm bringing in some containers and paper to make vases for her pencils and scissors. I plan on getting some of the students to help me. Elisabeth has helped a lot as well, especially with playing with the students. She built a clay city yesterday with all of the animals that students asked her for, which is perfect for an art education major. She has also helped with lessons and discipline! To me, the whole feel of the school is almost a daycare, but I'm enjoying working with the students, improving my Spanish, and learning to roll with a new culture on a daily basis. Today after class, the students crowded around the doors and yelled goodbye to us. We could hear them from about three blocks away. It was absolutely priceless. :)
Our afternoons now consist of our Spanish lessons. I have progressed to learning how to use grammar to have a conversation and tell stories, something that is very difficult for me. Having classes in the afternoon is definitely bad for my concentration, but I am doing the best that I can and I know that I am improving which is a good feeling! Even if I can't communicate very well in Spanish, my miming and drawing skills have definitely improved and those that listen to me can usually piece together what I mean. After class last night, Elisabeth, Adam, and I went to Romana's, a local pizzeria. We had a four cheese pizza and I swear it is the best pizza I have ever had in my entire life. They don't use sauce and the grease covering it was olive oil and basil . . .absolutely delicious! I have been eating such healthy stuff here that I didn't even feel too guilty about it. After that, Elisabeth and I headed home. I also finally had a chance to call home and talk for about an hour, which was amazing . . . it's weird to not be able to call home everyday. Megan, if you're reading this, I had a dream about HP last night that we simply must discuss after your finals week. :) Today after class, my host father, Dr. Seals, and about ten other students headed to the silver factory. Rafael, our host father, organized the whole trip because he is friends with the owner and it was a great experience! I was able to see raw silver and also all of the work that goes into creating such beautiful pieces. Most of them are handmade and take days or weeks to complete, especially if they have intricate designs. I heard from quite a few people that I have the best host father/family ever, and I couldn't agree more. It will be sad to leave them on Monday! After we came home, Rafael and I talked about constellations and the stars for quite a while. He has a really nice telescope set up in his living room and he's agreed to take me stargazing on Friday! Unfortunately, that will be the last time that I see him because he is organizing a trip for some doctors from the US to come to Peru and help people with cleft lips and cleft palettes. Their plane arrives on Saturday, and he will be gone for a week.
It is very much past my bedtime (I usually go to bed about 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. here), so I think I'm going to say goodnight. Wherever you are in the world, I hope that you have been blessed by an amazing day. Know that I love you and that I am thinking of you. Thanks for reading.
Love always,
Chels <3
Our afternoons now consist of our Spanish lessons. I have progressed to learning how to use grammar to have a conversation and tell stories, something that is very difficult for me. Having classes in the afternoon is definitely bad for my concentration, but I am doing the best that I can and I know that I am improving which is a good feeling! Even if I can't communicate very well in Spanish, my miming and drawing skills have definitely improved and those that listen to me can usually piece together what I mean. After class last night, Elisabeth, Adam, and I went to Romana's, a local pizzeria. We had a four cheese pizza and I swear it is the best pizza I have ever had in my entire life. They don't use sauce and the grease covering it was olive oil and basil . . .absolutely delicious! I have been eating such healthy stuff here that I didn't even feel too guilty about it. After that, Elisabeth and I headed home. I also finally had a chance to call home and talk for about an hour, which was amazing . . . it's weird to not be able to call home everyday. Megan, if you're reading this, I had a dream about HP last night that we simply must discuss after your finals week. :) Today after class, my host father, Dr. Seals, and about ten other students headed to the silver factory. Rafael, our host father, organized the whole trip because he is friends with the owner and it was a great experience! I was able to see raw silver and also all of the work that goes into creating such beautiful pieces. Most of them are handmade and take days or weeks to complete, especially if they have intricate designs. I heard from quite a few people that I have the best host father/family ever, and I couldn't agree more. It will be sad to leave them on Monday! After we came home, Rafael and I talked about constellations and the stars for quite a while. He has a really nice telescope set up in his living room and he's agreed to take me stargazing on Friday! Unfortunately, that will be the last time that I see him because he is organizing a trip for some doctors from the US to come to Peru and help people with cleft lips and cleft palettes. Their plane arrives on Saturday, and he will be gone for a week.
It is very much past my bedtime (I usually go to bed about 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. here), so I think I'm going to say goodnight. Wherever you are in the world, I hope that you have been blessed by an amazing day. Know that I love you and that I am thinking of you. Thanks for reading.
Love always,
Chels <3
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Que la fuerza este contigo.
A traves del amor,
A traves de la amistad,
Un corazon vive mas de uno vida.
[Through love,
Through friendship,
The heart lives more than one life.]
This is only the beginning of the wealth of information that Jose has taught me over the past couple of days. Isn't it a beautiful saying? I kind of want to buy a white t-shirt and do some puffy painting with those words! We have gone over conjugation in present tense in regular verbs and moved on to irregular verbs today. I have learned so much vocabulary in just a two-day period and I feel slightly overwhelmed, but we play a lot of games and find ways to laugh and make four hours of Spanish a day fun. Yesterday, we had a slightly awkward conversation about our ex-boyfriends (everyone in the class is girls) but other than that, I love waking up and going to the academy every morning. I have started challenging myself to try to understand what everyone around me is saying and to try to figure out what is going on on the T.V. We have homework every night and tomorrow I have to give a presentation on my family.
It is 9:30 p.m. here but I am already exhausted. We pack so much into every day! Elisabeth and I joke around about how old we feel because we seriously go to bed at 10 p.m. every night, but it gets dark at around 6 p.m. here and we have to get up early in the morning. Actually, my host father told me that they only get one more hour of sunlight during the summer months. Can you believe that? I couldn't imagine it getting dark at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. every night, but I do love being able to see all of the lights of the city here. Anyway, if my blog post stops making sense, you know why . . .
Where to start? Well, Tuesday after I left you we went to the classic market of Cusco. The tour took pretty much all afternoon, so we didn't get to shop at all. They had everything from Peruvian trinkets to fruits, vegetables, meats, and flowers. The meat part was extremely disgusting for me, but there is another part of the market which is very traditional that sells animal parts. Luckily, my friend Jackie shielded me from this madness by pulling me around and covering my eyes while she led me through the market. Slightly embarassing, but I am so grateful for this act of kindness. It was interesting to see the traditional market, but all of the scents of the market left me feeling sick and by the end I had a horrible headache. When we returned to the academy, there were quite a few of us that went to Romana's, a local pizza place. The pizza was so delicious! I split a vegetarian pizza with Dr. Molina and Mrs. Seals. It was made without sauce, but I still really enjoyed it. It was just nice to be out with a group of students from Alma because we usually go our separate ways after our scheduled activities. When we got home, I was able to meet Rafael, our host father. He was away on business at Lima, but he was extremely talkative and friendly! He has helped me with my Spanish so much and plans on taking me biking in the mountains next Friday morning. He has also offered to take Elisabeth and I and a few friends to the silver factory here, so we can see how pure silver jewelry is made and buy some souvenirs. We also met Shane, an eighteen year old student from Denmark who the Eliases have been hosting for about 7 weeks now. Since it is free for students to go to college in Denmark, he is taking a year off to explore the world and the different options he has in life. He's extremely nice, but he's not around too much.
Yesterday, we had a free afternoon. We decided to go shopping at a market which is only a few blocks away from here. Our apartment is located very close to most things, which is very convenient! We have about an 8 minute walk to the academy, but most students have a 20 minute-50 minute walk. We met up with quite a few people there. The stands all have very similar things, including Alpaca purses, stuffed animals, and clothing (socks, hats, sweaters), traditional Peruvian clothing, glassware such as teasets and figurines, and jewelry (some made of pure silver). It was fun to just explore and bargain with the local people here. I am not very good at bargaining because I know so little Spanish and also because the people sound so sad when you walk away or try to talk their prices down and then I'm sad because they're sad . . . it's a vicious cycle. I'm getting things for extremely low prices here because 1 dollar=2.8 soles. I did end up buying a couple of things and making a list of other things I can buy for everyone. This weekend, we're going to the Indian market of Pisac, and I'm going to hold off on buying anymore souvenirs until after that because they have one-of-a-kind items. After that, I left Elisabeth to go back to the original market of yesterday with some other friends. While there, I bought some flowers for my host mother because it was her birthday yesterday. We watched a traditional dancer out in the street before walking back to the academy for our salsa lessons! I absolutely loved them. Don't get me wrong, I did a horrible job and I'm still having difficulty with the basic steps and didn't trust my partners to swing me down at all, but I tried my best and laughed the whole time. My original partner, Adam, was pretty understanding of my lack of dancing skills, so that was good. I have to go to "la discoteca" now. Dr. Seals is trying to get a group of us together to go! After the salsa lessons, we came back home to give our flowers to Monica and I think she liked them. :)
This morning, I woke up early and Monica asked me to cross the street to the market to buy some bread. It was my first time out alone in Cusco, and I was extremely intimidated. I also felt so disrespectful for not knowing the language well enough, almost like I was intruding in their country. I know one vender was getting annoyed with me because I kept saying "dos soles de pan?" like I was instructed but it wasn't the bread I thought Monica wanted. Eventually, one old man came to help me. I had no idea what he was saying, but he led me to the bread vender. I ended up getting the wrong bread anyway, but it was an experience. I feel a little bit more confident in Cusco now that I know there are ways to communicate, but not that confident . . . this is such a big city and there's so much I don't know. It's been a humbling experience; that's for sure. I love to talk and laugh and be silly, but it's been hard in a place where I don't know the language and know only a few people well. I'm slowly getting back to being myself, though. Today definitely helped. :) After classes, we came home for a quick lunch and then headed to Sacsayhuaman (Sexy Woman :P). It's a beautiful place about 12,000 feet high in the mountains. After all the pollution in the city, especially with the deisel (there's definitely no EPA here, although I've heard it has improved a lot) it was so nice to get some fresh air! This is the first night I haven't had at least a slight headache due to pollution. It is an Indian ruin, and our guide is sure that it was made before the time of the Incans. The number 3 is ever present there because 3 is a sacred number. It represents nature, which the Indians worshipped and respected because it was the most sacred gift of their creator. There are 3 terraces and they believe there are 3 reflecting pools (to look at the stars), although at the moment they have only found two. It's amazing to see how advanced the Indians really were. Different sized stones were cut perfectly out of the rock, and even though cement was never used to this day no weeds grow out of them. Similar to the walls we saw in the city before, they were cut in different shapes and sizes and built in a zig-zag style to prevent against damage in earthquakes. Victor, our tour guide, had us stand in one corner appoximately 160 m away from the corner of rock he was standing in, and when he talked into the rock we could hear him. They had built a perfectly straight line and knew about vibrations and the speed of sound even then! There was one part of the old city where we could slide down rocks which was so much fun; I loved it. The part that we saw was only 30% of the original city because the Spaniards had torn down the rest. We were told that the name comes from the Quechua words Sacsay and Waman meaning "satisfied falcon."
Our tour guide also told us that Cusco was originally Qusco, meaning "the center." Cusco truly is the center of the Andean world, and was even before now. After our visit to Sacsayhuaman, we climbed to see the Cristo Blanco. The climb was steep but it was definitely worth it. Even now, I can see the Cristo Blanco from our window overlooking the city. It was a present from the Palestine to Cusco. Elisabeth and I could see our apartment from the Cristo Blanco and everyone else had a chance to point out where they lived so we have an idea of where we all are now. We ended our day by visiting Coricancha, or the Temple of the Sun. Although most of it had been taken over by the Spaniards, it was interesting to see the work of the Incans in their temple. It was absolutely beautiful. The original plan included five houses with one large central area and one gate for control. Even though many of the houses inside the temple are now crumpled, you can see the trapezoidal design that strengthened each house and how the stones are perfectly placed together. We were also to see the golden altar that pictured the creator and the gifts of nature that he had blessed the people with. Now, the center is built to be extravagant in the English style and the walls are covered with Christian paintings after the Spanish invasion. It was amazing to see the respect our tour guide had for his ancestors and how much this temple meant to him. After visiting Coricancha, Elisabeth and a couple other friends took a taxi to Jack's Cafe for dinner. It was nice to have American food, and I ordered a tomato and cheese sandwich with pesto and french fries. Although I really enjoy all the soy meat, vegetables, rice, and tea that I'm eating, it was nice to have a taste of home. Today Monica served her version of oatmeal for breakfast which they actually drink because it is so thin, and I actually really liked it. After Jack's Cafe, we headed home to do our homework for the night which actually took me a long amount of time. Tomorrow after class we have an orientation on our trips to Chincheros, Ollantaytambo, Awanakancha, and the Pisac market this weekend but otherwise we have a free day. I can't wait to explore the city of Cusco even more. There is so much history here; I don't think I will ever be able to fully describe it. The view from here is absolutely magnificent. Just looking out at all the lights and listening to the music in the streets and the night sounds . . . it's breathtaking. I absolutely love mountains.
Well, I have a busy weekend ahead of me, so I may not be able to update this for a while. Until then,
Que la fuerza este contigo.
[May the force be with you.]
Love always,
Chels <3
A traves de la amistad,
Un corazon vive mas de uno vida.
[Through love,
Through friendship,
The heart lives more than one life.]
This is only the beginning of the wealth of information that Jose has taught me over the past couple of days. Isn't it a beautiful saying? I kind of want to buy a white t-shirt and do some puffy painting with those words! We have gone over conjugation in present tense in regular verbs and moved on to irregular verbs today. I have learned so much vocabulary in just a two-day period and I feel slightly overwhelmed, but we play a lot of games and find ways to laugh and make four hours of Spanish a day fun. Yesterday, we had a slightly awkward conversation about our ex-boyfriends (everyone in the class is girls) but other than that, I love waking up and going to the academy every morning. I have started challenging myself to try to understand what everyone around me is saying and to try to figure out what is going on on the T.V. We have homework every night and tomorrow I have to give a presentation on my family.
It is 9:30 p.m. here but I am already exhausted. We pack so much into every day! Elisabeth and I joke around about how old we feel because we seriously go to bed at 10 p.m. every night, but it gets dark at around 6 p.m. here and we have to get up early in the morning. Actually, my host father told me that they only get one more hour of sunlight during the summer months. Can you believe that? I couldn't imagine it getting dark at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. every night, but I do love being able to see all of the lights of the city here. Anyway, if my blog post stops making sense, you know why . . .
Where to start? Well, Tuesday after I left you we went to the classic market of Cusco. The tour took pretty much all afternoon, so we didn't get to shop at all. They had everything from Peruvian trinkets to fruits, vegetables, meats, and flowers. The meat part was extremely disgusting for me, but there is another part of the market which is very traditional that sells animal parts. Luckily, my friend Jackie shielded me from this madness by pulling me around and covering my eyes while she led me through the market. Slightly embarassing, but I am so grateful for this act of kindness. It was interesting to see the traditional market, but all of the scents of the market left me feeling sick and by the end I had a horrible headache. When we returned to the academy, there were quite a few of us that went to Romana's, a local pizza place. The pizza was so delicious! I split a vegetarian pizza with Dr. Molina and Mrs. Seals. It was made without sauce, but I still really enjoyed it. It was just nice to be out with a group of students from Alma because we usually go our separate ways after our scheduled activities. When we got home, I was able to meet Rafael, our host father. He was away on business at Lima, but he was extremely talkative and friendly! He has helped me with my Spanish so much and plans on taking me biking in the mountains next Friday morning. He has also offered to take Elisabeth and I and a few friends to the silver factory here, so we can see how pure silver jewelry is made and buy some souvenirs. We also met Shane, an eighteen year old student from Denmark who the Eliases have been hosting for about 7 weeks now. Since it is free for students to go to college in Denmark, he is taking a year off to explore the world and the different options he has in life. He's extremely nice, but he's not around too much.
Yesterday, we had a free afternoon. We decided to go shopping at a market which is only a few blocks away from here. Our apartment is located very close to most things, which is very convenient! We have about an 8 minute walk to the academy, but most students have a 20 minute-50 minute walk. We met up with quite a few people there. The stands all have very similar things, including Alpaca purses, stuffed animals, and clothing (socks, hats, sweaters), traditional Peruvian clothing, glassware such as teasets and figurines, and jewelry (some made of pure silver). It was fun to just explore and bargain with the local people here. I am not very good at bargaining because I know so little Spanish and also because the people sound so sad when you walk away or try to talk their prices down and then I'm sad because they're sad . . . it's a vicious cycle. I'm getting things for extremely low prices here because 1 dollar=2.8 soles. I did end up buying a couple of things and making a list of other things I can buy for everyone. This weekend, we're going to the Indian market of Pisac, and I'm going to hold off on buying anymore souvenirs until after that because they have one-of-a-kind items. After that, I left Elisabeth to go back to the original market of yesterday with some other friends. While there, I bought some flowers for my host mother because it was her birthday yesterday. We watched a traditional dancer out in the street before walking back to the academy for our salsa lessons! I absolutely loved them. Don't get me wrong, I did a horrible job and I'm still having difficulty with the basic steps and didn't trust my partners to swing me down at all, but I tried my best and laughed the whole time. My original partner, Adam, was pretty understanding of my lack of dancing skills, so that was good. I have to go to "la discoteca" now. Dr. Seals is trying to get a group of us together to go! After the salsa lessons, we came back home to give our flowers to Monica and I think she liked them. :)
This morning, I woke up early and Monica asked me to cross the street to the market to buy some bread. It was my first time out alone in Cusco, and I was extremely intimidated. I also felt so disrespectful for not knowing the language well enough, almost like I was intruding in their country. I know one vender was getting annoyed with me because I kept saying "dos soles de pan?" like I was instructed but it wasn't the bread I thought Monica wanted. Eventually, one old man came to help me. I had no idea what he was saying, but he led me to the bread vender. I ended up getting the wrong bread anyway, but it was an experience. I feel a little bit more confident in Cusco now that I know there are ways to communicate, but not that confident . . . this is such a big city and there's so much I don't know. It's been a humbling experience; that's for sure. I love to talk and laugh and be silly, but it's been hard in a place where I don't know the language and know only a few people well. I'm slowly getting back to being myself, though. Today definitely helped. :) After classes, we came home for a quick lunch and then headed to Sacsayhuaman (Sexy Woman :P). It's a beautiful place about 12,000 feet high in the mountains. After all the pollution in the city, especially with the deisel (there's definitely no EPA here, although I've heard it has improved a lot) it was so nice to get some fresh air! This is the first night I haven't had at least a slight headache due to pollution. It is an Indian ruin, and our guide is sure that it was made before the time of the Incans. The number 3 is ever present there because 3 is a sacred number. It represents nature, which the Indians worshipped and respected because it was the most sacred gift of their creator. There are 3 terraces and they believe there are 3 reflecting pools (to look at the stars), although at the moment they have only found two. It's amazing to see how advanced the Indians really were. Different sized stones were cut perfectly out of the rock, and even though cement was never used to this day no weeds grow out of them. Similar to the walls we saw in the city before, they were cut in different shapes and sizes and built in a zig-zag style to prevent against damage in earthquakes. Victor, our tour guide, had us stand in one corner appoximately 160 m away from the corner of rock he was standing in, and when he talked into the rock we could hear him. They had built a perfectly straight line and knew about vibrations and the speed of sound even then! There was one part of the old city where we could slide down rocks which was so much fun; I loved it. The part that we saw was only 30% of the original city because the Spaniards had torn down the rest. We were told that the name comes from the Quechua words Sacsay and Waman meaning "satisfied falcon."
Our tour guide also told us that Cusco was originally Qusco, meaning "the center." Cusco truly is the center of the Andean world, and was even before now. After our visit to Sacsayhuaman, we climbed to see the Cristo Blanco. The climb was steep but it was definitely worth it. Even now, I can see the Cristo Blanco from our window overlooking the city. It was a present from the Palestine to Cusco. Elisabeth and I could see our apartment from the Cristo Blanco and everyone else had a chance to point out where they lived so we have an idea of where we all are now. We ended our day by visiting Coricancha, or the Temple of the Sun. Although most of it had been taken over by the Spaniards, it was interesting to see the work of the Incans in their temple. It was absolutely beautiful. The original plan included five houses with one large central area and one gate for control. Even though many of the houses inside the temple are now crumpled, you can see the trapezoidal design that strengthened each house and how the stones are perfectly placed together. We were also to see the golden altar that pictured the creator and the gifts of nature that he had blessed the people with. Now, the center is built to be extravagant in the English style and the walls are covered with Christian paintings after the Spanish invasion. It was amazing to see the respect our tour guide had for his ancestors and how much this temple meant to him. After visiting Coricancha, Elisabeth and a couple other friends took a taxi to Jack's Cafe for dinner. It was nice to have American food, and I ordered a tomato and cheese sandwich with pesto and french fries. Although I really enjoy all the soy meat, vegetables, rice, and tea that I'm eating, it was nice to have a taste of home. Today Monica served her version of oatmeal for breakfast which they actually drink because it is so thin, and I actually really liked it. After Jack's Cafe, we headed home to do our homework for the night which actually took me a long amount of time. Tomorrow after class we have an orientation on our trips to Chincheros, Ollantaytambo, Awanakancha, and the Pisac market this weekend but otherwise we have a free day. I can't wait to explore the city of Cusco even more. There is so much history here; I don't think I will ever be able to fully describe it. The view from here is absolutely magnificent. Just looking out at all the lights and listening to the music in the streets and the night sounds . . . it's breathtaking. I absolutely love mountains.
Well, I have a busy weekend ahead of me, so I may not be able to update this for a while. Until then,
Que la fuerza este contigo.
[May the force be with you.]
Love always,
Chels <3
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