UNE in Cusco

My experience in Peru

sbyrd — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:05:21 +0000

Being able to spend two weeks in an absolutely amazing country was an
experience I’ll keep with me forever. The two weeks I spent in Peru were two
of the most interesting weeks of my life by far! It’s a very different place
than home, and the customs as well as the way of life in Peru was vastly
different.

There were aspects that I loved and appreciated. One being the
fact that everyone was relaxed, and seemed to enjoy the moments of the day
in a completely different way than we do in the U.S. The landscape was also
very different than what I am used to, and the giant mountains and snow caps in the distance were an incredible sight. In addition to the mountains, the many long fields of grass and flowers with the llamas and alpacas that roamed the less residential areas were extremely beautiful.

The many markets and street vendors were really cool, and I enjoyed looking
at thousands of beautiful crafts and clothing. The idea of negotiating prices with vendors was also awesome; we were able to get some great deals! The first day I probably paid too much for a few items, but I learned how to negotiate better by the second day!

There were other aspects which, for me, were hard to adjust to. For example, there were many dogs roaming the streets in Cusco, some of which had homes, and other which were strays. I’m more of a cat person myself, and have a little fear of dogs. Some of them were adorable and friendly, but others were a little scary!

Machu Picchu was absolutely breathtaking. Our tour of the ancient city was incredible and extremely detailed, and we learned some amazing facts about the Incas. Hiking Pisaq, another Incan ruin, was also one my favorite experiences. It was also a beautiful area in the Sacred Valley, and the view was amazing.

For me, Peru was my first travelling experience ever. I’ve never left the East Coast, and to be able to travel to Peru for my first travelling experience is something I am very grateful for. I’m excited to continue travelling and seeing many more
beautiful countries of the world!

-Sam B.

My host family

sbyrd — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:54:27 +0000

Cassandra and I really lucked out with our family. Not only was their apartment beautiful and extremely comfortable, they really made us feel welcome and a part of their family. I was nervous going into the trip, and I had so many questions about my family and what they were like. We couldn’t have had a better family! Sonia was an amazing host mom, and she made us breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. I was especially grateful to Sonia because she made sure that she cooked vegan food for me everyday, and she made me some really delicious food! The food was always delicious, and we tried many foods that we had never even heard of before. The fruits and vegetables that we had were extremely fresh and delicious.

Juan, our host father, was extremely nice. He is an accomplished lawyer, and a very hard worker. When he would sit with us for dinner, he loved to talk to us about the U.S., and he always had funny things to say. Their two youngest daughters Chabelli and Lisa were really fun! Lisa spoke almost perfect English, which was really nice at times to be able to have her help us out and to also help out her mom and dad who spoke no English. Chabelli is 15 and just graduated, and she wants to study fashion. Lisa is 14, and she was very fun to talk to and extremely energetic.

We were surprised to always have hot water, an aspect of life that we take for granted here in the U.S. Our beds were really comfortable too, and we had an interesting view of a construction site out of window, which actually proved to be very entertaining.

Cassandra was an awesome roommate; we shared many laughs and memories together. I’m so happy that we roomed together and were able to have so much fun together. I had so much fun with the whole group, and I felt like we were always laughing and being there for one another, which was really nice while being so far from home. I learned so much more than I could have ever learned in a classroom, and I had an amazing time!

-Sam B.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños!

blatulippe — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:19:22 +0000

Celebrating my 22^nd birthday in Peru was a very memorable experience. I started my day with cake for breakfast. My host family was awake and cheerful. As usual, they were extremely patient despite my slight communication barrier. Spanish class at Centro Tinku helped me with this. Following class, I was given more cake. I spent the rest of the day in town sharpening my bartering skills and exploring what Cusco had to offer. One of my favorite things I discovered in Peru was “chicha morada,” a sweet drink made with purple corn, pineapple, and cinnamon.

When I returned to my homestay that night, I was given leftover cake for dinner. Birthdays in Peru aren’t much different from those in the US. There is cake with candles that you blow out after singing “Happy Birthday” to in Spanish. Peruvians love cake and find every reason to eat it from what I can tell. It was a popular dessert along with rice pudding.

I was glad I was not given any birthday gifts because I did not have much room left in my bags after all the souvenirs I purchased. Also, I was beginning to become fond of the idea of needing less stuff. Seeing some of the less fortunate Peruvians living contentedly without surplus material objects made me reconsider the importance of living simply. While I didn’t get any presents, I treated myself to something that would remind me of my special day in this special country and not take up any extra room in my suitcase. See photo below.

Viscachas and Llamas and Dogs. Oh my!

blatulippe — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:15:00 +0000

The animals of Peru are an essential part of Peruvian culture and I feel they deserve to be recognized. Not only do they play an important role in tradition, they have great economic importance. Fiber from llamas and alpacas are valuable for textiles. The llamas at Machu Picchu are a major tourist attraction. While llamas will always be my favorite, viscachas also have a special place in my heart. Related to the chinchilla, a popular exotic pet in the US, these squirrel-like creatures roam freely in Peru.

Dogs are a favorite pet of Peruvians, which is apparent from the large population of stray dogs that occupy the streets. One befriended me one early morning in Cusco while we were waiting for the bus. After rejecting my offer of a granola bar, he fell asleep at my feet. It was hard to leave him not knowing what his future would hold. I knew he would probably never find a “forever home” and a family to love him.

Cats are not as common, except in some parts of Lima where the cats wandered near John F. Kennedy park.

When we visited the terraces of Moray, an offering was made to the Pachamama. I asked for the protection of the animals of Peru, domestic and wild alike. While I highly enjoyed visiting the animals of Peru, I missed my pets greatly and was happy to return to my two dogs, cats and chinchillas.

Thoughts on Peru

sbyrd — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:06:35 +0000

I really wasn’t sure what to expect during my two week trip to Peru. I had ideas of llamas, Inca ruins, tropical rainforests and the snow capped Andes. While all of these things were present (and much, much more amazing than I had originally predicted), Peru never ceased to surprise me.

One great example is my host family. Having just a very basic knowledge of Spanish, communication with my host family was at first difficult. One would think that such a significant language barrier would make things awkward and prevent any kind of friendship from forming, but the opposite was true! Sergia and Alfredo, my host parents, were two of the warmest, most hospitable people I’ve ever met. You would think that having no idea what someone is saying would make it difficult to share a laugh with them, but my experience showed me that you can always connect with people, whether or not you speak their language.

One day my host family’s son invited me to a soccer game. If you enjoy playing or watching soccer at all, spend some time in South America and I guarantee that you will be amazed at the quality of play . Not to mention that running around at 11,000 feet above sea level is rather difficult.

One thing not included in the travel itinerary is the educational value of studying abroad you receive on a personal level. By this I mean that you will look at yourself and your behavior from a different perspective. After this trip I feel culturally enlightened. Obviously, Peru’s culture is only one out of the thousands of cultures throughout the world, and I saw only a fraction of what Peru holds. Although I’ve seen a very small percentage of the world, leaving my life in the United States opened my eyes. Studying abroad causes you to learn about yourself and the people around you.

-Matt

Up in Thought: In the Andes #4

Julia — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:08:25 +0000

Today we had class in the morning and then we went to look at the first of the Inca ruins that we will see: Sacsayhuaman. It was amazing. First of all, the ruins overlooked the city of Cusco. It is a very impressive sight and something of itself, but then you see the stones. They must be twenty feet high and one is left in awe as to how a society without either the wheel or writing could create something like this. Not only are the rocks giant, but the placement is remarkably precise. One could not even fit a piece of paper in between the rocks. Even the modern stone creations done by Peruvians don’t hold a candle to the Incan architecture.

Climbing up the stairs to the top of the ruins was hard. You can really feel the altitude and how it affects you. We went to other ruins as well and were treated to magnificent views of the natural surroundings. Many animals were there: alpacas, llamas, donkeys, and of course the dogs. You can’t help but to fall in love with all of the dogs that walk around freely in Peru. They are wily, but they seem to be no different than the domesticated dogs I am used to.

Today we got to see a whole different side of Cusco and Peru itself. We were able to envision what life was like for the Incas before colonization. This opportunity was amazing and had a great impact on me. Knowing all I can about the past is the closest I can come to knowing what the future will bring.

-Julia

May 27^th, 2011

UNE at Sacsayhuaman

Up in Thought: In the Andes #3

Julia — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:05:18 +0000

Today was an interesting day. We took a taxi to Centro Tinku, the school where we will be taking classes. As I have come to find with everything in this experience so far, it was entirely unlike what I expected. They were not kidding at all when they said that the temperature drops very fast after the sun sets. Being so close to the equator, the sun is very hot, but the altitude seems to constantly be at war with that fact.
Our professor who lectures about the Inca culture has a thick French accent, speaks to us in English, yet manages to effortlessly communicate with Peruvians in Spanish. It makes me laugh a little. After our classes, we went shopping. It was fun but at the same time really tiring. Nothing had a set price, the culture thrives on bartering, but the vendors are a lot more aggressive. Not only does each person you walk by tell you what they are selling and invite you to look, but people also come up to you on the streets asking you to buy their items. It is at lease five “no thank yous” before they wander off, much more if you ask how much they want for their items.
Everything is much different here but it has a charming quality. After only two days here it already seems to be growing on me.
-Julia
May 26th, 2011

Plaza de armas in Cusco

Up in Thought: In the Andes #2

Julia — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:02:13 +0000

Today we flew from Lima to Cusco. It was one of the most beautiful flights that I have ever been on. Again, my understanding of geography was completely changed. No longer were the Andes marked by letters and lines on a paper, but they were real, a breathtaking majesty unlike anything I have ever seen. Imagine a mountain, its only description is breathtaking with a snow capped summit at an incomprehensible altitude. Then duplicate that mountain times 500 as there are that many right next to it, each at a slightly different angle. It is wonderful.
The city of Cusco is much different than anything I expected. The city has a constant buzz, much different than anything that I have experienced. People seem to be going in their own direction, leaving the whole to be a scramble, yet it works perfectly. The people fit together like an ever-moving, ever-changing puzzle.
I met my host family today, they don’t speak English but for a few words. They fed us noodles with chicken and a green soup that I am still unable to translate to English. We got to drink coca tea, a good experience to have under one’s belt. It tasted like any other tea. After the food, we slept. The air was totally different and I could feel how much thinner it was with every breath. It was almost like the frigid days in the Northeast, but without the biting pain that usually accompanies it. All worries of “soroche” (altitude sickness) began to fade as the only thing that I noticed was a bit of trouble breathing and the tiniest hint of a headache that went away when I was preoccupied with one of the many things that this city has to offer. I cannot wait to discover what secrets the city has and explore its wonderful yet exotic beauty.
-Julia
May 25th, 2011

Host family celebrating Bethany's birthday!

Up in Thought: In the Andes #1

Julia — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:54:42 +0000

On the flight in I was struck by a number of things. First was flying over the Bahamas. Paradise. The second was Panama. At close to 40,000 feet, you can see both the Atlantic and Caribbean shores and grasp the real geography in a way that I never thought was possible. A third thing that surprised me was the lack of light on the ground. There are entire areas that are black. We were 40,000ft above Ecuador and entire portions of the earth are dark. The airplane staff then comes by with sandwiches. I opened the complimentary sandwich and absentmindedly took a bite while I pondered the darkness thinking of how I wasn’t really hungry. I looked out the window again and a strange sickness came over me as I began to realize. I’m not flying over the United States. I’m currently 40,000 feet over a country where many people are hungry. Many times in my life I have sponsored children in Ecuador, using the letter correspondence to practice my Spanish from the comfort of my own life. As I sit here with my iPhone and Kindle, surrounded by luxury even in an uncomfortable airplane seat, the lesson has never felt as real.
-Julia
May 23rd, 2011

This was the Caribbean ocean as we were flying over it at sunset.

Lima

blatulippe — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 03:02:53 +0000

Lima