"I knew that Peru was going to be different; I wasn't sure how different from home it would really be."
Cusco, Peru
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| Ollantaytambo, Peru - Photo Credit: Me & Daneri |
(I would like to thank Bunker Hill Community
College, The Center of International Students, Miss Key and Miss Shapazian
for the opportunity of being able to study abroad.)
As I sit on this coach bus with my fellow weary passengers
and we slowly make our 3-day journey from Boston, MA to Las Vegas Nevada (I ended up flying out of Kansas City). I can't help but drift
off and think, about how pitch black the highway is at 3:00 AM. Seriously,
between Indianapolis and Saint Louis the only source of light seems to be from
other drivers scared shitless because of how dark it is. So many questions seem
to be running through my head right now, why did I decided to take a bus? When
will we careen into a ditch? Is it still to late to catch a flight? Most
importantly I can't help but reminisce about the last month I spent abroad in
Peru.
Being in the city of Cusco was without a doubt an
interesting experience. Not only was it my first time attempting to speak a
different language, but it was also the first time I had ever left the United
States. Where I am from people like me don't really get to travel much so you
must have imagined my surprise when I received a call saying I won my schools
scholarship. Winning within itself was a surreal experience that forever
changed me. I knew that Peru was going to be different; I wasn't sure how
different from home it would really be. My main concern is not making this a
comparison between two countries but more of what I felt/experienced at the
time. With that being said, these are strictly my thoughts and opinions about
Peru, Cusco and the few surrounding areas I visited. I hope you enjoy it.
Dogs Are Everywhere:
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| Urubamba, Peru - Photo Credit: Me |
For the first
week or two I expected to feel some form of culture shock. Whether it had been
the language barriers or just differences in cultures. Yet, the feeling of
being overwhelmed never came. I think I was more worried about the people around
me talking about this foreign concept (at least to me) of feeling helpless more
than me actually experiencing helplessness. There was one thing that got to me;
in Spanish I believe you would call them Perros de la Calle. I hope that is
correct my profesora, Nancy Puma, would kill me if it weren't. In English, they
are called stray dogs, very rare where I am from. There are occasions
where you may see one or two, but over there it looked like a scene straight
out of a Swedish House Mafia video. It made trying to
skateboard a little uncomfortable. I'm used to dogs going into a murderous
rage when I ride by on my board, but usually they are on a leash so it isn't
much to worry about. Only problem there wasn't any leashes for as far as the
eye could see. I would ride by and prepare to get mauled by a pack of
canines with nothing to lose who hated me just for my bad choice of
transportation. To my surprise, it never happened! One of the mentors at the
school I went to mentioned how the dogs here are more independent than the
people. As I spent more time there I started noticing how true of a statement
that was. If you don't bother them they will usually leave you alone and if
they don't just pick up a few rocks.
Street Vendors Are Everywhere:
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| Street Vendor, Cusco, Peru - Photo Cred: David Zhou |
Everyone
called me Bob Marley any chance that they could. Being black, taller than most
people and having dreads definitely did not help in any way, shape or form. I
stood out like a sore thumb. When a child no older then 4 years old looks at
you and says, "heh, Bub Maley" you know you have a problem on your
hands. More specifically how the hell does a small child born almost 30 years
after he died even know who he is? I wasn't even born when Bob Marley died. The
biggest offenders of this were the endless sea of street vendors nestled in
every nook and cranny waiting for you to make eye contact. "Hola, Bob
Marley... Do you remember me" me knowing this was my first day in Cusco,
"No I'm pretty sure I never met you before", "Well my name is
Pablo Picasso, I am an artist" (later I would meet 5 other people also
named Pablo Picasso). "oh hey", I replied less than amused. "You
want to buy a painting? They are all handmade." Me looking around,
"no thank you Pablo." "When you come back?"...
"No, No Gracias" "Por Que?, just buy one, mira, they are on
vinyl. Mira es una llama" quickly shuffling through his book of paintings.
"Pablo... no, it's a beautiful llama I am not interested." "You
buy next time?" "No", "I see you next time." Shaking
my head, "Whatever..."
I wish I could say that that was an isolated incident, but it
happened almost everyday. If vendors weren't trying to sell you knick-knacks
then they were trying to massage you. No matter how annoying it may have gotten I
had to admire their persistence. Their approach was a work ethic that you
really ever see back home it came off almost completely fearless. One thing
that really broke my heart was seeing the children outside selling things at
very late hours of the night. It would be 3-4am and you would see boys and
girls no older than 10 selling hats and candy. I even saw a child who had to be
at least three with his older brother who looked like he was six selling candy
with a fanny pack strapped around his chest. I gave them both a couple U.S
dollar each (I was thinking the exchange rate), later I thought how the hell
are a 3 and a 6-year-old going to exchange U.S. dollars. I didn't
fully think that one through.
*Note-
On the weekends I believe that it's Sunday (probably would help to check both
days) San Pedro market has a black market where you can find all type of items.
Make sure that you watch your own belongings when you are there. You do not
want to be wondering why a very familiar phone is up for sale.*
Beauty Is Everywhere:
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| Ollanytambo |
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When I tell
people that I didn't go visit Machu Picchu they look at me like I insulted
their mother. Hey, it was
expensive and I am not the kind of person who likes to visit tourist traps. One
place I really fell in love with was the sacred valley. All of my classmates
went to spend the independence days in the jungle and I was not able to go. My
host sister actually surprised me by taking me to the sacred valley with her.
The drive there which takes a little over an hour and shouldn't cost you more than
3-5 soles (if they ask you for more you should go ask a different driver), it is
breath taking within itself. It is something about driving from the city to the
countryside that is very calming. I won't write much here I think pictures can
say a lot more than words.
If you ever get the
chance to check out Urubamba or Cusco I have a few suggestions for you. URUBAMBA:
CUSCO:
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| Motor Taxi- Photo Cred: Me |
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| Peru Panorama - Dave Austria |
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| Plaza de Armas - Marcelo Druck |
Words of Wisdom: "You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else." -Albert Einstein
Thank you for reading
