Blogs

For many of us, including me, this last week was (largely) an absolute nightmare. When I would empty the contents of my stomach, experience five minutes of ‘euphoria’, lay around writhing while I waited to exorcise more of myself, and eventually do so, I had a lot of fucking time to think. Among the memorable […] read full post >>

“Since you’re a woman and can’t work as a peon, you must give up one of your tupus. Your daughter will come work as a cook in the monastery, and you’ll go work at the hacienda.” (p. 111) Reading Gregorio’s and Asunta’s testimonios in “Andean Lives” was a profoundly moving experience. Their resilience in the […] read full post >>

Andean Lives is my favourite text so far. The book offers a testimonial account of two people living in the Andes, a married couple named Gregorio and Asunta. So far, our readings have mostly provided an observational account of Indigenous people so it was intriguing to read personal testimonies from Indigenous voices that are not widely represented. What I found most interesting is the resilience of our narrators who endured tremendous suffering throughout their lives. For example, Gregorio spoke about the loss of his first and only child and the loss of two of his wives. Despite experiencing significant loss, Gregorio continued pursuing different economic avenues and kept an open heart, which led him to meet his wife Asunta. Neither he nor Asunta allowed the tragedy of death and abuse in their life to threaten their survival. read full post >>

I am so glad we did the air bnb night. At first I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen and what the plan was but it was the best circus I have ever been apart of. I have no regrets about being a monkey, even though I had barely any sleep. That’s what […] read full post >>

I didn’t get promoted in the army, not even to corporal, because I never got anywhere with the alphabet. I couldn’t pass my classes; they were only for the clever ones. I was always hoping to get promoted, and I’d often dream about being corporal and getting revenge, dammit, for all the times they’d beaten […] read full post >>

Visiting Kusi Kawsay; Experience blog Something that resonated with me this week was our visit to the school, Kusi Kawsal. There were many moments of resonance but what stood out to me most was when we gathered in a circle hand in hand and led by two teachers engaged in what I think is how […] read full post >>

I’ve been thinking a lot about the new-age hippies that are a part of the Pisac ecosystem. Partly because they are everywhere, standing out in a specific way, and partly because of our group discourse about them. Admittedly I’m a judgemental person. I think that’s somewhat of a learned safety response, being a young woman who needs to be aware of my environment and the people around me at all times. I am dependent on my labelling of people, especially in a foreign place where my lack of language puts me more at risk for easy miscommunication. Some of my judgementalness is simply my hardwiring. I’m not read full post >>

A few days ago, most of our class paid for a “Traditional Community Day” a small way from Pisac. This is how it is advertised in a brochure I discovered after the day was over: Delight in a 45-minute drive into the majestic high Andes and a twenty minute walk through the patchwork fields replete […] read full post >>

There had been some disquiet about our planned visit to the Amaru community, one of twelve that ring Pisac on the slopes of the mountains above the valley floor. It wasn’t clear to some of the students why we were … Continue reading → read full post >>

Geez, week four . . . does that mean it’s been nearly (not quite) a month since we got here? That seems incredible to think about. I think that through all of the things that we have done in our time in Peru so far, this past week in Pisac has been one of the […] read full post >>