I have been absent from my blog for quite some time now, I realize this. And, I honestly have no excuse for it. I've just been lazy about writing this post, or I've forgotten about it. Even right now I'm having trouble concentrating. One of my favorite songs is playing right now and I can't help but sing along in Spanish; having to write in English and sing in Spanish is difficult. But, the show must go on, right?
Okay, on the 7th of November, exactly a month ago, I left Lima to go to Cusco with the other exchange students. When we got to Cusco, we rested for a bit before going to see the sights of Cusco. That first day, the altitude affected me and I stayed in the bus for a few of the stops (Jesus Blanco and the Alpaca shop). It's probably for the best that I was in the bus for the shop because everything was made of actual Alpaca fur and extremely expensive and soft. I know that I would have bought something, or two or three somethings.
The next day, we had more tours, but this time we went to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. At the end of it all, we didn't return to Cusco, we actual took a train to Machu Picchu Pueblo. There were hot springs there, and they smelled awful, really really awful. And in the hottest spring, there were only couples bonding. So, we couldn't even go in. The next best was filled with people. But, we had fun nonetheless. We might have annoyed a few people in the process, but it was a great time.
3rd day, MACHU PICCHU. We got up really early to catch the bus to go up the mountain. We arrived at the top of Machu Picchu approx. 7:30am. We all went to the bathroom in the one bathroom in all of Machu Picchu. Then we entered through the gates. I was expecting more security, but all we did was present our ticket and passport and we got through. I was thinking people would be inspecting our bags and metal detectors or something along those lines. We started walking up a hill, and we got to a corner. Surprisingly, at that corner, there was a plaque. The plaque happened to be a Rotary plaque. Rotary is everywhere, even on one of the 7 wonders of the world. Okay, so we got to the corner. Once we rounded the corner, we saw the first of Machu Picchu. I'm not sure if it was original or not, but it was the first structures we saw. We walked a little farther on, and it just spread out right before our eyes. It was one of the most beautifully amazing things that I have seen. It was early in the morning and we were up in the mountains, so there was fog hanging around. Not only were the structures themselves amazing, but the view. Oh my gosh, the view. Just looking off at the other mountains in the distance. It was all breathtaking. The region of Peru Machu Picchu is in is technically part of the jungle, but not the rainforest. And, there are mountains of course. So, the mountains were covered in greenery, trees mostly. The mountains I saw that day are my ideal mountains, the prettiest type of mountains. I love pretty mountains, knowing that at one time, it was all flat earth before the crust just shot up. I personally think that nature is amazing. AND SO IS MACHU PICCHU. (sorry, i got a little carried away). So, Machu Picchu (MP) spread out right before my eyes. We kept walking till we were deeper into it. We walked up steps and steps and ever more steps till we got to the classic MP viewpoint and picture spot. We had about 45 minutes for picture taking and then we took a big group photo. Everyone had their flags out and in the middle of our photoshoot, a llama decided to stick it's head right between two peoples' heads. The girl was just like, "Uhm, guys? GUYS! Llama!" and we all laughed. She moved and let the llama pass with it's baby. It just walked off, like it didn't just photobomb us. Unfortunately, no one has the actual picture of the llama photobomb :( So, we continued with our tour. We had the tour until 10am, and I learned some very interesting facts about MP. For instance, Machu Picchu isn't really the name of Machu Picchu. In fact, no one really knows the name. Machu Picchu is really the name of a neighboring mountain. The name is in Quechua, the language of the Incas (the language is still spoken today as the first language in the more traditional parts of Peru) and it means "Old Mountain" (Machu = Old Picchu = Mountain). After the tour, we had free time until 5, when the last buses make their way down the mountain. So, me and my friends walked to La Puerta del Sol (the door of the sun). It was supposed to be a 45 minute hike, but we had it to La Puerta in about 2 hours. We stopped so many times to rest and to just take in the beauty of everything. Once we reached La Puerta, we meet up with almost every other exchange student. We sat and talked for a good hour, hour and a half. I also walked about 100m on the actual Inca Trail. And, when I rounded the corner of La Puerta, I saw MP in the distance, and it almost brought tears to my eyes. I imagined walking that trail for 4 days, then finally turning that one corner and seeing it there, finally seeing what you walked to see for days. That view would definitely be rewarding enough for the hike, let alone the view of it as you get closer. We walked back down the trail to MP and sat on the edge, talking amongst ourselves, listening to music, and just looking and marveling at MP. At 4, we all went down and caught a bus back to Machu Picchu Pueblo. We were all tired, baked from the sun, and our cameras had all died. We ate supper, and then went to go shopping. Everything at Pueblo was really expensive, because gringos (non-latinos) will pay more for things, not knowing that Peru is cheaper. So, I didn't buy a whole bunch, just stuff from shop keepers that I was able to bargain with. I also just wanted things to be able to say that I bought them at MP. We boarded that train to go back to the Cusco area (Sacred Valley) at 6pm. Two hours later, we got off the train and ate super. Then, we had a 2 hour bus trip back to Cusco. We finally got to our beds around 11:30. It was a really long day, but worth it all. Even worth the blister that formed on my pinky toe.
4th day, we had a free day in Cusco. I slept in, and it felt really good after the busy day I had the day before. Then, I went out with a two friends to shop. We found the best prices and loaded up. Then we ate lunch at a rally sketchy place with really bad food. We ate it though. We found other exchangers, and continued shopping with them. At 6, we went back to the hotel for supper. We went right next door of our hotel to a buffet and show. The show was traditional Peruvian dances, with a traditional Peruvian band in between dances. After we were done eating, we would dance while the band played. Then, we started dancing while the dancers danced too, we tried our best to do what they did, but it wasn't very successful. Eventually, the dancers started to include us in their dances, pulled people up on the stage. One dance, after we were tired and weren't dancing anymore, dancers went into the audience and pulled people up to dance. One of the guys picked me to dance with. I am a terrible dancer, and I had no clue what I was doing. But, I still had a blast. Then, every exchange student started to dance, event he Rotarians that came on the trip with us. Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves. We went back to the hotel and slept.
5th day, We went to Historic Inca sights, well, one. It's called Moray. It's a place where the Incas experimented with agriculture and altitude. After, we went to a restaurant that was in a part of Peru that only spoke Quechua, with maybe 4 people in the little village that spoke Spanish. They served us food, following the traditions. For instance, before we could even sit down, we all blew on leaves and put them in a hole in the ground to bless the ground and to pray to the Gods. (I think) The food we had was traditional too. So, it was an experience! After we ate, we were explained how they make their own yarn and how they make blankets, scarfs, etc. I answered a question right, and the lady said my prize was to stay and finish a blanket, which would take me about 3 months. And, by them, I might have a husband. So, my prize was to basically stay with them (joke, obviously since I am currently in Lima). Everyone made a belt to take home, well, finished the last 3 stitches of a belt to take home. Then we started our trek back to Cusco.
5th day, we packed up our bags and made our way to Puno. 6 hours in a bus, with stops to view Inca and Pre-Inca ruins. Once we got to Puno, we dropped our stuff at the hotel, went to eat, then slept.
6th (and start of 7th) day, woke up early to go in a parade of mototaxies to Lake Titicaca. Once we arrived, I was amazed by the sight I was seeing. The lake is so big that it looks like a ocean, similar to the Great Lakes. We spent about 4 hours in a boat in total that day. 3 hours to get to the first island that we visited and 1 hour from that island to the island that we would be sleeping on. The two islands we visited that day are actual islands, not the floating ones. There is a very different culture and different traditions on the islands. For instance, on the second island we visited for the day, we stayed with host families for the night. There was no electricity or plumbing. There are different types of outfits people wear, depending on their relationship status. At the age of 12, a female is no longer considered a child and is classified as a single lady. At the age of 18, a male is classified as a single male. For males, the difference in the outfit of a single man and a married man is often his hat. I can't quite remember exactly what the difference is, but it is in his hat. In a female, is is in the headscarf, I believe. The way a male attracts the female's attention, or the way he makes her marry him, is by constantly bugging her; from throwing pebbles at her to always talking to her. The typical drink of the islands is a tea made from coca leaves. The food is delicious, and not the type of food that would be served in a western house. But, it was delicious. The kitchen is the main difference between a western house and a house on the islands. As there is not electricity or plumbing, there is no oven, sink, dishwasher, freezer. There is no counter, either. The food is cooked in a pot in the fireplace. The kitchen strongly reminded me of the kitchens in the cabins in New Salem. There is a table in the kitchen, where me, the other exchange student, and the Rotarian that stayed in the same house as me that night ate. Our host parents ate on chairs that were so low that they were essentially on the ground. In our room at night, we had a candle for light, and the rotarian and the other exchange student and I just talked and told stories. We did have an activity that night. All the exchange students dressed up in traditional outfits of the island and attended a dance. It seemed like the whole community was there and it was a very nice experience that I know I unfortunately will probably never experience again. But, it really made me thankful for everything that is available to me. The school system on the islands aren't the greatest, but they are government run. In the morning, we ate our breakfast of pancake type things and jam. It was delicious, like all the food was. One of the Peruvian traditions is to eat all of the food that is served to you, otherwise it comes across as rude and that you didn't like the food. In Lima, that isn't as strong. But on the Islands, I made myself eat everything even if I was full, because they are more traditional. After we were done, we walked back down the island to the shore. I should probably explain the geography of the earth islands on Lake Titicaca. They are all basically a big mountain in the middle of the lake. Each island is a different mountain, pretty much. So, we walked down the mountain of an island to the shore in order to board our boat that will take us to the floating islands.
7th day, floating islands of Lake Titicaca. The islands are made of reeds. They are made up of layers upon layers of reeds. Every week a new layer or two has to be added, because the islands are constantly sinking. The individual islands are small, with maybe 5 families on each. Each family has a small house, about 6ft x 6ft square. In the house is one bed, that the whole family shares. The father of the family goes out each day to fish and bring back food for the family, and the mothers stay at home to care for the children, cook, sew, clean, lay down new reeds when need be, and also make things to be sold to the tourists that visit the island. Me and 7 other exchange students were taken to a lady's house and she showed us where she lives. She then took us to her little store in the collection of the stores from all the families on that particular island. I bought some things from the lady, to say thanks for letting us in her house. And, also because not everyone gets the opportunity to go to the floating islands and I wanted souvenirs. On the islands, the kitchens are out of the house, because the house is made of reeds (everything is made of reeds on the islands, even the beds and other furniture). The kitchens are placed on a big rock, because the floor of the islands is reeds. There is a stand on each island, for communication between the other floating islands (I would estimate that there is about 20-30 in total). The boats that the people use are made of reeds, and look slightly like canoes. The children on the islands are sent into Puno every weekday in order to attend school. The population on the islands, floating and earth, of Lake Titicaca is dwindling because the children go on to university on the mainland (Puno for the Peru side) and don't return. Of the Lake, there are two sides. The Bolivian side and the Peru side. The floating Islands are on the Peru side and are about 20 minutes by boat to Puno. The closest I was to Bolivia was 6 hours, and I was even closer than that to Bolivian waters. After we visited the first floating island, we were to the next door one and ate a traditional lunch. On the islands, you could feel the tide rocking the island. After we were done there, we went back into Puno and had the rest of the day free. I just hung around the hotel with my friends and went out to get ice cream. There really isn't that much touristy things to do in Puno.
8th day, 6 hour bus trip from Puno back to Cusco, where we boarded the airplane and sent flight back home, back to Lima. The trip had ended.
I have passed my 4 months in Peru, which was also conveniently on Thanksgiving! These 4 months in Peru have flown by, and it scares me. I only have 7 months left here and more than likely they will fly by like the first 4 have. Peru is my home now, I consider myself Peruvian. The last thing I want to do is leave. I mean, I realize that I still have 7 amazing months ahead of me in this amazing country. And I am determined to make them all count. I have made so many amazing friends in this time, Peruvians and exchange students. The next 7 months will hold amazing people and memories, I already know. These past 4 months have held amazing people and memories as well. And I hope that the amazing people will stay with me throughout the rest of the year.
On Thanksgiving, I talked with all of my family back home, and it made me happy to know that I was still a slight part of the family celebration. My Thanksgiving meal consisted of going to Bembos and ordering La Francesa (a burger), fries, and a drink. Then, I walked to Starbucks are had a frappuccino, without coffee. (the Christmas flavors are finally in Peru for the first time!) It was a different Thanksgiving, and I spent the whole day alone, minus talking with my family. But, I enjoyed it nonetheless.
My school days are almost over in Peru. Next Friday, the 13th of December, will be my last day of colegio. I love my school. The teachers, administrators, students, and the school building are all so great. I don't think I could have been placed in a better school for me. My class, 5A, is the best ever. I have so many great friends in that class. And then the rest of 5 is great too. I am going to miss them all once school is done.
The prom dance for my promotion class is December 14th, the Sat after school is done. My dress is being made for me and is almost done. My date is a friend from my school. The group I'm going with are my best friends from school and their dates. We are a total of 8 people, and we will be going in a Limo! :)
Last Saturday, the 1st of December, I ran in a 10k with my sister and her work. I wasn't officially entered in the race (as in, I didn't pay). But, I was still able to run. The people at the end were nice enough to give me a goody bag. I ran the whole race with my flag around my shoulders. It got annoying, but made me feel special. I was stopped once by a man asking if he could take a picture with me. So, while I was running, he ran along side me and took our picture. People along the side of the road would scream at me in English, things like, Let's go! Keep Running! Don't give up! No stranger spoke to me in Spanish that day, except the people from my sister's job. They were really nice and gave me a bracelet that allowed me to enter the concert and eat breakfast.
My grandparents have sent me a package a few weeks ago, and I loved receiving it. My family and friends love it too. My house is decorated for Christmas, as of the weekend before Thanksgiving. This year, it will be a very Peruvian Christmas indeed :)
PS. I enjoy receiving letters from back home, whether is be an email or an actual letter. If you're interested, my parents have my address. Also, people can comment on my blog if they wish!
I have to go eat lunch now!
Until next time!
Emily
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