From SATA-Peru-2007
Today our group got off to a rough start with a combination of Spanish tests and sickness. While the Intermediate levels of Spanish headed off to their exams, others stayed to meet with a doctor. Getting sick is similar to a game of chance here since we are all eating basically the same food, yet we all react differently. The best you can do is try to be careful with water, fruit, etc, and keep your fingers crossed.
The seven of us passed through our Spanish exams semi-successfully. Next was a joint Ethno-ecology and Quechua class with Manuel and Gina. The twelve of us headed to a market outside of Cusco in order to practice our Quechua skills and view local produce and various grains. We all piled into a bus (aka a van slightly bigger than Alcides’ mode of transportation) and headed to Santa Jeronimo, a town about a half an hour outside of Cusco. The bus ride was an experience in itself and some of the locals looked less than thrilled about being forced to crowd in with us.
The market itself was really interesting. We wandered through with Gina and Manuel testing our Quechua skills. After only two weeks of class we were able to communicate a lot (to the suprise of many of the locals.) We recognized sara (corn), trigo (wheat), and quinoa and with some help from Gina we were able to speak with a lot of the local venders. Several people bought fresh fruit, and Shana and I bought some maize to fry and make a traditional Quechua snack (similar to popcorn) that Gina had made for us earlier in the week.
After our return bus ride (which was packed) we had lunch and checked in on the sicklings. A few of us headed out to buy shirts for the futbol game that we are attending on Sunday between Cusco and Lima. We all got red to support Cusco of course.
Then it was on to Quechua class, where we reviewed and started in on some of the harder topics we will delve into after we return from Puno. After class Leia and I watched Shana make a potato sack dress and headed to dinner. (The dress went over really well.)
All in all, it was a good week but we are all looking forward to the weekend and our trip to Lake Titicaca.
September 20, 2007 September 22, 2007
