Greetings from Ayacucho. I will son be finishing my stay here. It has been a good place to start off a journey in South America. Its working class and gritty, like living in Pittsburgh. The place is also historical. It was the sight of where Peruvian patriots defeated the Spaniards to gain their independence as a nation. In the native Indian language, the name Ayacucho means ´dead corner´ because so many have died here during that battle for independence.
Speaking of the native people and their language, I am interested in the similarities and differences between between the US and Peru and how their native cultures have survived. I feel that the native culture has survived much more in Peru than in the US. People are still speaking Quechua, which is what they were speaking in the times of the Incas. That would be similar to us still speaking Lakota as a second language. However, like many smaller languages throughout the world, Quechua is not being taught as widely to the children and may be lost one day.
I have been working at an orphanage for the past 2 weeks. It has been a good way to get to know the culture of peru because kids don’t hold much back. The kids have the opportunity to work with local artisans once per week. The director at the orphanage ( who only speaks Spanish) asked me if I would go. Not understanding what he was asking me, I said ´si´and next thing I knew me a teacher and the ninos were heading on a small bus through the town. Most people look at me strangely because there are few gringos in the area.
We reached the artisan market and the ninos went to their respective artisan. People were making guitars, belts of leather, carving scultptures out of a local stone, knitting scarves, and many other things. The artisans welcomed the ninos and patiently helped them on their respective projects. I was impressed at the skill and patience of the kids and some of their products were high in quality.
This week was also a big religious holiday called ´Todos Santos´ meaning all saints day. On this hot and dry day we boarded another public bus and headed to the main cemetery of the city. Everyone in the city seemed to be there, walking around in their nice clothes putting flowers at respective graves. The graves were put into little slots inside a structure that was about the size of a house. Each day there seems to be a funeral which makes me a little nervous. The funeral processions are a bit different than we are used to. There are musicians walking first down the middle of the streets playing tubas and various horns. The music sounds uplifting. Behind them are four men hoisting a casket, and behind them are about 40 people who are attending the funeral.
That’s about all the news from this high desert, Arizona-like place where I wash my clothes by hand and the sun always rises and sets at the same time each day (around 6) because we are close to the equator. Where you give girls a kiss when you first meet them ( I can get used to this) and there is no such thing as plans.
Hasta Pronto
Felipe
Ps. If interested in seeing near where I am on a map click this link
Phillip's spot
Latitude:-12.92922
Longitude:-74.23389
GPS location Date/Time:11/01/2009 12:54:50 EST
Click the link below to see where I am located.
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