Hello from STRIVE Peru! This is Lindsay and Paul, your STRIVE Peru correspondents this week. We’ll fill you in on the highlights of our group’s first week in Pisaq. In just a few days, we’ve already had some really cool experiences. All the interns agree that we’re really comfortable with the group and with the city already.
Waking up our first day in Pisaq, we all met up in the courtyard of our hostel, in which the mountains peak over the roof tops to watch us sleepily wander out into the cold mountain air. Scott and I (Paul) were the last ones out of bed, not realizing how punctual Tyler would be when he said to meet for 8:00 breakfast. We all followed Tyler to El Mercado de Abastos, which is an open air bustling hub of venders, conveniently just across the street from the hostel. Unlike dinner the night before when we went to a local restaurant as a group, we were essentially on our own for breakfast. Tyler split us into pairs and gave each group 20 soles. The experience was different for everyone because of varying Spanish abilities and breakfast preferences. At the start, we walked through the market as a group, but we gradually lost pairs to the juice stall, the egg sandwich stall, the Peruvian stall, and the Scotts disappeared to find some porridge. The coffee drinkers in the group were surprised to be handed a bottle of balsamic vinaigrette and some hot water. Turns out that what was disguised as balsamic vinaigrette was actually condensed coffee.
We have enjoyed experiencing the culture through trying new foods. Paul and I (Lindsay) are two of the more adventurous interns. We’ve already tried cou cou de panza (cow stomach), mataskitas (beef, rice, vegetable dish), and ceviche (lime cured fish).
This week is all about acclimation and getting ready for the work we will be doing the rest of the summer. Our group leaders designed activities for us to adjust to life in Pisaq. The first one was the budget activity to teach us how to make our food stipend last the whole week. We split into pairs and found the prices of many tasty dishes. We found that it is much cheaper to cook on our own than to go out. The second activity was the scavenger hunt. In the scavenger hunt we split into new pairs and searched for each site on the list. Some things were easy like taking a picture of one of the many dogs parading down the streets. Other tasks were difficult like entering stores and asking for the prices of services like laundry. I (Paul) was surprised to find that my partner Lindsay walks really fast and I nearly walked my legs off as we scoured practically every cobblestone street in Pisac.
The first run was pretty rough for many of us, but we keep reminding ourselves and each other that it was just our first run at 9,600 feet. We all threw on our running shorts, unless you’re Paul, whose luggage couldn’t keep up with his quick flight transfer, in which case you wear Tyler’s shorts. The altitude has taken all of our breath away at different times, but unlike cutthroat runs in high school, we follow the buddy system and never leave anyone behind.
The focus on acclimation for this week has not been limited to only running ability and competency in getting around the town and market but has also included lots of planning to make sure that we are all prepared for the service work we will be involved I this summer. Tyler prepared a talk for the interns about ethics and philosophy behind service, and we all participated in a discussion about how to avoid “voluntourism” and other pitfalls that many well-meaning service abroad programs stumble into. This set the tone for making a plan for the summer so that our service will be effective and beneficial for the community. We all promise to strive (haha) to view the local cultures, practices, and circumstances with a learning mindset. Tyler and Alejandro (our group leaders) have also given each of the interns weekly responsibilities that will rotate every week (blogging is one of them), so we will learn and grow in our administrative, organizational and other skills throughout the summer.
Wow, it sounds like you all are off to a fantastic start. I’m impressed with the activities that you have already embarked on. I’m so glad you all have great companions in the adventure. All of us back home are proud of you all for being willing to step out of your comfort zone to know the world. Keep the news coming, it is fun to read.