On most of my trips, I make a conscious effort to balance freedom and fun without becoming bankrupt. Cusco makes it easy. There are certain amenities I crave when abroad: ice cubes, chocolate, and friendly conversation. All three of these things and more are easily found here. To give an idea of how[...]
Posts Tagged ‘Cusco’
The Decline in Quechua Use Among Urban Cusqueñans: What Should be Done?
A stark contrast exists between my students who live in the Cusco city center and those who live in the rural Anta region, located 45 minutes by car outside of Cusco. In Anta, all of the girls are fluent in Quechua, the language group spoken primarily by indigenous people of the South American Andes[...]
July 6th, 2010 - 10:11 am § in Uncategorized
Nostalgia for Home, Manifested as Strange Cravings
These twelve months are the longest I have ever gone without setting foot on American soil, and life abroad couldn’t be better. Few things give me greater pleasure than buying fresh-squeezed juice in the market, it’s easy to stay connected with family via Skype, and even the wild, lane-less Cusq[...]
¿Dónde Está El Baño?
¿Dónde está el baño? That is arguably the most important question to know in Spanish. Most who arrive in South America, regardless of previous Spanish education, will know how to ask for the bathroom. This knowledge is both crucial and painful. Many of the public restrooms haven’t been cleaned[...]
Everybody Say Lúcuma: A Follow-Up to “Buying a New Jacket While Surrounded by Poverty”
In response to my post “Buying a New Jacket While Surrounded by Poverty,” I received a number of insightful comments, both privately and through La Vida, on the question of how much personal spending is reasonable to help the underprivileged, and whether this should increase when working closely[...]
Buying a New Jacket While Surrounded by Poverty
The wealth disparities in Cusco are glaring, and a ten-minute cab ride from the glossy city center filled with spas and US-priced-restaurants reveals neighborhoods of mud brick houses, dirt roads and garbage heaps. And, it so happens that life for me straddles these two polar-opposite realities. Tho[...]
