Week 4: Cha-cha-cha-cha CHANGES

As my time and experience in Cusco progresses, weekdays are less exciting bird-wise. But the yin and yang of this study abroad life has provided other interests...

Monday

Monday morning you suuuureee look fine.

Contrasts of Cusco Life

Monday being my slow day, I hopped on the bus mid-morning to enjoy the relative comfort of riding in an empty bus. This is also the case on Sundays. The cobradores are engaged in casual conversation with the driver and everybody else seems to be minding their own business: sin prisa.

In the afternoon I elected to join a class trip to a local museum. After all, today was the last day that I could make use of my tourist ticket. Jammed into a cab with a faction of the students in the class, I picked up on a little Losing my Religion, the only REM song that seems to have made it this far south.

A Beautiful Day in Cusco

Once at the museum, we were greeted by a superintendent that took his job really seriously. We were forced to scan our cards twice and then lock our backpacks in lockers (imagine that, locked in a locker). 

The museum was situated in the home of El Inka Garcilaso de la Vega, a famous Peruvian writer who embraced the indigenous cause.

It was a pretty neat and diverse museum, combining natural history, Incan history, and colonial history. Yet again I found myself completely absorbed in the ingenuity of the Incans. How on earth could they create beautiful and well-formed pottery in an age without ceramic technology like we have today? And perhaps even more remarkable were their metalworks, which consisted of small, detailed pins, as well as larger breastplates and such. One of my favorite artifacts was a small metal idol that people carried on them as a sort of identification.

The colonial stuff was aight, but learning about Tupac Amaru and his badassness was the best part of this portion.

We headed to grab ice cream (the professor owns and ice cream shop). I finally heard my first evidence of Santana's presence in South America: The Game of Love

From there, a slightly smaller group of us continued on to a nice sushi place, where New Radicals encouraged our poorly-undertaken attempts at saki-bombs.

Tuesday

While walking to class, I had the pleasure of seeing one of the last remaining original drive-through concepts.

Drive-Through Dine-In

Later on, I had to break into dance and lip-syncing as the Claro store blasted Hey Ya.

Other than this anecdote, the most exciting things about Tuesday happened at night. After a trip to a textile museum for class and a follow-up study session, I made my way home. Mama Empe and Papa Jesús were at the table, and I was chilling on the couch. We suddenly heard a loud smack outside and a resulting commotion.

Now outside, I witnessed the largest domestic cat that I have ever seen. It was easily Bobcat-sized. At one point, it jumped on a tent and tore straight through. Bobby's valiance eventually forced it away.

Back inside, the three of us enjoyed the always entertaining Oceans Hillsong Drummer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx3Pzv3xJd4

Wednesday

These days have been blurred by attraction. Excitement has caused me to devote significant attention to other things. I do have this cute photo from Wednesday though.

Bes' Friends

On Wednesday Papa Jesús made my day with news that Vella would be staying indefinitely. How can I come home feeling low with this preciousness greeting me? I felt like SpongeBob and Patrick with their new friend Wormy.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830056/

Wednesday was actually a good day. At school, I joined a group of students watching Amores Perros. Definitely a depressing one, but it was cool to snuggle up in a classroom with popcorn and chips and get lost in an alternate reality. 

That night, we played soccer with ISA. It was worth suffering burns from sliding and saving goals. Papa Jesús showed up and stole the show. What could be more fun than watching him play?

Thursday

I chased after the bus for the first time. When I finally made it through the back door, I felt like Spiderman. Shortly after, I realized that it was just a really slow bus. Another bus observation: one driver strapped a wristwatch to the steering wheel. There's a lot to be learned from Peruvians.

More flirtatious behavior. Spent some time at school, some time at home. Time on the phone. Different places, same mindset. The chase is on. Been going to sleep with a full heart and a newly inspired playlist.

Friday

I ought to change the name of this river by the house to Rainbow River. It's a different color every day.

Friday was a day of goal achievement. On the bus, I was feeling so bold that I finally jumped right up in the passenger seat. I felt like I had assumed some sort of prestige.


Also:

I never would have seen it coming. But she obliged. A walk around the Plaza, up to San Blas and even further to the Cusco overlook. I'm not gonna say much, but we kissed. I'll say a little more: it was pretty picturesque. I won't go into detail, but it was a pretty long kissing session.

Saturday

Rising early, I headed to meet up with my class to go on a field trip to the Huatanay River. Leaving the patio in the calmness of the morning, I was able to note a lone swallow flyover. No time to linger though.

Were it not for the birds, I would have been completely disillusioned by this trip. The River is a disaster. Solid waste from the streets mingles with untreated sewage, slaughterhouse waste, and undiluted solvents. The River is so far from its original condition that it makes the LA River look like the epitome of purity.

An Opportunity 

I probably missed out on a lot of information, but the birds were calling. Not that the habitat was really all that great, but we were not in the thick of Cusco. Water and some riparian presence was enough. Hundreds of Puna Ibis and Andean Gulls seemed to defy environmental logic. 

Making our way on down to the treatment plant, bird densities increased. Familiar species from home upticked my Perú list. As I thought about how amazing it was that Spotted Sandpipers had undertaken my same journey by wing, I picked up another lifer: the striking Puna Teal. So a pair of Puna lifers on the day.

Leaving the scene, we were left both horrified and pensive. It was almost as if some of the responsibility for change and fallen upon us.

From the River, we grabbed some crepes and then headed to an ISA ceramic activity. My intention was to produce a dish inspired by Incan construction, but consensus was that it was an ashtray.

I think I then went home to sleep.

In the evening, I went on a date. What luck I have when I totally spilled food on my shirt trying to dissect a shish-kebob.

From there, I joined a few girls in a karaoke session. I wonder when the last time someone sang Friends in Low Places was in this city.

Sunday

In the morning, a faux-pas. A big group of ISA girls came to church. Towards the end of the service, I was invited to come to the front to introduce my friends. Damn, I really didn't realize how many people were in here.

Right to left I go. But I cannot deny the fact that I'm blanking on the name of the girl on the far left. All I can think of is the name Annelise. Annelise is another ISA student, and their names are similar. 

I decide to throw in an anecdote to break the silence that was sure to come. Name and home state. 

Despite my foolproof idea, I will not soon forget the look of horror on the face of Arianne when I quickly slurred the name Annelise form Minnesota. I'm so sorry Arianne.

That afternoon, I wanted to go to Bosque Wassau with my host family, but I was feeling pretty shoddy. 

End of Week Reflections:

Cusco is becoming more normal to me. In becoming accustomed to this style of living, my senses are becoming dull. I must force myself into observation. Writing this blog makes me appreciate the regularity of tv show releases.

This post is a short one, you don't have to tell me. Girl stuff really changes brain chemistry. I'm not thinking like I was a few days ago. My mind has been totally shaken.

Happy 26th Anniversary to my parents!!!

I am currently writing in Week 6. I spent the last few days on the Salkantay Trek, and lots of time on the trail has caused some serious reflection. I frequently thought of my family and what I missed about them. I wished they were there to share in the jokes that were occurring to me. It's time for an overdue shoutout:

Carlee:

I miss a lot of things about my sister. Although I don't love Atlanta, visiting her is an adventure. Her presence makes a visit to the urban center worthwhile. She sees the world differently than I do, and it's refreshing and uplifting to get in on that. She is well known for her unending sense of humor. It drives us to tears. She has influenced me so much; I'm grateful to have inherited some of her originality. Experiencing Perú without tapping in to her humor isn't easy. I look forward to reuniting in December.

Carlee Soakin' Up the Sun

Mom:

I miss my Mom as an inspiring presence. Like Carlee, Mom sees the world in a very distinct manner. It's an artistic, creative, and religious way of understanding the world. I frequently sport her brand, and enjoy sharing my Mom's talents with my new friends. I also really miss her sense of humor. Her memory is endless, and she brings up inside jokes that recall fun times. I look forward to spending the holiday season with my Mom.

Mom in the Chef Role

Dad:

Dad is my best bro. I really miss joking around with him; there are certain things that we joke about that I just can't bring up with other people. Of course Dad is funny as hell. I'm really recycling his jokes about going way back with obscure Latin music. I miss a slew of fall things that I like to enjoy with Dad. Football, dove hunting, and consuming Slim Jims and Gatorade. Hopefully there will be a little of this left after my return.

Dad in the Captain's Seat

Grammy:

I miss hanging with Grammy and joking about our fiercely contested Words with Friends games. As an avid supporter of the blog, I owe Grammy a good shoutout. Where would I be without her impromptu coronet concerts and politically incorrect jokes? The grandson-grandmother relationship is unique in that it transcends conversational sensitivity. I look forward to hanging with Grammy and reinitiating the rivalry.

Grammy and Home

Gramps:

I miss the Grampster. Since G&G moved to Augusta, I've really enjoyed spending more time together. I miss being called John Patrick. Although I cannot say that I miss Sky Valley politics, I do miss Gramps' historical wisdom and crooked pointer finger. I look forward to watching some bowl games, and competing highly over our picks. Thanks for supporting the blog Gramps!

A Classy and Vigilant Mayor (on the left)-Papa on the right

End of Week Lifer Tally: 2