Postcards from Peru

We are currently in the middle of the biggest festival of the year, meaning school is not in session until Wednesday (maybe) and we´ve had a lot of time to explore Ollanta and get a sense of the culture here.

The festival is insane. It makes Franklin Street celebrations look like a kid´s birthday party. We think that the festivities are honoring the patron saint of Ollanta, but really, it´s a total guess.

One thing is for sure, the Peruvians love their dancing. And their beer. There are 15 (or maybe 16, we´re not sure) dance troupes called ¨cargos,¨ comprised of about 15 dancers. All the dancers have elaborate costumes and masks, but no two groups dress the same.

Kelsey and I were woken up around 5:30 yesterday morning when the drummers and flute players accompanying the dancers marched by our window to the main Plaza. The groups pretty much take turns dancing throughout the day, taking time off to eat and drink a lot of cerveza or chicha. Google chicha. You won´t regret it.

At night they have fireworks and street vendors selling delicious churros, which are kind of like donut sticks, and scrumptious-smelling meat on skewers.

We´ve had some difficulty determining what´s safe and what´s not safe to eat. Suddenly the campus health seminar on eating in a foreign country seems like a really long time ago. So far, Kelsey and I have eaten hard-boiled eggs, cheese, orange juice, and butter. Some would say this is a bad idea, but we´ve talked to other volunteers who´ve said it´s okay.

We figure we haven´t gotten sick yet, and our family runs a restaurant which caters to foreigners, which is supposed to be a good sign. Jarrard thinks we´re crazy. We think he´s jealous of our butter.

This morning we went to the market and bought avacados, since they are one sol for two, AKA, FIFTEEN CENTS EACH. My avacado-loving heart was singing with joy. There were some fuzzy and crunchy parts to them, I´ll admit, but it was still heaven. Kelsey and I have to head back for lunch soon, and apparently our host mom is preparing a traditional Peruvian meal, which means.... cuy. Guinea pig. I´m super excited. Kelsey, less so. Wish us luck.


I was so excited about my avacado. Jarrard was a little freaked out by the fuzz.


View from the room I share with Kelsey.


El Museo CATCCO.


Kelsey walking around town.


Jacob stopped by as we were finishing dinner!


Beatiful view of what I think is el Rio Patacancha that runs through Ollanta.


Me and our host sister, who turned 18 yesterday. We´re mortified that we can´t figure out what her name is. We´re working on that.


Picture of the festival.