Initial Thoughts at 11,000 ft

I've now been in Cusco for a week! Luckily for me, Alex has been traveling all over the continent for the last 2 months, and arrived back in Cusco just a few days before me. She too was adjusting to the altitude, so we took it reeeally easy the first couple days, which I think is why I had no altitude sickness at all. Or I'm just superhuman (more likely).

I'd like to think that when I visit new places, I go with few expectations or envisions. However, coming to Cusco, I knew it'd be unlike any place I'd ever lived. Certainly different than North Yarmouth, Maine or Washington, DC, I guessed Cusco would be a little more like Argentina and Brazil, both places I have lived, yet distinct as a result of its Incan roots. Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire from the 1200s-1532, when the Spaniards conquored the city. The Incan history is still very visible- from the people, who appear far more indigenous than any inhabitants of anywhere I've lived (unless you count serious rednecks in Maine), to the city, where walls and structures the Incans built still stand today!

An Incan llama! This llama and its extended family is the source of this sweater, made out of the much sought after alpaca. I've seen at least 20 tourists wearing this sweater already.

Ok, so the Incans didn't actually paint this mural, but it's still beautiful and a constant reminder of who built this city and how.

The Peruvian culture plays a huge role in what we do here with GSW. Girls are not encouraged to play sports like their male counterparts, so our classes gives them a chance to run around and, hopefully, develop the skills and confidence that sports nurture. However, it's more than that- females here in general experience huge marginalization in all aspects of society, not just sports. Alex and I discussed at length this week with one of our school's Directors the problem of domestic abuse in Cusqueñan homes- both physical and emotional. Girls here just aren't encouraged to grow outside of the box. Anyway, I won't take this gender inequality rant too far, but the point is, one of the many ways this culture is sure to be quite different from others I've immersed myself in is the role and equality of females. While I'm going to try my best to create a loving, open, equal ground atmosphere for the girls during class (which they may not experience at home), the culture here is incredibly deep rooted, and will take more than a few gym classes to change.

Other quick thoughts:

• The city is literally IN the mountains, and it is so, so beautiful!
• I bought 5 bananas for approximately 30 cents, and they were delicious.
• A french couple at the bar across the street danced with Alex and me with more love and enthusiasm than I have ever experienced from any French person. I think this speaks to the people who visit Cusco, and the good vibes the city sends out.
• A sunburn is significantly more likely to occur when 2 miles closer to the sun.
• The schools' toilets are holes in the ground with little nooks to put your feet on. My thighs will come back stronger.
  

I did actually work this week, but I'll save that for the next post!