I am a traveller who enjoys spending a longer time in one place rather than sleeping in a different city every night or two. I really enjoy not only seeing the highlights, but also the off the beaten path places, and getting to know and understand the culture of an area. In Cuzco, Peru I was lucky to have the opportunity.
Getting to know the people of Cuzco was challenging. Because there are so many “extranjeros” (foreigners) passing through, the people of Cuzco isolate themselves from us. They consider themselves so different from us because of the conservative nature of their culture, which can be a shame. I think the issue is that many of those passing through rarely take time to understand the people of Cuzco, many times do not even attempt to speak Spanish, and quickly judge when the customs are different. Additionally, because one must travel through Cuzco to get to Peru’s most famous sight, Machu Picchu, there is a culture of tourism that takes over in some parts of the city.
Because I was there for six weeks, and have a fairly good comprehension of the Spanish language, I was able to connect with not only my Spanish teacher and other teachers at FairPlay, but also with my host family in a way that most are not able to. I came to understand that the Cuzquenians value their friendships and family, and the reason that they decide to keep a distance is because they know that the extranjeros will leave. They also think that foreigners quickly judge their customs, such as living with family until marriage, which creates further distance.
The best way to get to know the people was to enter with an open mind, ask questions and drive discussion. I truly feel that I have family for when I return to Peru, whenever that may be and I appreciate that.
