A Down-Clad Wanderer in Cusco
When people talk about their study abroad, they never mention the bad things. They'll talk about how much they grew as a person and the eye-opening experiences they had. There is so much more that goes on behind the scenes of a study abroad than just the new food and wanderlust you feel. I think it's important to talk about the good and the bad because this is not something you should ever go into with your eyes half open.
I chose Cusco, Perú because I wanted to challenge myself. I've never been to a Spanish-speaking country and gotten the chance to practice the Spanish I've been working on for almost seven years now. I wanted a country that offered wild landscapes and mountains that take your breath away (literally). Most of all though, I wanted to be pushed out of my comfort zone and experience something that would scare me in the very best way. So far, Cusco has given me everything I wanted and definitely some elements that I didn't.
I crawled off the plane incredibly jet-lagged but ready to start the day. Within an hour of landing I was heading to the university to take a Spanish placement test I wasn't prepared for in a city that was so crazy it swept me off my feet a little. Fast forward a couple hours and I'm kneeling over the toilet in the university bathroom with all the windows open trying to throw up as quietly as I can because no one wants to be friends with that weird girl that throws up on the first day. I am happy to report that no one heard me and I can now look back on that experience and laugh a little. It's a great story right?
The first day here was the low point of my experience so far. Cusco is an incredibly vibrant city unlike anything I've ever experienced before. The drivers honk their horns so much that they lose all meaning and the sidewalks are so small that you get to know the person you're trying to pass on a very intimate level. The city climbs its way up the surrounding mountains and suddenly walking up a flight of stairs is the hardest workout you've ever done. Women in rainbow skirts sit on corners offering pictures with their alpacas or bags of corn. Street dogs nap in the middle of the plaza or chase each other around your legs. If you climb to the top of one of the hills, you can see Ausungate in the distance, snow-capped and intimidating even from afar. Restaurants offer lomo saltado or cuy on the menu of the day and sometimes the smells are just too good to pass up. Yes, Cusco is nothing like Paris or Florence, but who ever said that was a bad thing?
Calling a city home is intimidating, even if it's only for a month or so. Everything is new and you don't have any friends. It's the first day of college all over again. The locals give you strange looks because you stick out like a sore thumb, especially when you start talking. I don't get to speak as much Spanish here as I would like because most Peruvians want to practice their English. The dorm receptionist and I have a deal where she speaks English to me but I get to answer in Spanish. It's not perfect but we both have fun doing it.
This week and a half has brought every emotion possible to the surface. I was sad and homesick on the first day but the longer I'm here, the more I love it. Until next week.
I chose Cusco, Perú because I wanted to challenge myself. I've never been to a Spanish-speaking country and gotten the chance to practice the Spanish I've been working on for almost seven years now. I wanted a country that offered wild landscapes and mountains that take your breath away (literally). Most of all though, I wanted to be pushed out of my comfort zone and experience something that would scare me in the very best way. So far, Cusco has given me everything I wanted and definitely some elements that I didn't.
I crawled off the plane incredibly jet-lagged but ready to start the day. Within an hour of landing I was heading to the university to take a Spanish placement test I wasn't prepared for in a city that was so crazy it swept me off my feet a little. Fast forward a couple hours and I'm kneeling over the toilet in the university bathroom with all the windows open trying to throw up as quietly as I can because no one wants to be friends with that weird girl that throws up on the first day. I am happy to report that no one heard me and I can now look back on that experience and laugh a little. It's a great story right?
The first day here was the low point of my experience so far. Cusco is an incredibly vibrant city unlike anything I've ever experienced before. The drivers honk their horns so much that they lose all meaning and the sidewalks are so small that you get to know the person you're trying to pass on a very intimate level. The city climbs its way up the surrounding mountains and suddenly walking up a flight of stairs is the hardest workout you've ever done. Women in rainbow skirts sit on corners offering pictures with their alpacas or bags of corn. Street dogs nap in the middle of the plaza or chase each other around your legs. If you climb to the top of one of the hills, you can see Ausungate in the distance, snow-capped and intimidating even from afar. Restaurants offer lomo saltado or cuy on the menu of the day and sometimes the smells are just too good to pass up. Yes, Cusco is nothing like Paris or Florence, but who ever said that was a bad thing?
Calling a city home is intimidating, even if it's only for a month or so. Everything is new and you don't have any friends. It's the first day of college all over again. The locals give you strange looks because you stick out like a sore thumb, especially when you start talking. I don't get to speak as much Spanish here as I would like because most Peruvians want to practice their English. The dorm receptionist and I have a deal where she speaks English to me but I get to answer in Spanish. It's not perfect but we both have fun doing it.
This week and a half has brought every emotion possible to the surface. I was sad and homesick on the first day but the longer I'm here, the more I love it. Until next week.
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