A Little Late

So I will be out of touch for the next two weeks, but I can´t believe that I have forgotten to share another piece of information: Alpaca Steak = Yummy.

Yes, I love alpacas in a multitude of ways. The meat is very tender, with a texture like beef but has a taste more like a white meat like pork. I managed to get a combination meal of beef, lamb, and alpaca selections, and you could really taste the difference. I have yet to try Qui (guinea pig) but I´m hoping that staying in the field will afford a greater chance for such an interaction to occur. :P

Arequipa Tour

Passionfruit flower.

Sorry for the delay; yesterday we had a long bus tour of the city and the oulying areas. The ¨White City ¨ is so diverse. All the buildings are low to the ground because the area is prone to earthquakes and all of the buildings have multiple signs pointing to areas of safety. Today is our last day in Arequipa before we head to the field for 2 weeks, stopping in Moqugua for the following weekend. I´ll keep posting as much as possible, especially once we get into the field!! I can´t wait!
Apu (sacred mountain) Misti

Santa Catalina Monastery

Fun Fact: Arequipañan garbage trucks will blast a steel-drum version of ¨Under the Sea¨from the Little Mermaid.

View inside the Santa Catalina Monastery.

After class we headed to the Santa Catalina Monastery, a nunnery from the Spanish Conquest. Once initiated into the nunnery, the junior nuns, some as young as 12, were locked in their holdings all day, every day. They were let out twice a day, and a small window was opened to allow for the exchange of food and chamberpots. As many as 500 nuns lived in this mini-city at one time, and the monestary was opèned to the public in 1970. Now only 20 nuns occupy a newly renovated space, and they do not practice the fasting, self-flagellation, or such complete isolation as in the past.

The women had slaves until 1878, at which time the Popè outlawed individual rooms, at which time all of the nuns slept and worked communally. The laundary would be hung from the roof, which affords a wonderful view of the mountains.

The whole complex is in great condition although the reality of the conditions underwhich these girls lived under seems quite alien to my American conceptions of happiness.

Day in Arequipa

Today I fell in love. With an alpaca. Photo to come later.

After a stimulating morning discussion of the political and theoretical influences over Peruvian archaeology, we headed out to lunch of avocado salad and an interesting interpretation of spagetti with a tomato-skin rose. After lunch, we took a small break before heading to a museum to see Juanita. Juanita was a 12-14 year old girl discovered in 2005, frozen for 550 years on a Peruvian mountaintop. As part of the Inka tradition of sacrafice, many luxery items were associated with these sacrifices, of which it is impossible to take photos of. Inside her glass and ice box, Juanita has a strange aura to us spectators, part of which is because the insane preservation of her body.

First Day of Classes

My plane from Lima to Arequipa.

View of the Andes from the Municipal Park just two blocks from my hotel.


Last night our project director took us out to dinner and started out with an ïce breaker¨of Pîsco-Sours. The national drink is made from pisco, a liquor made from grapes, limon, egg whites, and is both smooth and refreshing. We enjoyed Turkish fare and getting to know each other before our classes started proper.

Our classes are held at the Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, but today we just went over procedure and regulations. #5: Don´t drink too many Pisca-Sours in the first week. Lol. We took the time to also get all of the necessities of living abroad as well a really delicious meal of Peruvian fare. All of the people seem really great and I can´t wait to get to know everyone better. Well, I had better get going!

I´m not Dead : Part I

Greetings from Arequipa!

After an exhausting 20 hours of travelling, I landed in the city with the Andes in view. I was surprised by how easily I was able to navigate between 3 flights and 3 new airports with my limited Spanish. I´ve already walked in the Municipal Park and gotten my first Peruvian fare. The exchange rate is great here- 3 soles for 1 American dollar. I was able to exchange my American cash at the airport as well as get a calling card (but I´m still figuring how to work it).

I´ve met up with the others from the Field School and we are slowly but surely getting past the awkward ¨getting to know you¨phase. The view is gorgeous and Arequipa seems to be a pretty clean city. I just can´t wait to watch some of the World Cup going round. :D

I´ll have access to internet every day, so I´ll try and post something interesting each time.

Preparations

Hey All!

My Amazon.con suggestions yesterday were 3 plays and a Marshalltown trowel, so I know field season is just around the corner. I leave on Saturday (the 19th) and after that point will make a point to blog each weekend to let my parents and loved ones know that I'm not dead. As my mom has pointed out, however, this leaves me the possibility of being dead during the week.

Still trying to figure that one out.

Anyways, I have a lot of packing and little errands to run before I leave. I doubt that I will be able to post pictures as I go, as I'm choosing to leave my beloved Mac at home. I will, however, be able to post pictures (or maybe just a link to facebook photos) once I'm back.

I'll keep you updated on the packing process!

Introductions

Hello All!

I'm starting this blog in anticipation of a fun and travel-filled 6 months. As an archaeologist-in-training and budding traveler, I hope to share a little bit of my experience with family and friends.

Countdown: 6 days until my flight to Peru!