Author: Ashlyn Compton | Major: Social Studies Education and Spanish | Semester: Summer 2024
The majestic Lake Humantay
37 days in Cusco go by faster than you would expect. I loved taking Spanish classes in high school, and I remember a unit we had about Peru from the 10th grade. I was instantly fascinated by Peru. Rich culture, incredible food, unique holidays, amazing scenery. What more could one want? So, when I was looking for programs and destinations for my study abroad journey, it was a no-brainer. It was my ideal location for honing in on my Spanish skills.
When picking what two classes to take over the five-week period from mid-May to late June, I knew they needed to be taught in Spanish. I mean, that was the whole point of my studying abroad! Fortunately, there were exactly two classes taught in Spanish: Pre-Columbian Art History and Survey of Latin American Literature. These classes were so incredible. The art history class was taught by a professor from a local university in Cusco and included many fun field trips. We visited the Museum of Textiles, Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, and more. This class was taught solely in Spanish and included an 8-10 minute long research presentation at the end of the term. Talk about a challenge. The literature class was taught by a professor who also taught English-to-Spanish classes, and included many discussions about the culture and history of Cusco. We learned many Quechua words and Peruvian-exclusive Spanish phrases.
This program included many fun excursions and cultural activities. For example, we had salsa and Afroperuano dance classes with Peruvian college students! May and June are big months for holidays in Cusco, like Corpus Christi and Inti Raymi. For Corpus Christi, we were escorted around the main plaza in Cusco and watched traditional dances, religious processions, and so much more. We even tried chiriuchu, which includes cuy (the Quechua word for guinea pig!). The excursions were a blast and we were always accompanied by tour guides who gave us amazing history lessons about Cusco and the Incans. One weekend we visited Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu. There are no adequate words to describe the beauty of these places. They were truly breathtaking, but beware— you will need some comfortable walking shoes for the miles and miles you will cover.
Although the program did include many fun excursions, some of my favorite moments were from excursions outside of the program. We had three or so free weekends, and I put them to use. The whole group planned a trip to Rainbow Mountain the first weekend we had free. Now, if you do not know already, the elevation in Cusco is much higher than in Fayetteville. Cusco is over 11,000 feet above sea level whereas Fayetteville is only around 1,400 feet. Rainbow Mountain, just a little bit away from Cusco, peaks at just over 17,000 feet. It was a long walk up the mountain, and I mean a very long walk. I am an avid walker, hiker, and runner, but at an elevation like that, it felt like I had never walked more than five minutes in my life. It was rough. I would walk for about two minutes or so and then I had to sit down for thirty seconds. Once I got to the top, all of the pain and frustration went away. Wow. It was beautiful and there is truly nothing like it. When you are at the peak of the mountain, it feels like you can see the whole world. You look around and there is one huge mountain after another. It is truly gorgeous. Not to mention there is a stunning glacial mountain nearby called Ausangate. It was unreal. The walk up that mountain proved to be incredibly rewarding.
Another weekend trip included a group of three of the other girls in the program, a friend we made from a different program, and myself. Similar to Rainbow Mountain, we took a bus to a more remote area from where we would hike up another mountain to reach Lake Humantay. Again, an incredibly difficult walk. However, I felt more prepared for this one, as we had been in Cusco longer and I was adapting to the elevation. It also helps that the elevation was just short of 14,000 feet. The way up the mountain had a lot more gravel and rocky areas than Rainbow Mountain, and I did find myself slipping a few times. Once we reached the lake, it was game over. I knew this would be my favorite adventure from the trip. The lake is a stunning turquoise blue and it is surrounded by beautiful mountains, many of which are covered in snow. It was so peaceful. Our guide pointed out a rock pile to us and explained a tradition in which you add a rock and pour some water on it as a thank you to Pachamama, or Mother Earth in Quechua. I truly felt like I was one with nature at that moment. The walk down the mountain was just as lovely as seeing the lake itself. I was so at peace and so content. I felt like my mind was completely clear, though, it could have been the lack of oxygen.
This program just happened to be the exactly right place, time, and people. Studying abroad in Cusco gave me an insanely unforgettable experience.