Geez, week four . . . does that mean it’s been nearly (not quite) a month since we got here? That seems incredible to think about. I think that through all of the things that we have done in our time in Peru so far, this past week in Pisac has been one of the most significant.
On Monday, we visited the Kusi Kawsay school. This was very fascinating and intriguing for me, as I am interested in eventually going further into the field of education. Our discussion about Waldorf schools in class got me thinking on whether there is a “right” way to learn. Perhaps, the way that we believe is “right” is only that way because it serves to sustain ourselves in the society that we live in. The way that I grew up being educated sure would not serve me to sustain myself in Amaru, the Indigenous community we visited on Thursday. I do not know how to weave, nor have I ever been trained in farming or agriculture. Who needs the ability to write an essay or do math when you do not have the skills to survive in the context that you live in? This week, I’ve determined that usefulness is relative. If we continue on the topic of how children should be taught, then I think I’ve arrived at a conclusion: Children should be taught in the way that best serves them for the community they will find themselves in as adults. As that is typically unknown, perhaps different kinds of education combined are necessary; this will ensure that kids have the ability to thrive regardless of the context they end up in. Regardless of whether they’re a requirement to live, to acquire new skills is important in itself (can you imagine how much cooler I’d be if people thought I knew how to weave?)
Besides the learning aspect of things, I really enjoyed our trip to Amaru and our ability to immerse ourselves in the community. The cooking on the ground, our consumption of multiple new types of potatoes, and the delicious soups were amazing highlights for me- this among the sweating as I hacked at clumps of dirt for a long while, something that was not quite as pleasant. Nevertheless, everything we did contributed to immersing ourselves into what “real” (debatable?) life looks like in the Andes. I definitely learned a lot, and I’m very excited to learn more.
Next stops: Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, and Machu Picchu!
One reply on “Experience Blog 4 – How are we here already?”
“Children should be taught in the way that best serves them for the community they will find themselves in as adults.” In principle, I agree with you and consider it an imperative. However, things get more complicated. Perhaps I am wrong in giving my own example: I am not where I would have thought I would be at my age, as an adult. But speaking of the Peruvian context, it is also true that mobility is something that is repeated in life stories (for example, we read it in this week’s testimonies). Predictability has become fragile (others would say we live in liquid times). And I agree with you, this soup revived me after illness!