The reason for my visit: Sandra and Fernando´s Wedding

The bride and groom wore white, very fitting and representational of their pure love for each other.  Its been sweet to watch it grow over the years.  My wish for my sister of the heart and new brother-in-law, the newlywed couple,
is for MANY more years of happiness!

Silver is the tears of the Moon

The Inka did not have a written language, but used oral traditions to pass their knowledge and history to the next generation.  But one should not discount their culture or their understanding of how the world works.  Quipus are called talking knots.  They are the recording devices of the Inka.

A quipu usually consisted of colored, spun, and plied thread or strings from llama or alpaca hair.
It could also be made of cotton cords. For the Inca, the system aided in collecting data and keeping records, ranging from monitoring tax obligations, properly collecting census records, calendrical information, and military organization.The cords contained numeric and other values encoded by knots in base ten positional system. A quipu could have only a few or up to 2,000 cords. The configuration of the quipus have also been 'compared to string mops.' Archaeological evidence has also shown a use of finely carved wood as a supplemental, and perhaps more sturdy, base on which the color-coordinated cords would be attached.

The Inka also invested in their communities.  Each community had three areas:  the agricultural, urban and religious. Quarried stones from other mountains were dragged for miles to be used for religious temples and palaces for their kings.  They remind me of the terraces of southern China.

Gold is sweat of the sun

Last week was in southern Peru in the land of the Inka.  Our base was Hostal Monarcha in Cusco.  It was a cute hotel just blocks from the Plaza de Armas.  Fernando and Sandra timed their wedding to align with all the major festivals:  Inti Raymi (festival of the sun), Corpus Christi and other local festivals showing off city and community pride.  

According to the tourism brochures, Inti Raymi is without question the number one event in Cusco, celebrated by the whole city and featuring a re-enactment of Saqsaywaman's Inca winter solstice festival, street dancing and much pageantry, around the Koricancha Temple and the Plaza de Armas. 

"Several reasons compelled the Inka civilization to make sacrifices and offerings to their king star, the sun.  One of them was that the Inka, as well as Cusqueñan nobility, were considered to be natural children of the sun.  To him they owed their existence.  If the corn harvest was good, it was necessary to be thankful.  If it was poor, then they needed to ask for a better one the following year. During the winter solstice in June, as the sun moved away and temperatures dropped, and water froze by dawn, it was necessary to ask the sun to return, that after twilight, it should not continue its journey towards the north." IntiRaymi2015.com

From sun up to sun down, we were greeted by the local people and their native toungue, Quechua.  They say, when in Rome, act as a Roman.  So, I ate CUY (guinea pig) and alpaca!

We're going to Peru!

What a summer this is turning out to be. First, I got to spend a month in China.  Now, I am about to embark for a two week trip on a Peruvian adventure.  It will wrap up with the Trevino family reunion and maybe my 30th high school reunion.  Crazy, right?

Expertly linked with Sandra's and Fernando's wedding celebration is a humanitarian mission to the people of the Amazon.

The itinerary:
•       June 23: Arrival Yolanda and Marcia to Lima.  Sandra, Javier, y
Elzabeth leave to Lima and then to Cusco.  Everyone Leaves to Cusco
•       June 26 or 27:  Return to Lima and then to Iquitos y descanso
•       June 27:  Revisar programa  y asignar responsabilidades– centro
historico de Iquitos y preparacion para fiesta
•       June 28: Preparacion en A.M.  (todos ayudan) y matrimonio/fiesta en
P.M.  Arrival of Jen and Brian George en P.M. – Hotel Camu Camu
•       June 29: Dia libre y descanso
•       June 30:  Visita a la Escuela P.I.T. de Niños (Programa de
Intervencion Temprana) 
o       7:30am a 11:00am - Josefina Paredes Ramirez, Director.  Serves 25
children from 0-3 years old. This is a new program.
o       11:00:  Mercado Belen, Quistococha zoologico, Research Institute,
Mercado Artesanal (Local artists market)
•       July 1:  Trip to the Jungle (San Rafael, Indiana, Amazonas) – Jungle
Bungalow.  Meet tribe – Los Bora
•       July 2:  7am to 10am San Rafael Indiana School “clinic” for about
250 indigenous jungle residents.  Rest of Jungle tour with jungle
Bungalow .
•       July 3:  Shaman visit, attempt visit to Mayor, visit Centro de
Educacion Basica Especial for “clinic” following year (185 children),
and dia flexible
•       July 4:  Cena de despedida y agradecimiento
•       July 5: Everybody go home!
First bag is packed!

30 days that felt like 30 hours

My time at Peking University in Beijing China was amazing! And I am glad I went despite I my initial apprehension over struggling with culture shock. I tend to say that I am open to many things but find that I quickly miss my fast internet, air conditioning, and ice!! 

Happily, the weather was cool and only until the last week did we experience high temps that quickly rose to 95 degrees by mid-morning and afternoons that hit 105 degrees! As for slow internet connections and govt-blocked FB and Blogger, I framed the 30 days as a period for detoxing and a gift of living in the moment!  All I needed was to untie the ribbons.  So glad I did.  Muchisimas xie xie, China!

Fire Cupping

I finally got my massage in China.  My feet were barking and I welcomed the opportunity to be able to relax; or so I thought. I ended up getting more than I had bargained for.

Two undergraduate Korean students attending PKU referred me to a place just down the street on Chengfu Road for the best massage around - aka - affordable, ok,  cheap.  I happily chose the 90 minute package where I got my feet and body massaged.  Little did I know that the massage therapist would end up saying that I was out of balance and would need another therapy.  According to traditional Chinese medicine, each of us has a gas or energy inside us.  When in balance, we are fine. Unfortunately, mine was too hot. 

He recommended that I get a cupping session as fire cupping helps with the flow of Qi and blood.  So, I laid down as he lit 20 glass cups, suctioning them to my back for 10 minutes.  This supposedly helped to bring down the heat and get me back into balance. 

Uhhhh, OK.

IU China Office

Perfect timing in that I was able to attend the opening evening reception and dinner of IU's second gateway office on Friday, May 23 at Qinghua University's Technology Park literally steps from Peking University.

The first gateway office was opened in India and the second is in Beijing, China. The office serves as the administrative hub for partnerships, workshops, and developmental collaborations between IU and Chinese universities, businesses and organizations.  

They are already at work with the office hosting its first workshop on philanthropy in China, on the first business day after the reception. So exciting for the things to come!