Finally! With passports in hand, twenty other adventurers and I set out for Cusco, Peru, to escape the United States for a week and discover the culture and traditions of another world. My excitement leading up to such a trip could barely be contained, and as we boarded the plane to leave US soil, the anticipation of what lay ahead took hold of me. After over 12 hours of flying and layovers through the night, we caught a few hours sleep at the hotel we would be staying at for the week, tucked in the heart of Cusco city. After waking, we enjoyed a delicious first meal of chicken and rice at our hotel. Then, it was time to explore the city.

Instantly, the casual observer will notice the South American flair present in Cusco that is starkly different from US cities. Cusco, considered quite a bustling city, sprawls out over the expanse of a massive valley. Skyscrapers and tightly planned city streets are not found here. Rather, small-storied buildings all connect with each other along lengthy streets. The various shops and restaurants seem like cozy caves carved into the side of large clay blocks, complete with ceramic shingled roofs. Outside, many buildings look weathered and worn. Inside, you will find a wonderful atmosphere and heartwarming, friendly people.

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Upon trekking through the city streets, I soon noticed that the locals love to talk to tourists. By “talk to,” I mean they try to sell you something. We, being naïve Americans in a foreign place, gave every vendor the time of day initially, until being reminded that we had many adventures and chances to shop still in store for us. Eventually, I decided that my generic response for vendors would be “No, Gracias.” Though this strategy proved effective, the strange feeling that I was letting these nice people down was perpetually in the back of my mind.

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The mountain haven of Cusco became even more fascinating on the days when we were taken out of the city on a tour of the historical archaeological sites, where Incas once made their home over 500 years ago. On these days, we were able to observe the expertly crafted stone structures and farming terraces. The Incas were a people who found their refuge on the side of mountains, with towering fortresses adding to the wonder of the Andes. Under the tutelage of our intelligent tour guide, we learned all about the history of the Incas and Quechua traditions. The shadows of the Incan cultural legacy blanketed throughout the Cusco area became clear throughout the week.

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The main goal of our stay in Peru was accomplished over a period of three days, during which we traveled by bus over an hour out into the surrounding countryside, an area known as the Sacred Valley. The long winding highways in Peru are in excellent condition and reminded me of long drives through the Smokey Mountains back home. After the drive each morning we arrived in a small, rural community in what seemed like the center of nowhere. Here, we encountered impoverished families completely dependent on farming and livestock trading for their livelihood. We split into teams of four and constructed clay-brick, wood fire ovens for these families, so that they would have a safe, healthy means of cooking food. Otherwise, cooking over an open fire causes numerous health complications due to a buildup of smoke in the home. The ability of twenty college students to come together and accomplish so much for a community thousands of miles from home was impressive to see.

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Overall, I am humbled and thankful for the opportunity to enrich myself in another culture for an entire week and to do some good in the community. Though many of us faced a language barrier, common ground was found, laughter was shared, and memories were made with those we met. Whether it was salivating over a tender alpaca steak, gazing at the staggering splendor of the Andes, or being an urban explorer in the heart of the city, I made endless memories in Peru that I will hold on to for the rest of my life.