The Amazon region of Peru is home to more than 50 indigenous groups, the largest of which is the Ashaninka people, numbering about 80,000. Caleb and Christy are living in one of the communities, San Miguel, which welcomes visitors to live with them. The community is also undergoing a transition. For example, while a decade ago the inhabitants wore traditional Ashaninka tunics, called cushmas, all the time, now they dress alternately in Western clothing and the cushmas. Televisions and cell phones are also making their influence felt.
Upon our arrival the community held a special lunch celebration with traditional Ashaninka music, dancing, and a demonstration of Christy and Caleb teaching English to an elementary class. The two students also occasionally work in their families’ farming plots. During the rest of the afternoon we got to meet their families, see where the students live, and observe them teaching a high school class. The day ended with ceremonial drinking of a special beverage, masato, that is prepared for special occasions in a special manner ….. (you’ll have to read the photo caption).
The children crowd around Caleb and Christy as people arrive for the welcome ceremony.The ceremony began with 3 elders playing drums and singing.The woman with the microphone is Soila, the elected leader of the community.The children had rehearsed this dance for a recent meeting with other Ashaninka communities.In a second dance a father (in brown tunic on ground) is surrounded by his 5 daughters, while 5 suitors come to ask for their hands in marriage.The 5 suitors get their wishes granted and walk off with 5 brides.During the ceremony Christy and Caleb demonstrated a classroom game used to teach numbers in English.Caleb sells Maria a popsicle from his family’s store.Caleb’s leans out of his bedroom.Both Christy and Caleb sleep under mosquito nets at night.With host sister Lady and mom Victoria.Cassie in front of the hut where she sleeps.With host dad Teofilo, brother Bruno, and mom Ana.The view from Christy’s room.Shooting the breeze while waiting for Christy and Caleb’s 4:00 class to begin.Caleb teaches vocabulary for the rooms of a house.Later they taught vocabulary for types of food.With parents and the community’s leader, who is also a teacher at the school.Christy and Caleb were proud to show off their distinctive sandal tan lines.Christy drinks a cup of “masato,” made by chewing on yucca (a.k.a cassava) tubers, spitting it into a gourd, adding water, and then letting it ferment several days. Mmmmmm.Caleb often plays soccer at the end of the day. All ages of kids play.Leaving San Miguel, a view of the Perene valley.A familiar site at a local cafe, Highland Coffee, a coffee processing company where GC students have sometimes done their service assignments.At the end of the visit we took the 5 students in Chanchamayo out for dinner and cake.
