Day 9 - Zurite Homecoming

 Hola familias...Lana and Oliver here! After a day, evening, and night yesterday of exploring the unique streets of Pisac and visiting the potato farm, we were ready to head back to Zurite. Some of us packed up early in order to get coffee and pastries and ate a hotel breakfast of eggs, bread, fruits, and avocado. Leaving Pisac around 9:00am, we headed out for a 2 hour scenic but windy, car ride back to Zurite. 

                                                      Views of the mountains during the car ride

We passed by Sacsayhuaman and Cusco, getting a view of our previous Cusco hotel. Arriving in Zurite around 11:35, we spent the rest of the morning recovering from the turbulent car ride and prepping our dance for the high school event on Friday. Choreographed by students, we created a mix of American culture, beginning with the US national anthem, a girls vs. boys football play (girls win!), transitioning to a classic American song, Party in the USA, and ending with a mosh pit to the song FEIN by Travis Scott. 

After eating milanesae with pesto pasta, we participated in intercultural dances and listened to stories, engaging with our homestay families and the Quechuan culture in a new way. 

Johannes dances & teaches us the saqra dance

Our homestay sister, Luciana taught us another dance, performed by single women, known as the Meztiza Qoyacha.
Jacob, Matthew, and Julian learn the dance of single women

Demonstrating the exchange, led by Claire who played the guitar, Menlo students sang Riptide and with the demand of an encore, we also sang Jolene. 
Claire plays Riptide for the group

Following music and dance, Don Tomas told us stories of Zurite's beginning and hardship, along with a traditional story following a fox named Pascual and a rat named Don Diego. 
A calm day, preparing for the work ahead of us tomorrow, we ended the night with a bonfire & board games at Don Tomas's house. 
Guitar and music played around the bonfire



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