​Now that I’ve been in Peru for 10 days, I’ve been asked all kinds of questions. Many that I didn’t expect, but none that I couldn’t answer except this one. All that came to mind in my ignorance was Machu Picchu, the Incas, and Lima as the capital of the country. For many Americans, this is the extent of our knowledge. Our textbooks and teachers did not seem to take much interest in Peru. While my prior knowledge was all true, I had much to learn that a tourism visit would have never taught me. I had come to this country for a purpose: to teach but more importantly, to learn. Allow me share some of the most impacting things I’ve learned.

“Before the Incas”
Many of us have heard of the great Inca Empire who ruled the Peruvian lands and other nearby territories. The civilization that is responsible for the amazing 15th century Machu Picchu ruins and possessed an abundance of gold. What I didn’t know was that there were MANY native tribes that inhabited these lands before being conquered by the Incas. The oldest known tribe was the Caral people who reigned from 1,600-3,000 B.C.E. Read more about the Pre-Inca tribes here. The Incas divided the land into four regions: Antisuyo, Contisuyo, Chinchaysuyo, & Collasuyo, known as El Tahuantinsuyo, making their empire the most extensive domain in the history of pre-Columbian America. The fame of the Incas tends to overshadow the previous tribes, but some of the art and the ruins we enjoy are the works of those before them.

​“200 Spaniards vs Millions= Colonization?”
It’s obvious which European nations got the upper hand around the world based on what the official language is, so it was no mystery to me that Spain colonized the land of Peru before it became its own nation. What I hadn’t considered was HOW the arrival of around 200 Spaniards could dismantle an empire of Millions of Incas. The fall of the Incan Empire was due to a family feud between brothers for kingship! Spain was motivated by gold greed, but the lack of unity among the Incan leadership lead to their demise. The story of this take over is full of dramatics and worth the research!

​“Africans in Peru?!”
Any new information on the African Diaspora is of great value to me as an African American. I grieve over the lives lost during the transatlantic slave trade, admire the strength of the survivors who endured and even overcame slavery, and reverence the accomplishments of the free descendants of slaves who made such a life as mine possible. The Peruvian teacher who educated the American teachers on Peruvian history when we arrived, showed us images of the many faces of Peru, and much to my surprise, I saw myself and my family in some of those faces. The Spanish brought Africans over to Peru as early as 1527 as slaves that they used to help them conquer the natives. Another phase of Peruvian slavery served to supply plantation workers in Latin America and miners when the natives began to flee deeper into the jungle to escape their own enslavement. Slaves in Peru typically came from Angola, Senegambia, and Sierra Leone. As disease and harsh work claimed the lives of many natives, Africans were used to fill their roles as slaves for the Spanish until they were freed in 1854 under President Ramón Castilla. The complicated relations between the natives, the Africans, and the Spanish can be explored further HERE. Today, many Afro-Peruvians live along the coast and maintain many of the customs of their African heritage. They celebrate their history in June. 

“Post-Colonial Peru”
Peru’s Independence Day is July 28th, 1821. They have a population of about 32 million with around a third of them living in Lima, the busy capital. The results of colonization, slavery, and immigration can be seen in the diverse faces of Peru. The remnants of the native empires are memorialized in the ruins, but live on through their descendants, many of whom still speak the native languages of Quechu and Aymara and uphold their customs. The Catholic cathedrals still stand where they were placed by the Spanish. Such a complex and intriguing past makes Peru worthy of investigation. 

I find connections and contrasts that make me glad that I did not enter their classrooms with the narrow perspective of the average tourist. 

For my very first international teaching/PD experience, Teachers for Global Classrooms has assigned me to the beautiful South American country of Peru!!! I arrived just two days ago, but I am amazed at how much I have learned in such a short amount of time. Under this section of the site, I will be sharing what I learn, what I see, and what I teach while I'm here. Follow this blog for a free ticket to my Peruvian Professional Development whether you are an educator like me or a cultural enthusiast like me. The TGC program challenges us to select a research question that can guide us through our experience even if we don't come to a clear conclusion in the end. Here's mine:

Okay, so I cheated a little and my question is two-fold. I just feel that it's important to look at both sides of topic of academic motivation: that of the student and the teacher. Sometimes what works for one means nothing to the other. In spite of this question, I plan to investigate much more about this country from the perspective of a tourist and a teacher.

If you were here on a three week culture binge like me, what would be your top question? Comment below and share your thoughts. I may be able to get answers for us all!

Right now, I'm in Lima, learning about the nation's history and education system. My next post will cover some of the highlights with some pics and videos to go with it, so stick with me! This weekend, I will travel to Huancavelica for my school assignment. I'm excited and a bit overwhelmed with the responsibility of representing myself, my school, and my nation well. Visit my general ed. blog to understand my concerns about delivering the proper narrative. As I kick off this journey, I wear this bi-national unity pin proudly and set my intention to return to the states having sown as many seeds as possible and picked as many roses as I could from Peru's concrete.