Thank You Machu Picchu

 Ryan Berg

A tribute to the spirit of humanity: 

Last weekend I had the opportunity to explore the beauty of Peru and visit Machu Picchu.  When I hiked up Machu Picchu, there was an older couple I passed on the way up. I did a double take in admiration of their age, gave them a ‘keep it up, props to you!’, and went on my way. Upon descent from the top of the mountain, I went down a few steps and there they were. The three of us shared a smile, a mutual ‘congratulations!’ mixed with some goosebumps, and both parties went on our way. There are some people and situations that cause you to take a step back and think to yourself, ‘wow, this moment, this experience, was meant to happen’. 

  I finally reached the bottom of the mountain, boarded the bus, and waited to leave. The bus began to fill, and we were about to leave. A last rush of 10 or so people boarded and while I wasn’t paying much attention, a lady tapped me and asked, ‘may I sit here?’. I said yes on instinct and looked up. It’s the lady from the mountain. Little did I know the conversation we would soon have would be the most meaningful I’ve had here. She explained to me how her and husband were volunteers from the church of latter-day saints, the Mormon Church, and they had been doing some mission work here for the last few weeks. To my astonishment and admiration, she explained they’d served in over six countries totaling over two years since they both retired a few years back. What stuck with me, though, was our conversation about her and her husband being called to work. She shared that her ability to grow up with a lot (education, money to travel, and a loving family) has led her to dedicate the remainder of her life to others. 

We began talking about the beauty of travel and the lessons to be learned from different cultures around the world. Our conversation felt so authentic and surreal. Her stories and experiences were very different from any I have ever heard. As we exchanged stories, I thought to myself that  it was no coincidence I had seen her twice on the mountain, and it was no coincidence that she was sitting on this bus talking about her experiences with the world. The words and stories she began to tell me translated to the book I have been reading. As she spoke of service and the beauty of helping others it almost felt that she was the talking form of the words I had been reading. We shared a conversation of similarity over the beauty of culture and lessons to be learned from accompaniment. My time with the Quispicanchi project has taught me that differences in customs and traditions are opportunities for intellectual expansion. I have learned that it our differences that catalyze the best conversations, and our open-mindedness that enables us to grow. Besides, what do a 20 year old college student and a retired mormon woman traveling the world have in common? Before this trip I wouldn't have an answer for you, I now understand that our passion for others and the need to understand and learn from the world are what connected us. 

The experiences that have become a result of the Quispicanchi Work have been diverse and multi-faceted. I have participated in the inner workings of the textile industries here. I have come to learn the stories of the amazing women who work to produce beautiful products. I have helped Estella and Julia serve food to over one hundred people in the Andahuaylillas community and along the way met so many friendly faces. This conversation on a bus leaving Machu Picchu was yet another conversation that contributed to my shifting world perception. 

            A good friend of mine looked at me the night before I departed for Peru and said, “Ryan,

this trip is going to change your life”. Change my life it has, change my life it is, and change my life it forever will. My time to go home will come, I will adjust back into my normal ‘American’ everyday life, and I’ll implement what I’ve learned into my daily life in the states. This trip, the optimism it’s given me, can either be freeing or depressing. It’s a choice- use what I’ve learned or abandon it here. As a young 20-year-old college student, I must admit I'm not exactly sure how to be diligent about implementing the lessons I have learned here into my everyday home life. I don’t know what the next step is or where it should be. But if you have the right attitude and intentions, that ‘little’ voice in the back of your head that keeps your feet walking straight will show you where to go next. I don't think my time with the Quispicanchi Project is going to leave me anytime soon. I continue to look forward to the conversations to come, to the expansion of the project, and to working alongside people who challenge me and the things that I thought I knew.