My Journey Back Home
The last time I was in Peru was when I was eight. I vaguely remember places like beaches, food, cities, businesses, and, wild enough, family. My mother lives in Costa Rica, so my goal was always to see her first, which I was able to do in 2022. Ever since then, we have wanted to find a way to reconnect with family and our home.
Being part of the DACA community has brought special people into my life. People with similar struggles and stories, people who understand the challenges we face to do simple things such as go to school and travel abroad. One of my first DACA friends who knew my desire to visit Peru with my family told me about a program she had used to be able to travel called Cultural Leadership Fellowship (CLF), created by Scholar Fund. Without hesitation, I knew it was destiny that I had found out about it and that they had a program in Peru at the end of the year.
Peru Through CLF
As I arrived at Miraflores, our first stop, I saw a different Peru from what I remember when I was a kid. Miraflores was like a city I would see in the States; it was very urban and felt like a mixture of cultures and tourism. Our first stop was the Alado Restaurant, a kitchen with cosmopolitan inspiration. The establishment was so upscale and private that if there was a perfect place to meet new people, this was it.
The pictures of the food can speak for themselves, but there were some fantastic sweet and savory flavors. Everything felt of the highest quality and was made with great care.
| Salmon | Ceviche | Cornbread | Eggplant |
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Meeting new people is always a toss of the dice, but when you put a lot of DACA recipients in a room, you can be sure people will connect from anything.
The next day, we had a fantastic tour of Miraflores, San Isidro, and Barranco. The bus ride took us sightseeing through the city, where we saw the Huaca pucllana, visited the Olive Trees Park, walked some of the Inca trail, visited the Love Park, and walked around the art in Barranco. It was a day full of beautiful scenery. We learned about the four eras of Peru, which was mentioned throughout the tour:
- Pre-Columbian Peru: The period before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century
- Inca Empire: The period from the 12th century to the time of the Spanish conquest
- Spanish Colonial Period: The period from the 16th century to the 1820s when the Spanish ruled Peru
- Independence: The period from 1809 to 1826 when Peru gained independence from Spain
| El Olivar de San Isidro Park | Huaca Pucllana | Parque del Amor |
|---|---|---|
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As we walked, the guide would tell us about the history of the place and the era in which it took place. The tour ended in Barranco, and I had a choice to make. There was a group going to sightsee around, and then there was a group going paragliding in Miraflores by the beach. At the end of the bus tour, I was influenced by the latter, but my fear of heights was telling my body to be safe; when it was time to make the decision, I was by the sightseeing group, and as I internally talked to myself I knew that if I didn’t try the new things and get out of my comfort zone, I would regret it.
We spent a quick night walking around the city, where I found Miraflores Kennedy Park-a park dominated by kitties! It was a great way to end the day. We headed to bed early since our Cusco flight was very, very early in the morning.
| Kitty being model | Torito de Pucará | Kitty with people |
|---|---|---|
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We landed in Cusco at noon. As we were taken to our hotel, it felt like we had entered yet another part of Peru that was different from everywhere else. The town felt somewhat homely. As we explored, I saw kids coming out of school with their uniforms, buying bolos (freezer pops), and street merchants pushing their little carts with bells to let people know of their presence. The biggest difference? The altitude. As soon as we entered, our bodies felt a change that was uncomfortable enough to keep us bothered. We took some medication and put on patches for the altitude change. Our hotel even gave us some coca leaf tea, but it wasn’t enough to save some of us from the sudden change we encountered.
| Cusco Town | Mushroom Capchi | Te de Coca |
|---|---|---|
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The next day, we started in Manos de la comunidad textilery. We didn’t anticipate the weather not being on our side for the rest of the trip. Still, it was unique in different ways. For instance, as we were given a tour of the place, the llamas, alpacas, and rasta alpacas outside were all soaking wet because of the rain, which made for some hilarious pictures. From the store, I got myself a baby alpaca sweater and my mom a baby alpaca scarf. When I saw her after the trip, she said she loved it, which made up for the wild price.
| Little Llama | Wet Alpaca | Horn Man | Quipu (Khipu) |
|---|---|---|---|
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Our first encounter with the Inca world was the Sacred Valley Andenes. What an astonishing view! The fog covered it when we arrived, but as we walked in, it was as if the Incas themselves were showing us their little secret, little by little. Everything was so green, displaying some of the fantastic architectural skills of my ancestors. The llamas walked around us, knowing we were visitors to their land. The guide pointed at the mountain next to it with holes and explained how that was a burial site. What seemed like hundreds of little holes were people who used to walk those lands or be part of the community, which put in perspective how massive this society was.
| Andenes | Llama | Gravesite |
|---|---|---|
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We visited a Archaeological Park in Ollantaytambo to examine some architecture in more detail. Because we were in a rush and would miss our train, we climbed up some steep steps very quickly, and many of us, including me, were not ready for an afternoon leg-burn workout. Pain and all, it was all worth it. We saw up close the massive rocks that made up the Andenes and talked with the tour guide about how the Incas worked with them. Plus, the view from the top was beautiful. You could see the town on the front while still appreciating the past where I was standing. It was like a lens of the past and future in one place.
We ran down the stairs and into the vans, filled with energy and ready to go. Barely making it on time, we rushed to the entrance in pairs and sat down. They gave us a show we were not expecting on the train, and we loved it! The story love story of Ollantay and Cusi and their forbidden love. As the performance wrapped up, we talked with our seat partners a bit, and the views as we went by were terrific, but all the energy we had used throughout the day was finally coming down, and we almost all fell asleep.
The day had finally come! Our reservations were for mid-noon, and we were all ready to see the seventh wonder of the world, a wonder that belongs to my country. Rain fell throughout the journey, but nothing would stop us from achieving our goals. All of us with rain ponchos put on a brave face, and we went onward. Little by little, the clouds once again revealed a secret; this time, it was the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu. The rain slowed down, and we could all enjoy our time taking in the beautiful sight. It was almost as if it was timed. As soon as we all had taken our photos and regrouped with the tour guide, the pouring rain started to come down on us. We all had wet but excited faces while our guide talked about the history and life in Machu Picchu. He reminded us that the enjoyment of the experience would be determined by how we decided to take on these conditions. We could all be sad and mad that we had a rainy Machu Picchu, or we could have a good attitude toward what we were given and understand that every experience is unique. Once again, we started to walk and explore some of the houses and architecture; the rain slowly allowed us to enjoy everything. We all went to one of the houses, and our guide talked about how the Incas picked the place of their homes by where nature gave them the proper foundation. They built around it, and that was their home. He then mentioned how Machu Picchu was a magical and mystical place and that the energy was powerful. We all closed our eyes and held hands to take in everything. I made a special wish that day, and I think everyone was feeling all the emotions of the trip. It was a beautiful moment where we all hugged tightly, and deep inside, we all understood what we felt. Before exiting, I couldn’t help but call my mom and brother and show them where I was. I felt distant from them, but as I saw their excitement and joy, I couldn’t help but smile and think about how we faced the rain with a smile, so I thought to myself, I will also smile right now because things will be different in the future, and I’ll be able to be here with my family.
Goodbyes are always the most challenging part of this kind of trip. I met some fantastic people who, without knowing, live similar lives as me. I could find one thing in every person I could relate to, and everyone was a joy to travel with. I have never been in a group of DACA that I have not felt understood. Little by little, everyone said their goodbyes. Some were quick, some were longer, but in the end, we all knew we shared an experience that would forever tie us together till the end. Coming back to my home country was scary, but having this group kept me from feeling alone, and I’ll cherish these memories for a long time. Thank you to CLF and all the amazing ambassadors who ran our program. You all remind me why our people are so strong together. I came home full of memories and friendships and can’t wait to do it again.
| A Rainy Machupichu |
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| Nothing but smiles in the rain |
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