Today I spent celebrating a project with linguist Michael Diercks, of Pomona College, who is among 7 collaborators documenting small AFrican languages that until now — weren't. 10 members of Maragoli have been taping their personal stories, hi…
Why do we use red dye No. something we can't pronounce when Mom Earth supplies so many tiny miracles all the time? A visit to his village and just 2 minutes in, Wilder cracked open an "achiote" fruit, which has long been used to colo…
After four hours from the final port town of Nauta, the Maranon River forks and the Yanayacu gives way — a calmer, narrower river in the Peruvian Amazon with bright green reeds nestled on either side. Another half hour, and the first thatched-roof…
I'm out of the forest early but with some luck: the two scientists with whom I went three weeks deep into Lago Preto are in town. They returned from the field Sunday and presented a lecture on their new book about effects of climate change in…
Eleven years ago, Dutch visitors took a boat out to Cristina and Victor's home on a manmade island in Lake Titicaca. They stayed nearly two weeks in their house on their manmade floating island, on the world's highest navigatable lake in t…
Theres always something going on in Parque Kennedy... so far usually a crooner and open dancing. So sweet. Final night of the trip with Yaci. We listened and watched and as the couple looking like they have 50 years together clasped hands and turn…
There have been some tough decisions already made on this trip. There is the stark reality that the money I spent years saving is just like life — it goes pretty darn quick. I had to do some soul searching and practical decision-making and alread…
Went to the 35th anniversary show of the ballet folklorico in Arequipa, a nice showcase of traditional dance that depicted history and relationships with Mexico and various regions across Peru. Two days going to concerts/performances in Arequipa a…
Beautiful last day in Cusco. Perfect sky and seventy. The anniversary of Cusco is this month so there's tons of festivals. Today students made floats depicting areas and customs. I like the tomato eating corn. Took an overnight bus 11 hours…
