Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 3213–26 August 2016 9 T he right side of my mouth goes numb as coca leaves swish around my molars and cheek. Our local guide, Angelito, passes a plastic bag around the van so we can spit out the numbing remnants. We are at 14,000 feet and it feels like I have a herd of alpacas sitting on my chest. I can’t tell if I’m feeling dizzy because I’m flirting with hypoxia or if it’s because the landscape is so breathtaking. As we barrel down open roads and passages filled with vicuñas, alpacas, and llamas, a vastness fills my window. We’re headed towards Chivay Valley for lunch before we continue to our homestay for the evening in Canocota. We arrive that afternoon in a small village tucked away in the Andean mountains. Our hosts Señor Pedro and Señora Julia are waiting to welcome us into their home. They’re in their sixties and are happy for the company — their kids have moved into the city and left them empty nesters. We’re escorted into a living room of sorts and greeted in the native Quechua language. Our hosts, dressed in their beautiful, colourful native garb, extend their welcome. They say they may not have a lot, but their house has a big heart. As I found out throughout our stay, this couldn’t be more true. I settle into my room, which feels like the perfect mountain hideaway. I mosey to the front gate with camera in hand where I see a group of kids trotting up the path. As they near, I greet them with “Hola!” and they swarm around me, chatting in Quechua. Once their mothers call for them, I head back into the house where Señora Julia asks me and fellow traveller, Michaela, if we would be interested in borrowing traditional wear for our next activity: tending the land. I jump at the opportunity. Being fully dressed in the local attire suddenly makes me feel closer to Señora Julia, closer to the land, and deeply connected to the culture. By fully embracing the external aesthetic, I felt grateful for the ability to connect. We set out for their farm and it’s Señor Pedro’s turn to show us a few things. In the field, he hands us sickles and shows us his technique for clearing potato lines. I am in a dress, battling altitude sickness, sickle in hand, and suddenly I have a new appreciation for the work that is done here daily. I feel so grounded, savouring the soil under my nails. It’s like I’m a part of Andean life. While we’re busy on the potatoes, Señor Pedro and Señora Julia gather fresh vegetables for dinner. We finish work as the sun sets and it’s time to get to work in the kitchen. While Señora Julia prepares soup, she puts me to work peeling fava beans. I spend a few minutes alone with her and we get to chatting. I ask her what she likes about living where she lives, and she’s quick to talk about how simple and beautiful her life is. She does not have very much, but that she has everything she needs, she says. I’m reminded how far removed I am from my food. I go to the store to buy packaged products but Señora Julia has her own organic grocery store at her doorstep. My fellow travellers join in and peel potatoes at a neighbouring table. Here we are in a house that now feels like a home, preparing dinner like a family. Our appetites are huge, having put in some serious toil in the field, and we gather around a table to enjoy the fruits of our labour. I’m always amazed at how a meal around one table can create an unrivalled kind of intimacy. Yesterday I didn’t know these people and now we’re all sharing in conversation, stories, good food, and good company. I go to bed with a full belly and we wake up the next morning with one last activity before we leave. Yesterday we cleared crops and today we’re planting them. We head into the field which we share with two large bulls. They’re the ones doing the real work as Señor Pedro guides them across the soil. I get in front of the bulls (trying to push the thought of getting gored from my mind) and let seeds fall from my hand as the earth devours them. Want to meet Señor Pedro and Señora Julia? Intrepid Travel includes a homestay on their Peru Encompassed small group trip. Marianna Jamadi was a guest of Intrepid Travel. You can follow more of her adventures at mariannajamadi.com This article was originally published as a blog: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/ homestay-peru-andes/. Posted on April 27, 2016 by Marianna Jamadi. Home away from home Marianna Jamadi tells what it’s like to do a homestay in the Peruvian Andes. SPONSORED ARTICLE Our own organic grocery store at the doorstep Our hosts Señor Pedro and Señora Julia