31 mayo 2006

arqueología de los Moche en Peru

Sunday night I was reading Sherm’s new issue of National Geographic, and was intrigued by the Peruvian archaeology of a Moche woman that was perhaps a ruler in the very patriarchal group.

The great mystery surrounding it all is that this woman was found laid to rest at the top of a sacrificial mound, adorned with beads, tattoos, and accompanied by a variety of ceremonial looking ceramic objects. But previously, it was thought that only men were rulers among the Moche, and the fact that she was a young woman and had given birth to at least one child (yeah for pelvic notching!), seems to be really throwing them off.

Now, sure there might be a simple explanation. Perhaps she was the daughter of a high priest, or wife of a ruler. Perhaps she was just a very skilled artisan. But I like a more complicated, gender-theory-laden approach, similar to that which was applied to Tomb 7 of the Monte Alban site in Oaxaca, Mexico by Rosemary Joyce, et al. (Joyce, Rosemary A., Maria J. Rodriguez-Shadow, Patricia Plunket, Marcus Winter, Cira Martinez Lopez. 1994. On Engendering Monte Alban Tomb 7. Current Anthropology 35:284-287). Though it seems that this particular burial was much easier to sex than those in Tomb 7, sexing is different from gendering. I’m intrigued to know if the things found in the woman’s burial are similar to objects found in men’s burials. Bascially, as usual, I’m interested in a more gender-theory type approach. But that’s probably not practical, and as I once wrote in a finely titled paper, “While correcting past androcentrism, and taking exploitation into account are important, unbiased interpretation should be the primary concern. Sacrificing impartiality for a particular theoretical stance will only be counterproductive for both ideology and the discipline of archaeology.” Now I feel like Hill, quoting myself and all.

30 mayo 2006

indigenistas de norte y sur america

lovely kj from the nyrb gave me an old lonely planet peru book this weekend. yesterday, in the humid heat i walked to the park and read a bit. i was especially interested in the parts about indigenous peoples, and found many parallels with the dine'. the most interesting, i thought was the fact that it seems a lot of indigenous groups prefer a very light delicate handshake to the more hardy western version. there were also some interesting parallels between cocoa and mountain tobacco. And it seems that in every language the semantics of how one refers to indigenous people is important. indigenistas, not indios. native americans, not indians. or redskins for that matter. but my favorite part, was the mention of pouring a bit of alcohol out for mother earth. "Echamos una para la Pachamama." Just like pouring one out for my homies. ...I wonder what Lance is up to these days...

25 mayo 2006

mi amigo nuevo, juan

Juan (guru of my trip) emailed me today. We’re beginning to have one of those very weird email relationships where we have moved on from discussing business-type issues to a very casual friendly relationship. I feel like I’ve developed such relationships with a lot of people lately, and its strange. Not in a bad way. Its very intriguing how technology has played such a role in shifting interpersonal relationships. I mean, I cannot imagine college without email and IM. I would have never met about 80% of my friends if it weren’t for the internet. And I feel like there’s a cultural shift wherein relationships (and not just romantic ones) created online are not necessarily less valued than ones born in “real life.”

Anyway, in a strange twist of fate, Juan is perhaps going to the rez this summer. He said he wanted to visit an Indian reservation in Arizona, so of course, I quickly chimed in NAVAJO! NAVAJO!



(Nava-who? Nava-what? Navajo!)
Now I’m jealous that he might be going to the rez. But I’ll be back. I promise, I will be back to the rez. Soon, hopefully (that’s what I always say).

24 mayo 2006

mi casa por uno tiempo corto

I received some more information about my peruvian housing. The home is in the La Molina district of Lima (I wonder how one would say "person who lives in lima"? liman? or natively limana?, like peruana? hm...i'll have to investigate). According to Wikipedia La Molina is where many celebrities live, and has some gated communities. Perhaps "The Real Housewives of La Molina" is in my future. Las Amas de Casas de La Molina.

The larger green area is La Molina in respect to the rest of the city of Lima. The bluish colored district is Miraflores, which is where most of the tourist attractions are. The gold spot below that is Barranco, the "bohemian" neighborhood known for artists and writers. Honestly, the rest of it I have yet to identify and stereotype. As I figure it all out though, I'll let you know...

23 mayo 2006

una website se encontre' hoy

so, my new favorite website about peru is http://expatperu.com. it even assured me that my clothing wouldn't make me stand out like a sore americano. and it lists weekly cultural activities, and maps, and travel advisories and such.

now, if i could just get all the subletting stuff and money issues together, i'd be set.

22 mayo 2006

preparaciones

well, it is less than one month until I leave.

I figured i'd better start this up. I think the trip will make more sense in context, as most things do.

I've been trying to figure out budget things, but I won't bore you with details....

Also, I had my first little freak out about dying in Peru and never seeing my family again and all that sort of thing. Which I certainly don't think will happen. But I guess its always a fear.

And hopefully this guy I've been talking to will work out as far as subletting goes. That'll be a big load off my mind. So, the nervous, anxious, worried anticipation begins. Hasta luego.