Riding through the Peruvian countryside on horseback is an awesome experience. The view is one that I will not soon forget. The mountains in the distance and the beautiful forest surrounding me were quite stunning. After riding for a while our guide took us to these really awesome caverns. He told us a great story about an Incan myth, then we got to climb through the caverns.

I wasn’t feeling well, however, so I wasn’t able to fully enjoy it. Our guide took us to two more caverns but I was feeling so bad that I sat out while the others climbed through. Everyone talked about how awesome the experience was, and I was upset that I didn’t get to do it. We got back on our horses and rode to the Temple of the Moon. By the time we got there I just wanted to lay down.

Apparently there was a shaman who was going to give us a tour of the temple, but our tour guide explained to the shaman that I wasn’t feeling well. He came up to me and asked me what was wrong. I explained that I was just feeling nauseas, so first he gave me some coca leaves to chew, because in Peru coca cures all that ails you. Then he asked me to close my eyes (and all of this is in Spanish) so I looked at Dr. Infanger to see if it was ok, and he gave me a thumbs up, so I closed my eyes.

The next thing I know I feel liquid being sprayed on my face, TWICE. While this was going on I could hear gasps then chuckles. When I opened my eyes back up the shaman was holding a bottle of liquid, and he asked me to hold out my hands and he put some on my hands then told me to rub it on my stomach. By this point I was feeling less nauseas.

Then we followed the shaman into the temple. While in there he showed us how to give thanks. Then he gave us all coca leaves to offer and use to ask for a blessing. At the end we all gave thanks by leaning our chests and heads on the alter then kissing it and saying thanks. Once we were all outside everyone told me how awesome it was to watch a shaman healing, it wasn’t until then that I realized the spraying I felt on my face was the shaman spitting on me.

It was one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had and one I’m not likely to forget and it wouldn’t have happened if I haven’t decided to study abroad.

Dallas Moore

Dallas Moore will begin his Senior year in the Fall. He is ready to go abroad for the first time, and be immersed into the language of Peru because he is a Spanish and Business Major. He has kayaked Cypress Creek on many occasion. Follow his blog as he checks out the Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca this summer.

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