The Power of Language

Language has always been fascinating to me, but I've never noticed it more than while in Peru. When I made plans to travel to Cusco, I expected that I would have to rely on my Spanish skills to get around the city. While I have used my Spanish while in Cusco, I was very wrong about the extent that I would need to rely on it. Cusco is much more touristy than I would have imagined. Much to my surprise, almost everyone that I have had to interact with has a basic understanding of the English language. 8/10 times, even when I order a meal in Spanish, my waiter responds with English at least once. I'm glad that I can speak Spanish, but I think I'd be able to survive in Cusco even if I couldn't.

I had another realization about language while I was hiking in Machu Picchu. As one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world, Machu Picchu attracts a very diverse audience with travelers coming from all over the world. At Machu Picchu, not only did I hear Spanish and English, but I heard a variety of languages that I couldn't even identify. But that's not what stood out most to me– what stood out most to me was the fact that I could look at any tourist on the mountain and be unsure of their native tongue. I'd never really been in an environment where I couldn't guess the language someone spoke based on their phenotype with high accuracy. This was nearly impossible in Machu Picchu.

As an example, while the group was taking pictures in from of Huayna Picchu, Corrine and I noticed an old couple trying to get a selfie in front of the mountain. She asked me if we should offer to take their picture for them. I said sure– and then I hesitated because I didn't know in which language to offer my services. Color didn't matter and size was inconclusive. The truth was that it was impossible to tell. This observation made me appreciate the power of language more than I already had. It really is the tool that connects us all.