The town Maras appears to be an old
colonial town stuck in the past, but it really has its own unique character and
appeal. During our stay not only did Jesúsa teach us how to make a traditional
Chicha from scratch, but I also had the opportunity to accompany Almicar to
pick up a fresh pitcher of Chicha for our group to taste. On our way, Amilcar
taught me the way Chicha is purchased and sold within Maras. Since Chicha is
not only best when fresh but also takes nearly three days to make, residents of
the town purchase their Chicha from neighbors. Houses signal that they have
fresh Chicha to be bought by hanging some sort of colored plastic bag or banner
at the end of a long stick outside their home. Most homes use the color red to
signal fresh Chicha!
Amilcar took me to a home in the
village he has never bought Chicha from, yet the interactions between himself
and the owners made it seem like they had been friends for years. Rather than
treating me as a foreigner (which I obviously was), the homeowners extended
their kindness to me as well. They welcomed me into their home, asked my name,
and even invited me to sit and drink Chicha with them at the table. This type
of social interaction was foreign to me, yet I found the high levels of respect
and friendliness residents of Maras have for one another to be inspiring. In
the United states it is nearly unheard of to walk into a stranger’s home and be
greeted with open arms. My experiences in Maras led me to believe that this
type of neighborly kindness is what makes it unlike other places I have been
within Peru. On top of that, it makes Maras feel like a close knit community
which I also felt part of during our short stay.
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