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CX: How long have you been
weaving and what
were you doing before you started?
Damian:
I started around 1990.
Before that it was
mostly farming: potatoes and
abas, and herding
cattle and sheep.
CX: You mentioned earlier that
you prefer the lifestyle
here in Chahuatire (around 120
familes)
vs. Cusco, the regional
capital (with more than 500,000
people).
Why?
Damian: In Cusco
you always need money. There
is nothing
there to dedicate
yourself to. Here is better,
that's it.
CX: What is it about the natural
beauty of Chahuatire
that you most love?
Damian: There's
lots of fertile
lands. We always
walk happily here. Lots of fresh,
clean air.
And then there's
Carnaval. We get together and
dance.
CX: Are there a lot of festivals?
Damian:
Oh yes. Everyone in the community...Uff
- wow!
CX: What would you like to
say to people coming
from the U.S.? People that don't
know
Chahuatire, but may
visit?
Damian: We love the visits
from the U.S. We'd
love for everyone to go from
house to house, to
see how we live,
how we eat fresh food, how we
drink [with family
and friends].
Note: There is one satellite
dish that serves the community
of Chahuatire, keeping this remote,
starkly beautiful hamlet connected
to the rest of the world. I asked
Damian what he thought about
one of the most controversial
recent world events.
CX: What do you think about
the recent war in
Iraq?
Damian: We worry
about the war. Always a few
people come from
the U.S. and help us to
maintain a living.
When there is war,
they don't come to Peru.
So, we worry about
that.
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