A Rich Cultural Immersion

First I want to extend a tremendous gratitude to both CIBER International and the Center for Latin and Caribbean Studies for support of this exploratory research trip. Returning to Peru with this specific agenda and lense has been invaluable for my future work and a very expanding experience.

Wednesday July 23
Remember that I have mentioned my greatest lessons on this trip are ¨flexibility¨, ¨patience¨and ¨trust¨! As soon as I completed my last blog and walked back to the Poqen Kanchay Center, I was greeted by the host who informed me that the best way for a spanish immersion was not sitting in a class room. He had arranged an intense experience for me the next several days traveling through dozens of rural areas, meeting with families and entrepreneurs, visiting the sacred sites and cultural areas but with the ¨real¨--not tourist version of the areas AND....IT WOULD ALL ONLY BE IN SPANISH! So, talk about learning on the job.

Every destination was a couple of hours drive away on mostly undeveloped roads. Some of the highlights include: Traveled to many sacred lands of Saqsayhuaman (known by tourist as a fortress but contains much richer hypothesis for its origin by the locals as like Egypt pyramids, the stones are tons and not native of the land or the capabilities of the original people; Tamobonachay (inn cave and the land of water flowing where they do not know the source);Qengo ( the land of three worlds); and Pukapukara (the red fort). Learning about this heritage and hearing it in spanish was indeed a rich immersion into the culture.

We returned to Cusco for a delicious lunch of traditional noodles and pizza baked in an igloo like oven fired by logs. Immediately upon returning to Poqen Kanchay, I received a phone call from one of the San Ignacio de Loyola (in Lima) entrepreneurial contest winners. He had received a call from them advising that I was in town and he wanted to come and meet me. What a blessing...he has a very interesting business of alpacca pet clothing that he marketed in New York. So we arranged to meet on Thursday at the Center (a gorgeous place to meet indeed).

After these final meetings, I am confident that I will have enough exploratory information to return to Bloomington and put together a plan for formal research. I have been searching for evidence of the Base of the Pyramid framework and relationships between multinational companies and entrepreneurs, however, I have not located a specific case yet. Working through the government is challenging here as there are ministries and red tape for each industry.

I am now the only remaining guest at Poqen Kanchay Healing Center. It has been an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with the various workers and their families. I have been working with the spanish-english language cards (thank you Siri Terjensen) and shared them with the workers to expand their english language skills.

Thursday July 24
After breakfast today, I was greeted by my host and informed that I would be riding with them. I feel so honored that this busy and important man is taking the time to ensure that I meet my goals here. It is indeed, a representation of the hospitality and open hearted-ness of this rich culture of people! Where we are going--I don´t know but apparently it was to view some land he owned and to check in with the workers. We stopped in town and picked up a woman waiting on the corner with several baskets. I later learned that they were to pick up organic eggs on the farm. We visited an approximately 10 acre farm land of Dr. Paredes, the master entrepreneur. His many businesses support about 30 families across Cusco and Lima. He says he does it to help the people...not for the money. This is indeed a theme that I hear almost from each entrepreneur. This land was the source of an abundance of organic fruits and vegetables (mangos, carrots, apples, olives, flowers and eggs) that will be sold in market; dozens of ginnea pigs (goal is 5000) which are a profitable export business here in Peru; gigantic trout approximately 24 inches (larger than market size) which can feed about 10 people and be marketed to upper end restaurants for raw fish dishes; and eventually the land will be the place of a healing center or workers support center.

Rushed back--I do mean rushed as I witnessed the jeep register 100 miles-hour as we descended these mountain curves. After all, they were rushing for me as I had set up a 3pm meeting with the owner of the pet clothing company. We arrived in a fashionably on time 4pm (I am still getting use to this concept) but the entrepreneur was waiting patiently. He immediately shared that he had actually been to Bloomington Indiana to help his Ohio based uncle pick up some equipment and he loved it. Another example of synchronicity! Very openly, the young man shared his life story, his passion with creativity as he has six business concepts--all very interesting, his experience with the pet line and challenges with renewing his visa to promote in the USA. Like all the other people I have met, I have found that my own past marketing and small business experience allows me to provide some useful ideas and information to them. After a delightful and informative conversation about his motivations, photos for my fall entrepreneurship class, and natural tea, we departed. He has committed to participate in a follow up meeting when I am approved to conduct a more thorough and formal research process. Once again, I hear this passion for entrepreneurship for the greater cause and ¨helping the people¨.

The evening ended with an unexpected invitation to observe another traditional healing ceremony for a local young man. The last ceremony was 5 hours but this one lasted from about 8:30pm and I know I was dismissed about 5:00 am when I noted one of the revered healers had left the room. I must admit that despite this being my sixth trip to this beautiful land of Peru, this is indeed the most intimate and diverse experience that will enrich both my professional and personal life.

Friday July 25th
My first goal is to find another internet site which is more modern in town. I do find it and spend about 3.5 hours catching up on emails, blogs etc. I suspect that they are looking for me back at the Center. I really want to take it easy today and hopefully get some reading done for the Academy of Management interactive session that I will be facilitating on ¨Transitional Economies¨. I did just receive an email in spanish from the President of the Women´s Entrepreneur Association who wants me to contact her Cusco representative and meet with her as she would be managing an future research interests in Cusco. So...that will be a must do but hopefully on Saturday. There is also a rare animal habitat that houses the local mystical bird, the condor and many other wild animals. The tourist site was recently started by an entrepreneur award winner and funded by San Ignacio de Loyola. It would be great to do that but it is near Pisac...quite a ways from here. But who knows what the remaining 48 hours will bring.
I´ll return now to Poqen Kanchay and find out!!!