Presentation to discuss cultural aspects about Peru

Geography Professor Mohsen Khani never likes to visit the same country twice.
But in December when he ventured to Peru, he found an exception.
“I would go back without a moment of thought,” Khani said. “I’d go back in a heartbeat. The experience was beyond explanation.”
In 2011, Khani, along with Sociology Professor Kathy Rowell, Honors Director and Spanish Professor Derek Petrey and two former Sinclair students took a three-week trip to Costa Rica.
Their trip to Costa Rica was to develop modules dealing with peace and conflict resolution.
After the modules were completed, Rowell made the suggestion for the group to spend a week in Peru.
“We decided that while we were down there, we should not let the opportunity pass us by and that we should go to Peru and see as much as we could in about a week,” Khani said.
As part of Sinclair’s International Series, Khani will present an introduction to South America, the history of the Incas and his experience on the trip in the stage area of Building 8 on May 9, from 12-1 p.m.
“I have travelled to probably 30 to 35 countries in the world; I have been on six continents. I’ve been to the top of the Great Wall of China, inside the pyramids, Australia, but when I went to Peru, especially when I went to Machu Picchu the experience was beyond explanation,” he said.
As a geographer, Khani said he has always wanted to see Machu Picchu, which is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site.
“I was looking at the cultural and historical aspect of Machu Picchu; here are the ruins and the Inca civilization, but also the physical nature of the Andes. So as a geographer, I was taking the whole thing in, it is probably one of the most fascinating places that I’ve been.”
During the trip, Khani, Rowell and the two students were able to visit Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu.
“To see the history of the area, the impact of the Spanish influence and being able to talk with native Peruvians, descendants of the Incas, was fascinating.”
The Sinclair Talks, Khani said, will expose students to different areas of the world and in turn expand their global understanding of Peru’s culture, history, food and dialect.
“As Americans we are sheltered into our own box, this is a learning process and the students will have a chance to listen and learn about different parts of the world in all aspects of literature, culture. They will even learn about the dialogue and the food that Peruvians eat. It is a good experience outside of the classroom.”
It is an experience that Khani, with first hand experience of Peru, will share to with the Sinclair community on May 9.
“It is something that I read about, but it was something that I needed to experience,” Khani said. “It will be fascinating to talk about it with the students.”