As you know, I am living in the Andean Highlands of Perú in the region of Cajamarca. This means I live high up in the mountains: over 8,517 feet above sea level! To give you an idea of what the weather is like here, in my small rural town, we have two distinct seasons: a rainy season and a dry season, and the temperature is pretty consistent year-round. It is very cold during the evening and at night, and it can get hot during the day. I've come to realize that the temperature here depends on the sun, rather than the time of year. Since moving to my town in December, I have learned a lot about how our mountain setting shapes the day-to-day life and activities of the community.
As a whole, Perú is very special because it has three distinct climate zones: the coast, highlands and rainforest. Here, these regions are referred to as the costa, sierra and selva. Each region has communities that have adapted to their specific climates and practice unique traditions based on their location. As mentioned, I live in the highlands. The highlands here are small communities clustered along roads that wind through the mountains' peaks and valleys. I happen to live on a peak, surrounded by two valleys below me.
