My (and your) proximity to hippiness

I’ve been thinking a lot about the new-age hippies that are a part of the Pisac ecosystem. Partly because they are everywhere, standing out in a specific way, and partly because of our group discourse about them.

Admittedly I’m a judgemental person. I think that’s somewhat of a learned safety response, being a young woman who needs to be aware of my environment and the people around me at all times. I am dependent on my labelling of people, especially in a foreign place where my lack of language puts me more at risk for easy miscommunication. Some of my judgementalness is simply my hardwiring. I’m not that critical of it and not that interested in changing it (in case you were considering giving me recommendations on how to stop).

This judgmentalness extends to self. So in our hippy discourse, I can not help feeling we are truly not that different. How are we better? If we are simply noting people who stand out in a crowd I repeatedly fall into that category. What makes a hippy? Is it the dress? Is it the way they talk? Is it simply the foreignness?

Visiting the local community where we participated in cultural immersion felt both real and deeply performative. Being dressed by the women in that community in traditional dress was the first time I wasn’t taking as many photos. Repeatedly in my mind I was questioning if the skirt became a costume on me in the same way my physical labour was an act. I’m unsure if my participation slid me into the real category enough for me not to be another white Western tourist paying to play. What’s the huge difference if I decided I wanted to pay for enlightenment instead?

Evidence of me being happy. Photo creds: Steven.

I really enjoyed this experience. I was excited about the food and the weaving. I loved dancing and singing and receiving what felt like a world record of kisses in one day. I was happy. But I was also aware of what this looked like from the outside.

Between my new alpaca sweater, my woven bracelets and my baby alpaca fluffy white hat, I just can’t help but feel somewhere there is another Jon taking photos of me in the name of critiquing ridiculous tourists. To be fair my intent was never to buy culture to try it on and see if it suits me. I’m not going to open my own weaving shop and start teaching significantly overpriced womb yoga. I’m operating under a self-guided cultural appreciation lens with an emphasis on thoughtful purchases from locals but I probably look the exact same as our hated hippies from the outside.

My point is I am exactly like other girls (and by girls I mean the collective of tourists in this case). I’m not sure how much intent really matters and I am sure you can’t see it from the outside looking in regardless.

I really fuck with my alpaca hat and will not be taking it off,

Orla