by Kristin Kimberlain
There is so much to reflect on after our San Clemente homestay. Going in to the experience, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. For some reason, I had the idea that somehow tourists coming in to the San Clemente community would interrupt their lives and culture. I thought that legitimate culture could not be lived out with the introduction of outsiders into the community. I think we found, however, that the introduction of tourists in to San Clemente has actually allowed the people there to appreciate and continue their cultural traditions and to create economic growth. For example, most of the younger generation has learned about Quichua highland culture through teaching it to tourists. We saw that people like Tupac and Camilla enjoyed sharing their traditions with us while, if we had not been there, they might not have been interested. The community was also running out of jobs for people before tourism was introduced. Tourism has provided jobs for people so they don't have to leave the community to find work. I also enjoyed the fact that we were able to help with everyday tasks. It was great for us to learn how to do things like plant and pick potatoes and they were able to get help with their work. It seems like community-based tourism in San Clemente is a win-win situation for everyone.
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