A few weeks ago a large package arrived from Germany: Kyra Grewe, a friend of ours and of the network for years, had sent us her book Winged Serpents and Puma People, "her child", as she likes to calls it. It is a book in German, but more Peruvian than many other Peruvian books I have read ...
In approximately 300 pages, Kyra shares with her reader her travels to Peru. Although she visits and describes many tourist places, she invites us, above all, to accompany her on what could be called her inner journey into deep Peru.
Kyra's book is criticism, reflection and testimony. It is opening, searching and finding. It is unlearning and relearning. It is solidarity, community and ayllu (family).
It is a description of an immense inner change that requires the ability to open up to something new, unknown, something that inspires, but also invokes fear and insecurity. It's the story of your meeting, Kyra, with a little light at the end of the tunnel. And that light was turned on by thousands of community members of Cajamarca, nights around the fire, shared meals, mingas, walks, laughter.
And above all: laughter and the possibility of laughing at yourself. In many moments, Kyra's humour, her capacity for self-criticism, to tell with sarcasm and details of her multifaceted encounters with the Andean world, drew a big smile on my face. And at many other times, they made me burst out laughing.
Thank you, Kyra, for your sensitivity, your love for our people, for the Rural Libraries Network. I am honoured that you have allowed me to share this journey with you, sister. I admire your frankness, your path, your devotion. You are simply great… and so is your book. Hopefully soon we will be lucky enough to have it also in Spanish!
Rita mocker
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