Cloth & Clay
Communicating Culture 

"Have you finished repairing my nets?" he says. You know he is mistaking you for someone else but you nod and come closer to the pot. You are beginning to put together the clues to figure out where you are. Did those people talking back on the sand mention "Chan Chan" (capital city of the mighty Chimú kingdom)? You have been doing a project for school on the ancient Americas, and that must be why you are having this strange dream. Only problem is, you don't remember falling asleep.

Now what could they be drinking here on the outskirts of Chan Chan, which as you remember was on the north coast of Peru? The man who thinks you repaired his fishing nets scoops up a cup of the beverage and holds it out to you. "Fill your stomach with the chicha (corn beer), my helper, and thank Si (the Moon Goddess) for a good catch today."