Pascual

Nickname: Sarah and I call him “Papa.”
Age: 53

Pascal is Sarah’s and my kindly, adoptive Peruvian father. He always has good advice and anecdotes to offer and constantly makes sure we’re eating enough. He’s the head chef and he cooks everyone delicious Peruvian food three times per day. Pascual has worked at the station since long before it was CICRA; he was the cook here when it was still a mining camp. (The skull devouring him in the photo, by the way, once belonged to a black caiman from our river.)

Random fact: Almost every morning after breakfast, Pascual loves to play Huayno—a type of traditional Quechua music from the Andes—on the guitar. On mornings when I get up a bit late, he serenades me while I eat his yummy scrambled eggs or empanadas.