The Online Chess Tournament Organized from Machu Picchu
In the chess classes for Romanian children, especially in those with older kids, I have started to introduce discussions about general culture, particularly about my favorite subject: geography. Since the students in each class come from different countries and live in different time zones, the topic of multiculturalism often comes up in our conversations.
The students’ parents have encouraged me to continue expanding these discussions. They have noticed the benefits for their children’s general education and the broadening of their perspectives. In some classes, we even dedicate a few minutes to geography, where, for example, we guess countries based on the outline of their maps.
The Difficulties of Planning
Last year, I decided to spend the month of February in Lima 🇵🇪—an ideal city for a digital nomad like me.
I hadn’t planned to visit Machu Picchu, since I had already been there five years earlier. Still, it felt authentic to make a spontaneous trip back and host an online chess meeting with my students from there.
The plan, designed like that of a skilled chess player, was quite complicated: I aimed to reach Machu Picchu by flying to Cusco, then taking the train through the Andes, followed by a bus ride up to the site. On top of that, there were risks.
I could have gotten sick from the sudden change in altitude. I might not have found travel tickets and could have missed the time I had scheduled with my students for the Zoom meeting. But the riskiest part was the weather and the internet connection. The weather could easily turn unfavorable (as it often does), and the internet signal might have been weak.
But everything went perfectly. I arrived at Machu Picchu with my laptop and camera charged, using my thigh as a mousepad. I logged in an hour before the meeting— not to visit the ruins, but to find a spot with the strongest internet signal.
In the end, I found a place with a clear view. In front of me stood one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. 🌍
I did it!
Eighteen students took part in the tournament, and we played chess. I had prepared a short presentation speech about the monument, explained in a way that 6–11-year-olds could understand. But while I was talking and using words like “civilization,” I realized the kids weren’t at all interested in the ancient stones of Peru. So, I completely changed the topic and started talking about the llamas that were nibbling on tourists’ backpacks. They were wandering freely right beside me and my laptop.
The weather was very sunny, and I had to turn my laptop’s brightness all the way up. My battery eventually ran out, and I had to relocate to the restaurant below. From there, I reconnected for the final part of the chess tournament.
There was, however, one thing I hadn’t thought of: that no one would be there to film me during this online meeting. Luckily, a few parents recorded it from home!