Field research embarrassment story:
The Canary Islands was a stop-off for Spanish ships returning from the Americas.
So it is still home to some ancient Incan(?), and v weird-looking, potato varieties.
Being a geek, I had to go learn about them...
(
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ·" title="Kamera" aria-label="Emoji: Kamera"> http://grancanaria.com"> http://grancanaria.com )
The Canary Islands was a stop-off for Spanish ships returning from the Americas.
So it is still home to some ancient Incan(?), and v weird-looking, potato varieties.
Being a geek, I had to go learn about them...
(
I went to a local market in Las Palmas and a really generous señora spent ages telling me in Spanish about all the different varieties & their colourful names.
Then she said, her favourite potato variety is a rare one called âKin Ay Waaâ.
My brain nearly exploded...
(
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ·" title="Kamera" aria-label="Emoji: Kamera">: ibid)
Then she said, her favourite potato variety is a rare one called âKin Ay Waaâ.
My brain nearly exploded...
(
That sounds just like Quechua, an indigenous Andean language that I only speak a few words of.
Had they retained the original name even after 500 yrs? How does it compare w modern Quechua?
Could that happen w other crops too? How come no one has reported this?! Was I the 1st??
Had they retained the original name even after 500 yrs? How does it compare w modern Quechua?
Could that happen w other crops too? How come no one has reported this?! Was I the 1st??
Apparently I was in luck. The kind lady had just received a sack fresh in this morning.
She tore through the paper lining...
I was practcising my Nobel prize acceptance speech in my head...
Then they came out.
âKin Ay Waaâ was âKing Edwardâ
She tore through the paper lining...
I was practcising my Nobel prize acceptance speech in my head...
Then they came out.
âKin Ay Waaâ was âKing Edwardâ