The Traveller's Lexicon: ayni
A Quechua word for the work that communities do for one another.
Ayni — pronounced roughly “eye-nee” — is a Quechua word for reciprocity: the principle that help given today is returned tomorrow. It is often used in the Andes to describe communal work such as harvests or rebuilding, in which neighbours contribute their labour in the expectation that others will contribute in turn.
It is a useful idea for travellers too. Take as much care as you take; give as much as you receive. Like most such words, it carries more meaning than a single English phrase can hold, and should not be treated as a slogan for a whole culture.
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