No Pumamarca today.
Volunteer meeting at 10.30 am (much talk of pooh).
Everyone has now been tested and and everyone has at least one of the bugs going around and there are 5 people in hospital and a couple more ready to go.
Not looking good for the Machu Pichu trek this weekend. Some will miss out. This is no place for diarrhea.
Vickey went to hospital this afternoon.
Community work this afternoon was at Quilla Huatta. I swapped with Stefan and he went to Talleres with Jo and I went with Ray to the construction site.
We erected a temporary wall to the side of the leanto the family is living in while they wait for their house to be rebuilt. To keep the family a bit warmer on these very cold nights in the mountains. We had to move lots of their crap away to get to the wall. I noticed that under all the junk there was a cupboard being used as a chicken coop with chooks inside leaning up against the hessian wall of the bedroom. Then I heard some more cheeping coming from inside only to discover a cage with, not more birds but guinea pigs, in their kitchen area. It is an unbelievable situation. At least the kids will be warmer tonight.
We´re packing tonight for the Machupicchu trek. Up early tomorrow.
Everyone is getting very excited. I hope we all make it. Don´t want to be carried out.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday 26th May 2010 Parasite Day
Everyone in the house is sick today so we are having to double up on lessons to fill in for the sick ones. We are also leaving for Pumamarca late today so that everyone can complete their blood tests (not everyone can pooh on demand).
Ray did two lessons of computer then went to to the garden. Everyone is accepting him as head gardening oracle. The garden is really looking good now. We just have to harvest some produce and it will be great. The garden beds look very healthy with all the compost he has used from past volunteer efforts and he has tidied up all the surrounding areas which were a bit overgrown. The other volunteers pop in to help from time to time, and he has his special helpers who like to water and plant seeds for him, even me. So things are going along smoothly for him. Now he has to give an end of month progress report.
I spent the morning in computers with Viv and Ray and then PE with Vicky. Not feeling all that well so not too enthusiastiv when the kids get over excited and cuddly.
We had a special assembly for Lee (a Canadian volunteer) who has been here for 2 months now and the kids love him and wanted to give him a special farewell. They all had flowers and cards for him. He was very emotional. There will be late night parties for the next 2 nights until he leaves. Actually a lot of the revellers are laid up with Guardia, oemebers and salmonella, so perhaps not such a large gathering - we´ll see.
After school we walked back down the mountain (a half an hour bus ride) as the school kids were using the van for a football match in a nearby village. It took us one and a half hours.
We had Spanish lessons (2 hours) this afternoon and we are starting to get a handle on this masculine feminine thing. Still can´t understand when people speak to me. Lots of hand signals.
Ray did two lessons of computer then went to to the garden. Everyone is accepting him as head gardening oracle. The garden is really looking good now. We just have to harvest some produce and it will be great. The garden beds look very healthy with all the compost he has used from past volunteer efforts and he has tidied up all the surrounding areas which were a bit overgrown. The other volunteers pop in to help from time to time, and he has his special helpers who like to water and plant seeds for him, even me. So things are going along smoothly for him. Now he has to give an end of month progress report.
I spent the morning in computers with Viv and Ray and then PE with Vicky. Not feeling all that well so not too enthusiastiv when the kids get over excited and cuddly.
We had a special assembly for Lee (a Canadian volunteer) who has been here for 2 months now and the kids love him and wanted to give him a special farewell. They all had flowers and cards for him. He was very emotional. There will be late night parties for the next 2 nights until he leaves. Actually a lot of the revellers are laid up with Guardia, oemebers and salmonella, so perhaps not such a large gathering - we´ll see.
After school we walked back down the mountain (a half an hour bus ride) as the school kids were using the van for a football match in a nearby village. It took us one and a half hours.
We had Spanish lessons (2 hours) this afternoon and we are starting to get a handle on this masculine feminine thing. Still can´t understand when people speak to me. Lots of hand signals.
Tuesday 25th May 2010 Home Visit
Today is all construction, no lessons.
Jackie and I went to help Ray in the garden. None of us are feeling to well. We watered all the seedlings and fruit trees. Then we planted potatoes and some more seeds (beetroot, cauli and carrots) and we picked some broadbeens that had gone to seed. We are going to try planting these.
Everyone is coming down with an illness.
Ray and I have both had gassy stomachs for the past 2 days and we are feeling debilitated. Four people have been taken to hospital with salmonella, oemebers and Guardia (parasites in the gut) and so everyone else is having blood, wee and pooh tests just in case. All the results have come back positive for a combination of at least one or two infections. Ray and I have Guardia and small amounts of salmonella.
A course of tablets only for us, fortunately. The whole teams seems to be dropping like flies. There are two more on the critical list.
We had all been away together for the weekend and ate at the same restaurants. Who knows where we have picked it up. Most of us were caught in time and only need a course of tablets and some antibiotics. Everyone is concerned to be fit for our upcoming trip to Machu Pichu next weekend.
Ray Vickey and I were rostered onto community work this afternoon. We went on a home visit with Lauren and Iris (the social worker). A young couple in need of assistance. We took them a bed and some linen and blankets. We helped construct the bed and move the 2 room house around to fit the bed. While we were there Lauren and Iris assessed what further help they might need. They are going to get them some more chickens and help them get a vege patch going. In the mean time they will deliver some food parcels. They are very young and very poor. The house is a 2 small roomed mud hut with a dirt floor. There is running water to a sink in the yard and there is barely room to move inside the house. The mother is 22 years old. She comes from a destitute family. Her mother had epilepsy and some form of mental illness and died a few years ago. The father is an alcoholic and completely neglected the 6 children. Wilma married to get away from a terrible situation. Her husband was beaten as a child and as a result has an injured collar bone and arm and is limited in his ability to work. The have two small children and they have also taken on the younger brother and sister of Wilma.
When we arrived, the house had 2 beds and a cot for 6 people (one of the beds did not have a matress). She has a weaving loom inside the house which she uses to make rugs for an income.
Lauren explained the situation to us through Iris but Wilma wanted to tell her own storey because she was so grateful but the telling made her cry. It is a very tragic situation.
This evening the tour guide came to prepare us for the Machu Pichu trek.
Everyone is very excited, but hoping our illnesses don´t prevent us from going.
This trek is no place for diarrhoea.
Jackie and I went to help Ray in the garden. None of us are feeling to well. We watered all the seedlings and fruit trees. Then we planted potatoes and some more seeds (beetroot, cauli and carrots) and we picked some broadbeens that had gone to seed. We are going to try planting these.
Everyone is coming down with an illness.
Ray and I have both had gassy stomachs for the past 2 days and we are feeling debilitated. Four people have been taken to hospital with salmonella, oemebers and Guardia (parasites in the gut) and so everyone else is having blood, wee and pooh tests just in case. All the results have come back positive for a combination of at least one or two infections. Ray and I have Guardia and small amounts of salmonella.
A course of tablets only for us, fortunately. The whole teams seems to be dropping like flies. There are two more on the critical list.
We had all been away together for the weekend and ate at the same restaurants. Who knows where we have picked it up. Most of us were caught in time and only need a course of tablets and some antibiotics. Everyone is concerned to be fit for our upcoming trip to Machu Pichu next weekend.
Ray Vickey and I were rostered onto community work this afternoon. We went on a home visit with Lauren and Iris (the social worker). A young couple in need of assistance. We took them a bed and some linen and blankets. We helped construct the bed and move the 2 room house around to fit the bed. While we were there Lauren and Iris assessed what further help they might need. They are going to get them some more chickens and help them get a vege patch going. In the mean time they will deliver some food parcels. They are very young and very poor. The house is a 2 small roomed mud hut with a dirt floor. There is running water to a sink in the yard and there is barely room to move inside the house. The mother is 22 years old. She comes from a destitute family. Her mother had epilepsy and some form of mental illness and died a few years ago. The father is an alcoholic and completely neglected the 6 children. Wilma married to get away from a terrible situation. Her husband was beaten as a child and as a result has an injured collar bone and arm and is limited in his ability to work. The have two small children and they have also taken on the younger brother and sister of Wilma.
When we arrived, the house had 2 beds and a cot for 6 people (one of the beds did not have a matress). She has a weaving loom inside the house which she uses to make rugs for an income.
Lauren explained the situation to us through Iris but Wilma wanted to tell her own storey because she was so grateful but the telling made her cry. It is a very tragic situation.
This evening the tour guide came to prepare us for the Machu Pichu trek.
Everyone is very excited, but hoping our illnesses don´t prevent us from going.
This trek is no place for diarrhoea.
Monday 24th May 2010
Back to work.
I had art classes with Jackie and Charlie. We did free drawing to music. We demonstrated on the board using quilting patterns. The kids loved it to our surprise because we weren´t sure how it would go.
Spanish classes in the afternoon (2 hours). Our new Spanish teacher Fernando, only speaks Spanish to us, but it is making us learn faster. I´m even getting this feminine masculine thing under control.
I had art classes with Jackie and Charlie. We did free drawing to music. We demonstrated on the board using quilting patterns. The kids loved it to our surprise because we weren´t sure how it would go.
Spanish classes in the afternoon (2 hours). Our new Spanish teacher Fernando, only speaks Spanish to us, but it is making us learn faster. I´m even getting this feminine masculine thing under control.
Sacred Valley Tour (2 days)
All the volunteers were picked up at the volunteer house and drove by bus to Chinchero. A small town known for its potato (the Chinchero). Here we visited the church built during the 1500´s by the Spanish during their invasion. We then walked to the wool spinning and weaving area. Here it was explained how the alpaca and llama wool is washed (with a natural soap made from a root) and dyed using natural products (leaves, black corn, different flowers), salt and lemon are used to change the colours. I bought a hat for Erin´s twins here and some llama slippers to use at the volunteer house as it is so cold at night.
After this we went on to Ollantaytambo via a lookout over the Sacred Valley. It was a magnificent site, we saw a para glider take off and immediately rise way above his original starting point on the thermals.
We had lunch at a beautiful Spanish mansion with live Peruvian music and a lovely garden by the River.
At Ollantaytambo (another Inkan site) we climbed hundreds of steps to reach the religious site at the top. The site was built for agriculture. They had built terraces all the way up the mountain which were watered by the natural springs from the glacier on the other side of the mountain. The rocks carved to accommodate the springs are so finely made that the water can be stopped or made to change course by the touch of a finger. The huge rocks used to construct the site were taken from the side of the mountain across the valley. Three valleys meet in this spot and it has all been used to their advantage. On the mountain across the other valley there are buildings for storage of food. That side of the mountain gets a lot of shade and howling winds create a natural refrigeration. Also on that mountain there is a section of rock that looks like the profile of a face and when the sun shines through this spot on the 21st June (solstice) it causes a ray of sunlight onto the far mountain and the Inkans used this as a calender.
After a long drive along the Sacred Valley, we arrived at our accommodation. It is a very beautiful Spanish hotel with an Inkan influence, set in beautiful gardens.
We went to dinner in the town of Pisac.
The next morning after a relaxing morning at the hotel we bused it to Tambomachay and from there we did a 3 hour steep uphill and downhill climb. Fabulous scenery along the Inkan trail and through the Inkan ruins - lovely weather.
We paid a local Peruvian flute player to follow us and continue to play his flute all the way down the mountain so that we had authentic atmosphere all the way. At the end we all tipped him. He made a fortune, even if we did feel guilty for taking him so far out of his way. We walked back into Pisac for lunch and spent sometime at the huge craft market in the square.
After this we went on to Ollantaytambo via a lookout over the Sacred Valley. It was a magnificent site, we saw a para glider take off and immediately rise way above his original starting point on the thermals.
We had lunch at a beautiful Spanish mansion with live Peruvian music and a lovely garden by the River.
At Ollantaytambo (another Inkan site) we climbed hundreds of steps to reach the religious site at the top. The site was built for agriculture. They had built terraces all the way up the mountain which were watered by the natural springs from the glacier on the other side of the mountain. The rocks carved to accommodate the springs are so finely made that the water can be stopped or made to change course by the touch of a finger. The huge rocks used to construct the site were taken from the side of the mountain across the valley. Three valleys meet in this spot and it has all been used to their advantage. On the mountain across the other valley there are buildings for storage of food. That side of the mountain gets a lot of shade and howling winds create a natural refrigeration. Also on that mountain there is a section of rock that looks like the profile of a face and when the sun shines through this spot on the 21st June (solstice) it causes a ray of sunlight onto the far mountain and the Inkans used this as a calender.
After a long drive along the Sacred Valley, we arrived at our accommodation. It is a very beautiful Spanish hotel with an Inkan influence, set in beautiful gardens.
We went to dinner in the town of Pisac.
The next morning after a relaxing morning at the hotel we bused it to Tambomachay and from there we did a 3 hour steep uphill and downhill climb. Fabulous scenery along the Inkan trail and through the Inkan ruins - lovely weather.
We paid a local Peruvian flute player to follow us and continue to play his flute all the way down the mountain so that we had authentic atmosphere all the way. At the end we all tipped him. He made a fortune, even if we did feel guilty for taking him so far out of his way. We walked back into Pisac for lunch and spent sometime at the huge craft market in the square.
Friday 21st May 2010
We were both on English class for grades 5 and 6 with Viv this morning. Viv is a very good teacher and the kids were interested. Ray and I learned as much as the kids. We just had to make sure they completed their task and give them a stamp, which they clamour for.
In the afternoon I completed some more blog before we had our Spanish lesson.
This evening we all went to dinner organised by Kirk one of the volunteers (He is an Australian living in Canada with two of the other volunteers). It was a very expensive restaurant (for Peru standards) called `Fallen Angels´. The table was a glass top over an old clawfoot bathtub containing goldfish and plants and lights. It was very effective. We had Alpacca and it tasted like a cross between lamb and beef. After dinner the party animals went on to a night club. We went home it was all too much for us. These kids never stop. I don´t know where they get their energy.
In the afternoon I completed some more blog before we had our Spanish lesson.
This evening we all went to dinner organised by Kirk one of the volunteers (He is an Australian living in Canada with two of the other volunteers). It was a very expensive restaurant (for Peru standards) called `Fallen Angels´. The table was a glass top over an old clawfoot bathtub containing goldfish and plants and lights. It was very effective. We had Alpacca and it tasted like a cross between lamb and beef. After dinner the party animals went on to a night club. We went home it was all too much for us. These kids never stop. I don´t know where they get their energy.
Thursday 20th May 2010
Volunteer meeting 9.30 am
Time for updating blog and letter writing at last.
Community work in the afternoon.
As last week, we went to Quilla Huatta (pronounced Kiawatta) to help with the mud brick crushing and Talleres workshop.
Getting tired.
Time for updating blog and letter writing at last.
Community work in the afternoon.
As last week, we went to Quilla Huatta (pronounced Kiawatta) to help with the mud brick crushing and Talleres workshop.
Getting tired.
Wednesday 19th May 2010
Today Ray had two classes of computer (this is a real culture shock for him. The kids go crazy, but they love it.) then he went to the garden for a short while. They are starting to plant some of the beds with seeds.
I was on kindy duty with Lisa. We spent a lot of time the night before making playdough. I tried to remember the old recipe we used to use when our kids were young, but I must have forgottten something because when we opened it at the kínda next morning it was all crumbly, a total disaster. The kids were disappointed and so were we, so we had to revert to our backup plan of games outside and some colouring in shapes, organised by their regular teacher.
In between classes I worked some more on the chook shed, then I went to a PE class for grades 1 and 2 with Ben, Scott and Vickey. They really love the kids because they are so effectionate. We played running around games, which the kids love especially when Ben plays the fool for them.
In the afternoon we had Spanish lessons then a rest in preparation for our Salza class in the evening. Nearly got lost getting there. The taxi driver didn´t know where it was. Ray was a bit reluctant along with Kirk and Scott but Vickey was great and we really got into it. The teacher was very professional. You can tell he dances for a living. After the class we went onto a Salza Club in the square in Cuzco. It was great fun. They also have free classes at the Club. I loved it but Ray thought it was too loud or course.
I was on kindy duty with Lisa. We spent a lot of time the night before making playdough. I tried to remember the old recipe we used to use when our kids were young, but I must have forgottten something because when we opened it at the kínda next morning it was all crumbly, a total disaster. The kids were disappointed and so were we, so we had to revert to our backup plan of games outside and some colouring in shapes, organised by their regular teacher.
In between classes I worked some more on the chook shed, then I went to a PE class for grades 1 and 2 with Ben, Scott and Vickey. They really love the kids because they are so effectionate. We played running around games, which the kids love especially when Ben plays the fool for them.
In the afternoon we had Spanish lessons then a rest in preparation for our Salza class in the evening. Nearly got lost getting there. The taxi driver didn´t know where it was. Ray was a bit reluctant along with Kirk and Scott but Vickey was great and we really got into it. The teacher was very professional. You can tell he dances for a living. After the class we went onto a Salza Club in the square in Cuzco. It was great fun. They also have free classes at the Club. I loved it but Ray thought it was too loud or course.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday 18th May 2010
Tuesday is construction day for everyone.
Ray had a computer class before he went back to his garden.
I was relegated to the chook pen. I had to clean all the pooh out and replace the nesting boxes with clean straw, which I had to collect myself from a nearby field.
Tomorrow Ray said he will cut me some more dry grass from the garden. It is really hot, hard work and it seemed to go nowhere because there are quite a few nesting boxes.
It´s a great chook shed, as chook sheds go, made from the mud bricks so common around here. The chickens are funny looking things with fluffy heads and feet and scrawný bald necks. They are new and not laying very well yet. The last lot were eating their own eggs, so they became dinner. It´s a tough world.
In the afternoon some of us were asigned to community work. We were taken to a small village further up the valley to help rebuild a house that was washed away in the recent floods. The damaged mud brick walls have to be broken down and the mud bricks crushed to be reused to make the 3,000 mud bricks needed for rebuilding.
Ray and three of the boys were assigned to crushing bricks while Vickey and I went to the women´s workshop (Talleres) where the women meet and make crafts for sale.
This group mainly knits hats and scarves. Our job is to take the roll and to record material going out and products coming in for sale. We keep these records so that the women get paid for the work they produce, but the meeting is also to encourage them to spend time together which they don´t otherwise get the opportunity to do as they work all the time in the fields. The social worker also takes the opportunity during these meetings to lecture the women about hygiene and the importance of not feeding their families food that is tainted.
These meetings are a far cry from our sewing circle back home.
Ray had a computer class before he went back to his garden.
I was relegated to the chook pen. I had to clean all the pooh out and replace the nesting boxes with clean straw, which I had to collect myself from a nearby field.
Tomorrow Ray said he will cut me some more dry grass from the garden. It is really hot, hard work and it seemed to go nowhere because there are quite a few nesting boxes.
It´s a great chook shed, as chook sheds go, made from the mud bricks so common around here. The chickens are funny looking things with fluffy heads and feet and scrawný bald necks. They are new and not laying very well yet. The last lot were eating their own eggs, so they became dinner. It´s a tough world.
In the afternoon some of us were asigned to community work. We were taken to a small village further up the valley to help rebuild a house that was washed away in the recent floods. The damaged mud brick walls have to be broken down and the mud bricks crushed to be reused to make the 3,000 mud bricks needed for rebuilding.
Ray and three of the boys were assigned to crushing bricks while Vickey and I went to the women´s workshop (Talleres) where the women meet and make crafts for sale.
This group mainly knits hats and scarves. Our job is to take the roll and to record material going out and products coming in for sale. We keep these records so that the women get paid for the work they produce, but the meeting is also to encourage them to spend time together which they don´t otherwise get the opportunity to do as they work all the time in the fields. The social worker also takes the opportunity during these meetings to lecture the women about hygiene and the importance of not feeding their families food that is tainted.
These meetings are a far cry from our sewing circle back home.
Hygiene
Each day 2 or 3 people are scheduled to hygiene between morning tea and lunch.
This necessary activity is to help the children learn to wash their hands and clean their teeth. The teachers let the children out a grade at a time, they really are cute. One volunteer supervises the washing of hands and makes sure everyone has shampoo (soap) while someone else dispenses the crema (moisturiser) for face and hands. Then they are given a piece of fruit before they go to collect their lunch from the school kitchen where the village mothers are rostered on to cook each day. This will often be the only meal some of the children will have for the day.
Apparently the water in the village and at the school is approximately 200 times the acceptable drinking water level, even though the water is coming straight from the mountain. We think this is due to bad farming practices - they let their animals drink from the same reservoir. World Vision is trying to help with this.
The weather conditions up here on the mountain are so harsh that their little faces are always dry and cracked. You have to encourage them to put the moisturiser on their cheeks, but they try to resist. Pip told me that their cracked cheeks are infested with little mites and it probably hurts.
This all sounds pretty horendous but it is a lovely time for us. The children are always pleased to see you and they greet you with "hola amigo Jenny" because they remember you from class. And they are surprisingly polite, they wouldn´t dream of taking a piece of fruit from the box without having it handed to them, even when there is a bit of a rush on.
Peru´s Challenge has installed flushing toilets at the school and this is something else the children have to learn to use. They are not used to toilets at all. At home apparently they just go in the fields.
This necessary activity is to help the children learn to wash their hands and clean their teeth. The teachers let the children out a grade at a time, they really are cute. One volunteer supervises the washing of hands and makes sure everyone has shampoo (soap) while someone else dispenses the crema (moisturiser) for face and hands. Then they are given a piece of fruit before they go to collect their lunch from the school kitchen where the village mothers are rostered on to cook each day. This will often be the only meal some of the children will have for the day.
Apparently the water in the village and at the school is approximately 200 times the acceptable drinking water level, even though the water is coming straight from the mountain. We think this is due to bad farming practices - they let their animals drink from the same reservoir. World Vision is trying to help with this.
The weather conditions up here on the mountain are so harsh that their little faces are always dry and cracked. You have to encourage them to put the moisturiser on their cheeks, but they try to resist. Pip told me that their cracked cheeks are infested with little mites and it probably hurts.
This all sounds pretty horendous but it is a lovely time for us. The children are always pleased to see you and they greet you with "hola amigo Jenny" because they remember you from class. And they are surprisingly polite, they wouldn´t dream of taking a piece of fruit from the box without having it handed to them, even when there is a bit of a rush on.
Peru´s Challenge has installed flushing toilets at the school and this is something else the children have to learn to use. They are not used to toilets at all. At home apparently they just go in the fields.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Monday 17th May 2010
Today I was scheduled to do dance class with Jackie and Vicky for grades 5 and 6. We did lots of free dance moves led by Jackie and Vicky until eventually the ipod speaker batteries ran out and I came into my own with the Hokey Pokey.
Then I went to hygiene.
Ray spent most of the day digging in the garden and with the help of Viv and Lisa they started planting some seeds.
We both had lesson plans in the afternoon.
There is a Trivia Night held each week at an English Pub called the Real McCoy.
We went along with a few of the other volunteers. We divided into two teams because there were too many of us. We were the upstairs team. The downstairs team beat us by one point. If you win you get free drinks. Maybe next time.
Then I went to hygiene.
Ray spent most of the day digging in the garden and with the help of Viv and Lisa they started planting some seeds.
We both had lesson plans in the afternoon.
There is a Trivia Night held each week at an English Pub called the Real McCoy.
We went along with a few of the other volunteers. We divided into two teams because there were too many of us. We were the upstairs team. The downstairs team beat us by one point. If you win you get free drinks. Maybe next time.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Sunday 16th May 2010
A free day.
We went to the fresh produce market to get fresh fruit and veg, then home to catch up on my blog.
While I was blogging Ray decided to make pumpkin soup. Great job except that he used Jackie´s pumpkin. Good one!!!
We went to the fresh produce market to get fresh fruit and veg, then home to catch up on my blog.
While I was blogging Ray decided to make pumpkin soup. Great job except that he used Jackie´s pumpkin. Good one!!!
Tour of Inkan Ruins around Cuzco
Today, Saturday, we went on one of the planned tours of our trip.
The whole team went, and first of all we went horse riding through the forest. It was the most beautiful mountain scenery. All the scenery around Cuzco is beautiful, but this was something else, you could see the whole valley from a great height - magnificent. The horses were really lovely, but obviously infested with parasites because some of them farted every step they took, a sure sign. The young boys in the group spent their time trying to make their horses go faster and to lead the group but pack horses have their own pecking order and they kept giving way to each other which caused great hilarity.
We visited the Tambuachay ruins, a natural water site used by the Inkans as a sacrifical site as well. Water pours out of the Inkan built stone structure naturally like a constant water fountain.
Then we went to another site called Pukara (a census point) used by the Inkans to count the travellers going from one point of the city to another.
We then rode the horses back down the mountain.
We had lunch at Los Perros (The Dog) in Cuzco. Beautiful food but too much of it for our still tender stomachs.
In the afternoon we visited Saqsayuaman (pronounced sexy woman) a huge archaeological site that was used for ceremonial and entertainment purposes. The three layers of terracing with gigantic stones that lock together without mortar was an amazing site.
The first layer is for "those that have died" represented by the serpent for intelligence.
The second layer is for "the living" represented by the puma for power.
And, the third layer is for "heaven" represented by the condor for sending messages
to the Gods.
It was a lovely day but after a very busy week and a full day we were all very tired and had a early night. Most of the younger ones had been out partying the night before at the Salsa Clubs so they were all very subdued at the end of the day.
I bought a chess set for Bobby today. The Spaniards against the Inkans.
And, I saw a nice white alpaca rug that I might try to find again (perhaps for Clare if she likes it).
The whole team went, and first of all we went horse riding through the forest. It was the most beautiful mountain scenery. All the scenery around Cuzco is beautiful, but this was something else, you could see the whole valley from a great height - magnificent. The horses were really lovely, but obviously infested with parasites because some of them farted every step they took, a sure sign. The young boys in the group spent their time trying to make their horses go faster and to lead the group but pack horses have their own pecking order and they kept giving way to each other which caused great hilarity.
We visited the Tambuachay ruins, a natural water site used by the Inkans as a sacrifical site as well. Water pours out of the Inkan built stone structure naturally like a constant water fountain.
Then we went to another site called Pukara (a census point) used by the Inkans to count the travellers going from one point of the city to another.
We then rode the horses back down the mountain.
We had lunch at Los Perros (The Dog) in Cuzco. Beautiful food but too much of it for our still tender stomachs.
In the afternoon we visited Saqsayuaman (pronounced sexy woman) a huge archaeological site that was used for ceremonial and entertainment purposes. The three layers of terracing with gigantic stones that lock together without mortar was an amazing site.
The first layer is for "those that have died" represented by the serpent for intelligence.
The second layer is for "the living" represented by the puma for power.
And, the third layer is for "heaven" represented by the condor for sending messages
to the Gods.
It was a lovely day but after a very busy week and a full day we were all very tired and had a early night. Most of the younger ones had been out partying the night before at the Salsa Clubs so they were all very subdued at the end of the day.
I bought a chess set for Bobby today. The Spaniards against the Inkans.
And, I saw a nice white alpaca rug that I might try to find again (perhaps for Clare if she likes it).
Friday 14th May 2010
Ray and I were both on English class for grades 3&4 with Megan, Viv and Lee.
Megan took the lead for the first half, then we broke into small groups to reinforce the lesson with card props. It is naturally a very chaotic class (I know this because they are the same kids from the art class on Wednesday) we were both traumatized from the experience. I think my kids learnt something???
After English I went to Hygiene (supervising washing hands and faces, moisturizing hands and faces and giving out a platano (banana) before lunch and Ray went back to the garden. I went up to help him between classes and while he dug garden beds and Pip watered, I picked a crop of cucumbers and a few tomatoes, to be used in the kitchen where the mothers cook the school lunches. Often the only meal the children will get for the day, save maybe, a potatoe with a cup of tea.
We went into Cuzco in the afternoon to buy a new camera (the other one got dropped at the Mothers Day meeting). Fortunately I have been able to save the photos, thanks to my friend Jo.
Megan took the lead for the first half, then we broke into small groups to reinforce the lesson with card props. It is naturally a very chaotic class (I know this because they are the same kids from the art class on Wednesday) we were both traumatized from the experience. I think my kids learnt something???
After English I went to Hygiene (supervising washing hands and faces, moisturizing hands and faces and giving out a platano (banana) before lunch and Ray went back to the garden. I went up to help him between classes and while he dug garden beds and Pip watered, I picked a crop of cucumbers and a few tomatoes, to be used in the kitchen where the mothers cook the school lunches. Often the only meal the children will get for the day, save maybe, a potatoe with a cup of tea.
We went into Cuzco in the afternoon to buy a new camera (the other one got dropped at the Mothers Day meeting). Fortunately I have been able to save the photos, thanks to my friend Jo.
Thursday 13th May 2010
Feeling much better.
Our first free day (sort of). We don´t go up to Pumamarca (the village school) today.
We had a volunteers' meeting at 10 am (so a sleep in). All the volunteers are required to give a report on what has been happening at the school and the construction projects they are on. We had a report on all the classes we have been involved in (that is the extracaricular classes) - computer, English, PE, art, kindy and hygiene
Santusa (the local lady who helps out in the volunteer house) made a Peruvian lunch for us. Soup and chicken curry followed by chocolate cake. It was great and I have a very hurried version of the recipe because she was cooking up a storm while I was taking notes. Trouble is she was cooking three things at once and it was hard to tell what was going into what dish. Anyway it tasted great and all the volunteers sat down to a meal together which was nice. Some of the volunteers have made some very nice friendships and go out and do things together at night (I don´t know how they have the energy) but it was good to have a meal altogether.
At 3pm Ray and I were both on community work.
We were taken to a small very poor village further up the mountain (part of the next project for Peru´s Challenge) where one of the houseswhas washed away in the floods earlier this year. Ray, along with Scott, Kirk and Benn (three very energetic boys) were set to breaking down the remaining mud brick walls and crushing the bricks in readiness to make new bricks to rebuild the new house for the family who are presently living in a makeshift tin shed with rags for a door. It gets very cold at night here and it is much colder in the mountains. It is very hard work and they come home very tired and dirty because it is very dry and dusty up there.
Meanwhile Jo and I went to Talleres (women´s workshop) in the same village as the boys, where we had to take the name and number of the women present and take a record of the craftwork they brought in and materials taken out (mainly wool for kniting for this group of women). The craftwork they do is to help bring in a bit of money but the purpose of the workshop is to encourage the women to get together and talk amongst themselves and to have some respite from their families and the fields. There is a lot of alcoholism and this is also a place for them to come for help and to work out who needs help.
It was caotic for Jo and I just to be able to understand the Spanish (thank God for Jo, her Spanish is better than mine) to take the roll call. We were busy the whole meeting just doing this because the women all want to make sure their name is taken and goods recorded so they crowd you in.
In the evening we did lesson preparation for tomorrow. We´re both on English classes. A very full day.
Our first free day (sort of). We don´t go up to Pumamarca (the village school) today.
We had a volunteers' meeting at 10 am (so a sleep in). All the volunteers are required to give a report on what has been happening at the school and the construction projects they are on. We had a report on all the classes we have been involved in (that is the extracaricular classes) - computer, English, PE, art, kindy and hygiene
Santusa (the local lady who helps out in the volunteer house) made a Peruvian lunch for us. Soup and chicken curry followed by chocolate cake. It was great and I have a very hurried version of the recipe because she was cooking up a storm while I was taking notes. Trouble is she was cooking three things at once and it was hard to tell what was going into what dish. Anyway it tasted great and all the volunteers sat down to a meal together which was nice. Some of the volunteers have made some very nice friendships and go out and do things together at night (I don´t know how they have the energy) but it was good to have a meal altogether.
At 3pm Ray and I were both on community work.
We were taken to a small very poor village further up the mountain (part of the next project for Peru´s Challenge) where one of the houseswhas washed away in the floods earlier this year. Ray, along with Scott, Kirk and Benn (three very energetic boys) were set to breaking down the remaining mud brick walls and crushing the bricks in readiness to make new bricks to rebuild the new house for the family who are presently living in a makeshift tin shed with rags for a door. It gets very cold at night here and it is much colder in the mountains. It is very hard work and they come home very tired and dirty because it is very dry and dusty up there.
Meanwhile Jo and I went to Talleres (women´s workshop) in the same village as the boys, where we had to take the name and number of the women present and take a record of the craftwork they brought in and materials taken out (mainly wool for kniting for this group of women). The craftwork they do is to help bring in a bit of money but the purpose of the workshop is to encourage the women to get together and talk amongst themselves and to have some respite from their families and the fields. There is a lot of alcoholism and this is also a place for them to come for help and to work out who needs help.
It was caotic for Jo and I just to be able to understand the Spanish (thank God for Jo, her Spanish is better than mine) to take the roll call. We were busy the whole meeting just doing this because the women all want to make sure their name is taken and goods recorded so they crowd you in.
In the evening we did lesson preparation for tomorrow. We´re both on English classes. A very full day.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Altitude Sickness
As soon as we arrived in Cusco the altitude sickness started to set in. We tried to ignore it to start with but it was eventually so debilitating that we took to our bed. I remained there for three days. I seemed to get it worse than Ray or may be I'm just a bit more pathetic.
After about three to four days of splitting headaches, nausea, vomiting, heart pulpitations, shortness of breath and generally feeling like you want to die, we are starting to come good.
Lots of coca tea, which they tell me works, but I havent noticed any difference.
Coca tea is made from the same leaves as cocaine. Still havent noticed any difference.
Although we are feeling better now, a week later, we still sometimes have problems breathing. For no reason at all we get shortness of breath even lying down in bed at night it can come on you. Of course walking uphill or exerting yourself can bring it on as well.
After about three to four days of splitting headaches, nausea, vomiting, heart pulpitations, shortness of breath and generally feeling like you want to die, we are starting to come good.
Lots of coca tea, which they tell me works, but I havent noticed any difference.
Coca tea is made from the same leaves as cocaine. Still havent noticed any difference.
Although we are feeling better now, a week later, we still sometimes have problems breathing. For no reason at all we get shortness of breath even lying down in bed at night it can come on you. Of course walking uphill or exerting yourself can bring it on as well.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday at the school
We did our first classes today. Ray did a computer class with grades 5 then went back to his garden.
I started the morning with an art class for grade 2, it was chaotic but at least all my group completed the task. I escaped to the English class for grade 5 with Viv and Megan, the older children were lovely and they taught me more than I taught them. After English Lee, Ben and I took a PE class for grade 2. We did exercises and games and an obstacle course which the kids loved. It was a huge success. All in all it was a pretty full morning.
We had our Spanish class in the afternoon after Santusa, the volunteer housekeeper, made lunch for some of us, then I went with Pip to visit the girls in hospital.
Later Ray and I took ourselves by local bus to the mega supermarket to get some much needed shopping. Up till now we havent realy eaten anything, just liquids and coca tea.
I started the morning with an art class for grade 2, it was chaotic but at least all my group completed the task. I escaped to the English class for grade 5 with Viv and Megan, the older children were lovely and they taught me more than I taught them. After English Lee, Ben and I took a PE class for grade 2. We did exercises and games and an obstacle course which the kids loved. It was a huge success. All in all it was a pretty full morning.
We had our Spanish class in the afternoon after Santusa, the volunteer housekeeper, made lunch for some of us, then I went with Pip to visit the girls in hospital.
Later Ray and I took ourselves by local bus to the mega supermarket to get some much needed shopping. Up till now we havent realy eaten anything, just liquids and coca tea.
Second Day in the Community
Spent the morning scraping plaster from ceiling beams in readiness to paint the new kitchen built by the previous volunteers for the school. Totally exhausted, we both still have altitude sickness. Ray spent the morning in the garden where they grow vegetables which are used to supplement the lunches for the children, sometimes the only meal they may get for the day. They have made him head of the gardening team, who else.
This afternoon Ray was on lesson plans and I was on community activity.
Lisa, Jackie and I were invited to a lunch for the mothers of the village for a Mothers Day celebration.
The community Social Worker and Lauren from Perus Challenge put on a lunch at a local restaurant and gave all the mothers a gift of a rug. It was a very special occasion and we were honoured to be asked to attend and to hand out the gifts on behalf of Perus Challenge. We were thanked and kissed by everyone of the sixty or so mothers present.
It was amazing, the whole afternoon was spent working out who was there and where they were going to sit. Nothing happens quickly, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and were very grateful.
Many of the mothers arrived with their babies wrapped in colourful blankets and carried on their backs.
I was intrigued to see how they just twisted the blanket slightly to be able to feed the baby.
Many of the women wore these unusual hats which I have yet to find out about their significance.
Cuzco, Peru and the Volunteer House
Flew with Joanna to Cuzco, joined up with Tanya and waited for Pip to collect us.
Arrived at the volunteer house.
Everyone is very friendly and Pip gave us the orientation talk.
Viv and Lee, previous volunteers, took us on a walk round the local neighbourhood to show us where to find things, laundry, bottles of water, supermarket, etc.
In the afternoon we went into Cuzco, about half an hour away by local bus, for lunch at Jackies. We had nachos, now Ive had the real thing.
Later we went for a walk around Cuzco, a very pretty town, based on Inca ruins but built over by the Spanish when they invaded in 1532.
THE VOLUNTEER HOUSE
The volunteer house is divided into three apartments. We are sharing with three other people, Jackie, Lisa and Megan and fortunately we have our own room. Most of the other volunteers are younger than us. We are only just getting to know them but they all seem really nice. A few party animals.
There are lots of things to learn, just living in the house.
You cant put toilet paper down the toilet for one thing. It goes in a bin and has to be emptied each day. The sewage system is very primative.
Electricity and water can go off at anytime.
The rubbish is put out each day for collection, but we have noticed that people come along and go through it, so we have to keep tidying it up.
All dishes have to be rinsed, washed and poured over with boiling water and air dried to avoid sickness.
Dont drink the water.
Teeth must be brushed using bottled water.
Dont eat salads or anything that is not cooked or can be peeled as nothing can be washed adequately.
Hygeine is paramount. My hands are getting dry and sore from the constant use of antiseptic handwash.
There are lots of horrible bugs to avoid living in a third world country.
Already in the first week two girls have been taken to hospital with salmonella and oemeber parasites in the bowel. They could have picked it up anywhere, even many restaurants are suspect. It can be serious if you dont get onto it straight away, although the symptoms are pretty obvious, I want go into it here.
They are OK now and back home, but everyone is very cautious about germs.
THE PROGRAM
There are timetables put up downstairs everyday for activities. Everyone is on their own program and has a different activity. Although generally speaking we all go to the community each morning to do either construction work, hygeine duty or to take lessons at the school. We all come home between 1 and 2pm for lunch then some go back for community work from 3 to 7pm and the others stay back to do lesson preparation for the next day.
It is a very full day.
Lima, Peru
Up early for trip to Lima. Arrived Lima 11.30 am. Needed an afternoon nap. We went out for a long walk to Miraflores shopping district where we had dinner. It is a very nice area, everything is all new and clean.
Next day went for a walk through the parks along the cliff edge overlooking the ocean. All the gardens are beautifully kept. Lots of Latin Lovers all over the park. They have even made a statue to them. See the photo
Met up with fellow volunteer Joanna from UK. We went on the City Tour together, City of the Kings, Cloister of San Francisco and the catacombs under the church and Lima cathedral where lies Francisco Pizaro the Spanish conqueror of Peru plus the outer areas of Lima, Olives Park, Central Park and Parque del Amor.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Santiago, Chile
Arrived Chile via Auckland - a good trip over. Had all four middle seats to ourselves, so we got some sleep.
Staying two nights in Santiago.
First day went for a walk around the city area to get aclimatized. Nice ice cream, "Gran Duke" flavour, yum. Spent the next day doing a hop-on-hop-off bus trip around greater Santiago - lots of walking. Walked the hill to view Santiago, every park bench along the way was occupied by at least one latin lover couple.
Already picking up some of the language due to necessity.
To Begin
We are fortunate to have the opportunity to be making this trip. In comparison we have led privledged lives - wonderful parents and family, charmed childhoods, fabulous marriage and two successful adult children whom we adore. And, now we are in this time and place in our lives where we are able to give something back.
Our aim is not to save the world but to leave a small Peruvian village a little better off than we found it.
Our aim is not to save the world but to leave a small Peruvian village a little better off than we found it.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Wont be long
Nothing to report yet.
All packed and ready to go.
One more half sleep - getting up at 2 am (thanks Clare)
All packed and ready to go.
One more half sleep - getting up at 2 am (thanks Clare)
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