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.