26 April 2005

Cusco

22 April 2005

Bus ride through miles and miles of cotton fields, vendors selling mountains of it on the roads side, smells of garbage, slaughter, burning plastics and exhaust. Cotton processing plants.

A twenty two hour bus undertaking down along the coastline of Peru, through Pisco then Nasca and then inland to Abancay and then onto Cusco where we will spend a few days acclimating to the massive change in altitude. From Lima´s sea level to the 19,000 feet Andean peaks! The highest peak I have ever climbed was a mere 13,500 feet!

Today´s strange observation: It´s funny how toilet paper is used for absolutely everything around here. You will never find it in a public restroom, you will rarely find it in a restaurant or bar toilet, but you will see it used for dozens of other things...as napkins mostly, but also for art projects and lampshades, etc.

Tonight the moon looks nearly full. I´m watching it, the children are watching it, you are watching it, yet we are all so far apart in distance, we are still sharing it all the same. My moon is casting it´s glow on desert land with no vegetation and the odd ecclecticly built particle board home. I wonder what yours looks like.

23 April 2005

Got into Cusco at about 10:30am, early. We went directly to the Hospedaje Santa Rosa De Lima - Los Hermanas Dominicanus, where we will be spending several nights acclimatizing to the change in elevation. We are currently at approximately 10,000 feet.

After my first hot shower in Peru, we went into the town center for lunch. We found a georgeous restaurant with a Peruvian style salad bar - loaded with chilis, hot salsas, fresh vegetables, olives, guacamole, and fresh rolls...needless to say this little rabbit was in heaven and grazed until her stomach hurt. I also tried a new beer, Cusqueña, labeled as a dark beer which turned out to be dark in colour and extremely sweet, I wouldn´t want more than one but it was tasty and strong.

We also had a huge pitcher of freshly squeezed lemonade, the juices here are lovely and thick with pulp...papaya, mango, lemon, orange, starfruit, pineapple...I feel so spoiled and guilty.
After a lovely lunch, we wandered around Cusco for a couple of hours exploring. Through artisan´s markets selling local art and handicrafts. Everything is so beautiful and full of colour.

After a bit of a rest, as there was no sleep to be had the night before, we planned for the rest of our trip here in the Cusco area and then headed out for a very late dinner. We stumbled into a lovely, tiny cobblestone street and were lured by the delicious sounds of Cuban music pouring out through a second floor window. The gents humored me even though they were absolutely knackered and went up with me to check it out.

We sat on soft cushions and listened to a three piece band, wooden box as percussion, guitar and vocalist, and a flutist that danced incessantly. We sat around comfortably sipping the local brew, enjoying the music and smoking a lovely and very smooth strawberry flavoured tobacco out of a Shisha, of which there were many. I´ve never tried one of these before and the first try sent me into a coughing fit. After a bit though, it tasted like warm strawberry sugar. Cool experience.

The music and the atmosphere filled me with energy and I was ready to stay up much later but the gents were exhausted so we went back for a proper rest.

24 April 2005

Great nights rest, we each have a private room - sin 15-20 small children running around! This morning we met with the travel agent that made the arrangements for the Inca Trail trek that I leave for on Wednesday. I had questions about possible programs for Manu National Reserve and for an Amazon trip. I would love to be able to do both, one or the other, but will probably be limited by money but more so time as I already miss the children, being away from them for only two days now.

I think about them constantly as we spend tourist dollars on sheer pleasure. The small amounts of money we spend would surely be so much better spent on them. I struggle with how to justify this constantly. I suppose this upcoming trek is as a fundraising event...

We had a quick and slight breakfast as we are determined not to be as decadent as we were yesterday with our mad gorging of food. I think of the lovely Leena, a coy, doe eyed girl that sits next to me at meal times back at the refuge. She is one of the children that I have absolutely fallen in love with and fantasize about stealing back to the U.S. She appears to have an absolute black hole of a belly though she is so very thin. I have seen her crunch the marrow out of bones, pick every last crumb of bread from her bowl, and wipe each drop of fluid from her plate with her little finger. Nothing is ever wasted or taken for granted.

In Leena, we have found a brilliant way to dispose of items that we are unsure about trying, can´t stomach one more time, etc. I love to share the extra little items that somehow mysteriously find their way to my plate (little gifts of fruit etc.) with her. Afterwards, we boarded an overly crowded bus to Pisca to wander through the Sunday market. Sunday is the big day for the Pisac market, the market place was filled with lovely fresh fruits and vegetables, Peruvian women in traditional dress of mid-shin length skirts, layers of sweaters, stockings, lovely hats topped with piles of fresh flowers and a large blanket wrapped around their shoulders either holding a small child or a baby llama. These women are bathed in the brightest of colours. Brightly coloured tapestries in every shape imaginable from blankets, bags, hats, sashes and purses.

Strangest site of the day? A miniature castle inhabited by guinea pigs. Stranger yet because under the guise of the name Cuy, they are eaten as a local delicacy.

We spent a few hours exploring the market place, making small purchases. Among other things, I bought a lovely chess set featuring the Incas versus the Spainiards and a bag of Coca leaves to try.

After having a beautiful lunch in the sunshine on the outskirts of the open air market, we began a trek up to Inca Pisac, a hilltop citadel. The trek was difficult due to the elevation and wasn´t for anyone that had any issues with heights as at many times we hiked along tiny, one person at a time paths with plunging gorges on either side.

This steep hillside is covered with agricultural terracing that form these sensuous curves and unbelievable steps down the steep Andean mountain sides. At the top of the terraces there was a ceremonial center with an intricate series of water channels, unbelievable detail, ceremonial baths, etc. There was also a mountain side across one of the gorges that hosted hundreds of holes, honey combs which were ancient Inca tombs.

We stopped along the way to sample our Coca leaves, which proved to be quite tasty. A bit of an energy boost and afterwards I am left with a bit of a headache and unsure of what exactly to attribute it to. Most likely acclimation to the altitude and dehydration.

We make it to the base of the mountain just before dark and scrambled to catch a bus back to Cusco. We snagged a very cramped and uncomfortable ride in a van for 2 soles a piece. I counted twenty-one people in that van including us, needless to say we were more than happy when the 45 minute journey was over.

After cleaning up a bit and getting a tiny rest, Dan and I went into the city in search of food as Ibar was feeling somewhat ill - probably the altitude. We found a great Lebanese restaurant and had a pile of falafel while I taught Dan how to play Backgammon. These 10pm dinners are going to be the death of me! Lovely late night walk back to the Hospedaje Santa Rosa de Lima. Remnants of the full moon reflecting on the cobblestone streets. I love Cusco, it´s a very romantic and beautiful old city.

25 April 2005

Late start today as we had to await the arrival of the travel agent and he didn´t appear until 10am. The poor guy´s sister passed away very tragically the morning before. This is when I get so angry with myself for my inability to speak the language. I am thankful that a big hug and kiss can translate into the words I would have otherwise chosen...perhaps they were more effective in the long run.

After meeting with him, we went into town to a local market in order to get fresh produce for lunch and then caught a bus out to the furthest of four ancient Incan ruins, Tambo Machay. Tambo Machay was a rather small archeological site that seemed to be a series of ceremonial baths. I am repeatedly taken with the intricate Incan drainage systems and can´t help to take numerous photographs as they are so beautifully chiseled into the stone.

We had our lunch in the sunshine at Tambo Machay. Fresh bread with avocado and tomato for me chased by a huge mango that I hoarded all to myself (my partners in crime foolishly declined). We took an alternate route to the next site, Puca Pucara, along a muddy little dirt road that meandered through a tiny village, many little pigs, sheep, llamas, horses, etc. tied to the road´s edge that I stopped repeatedly to pet and "converse" with. Including a large sow that let me scratch her enormous, dirty belly with happy little oinks and snorts...the sow, not me. Children running out to greet us as we passed by their homes.

Puca Pucara was cool, it had a large cave that I climbed into, must remember to carry my head lamp next time as it was very dark inside. My favorite part of this site was it´s commanding view over the entire valley. I practice some yoga on its most beautiful terrace.

We then hiked on to the Temple of the Moon, Salapunco. This site was my favorite of the day, as it was absolutely unvisited and had a deeply spiritual energy about it. Upon our approach it appeared to be simply a huge rock outcropping with a long series of stairs chiseled into its side. We sat on top and peered around at the surrounding ring of Andes mountains, then started down the back side and discovered another set of stairs, accompanied by another fantastic water system.

At the base of the Temple were several entrances into cave structures beneath the rock. The best of which opened up into a great cavern that had designs, alters, smaller rooms, and stairs all chiseled out by hand. Absolutely mind boggling.

Leaving the site I bought some hand wrought stone pieces, an egg shaped stone that came apart into two pieces, on the exterior of one was a carved image of the sun, on the other the moon. On the interior a man on one side and a woman on the other. They are absolutely stunning.

Again we chose to take an alternate route to the next site, Qenko, and walked through a beautiful Eucalyptus grove - simply Eucalyptus in perfect rows with a grass carpet. Magical and I expected to discover a gingerbread house along the way.

Qenku was a huge chunk of limestone that is riddled with various niches, steps, collection channels and symbolic carvings. I originally thought that all of these channel systems were for water collection but have since learned that they may have been used for the ritual sacrifice of Chicha or blood. There was a ceremonial alter at the top of the site and beneath there was another series of amazing tunnels to explore. A subterranean series of caves and alters.

The quickly declining amounts of daylight forced us to race to Sacsayhuaman, our final site for the day and one of the most spectacular in the area. Sacsayhuaman has both spiritual and military significance. It´s name means "satisfied falcon" but when pronounced properly sounds like "sexy woman"...the first time I was told about the sight, I thought the guy was getting fresh with me!

Sacsayhuaman has huge zig-zagged rock fortifications, one of the stones weighs an amazing 300 tons! The Incas envisioned Cusco in the shape of a Puma with Sacsayhuaman as the head. These zig-zagged walls form the teeth of the puma. There were incredible caves and caverns all over the site, the best of which we held hands through (me leading!), there wasn´t a drop of light inside and you had to feel your way through....absolutely amazing!

We stayed at Sacsayhuaman until it was absolutely dark then grabbed a collectivo back to the Plaza de Armas at which point we found the dingiest of all dingey boozers to date and went in to have a beer.

We quickly discovered that this dirty little cellar bar was locals only and we stuck out like sore thumbs. I thought that the place was filled with only Peruvian men and was a bit nervous as they all kept staring so much, until I noticed the sweetest little Peruvian woman in the far corner of the room. She immediately smiled and waved at me, I returned the greeting and felt much more comfortable.

The only seats that were available were a couple of stools that we pulled up to an empty wall. We quickly realized that we were sitting at the entrance a bathroom of some kind because of the stench and circling flies...and the constant influx of men.

After a moment or two the sweet little woman motioned for us to join them and they made room for us at their table...we gladly left our bathroom seats. Turns out this lovely woman was the mother of one of the men at the table, they were accompanied by seven other men. They all turned out to be a blast.

We went into the bar with the intention of having a beer, which was looked at very strangely as it was a Chicha bar. Chicha is a cloudy drink made from sweet maize and the locals drink it in huge jugs...I am not sure how they can drink so much of it. When they want another one they whistle loudly at the bartender who quickly comes over and fills their jug, revising the number of jugs the person has consumed in front of them with a chalk number.

Feeling strange about drinking beer and itching to try the local drink we ordered up a pitcher (with three tiny glasses...a bit embarrassing in the presence of the locals, but we weren´t sure about being able to polish of those gigantic jugs of the liquid!) for the three of us and one for our new friends.

I am still not sure what to compare the flavor of Chicha with...my best description is partially fermented wine, a tiny bit of pineapple flavor and a vanilla finish...an acquired taste and we definitley acquired a taste for it...lets just say that we stayed a whole lot longer than we had intended and that Rebecca ended up dancing with the sweet old gents and smootching them all on the cheeks before stumbling home with Dan and Ibar.

At one point I asked about where the woman´s room was and a huge bustling commotion took place, none of which I could really understand. The Peruvian woman went and spoke to the bartender, and immediately three or four people went to work in the "bathroom" that we had originally been sitting by, chasing out all of the men in there, out comes the bucket of water, loads of bleach, a mop, etc. etc.

The bathroom was cleaned for my use, which I was eternally grateful for as I can´t imagine what it must have look like prior. When I was given the go ahead to use it, the woman waited at the door to keep out the men, I walked in and my first thought (well after thinking that I definitley wasn´t going to touch anything) was where do you go? There was a trough of sorts about a meter long and a hole in the ground....that is about all I want to say about that.
My heart swelled when I was presented a gift, upon our exit, of a hand carved Incan god to protect and take care of me. I am now wearing it around my neck.

21 April 2005

Los Laderas

I think that I ate meat the other day...and I didn´t complain or argue....

I went to visit the community where most of the children at the refuge have come from, saw the extremely horrible conditions that they had been living in, met some of their siblings that haven´t had the opportunity to come to the refuge because either they need to provide support for their family or because sadly there just isn´t enough resource available to house them here yet.

Homes made of deteriorating particle board and cardboard, infants crawling on dirt floors, tuberculosis, distended bellies....I will be posting photographs as soon as possible in a mad attempt at raising additional monies for these poor children.

There were no men at Los Laderas when we were visiting, they are either trying desperately to earn money to feed their families or have abandoned them out of frustration at not being able to take proper care of them. We met with a small number of the mothers that have managed to pull together a strong community of support for each other. They meet and prepare meals to feed the huge number of residents, they teach lessons, they share and support each other in their endless tales of domestic abuse and frustration.

I cried through nearly my entire visit and find it tremendously difficult to share this with you now...

Even with all of this extreme poverty, the children and women walk with their heads held so high, with endless strength and wide open and welcoming hearts.

Once we had completed a walk of the community, we were welcomed back to one of the communal food halls to join them for a lunch. None of us wanted to take the food from them...they struggle to put it on their own tables and to feed their own children...but to not take what was offered to us would have been absolutely insulting and so, I think that I ate meat with them for the first time in nearly eighteen years....

At the end of our visit, we stopped by their chapel and purchased the equivalent to two hundred American dollars worth of their local handicrafts to bring back to the UK and the US for resale at larger cost in order to acquire funds to then be re-funneled back into Project Peru. I will attempt to do it again once I leave...If I can manage to force myself to leave, as we nearly cleaned out their stock of handicrafts with our purchase.

Upon our return to the refuge I went immediately into a meeting with a local Architect, two Gentlemen that will be donating time, 25 volunteers and funds, and a small committee of others to discuss the future development of the site. There are plans to build an additional dormitory space to allow for more children, as well as accommodations for volunteer help, administrative buildings, additional kitchen spaces, and halls for community development and educational facilities. I couldn´t be here at a better time as it seems that my professional skills are greatly appreciated and very much needed right now.

The architectural construction for the site will commence in mid June and amazingly take only approximately two months to complete at which point they will have nearly doubled their potential capacity. Unfortunately, I am under the impression that they do not yet have the required funding required to be able to complete it as scheduled.

I am so excited that I can help them so much and have so many fantastic ideas for the site...Isabel, I am soon going to have my paws on an AutoCAD file for the future development....any interest at having a go at it yourself? I would love your input!

Yesterday was a complete 180 from the day before...Dan, Ibar and I went to the markets to make large purchases of materials that we have observed to be lacking at the refuge, glasses for the kitchen, jars of marmelade, green ribbons for the girls hair (school colours are yellow and green, they currently had only yellow), loads more material for their purse making handicrafts...and the ingredients for the evening treat...Dan, Ibar, and I made the children crepes for dessert after their evening meal. Tiny efforts on our behalf and the appreciation that we receive rips my heart out of my chest.

During our preparation of dessert, mind you we were cooking crepes for about forty, Lucy put on some Cuban music and we danced together with the children, singing and laughing...those that didn´t join in peered by the dozen in through the kitchen window laughing at us. The children are begging me to become their singing and dancing professor, apparently they think I am okay at both. Bless their generous little hearts!

Learning Spanish has suddenly become one of those delicious tortures. You fully understand its possibilities and can taste it on your tongue but its just out of reach. Could it get any more lovely?

This evening we will be preparing a great big party and baking a marble cake to go with it. We are inviting everyone that we have met, all of those that have been so very kind to us and having a bit of a celebration as Daniel, Ibar and I will head out to Cusco tomorrow morning and I will begin my trek of the Inca Trail at that point. I will not be here at the refuge until about the 4th or 5th of May and though I can´t wait to undertake this next adventure I am already heart broken at the thought of leaving the children for that long...

17 April 2005

Monos y Mercados

Oh...the days are very long and I am forgetting which day that I left off on. So, I have decided that since I have gotten the daily routine here pretty much established that I will just tell about daily adventures now and surely they will all meld together....

First, let´s start by saying that I am feeling much more comfortable here, by means of safety. I am finally able to understand most of what is being talked about around/to me and continue to struggle with getting my thoughts/responses across to others. "Poco a poco" is what they all keep patiently telling me. Everyone certainly seems pleased with my progress which is nice and I think that they respect the fact that I am trying very hard to learn the language. Such patience with me....

I try to sit with the women and older girls here at the refugio during their seemingly endless sessions of crocheting purses of all sizes, hair wraps, bracelets, sandals, etc. and just listen to them speak trying to add in when I can, it has been very helpful. While sitting with them one day, Lucy the house mother here, gave me a lesson in crocheting and, in one day, I managed to turn out my first little purse, though Lucy finished it off with a lovely button and strap. She presented it to me that evening telling me that my work was good and that in the morning we would get more thread for a larger one, my first was the size of a small change purse!

The little girls make bracelets out of the smaller scraps and simpler items like the headbands, I was adorned with a few lovely bracelets as well. It yanks my heart out that these people have so little yet give in every way that they can. The products that they create, these purses, hand painted cards, calendars, etc., are then shipped to England and then sold at much higher prices, the proceeds of which are then funneled back into Project Peru. I will try to bring back a bunch of them so that I can attempt to distribute them in the States, though I fear that it may prove difficult to bring them into the States in large quantities.

I find myself near tears everyday as a new story unfolds about a child. It is very difficult to hear and more difficult to talk about. I will be taking a trip to see where many of these children have been living....in shelters made of cardboard, plywood, etc....tiny boxes crowding the hillsides. I hear stories of how children didn´t eat if their families weren´t successful at collecting enough glass or metal bottles to exchange for money, the corruption of the local schools, the abuse of all the children, the abuse to the girls...there lovely little bodies are often laden with awful scars. Food was so scarce to most of them that no one leaves a crumb on their plate...quite literally. Here they have three meals a day, several outfits of clothing, a good pair of shoes for school and one for play, a small library of books, and a roof over there heads...and perhaps most importantly several people around them that love them immensely.

Yesterday morning I was sitting with two of the little monkies here, we were all swinging and they wanted me to watch how high they were swinging. I laughed at them and called them Superman at which point the younger of the two Antony (5) said to me that Superman better, himself, watch out for HIM!

Yesterday I was sitting and speaking to another volunteer, Daniel, and one of the little ones that I have been eyeballing as a potential smuggle back into the States came up behind me and threw his arms around my neck and just held me. Though he didn´t understand me, I spoke to him in English, telling him that I wanted to take him home and snuggle up to him at night like a teddy bear...then I said to Daniel that I couldn´t tell him that in Spanish because I would most likely scare him. Daniel responded by saying that wouldn´t be true but rather that the little one would probably be waiting in my bed for me once I retired.

I try so hard not to cry each day here. Yes, there are many sad things around me, but mostly because of the extreme beauty surrounding me, the kids, the people in general, the culture, the pride, the kindness...I could go on forever.

I went to the market with Lucy and one of the older senoritas yesterday morning after breakfast. I love the markets here, though slightly disturbing to a vegan once in a while. My favorite....the spice markets, where you just pretend to be standing there for something or another and soak in the amazing smells of herbs and various exotic spices....lovely. Then there are sections of the markets for vegetables, meat, eggs, sweets, toys, and other products...Lucy seems to have her preferred vendors. Say the person that sells eggs for example. Lucy hands them a large basket, tells them that she wants to buy three dozen eggs, pays for them, and says she will pick them up on the way out of the market. She does the same at the vegetable vendor, the meat vendor, etc...Once she has purchased all of the items, we collects them all and we head out. I try to purchase many of the vegetables and fruits for the refuge to alleviate some of the expense of feeding me and I also bring back sweets and lollies for the children.

I insisted on carrying most of the items we purchased, as there were so many and Lucy hasn´t been feeling well. Kilos and Kilos of potatoes, huge bags of vegetables and fruits, baskets of eggs, crates of meat, pasta, etc. Overall a lovely experience.

At the market, Lucy also brought me to purchase some string for my first "real" purse, helped me to pick out lovely colors and appropriate clasps etc. I will begin work on it on Monday as she has today off.
Yesterday evening, Daniel, Ibar and I went into Lima as Daniel was to collect a couple of gentleman from the airport to bring them back to the refuge this evening. From what I understand, they are somehow associated with further development of the site and the architecture of additional buildings. I will be meeting with them on Monday to discuss plans for the site and to hopefully get a copy of their draft versions of proposed buildings so that I can begin to prepare a site design for the refuge.

There is an overwhelmingly positive response to me being a Landscape Architect and creating a plan for the site. Everyone keeps telling me the things that they would like to have here and what their needs are, it makes me unbelievably happy that I can be helpful to them in any way.

Back in Lima, we purchased bus tickets for a 20 hour ride to Cusco via Nasca for next Friday. At which point we will spend a few days acclimating to the high elevations and touring around the area then begin our trek of the Inca Trail and on to Machu Picchu. I am thrilled to undertake this next adventure, glad to have dos amigos to accompany me, and heart broken already to be leaving the children for several days. I hope with all my heart that this is a successful fundraiser as these children are in such need and really the best thing that I could provide them with from the States comes in a monetary form.

In Lima, we went to a local bar/restaurant and ate cheap plates of fried yucca and drank what is referred to as Inca Cola here, an ultra sweet and carbonated beverage that tastes like bubblegum and is the color of radiator fluid, overall, bueno.

On our return to the refugio by bus last night, an older Peruvian gentleman struck up a conversation with me. We chatted for nearly the entire hour long bus ride back, a much appreciated exercise for me! I love how people just chat each other up here, you never see that at home.

Okay, over and out here for now, back to the little monkies. Love to all of you, and special hotdog schnuggles and tickle fests for my favorite people in the whole wide world, Austin and Jordan...I love you both and will see you soon.

15 April 2005

Zapallel Arribo

13 April 2005

Up at quarter to seven, woke to the sound of honking horns and speeding cars. I am still suffering from a cold. My whole head feels clogged and I have quite an impressive bark of a cough. Nearly two weeks and I have had more than enough of it.

From what I gather, someone will be coming to collect me today to take me back to the refuge in Zapallel. I have now been told that it is about two hours away, I assume by bus which should be quite interesting with my monster pack. I had assumed it pretty streamlined in its contents but I am reconsidering a few items. I´m also tossing around ways of making myself ´blend in´ a bit more.

I left the church by myself this afternoon after lunch. I was a bit nervous to do so as everyone seems quite relieved that I have been quietly studying Spanish inside of the church. When I announced that I was going to exchange some money, Ursula didn´t look very happy and proceeded to make certain everything was zipped up properly and gave me the list of do nots, like don´t carry valuables, i.e. jewelery, etc., don´t put money anywhere but your front pocket etc. etc. and with that I left the always locked building...for a mere 45 minutes, a third of which was spent sitting peacefully in the San Martin Church.

No exposed skin, hair pulled back, no makeup or jewelery, no nice clothes...I still got ´meowed´ at...among other statements.

I have discovered that Dan and Ibar, the two volunteers in Zapallel at the moment, will be picking me up this afternoon to escort me to the refuge...I don´t say this often, but...it will be good to have male escorts.

Daniel and Ibar collected me from Padre Hilario´s home at around 6pm, at which point Hilario gave us all a tour of the other volunteer facilities within the church, the infirmary, the donations room (most of which is collected by Carole Hudson in the UK, one of the founders of the organization I am working with, and sent to the Padre Hilario for distribution.)

After exchanging $100 at the rate of 1 to 3 Neuvo Sol, a very bad rate because of both the bank we went to and because I was exchanging Traveler´s checks ( the current exchange rate for the dollar is 1 to 3.60 Neuvo Sol), Ursula helped us to get a cheap, safe taxi to Zapallel, which cost us 25 Neuvo Sol and took us approximately 30 minutes to get to the refuge.

We drove down congested roads and through the busier parts of Lima. The pollution is very bad and may be part of the reason for my continued coughing. Our taxi took us through poverty stricken areas, then down dirt roads and quiet disrepaired streets. All the building structures are enclosed by walls to discourage crime and there are tiny gated markets every once and a while selling sweets and pop.

When we got to the refuge we rang an exterior bell and we could hear the children singing and laughing within the gates and walls. A door, about five feet in height was opened by Manuel for us. Manuel and Lucy are the house mother and father for the children. When I walked in I was literally tackled by all of the children, a few dogs, Lucy and Manuel, pulled in every direction, hugged, chatted at by a dozen voices, and smothered in kisses....I almost started crying as the children offered up so much love immediately....

Sigh.

The children insisted on carrying my bags and Lucy showed me to a bed in the girls quarters. I left my bags there and proceeded to snuggle with the little ones and chat them up in my broken Spanish, or as they refer to it en Castellano.

The children went to bed shortly and Daniel, Ibar, Lucy, Manuel and I stayed up to converse a bit and sip coffee. Everyone goes to be quite early here as they all begin the day at five thirty in the morning.

14 April 2005

Up at half past five to chattering little girls and hushed whispers about the Senora. They tried very hard to let me sleep, I just lay there awake but with my eyes closed listening to them prepare for their day.

They wake up each morning and proceed to take turns in the bathroom, brushing teeth, washing their faces and splashing water in their hair. I waited in line with them as well. Then they move around all of the beds about thirty of them and sweep the floors clean, wash down the bathroom, then dress in their school uniforms, I helped them to brush their hair and put them into one or two ponytails or braids. Then we all sit down to breakfast at seven.

The children stand behind their chairs and give a prayer together, then sit for a breakfast of two white rolls with slices of meat inside accompanied by mugs of a warm cereal like drink called Quaker. The gents have warned me about trying this out! I have been given little extras for my meals like an apple or a glass of fresh juice which makes me feel guilty as the children don´t get any. I spoke to Ibar about this and that I might speak to the cook about it not being necessary to do this for me, but Ibar assures me it is just their way of welcoming me and that they experienced much the same in their beginning here.

After breakfast the children line up at the gate boys from small to big in one line and girls in the same fashion in a second line. The boys let the girls all walk out first and then they follow in line. They then madly scramble for adult hands and if they can´t get one then an elbow will do. Absolutely everything is accompanied by a barrage of questions in Castillano which, of course, I struggle through.

We all walk the children to school, the younger ones go to school in the morning and we collect them again at around 1pm. The volunteers are pretty free in the morning and work on English lessons and various projects for the refuge and children during this time.

Today we met with a young woman about coming to the English class that she teaches on Monday morning to carry on conversations with them in English. Mostly about our interests, where we are from, our family, etc. etc.
Lunch is served at 1pm after the younger children are collected and is usually the largest meal of the day. Today is was a lovely vegetable curry and rice and served with a sweet fruity water.

Afterwards Daniel, Ibar and I went to Puente Pierdra to pick up a couple of items for a birthday party that was taking place in the evening for one of the girls, Mary-Lou. We purchased a jumping rope and some candles for the cake as well as a bunch of fresh flowers (for the equivalent of 33 cents) that we were planning on taking to a family that kindly invited us to their home for a couple of hours.

When we got there I was presented with a beautiful gift bag, another welcome gift, containing a leather wallet, a leather coin purse, and two hand made and painted egg cups. All of these gifts were made by her husband who has been imprisoned for the past five years...such a sad story.

We caught a bus back to the refuge for 1 sol 50 and prepared for dinner after some play time with the children. Dinner is usually a soup of sorts with a roll and a piece of fruit. After dinner a beautiful cake was brought out to celebrate Mary-Lou´s birthday.

After dinner we teach three English classes, sorted by age, to the children. Daniel and Ibar have brilliantly discovered new and interesting games to play with the children each day. The kids seem to love it and even the adults participate in the lessons which are completely voluntary. They are rewarded for their successes by sweets and lollies and sometimes small toys.

I am not sure how the gents have the energy it takes to teach all three of these classes each evening as it must be absolutely exhausting...we finished off the evening with a lovely Peruvian beer, Cristal, and a bit of discussion and went soundly to bed...How does that saying go? Early to bed, early to rise?

14 April 2005

Iniciacion

Monday 11 April 2005

Flight from Boston to Miami, then on to Lima, Peru. Flight was uneventful for the most part. I was seated next to a lovely Peruvian woman on the second leg of my journey, Doris. We struck up a long conversation and in the end were swapping contact information. She very kindly offered to show me around Lima or assist me in any way.

Upon arrival to Peru, I was hustled through customs and was very fortunate not to get the "red light" at the random bag search area as I did previously in Central America, saving me repacking my bags.

I came out to the main terminal to what seemed to be hundreds of Peruvians shouting incomprehensible comments and waving around signs. Did I mention that I stand out like a sore thumb around here? Must find a way to blend in a bit better, perhaps negro hair rather than the rubio?

"Senora, Senora, Senora", "Cambio Senora?", "Taxi Senora?" Among a slew of other things I couldn´t understand.

While scanning the crowd in search of a sign with the words "Project Peru" on it, I heard my name called "Rebecca", I couldn´t for the life of me determine where it was being called from, "Rebecca", "Rebecca". I finally started calling back to this unknown voice..."yes...yes" until I spotted the beautiful Ursula, Secretary to Padre Hilario Huanca.

She motioned and tried to explain to me in Spanish to go outside and walk around the gates to meet her. Did I mention that it was 10pm? I was immediately surrounded with Peruvian men trying to get me a taxi or exchange money - dozens and dozens of them that just don´t take "no" for an answer and in fact follow you if you make eye contact or speak to them. Best to just walk on by.

I was thankful that I understood Ursula enough to meet her once outside of the airport. She was lovely and immediately took my small day pack as she discouraged all of the taxi drivers, etc. saying they were "muy caro, demasiado caro".

I believe she made reference to my backpack looking expensive and hustled me quickly through the dark streets on foot. When we got to a main road we waited for a local bus, a combi the urbanito bus, they were all very full and though Ursula didn´t mention it, I think she was a bit nervous about waiting there in the dark so after a half dozen attempts to get a decent price we finally climbed into a tiny taxi which dropped us off a couple of kilometres down the road at Ursula´s family home which she shares with her mother, father and two sisters. At this point, I am beginning to realize just how beautiful the Peruvian people are, Ursula´s family was stunning!

in just a matter of a couple of hours I can see my Spanish skills coming back to me and rapidly improving though communication still involves much pointing and charades!

After introductions to her family and a brief tour of their home, Ursula, an avid photographer, and I sat down to a two hour viewing of photographs of her family and friends.

Ursula´s family is very religious and have a home filled with religious art, photos, crucifix's, nativity scenes, etc. They also have seven, no eight ( they forgot one in the counting!), dogs that share their space! The family rescues them from the streets.

There is only an hour time difference between Massachusetts and Lima, Massachusetts being one hour later than Lima, and at 12:30pm local time, I quickly fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow...

12 April 2005

I woke this morning to a tremendous dog fight which started about half a block up the street and ran down the street until the barks and howls faded away. Makes me glad I have my rabies series in me making me radio active!

In a new place, I woke at 5:30am and listened to whether or not the house was awake. I listened as Ursula´s father prepared to leave for work in the textile factory, listened to a cart rolling up and down the dirt street with a man yelling "papaya, papaya" into a tinny microphone. I tried to fall asleep again until 6:00am, then got up to shower and get dressed which seemed to prematurely rouse the rest of the family. They kept saying, very politely, that I woke very early...

The family was so kind to me, I am under the impression that Ursula gave up her room to me. Last night I was asked what I would like for breakfast and I had to break the news that "Soy vegetariana, sin carne, sin leche, sin huevos, sin queso". And I probably said it just like that too, still working on the Spanish skills!

They just laughed at me, shook their heads and said "Americana" to each other...I felt like an idiot...I have found that the next question asked is "what do you eat?" at which point I feebly list off things like arroz, frijoles, verduras, frutas, papas, etc. Then I get the head shake again. I feel a bit of guilt with all of this as I fear that they may look at my diet as such a luxury and I don´t want to be insulting to my hosts....

But this morning Ursula´s mother prepared me a beautiful papaya and banana fruit smoothie along with whole wheat rolls, which appeared to be a semi-normal desayuno for the family.

After breakfast, Ursula´s mother left for a few moments to flag down a "safe" taxi and after goodbyes, offers to come stay with them again and many attempts at proper thank yous from me, Ursula and I rode from Callao to Lima Central so I could stay with Padre Hilario at Parraquia la Recoleta for the next couple of days until I am collected by another volunteer from Project Peru.

Padre Hilario is a native Quecha and has made me feel quite comfortable here at the church. He gave me a tour of Lima this morning before a 2pm lunch and during the tour we pointed to everything around us, him saying its name in Spanish, me saying it in English, at which point we would reverse the language for the rest of the walk. He is full of smiles and kindness. Everyone I meet greets me with kisses to my cheeks.

Padre Hilario brought me to Plaza Francia (very near to my current home), Plaza San Martin, Plaza de Armas and to Estacion Desamparados which has a current exhibition of female diosas of Peru and Mexico. It was fascinating and brought back many memories of my travels through Mexico.

About halfway through our explorations of Estacion Desamparados a young museum curator approached us to help translate what we were seeing to English. It was very kind but even I couldn´t help but get a bit blushy when he began to describe the fertility scenes in detail. I´m not very shy but I was walking around discussing oral and anal sex next to a complete stranger and the Padre!

We walked through a lovely new park still under construction, the Parque Morales - it was absolutely beautiful - a melding of modern design and ancient architecture.

Padre Hilario walked around the local souvenir shops with me until he found a lovely hand painted box that when its two hinged doors were opened, it revealed a ceramic nativity scene within. He said it was my welcome gift "Bienvenido regalo" - I think he picked this out because he saw me admiring the larger versions in the Biblioteca Nacional.

Upon our return we say down to a huge lunch with three other Padres. There was chicken, fish tamales, plates of lettuce and tomatoes, steamed vegetables, bowls of steamed white rice, a plate of green split peas in front of me with a concerned mention of protein, a pot of vegetable soup, boiled potatoes and a lovely sweet lemon drink. Though cautious of water consumption, I have still been drinking it when offered along with this lemon drink. So far...no problema...

I still haven´t had the opportunity to exchange any U.S. dollars though the Padre showed me where I could do it safely today. I am a bit nervous about doing it by myself as there is an overwhelming "sense" of crime. Even the Padre seemed hesitant about entering one so I said that I could do it later.

Dinner is served at 9pm at which point I could barely keep my eyes open, but I struggled to have bits of conversation with the Padres. They are very patient with me.

I am finding this language barrier exhausting but notice that my vocabulary is absolutely leaping forward out of pure necessity. I spent much of the afternoon and evening studying Spanish and helping Ursula to copy all of my Spanish - English lessons, it is so much fun to try to communicate with these people but I was absolutely exhausted from the effort and all I have been absorbing I was in bed my 10:30pm.

13 April 2005

Iniciacion

Monday 11 April 2005

Flight from Boston to Miami, then on to Lima, Peru. Flight was uneventful for the most part. I was seated next to a lovely Peruvian woman on the second leg of my journey, Doris. We struck up a long conversation and in the end were swapping contact information. She very kindly offered to show me around Lima or to assist me in any way.

Upon arrival to Peru, I was hustled through customs and was very fortunate not to get the "red light" at the random bag search area as I did previously in Central America, saving me repacking my bags.

I came out to the main terminal to what seemed to be hundreds of Peruvians shouting incomprehensible comments and waving around signs. Did I mention that I stand out like a sore thumb around here? Must find a way to blend in a bit better, perhaps negro hair rather than the rubio?
"Senora, Senora, Senora", "Cambio Senora?", "Taxi Senora?" Among a slew of other things I couldn´t understand.

While scanning the crowd in search of a sign with the words "Project Peru" on it, I heard my name called "Rebecca", I couldn´t for the life of me determine where it was being called from, "Rebecca", "Rebecca". I finally started calling back to this unknown voice..."yes...yes" until I spotted the beautiful Ursula, Secretary to Padre Hilario Huanca.

She motioned and tried to explain to me in Spanish to go outside and walk around the gates to meet her. Did I mention that it was 10pm? I was immediately surrounded with Peruvian men trying to get me a taxi or exchange money - dozens and dozens of them that just don´t take "no" for an answer and in fact follow you if you make eye contact or speak to them. Best to just walk on by.

I was thankful that I understood Ursula enough to meet her once outside of the airport. She was lovely and immediately took my small day pack as she discouraged all of the taxi drivers, etc. saying they were "muy caro, demasiado caro".

I believe she made reference to my backpack looking expensive and hustled me quickly through the dark streets on foot. When we got to a main road we waited for a local bus, a combi the urbanito bus, they were all very full and though Ursula didn´t mention it, I think she was a bit nervous about waiting there in the dark so after a half dozen attempts to get a decent price we finally climbed into a tiny taxi which dropped us off a couple of kilometres down the road at Ursula´s family home which she shares with her mother, father and two sisters. At this point, I am beginning to realize just how beautiful the Peruvian people are, Ursula´s family was stunning!

in just a matter of a couple of hours I can see my Spanish skills coming back to me and rapidly improving though communication still involves much pointing and charades!

After introductions to her family and a brief tour of their home, Ursula, an avid photographer, and I sat down to a two hour viewing of photographs of her family and friends.

Ursula´s family is very religious and have a home filled with religious art, photos, crucifix's, nativity scenes, etc. They also have seven, no eight ( they forgot one in the counting!), dogs that share their space! The family rescues them from the streets.

There is only an hour time difference between Massachusetts and Lima, Massachusetts being one hour later than Lima, and at 12:30pm local time, I quickly fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow...

12 April 2005

I woke this morning to a tremendous dog fight which started about half a block up the street and ran down the street until the barks and howls faded away. Makes me glad I have my rabies series in me making me radio active!

In a new place, I woke at 5:30am and listened to whether or not the house was awake. I listened as Ursula´s father prepared to leave for work in the textile factory, listened to a cart rolling up and down the dirt street with a man yelling "papaya, papaya" into a tinny microphone. I tried to fall asleep again until 6:00am, then got up to shower and get dressed which seemed to prematurely rouse the rest of the family. They kept saying, very politely, that I woke very early...

The family was so kind to me, I am under the impression that Ursula gave up her room to me. Last night I was asked what I would like for breakfast and I had to break the news that "Soy vegetariana, sin carne, sin leche, sin huevos, sin queso". And I probably said it just like that too, still working on the Spanish skills!

They just laughed at me, shook their heads and said "Americana" to each other...I felt like an idiot...I have found that the next question asked is "what do you eat?" at which point I feebly list off things like arroz, frijoles, verduras, frutas, papas, etc. Then I get the head shake again. I feel a bit of guilt with all of this as I fear that they may look at my diet as such a luxury and I don´t want to be insulting to my hosts....

But this morning Ursula´s mother prepared me a beautiful papaya and banana fruit smoothie along with whole wheat rolls, which appeared to be a semi-normal desayuno for the family.

After breakfast, Ursula´s mother left for a few moments to flag down a "safe" taxi and after goodbyes, offers to come stay with them again and many attempts at proper thank yous from me, Ursula and I rode from Callao to Lima Central so I could stay with Padre Hilario at Parraquia la Recoleta for the next couple of days until I am collected by another volunteer from Project Peru.

Padre Hilario is a native Quecha and has made me feel quite comfortable here at the church. He gave me a tour of Lima this morning before a 2pm lunch and during the tour we pointed to everything around us, him saying its name in Spanish, me saying it in English, at which point we would reverse the language for the rest of the walk. He is full of smiles and kindness. Everyone I meet greets me with kisses to my cheeks.

Padre Hilario brought me to Plaza Francia (very near to my current home), Plaza San Martin, Plaza de Armas and to Estacion Desamparados which has a current exhibition of female diosas of Peru and Mexico. It was fascinating and brought back many memories of my travels through Mexico.

About halfway through our explorations of Estacion Desamparados a young museum curator approached us to help translate what we were seeing to English. It was very kind but even I couldn´t help but get a bit blushy when he began to describe the fertility scenes in detail. I´m not very shy but I was walking around discussing oral and anal sex next to a complete stranger and the Padre!

We walked through a lovely new park still under construction, the Parque Morales - it was absolutely beautiful - a melding of modern design and ancient architecture.

Padre Hilario walked around the local souvenir shops with me until he found a lovely hand painted box that when its two hinged doors were opened, it revealed a ceramic nativity scene within. He said it was my welcome gift "Bienvenido regalo" - I think he picked this out because he saw me admiring the larger versions in the Biblioteca Nacional.

Upon our return we say down to a huge lunch with three other Padres. There was chicken, fish tamales, plates of lettuce and tomatoes, steamed vegetables, bowls of steamed white rice, a plate of green split peas in front of me with a concerned mention of protein, a pot of vegetable soup, boiled potatoes and a lovely sweet lemon drink. Though cautious of water consumption, I have still been drinking it when offered along with this lemon drink. So far...no problema...

I still haven´t had the opportunity to exchange any U.S. dollars though the Padre showed me where I could do it safely today. I am a bit nervous about doing it by myself as there is an overwhelming "sense" of crime. Even the Padre seemed hesitant about entering one so I said that I could do it later.

Dinner is served at 9pm at which point I could barely keep my eyes open, but I struggled to have bits of conversation with the Padres. They are very patient with me.

I am finding this language barrier exhausting but notice that my vocabulary is absolutely leaping forward out of pure necessity. I spent much of the afternoon and evening studying Spanish and helping Ursula to copy all of my Spanish - English lessons, it is so much fun to try to communicate with these people but I was absolutely exhausted from the effort and all I have been absorbing I was in bed my 10:30pm.

08 April 2005

trabajo voluntario


trabajo voluntario
Originally uploaded by zephyr1.
I leave for Lima in three days, exactly three days at 11:50am!

With everything that I packed and moved, as my apartment got better and better acoustics and then sat empty and sterile, as I iron out the last of my pre-travel errands and arrangements, the more excited that I get and the more I realize that I am preparing to throw myself into the fire...unprepared but mentally ready and literally thirsting for it!

I have given away stuff, sold some, and moved the rest into a storage facility..storing it all in Boston as, I think, that I will be coming back there to work/live, but honestly I feel that this Peru trip might just unfold some new "must attempt" adventure which will determine my next step, feel it in my gut...intuition? We'll see.

Now, I crash with my Daddy, sip coffee with him in the morning, stack wood with him in the afternoons, soak up the sun with the little ones, Austin, Jordan and my sis Jen and send out my see ya laters...

I've got a pretty good understanding of Spanish at this point, got by during my four month travel through Central America, but I can't speak very much conversationally and will most likely end up pointing to food then to my mouth while rubbing my belly, smiling and nodding my head!...;)...I have quite a collection of "how tos", the 6 cd collection, the Spanish dictionary, on-line course, and my latest and new favorite....my $20 English-Spanish translater...just type in what ever you want translated and it comes up on the screen! It may just allow me to squeak by!

People are so concerned for me...I guess it may be a bit of a dangerous area...sometimes goes hand in hand with poverty stricken neighborhoods. But this Scorpio will be just fine so don't worry friends. If it is anything like Central America they will be absolutely beautiful and kind people. Additionally, I don't plan on bringing anything with me that anyone would necessarily want to steal from me...nothing that I would hesitate to part with anyways. Don't be worried...rationalization...in reality, I have no idea what I am getting myself into, and that is a huge part of the appeal.

Bottom line, I will have a roof over my head, whatever that might be, and food on the table though being a Vegan I anticipate a few pounds lost!

I have packed up the headlamp, the Swiss Army knife, the sleeping bag, all the cool techy quick dry clothes and hiking boots, bio-friendly campin' suds, the mess kit, the dehydrated Vegan friendly foods, the first aid kit, iodine pills, the binoculars, and lots of memory cards for the camera...just need to figure a way to cram it all into one giant pack...;)

Sweet Jesus...I think I am ready.

Bottle Cap FortuneTelling


Bottle Cap FortuneTelling
Originally uploaded by zephyr1.

Project Peru Sponsership


Project Peru Sponsership
Originally uploaded by zephyr1.
Hello friends!

As most of you have heard by now, I am preparing to leave to Peru on the 11th of April to do some volunteer work with a charitable organization called Project Peru. Part of this undertaking includes fundraising for this group. My first event?....I will be seeking sponsorship for a backpacking trek along the Inca Trail! Check out the "Sponsored Trek Spring 2005" page on the Project Peru site...

http://www.projectperu.org.uk/incatrail.htm

Project Peru Registered Charity Number: 1049413
Website: http://www.projectperu.org.uk

We would like to suggest a minimum sponsorship of $20, but, of course, any donation would be greatly welcomed. It is preferred that donations are sent to my mailing address (Dad's house while I am away) so that I can transfer them as one lump sum to the organization, but it is also possible to make donations directly online in US$ by going to the DONATE NOW button on the Project Peru website.

The mailing address:

Rebecca Verner
109 Northfield Road
Erving, MA 01344 USA

Please feel free to contact me at this email address or to phone me at 1.413.977.9661 for additional information. Thank you all so much in advance for your help in achieving this personal goal and I will keep you posted on how the fundraising event is going!

Many thanks for your support,
Rebecca