Blogs from Ayacucho, Peru, South America - page 25

This weekend I went with six friends on a Llama Trek in the Andes Mountains. It was quite a hike! We began our adventure in Rosisitio - a small village which means Rosy's site. We ascended over 2,000 feet until we reached over 15,000 feet. Wow, what a hike! I have gorgeous pictures of the view. I was glad that I had gone running in Ayacucho a few times before because I was used to having my heart pound through my head because of the high altitude. The hike was good marathon training (right Dad?). We then descended 2,500 feet. The whole hike took about four hours. We had to cross a mountain to get to a little village where we spent the night. The locals thought that we were crazy. Who would want to come ... read more

Yesterday when I went to the market, I forgot to tell you the most exciting part - I bought Llama socks!!! They are so warm and will be great for the chilly trek to the highlands this weekend. They were cinco soles, so only about $1.30. I am going to the market tomorrow (everything is closed today because of the strike and I had to pretty far to find an open Internet cafe) to buy a hat, gloves, and scarf. I am going to get the brightest colors possible to "blend in with the locals!" I also got to try something new for breakfast. I ate a fruit called chirymoyas. They are green on the outside like snake skin, and they look like frog guts on the inside, but they are delicious! Today is the strike, ... read more

I got up early today to go to a lecture by an economist from the local university, Rudy. He spoke on the value of the coca leaves they grow in Ayacucho. He also spoke of the cocaine industry and how it benefits Peru. It was really difficult for me to understand how a country wants to remain dependent on an industry that illegally produces drugs. Rudy explained that regions like Ayacucho are agriculture regions and do not support industrial means to survive. Many remain in poverty because of this. The coca leaves are used for teas and also contain vitamins. However, the cocaine industry brings people to Ayacucho and helps maintain their economy. He also talked about how the peasants repay the mother earth so she will continue to allow their crops to grow. They offer ... read more

Wow! I'm leaving tomorrow!!!! I have been jumping around my house all day saying just that. I've been so excited for this moment and now, it is finally here. My pack is completely full, I've drunk my last glass of tap water, and I’ve said goodbye to my girlies and Carey's. I just have this great feeling that the next two weeks are going to be amazing. Ayacucho seems a world away to me, but after this experience, I think that I will know that a world away really isn't that far. A friend of mine told me to keep an open mind (he said this of course after I described what I thought Peru is going to be like - a happy village of wonderful people dressed in bright colors with festivals of singing and ... read more

I received my work placement today, and I couldn’t be happier. I believe that I actually did a happy dance! I will be working at the Nazarenas Health Clinic, which is a public institution operated by the Ministry of Health. The Nazarenas Health Clinic provides services to Ayacucho as well as the surrounding villages. They also conduct house visits to teach local mothers about preventative health measures and nutrition (it is everything I hoped for and so much more!). I also received a list of duties, and let me tell you, my life is going to be rough;) My duties include weighing and measuring babies, taking patient vitals, documenting patient histories, and accompanying health professions on house visits (this is sure to be my favorite part!). I will also get to engage in cultural exchange ... read more