Blogs from Huancayo, Junin, Peru, South America - page 8

First things first, this website´s server crashed (ho-hum). So my previous entries were lost. But we have today´s entry :) I climbed Huaytapallana! On Saturday we went on an excursion to climb the highest peak in the region (aka Huaytapallana). The most challenging aspect of the hike was the altitude (we reached the top at 15,660 feet). Every 3-4 steps had my heart racing. The scenery was spectacular (see pictures). And hiking in the Andes with its towering peaks made me realize how 'small'we really are. Last week I began to visit Merarado. Merarado suffers from a rare, genetic skin disorder known as dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. His skin is easily irriated and his body is covered with large opened blisters. The condition has also deteriated his hands. He cannot open his fingers, making it difficult to ... read more

So, I am getting ready to write a new blog, and then I realize I have to write in English. Do not get me wrong...I am not fluent in Spanish (and one could argue I am not fluent in English). But almost every task, including teaching, requires that I speak/think in Spanish. In fact, today was the first day I had the opportunity to teach in English (myself and another volunteer are teaching some local mothers English), and I couldn´t teach. It was their first class, so we were just teaching greetings and numbers (we played BINGO to practice our numbers...BINGO will unite the world!) and I had the hardest time, because I found myself thinking in Spanish, yet having to speak in English. Worse yet, now I cannot speak complete sentences in Spanish or ... read more

My how it has been a long time since I´ve last blogged... Today was hard. My last day of volunteering and the first day that all those darling smiling faces begin their transformation into faded and sweet little memories. Very bittersweet. I´m ready to take off-ready to travel. But the amount of time I´ve spent with them all...and then having to accept the fact that you won´t know what will happen to them. Will they be adopted? Will they leave their little brick-making community? Will they ever live in a house with running water....will they be happy? One of the little girls in the street children program handed me a little letter (decorated with pictures of hearts and flowers of course) before I walked away for the final time today. In her misspelled Spanish it reads ... read more

Just wanted to drop a line to say THANK YOU to everyone who has been writing messages and comments on mine here little blog. It really really helps. GRACIAS. I had been having a pretty rough week, but I just returned from having one of the best mornings with the kids. Usually, another volunteer (Lindsay) and I go to this orphanage called Francisca Meyer in the mornings to play with the kids and to teach and help with homework etc. But (!) today is ¨el dia de padre¨(Father´s Day) which is a huge deal in Peru; and thus we followed one of the little girls to the school instead to watch the celebrations. It was absolutely crazy! There were all these adorable little children running around in the outside plaza (some of which I knew from ... read more

Ahh my. Today was a tough day. BUT, to begin with...thanks to all the family who have been sending messages. It really helps. (Especially you Dwight...a.k.a. Brooke). Anyways. My afternoon was absolutely chaotic. Since two of the Brits have left, I´ve been the only one going to the brick-making community in the afternoons. Me with 30 or more Peruvian kids in a little run-down classroom does not make for a good time. Most of the kids, as I´ve mentioned, are absolute dolls...but (as you know mom), it only takes a few bad ones to ruin the whole day. And today there were more than a few bad ones. The thing is, they´re not ¨American bad¨; they´re ¨Peruvian bad¨ which means they are absolutey out of control and terrible. Example: today they kicked open the door, ... read more