My time in Peru has been an amazing experience for me. I have made new friends, learned about peruvian culture, and practiced my spanish. I have also tried new foods such as alpaca and guinea pig. I think that I'm improving as a leader and developing people skills. I am so grateful for this opportunity that has been given to me. Goodbye from Peru.
Sharers
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Blog from Lauren
Buenos dias de Peru!!
Throughout my time in Peru I have continually been surprised by the vast culture changes. Whether its been the food, way they dress, or even where and how they live, I have found it hard to morph myself into the Peruvian lifestyle. Even as the group went to Patacancha (a weaving village high in the mountains) I found some of us so intrigued by the amount of work it took for the women to create the beautifully woven belts, placemats, hats, and even bracelets.
As I finish up my stay with my wonderful homestay family and my delusional roomate Catherine, I look forward to my last couple of days in Ollantaytambo and living life to its fullest. I am so grateful to be able to come on this trip and even though it was hard to start living the Peruvian lifestyle I am glad I am here and having the time of my life.
Adios de Peru!
Lauren
Throughout my time in Peru I have continually been surprised by the vast culture changes. Whether its been the food, way they dress, or even where and how they live, I have found it hard to morph myself into the Peruvian lifestyle. Even as the group went to Patacancha (a weaving village high in the mountains) I found some of us so intrigued by the amount of work it took for the women to create the beautifully woven belts, placemats, hats, and even bracelets.
As I finish up my stay with my wonderful homestay family and my delusional roomate Catherine, I look forward to my last couple of days in Ollantaytambo and living life to its fullest. I am so grateful to be able to come on this trip and even though it was hard to start living the Peruvian lifestyle I am glad I am here and having the time of my life.
Adios de Peru!
Lauren
Hello everyone, this is Vicki and Tai, your World Leadership instructors. We are having a wonderful time with your students and teachers. Thank you for sending them on this trip so we could get to know them. The kids are enthusiastic, curious, and hard working, which makes our job so much easier! Vicki's experience in Peru and Tai's in The Gambia have prepared us for the travel and risk management portions of the job, but nothing could prepare us for how great it has been to be with this Wardlaw group. If these folks are representative of your school community, you are lucky indeed. We are confident the students are well on the road to becoming responsible and compassionate global citizens, and nothing could make us happier. The only sad part is that the end has come way too fast. May our paths cross again soon!
From Andy Webster:
A Morning's Tapestry
Our trip to Patacancha packed far more learning than into a half day than we teachers could have expected. The bus trip was the usual harrowing series of switchbacks as we ascended to this Quechua town, dazzled as ever by the scenery. Our guides were from Awa Maki, an NGO that organizes spinning and weaving cooperatives aimed at empowering women in the traditional culture of the area and at bringing their families the advantages of connection to the market economy without eroding the very traditions and customs that make them unique.
On the way to Patacancha, we had discussions of what "fair trade" means and how it differs from bare-knuckle capitalism. We discussed what a "cooperative" is and what advantages it has brought the women of Patacancha. We speculated about how these changes might be disruptive to a patriarchal society. Our guides talked about how local governments sometimes resisted the involvement of organizations dominated by foreigners, and what they were doing to train local women to become leaders in the organization. We even probed the memories of the students who had just completed 11th grade US History for the best example of the use of collectives in our history. After some head-scratching and wrong answers they correctly hit upon the Farmers Alliance movement of the 1880s and 1890s, which then spawned the Populist Party. Pretty good work for a morning bus ride.
At Patacancha, we arrived as many of the 44 weavers were placing their orders for supplies. The Awa Maki guides then spent about an hour informing us about the processes of spinning, dyeing, and weaving wool. They use sheep and alpaca wool. At some points, the local women demonstrated for us. I took extensive video to share with our third grade, where they do an interdisciplinary study of Guatemalan weaving in their language arts, Spanish, and arts classes. I will attempt to edit it and either post it here or put it in Dropbox, with access for students and parents.
After this thorough presentation from the guides, about 8 of the women spread their wares on blankets for our shopping pleasure.
Finally, we had a tour of a house belonging to one of the women. Actually it was something of a compound. One building contained a wood stove in one corner, with several pots nearby. This one had a chimney; most still do not. The lack of chimneys leads to smoky houses, which lead to lung disease. There was also a naked cfc lightbulb and a radio. All of these advances were made possible through involvement with the cooperative, which provides a reliable stream of trade and income. The building was
made of adobe bricks and a thatched roof. Another building housed bedrooms and a third provided a guest room and storage.
All in all, the visit provided a fascinating window into the lives of the weavers, the complexities of sustainable development, and the artisanal skills that can only be embedded by many years of daily practice. I made a ceramic bowl here in Ollanta that bears silent testament to that last fact, though I will cherish it for its imperfections if it survives the journey back to New Jersey.
Sent from my iPhone
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
A visit with the Awamaki women - WOW!'
Today we visited Awamaki, a textile co-op in Patacancha. Up, up, up we went again to approximately 13,000 ft but this time by bus. Although I am not so sure if it was easier by foot or by the 30 plus hairpin turns it took to get there!
The co-op covers four areas- spinning, weaving, dyeing, knitting and they have 44 women they work with. The focus is on using sustainable tourism (low impact tourism) to help the women provide for their families as well as preserve part of the rich Andean culture. During our visit we did not interact with the town just the weavers as to not disrupt their daily life.
Both Stephanie and I met Victoria, the oldest woman in the co-op and you can see us each pictured with her.
Before Awamaki, The Andean women were occupied helping the men with traditional daily work so there was some deterioration in the Quechua weaving traditions. Awamaki has been able to bring that tradition back. A traditional weaving that may take about 2 weeks to make will sell for 100 soles all the while allowing the women to still keep up their household duties. Interestingly enough, the women are becoming the "bread winners" (talk about women's empowerment!) and they are also more opt to put the money they make back into the home. One of the changes due to the co-op is that many women have been able to provide a light bulb for their kitchens- the benefit is they can do more in their household after dark including more spinning and weaving when before the work day had to end with day light.
The pieces they make are full of symbolism. They tell stories of the Spanish conquistadors as well as Andean history. Each piece has a functional purpose and is not just a beautiful piece to hang on a wall.
Girls begin learning to spin at age 6 or younger and by age 12 when they have mastered the spinning process they learn to weave. Spinning takes about 60% of the time to make a piece start to finish. Often the daughters are spinning all of the time because it is so time consuming. The weaving process is very complicated but what is just wonderful is how their patterns can often imitate those found in nature. The "V" criss-cross pattern water can make is one of the most common in their weavings. So much advanced planning must go into every pattern and it is a mathematical process. They don't count they just do it- it is such a learned process because they start with the simple patterns when they first learn and then over time it becomes so second hand (similar to walking and talking) that they can just throw in an alpaca or a condor here and there. It is just so incredible to watch the process unfold!
The weavings are made from variety of fiber with sheep and alpaca being the most common. Sheep fiber was originally brought from Spain and is a bit coarser than the alpaca. Goat fiber used for ropes is very coarse.
Alpaca fiber is very soft and one of the most common fibers. Vicuña is the most prized fiber and softest fiber but they can only be sheared once every three years.
Natural dying has also been able to make a come back through the co-op despite the introduction of the synthetic fibers and colors. As a traditional technique there are many different shades that may come from one "recipe" so the co-op is working one trying to come up with a more precise process. But, where do the colors come from?
The Cochinilla beetle, found on the prickly cactus, can make up to 30 different colors - all shades of red. It takes 70,000 beetles to make one kilo of dye (FYI... When the use of synthetic dyes was outlawed by the US food industry, they used the beetle to make meats and strawberries more appealing - GROSS! And for all you red lipstick wearers, it is also used it to make some of different shades of red).
Kinsacucho plant has a fungus that grows on it and it is used to make teale and blue shades. Prior to this discovery, those colors were imported from Africa.
Yellow comes from a small little flower and can get everything from a mustard color to an almost neon shade.
Grey blue silver comes from the eucalyptus tree.
Whites, tans, grays, browns, and black are all natural alpaca shades that are never dyed. But, nuts and the ground shells are used for browns to black shades on the sheep fibers.
Also a second dip into the dye bath gives a lighter shade - red vs. pink
Health care for the Awamaki women comes from natural medicines and herbal teas. They are not so quick to see a doctor. They may start by asking their neighbors for advice, then visit the clinic new to their community, followed by a trip to Ollanta if necessary. Often a problem can go on for a year before someone would go to Cusco for what we consider proper health care.
Animals are more important for what they can provide vs the meat they can get from it. For example, cattle are more useful for working the fields vs. on the dinner table. Homes are made from adobe and they make benches right on the sides to provide seating. They leave all the extra food on the floor to feed the guinie pigs and then after a big party their will usually only be a male and female left. Fruits and vegetables can only be bought on Tuesday and Wednesday's and that will be what will last them for the week. They cook over an adobe based stove with wood on top. They truly use all that they have around them and use it to its best... It is really amazing to see how this community can not only survive but thrive on such simple means in comparison to all we have at our finger tips at home.
Until mañana!
Miss T
The co-op covers four areas- spinning, weaving, dyeing, knitting and they have 44 women they work with. The focus is on using sustainable tourism (low impact tourism) to help the women provide for their families as well as preserve part of the rich Andean culture. During our visit we did not interact with the town just the weavers as to not disrupt their daily life.
Both Stephanie and I met Victoria, the oldest woman in the co-op and you can see us each pictured with her.
Before Awamaki, The Andean women were occupied helping the men with traditional daily work so there was some deterioration in the Quechua weaving traditions. Awamaki has been able to bring that tradition back. A traditional weaving that may take about 2 weeks to make will sell for 100 soles all the while allowing the women to still keep up their household duties. Interestingly enough, the women are becoming the "bread winners" (talk about women's empowerment!) and they are also more opt to put the money they make back into the home. One of the changes due to the co-op is that many women have been able to provide a light bulb for their kitchens- the benefit is they can do more in their household after dark including more spinning and weaving when before the work day had to end with day light.
The pieces they make are full of symbolism. They tell stories of the Spanish conquistadors as well as Andean history. Each piece has a functional purpose and is not just a beautiful piece to hang on a wall.
Girls begin learning to spin at age 6 or younger and by age 12 when they have mastered the spinning process they learn to weave. Spinning takes about 60% of the time to make a piece start to finish. Often the daughters are spinning all of the time because it is so time consuming. The weaving process is very complicated but what is just wonderful is how their patterns can often imitate those found in nature. The "V" criss-cross pattern water can make is one of the most common in their weavings. So much advanced planning must go into every pattern and it is a mathematical process. They don't count they just do it- it is such a learned process because they start with the simple patterns when they first learn and then over time it becomes so second hand (similar to walking and talking) that they can just throw in an alpaca or a condor here and there. It is just so incredible to watch the process unfold!
The weavings are made from variety of fiber with sheep and alpaca being the most common. Sheep fiber was originally brought from Spain and is a bit coarser than the alpaca. Goat fiber used for ropes is very coarse.
Alpaca fiber is very soft and one of the most common fibers. Vicuña is the most prized fiber and softest fiber but they can only be sheared once every three years.
Natural dying has also been able to make a come back through the co-op despite the introduction of the synthetic fibers and colors. As a traditional technique there are many different shades that may come from one "recipe" so the co-op is working one trying to come up with a more precise process. But, where do the colors come from?
The Cochinilla beetle, found on the prickly cactus, can make up to 30 different colors - all shades of red. It takes 70,000 beetles to make one kilo of dye (FYI... When the use of synthetic dyes was outlawed by the US food industry, they used the beetle to make meats and strawberries more appealing - GROSS! And for all you red lipstick wearers, it is also used it to make some of different shades of red).
Kinsacucho plant has a fungus that grows on it and it is used to make teale and blue shades. Prior to this discovery, those colors were imported from Africa.
Yellow comes from a small little flower and can get everything from a mustard color to an almost neon shade.
Grey blue silver comes from the eucalyptus tree.
Whites, tans, grays, browns, and black are all natural alpaca shades that are never dyed. But, nuts and the ground shells are used for browns to black shades on the sheep fibers.
Also a second dip into the dye bath gives a lighter shade - red vs. pink
Health care for the Awamaki women comes from natural medicines and herbal teas. They are not so quick to see a doctor. They may start by asking their neighbors for advice, then visit the clinic new to their community, followed by a trip to Ollanta if necessary. Often a problem can go on for a year before someone would go to Cusco for what we consider proper health care.
Animals are more important for what they can provide vs the meat they can get from it. For example, cattle are more useful for working the fields vs. on the dinner table. Homes are made from adobe and they make benches right on the sides to provide seating. They leave all the extra food on the floor to feed the guinie pigs and then after a big party their will usually only be a male and female left. Fruits and vegetables can only be bought on Tuesday and Wednesday's and that will be what will last them for the week. They cook over an adobe based stove with wood on top. They truly use all that they have around them and use it to its best... It is really amazing to see how this community can not only survive but thrive on such simple means in comparison to all we have at our finger tips at home.
Until mañana!
Miss T
From. Jim O'Halloran:
I wanted to add a few comments to our trip blog. I can't improve on the photos and excellent entries by our students and Tanda and Andy, but I will just say that this trip has been an unforgettable experience. It is like a continuous game of 'Can You Top This?' which Peru always wins. Two more thoughts come to mind.. First to our Dads at home: since I wasn't able to spend Father's Day with my own kids, I was proud to spend it with yours. Their spirit is infectious. We saw this on our recent trek and campout in the Andes. Even those with bum knees or bubbly stomachs pushed on through a challenging climb, carried their own day packs, and joined in a pretty raucous dinner conversation. They are fine traveling companions.
Second, even though we are still here, I find that I am already compiling a mental list of things I will never forget about Peru. At the top of this list is the community of Ollantaytambo - if I could find a way to get my family over here, I would consider staying. In addition to its overwhelming physical beauty, the people are very special. On the morning that we left for our big trek, our home stay mother made us a special breakfast (pineapple upside down cake, of all things) and presented Andy and me with Father's Day gifts (alpaca scarves). There is a coffee shop in town that Andy and I visit occasionally (i.e., every day), where we are greeted like old friends. Our country coordinator, Adela, is worth her weight in Incan gold; at any hour, she will appear at our elbows with information about the countless details she arranges for us and, more importantly, treats us with the warmth of a childhood friend. Her husband, Adolfo, has been our very informative guide at historical sites and also led us unerringly along nearly invisible trails thousands of feet high in the mountains. Our foreman Salvador became our caballero Salvador. Even the people of Ollanta who are not formally connected to the World Leadership School web have had an impact on us. As we travel through their community, almost every person we pass greets us with a friendly buenas tardes, and the faces of the incredibly cute children brighten when you call out "Ola - que. tal?"
I could go on, but I'm sure you have already gotten the idea from our blog. We miss you, and we will see you soon.
P.S. Sorry, no pix - I'm a terrible photographer, and you have been spoiled !
Monday, June 18, 2012
Our trek adventure...
Began yesterday morning bright and early. We all met outside the homestay I share with our WLS leaders Vicki and Tai packed and ready to go! After loading the pack horses with our overnight gear, and throwing our day packs over our shoulders we began our ascent to the campsite at 11,500ft. After about 4 hours, a few rest stops, and a healthy snack break we finally arrived at our campsite. We sat down to a wonderful lunch with
the Pumamarca ruins looking down at us from just a bit further up the mountainside. Of course we could not stay away and just as the sun began to slip behind the ridge we began to climb the remaining terraces to the pre-Incan ruins. Our visit had to be quick because dark was coming quickly so we reluctantly made our way back to base camp and the need to layer up became very evident! Between a silly game of telephone and an around the table question of "what was your favorite childhood memory" we definitely bonded as a group. Before we realized it, we were snuggling into our tents trying to keep warm and looking forward to the morning sunshine.
This morning after Armando's awesome pancakes, we broke camp and headed up the pass following the Incan trail up, down, up, up, and down into the valley across the White River. We ended up at a river side trout farm in the town of Pallata where we had another delicious meal prepared by our trek guides. Then it was off for our final leg of our hike, the valley road Into Ollanta... An absolutely fantastic and memorable 32 hour adventure!
Quote of the day-
Andy had a little five year old girl asking him 21 questions. He turns to Vicki and asks, "How do I say in spanish-I am not balding, I'm just taller than my hair?"
Buenas Noches!
I am headed up to a much warmer nights sleep!
Miss T
the Pumamarca ruins looking down at us from just a bit further up the mountainside. Of course we could not stay away and just as the sun began to slip behind the ridge we began to climb the remaining terraces to the pre-Incan ruins. Our visit had to be quick because dark was coming quickly so we reluctantly made our way back to base camp and the need to layer up became very evident! Between a silly game of telephone and an around the table question of "what was your favorite childhood memory" we definitely bonded as a group. Before we realized it, we were snuggling into our tents trying to keep warm and looking forward to the morning sunshine.
This morning after Armando's awesome pancakes, we broke camp and headed up the pass following the Incan trail up, down, up, up, and down into the valley across the White River. We ended up at a river side trout farm in the town of Pallata where we had another delicious meal prepared by our trek guides. Then it was off for our final leg of our hike, the valley road Into Ollanta... An absolutely fantastic and memorable 32 hour adventure!
Quote of the day-
Andy had a little five year old girl asking him 21 questions. He turns to Vicki and asks, "How do I say in spanish-I am not balding, I'm just taller than my hair?"
Buenas Noches!
I am headed up to a much warmer nights sleep!
Miss T
.JPG)
Blog by Max
So we're camping out. In the Andes. In the middle of winter. The Peruvian experience has been amazing so far, so much so that there are very few adjectives that properly describe it. In the last day, we left the relative comfort of our homestay families to venture into the mountains. The trek was nothing less than spectacular, with breathtaking views at virtually every turn. As I looked out over the valley from 10,000+ feet, Kanye West lyrics came to my mind, "can we get much higher?" Unfortunately, for my aching knee, we could, but we were rewarded at the end with a fantastic view of the mountains and the Pumamarca Incan ruins at our campsite. At 4 o'clock, we went to explore the ruins and hear some fascinating stories from our guide Adolfo, and returned for a 2 hour dinner full of storytelling and some hardcore bonding. Afterwards, we went outside to be awed by the clearest and fullest night sky I had ever seen. We lay on the grass, gazing into the cosmos, struggling to grasp exactly where we were and what was happening. At 9, we slept, in preparation for our long hike down in the morning. - Max
Blog by Astuti
From the moment I first stepped foot in Peru the mountains surrounding us from all sides and the warm welcomes received from everyone, I knew this would be an amazing experience. I soon found my self comparing the roads sides of Peru and the Peruvian living style to that of India. Although eating habits differ greatly,their are a countless number of similarities. For instance, it is a custom for many families to own animals such as hens or guinie pigs and even farmland to help supply their food.
The idea of living a simple lifestyle to bring peace to ones heart seems to be the goal of many Peruvians. Walking into my home stay mothers house for the first time made me think of my grandmothers home instantly. The outside bathroom, courtyard in the middle of the house , limited kitchen supplies and the lack of electronics (such as tv and internet) is just like my grandmothers house in India. Walking through what would be my home for the next two weeks made me feel comfortable, assuring me that although this experience would stretch my comfort zone, it would also be something I would never regret.
Peru has shown me I have so much to learn from its rich history of the Incas. However, is particularly amusing how certain parts of my experience make me compare Ollanta to my hometown in India. This has allowed me to make a great connection between my culture and theirs. I look forward to seeing more of Peru in the next six days and getting to know my home stay family better as well as the other WH students accompanying me on this trip. Although this has been an adventure of a lifetime, I still can't wait to get back home and enjoy a lavish Indian meal cooked by both, my mom and dads hands. :) - Astuti
The idea of living a simple lifestyle to bring peace to ones heart seems to be the goal of many Peruvians. Walking into my home stay mothers house for the first time made me think of my grandmothers home instantly. The outside bathroom, courtyard in the middle of the house , limited kitchen supplies and the lack of electronics (such as tv and internet) is just like my grandmothers house in India. Walking through what would be my home for the next two weeks made me feel comfortable, assuring me that although this experience would stretch my comfort zone, it would also be something I would never regret.
Peru has shown me I have so much to learn from its rich history of the Incas. However, is particularly amusing how certain parts of my experience make me compare Ollanta to my hometown in India. This has allowed me to make a great connection between my culture and theirs. I look forward to seeing more of Peru in the next six days and getting to know my home stay family better as well as the other WH students accompanying me on this trip. Although this has been an adventure of a lifetime, I still can't wait to get back home and enjoy a lavish Indian meal cooked by both, my mom and dads hands. :) - Astuti
Blog by Catherine
Hi mom and dad, I'm in Peru:) it has been about a week since I have been here, and I may never want to come home. :P Once I stepped off the flight from Lima to Cusco I could feel the air and altitude difference. Driving through Cusco, my first time seeing houses and buildings made out of stone and adobe was eye opening. It was exactly like the pictures on google.
The town we are staying in is called Ollantaytambo. It is a small town surrounded by mountains, with lovely Peruvians, great food, markets, tourists coming through to go to Machu Pichu, and best of all where my home stay family lives.
I could not have asked for a better homestay family. There is mama, who is adorable. She finishes my sentences, she makes me laugh, and she is grateful for what she has. Mom, you would love her! There is papa who unfortunately deals with a lot of pain because he recently fell off a horse while doing his job, as a agriculture farmer. His hip and arm hurt a lot and every week he has to travel to Cusco (by train) to get treatment. He makes me realize that through pain, you can still smile. He reminds me of both of you, mom and dad. Then there are the three children Sandra, Daniel, and Lisandro. I fell in love with all of them the first night Lauren and I saw them. It is challenging talking only in Spanish, but who doesn't like a challenge? Not me!
So basically during the day we work at Bandolista, and at the night Lauren and I bond with our family.
Right now as I'm writing this, I am waiting to go back to Ollantaytambo after a great day of intense hiking followed by a delicious stream side lunch with fresh trout!
Tell charile, gammy, and pop I say hi. - Catherine
P.S. the food is delicious.
The town we are staying in is called Ollantaytambo. It is a small town surrounded by mountains, with lovely Peruvians, great food, markets, tourists coming through to go to Machu Pichu, and best of all where my home stay family lives.
I could not have asked for a better homestay family. There is mama, who is adorable. She finishes my sentences, she makes me laugh, and she is grateful for what she has. Mom, you would love her! There is papa who unfortunately deals with a lot of pain because he recently fell off a horse while doing his job, as a agriculture farmer. His hip and arm hurt a lot and every week he has to travel to Cusco (by train) to get treatment. He makes me realize that through pain, you can still smile. He reminds me of both of you, mom and dad. Then there are the three children Sandra, Daniel, and Lisandro. I fell in love with all of them the first night Lauren and I saw them. It is challenging talking only in Spanish, but who doesn't like a challenge? Not me!
So basically during the day we work at Bandolista, and at the night Lauren and I bond with our family.
Right now as I'm writing this, I am waiting to go back to Ollantaytambo after a great day of intense hiking followed by a delicious stream side lunch with fresh trout!
Tell charile, gammy, and pop I say hi. - Catherine
P.S. the food is delicious.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Midway Point Update from Andy Webster
We are midway through our Peru adventure. This is the point where strains can appear and nerves can fray, among the students and the adults. Precisely because of this, it is also the point where learning can deepen, as we face these challenges and find positive ways to address and resolve them.
For example, we are at the point in our homestays where gifts have been given, we have shared family information and photos, and the low-hanging conversational fruit has been harvested. What, then, do we talk about? We have also shared accommodations that may lack some of the amenities we take for granted; we may crave more familiar comfort foods; and we may simply be weary. Our patience with one another may wear thin.
Our group has not been exempt from these challenges. You would be impressed, though, with their maturity and use of humor in seeking ways to air their concerns, both with the adults and with one another, and reinforce norms of positive group dynamics.
Today, we have an exciting change of routine, as we hike into the mountains on our overnight trek. We will hike for about three hours to reach our campsite, where lunch will await us. Our daypacks will be light, as our camping gear and heavy clothing will travel on horseback. Adolfo, who is the husband of Adela, our invaluable local coordinator, will be our trek leader. He was also our guide at the Ollantaytambo ruins and appears in at least one of those photos. In the afternoon, we will hike from our camp, which is at about 10,500 feet, further up the mountains to explore flora and fauna unique to the Andes.
After a cold night under the Southern Cross, we'll hike into the Yuracmayo Valley. There, we will visit the Pumamarca ruins, which pre-date the Incan Empire. Thence back to Ollantaytambo.
We are fortunate that all members of the group are healthy enough to do the trek, and we hope for a continuation of the spectacular weather we have enjoyed thus far. We will post a brief update as soon as possible after our return to town, but please don't worry--this is definitely a case of "no news is good news."
Happy Father's Day. Esta noche, debajo de las estrellas de los Andes, pensaremos de ustedes, y ustedes calentareis nuestro corazones.
Mr. Webster
Click on the pictures please
Some of our photos are being cut off so please click on them to see the full picture.
Group picture
And we are off... We are all very excited to hike up to and camp in the ancient Andean ruins of Pumamarca! Be sure to check back late Monday or early Tuesday for pictures of our adventure and more blogs from the kids!
Adios!
Miss T
Adios!
Miss T
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Bad Puppy!
|
Michael,
Greetings my well-travelled, Peruvian-loving nephew!! I'm enthralled reading your blog! You're a brilliant writer. Bill and I feel like we
are right there with you. I can practically smell the air and visualize the
majesty of your surroundings.
We're currently on Google Earth checking out
Ollantaytambo. Whoa is all I can say! Parts of it look like the surface of
Mars! I can't wait to see more pictures.
Keep blogging! We love being a part of your journey. I
hope you continue to enjoy every moment. The Peruvian people seem so happy,
at peace and joyful. They are lucky to experience you! I know you are touching their lives just like they are to you.
Keep having fun, stay safe, and take it all in.
Love to you and your friends!
Uncle Richard
PS - I just got off the phone with Jenny, Judi and Marie - You got bit by a DOG!!? Bad puppy! What a scary experience! That's so "Animal Planet"! I hope you heal fast. Sending you healing energy and K9 repellant.
|
Wishing all of our Papa's back home a very happy Father's Day
Fathers day is a very special day here in Peru and here in Ollanta, they shut down a portion of the plaza to allow for a special festival for all the fathers. Nick, Julian, and Jack's home stay little brother did a dance with a small group of other five year boys to honor their fathers and there is a picture of that below.
We have had another fantastic day enjoying more work in Bandolista, finishing up baskets and ceramics while others began their clay work and there are pictures of all of that below too.
Today's quote giving us side splitting giggles comes from Sumeet - "On our trek tomorrow, what are the chances of seeing the spectacle bear, puma, or the rare chinchilla?" Answer: "We may run in to a distant cousin of the rare chinchilla, sort of a mix between a squirrel and a rabbit."
We will be out of touch for the next two days while we are on our overnight camping trip so be sure to check back for more blogs from the kids after Monday.
I leave you with one final bit of Peruvian advice...
"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things (dogs)"
Happy Fathers Day!
Miss T
Special message for Mr. Iszard
Dad- hi dad. Happy fathers day. I love you and I hope you have a great day tomorrow and just know I'm thinking about you :) mwah daddyo/papaito/home skillet- Cat
We have had another fantastic day enjoying more work in Bandolista, finishing up baskets and ceramics while others began their clay work and there are pictures of all of that below too.
Today's quote giving us side splitting giggles comes from Sumeet - "On our trek tomorrow, what are the chances of seeing the spectacle bear, puma, or the rare chinchilla?" Answer: "We may run in to a distant cousin of the rare chinchilla, sort of a mix between a squirrel and a rabbit."
We will be out of touch for the next two days while we are on our overnight camping trip so be sure to check back for more blogs from the kids after Monday.
I leave you with one final bit of Peruvian advice...
"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things (dogs)"
Happy Fathers Day!
Miss T
Special message for Mr. Iszard
Dad- hi dad. Happy fathers day. I love you and I hope you have a great day tomorrow and just know I'm thinking about you :) mwah daddyo/papaito/home skillet- Cat
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)