Friday, November 20, 2015
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Dancing and School
Andersen Dodge
Today the whole group went to a gym to learn some dancing, but it was more like zumba. It was so much fun! Most of us were terrible but that was okay. We went to a room with mirrors surrounding us so we could watch our scary, terrible dancing. While watching the instructor dance to the music we would repeat the steps. When we were finished, we were all sweating like crazy! Before we started, Mrs. Ashley kept making jokes on how she was going to laugh about our terrible dancing! It was so funny. Overall, it was so fun and a great workout. I miss my family so much and I can’t wait to see you on Wednesday. Wow, this trip has flown by!
Jacobo Arango
Hello everyone! I hope that you are all having a good two weeks without me (talking to my parents). Today, we woke up at the usual time, 7:30. After an hour, a groggy group of middle schoolers headed off to Urubamba, where we met the students of a very advanced high school. We got to meet them and converse about different things. At least the people that spoke Spanish could. I enjoyed talking to them, and paying as much attention as I could to their lessons. What they were learning was quite advanced, and a lot of my friends and I didn’t understand much, even in a class like math, where you don't need to know very much of the language. The kids were a lot more talkative than I thought they’d be, and we played tic-tac-toe a lot with them. Thank you for reading. For my parents: I love you guys and I will see you soon! Sayonara.
Scott Biggs
Today was a fun and interesting day. We visited a school in Urubamba, after sitting in on some classes we had lunch with the kids. For lunch we had a soup not unlike pho but with small noodles and a plate of veggies in a curious tart/vinegar/mystery dressing, it was pretty good. It was a great opportunity to practice my Spanish speaking skills, and thankfully I didn’t fail too bad. I felt this especially in a class where the kids were learning English, but I had to translate the English to Spanish because the other people there didn’t take a language of only took French. But you know what, I only messed up three times! I really hope that I enjoy the ending bit of this trip as much as I enjoyed the start of it. Greetings from Peru!
Lauren Falicia
Hello everybody, I hope all is well at home, or away. Today we went to the sacred valley school in Urubamba. It was very nice to revisit the welcoming school. I really enjoyed seeing familiar faces, and even new ones that greeted me with a shy smile or a very long conversation. We played a series of really fun games with them after we ate lunch with them. I nervously volunteered for the first one, not knowing what I was getting myself into. we had to fill up balloons with a very big bottle of water. Once we filled the balloon the best we could, we had to detach the balloon from the bottle. I accidentally sprayed my partner and myself while trying to fill the bucket with the water from the balloon. We both laughed really hard at my mistake and it was a really nice moment for me. We also met two very nice students named Shirley and Sebastian. Shirley spoke English and was super sweet. Bye for now everyone, see you soon!
Thursday, November 19th
- Visit Colegio Valle Sagrado
- Lunch at Colegio Valle Sagrado
- Sports and free time with local students
- Dinner with homestay families
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Soccer, Serving and World Issues
Kevin Reyes
On the community project at the school, some students and parents were there to work with us today. Most of them were about our age, but I think I speak for the group when I say conversing with them was a challenge. They only spoke Spanish, and we mostly spoke English, but even then, we were able to work together on the project, which today, was clearing rocks from a field. Something that I noticed about them was how hard they were working today. We were working to do good for the community and lend a helping hand, but they were trying to improve their own school. Their determination was noticeable, because it was their school they were fixing. To them, this was probably a place that they could call a home away from home. I really loved how they were so cheerful to be drudging away in the hot sun with smiled on their faces. Personally, I was able to talk to some of them and they were really nice and compassionate.
P.S.- Hi Mom, Hi Dad. Just wanted to tell you that I'm ok and I miss you lots!
Hayden Schwartz
I was assigned to talk about futbol (soccer). Futbol is a sport that I love to watch and play. There’s something about being on the field when nothing else matters and the smell of the fresh cut grass is in the air. When we talked about Peru and how futbol was one of the main sports here I was very excited to see them play. When we got to play the first time we just played each other and a boy probably eight or nine named Charlie played with us and he is ten times better than me. The way he controlled the ball at his feet and his focus on the ball was special to see. Today, we played kids our age and they could dribble circles around me. They were doing the Maradona like Messi or Ronaldo and I was amazed. When I return to the U.S., I plan on telling my teammates about it. I gave my host mom her gift yesterday and it was an apron because she owns a cafe and she started to cry. I realized how something so small could mean so much to someone.
Miss my family and friends so much!
XOXO Hayden
Molly Miller
After lunch today everyone came back to the hotel and we did some WLS activities. The games were interesting and I think everyone had a good time and we definitely made some memories. We came inside and started an exercise where we were split into groups and were given cards. The cards had different issues faced in today in Ollantaytambo. We then had to prioritize which ones we would tackle first if we were the ruling government. We shared with the big group and then discussed the posters and why we thought what we did. It got a little heated but I think everyone took something valuable away from it.
I have had a great time with my host family and I am enjoying all that they have to offer in Peru. I have been on two hikes and one was to ruins behind the school that none of the tourists know about, which was amazing. We had these old Inca ruins all to ourselves to explore. I am having a hard time coping with the animals on the streets, but I have everyone trying to make me feel better about it. I am making many memories and I love all my family so don’t worry or miss me. I hope I can continue to learn and experience many more new things while I'm here.
Ashley Fisher
Today after we did our WSL lesson, a man came in the room and Mrs. Ashley said that he was an author, named Ronald Castillo Espinoza, that wanted to share his stories with us. He spoke Spanish, Quechua, and a little bit of English. He was telling us how he writes stories for children and sells them at some stores here in Peru. Ronald passed around the books he wrote among us. They were very cool because his little brother did the illustrations and each page had three different languages on it! He was a very interesting person that I thought was very inspiring.
During our anchor today Mrs. Ashley said that we were going to a school and taking a dancing class tomorrow! We also have some free time to go out in the village and shop. We’re allowed to take pictures and we are all very excited for that.
Wednesday, November 18th
- Community Project Day III
- Lunch with homestay families
- WLS curriculum
- Dinner with homestay families
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
What is a typical day like in Peru
Ellie Turner - Hi friends, family, and everyone inbetween,
Peru is amazing. I’m surrounded by the powerful yet comforting mountains and all the rich smells of cooking food float around me and put different paintings in my head. Every morning is almost identical, like a play running smoothly. We awake usually to the sound of Johan rapping on our door or kids playing in the courtyard. We then groggily get up, shower, and then get dressed. Afterwards we usually go out to the courtyard and play games like soccer and hacky sack. Breakfast is usually around eight o'clock which is a light meal of bread, fruit, and tea. Then our day starts with other activities.
Dear family and friends: I miss you guys so much and I can’t wait to see you all soon! My host family is great but very different from my own family. Love you all.
Paulina Ursua Garcia - Hey guys,
I’m having an awesome time in Peru! Of course the change in environment can throw you off, but my homestay family really makes the change a lot easier. We have lunch and dinner with our homestay and they are great! The little girl, Garled, is so sweet and funny. She reminds me so much of my little sisters. The mom in our homestay is so kind and understanding. She is an amazing cook, her food is awesome! Talking to them is so fun, their stories are really funny and interesting. Going to our homestays is definitely a highlight of my day.
I miss you guys so much! I hope that everything so going great over there. I hope your birthday went well Soph. I’m so sorry I missed it and I love you so much. Happy 14th! I miss all of my friends. Beftu, I love and miss you so much, keep me updated! To my family, los quiero muchísimo y los extraño. Mandale saludos a mi Mami Ludi y Papi Chas. Los quiero mucho!!! Los veo muy pronto!
Rhea Rowan - Hello Mom, Dad, Khaili, and Mughu,
I am having a fabulous time in Peru! I love my family here, my Peruvian father is a basket weaver and my Peruvian mom owns a shop in the market. I also have a sister who is in college, she studying to be an administrative person and my other sister is in high school. I do have two brothers, but I have not met them.
We have been working on our community project for two days. So far we have built bleachers, put in trees, weeded the ground, scavenged for rocks and cleared debris. I thought that all the work would be simple and easy but it's a lot of hard work, I have never sweated so much (except when auntie paid me too rake and weed her yard in the hot and humid Florida sun). All the parents of the students are so kind and are helping us with the school.
I can't wait to see you all when I get home.
Love,
Rhea Rowan
Anna Grace Fusaris - Every day we do something called ANCHOR. ANCHOR is when we meet at night and reflect our day. A stands for appreciation. What did you appreciate so far about this trip and about your day? N stands for news. What is the news about what happened today and what is going to happen tomorrow? C stands for concerns. What concerns have you had about this trip? H stands for hopes. What are your hopes for tomorrow and the rest of the trip? O stands for obscurities. What has made you feel uncomfortable or something that has happened that is unusual? R stands for reading. We read a famous quote from a booklet that Mr. Blair or Mrs. Ashley gives the leaders of the day. Today’s famous poem was by Robert Frost. I love this trip I am so glad I decided to come! I love you family! #Peruisawesome!
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