Robin, Shane & Jess with kids
Sunday – 7/3/11 – Machu Picchu
(from Cassidy & Collin)
There’s nothing like a 3 AM wake-up call. But it’s not so bad when you’re on your way to one of the 7 modern wonders of the world. After waiting two hours in the morning darkness, we boarded the bus up to Machu Picchu. Since we suffered the early morning we were among the first 400 people to arrive, giving us permission to hike to the top of Hauyna Picchu (many of you may know it as the big mountain behind the ancient city).
Our tour guide Esmeralda knew everything there was to know about the mysterious Incan village. We learned everything from the discovery of the site to the architectural details of the each structure. Esmeralda was probably irritated with us, because the group stopped to take pictures about every 30 seconds. But what can you do when you’re in one of the most beautiful places on Earth?! But the best part was yet to come….
After a quick break with 20 soles worth of bathroom breaks and a speedy granola bar and Oreo lunch, we set off to the checkpoint for the Hauyna Picchu hike. The hike started off right away with the steepest stone steps we had ever seen. We figured that it would only last for a little while, but we found that the entire hike consisted of the same steepness. During each water break, the clouds around us cleared even more, and we were able to look out at the breathtaking view of the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu.
All nineteen of us reached the peak together and celebrated with much deserved victory Snickers bars and a two liter bottle of Coca Cola. We spent a good amount of time at the top cherishing the 360 degree majestic view of jagged mountains, tropical jungles and the entirety of the city of Machu Picchu. We think we are speaking for all of us when we say it was the most beautiful sights we have ever seen.
Little did we know that going down is the hardest part (and 10 times scarier). It was like walking down a ladder face first. Some of us took the same approach as a random British man we had seen by sitting on the stairs and scooting down one by one. Others of us took the more daring approach and jumped off. Just kidding! But really, with some great metaphysical work and eagerness to reach our pizza dinner at the bottom, we all made down safely and confidently. It was hard work, but it most definitely made our early wake up worth it.
After a nineteen hour day, our pillows at the volunteer house back in Urubamba felt amazing. Now back to Peruvian food, building and teaching.
Much love,
Cassidy & Collin
Saturday – 7/2/11 – Travel Day to Machu Picchu
(from Dean & Robin)
The day started late. We finally got to sleep in after a long week of working hard on the greenhouse in freezing temperatures and an unheard of amount of rain for their dry season. Feeling rested, a leisurely breakfast in our pajamas was a lovely start to the day. A travel day was ahead of us that included a long walk, bus ride as well as a two hour train ride only to arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes, meaning “Hot Springs”. This natural tourist town sits directly beneath the high city of Machu Picchu, one of the wonders of the world that brought us there. Having the rest of the travel day free to de as we pleased, we split up into groups that naturally consisted of; A: the boys who wanted to eat, and B: the girls who wanted to shop (with the exception of Collin, who went with the girls). Although this was slightly interesting, the adventurous part of the day was yet to come.
After congregating as a group at the hostel, we set out to visit the hot springs that had originated the name of the town. We all expected a natural hot spring but when we got there we instantly saw it was just a bunch of pools filled with hot ‘water.’ This water was more than a little bit contaminated with dirt and other bodily fluids that at least in America with a good filtration system and clear water with chlorine we can pretend doesn’t exist in pools. Three of the four pools were a lovely yellowish brown color and the fourth was a an extremely dark brown one with no one in it. Most of us were brave (or stupid, depending how you look at it) and were undaunted by the look of it and continued towards the pools and after changing, we went in.
The yellow-brown color was accompanied by a lovely musk of ammonia. Still unafraid, we sat in the water and tried to ignore the gross nature of standing in water unfit for any form of human life. Once we got used to the smell and color we witnessed firsthand what caused those unique attributes. A father picked up his son out of the water, let him lower his bathing suit and in midair the baby started to pee. Evidently the father wanted to give his child a nice stream when he peed into the pool right next to where we were standing. Without a second thought the man put his baby back in the water (once he had done his business) and continued talking to his wife when.
Let it be known that we immediately went back to the hostel to shower, and then we went out to a much less eventful and exciting dinner of pizza (it nothing like real American pizza.) And then we went to bed early because we were all keenly aware of the early start to our day the next day.
FUN FACT: Right after the baby had finished relieving himself Nik, Robin, and Shelby unknowingly walked in the exact spot had been peeing.
Dean & Robin
Friday – 7/1/11 – Snowballs & Hiding Under Tables
(from Jess)
With four days already under our belt with teaching, and even more with constructions, we have gotten to feel like pros at our work. Communication with the fathers is easier, being aware of the group dynamic has become natural, and we are getting to know the children better in each class. Sometimes this familiarity leads to respect in the classroom. Sometimes it leads to the ability to goof off.
Many of the teachers today came back with smiles on their faces after teaching. Jordan (or Jordanita as the Peruvians know her) has especially been feeling the unconditional love from all the girls in her classes. They cling to her arms and legs after class is over, begging her to stay and jump rope alongside them. Collin, Robiny and Gwen had an extra student in the class today, a kindergartner who seemed to have no place to go. They took this girl Sarah under their wing for the day, giving her warmth, food and returning the love that all the children give to us. Needless to say, her facial expression at the end of the day was much happier that the one we saw when we first got off the bus.
For some of us today however, today was more of a challenge. The dance committee, including Dean, Cassidy and I, struggled keeping the fifth and sixth graders under control. We lacked loud music today and the kids were not getting engaged in our activities. We had boys fighting or hiding under tables and girls started whipping their scarves around, hitting other students in the eyes. In our class, we really felt like we had to be the bad guys. It’s difficult to hear stories about kids hanging on to your every word we felt like we couldn’t get them to listen at all.
As a committee we were able to adjust and make the class work. We tried our best to keep a balance of letting the children have an enjoyable experience and keeping them in line, and often those went hand and hand. At the end of the class, we had girls come up to us and ask if we had dance class tomorrow, but we had to tell them no. It was bittersweet, because as hard as the day was for us, I wish we could have given the students a better last dance class. Yet here the kids were asking for more.
Today, we also shared a rare experience with the students: snow. Yes it is winter here, and yes sometimes it does snow, but this the dry season and it has not snowed here in fifteen years, meaning this is the kids first time to see snow. After classes were over, whether insinuated by some trouble maker or an unspoken child’s law, a snowball fight ensued. Somehow, despite the experience and height of our NLC class, we were getting smoked by the Peruvians. Granted, there we about thirty of them, and only about ten of us consistently playing, but put a ball of snow in their hands and they know exactly where to aim. Time after time, our NLC class retreated into the safety of the kitchen, pressing our backs against the doors to keep the children, and snow, out.
Of course we too got our moments of victory. Collin, Denali and Nik planed a surprise attack. They hid behind wall, brooms and snowballs in hands, waiting for the opportune moment. The other kids were standing around, confused looks on their faces, turning their heads side to side trying to find a human target. Then, just when the kids thought their fight was over, out from behind the wall comes a charge of men and chaos continued.
It was probably one of the most entertaining, stressful, and rewarding days with the kids today. But I think that is the thing I have learned most about working with kids. Our experiences are going to have their ups and downs, the times where we never want to leave, and the times were we just want to throw our hands up in the air and say class is over. But really, it’s the outcome of the experience, the knowledge that we are making a difference, and the smiles on their faces, asking for us to come back if just one more time, that keeps our motor running. It’s their unconditional love that fuels our everyday.
-Jess
Lettin´Loose
Lettin´Loose
Painting 2012 Classroom
Painting 2012 Classroom
Gwen painting in classroom
Gwen painting in classroom
Greenhouse as of Thursday
Greenhouse as of Thursday
Futbol with the fathers
Futbol with the fathers
Robin loving hang out time
Robin loving hang out time
nlcclassof2013 