From Cusco, Kirkas, Almeria, and Saqsaywaman...

Group Update:

We had another great check in call with Darren and Nayeli today. The trip is going very well and we got some great updates on the group.

They have spent this last week getting to know their homestay families better and taking daily Spanish classes. On Thursday the group volunteered at the San Juan de Dios clinic for special needs children. Our students kept the kids entertained with games and activities and helped to feed and care for many of them. There were some great connections formed that day and it was definitely a positive experience not soon forgotten. On Friday the group traveled to the town of Kirkas and had a great time running a mini Windsor Mountain Friendship Camp. Over the weekend everyone volunteered at a greenhouse in Almeria and then learned to make traditional adobe bricks. The group definitely learned how difficult brick-making is, but they also surpassed the record of WMI bricks made from past years and had a great time doing it!

These past couple days have been full of more Spanish classes and activities at the school, salsa lessons, and an adventure to the Saqsaywaman area . While at Saqsaywaman, the group explored some of the historic ruins and had an awesome time going down the natural rock slides (see the pictures in the right hand colulmn for a great visual of many of their activities - click on the picture to see a larger view). Tomorrow is the group’s last day with their homestay families and Spanish classes in Cusco. They will be packing up their belongings and saying farewell to all their new friends. Tomorrow night the group will be staying in a hotel (which I’m sure they’re all excited for) and meeting with their guide for Machu Picchu. Time to begin prepping for the next big adventure!

That’s the update for now. Don’t forget, the next student phone call home will be July 20th (Monday) between 4 and 6 pm EST.

Student Blurbs:

Kaleigh was really into working hard and having fun while bonding with the whole group in the greenhouses in Almeria. She has also enjoyed eating and practicing her Spanish with her homestay family.

Ryan had a blast learning how to make adobe bricks in Almeria. A previous group had made 68 bricks and we set a goal to “out-brick” them. Ryan served as our official brick-counter and we ended up with 78 (though we had a lot of help from our Peruvian friends). Ryan also really enjoyed teaching English in the school in Almeria.

Sylvia was treated to a surprise birthday party last Friday hosted by her beloved homestay family. The whole group attended and the cake was delicious! Her host mother, Berta, even knitted her a hat for the occasion! She also had a great time playing with the children in Kirkas.

Despite an irritating stomach illness, Beryl has maintained her wonderful sense of humor throughout the trip. She is always ready to bring a smile to the faces of those working with her in the greenhouses, sharing a room in her homestay, or riding next to her in the van.

Nancy’s favorite activity of the week was sliding down the natural rockslides at Saquesaywaman, something that Peruvian children have enjoyed for hundreds of years. She has also contributed many useful insights during our group meetings.

Tara has been setting the bar high as far as work ethic during service projects goes. She has made so many children smile, moved so much mud, and tilled so much soil; Peru is most certainly a better place thanks to Tara.

Andrew liked going to the soccer game (Garcilazo vs Cienciano). He even bought a Peruvian soccer jersey that he sports as he strolls around Cusco.

Matt enjoys walking around the city and visiting museums with his Spanish teacher.
He showed a lot of interest in the Humanitarian Project of Almeria and put a lot of effort into the service work there.

Eva did a great job teaching English to the second graders in Almeria. She used her Spanish skills to help them learn the colors, numbers, and days of the week.

Toni was one of the main instigators of our epic mud fight during the making of the adobes. She also developed a special connection with Shirley, a little girl who has just been brought to the Clinica San Juan de Dios from her home in the countryside.

Kathryn had a lot of fun working in the greenhouses, planting lettuce, and singing showtunes from Wicked and Rent with the rest of the girls.

Kyle was a ninja with the hatchet as he prepared straw for the rest of the group to mix with the mud for the adobes. He also showed Schwarzenegger-esque strength as he carried the finished adobes to their storage place.