Sebastian, Lila, Sydney, Becca, Simone, Avery, Galit, Lindsay, & Sofia –

Can you believe how much time has passed since our Peru trip together!? It seems like yesterday that we were standing at chow circle before dinner and handing off alpacita to each other. Do you all still have your alpaca!? I hope you have adjusted okay to life without soup before every almuerzo and postre after every cena. I imagine at this point you are back at school (or if you are Becca you are at college… go Becca!) but we wanted to remind you that in Cusco Peru there is a school that is a little bit better off because of your visit. Thank you.

Our time spent together here truly did make an impact – and you should all know that when you flew out of cusco you left nothing but good energy and a positive impact (and maybe some hand warmers, shampoo, and towels). Whenever the children walk by the playground they will have fond memories of playing and getting to know you all – and when they climb the stairs to Mario’s school they will look up and remember to “aprender, jugar, y crecer.” I am not sure when the new school will be complete – but when it is done it will stand as an example of what can be accomplished when many hands come together to work towards a common goal.

Another part of the trip that is heavy on my mind is how much we all truly enjoyed each others company. Weather it was rocking out to music in the car with Don Roberto, trying to not be a rotten banana in banana-grams or playing essence at happy hour with a warm cup of chocolate, you all are truly a special bunch. I wonder if you remember the steps to salsa and if Galit, Lindsay, and Simone have managed to stay out of the hospital!

We really worked hard together and had fun while doing it. As you continue to learn and grow as leaders, we hope you remember the lessons that you took away from this place and taught each other. Thanks for helping to make Children of The Andes a once in a lifetime trip for everyone.

Some special moments from the trip:

-Celebrating Sofia & Becca’s birthday – and Becca having her face smashed in the cake!
-Learning about the Andean culture and Inka history with our guides Mary Luis, Santiago, Sonya, Jose, and Naty.
-Building a snowman while our horsemen built snow alpacas when we were unable to go on the lares hike because of all of the snow!
-Lila bringing the spirit during classroom day and proving that “dance is art”.
-Mixing cement and painting fences while singing our favorite throwback songs.
-Having our futures revealed during the “pago a la Tierra ceremony”.
-Playing soccer against the Peruvian team at la cancha.
-Eating more galletas and helado than our stomachs could handle.
-Delicious food at home base such as those amazing tacos, papas rellenos, and wonderful warming soups.
-Our end of program talent show that included a beautiful dance, one fish two fish slam poetry, wonderful acapella music, a guest appearance from Freddy, and a playing card disappearing into an orange!

Much Love –
Mel Canna (International Mentor) & the GLA Peru team

 

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Dear Addy, Drew, Anna, Austin, Avery, Bridget, Campbell, Elizabeth, Ella, Ethan F, Ethan S,
Eva, Fatima, Fedora, Hank, Ishaan, Julia, Kat, Lena, Maddie, Max, Mika, Nicky, Nina, Sara,
Shannon, Shey, Sophia, Tyler and Westray,

I can’t believe I’m sitting here, post-program, reflecting back on all of the time we’ve
spent together and the memories we made in the very short time-span of 21 days. Although our
time together is far behind us, the legacy of group 1 has not been forgotten, even as new
students came, and still continue to come and work on the same projects as you all once did,
your impacts are still seen to this day.

It’s hard even for me to believe that the period of a long-lasting chow circle, endless
shout-outs, food, food, food and more food, watching intense soccer matches with Rolando, the
ability to sit and chat with a new person everyday, early morning-wake ups and walking to our
school site while seeing local people go about their days has long passed.

While you guys are no longer passing around the alpacita, going on endless tienda runs
(shoutout to those Sublime Bars and Inka Cola) and making lesson plans to work with our
students, the impact of your group was truly something unseen before in the children’s lives as
well as the progression of the construction. It’s been said that the first steps of contraction are
the hardest. You guys are literally breaking the ground to set forth the the foundation of a
school. While in the moment the jack-hammering was tiring, we as a group want to thank you for
your intense dedication to the mission of providing an education to children much like those you
worked with. It’s the selflessness of you all that gives the school of San Gabriel hope for a
brighter future.

Thinking back on the summer, a few memories in particular stick out in my head I’d love to
remind you all of:

-Buying a ridiculous amount of sweaters and random items from our amiga at the store with the
“wholesale prices”
-With that being said, just the memory of alpaca sweaters deserves its own bullet point (I’m
wearing mine right now p.s.)
-Mika, Drew, Hank, and Julia (among many others) jack-hammering the ground for three hours
straight.
-The Lares trek, our amazing campsite, the DANK food (excuse me if that’s my dinosaur
terminology) Nicky’s “spot” to watch the stars, and our offering of coca leaves once we reached
the peak of the trek.
-Machu Picchu.. nuff said.
-Hank’s finale of his final magic trick, pulling a card out of Jenzor’s pocket (I’m still not over that).
-Creating our amazing mural of the Andean Cross, the final reveal and our goodbye dance party
with the students.
-Having our fortune told by the Shamen at our “Pago de la Tierra” Ceremony.
-Being told that Ethan S’s spirit Animal is a guinea pig and Kat’s is a Cow by the Shamen (lol).
-Fatima showing us her amazing braiding skills.
-Feeding and making long lasting friendships with the llamas, alpacas and guanacos at Awana
-Kancha <3
-Singing “Umbrella” by Rihana before one of our last chow-circles.
-Practicing and learning more Spanish everyday.
-Eating mad cookies everyday
-The walk to service, while difficult, was satisfying to feel more able to do it day-by-day.
-The awesome house staff, including Patty, Rolando, Jenzor, Yesica and Ale.
-The Soqma trek and all it’s beauty.
-The “sick” or “six” squad bonding POST evacuation from Soqma.
-Our final appreciation circle, anonymously letting everyone know how they’ve affected our time
during the program.

I know you all will continue to carry the memories of this trip with you for years to come.
As I’ve mentioned to many of you, my time in GLA as a student, while a lot shorter and in a
different location, still stays with me seven years later, as I still think about the lessons learned
and remain friends with my close friends from the trip. Our time in Peru has ended but many
new doors have now been opened, whether that be in friendships, career objectives, a change
in perspective or a new appreciation for our own lives. Don’t let that slide you by as the time
passes.

Sending love and appreciation for the time we’ve all spent together.

Gaby & the GLA Peru Team

 

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Tah-shee-day-lay!

Time may fly but it can also be a precious gift when processing such big experiences (and places) as India.
You should be proud of yourselves. We’re sure your friends and families are. And amazed!

*Special shout-out to Alex for, as our shy 15 year old with no travel experience, making it through like a boss!

Looking back, can you believe that we stayed with royalty in the clouds full of some blindingly hot and sunny days while others stormed with monsoons, all the while with monkeys landing on our rooftops? Or that we got to make a real impact on those kids, their families and the teachers we worked with? *How’s the GoFundMe for the education of your gifted little girl here to get a good education, Carrinna and Bella? *touched, proud and tearing up again*

At the time, it didn’t feel so big, did it? We were pushed our of out comfort zones by at least an Indian “five minutes” in ways that included all those mountain roads with their steep incline/declines, conditions of the homeless dogs and people we’re not used to and some of the biggest spiders many of us had ever seen. Not to mention the trash everywhere, moist everything and smells we’re all happy to forget. Facing constant challenges, inspiration and fun moments such as shopping at McLeod Ganj and creating bonds organically during our free time, such as experience was just…big. It felt like rolling with the punches at times but what an impact it made on who we are and who we want to be.

We could have chosen an easier and smoother program/country but we didn’t want that. We wanted India and all that comes with. Well, we got it and that will forever impact us. So will the people we bonded with, even if just for those moments. That’s the travelers life and, dare we say, even the Buddhist way. To live, love and be forever impacted in the moment without any expectation of the future. Time to shake up our sand mandalas, kiddos.

You are all at such a magical place of not only being both a new adult and child all at once, you are also at a time in your lives that the platform of who you will forever become is built. You have given those of us lucky enough to be a part of that a peek of whimsical transport back into our moments of life when being the most alive and leave us with humbled gratitude for the gift of being a part of yours. Take what you have learned into your worlds, our little GLAers, and let yourselves be the light that others grow from.
Time to rally!

We would tell you to make us proud but you already have. Even by knowing you for a few short weeks, we also already know that you always will.

Some special moments from our trip:

Seeing the Dalai Lama drive by on the first day – wow!

Our first experiences with all the money’s, doggos, cows and even spiders.

Bonding with each other while sitting around during free time and those moments of first connecting with the kids at placements.

Putting together our beautiful photos with the written stories that came with.

Ashvini’s talks, the PJ photo sessions (like the Kangra tea gardens) and, most of all, the beautiful photos we ended up with.

The beauty, history and culture of the Norbulinga Institute.

The intimacy and ability to each be heard in the mentor groups.

The nature and beauty of St. John church

The serenity of the Kora and majestic symbolism of Dalai Lama’s temple.

Teddy!

Shopping at McLeod Ganj…three times.

Meeting the king.

Hikes! Just 45 steps at the Guna Temple.

Knowledge gained at the Tibetan parliament.

Learning about a culture and one women’s history with it all at Dolls for Tibet. Not to mention getting a few cute dolls!

A yummy meal hosted by the king.

The rice fields of Priyanka’s family farm.

Dancing until the floor was so wet we were practically swimming at India Funday.

Celebrating Conrad and Riley’s birthdays.

Surviving the heat and soaking in the grandness of the Golden Temple & Taj Mahal.

So now we say one last namaste,

Mentor Robin and the STL India Crew

 

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Time may fly but it can also be a precious gift when processing such big experiences (and places) as India.
You should be proud of yourselves. We’re sure your friends and families are. And amazed!
*Special shout-out to Alison as our gal from a super small town with no travel experience for making it through like a boss!

Looking back, can you believe that we stayed with royalty in the clouds with moments full of monsoon storms, all the while with monkeys landing on our rooftops? Or that we got to make a real impact on those kids, their families and the teachers we worked with?

At the time, it didn’t feel so big, did it? We were pushed our of out comfort zones in ways that included all those mountain roads with their steep incline/declines, conditions of the homeless dogs and people we’re not used to and some of the biggest spiders many of us had ever seen. Not to mention the trash everywhere, moist everything and smells we’re all happy to forget. Facing constant challenges, inspiration and fun moments such as shopping at McLeod Ganj and creating bonds organically during our free time, such as experience was just…big. It felt like rolling with the punches at times but what an impact it made on who we are and who we want to be.

We could have chosen an easier and smoother program/country but we didn’t want that. We wanted India and all that comes with. Well, we got it and that will forever impact us. So will the people we bonded with, even if just for those moments. That’s the travelers life and, dare we say, even the Buddhist way. To live, love and be forever impacted in the moment without any expectation of the future. Time to shake up our sand mandalas, kiddos.

You are all at such a magical place of not only being both a new adult and child all at once, you are also at a time in your lives that the platform of who you will forever become is built. You have given those of us lucky enough to be a part of that a peek of whimsical transport back into our moments of life when being the most alive and leave us with humbled gratitude for the gift of being a part of yours. Take what you have learned into your worlds, our little GLAers, and let yourselves be the light that others grow from.
We would tell you to make us proud but you already have. Even by only knowing you for a couple short weeks, we also already know that you always will.

Some special moments from our trip:

Getting out saris and suits made.

Teddy!

Shopping at McLeod Ganj…three times.

Mentor groups – Story of Self

Taking in the wonders of Dalai Lama’s temple and learning about the Tibetans flee to India and peaceful fight against China.

PJ Sessions, lessons and all the great photos we took.

Seeing what it’s like to live off the grid at Priyanka’s family farm.

DAR – Darmashala Animal Rescue – helping all those pups we see out on the street.

Yummy dinner hosted by, and dancing with, the king.

Surviving the heat at the Golden Temple.

Enjoying the romance (and cooler weather) of the Taj Mahal in the rain.

So now we say one last namaste,

Mentor Robin, Director Tim and the STL India Crew

 

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Dear our final group,

I still cannot believe that it has been almost 20 days since we all departed. Though I am sure that you’re enjoying your Starbucks coffees, air conditioning, and acai bowls, I know that somewhere inside each of you is a person longing for that Haiti heat and never-failing rooster alarm clock.

From cement mixing to bottling walls to painting to facilitating medical clinics to participating in nighty lectures and discussions, the list of things that you all accomplished on your trip is never-ending. We could not have been luckier to have had such an amazing group of human beings to finish off our summer. I may not have cried at the airport like many of you had wished (sorry Bridget), but it really was sad for me to watch all of you leave. While sad, though, watching everyone board the plane and leave is an exciting moment for me – it is a moment where we did become worth it because you each get to go home and share what you learned, what you saw, and what person you’ve become.

There are thousands of memories that I could recount from your trip, – some sad, some silly, some serious, and some beautiful – but there are a few in particular that I will forever hold near and dear to my heart:

-Watching all of you bond with Jacques

-Talking in depth about race and identity both in Haiti, in the US, and in the world as a whole (cough* cough* social justice)

-The Rooster

-Watching Jake and Ian (and others) improvise at the vocational school when we didn’t have enough ladders

-Having in depth discussions with you all about effective development and the repercussions of just giving hand-outs

-The clinic trip with Caroline and Kate

-Seeing all of the dietary restriction people show admirable patience with the chefs

-Mentor groups <3

-Mystery pooper

-The never ending clogged toilets

-Beating the Cap Haitian women’s soccer team

-Dancing on stage at Bookanye Restaurant

-Genuine hugs at the airport

Although I didn’t cry at the airport, Jacques shed a few tears on the car ride back home. He was overcome with sadness that you all were leaving and he said that he hoped you would come back someday. Hopefully Jacques’ wish will come true and I will see each of you back in Haiti some day in the future.

Love,
Sarah Stubbs

 

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