Click here to jump down to new posts!

Friday June 29, 2018

Arrival Day!

As Day 1 of our program comes to a close, all of the students have arrived in-country and will be resting up for the awesome orientation day and city tour we have tomorrow!

We got home late last night so today we’re sending our blogs from Days 2 and 3. Pictures will come separately

Saturday June 30, 2018

Fighting the Jet lag!

Our first day in the Philippines as a full group proved to be full of adventure. We started our day with breakfast and prepared ourselves for orientation. The group practiced getting to know each other with a name game, getting to know appropriate cultural behaviors with skits, and getting to know the code of conduct better with a game called “Find that line!”. We were all able to come together and work in various groups to act out silly, but important, activities and understand what is expected of us and discuss some of what we hope to accomplish ourselves. We had a brief intermission to try a delicious Filipino morning sweet, taho, and continued with the activities. We learned to always have our WITS about us (Water, Insect Repellent, Toilet Paper, Sunscreen). Ultimately, we created our own community agreement (which came out really cute) and all signed it.

The group had lunch at home base and headed out to a bike riding tour. (Those of us who don’t know how to ride a bike were offered to hop on with someone else, shout out to Michele for biking me around!) We learned a lot about Intramuros and the Spanish influence in Philippine culture and we were able to visit a few of the different historical sites. We stopped quickly at a church and saw a wedding taking place, an unexpected but beautiful surprise. The group finished the tour and headed to dinner nearby. There, we saw musicians and dancers performing traditional Philippine songs. It was so thrilling seeing the dancers jump quickly to avoid being hit with bamboo sticks, a dance called Tinikling; something I knew I definitely wasn’t expecting. We were even called up to try it out for ourselves! To top the day off, it was two of the performers’ birthdays that we were able to be a part of, another unexpected and sweet surprise. After a very fun, but tiring, day we couldn’t wait to get back to home base and catch up on sleep.

-By Victoria Guevara

Sunday July 1, 2018

Even though today wasn’t one of the most involved days of our trip, it was still incredibly educational and fun! We started out the day by visiting the Hineledan Cafe where we learned about the non-profit, the Cartwheel Foundation, and about indigenous people not only in the Philippines but around the world. Two indigenous people began the presentation by reciting a prayer. They then taught us a lot of valuable information about the true meaning of indigenous culture and how to advocate for its respect and preservation. While learning about their culture was extremely interesting, it was agreed upon that the best part of the day centered around the traditional indigenous dance that we took part in. After the seminar was over, we enjoyed a dish that consisted of a meat and rice that was once used as bird seed (it was still surprisingly delicious). We then went to the mall to quickly exchange currency and buy other necessities for the trip. Soon thereafter, we returned to home base to create lesson plans for the students that we are teaching tomorrow. We were then given a little time to bond with some of the other people on the trip, which was a nice treat. Finally, we watched a presentation on the materials that are wreaking havoc on wildlife. Luckily, we were also given some tips as to how to help prevent future natural destruction. At the end of the day, we had a short reflection and dinner and excitedly prepared for the amazing day we are going to have tomorrow!

-by Skylar Davidson

Monday July 2, 2018

Day 4 in the Philippines has been an exiting one!! Our first real day of working with the community. To start our day we visited Gawad Kalinga and helped with their efforts to build low cost homes. We carried bags of concrete and helped dispose of them. For lunch we got to try a traditional Filipino boodle meal which is eating with just your hands off of bamboo leaves. The food consisted of tofu, fish, eggplant, rice and the famous mangos.

The chance to work alongside locals at the construction site helping to put a roof over a family’s head was incredibly humbling. We were also beyond grateful to the locals who prepared the traditional meal for us and for showing us kindness.

After this we washed up and headed over to an elementary school where we got the chance to teach 5th graders from a storybook that we donated to the library. After the lesson, the children taught us some of their Filipino games. We learned games such as bahay kubo, tumbang preso, and siopao siomai suman. We connected with these kids on such a real level that when we were saying our goodbyes there were tears all around. The students were so open and welcoming. Playing with them, seeing their smiles, and sharing laughs were some of the purest moments. Their happiness despite anything they may be going through was inspiring to say the very least.

I can say with confidence that none of us will ever forget this day as it will always hold a special place in our heart.

-By Isabella Kasegrande and Alexis Kelley

Tuesday July 3, 2018

Highlights of today included sorting boxes for the Philippine Toy Library and addressing our personal “Little Haters”. The Philippine Toy Library is an organisation that provides rural schools with used games, books and toys, which they often lack. In the morning, we were sorting through, quality checking and labelling various items to be sent to these schools. For each of these tasks, one person stepped up to be the leader of their respective group to organise individuals. Initially, the adults were only expecting us to pack 5-7 boxes, but after 5 hours of hard work and a little surprise rain, we managed to pack 18 boxes. Two of these boxes were selected to bring with us on our visit to one of the schools the Philippine Toy Library supports. Everyone stayed positive and adapted quickly in the face of pouring rain.

The Little Haters Workshop in the afternoon gave us the opportunity to delve deeper into why we have this voice in our head saying, “You can’t do this.” This voice we called “Little Haters” and in the workshop we had to described what it looked like. This led onto deeper questions about how it makes us feel and when it presents itself. While talking in small groups, we were able to identify similarities and differences between our Little Haters. We were then able to combine into a single group and discuss solutions to overcome the things that may have been holding us back. During this experience, some of my peers thrived during this deep discussion and those who weren’t as verbal still gained a better understanding of where our weaknesses lie. In turn, discussions such as this forge a stronger connection amongst our group and open a new line of communication.

Overall, I would have to say being leader today was made easier by the attitude of the group and the advisors. They all work hard to make the most out of the activities and are determined to have a little fun while doing it. Thank you to those who said I did really well today at keeping the group moving, but I still believe there are some points I need to work on, but that may just be my Little Hater trying to fix what isn’t broken.

-by Noelle Grau

Wednesday July 4, 2018

Day 6 started off with a bus ride to the country. The transition from the bustling streets of Manila to the winding streets of Pampanga City was visible as we listened to music and gawked at the various animals we passed. As we arrived at Villa Maria Integrated School we were greeted with smiles from the excited students, for they had never been visited by foreigners before.

We entered the classroom and anticipated the tribal dance performed by four of the children. At the end of day 5, we had prepared a showcase of some of our favorite childhood dances for today’s event in return. Today, we happily danced “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” and the “Hokey Pokey.” We then proceeded to take part in two arts and crafts activities with kindergarteners from the school. (Most of) the children gleefully decorated tote bags and colored pictures with our assistance.

After that was finished, we surprised them with Jollibee for lunch, but that was not the only gift we had in store for them. We gifted them two of the boxes of toys we packed yesterday. It was incredibly rewarding to see the effects of our work before our eyes as the students opened the boxes of toys. They eagerly pulled their future toys from the boxes, concluding our day. This was a humbling experience because we saw the struggle of these amazing children first hand. They were ecstatic to receive used and tattered toys while it could have be easy for some to discard the toys that were taken for granted in their own lives.

After we headed back to home base, the group took part in a leadership activity regarding culture and respect. Our word of the day, humility, really allowed us to reflect on the events of the day. The leadership activity helped to remind us to stay down to earth when experiencing other cultures similarly to how many felt humbled by our experience in the province today. Working with the children of schools will always be an activity we look forward to.

We would also always look forward to a celebration! We closed out the night with a cake that read, “Happy Fourth of July GLA Philippines.” Although not all of us celebrate this holiday at home, we were still able to come together as one to embrace the spirit of the day. Some might have missed the usual fireworks and barbecues, but we all came together and had an amazing night.

By Casey Ungarsohn and Amina Bejja

Thursday July 5, 2018

Week 1 done!

Day 7 began with breakfast and a 2 hour car ride to another Gawad Kalinga location, called the ‘Enchanted Farm.’ Along with building new homes, ‘GK’ aims to build new futures. A major issue is the lack of support from the rich to the poor. Because of this, the poor has to learn how to support themselves. The GK community built the Enchanted Farm with the purpose of making dreams come true. This is brought to life in the 50+ social enterprises on the farm.

After lunch we had a opportunity to buy natural beauty products that were made by entrepreneurs that are based on the farm. We were taken to make our own plush hearts. we saw how the people who make plush toys work and the process they go through to make each toy.

While we were waiting for our hearts to be personalized we were taught how bamboo straws are made and the effect of using bamboo instead of plastic straws has on the world. We learned about Ecobrick fences that last around seven years and are mainly made of plastic.

-By Julie Zierer and Kaisa Sazama-Framil

Friday July 6, 2018

Today was especially exciting because of the quick change in locations. This morning we packed our things and headed for San Pablo. After a long car ride and a stop to Pancake House for brunch, we reached Sulyap, our new home for the next few days. Upon arrival we unpacked our things and headed straight to the pool for a couple hours. In the afternoon, we all got dressed up for a tour of San Pablo sites and museum. It was so interesting to learn all about the beautiful culture and heritage of the San Pableños. Later that evening we took a stroll through the city, and ended our beautiful day with dinner out by the lake. Today was filled with bonding opportunities and lots of time to spend with each other.

Being today’s leader, I understood more about compromise and respect. I realized how important it is to meet the expectations of being a leader to others. The biggest thing I learned today was that sometimes things don’t work out the way you want them to, so you need to find quick and easy solutions to challenges that come along the way. I was feeling a little homesick today (hi mom if you’re reading this) but I found comfort in all the amazing friends that I have made here. We have truly created our own little family, and I’m so glad that I’m able to share this amazing experience with them. I’m so excited for what more there is to come this week, and we can’t wait to share it with you all.

-by Melania Zilo (Leader of the Day)

Saturday July 7, 2018

On Day 9, breakfast was at 7:30, where many of us indulged in American Breakfasts (consisting of toast, ham, bacon, and eggs) reminiscent of food back home. By 8:30 we were en route to the Malabanban Water Shed, where our tree planting activity took place. We were each given a seedling and hiked up a winding staircase towards the top of the mountain. We took some amazing pictures from a perch on the side of the mountain, overlooking the forest. I thought it was interesting because even though we were all sticky with sweat, hair strewn about due to the humidity, the pictures still came out great because of how happy we all were. Throughout the hike, we placed our trees in spots we thought they’d bloom, as a way of doing our part to help the environment.

Next, we grabbed lunch at Forest in the City and headed to a local farm to learn how ube is made. First, ube yam and cassava is cut up, boiled, and strained. The remaining paste is dyed purple, cooled, and packaged. We were given the opportunity to package the ube, and were graciously given a free taste of the finished product. Then we went to the market to practice bargaining in a scavenger hunt to find fruit for the lowest price. I’m proud to say my group got our 4 fruits for 5 pesos total! Afterwards, we ate dinner at [insert restaurant name here] and went back to Sulyap for a good night’s rest.

The day was quite the learning experience for me. In the beginning, I wasn’t totally sure of how to lead the group and what the balance of joking around and managing I was supposed to have. As the day went on, I leaned grew more confident and comfortable with my role; so now I know to trust my instincts and use my voice because people will listen. I also couldn’t have done my job as well as I did without the help of other people. Leading isn’t about doing everything yourself, the people you lead have strengths of their own that can help the group as a whole. I also learned that micromanaging isn’t really necessary- if you set the tone and expectations for the group right, the rest follows.

Most importantly, I’d like to wish my sister Alyana a happy 10th birthday from the Philippines! Shoutout to my family, I love you all. <3

-By Tala Garcia

 

Sunday July 8, 2018

Day 10 began with very tired faces appearing at the breakfast table this morning, with 6:30 being a very early breakfast compared to the last few days. Nonetheless, every person definitely perked up when they were greeted with an American breakfast and coffee, as well as the famous pineapple juice! We then piled onto the buses at 7am sharp with a 90 minute trip ahead of us. The scenic route granted a plethora of opportunities for photos of the landscape, something we have all appreciated being able to witness during our trip thus far.

Soon thereafter we arrived at Lake Taal where we were able to enjoy a ‘too good to be true’ boat ride across, enjoying the cool breeze and beautiful views. We then hiked 2km (sorry I’m Australian, I’m not sure how many miles that is) up the Taal Volcano. Despite proving to be difficult, almost our entire group made it up to the very top, with a few of us braving the last stretch more than once, but this time at a sprint! The Taal Volcano is still active today, and despite its last eruption being in 1911, we hiked up the ‘lava trail’, where the igneous rocks were red and steam poured up from the ground!

As we were hiking, some of us noticed that we were the only ones taking the route by foot, with others opting to ride horses. To say that we, the leaders of the day, are super proud of our group for doing as well as we did is an understatement! After making it back down to the lake, we once again enjoyed a boat ride back to the mainland, before driving up a windy mountain for American burgers and fries for lunch! Despite loving all of the Filipino food we have been enjoying, I think it’s safe to say that we all enjoyed this treat very much.

After lunch we went to a few souvenir shops for some quick shopping before a bus ride home to arrive to a yummy meal of rice noodles before a quick night time swim. What a day!

-by Olivia Thurston and Michele Srour

Monday July 9, 2018

Teamwork: a quality that everyone in the program has demonstrated throughout our adventure in Lake Pandin especially during the bamboo building activity.

Even before we got to the vans to drive there, everyone’s excitement to build and learn about the lifestyle of the fishermen showcased which affected the group positively as a whole. As we hiked to get to the lake, we were all in awe with the view of the mountains, the rice plains, and the coconut trees.

Once we got there, the Filipinos welcomed us with smiles. They were also very considerate and patient when they were teaching us how to make the rafts considering the fact that the language barrier made it difficult. But that didn’t stop us.
It was very impressive to see the efforts everyone put in during the activity. When separated into two groups, no one wasted a second after it; everyone got to work. Whether it be helping someone wrap the wire through the bamboos, handing out bottles of water, or re-applying sunscreen on each other, everyone contributed massive efforts.

Although a torrential downfall had occurred in the middle of the day, overall, the day was very adventurous. If anyone needs help building a raft, just ask one of us!

Sheena Cainglet
GLA Philippines 2018

Tuesday July 10, 2018

Wednesday July 11, 2018

Day 13, our final full day together here in the Philippines as a group has definitely been bittersweet. We began the day at 7:30 which means that all of us got to sleep in later than usual. Sulyap served us our last breakfast and then everyone headed to their rooms to start packing before we were given a tour of the museum at Sulyap. There were many antiques there including wardrobes, machines and clothing. My favorite was the type writer even though it didn’t really work anymore.

When the museum tour ended, we had about an hour to pack before we headed back to Manila. We had a half hour to settle into our rooms before we headed to a conference room to have our closing activites. Each of us were given a sheet of paper to draw our 5 most important and memorable moments, the 3 people who inspired us the most, and 3 accomplishments.

When we finished, our mentors passed around sheets of paper with our names on it and had us rotate and write on each person’s sheet of paper what we loved about them. It was so nice to be able to tell people the admirable qualities that you see in them and come back and read what people wrote to you. Even though the activity had everyone pretty emotional, it was really special and helped us to reflect back on the memories that we created with each other.

When the activities ended, we went to dinner at California Pizza and then headed back to our hotel to hang out, pack, sleep, or all three. Although the day didn’t sound very eventful physically, it took a toll on all of us emotionally. Spending time with a group of people constantly for two weeks, making unforgettable memories, and being immersed in a new culture has been such a privilege that all of us are going to remember for the rest of our lives. Thank you so much to our mentors Steph, Anne, Leanne, and Rein for being incredible leaders and helping us to have an amazing experience. Thank you to Loulette (Mom) for helping to facilitate everything.

And shout out to everyone who decided to embark on the first ever GLA Philippines trip! You are all incredible people and I feel so blessed to have met you and spent two weeks of absolute insanity with you, loving every minute of it. Never stop being curious about the world. There is so much to learn from it. Here’s to the memories, the laughs, the hardships, the new experiences, the rice, and more adventures to come. ❤

Also, shout out to my family for encouraging me to go and for helping me make it happen. I wouldn’t be writing this if it weren’t for you. I love you all more than you can ever know and am grateful for your belief and support in me everyday).

-Written by Anna Gardiner

Thursday July 12, 2018

It has been an incredible 2 weeks with an amazing group of young people, and today we said goodbye as each returns home, never to forget the lasting community that we have built together. Hugs to everyone!

Everyone is now on their way!

Click here to jump down to the new posts!

Saturday July 14, 2018

Bienvenidos a Perú! The Spanish Service Adventure crew arrived safe and sound at our home base in the town of Yucay located in the Sacred Valley of Peru. We took in the breathtaking views of the snow capped Andes on our drive from the airport and had our first taste of delicious Peruvian cuisine.

We spent the afternoon settling in and getting to know each other, and this evening we were introduced to Peruvian culture by watching an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown. We are looking forward to visiting our service site and meeting our Spanish teachers tomorrow. We can’t wait for all the adventures yet to come!

Stay tuned for more update. Adios for now!

*Not pictured Maya Panida

Sunday July 15, 2018

Hola a todos,

Today was a great first full day with the group. We got to visit the service site, a nearby rural secondary school, and we were introduced to the project. Although there were no children on a Sunday, it was interesting to see what the previous GLA group had worked on and to see where we will pick up where they left off. We are building a greenhouse, and all of the money earned from what is grown in the it will go towards school materials for the students. Since we were already on site, we decided to make the most of our time and pick up any trash we saw lying around the schoolyard to surprise the students with a cleaner space when they return on Monday.

We came back to home base after the service site visit for a meal together, with the highlight being fried yucca with guacamole. We also continued orientation activities, learned some basics about Peruvian culture and did a few more “get to know you” activities as well. The students were introduced to their Spanish teachers, and classes will begin on Monday. Everyone is looking forward to practicing and improving upon their language skills.

Hasta luego,

Sofia

Monday July 16, 2018

Today was our first full day of service. We drove to a rural school in a town called Chinchero. We started off meeting with the kids at the local school and then jumped into an intense game of fútbol and volleyball. After some fun with los estudiantes, we began to move the massive pile of adobe bricks towards the site of the greenhouse we are starting to build. We created a super long assembly line to make the process more efficient. After that, we packed up and got back on the bus to home base.

When we arrived we were welcomed with a delicious lunch. Once everyone was stuffed, many headed off for an afternoon siesta. In the afternoon we had our first Spanish classes with local teachers. We had the chance to practice our market vocab in preparation for our trip to Cusco tomorrow. To finish the day we had a great dinner and then met with our mentor groups to further get to know each other.

After a long day everyone is ready for a good night’s sleep and a fun excursion Cusco tomorrow!

Ciao,

Pete Barnard & Chris Geremia

Tuesday July 17, 2018

Dear parents,

This morning, we went to Cusco and got a history lesson on the on the city’s center and the Incas roll in it. We split up into Spanish groups and got to put our Spanish to use in asking for fruits and veggies. Afterwards, we got to explore the market and buy chompas (sweaters) and other local items. Then we had lunch at a local restaurant where we tried Chicha for the first time (a purple corn drink). Fun fact: instead of saying “cheese” for pictures, everyone here says “chicha”.

After Cusco, we traveled to a local Inca Archeological sight called, “sacsayhuman.” We learned about the history of the Incas and their empire. We learned about how it began and how it fell. The physical history of it showed us a lot and it gave us a clear image of the stories they were telling. We then got back to the hotel and had pesto spaghetti with dinosaur nuggets (a dream come true). We finished off the evening with an introduction to Story of Self which will be continued throughout the next couple of nights.

Sincerely,

Makenna and Ali

Wednesday July 18 and Thursday July 19, 2018

Dear parents,

Yesterday we continued our adobe adventure and have several helping hands move massive loads of bricks to and from each location. Some of the group also had the chance to participate within the classroom and learn alongside the students. We also got to compete in soccer in what felt like the world cup final. The group finished the day with Spanish class and a lovely chicken dinner.

Despite a bought of inclement weather, the group still had a day full of service and cultural immersion. We began our day at the service site where some of us helped to move tiles off of a storage shed that’s going to be taken down. Others joined students in the classroom as they prepared for their day of cultural exhibition.

Later in the afternoon we were able to go to the supermarket to pick up any last minute cravings before we depart for our trek. Also we found ourself in a cafe to enjoy some cake and wifi. Afterwards, we attended a shaman ceremony where each and every one of us was blessed. Finally we concluded our day with stories of self which allowed us to get a deeper understanding of our GLA family.

Goodbye for now. Until post-trek,

-Spencer R.,  Spencer V., Zoie

Friday July 20 through Monday July 23, 2018

Buenos días padres,

This weekend we took a wonderful trip throughout the countryside of Peru. We started our trek on Friday, where we hiked to a lodge nestled by a beautiful lake. A makeshift market was set up by the locals, and we were able to participate in llama herding. After a delicious dinner, we sat around a campfire and ate smores, talking underneath the stars. The next morning we realized that it had snowed! After a brief snowball fight, we continued our trek to meet up with the bus and traveled to a llama exhibit where we got to pet and feed them.

The same day our group took the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, where we stayed overnight at the Marco Wasi Hotel. From there, we took the bus up to Machu Picchu where we met with our guide Davy. After the three hour tour of Picchu and many photos later we went for lunch at a buffet and jumped back on the train to Ollantaytambo to make our way back to home base.

As of today, we resumed service at the school where we mixed mud to lay the adobes. The students in the classrooms helped with an upcoming event to celebrate culture and what they have learned so far. After lunch a group of our friends went to the field where plenty of soccer was played. We had a great time hanging out with friends and spending the weekend together.

Ciao,

Rylie and Max

Tuesday July 24, 2018

Happy Halfway!

Today marks exactly halfway through the trip, and with time flying by, we are making the most of every moment. It was also officially day 1 of our “Tech Time Out” to compete in our mentor groups and see which group could stay off their phone longer (so that’s why you probably didn’t hear from your student today). So far, Team Brian is in the lead with two days left until the winner is decided.

This morning, we started at service by continuing to mix the mud to continue building the wall of the greenhouse, but it didn’t last long because it was a special day at the school. The students had their families come to present their accomplishments so far this school year, and to show off their dancing skills for everyone.

There was a ceremony beforehand where certain students who were especially involved with the school and community were presented with sashes. After their dance for everyone we had our snack of granadillo (a Peruvian fruit that we aren’t sure if we like or not yet) before heading back to home base.

After lunch, we had an early Spanish class where we went out into the community to ask people about historical figures since Peru’s independence day is quickly approaching. Despite some difficult situations, it was great to practice our Spanish in the community.

Next, we had a presentation on traditional and modern Peruvian musical instruments. They played a few traditional songs for us, and then we got a chance to try the instruments ourselves, with varying degrees of success. Tonight our activity was a movie or game night. Some students chose to watch Coco and others opted to have an intense round of Kemps and BananaGrams.

We are halfway through but strong as ever, and super excited for everything coming up. We miss you guys, but we’re all having too much fun to want to come home!

-Hannah and Liza

Thursday July 26, 2018

Hola padres!

Today we did something a little different from our usual service work – we got to attend a parade celebrating Peru’s independence day. It was full of colours and festivities, and we also had the great opportunity to march in the parade itself, with the school we have been working with. There were also a couple of dances we got to see, both traditional Peruvian dances, and both very interesting to watch.

After the parade we went back to homebase and had a yummy lunch of a starter of avocado, and a main course of chicken rolled with vegetables, and quinoa. After lunch we had rest time until Spanish, where we presented our stories that we had written as homework with a group. We then split off into our separate groups, and learned about the imperative tense, and how to use it to give commands / advice.

After Spanish, we had a delicious dinner of beef stew and rice. We then had a group meeting, in which we watched a thought-provoking Ted Talk called ‘The Danger of a Single Story’. It helped us realize about how some of our own preconceptions of Peru might have been molded by only hearing a single viewpoint of the country, and how that could potentially blind us from other perspectives. We discussed this video for a while, then watched another, shorter video which discussed the problems with our current education system.

Hasta Luego!

Adi & Maya

Friday July 27, 2018

Dear blog,

After breakfast the group got on the bus to drive to Moray, which is an ancient terrace farm used by pre-Incan cultures. Afterward we visited a nearby salt mine (called Las Salineras), and we had the opportunity to buy salt related products and other souvenirs. We learned that the location we visited was one of the four places where pink salt can be harvested. Afterward we returned to Home Base for lunch and some free time. Next we went to the internet cafe and then the supermarket. We returned to home base, and the winners of the tech time out enjoyed pizza for dinner. The people who completed the three day tech time out challenge on the other team also joined for ice cream. We concluded the night by meeting with our respective mentor groups.

Hasta luego,

Julia

Saturday July 28, 2018

Dear blog,

This morning we set out for a different service opportunity than usual. One custom here involves neighbors helping each other out in the harvest, so the group traveled to a farm and assisted in harvesting their wheat crop. Following service, we returned to home base and participated in a cooking demonstration. The home base staff helped us make ceviche, a popular seafood dish, and then we got to eat the finished result for lunch! After lunch, we had our Spanish lesson. Today’s lesson took place at a local fair celebrating independence day, where we viewed the rides and items for sale. The group then walked to a nearby field, where we participated in games such as tug-of-war and soccer. Finally, we returned for dinner and met for mentor groups.

Hasta mañana,

Corvus

Monday July 30, 2018

Hola a todos!

Today, we went to our service site in Chinchero to continue working on building the greenhouse. The students of the school are on their winter break, so it was just the GLA program there. After mixing tons of mud, we were able to complete a few more layers of adobe brick on the greenhouse wall. We’re almost finished! We also cleared some broken adobe blocks from the inside of the greenhouse.

After lunch back at homebase, we relaxed until Spanish class, followed by dinner and mentor groups. The evening finished with a short nighttime excursion to view the bright starry sky near the river. So beautiful!

Ciao!

Cichaya

Wednesday August 1 and 2, 2018

Hola por la última vez,

On August 1st we went to Ollantaytambo for a rafting excursion. We got assigned wetsuits, windbreakers, and crocs to wear. They keep all of us warm when we rafted especially those who fell in or jumped in. We hit three rapids which were tons of fun and we all got completely soaked. After about an hour and a half on the river we reached the end where we got off of the rafts and went to a restaurant. We got served soup, chicken with mashed potatoes, and an amazing crepe to top it off. Once we ate our fill, we went down to Ollantaytambo proper for our last shopping trip. We walked around talking with shop owners and customers alike, and got all of our last minute shopping done. After about an hour, we went back home and had a delicious dinner as always.

On August 2nd was our final day of service at the school in Chinchero. We played soccer and volleyball with the students. After, the teachers had planned out games for us to play with the students including musical chairs and Peruvian dodgeball. The students and teachers at the school showed their appreciation for us by giving us all handmade, custom dreamcatchers. We gave our farewells and left the service site for the final time. Once we returned to the base, we got into our best clothes for our final dinner. After our dinner, we showed our appreciation to the staff with a dance and personalized cards. Since it is Brian’s birthday tomorrow (Friday), the staff surprised him with a cake. We all enjoyed it for our dessert, as well as flan. Seeing as it is our last night here, things are winding down an hour later.

Ciao,

Cal, Trevor, and everyone else

Click here to jump down to the new posts! 

Wednesday June 20, 2018

Bienvenidos a Perú!

Our group has arrived safe and sound at our home base in the town of Yucay in the Sacred Valley of Peru. We took in the breathtaking views of the snow capped Andes on our drive from the airport and had our first taste of delicious Peruvian cuisine. We spent the evening settling in and getting to know each other. We are looking forward to the arrival of Michael tomorrow and to the adventures ahead of us!!!

(Not pictured: Michael Carpenter)

Thursday June 21, 2018

Hola!

Day 2 of Spanish Service Adventure in the Sacred Valley and we’re off to an amazing start! We visited our service site today and met all of the students and staff at the school we’ll be working at. We played volleyball, soccer, and watched Peru play in the World Cup (see picture below). After service we did some more ice breakers / “get to know you” activities in the common space at home base. We continued with some orientation and program hype! T-2 days until we get to explore some of what Cusco has to offer!

After orientation students took a Spanish placement exam to determine which level class they will be in. Then classes start tomorrow and everyone learns some common phrases to use in the market which will be put to the test in Cusco and Chinchero. Also, today was our international director Ellen’s birthday. So after a filling dinner we surprised her with cake and our rendition of “Feliz Cumpleaños”. To close off the day, we grouped up to come up with some community agreements that we all want to stick to for the remainder of the program. My favorite is “Hang up and hang out”. Being present and losing myself in the moment is what I want to hold myself to for the duration of the program.

As for tomorrow, I’m looking forward to getting our hands dirty as we start our greenhouse construction at site followed by what I’m sure will be an amazing almuerzo (Spanish for lunch – the biggest and perhaps most important meal of the day here).

Hasta luego!

Friday June 22, 2018

Hola!

Today we started working on making adobe bricks for the greenhouse. We split into several different groups and most of us ended up pretty muddy while the other groups worked with the kids. The adobe groups had to mix the water with the clay that was piled up and smooth it out to make it suitable for making bricks. After mixing it all up, we had around 6-7 people running around in it flattening it out and getting the consistency correct. While we were doing this we sprinkled straw in it for structure later on and it got everywhere! Finally we had a few people putting the adobe into molds where it will dry and be ready for building. By the end of the day we had made around 60 bricks!

After our afternoon siesta, we had our first Spanish Class where we learned about market terms for our trips to Cusco and Chinchero where we will go to different mercados. After dinner we had our first mentor group session and talked about ourselves and what we plan on doing this trip. We learned more about each other and why each of us came on this adventure. We are all excited for our trip to Cusco tomorrow, stay tuned for more info!

Adios!

-Zachary Samuels

Saturday June 23, 2018

Hola!

Today was our big trip to Cusco, Peru. There was a big celebration all day for the pride of the lively city and the celebration of the sun. On the way to Cusco, we stopped off to learn about (and feed) llamas, alpacas, and everything in between. After the bus trip, we started off with a tour of the nearby Inca ruins Sacsayhuaman. After going through a small cave, we arrived at the old Inca slides. After everyone got their share of the slides, we all went down to a small outcropping that gave us a beautiful view of Cusco and the parades below. We then split up into our Spanish groups and worked on our language skills while taking a tour of the ancient ruins.

We ate a delicious lunch at a local restaurant in Cusco. After everyone had their share of food, we headed over to the local marketplace. We practiced our newly acquired vocabulary by buying various fruits and vegetables. Afterwards, we headed over to the artisan markets to buy various Peruvian goods. We’re all very comfy and warm in our new alpaca sweaters! We’re looking forward to our second excursion to Chinchero tomorrow where we will be learning all about weaving!

Adios
Luke

Sunday June 24 and Monday June 25, 2018

Our true cultural experience started on Sunday with a visit to Moray, an Incan agricultural ruin where they experimented with many different microclimates by building terraces. Our guide, Davey gave us a comprehensive historical background of the area and Incan farming techniques. Did you know there are over 3,500 types of potatoes that grow in Peru? After far too long taking classic tourist photos, we headed off to Chinchero to explore their traditional market, which is the only place in Peru where a system of bartering and trading still exists. We bought more souvenirs than necessary, so be expecting presents. Afterwards, we walked through the town to a traditional weaving market where we all tried cuy for the first time. For those of you who don’t know, cuy is a traditional Peruvian delicacy otherwise known as guinea pig. Next, we headed to the workshop to learn the process of creating a textile and got to try our hand at weaving. In the evening, we shared our life stories with each other, got to know one another, and bonded as a group, even though we all thought we were already pretty close.

On Monday, we headed over to our service site and had another fun day of adobe, working, and talking to kids from the school. We spent our morning covered in mud, and arrived back at home base to take much needed showers in the afternoon. We had a calm day to relax and bond. Our evening continued with Spanish lessons from our local teachers. Their lessons and encouragement have already made us more confident Spanish speakers. Later, we finished everyone’s life stories, and had the opportunity to discuss our experiences. After a busy weekend, many of us are ready for bed but excited for another fun, mud filled day tomorrow.

-Tommy Crookes and Savanna Denton

Tuesday June 26 and Wednesday June 27, 2018

Buenos días!

We started our morning working hard on the adobe bricks at our service site. The day began cold and gray but ended with sunshine and dancing. A new group of people got to experience the classroom while everyone else continued making progress with the construction. When it was time for break instead of volleyball some people decided to have a dance party with the students. Everyone bonded on a new level with many laughs and embarrassing dance moves.

Art class was starting right in the middle of our fiesta and the teacher decided to teach us a traditional Peruvian dance instead. All the students loved showing us that part of their culture, and learning new things from us as well. Unfortunately, time was up and the group had to race home to eat lunch in time for the music presentation and Spanish class. During the music presentation, we all got to experience and try playing the different instruments. In the eveing we got to have a movie and game night. Some of the group watched “Coco” and the others played games. Lights out came too soon, yet not soon enough for this very eventful day.

The next day began with a breakfast of potatoes and eggs. We got ready for service and had our morning hype circle. At service today a new group of people spent time in the classroom, while the rest of us worked on cutting hay, mixing adobe and forming bricks. In the classrooms students learned about diversity and discrimination in their communications class and sex ED in their health class. Students and mentors who sat in on the classes were surprised at how differently teachers in Peru tackled these topics and how open they were to discussion.

Outside of the classroom we got to work with two local parents and one brother of students at the school. It was really great to see how involved the community was with their school. Service ended with an intense and fun filled game of volleyball in which both GLA students and local students participated. Working together as a team brought a new sense of connection between the local students and GLA students. Playing together allowed us to communicate and share an experience that helped break down the language barrier between us.

Back at home base lunch was quite the treat as our chef, Guillermo, returned [from cooking for another GLA program] with a delicious meal. On this trip we have enjoyed many amazing, delicious and unique Peruvian dishes. After lunch, and a few more showers, we quickly turned around and headed into the town of Urubamba to a little café called Kachi Wasi where we feasted on desserts and enjoyed our first internet day in Peru.

Afterwards students had the choice to supplement their diets with treats from a local grocery store, which many of us did. The night ended with another amazing meal from Guillermo and a mentor group meeting which allowed us to reflect deeper on our similarities and differences and learn what we each bring to this program.

Adios for now,

-Lacey Walker and Ezra K.

Monday July 2, 2018

¡Hola, amigos y familia!

We finally returned from our three day trek, which ended at Machu Picchu. On the first day of the trek, we hiked up a mountain that overlooked a beautiful lake and had gorgeous views of snow capped mountains. The hills were alive with the sound of music. After enjoying lunch at the peak, we began our descent to the remote lakeside hostel, where we stayed for the night. There, we learned how to dehydrate potatoes and herd llamas to a nearby town. We enjoyed a candlelit dinner as the moon rose over the glimmering lake and distant mountains. After dinner, we made a campfire and roasted flavored marshmallows while telling not so scary ghost stories.

We arose to brisk frosty air and began our second day of hiking. There was about an hour of uphill climb and the rest of it was switchbacks and downhill. We passed beautiful waterfalls and crossed bridges, figuratively and literally. Even though it was a serious challenge, we all felt very accomplished and learned many valuable life lessons. We completed our journey with a strong sprint to the train and enjoyed the views as we travelled to Aguas Calientes. Finally, we ended the night with pizza and went to bed early.

At 4 o’clock A.M., sixteen young travellers arose before the sun to catch the sun rising over the mountains at Machu Picchu. After waiting in line and marvelling at the skill of the bus drivers, we arrived at one of the seven wonders of the world. The best one. Many photo shoots later, we learned from our beloved tour guide, Davy, about the Incan Empire and the discovery of Machu Picchu. Unfortunately for the many of us with full bladders, Machu Picchu began their new rule of prohibiting reentries that very day (as the restrooms were located outside the premises). We were very excited to get special stamps in our passports as we departed. Next, we had lunch at a fancy buffet and swam at man-made hot springs. Arriving to the train station with ample time to spare, some of us enjoyed tasty snacks and we all fell asleep on the train ride home.

On July 2nd, our first day back to our regular schedule, returning to service was difficult. Half of the group tore down the previous greenhouse walls, while others went to the classroom and helped teach English. During a recess dance party, we exchanged different styles of dances. Ultimately, we returned to home base for a well-deserved siesta.

¡¡Gracias y adiós!!!

(shoutout to the Song fam:*)

So long, farewell,

Lily Song and Jennifer Ahmann

Tuesday July 3, 2018

Hola!

On our first regular schedule day back since trekking, we started the day off with a delicious breakfast made by our amazing chef. Following breakfast we had a beautiful drive up to our service site in Chinchero. Once arriving to the site we broke into groups for the morning. Some students went to the classes to observe and sometimes take part in the lesson.

Classes today consisted of learning about long division and photosynthesis. Others continued digging up the old greenhouse to make room for the new one. During their recess we played volleyball with the kids and in one classroom some students taught us how to do a traditional Peruvian dance. Driving back to home base we all took a well deserved nap before lunch. After lunch we had time to relax and hang out with our friends.

During Spanish class we broke into groups to learn about Peruvian holidays. We got to go talk to locals in the community to ask them about our chosen holiday. After learning a ton about those celebrations we taught the rest of the group about what we had learned. We got to break out of our comfort zones during that class. We ended the night off with an amazing Asian-inspired dinner.

Adiós!

Hannah Pilgrim

Wednesday July 4, 2018

Today the group headed back to our service site in Chinchero. For the past two weeks we have been building a new green house for the school with the help of the students’ parents. We finished destroying the old wall, and began gathering rocks to put into a trench of mud bricks that were already there from the day before. While some worked outside, others went to the classrooms to be active in the classes with students and teachers. We had worked long hours gathering rocks and understanding what the students were learning in the classrooms and their conversations. During recess we decided to challenge the other GLA group that was there at the same school to a game of volleyball. We fought hard in the first game only losing by two points despite the ten point comeback late in the game.

However we did not give up we did rally back in the second game and went on a hot serving streak late and broke the game open winning by ten points. The third and final game was competitive and went down to the wire with many lead changes and hot streaks despite our efforts we came up short but we never gave up and we kept fighting no matter how many points we were down by. After the game, we left Chinchero and went back to our home base in Yucay to have lunch and then to leave for the internet café. We had delicious cake and hot coffee as well as going to the market to get snacks for the last stretch of a full week ahead.

After the internet café we then went back to the home base for our Spanish classes where we went out and asked people around the neighborhood about different mythical legends such as El Machu, giving up the opportunity to practice using the Spanish we’ve been learning in the classroom. After we had gathered our information about each creature we had to tell a story or history about the animal. After we had finished the presentations we had a special dinner of hamburgers and french fries. Then we out to a little square to watch a “meteor shower” when we all got surprised with fireworks since the staff from Peru knew it was the 4th of July.

After the quick show of fireworks we then had a big mentor group meeting and watched a TED talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie called “The Danger of a Single Story.” We talked about what our preconceptions of Peru were before arriving, and where these ideas came from. We talked about how stories can both empower and oppress a group of people, depending on who is telling the story, and the idea that stereotypes are often incomplete. This activity gave us the chance to reflect deeper, and we were given the homework of asking 1 person here in Peru to share their personal story with us.

-Zach Lopez

Thursday July 5, 2018

Hi,

It’s Jack. Today was another jam packed day here in Peru! We started off our day at our usual service site but we actually started building the foundation for the greenhouse. Even though carrying and placing those rocks was hard work, all of us are excited to actually start the construction! After a couple of hours of hard work, Team Adobe came back with a vengeance in the volleyball game and won by a landslide! And to top it off at the service site, it was a particularly special day at the school because it was teacher appreciation day! We were lucky enough to be allowed to see the kids’ performance, where they performed a traditional Peruvian dance. After all that excitement we headed back to home base to relax and get ready for our Spanish plays. Basically, we all had to perform a scene about a different Peruvian mythological creature. It was a fun time and we got to immerse ourselves into the culture even more! And to end the day, we were treated to a dance presentation. We got to see three different types of Peruvian dance, all with their own set of props and attire, and we even learned a few moves. And thats a wrap for today,

Hasta luego!

-Jack

Friday July 6, 2018

Today instead of doing our service at the local school in Chinchero, we cut wheat at a student’s farm as today is Teacher’s Day and there is no school. That was a great experience because it opened our eyes to the domestic lives of the students and how hard they work on a daily basis in the fields, supporting their family by cultivating different kinds of wheat, and potatoes as well as raising animals.

After lunch, we had a special Spanish class, as it was the last one and we all made stories and cards and bought gifts for our teachers. Everyone sat in the dining room and sang and played games. It was sad to say goodbye but as one of the teachers said, it was not an, “adiós” but an “hasta luego”.

Nos vemos,

Sylvie Anthony

Saturday July 7, 2018

Today we woke up early to prepare for an outing to Cusco once again before our ever impending departure drawing nearer. With the adventure largely beginning to wrap up, it was good to see everyone in better health, and the whole group spirit seemed to make a return, a welcome change. Without a strict plan in mind, we arrived in Cusco with the goal of seeing the innermost part of the city and get to some last minute shopping for gifts, apparel, and other purchases of the like. Crowded streets and traffic meant we had to walk aways to reach our first destination, which was that of sightseeing at the Plaza de Armas.

It was a change of pace to be surrounded by tourists and locals alike as we got to get a glance of the heart of Cusco first hand, rather than just the view of the plaza we had from Sacsayhuaman from what feels like so long ago. We explored the plaza and got to see a dance performance from a joyful group of children. We then ventured to San Blas, a small plaza filled with people- some having just celebrated a first communion and others there to enjoy the atmosphere. Here we stopped to complete our first shopping obligations of the day, exploring and using our developing bargaining skills to buy all the square had to offer.

After a nice lunch in the plaza filled with music and chatter of locals and tourists, we moved on to regroup in a small cafe on the side of a busy street. We enjoyed a spectacular snacking opportunity and took somewhat of a breather from the bustle of the lively city with time to enjoy ourselves. After psyching up for yet another shopping trip, we went on to find the San Pedro market for an even more exciting shopping and sightseeing experience.

The market was filled to the brim with people of all kinds and had an atmosphere of its own as we seemed to step into a different world of shopping and bartering and crossroads of cultures. There you could find everything you could possibly expect as well as exotic items and foods you’d never have thought to find in such a place. Even time itself seems to flow differently within such a diverse little world, and it truly did fly past us. Long before we began to know it, we were headed back up the hill again to begin the short journey back to our home base.

Even though the time itself felt exceedingly short, we were plenty tired once arriving to our temporary home and ready enough to enjoy time simply to ourselves and relax. It is still hard to think that we have to say goodbye soon, but more and more of us are starting to realize both that the end is sneaking up on us, and that it does nearly feel like time to be back in our home lives once again.

-by Michael Carpenter

Sunday July 8, 2018

Hello friends and family!!

I am so happy I get to tell you about another awesome day her in Peru. Today we went white water rafting!! We left home base a little later than normal to hopefully catch some warmer weather on the river. When we arrived at the rafting launch area we had loads of fun trying on our wetsuits and helmets before we got a safety talk from one of the leaders.

Before getting on the river we were all pretty nervous but by the time we got out on the water we were having such a great time we forgot about many of our fears; which was really great to see. After about an hour of exhilarating rafting and fun splash fights we found ourselves in Ollantaytambo.

We had a delicious lunch in this beautiful town and also got some last minute shopping in. After a pretty sleepy bus ride back to home base we had some free time which we used to play card games and mafia or get some much deserved sleep. Then we had the privilege of meeting the staff who work behind the scenes to coordinate all of our logistics and fun adventures!! We had a great time dancing with and getting to know these incredible people (also…..Guillermo made us a delicious tres leches cake which we all really appreciated).

After coordinating some thank you presents for the outstanding home base staff we had a photo contest with all of our favorite photos from the trip. Finally, although we will be sad to leave this beautiful country and its incredible people, I know we also can’t wait to come back home, see everyone, and talk all about our amazing adventures.

Love you loads mom, dad, and will<<33

-George Sugrue

Monday July 9, 2018

On the last full day of the trip everyone got up nice and early to get to breakfast and then to say goodbye to all of the students at the school. Breakfast is usually pretty quiet, which is to be expected, seeing as most people just rolled out of bed just minutes before, but today it was eerily quiet even by the normal standards. This was due to the act that the realization that today was the last full day that we had together, and we were saying goodbye to all the friends that we had made at the school over the past three weeks.

We all loaded onto the bus to drive to the service site for the last time, and in order to lighten the mood I set the record for the most dad jokes told before departure. As expected the bus ride there was a lot quieter than usual due to the circumstances. Once we got to the service site and walked through the gates all of the students started pouring out their classrooms in order to greet us.

There were several games and activities scheduled for the day in order to fill our last day. First we played a game to which the name I do not know, but it involved several different trains of people running around trying to steal the scarves tied around the last person in line. The team that ended up with the most scarves at the end of the round ended up winning. I can confirm that it was just as much fun to play it as much as it was to watch. The next game required us to split into two big groups and form a huge circle by joining hands.

After we formed our circle a stretchy circle of rope was inserted in a random place and it was our jobs to get the piece of rope all the way around the circle without letting go of the people around you. The next game involved six person teams and each person had a cone with which they had to run from one side of the volleyball court to the other and as each person ran they made a stack out of the cones. The first team to successfully form their tower wins. The last game involved everyone on the two teams putting as many articles of clothing on one person as they possibly could. By the end each of the two students had tripled in size.

After all of the games were finished we taught all of the students how to do the “Cotton Eyed Joe”, and with the help of our fantastic dance teachers I can say that it went very well. After the dancing was finished all of the students gave all of us gifts as a thank you for everything that we had done. The girls received a nice pair of earrings and the boys received a nice bracelet. After all of that we had to say goodbye to all of the students, which was not easy to do for either side. Lots of pictures and kind words were exchanged and then we had leave. As to be expected the bus ride home was extremely quiet.

Once we got back we helped Guillermo make ceviche for lunch, and for all of us being rookies, I would say that it turned out very well and everyone liked it. After lunch we had free time/ time to practice our thank yous to the home base staff. Once dinner rolled around everyone was getting very anxious for our thank you performance. When the time came and the dance was over, everything went perfectly, and the home base staff loved our performance.

After the main performance there was another group the had prepared a different dance routine which led to a dance party afterwards. After all the thank yous to the staff we had some group activities to say thank you to each other for making the trip everything that it was. With the night winding down we played lots of Mafia and then everyone went their separate ways to go to bed.

Hasta luego,

Alex Partee

Click here to jump down to the new posts! 

Sunday July 15, 2018

Bienvenidos a Peru! Welcome to Peru!

Welcome to our 21 day Children of the Andes Blog! This will be your opportunity as parents and loved ones to keep tabs on our whereabouts as we continue on our adventure of service, learning and leadership here in Cusco, Peru.

We are happy to say that more of our new team members have arrived and are settling into their new home here in Peru, and we are just waiting for one more student, Sofia. Upon the students arrival they were greeted with Coca Tea, a traditional drink in Peru that helps with the altitude as they shared stories of their travels and began to unpack. While tired, the students seemed excited for the adventure that lays ahead and the memories to be made.

Throughout the day we gave students the opportunity to rest and recuperate from their long travels as the last of the group arrived. Lunch was served in the afternoon which offered them their first taste of traditional Peruvian Cuisine by our wonderful local chef, Jessica. Throughout the day we went over some basic details about our new home including which water is safe to drink, diligence in hand washing, the importance of staying bundled at night, dressing in layers during the day, house rules and a tour of our home base.

Continuing on with the our day, we did various activities to acquaint ourselves with one another, get to know a bit about our backgrounds and what we’re excited, nervous and curious to experience throughout the trip. We introduced our US staff, Emma, the international Director, and Mel and Gaby our mentors all of which will aid in facilitating our program and work hand in hand with students throughout the educational and mentorship portion the trip. We introduced our homebase staff, Paty our homebase coordinator, Ale, our home base mom and Jessica, our chef.

Tired and excited, the students went to bed with a sense of wonder and curiosity for what lay ahead. Make sure to check back here for more updates throughout our 21 days.

Hasta Mañana!

Warmly,

The GLA Staff

Monday July 16, 2018

Sunday was a chill day, mostly devoted to napping and adjusting to our new home. We were greeted with a delicious lunch and dinner made by our amazing chef Pati, fully equipped with vegetarian and gluten free options for everyone. We were briefed on the ins and outs of our home base and played a few “get to know you” games.

Monday was our first full day. With the beautiful sunrise came another amazing meal. Gabby showed us what to put in our day packs and as a group, we created “The Alpaca Pact”, a culmination of all our individual goals and values. The group walked to a park, “La Cancha” and we played team-building games. We returned to home base and had yet another amazing meal. After lunch, we went to the school we will be working at for the trip. We met Mario, our Local Director, and he shared his inspiration for creating the school. We then brief visited our service site.

A few sightings of trip so far: dogs, an alpaca, cows, sheep, an adorable baby in a window, more dogs, and an amazing view of the city from our home. We have all taken quite a liking to ricoto- a condiment I would call “refined hot sauce”- so much so that we finished a full a full jar in only 5 meals. Our small group size has allowed for amazing conversations over meals. They kind of resemble an extended family get-together, but probably louder. We are having a great time!

-Lila

Tuesday July 17, 2018

We began the day with a delicious chocolate porridge accompanied by toast and corn bread for breakfast! Our day was mainly spent touring many different historical locations in the city with the help of our lovely tour guide Mari who taught us everything we needed to know. The tour began by piling into the vans and taking a gorgeous drive up to Sacsayhuman and checked out Christo Blanco. The view of Cusco from there was incredible! Next we meandered over to get our first taste of Incan ruins wherein we explored an ancient mummification cave. After braving a pitch black tunnel, we also visited an incredible foundation of another Incan structure which had an amazing view of Cuzco AND of the glacier. Several alpacas were spotted there as well and some people even got to hold a baby! Lunch followed our architectural adventures and consisted of a much-appreciated buffet with an equally appreciated array of ceviche and sushi(among other things).

There was also a surprise performance from a local Peruvian duo who impressively presented their version of “Hotel California” among other songs. A visit to the center of Cusco followed suit along with a visit to a string of local stores. We were first greeted by a very enthusiastic store owner who gave us all tiny alpaca figurines for free(known as Alpaquitas by the group)and then split into small groups to visit other little shops. After spending a bit of time PERUsing the wares we moved on to a larger market by walking along the beautiful streets of Cuzco. We then returned to home base and spent the early evening recharging and eating a wonderful dinner of kebabs, yuca, and carrot cake! Afterwards we watched a Ted Talk about the dangers of singular stories and had provoking discussions of it as a whole group. It was late at that point so the night was wrapped up by just “hanging out and chilling”. Overall, a very busy yet eye-opening day!

-by Avery

Wednesday July 18, 2018

For breakfast we had avocado and cheese sandwiches (with, of course, lots of tea). At nine, we walked 30 minutes to the school where we are doing our classroom service. Typically we will be working in the four and five year old’s classrooms to teach english, art and gym, but today we met them at the playground. We played games (red light, green light) and got to know the kids which was really fun! They were very energetic and we were exhausted by the time the two hours were up. Then we walked home, accompanied by Bobby (our neighborhood dog). Lunch was super tasty, we had amazing corn soup and chicken with basil.

After lunch we drove to the construction site. We spent most of the three hours painting a fence and listening to music, then we headed home to relax a bit before dinner. For dinner we had amazing tacos and homemade guacamole with rice pudding for desert. After, we played cards until it was time for our mentor groups. Overall another great day and we are excited for more adventures tomorrow!

-Simona

Thursday July 19, 2018

Today we woke up at the crack of dawn to get a head start on our early water adventure…RAFTING!!
Everyone sat down to a filling breakfast of creamy papaya smoothies, flaky toast and bowls of hearty cornflakes. Food was chowed down rapidly as we were in a hurry to make it to our own rapids.

Everyone was eager and nervous to embark on this new experience with one another. We suited up in ridiculously conforming wetsuits, jackets, water shoes, life jackets, and the cherry on top to our fabulous outfits-helmets. We waddled our way down to the river to me our raft guide who proceeded to explain to us all the moves we needed for our successful journey and then we were on our way. All of us were in awe of the breathtaking canyon and volcanic formations all around. Even though for some of us it was our first time participating in this activity everyone was beyond pleased with the experience.

After our scenic ride we were greeted by a toasty sauna and and a hot lunch. The meal consisted of steaming quinoa soup accompanied by scrumptious bread and for the main course chicken, rice and vegetables. Promptly after, we enjoyed the perks of free WiFi for the first time in the past 5 days, and let’s just say we took advantage of the situation. The ride back to home base was peaceful and quiet as most were asleep to revitalize themselves to prepare for the lesson planning before dinner. In groups we collaborated on what we would share with the students from the local school that we would teach the next day. Our stomachs began to rumble as we finished up luckily dinner was served!

We were treated with a traditional Peruvian dish called lomo saltado. This dish was a favorite of everyone’s that was indicated by everyone’s cleared plates. For dessert hot coca was pure in mugs and served with a delicious cookie. With warm full bellies all of us enjoyed some free time and then made our way to our rooms to our comfy beds to rest up for tomorrow’s big day in the classroom!

Friday July 20, 2018

We woke up slightly later to a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit and yogurt. Despite the rain, we embarked on the long bus ride to Pisac, breathtaking ruins. Before arriving at Pisac, we stopped at an Alpaca and Llama farm. There, we were able to see the animals up close as well as learn more about them with the help of our amazing tour guide, Mary Luz. After seeing all the animals, we got back in the bus and made our way to the Pisac Ruins. Despite the fact that it was still raining, it was amazing. The views were incredible and the history was fascinating.

Clouds could be seen at eye level since we were at such a high altitude, which added to the amazing view. After exploring the ruins, we went to lunch, at The Blue Llama, a restaurant in Pisac where we had great food. (Everyone loved the Tequenos.) After lunch we were able to explore the Pisac market which was right outside of the restaurant. The market had just about everything including sweaters, ponchos, scarves and blankets, jewelry and much more. The market also seemed to stretch on forever with stand after stand of beautiful goods. We explored the market for about two hours before making our way back to homebase where we relaxed before having a yummy dinner and doing our trek prep. Everyone is very excited to begin the trek tomorrow.

-Lindsey

Sunday July 22, 2018

Today we woke up pretty early, at 6:00, to begin our three day trek ending at Machu Pichu. We ate really good sandwiches for breakfast on the bus as we started the three hour drive to the start of the trek. We stopped at a market for coca leaves and toys for people we pass while going through the villages. While driving we stopped at a snowy part, where we built a snowman and admired the snow capped mountains. Because there was so much snow, we had to turn back and do a different trek, since the road to the trail head was snowed over. After stopping in a small town where we got snacks and made a new plan, we went to a new campsite called pumamarka and ate lunch. After lunch, our trek guides, Santiago and Sonya took us to see Andian and Incan ruins. They explained some of the history behind what we saw and talked about the Incan society that inhabited the area before. We returned to the camp sight where we changed into warm clothes and had delicious hot chocolate and popcorn as a snack before another delicious dinner. As it got dark, we star gazed a bit then went to sleep.

-Galet

Wednesday July 25, 2018

Today was a service day. Instead of being in the classroom, we met the 4 year olds at the playground and had an amazing day. The 5 year olds were having their class election so we were one-on-one with the younger kids. The kids kept us very busy and on our feet. Afterwards, we went home for lunch for a delicious soup and some pizza. We then drove to our construction service site where we were hard at work mixing and pouring cement on the fence.

Tonight we had our movie night. We decided to watch “El Dorado”, a movie about two friends adventuring in the new world. We were lucky enough to have a night full of desserts! In addition to two desserts, (churros and pudding), we also feasted on many snacks we bought during “Tienda Time” earlier in the day. These included wafers, doritos, every kind of ice cream, chocolate, and more.

-Lila (with the assistance of Lindsay)

Friday July 27, 2018

Today was a very active day and we were lucky enough to have breakfast later than usual. The day started off with a fresh bowl of fruit and warm toast with tasty jam. We set off at 9am and made our way to Mario’s school, where we painted a mural at the school, saying ‘jugar, crecer, aprender’.

We spent most of the morning at the school and we also helped clear the walls and stairs which were very dusty and full of mud. Our morning was very physical and active and we had a lovely lunch, of stuffed potato and salad, which helped us gain the energy we needed, to play a long football match with the local people (who were very good at football). Unfortunately we lost …

After the football match we all relaxed and we had a warm dinner of rice with vegetables, chicken and also a homemade flan. Our evening ended with a mentor group which is always interesting and relaxing.

-Sofia

Saturday July 28, 2018

Today was a full day of service. We started the day off with a filling breakfast of eggs, toast and chocolate porridge. After breakfast we headed to our construction site where we spent the morning mixing and pouring cement and placing rocks and wood along the fence. After a couple of hours of hard work, we headed back to home base where we had a delicious lunch of chicken and mashed potatoes. Everyone enjoyed the food as well as the break from the hard, but extremely satisfying work. We headed back to the construction site in the afternoon to continue working on mixing cement and working on the fence. The rest of our evening was relaxing, we had tacos (everyone’s favorite meal) for dinner and spent the evening in town for our wifi night.

-Sebastian

Sunday July 29, 2018

Everyone woke up this morning well rested at 8 am to the smell of fresh pancakes filled with kiwi and drizzled with maple syrup. With full bellies the group had our usual morning conversations at the table. Today’s topic of discussion was what questions we would ask the shaman later this morning.

At 9 am we took our daily walk to school trying to contain our excitement of what the shaman would be like and what he would tell us about our future. Finally at the classroom we waited for the enchanting man to come and when he did we all conspired what questions should be best to ask. One by one we went to discover our fate and we were all pleasantly surprised as to what he had to say. After the readings the shaman did a traditional Peruvian ceremony that gave a payment to the the mother earth.

At lunch the group devoured the delicious meal that was prepared for us which were cheese taquitos with wonderful creamy guacamole for dipping and as a main course we had hamburgers. The meal gave us a little taste of home and yes we went back for seconds. Later that day we had music and dance lessons that were taught to us by local Peruvian musician and dancers. We shimmied our way to class and learned how to play and native music and dance a traditional dance usually performed at festivals. After a couple hours we made our way to some salsa dance lessons ( personally one of my favorite activities) where we learned how to bust a move at the next party we will go to.

While dinner was being prepared we preoccupied ourselves with a sweltering intense game of Banana Grams. Mid word the whole gang stopped because the enticing aroma of tomato soup and grilled cheese filled the wafting air. Thinking that nothing could top that amazing meal dessert comes out – ice cream. Filled to the brim with food we settled ourselves and went over our trekking pack list in order to prepare ourselves for our morning commute to our second hike of the trip. Just before we could go off to bed we ended the night with a SPLIT second of Banana Grams:)

Wednesday August 1, 2018

This lovely morning we ate a breakfast of corn flakes and sandwiches and it was very delicious. We were able to sleep in slightly later then the days before, waking up at 8. At 9:00, our driver, Don Roberto drove us to the school where we finished painting our mural for the children at the school as well as cleaning and organizing the classrooms. After hard work at the school, we came back home for our final lunch at home based. We had cream of spinach soup which was delicious and one of our favorite soups of the trip. We also had spaghetti with cream of mushroom. After lunch and a bit of rest, we went and finished construction at the school. During construction, we hauled dirt and stones into bags and finished around the fence. It was very satisfying to see all of the hard work we had put into the construction site these last 3 weeks. Then we came back for dinner and we had kebabs of chicken and sausage with multiple different sauces along with sweet potato and white potatoes. After dinner we did a group activity and then went to bed.

-Sydney Martin

Click here to jump down to the new posts! 

Thursday June 21, 2018

Bienvenidos a Peru! Welcome to Peru!

Welcome to our 21 day Children of the Andes Blog! This will be your opportunity as parents and loved ones to keep tabs on our whereabouts as we continue on our adventure of service, learning and leadership here in Cusco, Peru.

We are happy to say that the last of our new team members have arrived and are settling into their new home here in Peru. Upon the students arrival they were greeted with Coca Tea, a traditional drink in Peru that helps with the altitude as they shared stories of their travels and began to unpack. While tired, the students seemed excited for the adventure that lays ahead and the memories to be made.

Throughout the day we gave students the opportunity to rest and recuperate from their long travels as the last of the group arrived. Lunch was served in the afternoon which offered them their first taste of traditional Peruvian Cuisine by our wonderful local chef. Throughout the day we went over some basic details about our new home including which water is safe to drink, diligence in hand washing, the importance of staying bundled at night, dressing in layers during the day, house rules and a tour of our home base.

Continuing on with the our day, we did various activities to acquaint ourselves with one another, get to know a bit about our backgrounds and what we’re excited, nervous and curious to experience throughout the trip. We introduced our US staff, Emma, the international Director, and Mel, Brooke and Gaby our mentors all of which will aid in facilitating our program and work hand in hand with students throughout the educational and mentorship portion the trip. We introduced our local staff: Patti, our lovely house manager, Rolando the housekeeper, and Yensor our fantastic chef.

Tired and excited, the students went to bed with a sense of wonder and curiosity for what lay ahead. Make sure to check back here for more updates throughout our 21 days.

Hasta Mañana!

Warmly,

The GLA Staff

Friday June 22, 2018

Hola GLA Families!

Our first day on program has been jam-packed with food, fun, and excitement.

We began our day sipping fresh-squeezed juice and establishing community norms for our program. Together, we drafted an “Alpaca Pact” that emphasizes respect, inclusivity, open-mindedness, and support. Upon completing our group contract, we each received handmade bracelets to wear as a reminder of our shared values.

After, we set out for the cancha, or football field, to do some team-building activities. Together, we cracked Mentor Melanie’s jump rope code, created a group machine, and learned more about what we share in common!

After some time in the sun, we stopped by the neighborhood tiendas and panaderias for a mid-morning snack before returning to home base for some downtime before lunch.

Lunch was delicious and messy, with soup, barbeque chicken and vegetable rellenos for the vegetarians. Chef Jensor has truly put his heart and soul into each of our meals, and so, we’ve had a lot of happy bellies!

After lunch we hopped into our program vans to visit our service site and meet Mario, our Local Director. Mario and his wife, Rosa, created a school in 2005, in the local of Patrón San Sebastian, an area that previously had no access to public schools.

We learned that our service will involve teaching the children (ages 3-5) English, art and sports. Additionally, we will be contributing to the construction of a new school, under the supervision of a local engineer, Don Ignacio. This future school will enable students from the surrounding area to continue their studies through primary and secondary school.

The sun is setting now, and it is time to turn inwards for food nourishment and small breakout groups. We plan to take it easy tonight in preparation of a big day tomorrow—visiting Cusco’s city center, the San Pedro Market and the Sacsayhuamán ruins.

Saludos!

Saturday June 23, 2018

Today the leaders of the day were Fedora, Ella and Sara. After we woke up we went down for breakfast, which was banana pancakes. They were very good and everyone loved them. After breakfast we all went to the Inca ruins and learned the history and there were alpacas there that posed for some really amazing pictures. After that we went to a market and everyone got alpaca sweaters and other things made with alpaca materials. Once we finished our purchases we went to lunch at a restaurant in the city and it was a buffet. The buffet was very good and many people tried alpaca. Once lunch was over we went to another market but this one was smaller. Many people got things like bracelets and hats. Our finial stop was the sun temple which we admired from the outside and learned about its history. Then we went home and had dinner. For dinner we have chicken with quinoa it was delicious and went to bed.

-Fedora, Ella, Sara

Sunday June 24, 2018

Today had an amazing breakfast of assorted fruit. I especially liked the apples and bananas. We also traveled to a local salt mine outside of Cuzco called Maras. The salt mine consisted of 4,000 salt pools. Each pool has a clay base, following several layers of pink, white, and brown salt. After we left Maras, we traveled to Moray, an ancient Inca agricultural cite. They would experiment with different environment to discover which crop grew the best under the conditions. I was fascinated to see how the Incas were able to build such a complex structure without modern technology and how Moray acted as an Inca greenhouse.

For lunch we drove to a restaurant not too far from Moray! We (the students) got to choose either creamed potato soup or creamed corn soup to start, and then either steak, trout, or veggie curry as our main dish! Dessert was either homemade ice cream, apple pie, or a quinoa flan. Everyone left lunch with smiles on their faces and full stomachs!

From lunch we went to a weaving co-op, where we met Marleny who showed us her feature in a 2002 edition of National Geographic! Marleny showed us every step of the process of weaving, starting with the dirty alpaca wool. She took two roots and rubbed them together in hot water, creating a natural soap. She washed small pieces of the alpaca fur until it was completely white! Then we were able to see all of the different materials used to dye the wool! From a specific insect carcass to different plants found all over peru, we got to see how the wool becomes red, blue, purple, black, and pretty much any other color as well. After shopping around the co-op a bit and taking many pictures of the alpacas, we all drove back to home base. We were able to rest and hang out a bit after our long day!

For dinner Yensor prepared us chicken, rice, veggies and potatoes, and for the vegetarians there were soy meatballs in placement of the chicken. Everyone ate a delicious apple dessert!

-Nicky, Lena, Austin

Monday June 25, 2018

Today was our first day of service! We started our morning a little bit earlier and we were out and walking to the school by 8:30. Everyone split into our age groups: three, four, and five year olds. With the three year olds we had a hard time considering their short attention spans. One boy in the class was super shy and didn’t want to talk to anybody and hid from us until we got to go outside for recess and Ethan Fink actually got to interact with him. With the four year olds we drew self portraits, taught them head shoulders knees and toes, and got tackled on the play ground.

They were a joy to teach because they were all so excited to learn and we only had a few criers. In the five year old class, they were all super excited to see us and as soon as they saw us they ran out of the class hugging us and yelling, “ Amigo! Amigo!” Then, we played a fun game where the kids ran around the classroom to different people that were holding papers with colors written in English.

Then, we had a quick lunch and then we were off to construction service! We took busses there and immediately started work on moving a huge pile of dirt, constructing a bathroom, and digging trenches with pickaxes. The work we did was difficult, but with the help of all our friends and singing throwback songs, we were able to accomplish a lot of what we needed. At the end of construction, we were all exhausted but fulfilled with all we were able to do.

We got home after a long day of service and hung out and rested until dinner. After dinner, we had a group discussion and everyone went to bed and fell asleep after a long day of service!

-Anna, Avery and Nina

Tuesday June 26, 2018

This morning we woke up at 7:30 to a very delicious chocolate oatmeal and toast with a side of optional toast. It’s day 6 and day 2 of classroom service. The 30 minute walk to the school felt easier today, and dyed a day of experience with the kids, our lesson plans fell into place easier than yesterday’s. In addition to working with the kids inside the classroom, several groups worked in the garden.

After walking to home base for a lunch of chicken, vegetables, and mashed potatoes, we headed back to the school for dance lessons via bus. Everyone really enjoyed both the music lessons, as well as the dance lessons. We learned both salsa and a traditional Incan dance, in addition to several wind and percussion instruments. We returned to home base afterwards while in high spirits and dripping sweat.

Back at home base, we enjoyed a delicious noodle dish and a dessert of flan. Following dinner, we had a bit of free time before heading out to cafes for wifi night. We enjoyed some treats and getting the opportunity to reconnect with our loved ones. After another full day, we all were ready for bed.

-Hank, Sarah C, Mika

Monday July 2, 2018

We began our day with a delicious breakfast consisting of quinoa soup, toast with jam, and cereal. After breakfast we walked to the school where we complete our classroom service. At the school we were greeted with hugs and cheers. My students could not wait to hear about our experiences over the past few days. Though in my classroom they were even more excited to cut out and color in the animal stencils that my group prepared.

In addition to teaching English and art to our students, we also got to help work on the school garden. Outside, we had a blast painting fences and listening to music. After our classroom service was over, it was time for lunch. We walked back to home base where yummy soup, chicken and rice was waiting for us to devour.

The next part of our day was construction. We rested after lunch and then drove over to the construction site to continue to help build a new school. Me and my group took turns pickaxing to make a hole for a supporting column to fit in. It was hard work but we all cheered each other on and were willing to takeover whenever one of us got tired.

After our construction service we headed back to Home base for another delicious meal. Dinner was chicken and rice in an amazing green sauce. For dessert we had my favorite food of the trip so far, a wonderful orange cake. It tasted like delicious cornbread. Many students went back for seconds. (I know I went back for thirds!) After dinner we rested for a bit and then prepared lessons for classroom service the next day.

Next we met in our mentor groups to talk about our values. Following our discussions we played card games and had interesting conversations. Then it was time to get ready for bed so we could be well rested for the next day of fun!

-Julia

Tuesday July 3, 2018

Today, luckily, less people were feeling more energized and more were able to participate in activities. Also, some of those who were feeling ill rallied to service. This morning we worked in the school again with the children. At the school we taught the three, four, and five year olds English, did art with them, and played sports with them. We also helped Mario with painting the fence as well as painting the wall where we will be doing the mural at the school. After the school we walked back to home base and had lunch and watched the World Cup for a little.

In the afternoon we drove over to the field by the school we work at to play a pick up soccer game with Mario, the principal of the school and some local kids, which were really good. We split up into groups and all played a bunch of games. Its really amazing to get to play soccer right within the mountains of Cuzco in a culture where soccer is so important. It was really fun and at the end, a Peruvian women’s club asked to play against some of our girls. Sadly we lost 3-1 but they had 8 players while we only had 6 girls playing.

After soccer we came back to home base and went to the tiendas for movie night snacks. After that we had dinner and then we watch the emperors new grove which was a great and funny movie!

Wednesday July 4, 2018

Today we started our day nice and early with a 7:00 breakfast. We had toast, cereal, and a delicious smoothie made of strawberries, banana, papaya, and more. By 7:30 we were on the road. After a relaxing two hour ride, we arrived at the Urubamba river to go white water rafting. Since it’s winter here and fairly chilly, we bundled up in a wetsuit, windbreaker, booties, and helmet. We drove another ten minutes and then, in groups of 4-6, began our adventure rafting. At the beginning the water was fairly calm, so we practiced the different commands: all forward, all back, right back, etc. After a few minutes, we hit some fairly tense rapids, which we faced on and off for about an hour. Luckily, in my boat, no one fell out. It took a lot of hard work paddling, and we got stuck on a few different rocks, but eventually we made it to the end.

After our tiring, but amazing time white water rafting, we relaxed in a sauna and changed back into our dry clothes. We then had lunch, which was served at the rafting facility. We had soup, a giant chicken leg, rice, beets and potatoes. After finishing this great meal we moved outside, where we suited up in preparation for zip lining. We had to climb a very high ladder, but it was worth it. Zip lining across the river was awesome and so many people conquered their fear of heights by doing it. We then left the rafting facility and headed back to home base.

At home base we got some time to rest after our exhausting day. Many people napped, some read, and others, including myself, went to the nearby field for a game of soccer. Everyone else met us at the field about an hour later for two different games that worked our communication and problem solving skills. Of course they were still very fun though. Finally we headed back home for our dinner of chicken with vegetables, rice, potatoes, and carrot cake (actually my favorite food of the trip) for dessert. We wrapped up the night in our mentor groups, discussing similarities and differences between our home and Peru. It was interesting to see how there’s a ton of parallels, but also so many things that are completely different. All in all, today was an amazing day. Oh and of course an amazing Fourth of July!

Saturday July 7, 2018

Saturday we all woke up at 3:30am to get get on the bus at 4:00 to drive to the beginning of our Soqma trek. A long two hour drive, eating our breakfast sandwiches and sleeping on the bus. The beginning of our trek was cold and gradual. We ended up climbing steep steps to a 60m waterfall.

After, we followed the steep path to a Incan lookout post. After wandering around this ruin site we continued to the camp site where we would stay the night. Once we got there we at lunch and rested from the long day. We individually reflected on the mountain side and contemplated our journey. After hanging out and eating dinner we rolled up in our sleeping bags and concluded our day.

-by Avery, Austin, and Ishaan