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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

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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

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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

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Tuesday July 31, 2018

Today was an excellent arrival day! The GLA Service in the Sacred Valley Team rolled into their fourth and final program of the Summer 2018 season. The day began with an uncertain feeling upon learning that the flight from Lima to Cusco with 80% of our students, was cancelled. However, the skepticism took a sharp turn for the best. We picked up all of our students AND all of their luggage from Cusco!! (Way to go savvy travelers!) This is the first program of the summer to accomplish such a feat so we will continue to keep optimism and positivity in the air.

The group of 30 students arrived at our Home Base in Ollantaytambo in time for a late lunch. After taking some time to get settled in and rest a bit, we jumped into get-to-know-you and orientation activities. As you can see in the photo, we caught the sunset over the snow-capped peaks of the Sacred Valley. Our little sanctuary sits in a agriculture-filled valley with thousand-foot mountains jutting up from each side. It is a truly beautiful place for the students call home for the next two weeks. Energy is high and the whole team is excited to work with this promising group! We have an action-packed itinerary with service, rafting, cultural explorations, and all the adventures in between.

Here’s to a Peru journey with new friendships, unforgettable memories, and pauses to enjoy the brilliant stars in the night sky!

Abrazos,

Service in the Sacred Valley International Staff

Wednesday August 1, 2018

Hi parents, here are your leaders of the day, Chen Chen and Dylan! We along with our team are having a wonderful time in Peru!

Today, we awoke from slumbers fully rested and ready to go. Our first adventure was visiting the Awamaki office, the NGO that we will be working with for the next two weeks. We will be learning about fashion products that combine traditional Incan textiles with modern trending styles, as well as constructing a weaving center for the local women. After being briefed on our mission, we were sent off on a scavenger hunt around the town, in which we took pictures in various hotspots (chocolate museum, ruins etc.) and enriched our knowledge of the local culture (and of Quechua, an indigenous Incan language).

Later, after we had lunch, we engaged in discussions about cultural immersion with Ariel and Raquel, the head of our home base. We also did an exercise in which we took a few items from our rooms, each representing American and Peruvian culture. This exercise was aimed at defying stereotypes and embracing cultural differences.

During our free time, we first had one-on-one health checks, then teamed up to explore the town some more. We enjoyed ourselves with souvenirs, snacks, hot chocolate, cool pictures, and many, many cute dogs.

After dinner, we divided into our mentor groups and had meaningful discussions about first-day experiences, leadership, and goal-setting. Aside from the serious talks, we didn’t waste any time connecting with each other through jamming to our favorite songs and playing card games and mafia before bed time.

Even though it gets pretty chilly at night, the alpaca blankets and our excitement are keeping everyone warm. We all look forward to our first service day tomorrow.

Dylan & Chen Chen

Thursday August 2, 2018

On the morning of August second, GLA students headed downstairs for breakfast. Half an hour later, we left for our first day of service. When we arrived we were greeted with necklaces made of Cantuta flowers, the national flower of Peru. Soon after, we began our service. The students were divided into small groups and assigned tasks. One group leveled the ground with picks, another carried wooden planks, and one was tasked with carrying Adobe bricks. The work wasn’t easy, or clean, but everyone still enjoyed helping out the community, and working together. The students carrying Adobe bricks even formed an assembly line, which made the job far easier. After about two hours, we went back for home base for lunch.

After lunch, the students left home base to hike the Incan ruins. We stopped at the local market and explored the foods the locals were selling including jewelry, blankets, and alpaca hats. When our tour guide arrived we entered the ruins. We began by learning about their methods of communication and the counting system through rows of colored ropes and knots, and we learned about how they warships the sun and moon among multiple other gods. We climbed up the ruins and learned about the agriculture of the Incans and their food storage. We then hiked to the top of the ruins and learned about the Spanish colonization. We learned about the Incan rebellion and their methods of fighting through swinging and shooting rocks at the speed of a bullet. Once we made it down we split into two groups. Some left to head to home base while the other group continued to explore the ruins. We hiked up to an Incan structure in the mountains and explored the seemingly endless amounts of staircases. After returning to home base and having dinner, we had a game night. Split into our mentor groups, we had to run when our number was called, collect a shoe, sit down, and throw it to knock down a water bottle. Overall, it was exciting second day in Peru.

Friday August 3, 2018

On the morning of August third, we set out to our service from base camp. For the entire morning, we worked on continuing the construction of the weaving center. After being assigned into groups, students were given various tasks including: Carrying adobe bricks, transporting wood, and sifting dirt. After a tough few hours and a couple snack breaks, it was time to clean up the service site and head back home. At base camp, everyone enjoyed a nice warm lunch and discussed the morning’s activities.

We began our afternoon with a leadership activity. Everyone paired up and took turns leading their partner around the town while their eyes were closed. This was a great way to develop leadership skills such as giving accurate directions and also having trust in others. It emphasized what it means to be a good leader because each person was responsible for every action that their counterpart did. After this activity, we had a chance to go to wifi cafes to catch up with our parents and try local beverages and snacks.

Later we walked to a large soccer field surrounded by the Andes. Our team was able to play a friendly game of soccer where we got to learn more about each other and get to meet more people. We ended the night by splitting into our mentor groups and discussing the TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” about the importance of multiple perspectives in modern society.

Overall, we had an exciting day in Peru and look forward to the many exciting adventures ahead!

-by Kaitlyn & Sofia

Saturday August 4, 2018

‘Twas an early morning where the entire group was required to eat breakfast at 6:15. We enjoyed a great balanced meal consisting of eggs, bread, and more. We then proceeded to board one large and one small bus on our lifelong journey to the rafting area. Games were played, music was heard, and friends were made. After a quick change into the most flattering wet suits and a safety briefing, we made dynamic groups of 6. We then embarked on our rafting adventure. Paddling to our hearts content down massive rapids… however gaining athleticism wasn’t the take away from this activity. It was the core idea that if a team is united they are more efficient, staying in sync and pushing for each other was the true idea behind it. After getting soaked and returning to the main area we were greeted with a delicious lunch consisting of soup, chicken, and some banana bread. We then got the opportunity to experience some zip lining over the river. For some it was easy… others, well… a bit more exciting…. we then boarded the buses for our return to Ollantaytambo. Once bace at Home Base, we chomped on some food and a Quechuan author came and spoke to us about his writings and the meanings behind them to give us some insight on the Andean world. Afterwards we winded down from a long day and went to bed.

Sunday August 5, 2018

Today we took about an hour long ride to one of the neighboring towns called Pisaq. Here we toured an Alpaca farm to learn the process in which you sheer, clean, thin, and then dye alpaca fur as a foundation to create the beautiful hand woven coats, bags, tapestries, etc. we see today. After, we drove in to the town for a delicious three course meal lunch with some authentic Peruvian cuisine. From lunch, we had a short ride to Incan ruins where we saw firsthand how the agricultural system worked and some of the traditional Incan ceremonies. We were each given three coco leaves to make wishes on and throw into the pit. From there we drove back into town to explore the Pisaq markets. The markets were beautiful and we got a chance to buy souvenirs and negotiate the prices in Spanish. While heading back to base camp we got the chance to try the Peruvian delicacy known as Cuy or Guinea Pig. We finished the day with a surprise bonfire from the mentors.

Monday August 6, 2018

This morning we woke up to pattering rain on the roofs of home base, and headed to breakfast, ready for our a full day of service. After a delicious breakfast of pancakes, we all grabbed as many waterproof pieces of clothing as we could find and headed into the town square to board the buses to Huilloc. The rain was relentless as we drove up the one-lane gravel road into the mountains. When we reached our service site, we got to work on several different tasks. One group got busy digging a trench for a sewage pipe alongside the building. Then we confronted with several large rocks and had to work together to pull them out. Another group continued to work on a rock path for people en route to and from the village of Patacancha, which is up the road from the service site. The goal for the path was to make it stable, welcoming, and easy for people to travel on foot to and from the village (as is a common form of travel in Peruvian villages. Other groups completed tasks such as transporting wood planks, cutting metal wire for the frame of the building, and more. Although the rain made the work very trying, we all pushed through and did our jobs the best we could. After a delicious lunch made by women in Huilloc, we headed back to home base in Ollantaytambo.

Our first step when we got back was to begin cleaning all of our outerwear, which was covered in mud and dirt. Soon after, we all settled in to the dining room to watch “Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade”. Our director, Sheila, explained that Indiana Jones was based off of Hiram Bingham, who was the man who discovered Machu Picchu. Although we enjoyed the movie and fun afternoon it was also an introduction to the adventures that lie ahead later this week at Machu Picchu!

In the evening, we enjoyed our dinner of fried rice and tequeños (fried Peruvian cheese sticks). Before meeting up in mentor groups, we all participated in an interesting activity that generated meaningful conversation. All of us wrote a statement on separate pieces of paper starting with “I believe…” and the mentors read most of them aloud, asking us to stand in the dining room on a spectrum according to our opinions about the belief (“strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”). After we were all in place, some of us raised our hands to explain our stance on the topic. Statements varied from “I believe that pineapple belongs on pizza” to more controversial topics such as “I believe that freedom of choice should be legal and safe”. Afterwards, we met in our mentor groups to have more intimate discussion about the statements that affected each of us most. We realized that it is ok to have different opinions and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.

After mentor groups, we tried to enjoy the stars (even though it was still cloudy from the rain) and headed to bed. As we fell asleep, rain continued to patter on the roof but we all hoped for a sunnier, more enjoyable day of service tomorrow.

Your leaders,
Luke, Emma, and Krishna

Tuesday August 7, 2018

Today was our last day of service! After breakfast we got in the vans and headed to the construction site in Hullioc. Luckily the weather was great today unlike yesterday’s disastrous rain. Once we got to the site, we divided into groups. One group worked on digging a trench for pipes and another worked on building a stone path. At noon we went to one of the women from the collective, Marta’s house for a filling potato soup. After lunch we returned to the work site where we formed an assembly line to carry buckets of concrete. After a couple hours of hard work, we headed back to Ollantaytambo for a delicious pizza dinner at Pizza Quinoa. Following dinner we split into two groups – one to get ice cream and one to get baked goods. After the dessert excursion, we all returned to home base for a talent show where both the mentors and the students showcased their prowess in song, comedy, and magic.

Jacob, Gabe, and Stavan

Wednesday August 8, 2018

Today we went to the city where we did service and learned about the historical structures. We learned about the terraces that were used for agriculture. We also visited an old Church where we learned that many people converted from Christianity. We later met the women that we helped build the weaving center for. They taught us their weaving techniques and natural ways of dying their yarn. The women and their children were very kind and welcoming despite the language barrier. We made bracelets and enjoyed lunch together while learning about their cultural values and the importance of helping others.

Your Service in the Sacred Valley Leaders

Thursday August 9, 2018

We left early for the lares trek we had a three hour bus ride to the trail head in the town of lares. We met our trek guides and got our gear ready. Then, we started the trek we hiked for two hours and ate a gourmet lunch. We hiked for about three more hours and arrived at base camp witch was at 14,000 most of us had never been that high in elevation! We had hot chocolate that night and had dinner. The stars were amazing!!! We had a awesome and challenging day.

Ryan & Clara

Sunday August 12, 2018

We started our day by splitting into two groups. One went into town to go shopping and get WiFi first, while the other went to the chocolate museum to take a chocolate making class. During the class we made multiple types of chocolate tea in three teams competing to make the best. After that we were given either milk or dark chocolate and candies to mix into it. We poured the chocolate into molds and let them freeze.

After the chocolate classes and shopping, a Shaman (spiritual leader) came to home base and performed a ritual honoring Pachamama. All of the students participated in the ritual and learned why and how it is done.

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Friday July 14, 2018

Hello Friends and Family!

Despite delayed flights and missed bags, almost all of us have arrived safely to our home base of Ollantaytambo (Ollantay)!

Upon arriving at the airport, we loaded up onto passenger vans to make the hour and a half trip to Ollantay, located in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Along the way, we passed through open golden fields, winded through snow capped mountains, and ultimately followed the bank of the strong Urubamba river home to our lodging, where we will live for the next two weeks.

Here in Ollantay, we are located in a river valley, nestled by tall mountains speckled by Incan ruins. Upon arriving at home base, we received a tour of our accommodation and ate a hearty lunch. Our afternoon was relatively lax, as we all took time to rest, settle in, and begin to adjust to the altitude of 9,000 feet! In the evening, we engaged in orientation-lite— establishing house norms and participating in several get-know-you games before dinner.

Lights out will be pretty early tonight as we prepare to launch head-first into our Service in the Sacred Valley program tomorrow. We will be beginning our day with more orientation, before taking a tour of Ollantay and the surrounding ruins.

We are still waiting on two of our students and are excited to greet them with open arms! Stay posted for our group photo coming to you shortly!

With Anticipation and Zeal,

Service in the Sacred Valley Staff

Sunday July 15, 2018

Hola from Peru! We started off our first full day by watching the final match of the World Cup. Our local director, Raquel, told us about the history of Ollantaytambo and explained the culture to us. We went into the town for a delicious lunch, then walked to the ruins that are in Ollantaytambo, visible from Home Base. Before entering the ruins, we walked through a small market and some of us bought our first Peruvian souvenirs.

We had great tour guide who explained the history of the ruins and the stories of the land that we are living on. We explored the ruins for a few hours, and then some of us explored another area while the rest of the group played games and did yoga. On our way back to town, some of us stopped at the chocolate store. The chocolate was delicious. We then enjoyed a nice pasta dinner back at Home Base. We played a guessing game that determined our mentor groups, then met with our groups and played some games to get to know one another.

Adios!

-by Cecilia, Edgar, and Max

Monday July 16, 2018

Today we met our nonprofit partner, Awamaki, an organization which teams up with women cooperatives who make handwoven goods, helping them create a more stable and reliable source of income.

After being briefed on what kind of work we would be doing, we split into groups and explored our home town of Ollantaytambo. We participated in a scavenger hunt to become further acquainted with the surrounding ruins and alleys. Following the scavenger hunt, we visited an alpaca and llama farm and had the opportunity to feed the animals and learn more about them.

After, we drove to the village of Pisac for lunch and stumbled upon a massive festival which included large floats and marching bands walking through the town center. After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant called The Blue Llama, we visited the market and many of us purchased traditional alpaca clothing, blankets, and bags.

Finally, to close out a long day of adventure, we visited and climbed up the ancient ruins of Pisac and got to see parts of mountains that had been carved out into caves and tunnels to serve as burials for Incans. We had a very full and adventurous day; now for hot showers and some good rest!

With Zeal,

Service in the Sacred Valley

Tuesday July 17, 2018

Today was our first day of service. After driving up to the worksite in the village of Huilloc, we were split into groups to dig up rocks, create mud, carry buckets of water, and sift dirt.

We worked for about three hours and then met some of the women who are involved with Awamaki. They greeted us with Peruvian flower necklaces and made us corn and potato soup for lunch.

We then went back to home base we each got to make our own object out of pottery. After we finished, we learned and played native Peruvian music, using flutes, djembes, and a cajón! Thanks for keeping up to date with us; stay tuned for another full day of fun tomorrow!

With Zeal,
Service in the Sacred Valley

Wednesday July 18, 2018

Today was our second day of service at Huilloc. Like yesterday, we were split into groups and we preformed a selection of jobs.

Some of us were making bricks out of mud that we made yesterday, removing rocks from the area that will be a patio, and sifting dirt to make the mud.

After our half day of service we returned to the base camp for lunch. After lunch we had the opportunity to go into town and get snacks for tomorrow’s hike and exchange money for future purposes. We also had the chance to connect to WiFi in a local cafe and get something small to eat.

Afterward, we returned back and had a briefing about the trail we will be hiking— the Lares trek. We had dinner and prepared for the hike. Overall, it was a great day and we are all excited for tomorrow.

Thursday July 19, 2018

Today we started our exciting 2 day Lares trek!

We began with a 3 hour bus ride with gorgeous views and then began our hike. Although it was raining, everyone was in high spirits and ready to get started. We hiked 2 hours to lunch and ate an amazing 4 course meal in a small town on the side of our trail called Wacawasi.

Afterwards, we continued our hike which became even more difficult due to the increasing elevation, something none of us even thought was possible. Three hours later we finally made it to our campsite.

The campsite consisted of many tents surrounded by the Andean mountains. After we got to the campsite, we shared snacks and then rested until dinner. We had a four course dinner and then headed to sleep in the freezing cold. Despite the challenges, it was an amazing day.

Friday July 20, 2018

We started off our day with an early breakfast in the beautiful town of Aguas Calientes. After breakfast, we ventured out into the rain to get on the bus to Machu Picchu.

The rain was discouraging, but everyone was still excited to see Machu Picchu. We climbed up many, many stairs to get up to the ancient city, and everyone was surprised when we got up there and couldn’t see anything because it was so cloudy. After a few minutes, the clouds cleared and we could see Machu Picchu in all of its glory. Everyone was wowed. The light clouds surrounding the mountains made it look magical and mystical. We spent a while taking pictures and taking in the view.

We split up into tour groups to learn more about Machu Picchu. We learned about the techniques that the Incan people used to built amazingly strong buildings that have stayed strong for hundreds of years. We learned about how these people used light from the sun to measure time, and we learned about symbols that they used to represent the land.

After exploring the ruins, we took a bus back down to Aguas Calientes for a delicious lunch. We then got to explore the town and pick up some souvenirs at the local market. The train ride back to Ollantaytambo took almost 2 hours, then we ate dinner back at home base.

To end our day, we had a speaker come in and share some very interesting philosophies and perspectives with us about the world.

Adios!

-Service in the Sacred Valley Team

Saturday July 21, 2018

Hola from 14,000ft! Last night was an unforgettable experience. After a long six hour hike, we settled down at base camp. We quickly fell asleep, excited for the next morning.

Day 7 started with snow flurries and a beautiful sunrise. After a quick breakfast, we began our second day of trekking. From 14,000, we hiked up 600ft to the summit where we learned about Incan culture. Next, we descended the mountain towards a village for lunch and our bus ride back to Home Base.

We arrived at Home Base and promptly packed our backpacks for the Machu Picchu excursion. We took a roughly two hour train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes and quickly settled down in our hotel. We were all excited for the next day’s adventure.

Sunday July 22, 2018

Finally we see the sun. We began our day bright and early and after a hearty breakfast got comfy on a bus for 2 hours. Our destination was a cozy, outdoorsy stop where we prepared for our thrilling rafting experience. The wetsuits, jackets, shoes, and life jackets were a bit too wet and cold for comfort, but we eventually got used to them and the outcome was totally worth it. This was a first time rafting trip for many us and I think we all agreed it was tons of fun.

Although our hands were numb, the close calls, teamwork, and competitive splashing made it worth while. The rafting trip felt way too short but the amazing guides provided us the opportunity to zipline over the river afterwards. Going against many of our fears we did it, and although it was short and simple, it was quite exhilarating. After another 2 hour trip back to home base we enjoyed a fabulously made meal and celebrated Kaitlyn’s birthday with a yummy cake. Pacha Mama blessing us with clear skies for star gazing was just the cherry on top to this amazing day.

Monday July 23, 2018

The day started at 8 am amazingly as it hadn’t for a while. We ate breakfast at a preferred and normal time and went right to work at the weaving center in Huilloc. We endured around five hours of physical labor with a great lunch break (fried rice!), and afterwards drove back to Ollantaytambo for a well deserved break. After the hour and a half long relaxation period, we headed out to one of the most amazing dinners of the trip. We ate different pizzas (cheese, Hawaiian, and even Alpaca), and everyone seemed as happy or happier than they had been for a while. We even got another surprise when the mentors took us out for brownies and ice cream. This put a cap on a great day. We went back shortly after and did mentor groups until around 8:30 pm. The rest of the night was relaxation and sleeping, and it served as a satisfying finale for a wonderful day.

Tuesday July 24, 2018

Buenos Días Everyone,

Today we were finally blessed with beautiful weather! After having breakfast, we made way to the service site in Huilloc and everyone applied some SPF before getting to work.

We made some progress today and definitely became more efficient at our human chain system. We saw a lot of hard workers today and had loads of fun learning and helping to the best of our abilities.

After lunch, back at home base, we split up into two groups: The first group went to the chocolate museum first and learnt about the Peruvian art of making chocolate. The second group went to the city centre first to go shopping and change money and then joined the chocolate adventure after the first group had finished.

Both groups first made two types of hot chocolate (the way the Mayans made it and then the way the Spanish changed it) by grinding cocoa and adding lots of ingredients and then everyone made their own chocolate molds.

After loads of fun and a sugar rush we all regrouped at home base and then had dinner together. We ended the night with a bonfire under a clear night where we played some song battle games, told scary stories and had a bunch of laughs.

What a fun day!

Thursday July 26, 2018

¡Buenos días!

We began our day by walking to the plaza to meet up with our bus driver for our last day of service in Huilloc. Sadly, Max, Ethan, and Isaac could not join service because they were under the weather. We had a very productive half service day; we sifted, made cement, and leveled the patio. Everyone worked very hard today. After service, we went back to Ollantaytambo for a delicious lunch.

After lunch, a Peruvian shaman came to home base and performed a sacred ritual to bring us blessings for our future. The shaman displayed his beliefs through a ceremony.

After the ritual, we got the choice to play soccer in town with the locals or stay at home base and relax. Later, we sat down for a chicken stir fry dinner. And then everyone enjoyed an exciting trivia game night.

¡Hasta Luego!

Thursday July 26, 2018

We woke up and had a nutritious breakfast and then made our way to Huilloc.

We stopped to look at some pre-Incan terraces and learned their purpose and history. We also stopped again to visit a small colonial church, tucked away among tall mountains.

We arrived to Huilloc and the women greeted us with open arms and muña tea. They demonstrated how they weave and dye their textiles, and then thought us how to make our own bracelets. After, we ate a large, traditional lunch.

We then beaded back for home base and got ready for our farewell dinner. After a short walk into town, we are s beautiful meal at a local restaurant, topped off with chocolate cake! We then returned to home base to begin packing.

It’s a bittersweet feeling as we prepare to leave Ollantaytambo and our new-found friends, but we are excited to come home and see all of you!

Hasta Pronto!

Service in the Sacred Valley