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Monday July 9, 2018

We are so excited that our Session 2 Crew made it to home base in Lamay! Everyone arrived on time, and everyone’s luggage made it with them! We drove to our home base and we had a great lunch and a great dinner. We covered orientation in the afternoon, and now everyone is resting up and settling in to their rooms. We start our full schedule of service, leadership, and cultural activities tomorrow!

Thursday July 12, 2018

Hi Parents! Here’s a recap of day 4!

The Clinic

Within our small groups we got the chance to participate in health studies of the indigenous people of Peru. Each group went through five different rotations where we got the opportunity to take vitals, do blood tests for glucose and hemoglobin, make posters for awareness and listen in on a Gastrointestinal research study. Along with the chance to further our medical experience we got to appreciate and interact with the locals. The particular group we got to work with today consisted of elders (60+) who spoke both Spanish/Castellano and Quechua. Through this experience we saw the traditional Peruvian clothing which consisted of multiple beautiful and unique handmade sweaters. We also noticed the intricate way Peruvian women styled their hair, some woven with thread or cloth, but almost always in braids. Some of the challenges we endured involved dehydration of the patients which caused difficulties in taking blood tests. Even with a language barrier we still made our best efforts to connect on a personal level. We all enjoyed this special moment for our first time leaving home base and look forward to continuing our medical journey.

The Incan Ruins

Later in the day we drove to the Incan ruins in Pisaq. The ruins consisted of buildings made of stone and clay, a tomb with approximately 2,000 mummified corpses inside, and terraces that were used for agriculture. That’s a lot of ghosts. The ruins were constructed thousands of years ago. The ruins are chock full of fascinating history such as: very exact architecture and tombs that related to the status of the people, and terraces that were used to acclimate crops to elevation. The ruins were atop a mountain. When we reached the top, we were treated to breathtaking views of the scenery around us.

The Market

After hiking, we descended into the valley below to the Pisaq town market. The bustling market offered a variety of goods, such as gloves, hats, woven bags, alpaca sweaters, blankets, and socks. The market gave us a perfect opportunity to practice our bargaining skills… in Spanish! Outside the seemingly small market, there were several traditionally dressed people holding baby goats, lambs, and small alpacas available for pictures…..for a price. Once inside the market, we realized that it was actually very expansive. Vibrant colors exploded at every stall and intricately made alpaca figures roamed the tables. Overall, the independence that the market gave us a new perspective of life in Pisaq.

Buenos noches,

Sophia K., Tessa, Jayanna, Emily (Hi mom!), Georgia (sup dad), Adrienne

 

Saturday July 14 through Monday July 17, 2018

On Saturday the 14th we went white water rafting on the Urubamba river. After waking up at 7am, we left for a two-hour drive to the rafting center. The drive was monotonous until the end where we came upon a car crash. We pulled the bus over and our mentor Scott helped administer first aid because he is an EMT. We later learned that both people injured had broken bones but are recovering well. After the situation was cleared, we continued to the rafting center where we zip lined across the river. We then changed into wetsuits to prepare for the adventure. Our energetic river guide gave us a quick safety lesson and made us feel more comfortable with the situation. We then proceeded to the river in groups of five to six. From the launch point, we rafted 11 kilometers through cold waters, relying on each other to carry us down the river. The rapids weren’t too scary, but we had a ton of surprises with drops in the river. We reached our destination chilly but excited. After the ride home, we had a nice dinner while we were prepped for the three-day Soqma trail hike.

The following morning, we left at 5:30am for a two-hour bus ride to the mountain town of Soqma. Upon arrival, we were introduced to our trek guides and given advice for the challenging task ahead. Loaded with snacks and gear, we began the journey. Some students enjoyed the trek more than others, but the views were breathtaking to all. On the first day, the mostly uphill trail led us for three miles to our campsite. Along the way, we discovered an incredible waterfall pouring out of the mountainside. We stopped for a snack break at an Incan archeological site and received a brief history lesson about the Incan trails, which extend in the four cardinal directions from Cusco. Afterward, we continued to our campsite. The endpoint gave us much relief from the steep trail. The trek chefs provided with absolutely delicious food for the entire endeavor. Then, we wrapped ourselves in layers to sleep for the night.

We rose with the sun and were given coca tea to begin our expedition on day two. After a satisfying breakfast, we started the hike. Unfortunately, a few of our friends were unable to continue the rest of the trek due to altitude sickness, but the rest of the group charged ahead. Similar to the day before, the hike was uphill and challenging. After struggling for a few hours, we reached the mountain pass and were greeted with an amazing view. The snow-capped peaks were mesmerizing and made us forget about the struggle uphill. From there we proceeded to lunch where our chefs did another outstanding job. Afterward, we packed up our stuff and continued to the next part of our hike. The trail was calm with gentle hills before it became a dramatic incline and subsequent decline. The campsite seemed out of reach for a while, but we arrived at our destination safely with glee and soreness. After dinner we were greeted with incredible stars and found ourselves exhausted and settled down for our last night on the trek.

We got up at the same time the next morning with determination to finish the journey strong. Continuing with the steep decline, we proceeded to the town of Ollantaytambo. We were able to see our destination steadily get closer, and before we knew it, we had arrived. Luckily our guide was able to get us a ride to the restaurant where enjoyed a hearty lunch before returning to Home Base. On the ride home, we were able to reflect on the challenges we faced and lessons we learned whilst trekking through the Andes. Once we arrived back at Home Base, we spent the rest of the night recovering from the journey, so we could prepare for the service project the next day.

By: Noah, Ben, Emerald, Lydia, Riley, Clarissa

Wednesday July 18 through Friday July 20, 2018

On Wednesday, we went to the Calca clinic to learn some more medical skills taught by Dr. Francisco. One skill we learned was how to take an ultrasound, which uses sound waves to produce an image, or sonogram, of the inside of the body. Using the probe, we were able to see the abdominal organs as well as the heart and its valves. It was fascinating, especially seeing the valves pump blood through the heart. Another skill we learned was how to check someone’s ears for any occlusions. We used an otoscope, which gave a view of the ear canal and the tympanic membrane, or eardrum.

That afternoon, a local family from the sacred valley came to Home Base to share traditional Andean arts with us. The family preformed beautiful Andean melodies for us. We learned many different traditional beats and had the chance to play the different instruments. We all had the opportunity to try drumming in front of the group.

It wasn’t as easy as it seemed! We learned about the origins of these different music styles. We also had the opportunity to sculpt pottery to whatever we wanted to create. Some pottery designs that had been created were bowls, ring trays, and a llama! We completed our pottery by painting our designs.

This Thursday we started renovations at the clinic in Taray. After a flood last year, the clinic has been in desperate need of a face-lift to help encourage the local people to come in for check-ups. Everyone worked together to sand the walls and fence posts to smooth out any chipped paint or rust in preparation for a fresh coat of paint.

On Friday, the whole group split up. Hal of us went to a nearby school while the other half stayed at the Taray clinic to spackle walls and clean up the outside area. As a part of the gardening team, we pulled weeds, helped maintain the plants and flowers, and used pick-axes to clear away most of the long grass that was covering the walls we’ve been preparing to paint.

The rest of the team filled most of the holes in the walls of the building with plaster to provide an even surface for when we begin to paint later on. Cleaning up the clinic in Taray has been a really cool experience and a great way to participate in a different kind of service other than the hemoglobin campaign. We can’t wait to see the finished product, and we hope the local people are as excited about it was we are.

The rest of the group walked to a local elementary school to run some tests on the students. At the school we rotated through stations of anemia testing, vision testing, blood pressure, and finding their height and weight. Afterwards we got to play, talk, and genuinely bond with the students. By the time we had to leave, we were swarmed with hundreds of hugs and goodbyes.

After service we had took an hour-long bus ride to a town called Ollantaytambo. While we were there we had 4 hours free to walk around the market and the town square. It started raining as we were wondering through the town, it stopped after we sat down in a restaurant. There were amazing quesadillas and some really good pizza. After our dinners we went out for some poppin’ ice cream.

By Ali, Madison, Sophie P, Sari, and Abby

   

Saturday July 21 through Monday July 23, 2018

Authors:
Annaliese Fleet
Andrew Graber
Daria Podell
Leeroy Guillot
Leila Dall’olmo
Samantha Dunn

Saturday July 21, 2018

Cuzco City

Hospital
We arrived at the Antonio Lorena hospital in Cusco in the morning and were given a tour by Dr. Francisco Morales. He explained the different facilities in the hospital and the challenges that face the nurses and doctors due to the lack of funding. While showing us around he also explained the basic medical care patients generally receive while in the hospital.

Plaza de Armas
After the tour of the hospital, everyone was given a chance to explore the Plaza de Armas. While some braved the rainy and cold weather in search of souvenirs, the majority headed in search of the warmth and comfort that only Starbucks can provide.

Lunch
After the coffee break at Starbucks, the GLA crew regrouped for lunch at Tunupa, in the Plaza. The restaurant was buffet-style with options for every palate. There was sushi, pasta, salad, a dessert bar, and even alpaca. Most importantly, the bathroom was fully equipped with toilet paper AND soap.

Llamas
After lunch, we went up a precarious mountain road and visited the ancient Incan ruins of Cusco. We even had the fortune to see llamas and alpacas perusing around the ruins. Unfortunately, it was rainy, foggy, and cold; so we only stayed for a short amount of time. We loaded back into the buses and then went to a llama and alpaca farm. At the farm, the GLA crew was able to feed them, take pictures with them, and shop for traditional textiles made from the Alpaca fur. We even got to see the textiles being made. It was a great end to a rainy day.

Sunday July 22, 2018

Maras: Salt Mines & Moray

The next day we visited the Maras Salt Mines. It was incredible to witness the process and hard work that goes into creating the unique Peruvian salts. There are 7,000 salt ponds at the mine, and all of it is naturally produced from the saltwater in the mountains. Later we hiked to the Moray Archeological Site, and our tour guide gave us some facts about the ancient ruins. The structures were built to grow and farm food such as quinoa and coca. Typically these foods could only grow in warm environments like the Amazon, but the ruins were built using levels so that the lower levels were built into the Earth, making them warmer. They were able to mimic the environment of the Amazon using the levels, and could produce the quinoa and coca. We also learned about the measurement system that the Incans used, called Kintu. This system was based on colored string with knots tied into them, and the number of knots represented the number of goods produced. It was fascinating to hear about the intricate ways in which they communicated.

After a delicious lunch at Mamacha Juanas, we took a bus ride to an authentic textile market, where we were able to browse and purchase various hats, bags, and blankets. Overall, we had a great day learning about Peruvian life.

Monday July 23, 2018

On Monday we headed to our service project in the town of Callarrayan. We did health check ups at a rural school which included eye exams, hemoglobin testing, height and weight measurements, and blood pressure exams. We met almost 50 students as part of this service project.

After that we headed to the Clinic in Taray to repaint and just do a whole new makeover in order to bring it back to life. We redid the garden, and painted the building together. The doctor and nurses are hoping that more people in the town will visit the local clinic for their medical and health needs.

Sunday July 29, 2018

Lares Trek:

We departed from home base at 8:00 to begin our next adventure; the Lares trek. We drove
along winding roads arriving at snowcapped peaks. We took a break at the mountain pass,
continuing to a small town where our drive was delayed due to an Independence-day parade.
From there, we continued driving to our place of lunch, after which we hiked three hours to the
campsite at 14,600 feet. During our walk we saw multiple alpacas and met local people selling
their wares. At night we were able to stargaze and watch Mars rise over the mountaintops.
The next morning, we were woken up with a cup of coca tea, packed our things, and had some
breakfast.

Once more, we started our journey up through the snow-covered mountains. Soon,
we reached the highest point of our trek, a majestic overlook of mountains, valleys and llamas.
The beauty did not cease as we made our way to a lake tucked into the side of the mountain.
After resting near this lake, we continued forward along the mountainside until we reached
Patacancha, that day’s lunch spot. After lunch we drove to Ollantaytambo where we took time
to explore the town and from there took a train to our next destination of Aguas Calientes. At
Aguas Calientes we stayed at a hostel to prepare for the next day’s adventure of Machu Picchu.
We awoke at the hostel where we ate a 6:00am breakfast and then took a brief walk to the bus
station to depart to Machu Picchu.

After a brief winding bus ride through what felt like the
jungle, we reached the ancient Incan city where we were split into three groups to learn about
the ruins’ history. We learned about everything from the sacrifice of llamas to the meaning of
double doors during the ‘three-hour tour’ of the Incan city. Afterwards, we took the bus back to
Aguas Calientes where we had the opportunity to explore the town a little before lunch. And
after lunch we went to the train station to catch our return train to Ollantaytambo. Upon
arriving, we took our bus back to Home Base to eat dinner and go to bed; exhausted.

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Friday June 22, 2018

We’re so excited to have our 24 fantastic students here in Peru for the next two weeks! We’re very happy that everyone is here— shoutout to the students who were super delayed and still showed up with smiles on their faces— and getting settled in at home base. Today was mainly about orientation, and tomorrow we will start experiencing and exploring the culture of Peru!

Saturday June 23 and Sunday June 24

By Andrea Schenk, Abby Riegler, Kaitlyn Carson, Katie Hays, Landon Keams, Laurel Whidden and Madeleine Dufault

We have already started their adventures and learning experience here in Peru. A group of students will be keeping a blog of our trip and update with the activities and lessons that we have in Peru. We’re excited to share our adventures with you!

June 23 was our first full day in country, and it was certainly full of fun and educational experiences. First, we got to experience a Quechua ceremony with Yuri (our host here in the Sacred Valley). It was amazing. We learned about forgiveness, acceptance, love, thankfulness, hope, and so much more. Yuri shared part of a new culture with us that has allowed all of us to open up our minds to new possibilities. Yuri explained that the ceremony didn’t have anything to do with religion. During the ceremony, we each received three coca leaves. Each one of the leaves represented the past, present, and future. We all got a chance to speak and confide in each other. One thing I always say, “Knowing yourself is enlighten, but knowing others is wisdom,” – Kaitlyn Carson. It was a wonderful experience to learn about another type of culture other than our own.

After the ceremony, we had a quick service introduction from Dr. Francisco, ate lunch, and headed out to explore the nearby town of Pisaq. The Pisaq ruins are a sight to behold! Many of us thought it was so amazing that structures from ancient times are still standing for us to see today. The hike wasn’t long, but it was more difficult at 11,500 ft than at sea level! It was most definitely worth it to see such amazing structures built by such an amazing society of the past. We also got to see the tombs that these ancient people were buried in. The tombs are holes that were carved in the side of the mountain. Our tour guide told us that the tombs with the walls and structures in them were for the royalty of the Incas. Common people got a much smaller tomb and had to be placed in a position that takes up less space. Our tour guide also told us a story about how Peruvians started growing the grain quinoa. It is said that a man saw glowing girls playing in the mountains and he tried to get to them. One of the girls tripped and the man helped her and continued to follow. It is then believed that a condor (which represents the future) flew him to the Gods and the Gods gave him seeds of grain to start growing. It was super cool to learn about ancient Peruvian culture!

After the ruins, we visited the Llama farm. I think we can all agree that when we found out about visiting the alpaca farm, it was nothing but smiles in the busses! When we arrived in the farm just outside of Pisaq, we were all taught a lesson on the difference between llamas and alpacas. Alpacas are bigger and stronger than llamas, which makes them better pack animals. After our lesson, we were all given alfalfa to feed both the llamas and alpacas. We even learned that if you hold the food by your shoulder with your back to them, it makes for the perfect alpaca selfie. Overall, it was an amazing experience full of crazy selfies, lots of laughter, and a lot of saying, “Awe! Look at how cute that one is!”.

The next day, we headed out to the river for another day of adventure. We got the chance to zip line over the river before rafting. The unexpected experience will be remembered by the group. “I’m super stoked” -Bryce “Zip lining was super cool and a fun bonding experience(she gives two thumbs up)” -Jacqueline “I loved it and I was ecstatic” – Kaitlyn “I was a little terrified to put my hand on the fast moving zip line cord, but it was beautiful” -Anna “It was really beautiful flying over the mountains” -Caroline

After zip-lining, we embarked on a great adventure with many fun surprises. We went white water rafting! White water rafting really brought out my adrenaline and my smiles. As I always say, I had a perma-grin. I loved my rafting instructor as well. After every rafting accomplishment, we would tap our paddles together and yell “Wooo!” The trip itself was 11 kilometers long, but it felt shorter because obviously we were having way too much fun. The mountains that we passed really completed the ride. It felt almost as if I was in wonderland, embarking on a journey across the river, with the giant green mountains on either side of me. I had a great time!

Monday June 25 and Tuesday June 26, 2018

We started our service this week with medical training! On Monday morning after breakfast, GLA mentor, Caitlin, instructed a mini CPR class. Dr. Francisco brought five dummies to home base for us to practice on. We learned the four steps on CPR. The first is to check if the person is okay by pushing on their shoulders and yelling to see if they are awake. If there is no response, you must call for someone else to call 911. Then, you must check to find a pulse, tilt their head back and see if the person is breathing. If there is no pulse or breathing, you then begin to start CPR. We all now know how to properly do CPR. This is just one of the new medical techniques that we have learned in our trip to Peru.

We also learned how to take blood pressure using a cuff and a stethoscope. It was really interesting to learn how people with limited technology collect medical data. We learned how to tighten the cuff, read the numbers, and then use the stethoscope to listen to a “tick” that marks the numbers for the blood pressure. We had a nurse from the town of Pisaq come in and teach us how to work with these medical tools. We thought it was super interesting to work with a local, and have our GLA Director Ana translate, while we were training. It was a great introduction to how we are going to be serving in the clinics later on in our program.

After lunch on Monday, we were taught some Spanish to help us with our service work. Our GLA mentors and Dr. Francisco taught us phrases and words to help us be as successful as possible during the hemoglobin campaign. It was so cool to have the experience of learning medical Spanish! Not only did we learn medical terms we never heard of, we also learned about how to speak to a patient to make them feel welcomed and comfortable. The doctor that taught us these things was super easy to follow and understand. He also taught us the different parts of the body in Spanish, such as “pulmones” (lungs), “costillas” (ribs), and many more! We feel like now that we have learned these things, they will help me so much in the real life!

On Tuesday, half of us traveled to the Lamay clinic to be trained on how to take hemoglobin tests. We were trained by a local nurse and practiced on each other using the equipment. When doing the tests on each other, it was hard to get enough blood to come out for the test. However, when doing the tests on the nurse, a decent amount of blood came from the prick. It was cool to learn how different hemoglobin levels corresponded to anemia in different age groups. We also learned that there is a “correction factor” for the test, because people will have more red blood cells at this altitude than at sea level.

The other half of us travelled to Urubamba and had the chance to work with doctors studying in America. We all got to perform various tasks in order to be of service to these medical professionals. The rotations were helping to diagnose problems, taking vitals such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen. Some of us had the opportunity to work with the pharmacist to help him hand out medication. Others were able to work with the pediatric unit and shadow the pediatrician and observe her help the kids. When asked “how has this experience changed you?”, Nick, who was one of the Americans we were able to work with, answered that his experience “helped [him] realize how much [he] liked to help other people and also the natural environment. We are one and we have a unity relying on one another”. Some of us are having the same realizations! This experience has been such an amazing experience. It has opened our eyes to what global health work is really like!

-by Esha Dasu, Andrea Schenk, Abby Riegler, Kaitlyn Carson, Katie Hays, Landon Keams, Laurel Whidden and Madeleine Dufault

Saturday June 30, 2018

We spent the morning in Cusco on Wednesday. The hospital in Cusco, Peru was so heartbreaking. They only have 3 doctors for night shift. Cusco’s hospital usually has about 20 patients that come in at night. You can only make an appointment if come to the hospital at 3am. You can’t call and make appointment like in America. They don’t get a lot people who have Yellow fever or Malaria. If they do it’s because people are coming from the jungle. Peru’s jungle makes up 1/3 of Peru. 2/3 of Peru is rural areas. Lima’s hospital receives more people with Yellow fever and Malaria. They don’t have an Epidemiologist. They have Oncologist, Enologist, Pediatrician, and etc. To get to another unit in the hospital most of the time you have to go outside. Their hospital is open-spaced. Overall, to be able to see Cusco’s hospital was a life changing experience.

We were so happy to have the chance to walk through the busy streets of Cuzco, Peru. This city was so beautiful in its own little way. It felt so bright and happy, as if no one ever had a care in the world. The entrepreneurs of Cuzco were definitely very good at their job. People from left and right would call out “solo uno sol!” and “handcrafted, original artwork!”. When you do actually want something though, they WILL try to scam you. That is why you need to be educated in the art of bargaining.

Without further ado, we present to you, how to bargain:

Step #1: Examine the quality of your item. Not everything is handcrafted, it may be mass produced, and easier for them to make a profit.
Step #2: Negotiate your price. After figuring out the quality, you may have a good idea of how much it cost to make the item.
Step #3: Listen to the price they’re willing to pay. (Trust me, it won’t stay that price forever).
Step #4: Lower their price by ten soles. You do not want to make them feel intimidated either, so you need to start slow.
Step #5: Stay strong, be stubborn and keep lowering. (Self-explanatory)
Step #6: Stick with your money-spending gut. When you feel like you have met your goal closest to your original price, then stick with it. Go with your gut.

YOU ARE DONE! If you follow these six special steps, then you will never have to worry about overspending again. Get as many souvenirs and you want. Go ahead, be the best tourist out there!

A long time ago when the earth’s plates were shifting, some of the oceans water was trapped between two mountains. This water trickles down a stream from the mountains down into shallow pools that are owned by local families. The water in the ocean is 15% salt, but this water is 25%. The sun dries out the water in the shallow pools and separates the salt into three types and layers.

The top layer is the most white and pure, the middle layer is for cooking and has a pink-ish coloring, and the bottom layer has the most nutritional value but looks the most unappetizing, so is the least used. Other than salt, they also sell delicious flavors of chocolate (which was a very great treat for all of us). The salt mines were also a very pretty view, especially as the sun set over them. We all enjoyed seeing the amazing view, eating some sweet chocolate, and learning about the salt mines!

Today we went to an archeological site. It was beautiful! From the site you could see snow covered mountains that looked incredibly steep. We learned how the different terraces were used to adapt plants from different elevations and temperatures. This archeological site allowed the Incas to control food surpluses and eventually gain power back in 1400. So far this is one of the most interesting archeological sites because we learned about how it was used, and how it influenced society.

Ever since the flight into Cusco, one thing has stood out for sure. The landscape of Peru is completely breathtaking. From the snowcapped mountains, to the rolling hills covered in small towns and farms, there is always a different amazing view around every corner. The photo opportunities never stop, and it’s nearly impossible to get tired of seeing them! At altitudes around 11,000ft, you could expect nothing less than amazing, but yet you receive something much more than you could dream of!

-by Andrea Schenk, Abby Riegler, Kaitlyn Carson, Katie Hays, Esha Dasu, Laurel Whidden and Madeleine Dufault

Final Blog

Well after a good night’s rest and some hot showers, it was finally time for Machu Picchu! We woke up early to get in line to catch a bus to go up, and then made our way up some winding roads. When we made it to the top, we all unloaded and made our way up some stairs to overlook Machu Picchu. At the top we all got to see the post card perfect view! After a lot of group pictures, we started our tour.

We learned all about how it was built during the Inca time period, in the 15th century, but no one really knows why it was built. We got to wander through the ruins learning all about how the Incas lived and a lot of their cultures. It was really an amazing once in a life time experience! The fact that there is something so planned out and precise in every structure, but no one knows why it’s there, is so amazing. The wait was definitely worth it and there is no way any of us will ever forget it!

-By Andrea Schenk, Abby Riegler, Kaitlyn Carson, Katie Hays, Esha Dasu, Laurel Whidden and Madeleine Dufault

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Friday July 13, 2018

Day one in Peru was exciting for our staff and students! Our students arrived throughout the day and we headed back to our home base in Chinchero for our first meal together. All of the students had a great time getting to know each other and seeing their first glimpses of this incredible country. We are so excited to be exploring Peru together for the next two weeks!

-by Jenna DeLaurentis (mentor)

Saturday July 14, 2018

After waking up in our first morning in Peru, we had fruit and bread for breakfast. We then headed to to the school to take some photos and meet some of the kids. We walked by a local Chicha (corn drink) place. We went to the new primary school where we met even more kids who were happy to see us. We all introduced ourselves and greeted each other and then they gave us alpaca bracelets as a thanks. Then we took pictures with the little kids and said good bye for the day.

On the bus ride back, we stopped off at a viewpoint of the Andes that had alpacas and local women who made alpaca clothing. In the afternoon, our camera instructor, Diego, taught us about the history and specific techniques of the camera. Then we went to a place where they dye alpaca fur and practiced our newly acquired photography skills. After dinner, we did a photos slideshow of everyone photographs.

Sunday July 15, 2018

We kicked off the day with some productive service work, moving bricks to build a greenhouse for the local school. Today stressed the importance of teamwork and relying on our peers for maximum efficiency. This service was followed by a brief lunch break and snack run leading up to another informative lecture from our photography teacher Diego. He taught us the ins and outs of our cameras and how to use the different features presented. With this knowledge fresh in our heads, we then took a relaxing walk to an architectural site to take some photos and eat empanadas after. Despite the packed schedule, everyone enjoyed the fun-filled day.

Authors: Aidan Nguyen and Alec Englestein

Monday July 16, 2018

At the beginning of the day we head to service to once again see the young students. We painted tires and removed tires from the ground. We also took separate pictures of the students and a class photo for the yearbook we were creating. After all that hard work we played soccer with the students. Then returned to home base for lunch.

Then we ventured to a festival. We then had free time to walk around and explore the different kinds of foods on the streets of the town like guinea pig. We first went to watch a few dances in the main area. The costumes were very colorful and sparkly. Then we walked around the markets and venders around the square. They sold street foods with tables next to their foo1d so they could serve people on the street. Some of the streets were very narrow but there was one street where the dances would walk down after their dance in the main area was over. So some of us were able to see the dances very up close.

When we got back from the festival, we learned how to bargain and say new phrases in Spanish. These tips and tricks are going to help us as tomorrow we head to the city of Cusco and many of the markets it encompasses. Overall, today we learned many new things and got to immerse even more into this wonderful culture.

Authors: Sophie Wong, Madison Ede, Grayson Abbott

Tuesday July 17, 2018

Today’s our fifth day, and we headed off to Cusco after a light breakfast, adventuring to our second archeological sight- more Incan ruins! We spent a few hours exploring the intricate architectural walls left behind, even venturing into a cave tunnel and sliding down an authentic Incan slide (it was just a smooth rock but hey it co​unts).

After all that fun we went into downtown Cusco and viewed the main square. Then we went to San Pedro, the local market, and explored in groups. While in the market one student got flipped off, while another managed to haggle a price down by 40. When we all returned everyone was full of churros and holding fresh juice cups. From there we went and had chicken for lunch at a local restaurant 🙂

Once we finished our meals we made our way over to the Martín Chambi photography exhibit. In our new alpaca gear we roamed the galleries filled with old black and white photos of early to mid century Peru. While in the exhibit we also managed to upset the security by using the “staff only” bathroom. We then took the hour ride back to home base where we began packing for our overnight camping trip that will begin tomorrow.

Much love,

Sarah, Zoë and Ruby

Wednesday July 18, 2018

Today we began our journey to Q’enqo. The day started with a lengthy bus ride to the Pisaq ruins. We were fortunate to get to hike to the top and take in the views. After the ruins, we went to lunch and had a surprise concert by two street performers that were very terrible but they provided us with a good laugh so it’s alright. Then after a two hour bus ride, we finally arrived in Q’enqo. We were greeted by a traditional welcome ceremony by the locals and embraced their culture by accepting the flower petals in our hair and joining them to dance.

After the ceremony, we began our hike through the most gorgeous terrain. During the hike, we encountered three packs of sheep, alpacas, and llamas. Upon arrival we were greeted with a warm dinner and an intense card game tournament. Once the night’s activities came to a close, we headed to our quaint cabins to rest after an exhausting day.

Authors: Phia Smith and Alex George

Thursday July 19, 2018

Today… we woke up to the delicious familiarity of pancakes and hot chocolate. Due to the unusual rain that occurred, we waited for the weather to pass and in the meantime played Qenqo (a card game). After an hour wait, we began to make our way to the lagoon and pick up trash. And there was a lot of it. Unfortunately we made it only less than halfway, an hour walks in, when it started sleeting. In the dry season. We raced back fearing hypothermia as our bodies became numb! However, slowly but surely we made it to the lodge and changed into dry and warm clothes.

Then we gathered for lunch and after had free time. Some played soccer, and others rushed to see the llamas down at the lagoon. Then we were greeted by the locals who allowed us to take photos of them while they sold their traditional Peruvian textiles. After that, we broke into mentor groups and discussed our time spent so far. Then to break the seriousness we played the game Mafia. It was intense, long, and competitive. Then we all broke out into free time and either wrote in journals or enjoyed the views of stars outside. As we took pictures we also enjoyed s’mores by the warm fire and listened to music.

Author: Kenzie Fowler and Beth Winterholler

Monday July 23, 2018

Today we got up at our hotel super early and loaded up a bus set for Machu Picchu. Around 8:00 we arrived at the site. We had a guide named Will who took us around Machu Picchu and taught us lots about the history of the Incas and Machu Picchu. Did you know at the time over 1000 people lived at Machu Picchu?

After that, we had lunch and free time until 4:00. Then, we got on the PeruRail and took the train to the town of Ollantaytambo. From there we took a bus back to home base and arrived there a little after dinner time. Finally, we went to bed.

Authors: Christian Iversen and Drew Fehr

Tuesday July 24, 2018

We had a bit of a rough start with multiple people feeling under the weather, but those who felt up to it went to service. We began putting up and repainting the tire sculptures at the new school. While there, we went through some challenges, based on whether the clouds were blocking the sun or not. We then came back to homebase to enjoy a delicious meal of lentils and rice.

We got to go back down to Cuzco for more churros and a quick demonstration of photo prints at our photographer instructor’s studio. We also got ice cream and headed again to the San Pedro market.

After making some final purchases at the market, we got on the bus back to home base in Chinchero for dinner. Our meal was followed with a surprise party where we all enjoyed a dulce de leche-filled cake in honor of Mary’s fifteenth birthday.

To celebrate her Quinceañera in true Peruvian fashion, Mary took the first bite out of the whole cake before it was cut. We finished the night by watching an episode of Chef’s Table, featuring a chef who takes his inspiration from the diverse cultures and ecosystems of Peru, in anticipation for our cooking lesson we’d be having the next afternoon.

Authors: Jai Moore-Spann, Eden Szydlowski, Mary Vincent

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Tuesday June 19, 2018

Arrival day! All of our 14 students arrived to Cusco today and we had a beautiful one hour drive to our home base in Chinchero! All of the students were very excited to get to know each other and are really looking forward to photographing the spectacular landscapes and communities of Peru! We had a short orientation to get to know the staff, home base, and Peruvian culture. Looking forward to getting started tomorrow after some much-needed rest!

-Jenna DeLaurentis (mentor)

Wednesday June 20, 2018

Day 2 was our first full day in Peru! First thing after breakfast, we took the bus to our service site in a small village about 20 minutes away. The students were all well-rested and excited to learn more about their service projects.

First, we arrived at a primary school where the children greeted us with handmade bracelets! The Peruvian students talked and played volleyball/soccer with the GLA students and everyone was having such a nice time learning about each others’ cultures and countries! Next, we took a quick walk to our other service site. At the site, a new school was built that the children will be moving to from the old school. Our job as GLA students is to help construct a greenhouse on the school grounds that the school and community can use to grow their own fruits and vegetables! After service orientation, we headed back to home-base for lunch and a quick rest.

In the afternoon, Diego, our photography instructor, came to home-base and gave a lesson on some basic aspects of photography. We then headed out to the field and walked to a textile market in Chinchero, where the students learned how traditional Peruvian textiles are made!

In the evening, we had a few activities and also had our first photo presentation! The students were asked to submit one of their favorite photos that they had either taken previously or in Peru. Then they were given the opportunity to present their photo to the group! It was an excited way to view everyone’s unique photography styles.

Overall, it was an exciting day in Peru! The students are beyond excited to start working at the service site in the morning.

-Jenna DeLaurentis (mentor)

Friday June 22, 2018

Yesterday, we made adobe bricks. For those who are not aware of what adobe bricks are, they are simply a mixture of mud and clay, mixed with Andean grass in order to create a strong, stable and efficient substance which is later dried into bricks. Adobe, being both extremely strong and extremely cheap, is the main building material used here in the Andes. In order to create this material, we had to dig and fill a mud pit, in which clay was already present due to the geological structure of the Peruvian highlands. For the next hour, we treaded repeatedly through the mud in order to create a soft, moldable clay-like substance. After adding the grass in our mixture, we molded it in to bricks, after which we left them to dry for the next twenty days.

-by Emilien Panczuk

Saturday June 23, 2018

Today our group traveled into Cusco to explore the beautiful city and see all the amazing colors and sights! We started out at an archeological site called Sacsayhuaman and got to see the amazing spread of buildings in Cusco from up above! Then we ventured down into the city on foot and ended up in the San Pedro Market in the center of the city. Today is the winter solstice celebration for the Peruvian people so the streets were packed with locals dressed in the colorful traditional garb, dancing, singing, eating and laughing.

At every turn was a local women selling some sort of fresh fruit, juice, or meat and the smells were mouth watering. At the market itself there was so much to look at and buy the immensity of it was overwhelming. Anything you could possibly think of was sold there from alpaca sweaters to pig heads!! All of us got to practice our Spanish with the locals and buy amazing souvenirs. After the long day we are all ready for a good nights rest. And also I had a very good pickle.

-by Kayden Barker

Sunday June 24 through Tuesday June 26, 2018

Qenqo: A Once In a Lifetime Experience, by Abbey Martichenko:

After spending a few days in the High Andean Community Qenqo, I have realized that the true experience of travel lies in the hidden wonders of the world.

It is one thing to be tourist in a new place as you travel to all the places you’ve heard of before. However, when you are taken to a place that is seemingly devoid of the rest of the world the richness of travel becomes apparent. Qenqo was not simply a destination that can be checked off of the list. Instead, it was an experience that reminded us of the power of nature, companionship, and simplicity.

After taking a bus ride farther and farther into the amazing Andean mountains, we finally reached the cabins that we would call our temporary home. Without diving into extensive detail of the unbelievable beauty that surrounded us, it felt as if we had been dropped into another world. A deep blue lagoon was nestled in between towering mountains; mountains we would climb over the next few days. Hills and land stretched out as far as we could see. While the nights may have dropped down to about 35 degrees Fahrenheit, we were all distracted by the sky full of stars that shone over the beautiful lagoon.

Our time in Qenqo consisted of service work in the community, hiking up and down mountains, traditional ceremonies, and candlelit card games. We were introduced to a community, culture, and way of life that was starkly different than what we considered “normal”. Yet, as we’ve come to realize over the course of our trip, normal is irrelevant in the grand scheme of such a diverse world.

However, without our phones, showers, and heat to warm us at night we were able to dive into other aspects of living that have become far too rare. We were constantly outside, talking with each other, and became less concerned with our appearances as the days went on. Suddenly the simplicity of our living situation in Qenqo seemed to make it so enriching.

I will take away so many things from my short time in this community. I will always remember the welcome the Qenqo community gave to us, the unbelievable work ethic of the people, the wonder of the mountains, and that unforgettable lagoon.

I’m grateful for the pictures I have to remember my time here, but I know nothing can compare to the once in a lifetime experience that Qenqo was.

Wednesday July 4, 2018

We made it! The expedition to Machu Picchu was a success! Our three day trip was spent with one night in Ollantaytambo and the second night in Aguas Calientes. The hotels were a nice change of scenery and both towns were more touristy than our home base in Chinchero. Much shopping was done and many a fools were consumed. The train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes was the most majestic and scenic ride of my life. It was so beautiful seeing the green covered mountains outside every window.

Our walk up to Machu Picchu was much warmer than what we are used to here in Chinchero. We spent a total of about 3 hours hiking around the ruins. Our hike ended with the buffet of the century in Aguas Calientes, where all of us had more than a few platefuls. A well-deserved rest met us at the end of the day after our train and bus ride back to Chinchero.

-by Alyson Hagen

Thursday July 5, 2018

Hola! Hope everyone had a great, fun-filled 4th of July! Our 4th out in Peru was actually a lot of fun (which made us all very happy since we weren’t able to party out back in the US). We went to the school and saw all of the incredible, fun, energetic, loving kids and got to teach them more English and play games with them as well. At the school we also ended up playing the Spanish Service Adventure GLA group in a few games of volleyball. It was a lot of fun to connect with a different group that also consists of fun kids. Going to the school and spending time with the kids will never disappoint. Once you start to connect with them, you never want to leave them. Once we got back to home base we had another learning session with our photography mentor, Diego, and learned about editing techniques. Later that night we had a very, unexpected surprise awaiting us. The local staff here planned a 4th of July celebration for us! There was cake, hot chocolate, glow sticks, fireworks, a bonfire, and some good ol’ classic American music. Not one of us was let down by the incredible staff that we got here and we are all grateful to have the best staff we could have asked for.

Author: Cole Rawsky
Photos by Molly Stanfield, Cole Rawsky, and Sam Slatcher

Saturday July 7, 2018

Yesterday our day in Chinchero started with our photo exhibition. In the morning we put together all our 3 best photos & hung them on a board to show the people in the town. At first everyone was pretty skeptical about people coming & looking at our work but many people did show up & admire what we have been doing. It was such a nice feeling having the people look at your work & actually like it.

Today we had our cooking class with Oscar our chef. Everyone got together & helped prepare the quinoa chaufa. Everyone got to participate in either cutting the food up or preparing the avocado dip. It was so amazing to see what they use & how they do it here in Peru. Such an awesome experience i will never forget.

Author: Gabby Packer

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Friday July 14, 2018

We all made it!

Namaste! Namaste is the word to say hello in Hindi. Today, after eating plentiful amounts of peanut butter and plum jellied toast, we learned many helpful phrases in Hindi. Little did we know we would need these phrases down in the market a little more than a mile away.

At the market, the ladies were happy to stop by a clothing store to buy traditional indian clothing such as saris and suits in all different colors. Once they had one picked a fancy fabric, they walked across the street to get measurements taken of themselves.

When all that was over, everyone got to explore the market a little more before heading back to home base on a long, and once again steep hike. After about an hour of resting time and showering, everyone sat down for a dinner of pasta, garlic bread, and green beans. A group circle commenced for the official itinerary overview and the final health checks. Finally, everyone was off to their rooms for a peaceful night of rest. Shubh ratri!

-by Addie V by Fiona Jerman

Sunday July 15, 2018

Nameste Families:

After an incredible breakfast consiting of boiled eggs and toast, we trecked to the Dalai Lama’s temple where we not only learned about the history and struggles of Tibetan refugees but also about the origin of the Dalai Lama and his teachings. Then, we journeyed to a Buddhist temple to perform a kora, a walking circumbulation around a sacred site. On the way to the temple, we witnessed the beautiful scenery of Dharamasla and stopped by a memorial of those who have self-immulated in protest of Chinese oppression. After the kora, we all went on a shopping spree and almost got killed by a couple monkeys (pro tip: don’t smile at the monkeys…also, don’t try to get pictures #rabiesfree), then we returned to home base where we rested for a short period before eating a wonderful dinner, consisting of rice, roasted potatoes, chick pea curry, and chapati. Later, we had our first photojournalism session where we learned about the history of photography. Then we concluded with a team building exercise and an introduction to mentor group’s.

Tomorrow, we’ll the visit the areas we’ll be teaching children and beautifying daycare facilities.

– Eddie & Shanti

Monday July 16, 2018

Today was another fun and exciting day spent in Dharamsala, India. After starting the morning with a delicious breakfast consisting of French toast and eggs, we headed off to a tour of the placements. Although it was a four mile trek in total, and parts of it were quite grueling, we enjoyed visiting the placements so much that our imaginations began to spark about the projects we would be doing there. Adding to our excitement was being able to meet, play with and take pictures with the cute little kids that we were excited to get to know better.

Along the way back to homebase, we stopped to take pictures for our photography assignment which was one close-up and one landscape picture. By the time we made it back to Clouds End Villa, all of us were so famished that we were ecstatic to hear that there was an amazing lunch set out for us. Burrito-like rolls with a curry twist, french fries, and lassi turned out to be many people’s favorite meal up to that point . Afterwards we went to our second photojournalism session of the trip where Aavrit taught us everything we need to know about aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Continuing on after a thirty minute break, we assembled with our mentor groups during which we shared a story of a hardship we’ve overcome. Let’s just say tears were shed. Lots of them.

After that amazing bonding experience, we met with our placement groups and started to chart our project plans and the materials needed for them. Then it was dinner time!

After enjoying rice, potatoes, and lentils, we followed with post-dinner activities that were both serious and enjoyable. Starting with a discussion given by Chris about the ethics of photography and volunteerism, we then had an insightful conversation reflecting on the intentions of certain photographs and the ways we should use them to tell a story.

Ending the night with an awesome and entertaining activity put on by group leaders, Naomi and Maddie, we played an interesting game in which the whole group was split into four teams and in each round the groups would be given a category and a letter (ex: food and E). They then were tasked with writing down as many things as they could think of that fit that category and also started with that letter. The group who had the most items written down won the round. After five intense rounds, group three won!

Day four was a success!

Naomi Deokule (author)
Maddie (Madeleine) Hay

Tuesday July 17, 2018

After Nelson burnt his tongue on steaming hot chai and Christian, along with the rest of the gang, started our day with a delicious breakfast prepared by Ponku and Amet, we headed out to our first day of placements. Anganwadis (government-funded daycares) are where we were to start work straight away as we began to sand down walls in order to prepare them to paint. When we needed a break, we played with the young children at those daycares. After a short break and some lunch, we went to the Norbulingka Institute. A place where the Tibetan culture is saved through arts. It was eye opening to see how hard they work and how intricate that work is. Something we never would have thought about if only seeing the final product. After touring around, grabbing a quick snack and taking some wild portraits of Lit (one of our local team leaders), we headed back to homebase for dinner, a photojournalism lesson and a game of chair basketball that would make Olympians sweat.

Game on!
Nelson & Christian

*Photos for July 17 by Aavrit Bagga (Photographer – Local Program Staff)

Wednesday July 18, 2018

Of the two of us, Haley was among the lucky ones still waking up at 6:30 AM from the time change while Angelina (and most of the rest) collectively groaned at the 6:15 AM wakeup call (or knock) we were in charge of getting done. Well….maybe not quite so long of a groan for Alex and Haley as the two of us got an early morning giggle when one of the wakeup calls resulted in Shanti, one of the boys from our program, opening the door with a comically aggravated face.

Eating a basic breakfast while half asleep at 6:45 AM, we made our way in the early morning sunlight through the sometimes challenging incline and decline of streets and stairs to the Men Tsee Kang Monastery. Once there and, after having removed our shoes and filled into a room covered in foam mats, we expected to be led in a soothing morning meditation. What we got instead was a PowerPoint presentation and monk in front of a microphone. Our expected morning of tranquility in this beautiful little town built into a Himalayan mountainside turned into a long hour of trying to pay attention to a presentation on what we thought we’d be doing instead of actually doing it. But hey – at least we’re now trained to lead sessions with our family and friends when we get back home, right?

After our “meditation session”, we walked to our placements where we teach and play with local children while at the same time beautifying (painting, decorating, etc.) their schools. After that, we walked back to Clouds End Villa, our home here in India, for a lunch of delicious grilled cheese and fried rice followed by turning in our pulse checks about the GLA program before a little midday free fime.

Coming back to the main hall after hanging out all over the lush tropical grounds and giggling at Teddy, one of the Jack Russell Terriers that belongs to the king who has so generously allowed us to stay here, we listened to a lecture given by photographer Ashwini Bhatia who talked about and showed us his recent work and discussed the ethics of photojournalism.

Following a smaller dinner later that night, we had a photojournalism lesson by the photographer who is part of our leadership team, Avi, where we discussed editing our photographs and putting together our own portfolios. Finishing off the night with a successful and fun game joined in on by Prince Bambi (short for Ambi which is short for Ambikeshwar), the grandson of Raja Aditya, the fireflies told us that it was time for lights out at 10 PM.

Sweet dreams, from India,

-Haley & Angelina

*Photos for July 18 by Robin Satterwhite (GLA Mentor)

Thursday July 19, 2018

Today started just like any other day at GLA. We all woke up at 8:30 in the morning to get ready followed by eating breakfast while being told what we would be doing for the day. From there we went to our placements where we remodeled the preschool we were at while at the same time teaching and playing with the kids like we do almost every day. Making our way back to Clouds End for lunch, our next outing took us to Dolls For Tibet. None of us knew or were excited about what to expect when we got there though, upon arrival, most of us were pretty pleasantly surprised.

The dolls were adorable. Not only that but they were also all handmade. The woman who owned the business had started it for the Tibetan people, all refugees, including her artist husband. Over time Indians have also started working there more but she still has a heart for the Tibetan people so some of the dolls still go to Tibetan children. We all enjoyed the dolls and her story about how her business came to be.

We believed it to be very touching and we all bought something from her store, all of us satisfied with our purchase. So back to base we all went from there to have a little relax time before our dinner. Well, maybe not all as some of the girls and guys walked down to the Kotwili Bazaar to pick up the saris they had gotten tailored a couple days before. Then it was finally dinner time, so we ate our dinner while remenicing about the days events. After that it was lights out and another exquisite day at GLA was done.

Leaders of the Day:
Violet (author) & Lauren

*Photos by Robin Satterwhite (GLA Mentor)

Friday July 20, 2018

Hello, my name is Jeremy and my partner for Leader of the Day is Emma. Today is July 20th and it’s Friday. We woke up at our normal time today, 8:30 AM, and we had our typical breakfast of hard-boiled eggs, toast and a couple extras. When the coveted peanut butter went too-soon empty we were all sad but managed to keep on nevertheless. At 9:45 AM, we headed to our placements. I would tell you the name of mine but I can’t spell it and it would just be jumbled letters to you.

At my placement, we are busy giving our daycare center a new coat of paint. While painting, I also had about five children hanging off me, who all wanted piggyback rides. With an aching back and a little elbow grease, we managed to finish the first coat of paint.

When time to leave, we were tired and it was raining so we opted to take taxis home instead of walking. When we returned, we went on the most beautiful and extravagant sun-not-even-close-to-setting sunset photoshoot ever. Upon our return from there, we ate our typical banquet-style meal and watched a short show about a photographer followed by an attempt to watch the documentary movie: when Hari Got Married about a cab driver’s arranged marriage, though we were all very tired so most of us (including me) left to go to sleep before the end. With another great day at our backs, we rested well for the day next.

Sunday July 22, 2018

A late wake-up at 8:45 started off our 10th day of adventure. We continued the morning with our breakfast staples of toast, eggs, bananas, and chai tea. Next on the schedule was a visit to a local family farm. We got to see, taste, and smell produce growing on this farm. Lunch was served there after some rejuvenating hibiscus lemon tea followed by a warm custard with ice cream!

A fun and rainy ride back to homebase provided a stop for the few who wanted to stop for snacks. (Tim has good taste in music!) After some downtime, dinner was next and always one of the best parts of the day. Later we had the option to go see Skyscraper at the movies. Surely something not to miss and turned out to be more of a cultural expecience than expected in ways such as the #rodwytibetans cheering from the row behind us.

Our typical 10pm cerfew for lights out ran just a little late thanks to our time of return and we were all ready to crawl into our beds as soon as we got “home”, time to get rested and ready for our next day of adventure.

-Blog by Kirsten and Violet

-Photos by Robin Satterwhite

Monday July 23, 2018

Today we enjoyed our usual breakfast of toast, eggs and delicious chai (with some extras) followed by taking our long daily walk to placements. Once there, we played with children while getting our arms pulled, cheeks pinched and hair braided. Too lazy to walk back, we treated ourselves to a nice taxi ride to home base where lunch was waiting for us. After some free time, we pooled into taxis and drove past Mcleod Gange Market to see the beautiful Bagsu Falls waterfall.

Some of us opted to journey up the waterfall, a hike not everyone felt inclined to take but rather enjoy some internet time while snacking on lemon cake, noodles and strawberry smoothies that tasted like Danimals yogurt at a local cafe. Many of us bargained our way through the market from there, filling our bags with colorful pants and other souvaneers while a few stayed in the German Bakery Restaurant Coffee Bar until it was time to pile back into taxis. Once again back to home base and after some free time, we ate the baseline rice and lentils (plus a few extras) for dinner.

Mentor groups came next. Robin’s mentor group discussed various circumstances of the trip, giving each person a chance to speak, while Tim’s mentor group read a story about a man who planted one hundred trees a day for thirty-seven years after losing his family. A story to teach and inspire about being model citizens. To end the night, we played a Leader of the Day throwback game lead by us of heads-up-seven-up. A game most frequently played in elementary school.

Before bed we had some free time to sit in our rooms, hang in the garden, socialize and listen to music on the patio. Lights went out at 10 PM to regain our energy for more wonderful days in India.

The journey continues…

Written by Leaders of the Day:
Addison & Natalie

Photos by Robin Satterwhite 🐦

Also, here are some more photos from earlier in the trip that we were unable to send due to internet connectivity issues:

-Photos by Robin Satterwhite