After work we relaxed at the hotel and then met the group in the lobby to go for supper. We were going to go out to a pizzaria with live music. On our way there we stopped on front of the church in costitution park where we heard loud music and a saw a crowd of people. We wondered over and there dancing in the street lights was Micheal Jackson!! Well, a peruvian version anyways. He was the most fantastic impersonator anyone had seen. A fabulous dancer, just as good as MJ was himself. He had the outfit and even the facial expressions he had down. We stopped and watched for a bit and took a video, so when I get my hands on it, you all will get a chance to see it.
We walked three blocks to Antojitos and finally and 8 oclock we managed to sit down for dinner. Inside this place was a really nice atmosphere, pub like with wood floors and beams. Decorated with antiques such as lanterns and pots etc. We ordered a couple pizzas and soon after the band started. Most of the group got pisco sours, I however am still ify on the raw egg part of it... although it is delicious I think i will hold off for a while... the pizza was some of the best pizza I had ever tasted, others thought so too. Cristian came to meet us a while later (have I mentioned Cristian yet? Cute guy works for Arguidiandos as accountant and as our translator/chaperone) as well as Jessie (Yessie) and her sister ?Lizbeth? (I think its actually Elizabeth but is pronounced different in spanish) Jessie is our real translator, Cristian was our substitute). we all ate pizza and listened to music. after a while the place started to fill up and there was lots of dancing going on. We got up to danced and tried to salsa lol and had a ton of fun. Two peruvian men in suits smoking cigarettes asked to dance with lizbeth and I and I got smoke in face for the longest song ever.... :( Yes, they still smoke in the bars down here. I was tired so I went back to the hotel when we left. The others went to another bar with a group of people we met at Antojitos. Saturday night, there will be more dancing and pisco sours to come...
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Day 4: Hugo and the pisco sours
The next day we went back to the work site and finished laying stones. It was pretty much the same day as the last. Afterwards again, we cleaned up, relaxed, and met up for dinner. this one was especially special :) A few days ago we met a man in the lobby named Hugo. He started chatting with Nicole and we found that he was fluent in english, and from a nearby village but was staying in Huancayo for a few days. Hugo is about 70 years old, well traveled, well educated, and about the friendliest person you'll ever meet. So we invited him for dinner with us to La Lenas. During dinner he bought us a round of Pisco sours. Pisco sour is a famous Peruvian drink. And a must have when visiting Peru. The drink is made using 3 ounce of pisco, which is a white brandy, lime juice, egg whites and bitters (whatever that is) and blended until frothy. Its really delicious and I intend on bringing home some pisco and learning how to make them. P.S. Pisco sour makes you really silly really fast :) We learned a lot about Hugo. He worked as an engineer but is now retired. The village where he lives are full of very intellectual people and half the town has been abandoned because when people finish school they travel and often dont come back. I guess thats what happens when the majority of the people are intellectuals and not many are working class. Hugo was never married, the woman he going to marry was killed in an accident when he was about 25. He claims he was never married because he had no time for marriage, but I think its because he was heartbroken. He has three sisters who lives in Lima. He said the one sister is crazy and he really admires her husband because he puts up with her. She showers many times a day and changes her clothes many times a day too. But apparently is borderline genious. The other sister has a really controlling husband, and the other is boring, she doesn't ever want to leave the house. After dinner we had so much energy from pisco sours that we decided to roam around and see the city and the markets at night. Hugo came with us to show us where to buy cheap phonecards because on the street sometimes they sell phoney ones. He also showed me where to buy postcards at the post office. And then we checked out a couple stores. He said young people give him so much energy and he felt so good hanging out with us. And that we had good vibes, he said. lol. He was also a big fan of the Beatles in his day :) I like that tid bit.
The next day while standing on the corner of the market with Jeff, Nicole, and Jamie, we ran into Hugo. He was going to get a phone card. So we all walked together. Its so nice to have a friend here and someone you can trust. He is wonderful to take shopping because he knows what is a good price to pay and can translate so well. And he is coming dancing with us Saturday night! Hugo really reminds me of my grampa, he looks like him when he smiles. He leaves for Lima on monday.. we will miss him he goes...
The next day while standing on the corner of the market with Jeff, Nicole, and Jamie, we ran into Hugo. He was going to get a phone card. So we all walked together. Its so nice to have a friend here and someone you can trust. He is wonderful to take shopping because he knows what is a good price to pay and can translate so well. And he is coming dancing with us Saturday night! Hugo really reminds me of my grampa, he looks like him when he smiles. He leaves for Lima on monday.. we will miss him he goes...
Day 3: working in Huancayo
We started worked early this morning after eating breakfast at the Coqui cafe. We got there and met a man named Augusto. He is assistant to the foreman, Alejandro. And brother in law. He showed us how to ix up cement and lay the stones on the walkway. I can get used to this!! It was really fun and very satisfying. It was similar to weeding a garden for me, very therapudic and can work on it all day :) The whole group ended up working on the walkway, Shay put some music on and away we went. On the property there is a little house lived in by a small family. They look after the place when no one is there. the woman is lizette and her little girl is Kimberly. not sure of the husbands name, we have not met him. But lizette and Kimberly are there every day. There is a tap that comes out of a pipe in the ground and Everyday Lizette and Kimberly come out to wash the dishes in a little wash basin. Afterwards she washes up the clothes. She sits on a little paint can and Kimberly plays nearby and gets into trouble. She is 15 months old. The place where I go and cool off is inthe stairwell of the school, and is right next to where Lizette does her washing. Kimberly wared up to Karin and I in no time. we love to take breaks from working to play with her. Sometime in the late morning Lizette has a visitor come by with a little boy named Isaac. They sit together all day while the kids play together. Isaac is about 2 1/2 I think. Karin and I played ball with the both of them. Isaac is sure a good little soccer player! He can kick that ball better then I can! Little Kimberly is still to little to kick so mom helps her. But she rolls the ball really good :)
At noon, Nancy brings us lunch and we eat in the admin building. She brings fresh buns, chicken, tomato, lettuce, avocado, rice, tea and inca cola. It is a little bit different everyday but mostly its that. we eat and relax out of the sun. about mid day the sun gets very hot. I dont think it feels any more hot then home but the truth is, if I were outside at home working all day in the direct sunlight It would be just as unbareable. I know that the sun is much stronger here so I did make sure to wear sunscreen. But at home, it seems I can be outside for a few days in a row without sunscreen and not even tan. Most people likely burn in one day out in the sun. So I thought if I wore sunscreen, by the end of three weeks I might have a nice tan. But it only took half a day to get a good tan, and a burn on the back of my neck and shoulders. Even with sunscreen on. So by day two I wore long sleeves and a hood.
We only work until 2 because the sun is so hot. So after work we have free time to roam around, shop, eat, sleep, do whatever we want. We meet at 6 or 7 for supper. The whole group decided to check out the artisan market that Karin and I stumbled upon the first day. Karin and I decided to go down some of the streets to explore a little further. There a lot of street vendors, some with food or candy or, whatever really. We walked by a little place and could smell something really delicous so i thought I would investigate. Right there in the doorway of this little shop was a stove top of some sort with a pan cooking up something wrapped in corn husks. They smelled so good!! I didnt know what they were but I knew they cost only one soles (less the 50 cents) cant hurt to try it for one soles. This sweet little old lady came out to wrap one on up for me. Once I walked away I opened it up and saw that is was the most delicious warm fresh piece of cornbread. I walked back to ask her what it was called and that it was "muy bien". She called it Humitas. which seems to be a version of the tamale.
That evening we went to eat in a place called Donatellos. Pizza and Pasta. I ate a veg pizza and it was delicious. I have to say, we a very well fed here. And are very very lucky. When going into a third world country you never know what you may get. But here we have a clean hotel room, great food and friendly people. I had a little bit of wine with supper.. and it didnt mix well with the altitude...
At noon, Nancy brings us lunch and we eat in the admin building. She brings fresh buns, chicken, tomato, lettuce, avocado, rice, tea and inca cola. It is a little bit different everyday but mostly its that. we eat and relax out of the sun. about mid day the sun gets very hot. I dont think it feels any more hot then home but the truth is, if I were outside at home working all day in the direct sunlight It would be just as unbareable. I know that the sun is much stronger here so I did make sure to wear sunscreen. But at home, it seems I can be outside for a few days in a row without sunscreen and not even tan. Most people likely burn in one day out in the sun. So I thought if I wore sunscreen, by the end of three weeks I might have a nice tan. But it only took half a day to get a good tan, and a burn on the back of my neck and shoulders. Even with sunscreen on. So by day two I wore long sleeves and a hood.
We only work until 2 because the sun is so hot. So after work we have free time to roam around, shop, eat, sleep, do whatever we want. We meet at 6 or 7 for supper. The whole group decided to check out the artisan market that Karin and I stumbled upon the first day. Karin and I decided to go down some of the streets to explore a little further. There a lot of street vendors, some with food or candy or, whatever really. We walked by a little place and could smell something really delicous so i thought I would investigate. Right there in the doorway of this little shop was a stove top of some sort with a pan cooking up something wrapped in corn husks. They smelled so good!! I didnt know what they were but I knew they cost only one soles (less the 50 cents) cant hurt to try it for one soles. This sweet little old lady came out to wrap one on up for me. Once I walked away I opened it up and saw that is was the most delicious warm fresh piece of cornbread. I walked back to ask her what it was called and that it was "muy bien". She called it Humitas. which seems to be a version of the tamale.
That evening we went to eat in a place called Donatellos. Pizza and Pasta. I ate a veg pizza and it was delicious. I have to say, we a very well fed here. And are very very lucky. When going into a third world country you never know what you may get. But here we have a clean hotel room, great food and friendly people. I had a little bit of wine with supper.. and it didnt mix well with the altitude...
Friday, August 13, 2010
Day 2: Jobsite
On our first day in Huancayo, we took two taxis to go see the jobsite. we weren't able to work yet because we all needed a day to aclimatize. So we rode through city center and out into the outskirts where the road turned to dirt and rocks, and fewer and fewer buildings. The Jobsite is in a farming community, where the houses are few and each have a plot of land, and is not very developed. Pigs, sheep, cows, goats, roosters, chickens, and plenty of stray dogs. All of the properties are gated and locked. High dirt walls with rocks along the top and broken glass bottles on top of that. (to keep people from jumping over) Inside there are three buildings, one is the school, one is the administration building, and the other is the home of the woman who watches after the place. The school is beautiful. Unfinished it stands, painted blue with windows and steel doors. Two levels and 6 class rooms. Let me tell you a bit about the project and host partner...
The "JM Arguedianos" training center is an institution that has been dedicated since 1984, working for the children's rights of Junin and Hauncavelica. During some years ago the government institutionalized two programs for trying to protect childres, one of these programs is DEMUNAS (local place to defend children's rights)and the other one is MUNICIPIOS ESCOLARES (municiple leaders who try to defend children's rights inside the school). The first of this program is applied in districts and provinces of Junin and the second one is applied in all the elementry and high schools, both are being converted in public politics of Peru.
Project:
The project, "productive school for working children and teenagers" intends to address the problem of the high precentage (40%) of children and teenagers that are excluded from the educational systems due to economic and cultural factors, and gender discrimination.
Data presented by the ministry of education indicates that of the entire student population from ages 0-16 in our country, 34% live in big cities like Huancayo. Of these, 60% are the migrants from the rural communities surrounding Huancayo and other regions. These students arrived in thes area as a product of the political chaos, with their parents being unable to find work. this in turn has forced all the family members to work as street sellers (newspaper, candy, market sellers, house cleaning workers etc.).
Many on the working children and working teenagers do not finish their studies due to the following reasons: Educational institutions with flexible class schedules do not exist in the city of Huancayo. the majority of these working kids/teenagers work during the morning through to early aftrnoon, making it impossible for them to arrive in time for classes. As well, the subjects taught at school are unrelated to thier "jobs" causing students to lose intrest in, and drop the their classes. The cost of their education is so high that neither the parents nor the children can afford it.
The project intends to cover the majority of working children population for which we have arranged for the school to be flexible regarding class schedules. The students may come to class when they have finished their work activities and in some cases, classes will be held on saturday and sunday to accommodate to the students needs. The curriculum will not be based on the official studies program only, but also on courses to reinforce working activities. these course will be focused on topics which the students do not feel strong at. We do not want to change their work activities because they already have been working at them for a long time and have developed the necessary skills to preform these jobs; what the school will provide is the training that allows students to preform their jobs more efficiently and with the opportunity for increased income. The overall aim is to promote the needs of working children/teenagers of Huancayo for access to basic productive education. This would allow the rights to equality, identity and education without exclusion.
I am so pleased to be a part of this project. Due to a lack of funds and support the school has been an ongoing project for the last three years. The students are still unable to use the school. It was an extremely overwhelming feeling walking onto the property, its sort of hard to describe... I understand and can feel the passion that has gone into building this school for the working children of Huancayo, and its hard to accept the fact that we will not see the completion of it before we leave. And will not know for how much longer the project will go on for before it is finished. Tomorrow, we will go back and start work on the school.
The "JM Arguedianos" training center is an institution that has been dedicated since 1984, working for the children's rights of Junin and Hauncavelica. During some years ago the government institutionalized two programs for trying to protect childres, one of these programs is DEMUNAS (local place to defend children's rights)and the other one is MUNICIPIOS ESCOLARES (municiple leaders who try to defend children's rights inside the school). The first of this program is applied in districts and provinces of Junin and the second one is applied in all the elementry and high schools, both are being converted in public politics of Peru.
Project:
The project, "productive school for working children and teenagers" intends to address the problem of the high precentage (40%) of children and teenagers that are excluded from the educational systems due to economic and cultural factors, and gender discrimination.
Data presented by the ministry of education indicates that of the entire student population from ages 0-16 in our country, 34% live in big cities like Huancayo. Of these, 60% are the migrants from the rural communities surrounding Huancayo and other regions. These students arrived in thes area as a product of the political chaos, with their parents being unable to find work. this in turn has forced all the family members to work as street sellers (newspaper, candy, market sellers, house cleaning workers etc.).
Many on the working children and working teenagers do not finish their studies due to the following reasons: Educational institutions with flexible class schedules do not exist in the city of Huancayo. the majority of these working kids/teenagers work during the morning through to early aftrnoon, making it impossible for them to arrive in time for classes. As well, the subjects taught at school are unrelated to thier "jobs" causing students to lose intrest in, and drop the their classes. The cost of their education is so high that neither the parents nor the children can afford it.
The project intends to cover the majority of working children population for which we have arranged for the school to be flexible regarding class schedules. The students may come to class when they have finished their work activities and in some cases, classes will be held on saturday and sunday to accommodate to the students needs. The curriculum will not be based on the official studies program only, but also on courses to reinforce working activities. these course will be focused on topics which the students do not feel strong at. We do not want to change their work activities because they already have been working at them for a long time and have developed the necessary skills to preform these jobs; what the school will provide is the training that allows students to preform their jobs more efficiently and with the opportunity for increased income. The overall aim is to promote the needs of working children/teenagers of Huancayo for access to basic productive education. This would allow the rights to equality, identity and education without exclusion.
I am so pleased to be a part of this project. Due to a lack of funds and support the school has been an ongoing project for the last three years. The students are still unable to use the school. It was an extremely overwhelming feeling walking onto the property, its sort of hard to describe... I understand and can feel the passion that has gone into building this school for the working children of Huancayo, and its hard to accept the fact that we will not see the completion of it before we leave. And will not know for how much longer the project will go on for before it is finished. Tomorrow, we will go back and start work on the school.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Day 1: Lima
I arrived at 11:50pm on sunday and was picked up by a man named Ronal and a driver. Ronal is the manager of the Casa Rodas hostel which I stayed at. He often helps out the DWC groups when they come to Peru. Very kind and charming... The Hostel was nice, very cold inside though!! its all tile floor and the windows are just glass on hinges, no frame, no screen. its kinda cool. In the morning i ate breakfast and took a cab to the bus station to meet the group. The buses were very nice big buses. which was very necessary because we had a 7 hour drive ahead of us... we winded up mountain roads and saw all sorts of villages... dwellings at the side of the road, women washing clothes in tubs outside, children playing, dogs, lots of dogs, stray and scavenging. Chickens, sheep, donkeys, pigs, cows, goats. Not a single llama!! Yet...
We all started to feel the altitude on the climb up the mountain. My face started to feel like I had a bad sunburn. I had not yet been in the sun at all. It was interesting. I started to have difficulty breathing but was overall okay.
We arrived in Huancayo at about 8pm and we met by the Arguedianos host partners, Violetta and Alejandro. Piled our luggage in the truck and walked to the Hotel. Checked in. Sleeeeep.
The altitude is funny. We are all huffing and puffing just to crawl into bed at night! heart racing, the whole works. Some have headaches and we all seem to be experiencing cold like symptoms, stuffy runny nose and sore throat. But coca tea is the key. And thankfully it is very available. In our hotle lobby for example, always hot coca tea ready to be drank. It is so helpful, tasty and addicting... go figure, haha. Not only is it good for altitude sickness but it is good for digestion.
Day 2: Huancayo
Today we slept in, went for breakfast at the Coqui Cafe next door to the hotel. Fresh made waffel and fresh juiced papaya! yum! Afterwards we were met by two lovely ladies, Fabiola, and Nancy who are part of the host partner group, Arguedianos. They took us in a cab around the city center and to the jobsite. I will talk more about the jobsite tomorrow. We went to a hat park... yes, a hat park.. Their were giant hats (used as umbrellas over the benches) in a beautiful park square with bidges and fountains. It was very unique... :) Afterward we walked around a mall, which, Im not going to lie, was really boring. I didn't come here to shop in a mall with fashions and prices the same as what I can find in Red Deer. Even though I get easily suckered in 'cause I do enjoy shopping... but I have to remind myself what things exactly I wanted to buy while in Peru... and it wasn't that. But it was helpful to learn were the supermarket was. And was, I admit, a good way to get used to the city.
Before dinner, we had some time to kill so Karin and I decided to take a little walk around city center. Got some great photos of the children chasing pigeons in the park as well as some beautiful photos of a colonial church. (will post later) We stumbled across a little artisan marketplace with beautiful andean crafts. Including of course, woven textiles and knitted sweaters. I bought my first ever alpaca sweater :) for 32 soles. Which is roughly about 15 buck cnd! Heck ya!
On the way back to the hotel I was takeing some photos of the sunset light against the church and a woman with a child stopped me and asked, foto? pointing to the child. I thought she may have been giving me a photo op for of course a small fee. (tourists tend to get that) Of course I said ok sure.. But then she handed me the baby!! and explained again, no, we want a photo of the baby with you!! For no money of course, and we both felt bad for thinking so.. So i got to hold this sweet wide eyed pudgy cheeked little peruvian baby :) Filled my heart with joy!!
We finished the day off With a good meal at a fine Restaurante! Tomorrow morning, off to the jobsite!
We all started to feel the altitude on the climb up the mountain. My face started to feel like I had a bad sunburn. I had not yet been in the sun at all. It was interesting. I started to have difficulty breathing but was overall okay.
We arrived in Huancayo at about 8pm and we met by the Arguedianos host partners, Violetta and Alejandro. Piled our luggage in the truck and walked to the Hotel. Checked in. Sleeeeep.
The altitude is funny. We are all huffing and puffing just to crawl into bed at night! heart racing, the whole works. Some have headaches and we all seem to be experiencing cold like symptoms, stuffy runny nose and sore throat. But coca tea is the key. And thankfully it is very available. In our hotle lobby for example, always hot coca tea ready to be drank. It is so helpful, tasty and addicting... go figure, haha. Not only is it good for altitude sickness but it is good for digestion.
Day 2: Huancayo
Today we slept in, went for breakfast at the Coqui Cafe next door to the hotel. Fresh made waffel and fresh juiced papaya! yum! Afterwards we were met by two lovely ladies, Fabiola, and Nancy who are part of the host partner group, Arguedianos. They took us in a cab around the city center and to the jobsite. I will talk more about the jobsite tomorrow. We went to a hat park... yes, a hat park.. Their were giant hats (used as umbrellas over the benches) in a beautiful park square with bidges and fountains. It was very unique... :) Afterward we walked around a mall, which, Im not going to lie, was really boring. I didn't come here to shop in a mall with fashions and prices the same as what I can find in Red Deer. Even though I get easily suckered in 'cause I do enjoy shopping... but I have to remind myself what things exactly I wanted to buy while in Peru... and it wasn't that. But it was helpful to learn were the supermarket was. And was, I admit, a good way to get used to the city.
Before dinner, we had some time to kill so Karin and I decided to take a little walk around city center. Got some great photos of the children chasing pigeons in the park as well as some beautiful photos of a colonial church. (will post later) We stumbled across a little artisan marketplace with beautiful andean crafts. Including of course, woven textiles and knitted sweaters. I bought my first ever alpaca sweater :) for 32 soles. Which is roughly about 15 buck cnd! Heck ya!
On the way back to the hotel I was takeing some photos of the sunset light against the church and a woman with a child stopped me and asked, foto? pointing to the child. I thought she may have been giving me a photo op for of course a small fee. (tourists tend to get that) Of course I said ok sure.. But then she handed me the baby!! and explained again, no, we want a photo of the baby with you!! For no money of course, and we both felt bad for thinking so.. So i got to hold this sweet wide eyed pudgy cheeked little peruvian baby :) Filled my heart with joy!!
We finished the day off With a good meal at a fine Restaurante! Tomorrow morning, off to the jobsite!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Destination: Peru
The flight was long and uncomfortable. But I did pass through American immigration without any hassle and my bags were checked all the way through, so there was no hassel there either.Two of my flights were like flying in a sardine can... minus the smell, thank God. But the flight from dallas to miami was nice. we got a substitute plane for some reason.. it was a 777. it was larger and more comfortable seats. we had our own tvs with movies and video games!! but my controler didn't work so I couldn't play tetris :( I sat beside an American Eagle airline captain who was returning home to west beach. And one point we got to talking.. He asked me if I was from Dallas and I said no, Im from Alberta. And he asked if Alberta was in BC. I said no.. Its beside BC... we're neighbors! and after a few seconds of silence ( and here's where I think i embarrassed him) he asked if Alberta was a province and I replied, "yes." He said "sorry I don't know all the Canadian provinces... you probably don't know all the states..." and I said, "actually I do.... and the capitals..." Sorry captain. Its not normal though.. most canadians probably don't, Im just a nerd. Its funny.. on all flights you sit next to someone for hours and you dont' say a word to eachother until you start to land... at least in my case. Each and everyone one of those people have a story. Maybe their journey has just begun or maybe it is finally over... On the first flight I sat next to a man from Guatamala. We chatted for a bit while descending and talk about where each of us were going. He mentioned how long his flight would be but said after, "It doesn't matter though.. cause I get to go to my home" and he looked so peaceful when he said "home". Isn't that such a nice feeling though? going home? Although Im so excited to be here, I still can't wait to get home...
Saturday, August 7, 2010
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