Day 5 was partly spent assisting in the production of concrete and cleaning up the site in Nuevo Esperanza where we have spent the majority of our time during the week in Lima (a close second is spent sitting in traffic). The other part of Friday was spent with children; giving out presents and our clothes that had been washed by local mothers.
The children were very appreciative of the work done on their elementary school, and many hugs an 'muchas gracias' were given to their new Canadian friends. Near the end of the day we sat down for a meeting with the principal of the school and the leader of IFEJANT, dwc's host partner organization in Lima, Peru. We gained some additional understanding of the lives of the children after hearing of the work and learn program at the school that teaches the working children work skills as well.
After our meeting we were invited to a classroom where we received key chains made by the children and traditional Peruvian blankets. Then we were entertained by a children's dance and an entertaining performance by Michael and an older local woman, followed by a group dance party. It was wonderful to hear the children express their gratitude towards our help and we left feeling very appreciated.
Overall our time in Lima was fantastic. It was not a holiday, but an eye opening experience to be immersed daily into the culture and lives of true Peruvians. We worked hard but it was worth every bucket of concrete, shovel of dirt, and row of bricks to be able to gain insight into the impoverished areas very few westerners ever see. The children are unbelievably talented and beautiful, and only further enhanced our time in Lima. From what we have seen of this diverse and colorful city, it has certainly enticed us all to go further into exploring Peru and consider participating in future DWC volunteer experiences.
Tony, Mike, Graham, Kathleen, Rob, Sara, Anita, Phil, Dana, Doug and Vic
DWC Team
Lima, Peru October 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Lima, Peru: An eye-opening experience
Hola Amigos!
Day 4 of our volunteer experience was much less physically demanding and very enjoyable - but productive in a different way than previous days. While Tony stayed at the school work site fixing up the fine details on the stairs to the second floor, the rest of us on invitation visited some homes of the families whose children attend the school. Bringing flowers to accept the families' hospitality, we soon realized we had underestimated what we would see. To summarize the experience, it was nothing short of eye-opening. The level of poverty present in their community made us all reflect on and appreciate the day to day luxuries we often take for granted. However the children are always smiling and happy both at school and at home, and were proud of their homes, trying to drag us to visit their families too. It was a humbling experience, and the gratitude expressed to us from the mothers and fathers was a blessing, affirmation that assisting in building this school is truly worth all the work we have done.
After we returned and ate some lunch, we continued to add to the brick walls we have been working on all week. We are becoming very skilled and efficient brick-layers! Next on our schedule was play time, where we played assorted relay games and (of course) soccer on teams with the children. They are fantastic 'football' players, and have so much energy! Candy and pencils were handed out at the end, and exhausted we headed to the hotel once again.
As we look toward our last day with bittersweet feelings I will say ciao for now.
Dana Schreiner
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Day 4 of our volunteer experience was much less physically demanding and very enjoyable - but productive in a different way than previous days. While Tony stayed at the school work site fixing up the fine details on the stairs to the second floor, the rest of us on invitation visited some homes of the families whose children attend the school. Bringing flowers to accept the families' hospitality, we soon realized we had underestimated what we would see. To summarize the experience, it was nothing short of eye-opening. The level of poverty present in their community made us all reflect on and appreciate the day to day luxuries we often take for granted. However the children are always smiling and happy both at school and at home, and were proud of their homes, trying to drag us to visit their families too. It was a humbling experience, and the gratitude expressed to us from the mothers and fathers was a blessing, affirmation that assisting in building this school is truly worth all the work we have done.
After we returned and ate some lunch, we continued to add to the brick walls we have been working on all week. We are becoming very skilled and efficient brick-layers! Next on our schedule was play time, where we played assorted relay games and (of course) soccer on teams with the children. They are fantastic 'football' players, and have so much energy! Candy and pencils were handed out at the end, and exhausted we headed to the hotel once again.
As we look toward our last day with bittersweet feelings I will say ciao for now.
Dana Schreiner
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Lima, Peru: Hard work and good company
Our second and third day was a little demanding but this group, it seems, would not have it any other way. The skills that were displayed were amazing. Abdios, the site foreman, begins the day by explaining what has to be done (all in Spanish) and then we turn to Doug for the real directions. Doug and Sara make up the 'A' for laying bricks, Anita and her mate Pedro make up another team while Sara, Kathleen and the rest of the 'Boys' spend most of the time giving each orders about how things should really go!!
While we work the kids from the school, like kids everywhere, want to hang around and watch skilled craftsmen and women work. These kids who make up some of the 250 pupils at the school have the largest brown eyes and eye lashes my wife would die for. They are keen to know our names and always seem to be laughing. Kathleen is determined to have them clean up around the school and even bribes them with candies when they fill their respective bags. Of course some of the kids have figured it out that if they get garbage from the already filled bags (it's kind of a Peruvian recycling plan) they still get a candy.
Tony Dufficy
DWC Team Leader
Lima, Peru October 2011
While we work the kids from the school, like kids everywhere, want to hang around and watch skilled craftsmen and women work. These kids who make up some of the 250 pupils at the school have the largest brown eyes and eye lashes my wife would die for. They are keen to know our names and always seem to be laughing. Kathleen is determined to have them clean up around the school and even bribes them with candies when they fill their respective bags. Of course some of the kids have figured it out that if they get garbage from the already filled bags (it's kind of a Peruvian recycling plan) they still get a candy.
Tony Dufficy
DWC Team Leader
Lima, Peru October 2011
Lima, Peru: Our first day on the project
We were taken from our hotel to the headquarters of the partner operation for our project. Each day our rep, Señora Luz, from IFEJANT, comes to the hotel and travels with us to the site. We stop off at the Lima Walmart every morning where Team Leader, Tony buys our big jugs of water for the day. We travel, for an hour each way, in a 1980's 12 passenger van that is expertly driven in the beyond chaotic traffic of Lima by our driver and his wife who navigates out the side window. At the headquarters we were introduced to our young and accomplished interpreter, D'Angelo, who will be with us a few days. We were thanked by one of the board members and provided an orientation of the schedule before we drove to the school. The school is on the outskirts of Lima in a place named Neuevo Esperanza. The school is on the side of a hill/rock and presently has about 6 classrooms full of the most happy and darling children. We were taken through 3 of the classrooms to be introduced to the children. Their interests were what our names are and how old we are. Sara lies about her age at home and keeps it up in Lima! They smile when they hear that Phil is Dana's father and when Graham tells them, in Spanish, that Mike is his 'padre'. Graham is very helpful with the translation from his Spanish classes and travels. We learned in a grade 1 class that Peru has a RAT that takes your teeth instead of the toothfairy. His name is Rocotta! After the tour it was down to work. Michael is the fashionista on the site in his black, denim man pries and stylin' t-shirts. Days into the job the quips keep coming!
Our work entails construction of the second floor of the San Jose Obrero School. Doug's construction expertise has been appreciated by our foreman Abdios and when in doubt we qll defer to Doug. Classes operate in our full on construction site with the children running about the danger zone; the sounds of their singing, voices and smiles is definitely motivating. The upper floor has no safety barriers, rebar poking out every where and we are fully exposed to the sun all day. When you pause from your work on the top of this building and look out you see the children's homes terraced up many hundreds of feet. A larger home is about 20x40; most are smaller. The work on this day was preparing for and pouring concrete slab and stairs. We worked an hour longer to 6pm to try to get it finished while the concrete machine was on site. The process was primitive and exhausting but luckily aided by a team of 7 locals that carried tins of concrete on their shoulders, along side our guys, up and down a steep ramp to the top floor. Other team members mixed the concrete, rock and Anita, Dana and Sara carried 100 buckets of water across the street for the mix. They were not dry at the end of the day. We felt very satisfied at the end of this work day to see all the concrete poured and the stairs to the floor done!!! We headed home at 6pm sunburnt, tired and dirty!
Evenings are fun. We feel good to be clean again and begin the hunt for a place to eat and 2 for 1 pisco sours!
Haste luego!
Tony, Mike, Graham, Kathleen, Rob, Sara, Anita, Phil, Dana, Doug and Vic
DWC Team Leader and Participants
Lima, Peru October 2011
Our work entails construction of the second floor of the San Jose Obrero School. Doug's construction expertise has been appreciated by our foreman Abdios and when in doubt we qll defer to Doug. Classes operate in our full on construction site with the children running about the danger zone; the sounds of their singing, voices and smiles is definitely motivating. The upper floor has no safety barriers, rebar poking out every where and we are fully exposed to the sun all day. When you pause from your work on the top of this building and look out you see the children's homes terraced up many hundreds of feet. A larger home is about 20x40; most are smaller. The work on this day was preparing for and pouring concrete slab and stairs. We worked an hour longer to 6pm to try to get it finished while the concrete machine was on site. The process was primitive and exhausting but luckily aided by a team of 7 locals that carried tins of concrete on their shoulders, along side our guys, up and down a steep ramp to the top floor. Other team members mixed the concrete, rock and Anita, Dana and Sara carried 100 buckets of water across the street for the mix. They were not dry at the end of the day. We felt very satisfied at the end of this work day to see all the concrete poured and the stairs to the floor done!!! We headed home at 6pm sunburnt, tired and dirty!
Evenings are fun. We feel good to be clean again and begin the hunt for a place to eat and 2 for 1 pisco sours!
Haste luego!
Tony, Mike, Graham, Kathleen, Rob, Sara, Anita, Phil, Dana, Doug and Vic
DWC Team Leader and Participants
Lima, Peru October 2011
Lima, Peru: 2nd October DWC Team Arrives
The team departed Kamloops on Friday night, Oct 15th and arrived in Calgary to join up with the 3 team members from there. We were hosted by team member Sara for a little farewell party in her home. We flew Calgary-Houston-Lima and arrived at 11:30pm, after sitting on the tarmac for an hour; free drinks from United Airlines. We checked into the pleasant Bayview Hotel after a very long travel day. The resident turtles were there to greet us in the charming inner courtyard.
Sunday would be our only free day so we set out to see a bit of Lima. Our hotel is next to the Marriott in the ocean side Miraflores district. It just happened that Justin Bieber was arriving at the Marriott that day so mobs of teen girls were gathered outside singing his songs and screaming for him ALL day and night. When the girls knew that we were from Canada they would ask if we knew him! We walked up one of the main avenues and experienced many sites including Lima's Run for the Cure, one of the many cathedrals, 1700 year old Lima peoples ruins and a local craft market. On the way, walking through a park, all of us were randomly hugged (abrazo) and danced with a big group of locals; a great sign of the fun to come! Our Team Leader, Tony, took us to lunch at a fun outdoor restaurant on the square where we were served our first pisco sours, some tried cuy (guinea pig) and alpaca. Rob had his second encounter with a surprising foot fetish friend!
The rest of the day was spent doing whatever we were interested in (nap). We walked up the street for a nice dinner at what has now become very comfortable..."Tablo for 11, por favor". A night is not complete with out 'a stop off ' at the neighboring sports bar. The same 2 corner tables seem to be waiting for us each night and Vic.
Tony, Mike, Graham, Kathleen, Rob, Sara, Anita, Phil, Dana, Doug and Vic
DWC Team Leader and Participants
Lima, Peru October 2011
Sunday would be our only free day so we set out to see a bit of Lima. Our hotel is next to the Marriott in the ocean side Miraflores district. It just happened that Justin Bieber was arriving at the Marriott that day so mobs of teen girls were gathered outside singing his songs and screaming for him ALL day and night. When the girls knew that we were from Canada they would ask if we knew him! We walked up one of the main avenues and experienced many sites including Lima's Run for the Cure, one of the many cathedrals, 1700 year old Lima peoples ruins and a local craft market. On the way, walking through a park, all of us were randomly hugged (abrazo) and danced with a big group of locals; a great sign of the fun to come! Our Team Leader, Tony, took us to lunch at a fun outdoor restaurant on the square where we were served our first pisco sours, some tried cuy (guinea pig) and alpaca. Rob had his second encounter with a surprising foot fetish friend!
The rest of the day was spent doing whatever we were interested in (nap). We walked up the street for a nice dinner at what has now become very comfortable..."Tablo for 11, por favor". A night is not complete with out 'a stop off ' at the neighboring sports bar. The same 2 corner tables seem to be waiting for us each night and Vic.
Tony, Mike, Graham, Kathleen, Rob, Sara, Anita, Phil, Dana, Doug and Vic
DWC Team Leader and Participants
Lima, Peru October 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Lima, Peru: Memories and gifts to last a lifetime
I can´t believe that two weeks have come and gone. This has been the most amazing time of my life working with such energetic and fun loving people on such a worthwhile project. I am so proud to have been part of such a hard working group.
We managed to cut rebar to specific lengths with just an ordinary hack saw. Then these were bent into shapes for the rebar column. The rebar columns were held together by twisting wire around the shapes.The rebar columns were then erected in their specific places. Next we had to haul up bricks from the floor below. The children would come and help us on their breaks passing bricks along a line. The last person on the line would then throw them up to a catcher on the second floor. Miraculously no bricks were lost this way (our foreman kept mentioning that bricks were $1 each).We had lots of fun joking with him. Then we had to haul sand up the ramp in buckets. The children would do their bit as well. They were so enthusiastic helping. It was hard for the teachers to get them back to class. It was wonderful to see them so busy and helpful. We also mixed the cement for laying the brick walls. It had to be just the right mixture. This was very hard work. Once that was done the bricklaying began. That was fun. We managed to get 6 walls erected before our bricks ran out.
We were very lucky with the weather. I doesn't really rain here , just gets very damp when the clouds are low. It is very cool in the morning and evening but when the sun finally breaks through you definitely need sunscreen. As it is spring here in Oct we weren't bothered by any mosquitoes.
We were able to have lots of interaction with the children which was a great highlight for all of us. Every morning the children would have dancing lessons to Peruvian music outside. On occasion we were able to join in. That was great fun.
On our last day , it was a holiday for the children and it was strange being at the site with no sound of childrens voices. Later in the afternoon they showed up for more photos. Then we were called in for a debriefing while the children, teachers and parents got a room ready to give us a show. They had dancing, music, Inka Cola and cookies that the children had baked in class for us. The children presented us with a going away gift which will always be treasured.
For helping with the project IFEJANT gave us each a Peruvian manta (blanket) . These will be treasured forever as well. The schoolmaster mentioned that the children will pass through the school but our bricks and mortar will last forever as a reminder of all the work we have done. He also mentioned that inspectors would drop by and because the project has been coming along so well the school would be able to have more donations from the government. What a truly amazing project we have been able to do.
Every little bit helps!
Lorna Stephens
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
We managed to cut rebar to specific lengths with just an ordinary hack saw. Then these were bent into shapes for the rebar column. The rebar columns were held together by twisting wire around the shapes.The rebar columns were then erected in their specific places. Next we had to haul up bricks from the floor below. The children would come and help us on their breaks passing bricks along a line. The last person on the line would then throw them up to a catcher on the second floor. Miraculously no bricks were lost this way (our foreman kept mentioning that bricks were $1 each).We had lots of fun joking with him. Then we had to haul sand up the ramp in buckets. The children would do their bit as well. They were so enthusiastic helping. It was hard for the teachers to get them back to class. It was wonderful to see them so busy and helpful. We also mixed the cement for laying the brick walls. It had to be just the right mixture. This was very hard work. Once that was done the bricklaying began. That was fun. We managed to get 6 walls erected before our bricks ran out.
We were very lucky with the weather. I doesn't really rain here , just gets very damp when the clouds are low. It is very cool in the morning and evening but when the sun finally breaks through you definitely need sunscreen. As it is spring here in Oct we weren't bothered by any mosquitoes.
We were able to have lots of interaction with the children which was a great highlight for all of us. Every morning the children would have dancing lessons to Peruvian music outside. On occasion we were able to join in. That was great fun.
On our last day , it was a holiday for the children and it was strange being at the site with no sound of childrens voices. Later in the afternoon they showed up for more photos. Then we were called in for a debriefing while the children, teachers and parents got a room ready to give us a show. They had dancing, music, Inka Cola and cookies that the children had baked in class for us. The children presented us with a going away gift which will always be treasured.
For helping with the project IFEJANT gave us each a Peruvian manta (blanket) . These will be treasured forever as well. The schoolmaster mentioned that the children will pass through the school but our bricks and mortar will last forever as a reminder of all the work we have done. He also mentioned that inspectors would drop by and because the project has been coming along so well the school would be able to have more donations from the government. What a truly amazing project we have been able to do.
Every little bit helps!
Lorna Stephens
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Jaen, Peru: Working away!
We have made major progress on the site today. Concrete is being made, and painting is progressing well. Richard and his crew show the volunteers how they can mix several bags of cement into concrete. In other countries, the workers mix one bag at a time. Here is the process: Step one, add all ingredients and dry-mix. Step two: make a huge cauldron for water. Step three: add water, and start mixing concrete at the edge, continuously sliding the mix into the trench.The method yields a huge amount of concrete, which is a good thing, because the footings are 1.7 cubic meters each. Empty cement bags are filled with sand to create a dam for the footing. They are removed after the concrete sets in about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, a new addition to the world arrives, Evelyn Rosemary, born just after her pregnant mother attended our "meet the parents" evening last Thursday. Her proud mother and father show her to each of us.
Volunteers have moved to the school stairwell, scraping, washing and painting. There's still a lot more digging and painting to do, but spirits are high as we progress through our work.
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
Meanwhile, a new addition to the world arrives, Evelyn Rosemary, born just after her pregnant mother attended our "meet the parents" evening last Thursday. Her proud mother and father show her to each of us.
Volunteers have moved to the school stairwell, scraping, washing and painting. There's still a lot more digging and painting to do, but spirits are high as we progress through our work.
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
Lima, Peru: Incredible experience
Our one week of volunteering has completed, funny how a week can go by so quickly! This experience has been incredible, what has moved me the most is how what I had considered to be a "vacation" has really been so much more than that. The first day we arrived I was overwhelmed with how excited the kids were, they had practiced songs for us, bombarded us with questions and were eager to learn and say all our names. The principal, Mr. Edwin, was in a suit, which later in the week I saw him dressed in regular jeans and a sweatshirt, that first day, I didn´t realize it, but we were kind of a big deal!
On our last day on site we had a sports day with the kids and after it was all said and done, because three of us were traveling to Cusco this week, we were given quite a send off. All the kids said "Muchos Gracias" for our all our help in unison and much more (I wish I could understand!). They also presented us with gifts, beautiful Peruvian blankets, I was so touched. I hope the school knows that even though they were so grateful of our help in just a short week, I am even more grateful of how accepting and welcoming they were to me in this short time. Everyone I have met in Lima has gone above and beyond to make our stay not only a chance to immerse ourselves in their culture, but they have really opened their arms and made us feel welcome. Thank you DWC, Jen Baillie and the rest of the team, for this once in a lifetime opportunity. It has really shown me that no matter when and where in the world, any place can feel like home.
Jennifer Ng
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
On our last day on site we had a sports day with the kids and after it was all said and done, because three of us were traveling to Cusco this week, we were given quite a send off. All the kids said "Muchos Gracias" for our all our help in unison and much more (I wish I could understand!). They also presented us with gifts, beautiful Peruvian blankets, I was so touched. I hope the school knows that even though they were so grateful of our help in just a short week, I am even more grateful of how accepting and welcoming they were to me in this short time. Everyone I have met in Lima has gone above and beyond to make our stay not only a chance to immerse ourselves in their culture, but they have really opened their arms and made us feel welcome. Thank you DWC, Jen Baillie and the rest of the team, for this once in a lifetime opportunity. It has really shown me that no matter when and where in the world, any place can feel like home.
Jennifer Ng
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Lima, Peru: Connections
World Connections is a great way to describe my experiences in the first week of this adventure. All of our work group are somehow connected to our Team Leader Jen Baillie. Everyone brings their own talents to our team but enthusiasm, energy and a determination to learn is common to all. Our new friends in Peru from Luze, our DWC/IFEJANT host, through to the children of San Jose Obrero school all bring the same common qualities. The construction is bricks and mortar with rebar reinforced concrete columns. When the Engineer came to the site there was an animated discussion with the site foreman, Abdias, then a few minor adjustments. Seems Inspectors have an impact on quality control all over the world!!
There is a fantastic connection being made between our new friends and ourselves. Personalities are world wide and shy, mischievous, outgoing but we are all working towards a common goal which quickly transcends any language and cultural differences.
During the mixing of the mortar all of the 10-12 year olds of one class enthusiastically carried buckets of water, sand and stone to the top floor. Then they came around and talked to us. They taught me to say `fabricarde esquella`` and I taught them to say build the school. We would point to each other and repeat the phrase laughing at each others pronunciation. One of the 11 year old girls (likely a future teacher) explained to Amelia and I how to place the bricks without wasting any mortar. When we didn't quite get it she wagged her finger at us and said no, no, no, until we got it right!! Marjorie also taught Amelia many more Spanish words to add to her expanding vocabulary.
Friday afternoon became the highlight for everyone when we were organized into teams for games which began with an impromptu soccer match where everyone joined in including a dog and a boy on a scooter. No one knew who was on whose team but a laughing good time was had by all. My highlight was when our Amarillo (yellow) group sat after the games eagerly anticipating the next event, three 4-6 year olds came up to me and were intrigued by my blue eyes. They jumped on my back and we rough housed until our 11 year old Captain brought our group to order. A hearty thank you was given along with gift presentations to Amelia, Jen and Duncan who are departing Sunday.
The evening connected a whole other cultural norm as Peru scored twice and defeated Paraguay in a sold out soccer match in Lima. As we watched on TV at our Hostal, host Ronal leaped up and down and cheered outside along with hundreds of others within ear shot. Go teamwork go eh!!
Russ Carmichael
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
There is a fantastic connection being made between our new friends and ourselves. Personalities are world wide and shy, mischievous, outgoing but we are all working towards a common goal which quickly transcends any language and cultural differences.
During the mixing of the mortar all of the 10-12 year olds of one class enthusiastically carried buckets of water, sand and stone to the top floor. Then they came around and talked to us. They taught me to say `fabricarde esquella`` and I taught them to say build the school. We would point to each other and repeat the phrase laughing at each others pronunciation. One of the 11 year old girls (likely a future teacher) explained to Amelia and I how to place the bricks without wasting any mortar. When we didn't quite get it she wagged her finger at us and said no, no, no, until we got it right!! Marjorie also taught Amelia many more Spanish words to add to her expanding vocabulary.
Friday afternoon became the highlight for everyone when we were organized into teams for games which began with an impromptu soccer match where everyone joined in including a dog and a boy on a scooter. No one knew who was on whose team but a laughing good time was had by all. My highlight was when our Amarillo (yellow) group sat after the games eagerly anticipating the next event, three 4-6 year olds came up to me and were intrigued by my blue eyes. They jumped on my back and we rough housed until our 11 year old Captain brought our group to order. A hearty thank you was given along with gift presentations to Amelia, Jen and Duncan who are departing Sunday.
The evening connected a whole other cultural norm as Peru scored twice and defeated Paraguay in a sold out soccer match in Lima. As we watched on TV at our Hostal, host Ronal leaped up and down and cheered outside along with hundreds of others within ear shot. Go teamwork go eh!!
Russ Carmichael
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Lima, Peru: Work hard, play hard!
Hola,
Today was action packed day at the school, building and playing with the children. We started to make the walls for the two new classrooms with bricks and cement, its definitely going to be a long process but we will get it done. The children got to help out by bringing us water when we needed it, to add to our mixture of dry sand and cement. I would suggest wearing sun screen and drink lots of water while working, even though it is overcast you will still get burnt.
After lunch we got to hang out with the children, they love playing soccer with everyone and playing Stella Stella which I taught them. When all the kids came up to the playing court we had some organized competition with the children: potato sack races, 3 legged races, spoon races pop the balloon, wheelbarrow races. Once we finished the the games we brought out the juice and cookies we brought to share with the kids, they were super excited. We handed out prizes to all the children (stickers, Canada pins, tennis balls, pencils, soccer balls, gloves, t-shirts and hats), the kids loved them and tried to trick us by saying that they didn't get a prize.
Over all it was a fantastic day!!!
Jessica Darville
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Today was action packed day at the school, building and playing with the children. We started to make the walls for the two new classrooms with bricks and cement, its definitely going to be a long process but we will get it done. The children got to help out by bringing us water when we needed it, to add to our mixture of dry sand and cement. I would suggest wearing sun screen and drink lots of water while working, even though it is overcast you will still get burnt.
After lunch we got to hang out with the children, they love playing soccer with everyone and playing Stella Stella which I taught them. When all the kids came up to the playing court we had some organized competition with the children: potato sack races, 3 legged races, spoon races pop the balloon, wheelbarrow races. Once we finished the the games we brought out the juice and cookies we brought to share with the kids, they were super excited. We handed out prizes to all the children (stickers, Canada pins, tennis balls, pencils, soccer balls, gloves, t-shirts and hats), the kids loved them and tried to trick us by saying that they didn't get a prize.
Over all it was a fantastic day!!!
Jessica Darville
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Jaen, Peru: The DWC team is complete!
Weary, but thrilled to be joining us so far away from home, our delayed volunteers, Freda and Bill, arrive at 6:30 in the morning yesterday after an overnight ride. After many hugs, our little group of Developing World Connections volunteers is complete! The rest of Sunday is time for walks, conversations and reflection on our bonds with our world family far away from Canada.
Today Bill and Freda join in with the rest of the volunteers. We mixed concrete and began the process of setting in re bar footings and posts. We had to manoeuvre a tall re bar column frame to it's permanent place on top of the kitchen footing.
Meanwhile, the volunteers have begun to "spruce up" the school exterior and grounds-entrance gate, while other volunteers work with re bar and concrete. Richard demonstrated to Michelle, Hazel, and Linda how to apply the 50/50 water/paint mix to the walls with spilling paint from the roller while Sharon and Patricia applied red oxide paint primer to the gate.
Later, Bill handed out rainbow gummy worms to the children at recess. Imagine Bill offering a snake, then violently wiggling it when each child approached!
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
Today Bill and Freda join in with the rest of the volunteers. We mixed concrete and began the process of setting in re bar footings and posts. We had to manoeuvre a tall re bar column frame to it's permanent place on top of the kitchen footing.
Meanwhile, the volunteers have begun to "spruce up" the school exterior and grounds-entrance gate, while other volunteers work with re bar and concrete. Richard demonstrated to Michelle, Hazel, and Linda how to apply the 50/50 water/paint mix to the walls with spilling paint from the roller while Sharon and Patricia applied red oxide paint primer to the gate.
Later, Bill handed out rainbow gummy worms to the children at recess. Imagine Bill offering a snake, then violently wiggling it when each child approached!
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Jaen, Peru: Exploring the countryside
In the morning, our group hired a van and driver to see the surrounding countryside of Jaen. Sylvia, the chair of CEPRONAM, and Yolanda, our English translator, joined us. Yolanda brought us "grenadico" fruit. It has a brittle outer shell, like a soft eggshell. When squeezed, the pod cracks open to reveal a soft inner core full of seeds and a delicious gelatinous interior that is sucked fro the hole at the top of the fruit, created by removing the stem. Our first stop is down a dusty road to the edge of the Maranon river, a marine highway into the Amazon since the beginning of time.
What a surprise! We think we are far from civilization, only to be greeted by dozens of youth, who ask us to join them in a dance to music played by a disk jockey, with electricity supplied by a portable Honda generator. Needless to say, we all joined in, waved our arms in the air, danced and sang; some were songs in Spanish, and others were similar to "rave" music, with plenty of base beat.
In the afternoon, we passed by buildings stencilled with slogans and illustrations showing there is controversy surrounding industry practices in the Amazon. One is of a shovel that is crossed out with the words "Vota Asi" above. The land surrounding this part of the Amazon is very arid, similar to Arizona, there are "limon" trees, papaya and rice fields where the land can be irrigated. Along the road, we see HUGE wild Thanksgiving turkeys, saved from the celebrations in Canada!
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
What a surprise! We think we are far from civilization, only to be greeted by dozens of youth, who ask us to join them in a dance to music played by a disk jockey, with electricity supplied by a portable Honda generator. Needless to say, we all joined in, waved our arms in the air, danced and sang; some were songs in Spanish, and others were similar to "rave" music, with plenty of base beat.
In the afternoon, we passed by buildings stencilled with slogans and illustrations showing there is controversy surrounding industry practices in the Amazon. One is of a shovel that is crossed out with the words "Vota Asi" above. The land surrounding this part of the Amazon is very arid, similar to Arizona, there are "limon" trees, papaya and rice fields where the land can be irrigated. Along the road, we see HUGE wild Thanksgiving turkeys, saved from the celebrations in Canada!
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Lima, Peru: Building relationships
With a few days of volunteering under our belt, our group is getting into the swing of our new routine here in Lima. Although we are not fluent in Spanish, and our hosts are not fluent in English, the relationships between us that have developed in these few short days in noticeable. Yesterday when we arrived on our job site, the kids were preparing to start classes for the day and some of us were already on the roof getting ready to work. One young girl, about nine years old, approach me and asked where Natalie was. I told her she was on the roof, and she ran off to greet her. Another young girl called my name out from the ground below while we were working away - we had introduced ourselves briefly three days earlier and despite all the new names to learn she had remembered me and my name. Throughout the day, the school kids came up onto the roof to take photos with us and say hi. We have come to know many of the kids and their personalities during our time here.
We have also created relationships with the local work crew. On our first full day of work, our foreman, Abdios, used the English-Spanish dictionary to tell Duncan to "surrender" - to stop working because he was not bending the rebar properly. Quickly, the exchange became a joke, and each time one of us struggled or did something improperly, Abdios would yell out "Duncan! Duncan!". It was all in good fun, and the event was the starting point of Duncan and Abdios" friendship during this trip.
This experience has made me realize that difference of language is hardly an obstacle to building relationships and friendships. A funny incident, or an exchange of names, however brief can spark memories that will last so much longer.
Amelia Bowden
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
We have also created relationships with the local work crew. On our first full day of work, our foreman, Abdios, used the English-Spanish dictionary to tell Duncan to "surrender" - to stop working because he was not bending the rebar properly. Quickly, the exchange became a joke, and each time one of us struggled or did something improperly, Abdios would yell out "Duncan! Duncan!". It was all in good fun, and the event was the starting point of Duncan and Abdios" friendship during this trip.
This experience has made me realize that difference of language is hardly an obstacle to building relationships and friendships. A funny incident, or an exchange of names, however brief can spark memories that will last so much longer.
Amelia Bowden
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Lima, Peru: Settling in, Work and Play
I woke up and my back was a little sore today. I think I slept a little funny, although it could have also been from the bed. I feel like my bed on one side dips down a bit. Not enough that I feel like I'm going to fall off or anything just like I'm lower down (lol). Bread must be a normal thing for meals here. We had buns with breakfast again. Although instead of eggs this time we had meat with it. It was like round ham or something maybe a mix of meat. They have this jam, I think its figs. So I put some of that on there too and its sweet tasting. I had lemon tea with my breakfast. The buns we had today for breakfast are the ones that kinda rip apart the top of your mouth when you eat. They taste great though.
Our rides have been on time so far since we started taking the vans. It’s the same couple everyday that drives us in. I don’t know their names yet. Its been pretty crazy the first few times we got on the bus. I'll have to ask them in the next few days. Our rides are always interesting but much the same everyday. Aside from the crazy driving that is.
We got to the job site today and the lady that has the key for our locked room, with our stuff in it was a little late. I went up on the roof to talk to the foreman and see what we were doing for the day. Its not like working at home where you can just get told and go and do it. He tells me what we are doing and I say "no entiendo" (I don’t understand). Then he tries a few more times to explain it and he points to stuff. At this point I figured out we are doing something with rebar. Its amazing what you can figure out with no verbal communication. He pointed to a jig he had set up so I knew right away we were bending rebar for our columns. So all I needed was for him to show me the sizes. Once he did a demo I made some marks and I was able to show the other people that were going to start bending. Today was a lot of cutting and building rebar cages. My work buddy is Jessica, her and I were cutting tie wire to tie all the rebar together. Back home I would just use a zip cut on a grinder to cut through it real fast. Here they use a chisel and a hammer. Then they lay the wire on the rock and hammer the chisel through it. Takes a bit longer but works well because the wire is very thin. The kids in the school all left early on a few buses to go on a field trip. There was about four kids that were hanging around the job site. We found out they were still here because their parents couldn’t afford to send them on the field trip. They hung out and helped us do some work. They seemed to like working with me and Jessica. We had them hitting the chisel with the hammer, while one of us held it. I have to admit I was really worried at first. I didn’t want them to miss and hit my hand. However they all did a great job! The oldest one looked about 8 years old, maybe 10. The youngest one maybe 6. They helped us for a bit, but then went and talked to the other people in our group. They are typical kids they get board easy and then get into mischief, but we had fun and got a bunch of pictures with them.
Once we got some of the wire cut a group was able to start building rebar cages. Just like construction that I work in, the first time you do something it usually takes a lot longer. To understand what the foremen wanted and do the first cage took about 3-4 hours. It was pretty much lunch before that one was done.
Lunch was a bit hard at first today. We were originally going to eat on the roof, but when we got everything set up and were starting to put sandwiches together, the kids were just standing there watching. It reminded me of a hungry dog looking at you at the dinner table. We were told when we had our orientation that you cant share your food with the kids. You have to be careful about what you share with them. If you don’t have enough for everyone that’s there then you cant share with them. We ended up moving down to one of the classrooms to eat lunch. Our host rep that was there sat with us to make sure the kids stayed out and didn’t bother us during lunch. Its hard not to feel bad for eating in front of the kids. We get a pretty long lunch which is nice because after we eat we have some time to play with the kids. I brought out my hacky sack I brought along with me, and Russ brought some soccer balls so he pumped one up. We got a group of us together and started playing with the hacky sack and the kids came over to join us. Were not the best at it and I think that was good because they had a fun time playing with us. If we kept it up in the air for more then three or four times everyone cheered. After about 10 minutes of playing with the hacky sack, a soccer ball came flying up on the roof. Russ tossed it up from the ground and immediately the kids started playing with it. However kids will be kids, and as soon as one of them seen some dogs messing around on the ground he thought it would be a good idea to throw the ball off the roof at them. Of course he didn’t come close but the ball rolled way down the hill. So we sent him after it to go get it.
Back to work after some fun with the kids. We managed to get 2 more rebar cages done by the end of the day and stood them both up. I think that were making really good progress so far. Also we're getting to be really friendly with the workers and learning more Spanish everyday. Even if its only one or two words. The workers are becoming more out going and I think they are enjoying working with us. Near the end of the day I handed out some hard hats and safety vests to the workers that were donated from my work, FRPD (Fraser River Pile and Dredge). We got some group photos and then some with just me and the guys. That was the end of the day and we got in our van bus and headed home.
On the way home we got some some busy parts and the traffic came to a stop. The lady in the bus was telling us to close our windows and keep our stuff down. I guess it’s a usually thing that people come up and grab things like cameras and bags out of the windows of cabs and buses that tourist are riding in. We made it back to the hostel safe and sound. Once we were back it turned out that one group of girls locked their room key in the room. The best part was that the guy working here that barely speaks English told them he didn’t have a spare key. They got all worried and went up to their room to see if there was any way to get in and the guy came up with the key. He totally played a trick on them (lol).
Paul Sweryda
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Our rides have been on time so far since we started taking the vans. It’s the same couple everyday that drives us in. I don’t know their names yet. Its been pretty crazy the first few times we got on the bus. I'll have to ask them in the next few days. Our rides are always interesting but much the same everyday. Aside from the crazy driving that is.
We got to the job site today and the lady that has the key for our locked room, with our stuff in it was a little late. I went up on the roof to talk to the foreman and see what we were doing for the day. Its not like working at home where you can just get told and go and do it. He tells me what we are doing and I say "no entiendo" (I don’t understand). Then he tries a few more times to explain it and he points to stuff. At this point I figured out we are doing something with rebar. Its amazing what you can figure out with no verbal communication. He pointed to a jig he had set up so I knew right away we were bending rebar for our columns. So all I needed was for him to show me the sizes. Once he did a demo I made some marks and I was able to show the other people that were going to start bending. Today was a lot of cutting and building rebar cages. My work buddy is Jessica, her and I were cutting tie wire to tie all the rebar together. Back home I would just use a zip cut on a grinder to cut through it real fast. Here they use a chisel and a hammer. Then they lay the wire on the rock and hammer the chisel through it. Takes a bit longer but works well because the wire is very thin. The kids in the school all left early on a few buses to go on a field trip. There was about four kids that were hanging around the job site. We found out they were still here because their parents couldn’t afford to send them on the field trip. They hung out and helped us do some work. They seemed to like working with me and Jessica. We had them hitting the chisel with the hammer, while one of us held it. I have to admit I was really worried at first. I didn’t want them to miss and hit my hand. However they all did a great job! The oldest one looked about 8 years old, maybe 10. The youngest one maybe 6. They helped us for a bit, but then went and talked to the other people in our group. They are typical kids they get board easy and then get into mischief, but we had fun and got a bunch of pictures with them.
Once we got some of the wire cut a group was able to start building rebar cages. Just like construction that I work in, the first time you do something it usually takes a lot longer. To understand what the foremen wanted and do the first cage took about 3-4 hours. It was pretty much lunch before that one was done.
Lunch was a bit hard at first today. We were originally going to eat on the roof, but when we got everything set up and were starting to put sandwiches together, the kids were just standing there watching. It reminded me of a hungry dog looking at you at the dinner table. We were told when we had our orientation that you cant share your food with the kids. You have to be careful about what you share with them. If you don’t have enough for everyone that’s there then you cant share with them. We ended up moving down to one of the classrooms to eat lunch. Our host rep that was there sat with us to make sure the kids stayed out and didn’t bother us during lunch. Its hard not to feel bad for eating in front of the kids. We get a pretty long lunch which is nice because after we eat we have some time to play with the kids. I brought out my hacky sack I brought along with me, and Russ brought some soccer balls so he pumped one up. We got a group of us together and started playing with the hacky sack and the kids came over to join us. Were not the best at it and I think that was good because they had a fun time playing with us. If we kept it up in the air for more then three or four times everyone cheered. After about 10 minutes of playing with the hacky sack, a soccer ball came flying up on the roof. Russ tossed it up from the ground and immediately the kids started playing with it. However kids will be kids, and as soon as one of them seen some dogs messing around on the ground he thought it would be a good idea to throw the ball off the roof at them. Of course he didn’t come close but the ball rolled way down the hill. So we sent him after it to go get it.
Back to work after some fun with the kids. We managed to get 2 more rebar cages done by the end of the day and stood them both up. I think that were making really good progress so far. Also we're getting to be really friendly with the workers and learning more Spanish everyday. Even if its only one or two words. The workers are becoming more out going and I think they are enjoying working with us. Near the end of the day I handed out some hard hats and safety vests to the workers that were donated from my work, FRPD (Fraser River Pile and Dredge). We got some group photos and then some with just me and the guys. That was the end of the day and we got in our van bus and headed home.
On the way home we got some some busy parts and the traffic came to a stop. The lady in the bus was telling us to close our windows and keep our stuff down. I guess it’s a usually thing that people come up and grab things like cameras and bags out of the windows of cabs and buses that tourist are riding in. We made it back to the hostel safe and sound. Once we were back it turned out that one group of girls locked their room key in the room. The best part was that the guy working here that barely speaks English told them he didn’t have a spare key. They got all worried and went up to their room to see if there was any way to get in and the guy came up with the key. He totally played a trick on them (lol).
Paul Sweryda
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Lima, Peru: Amazing first day!
Hola,
Our first day was amazing. We all agreed to individually pay extra for a Spanish lesson and tour. They taught us all morning then took us to exchange our money in soles, then to the market, and off to a tour of town. It is highly recommend as it was very helpful for around town and also at the work site the next day.
The weather is fairly cold at night, and where the hostel is located I would recommend pants and socks/shoes. Perhaps even a jacket.
Our second day was our first day at the job site! What an amazing experience. We were able to meet all the kids, they had songs prepared and were excited to meet us. That is where the Spanish lesson comes in handy, its warming to be able to interact with words. The work site is a lot warmer of a climate, I would recommend, hats, work gloves, proper shoes, and some long shorts and t-shirts.
If you are going to bring donations I would recommend some picture books of animals, the kids were very curious about what Canada looks like. Extra recommendation, bring toilet paper (!papel higenico¡)
Natalie Sweryda
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Our first day was amazing. We all agreed to individually pay extra for a Spanish lesson and tour. They taught us all morning then took us to exchange our money in soles, then to the market, and off to a tour of town. It is highly recommend as it was very helpful for around town and also at the work site the next day.
The weather is fairly cold at night, and where the hostel is located I would recommend pants and socks/shoes. Perhaps even a jacket.
Our second day was our first day at the job site! What an amazing experience. We were able to meet all the kids, they had songs prepared and were excited to meet us. That is where the Spanish lesson comes in handy, its warming to be able to interact with words. The work site is a lot warmer of a climate, I would recommend, hats, work gloves, proper shoes, and some long shorts and t-shirts.
If you are going to bring donations I would recommend some picture books of animals, the kids were very curious about what Canada looks like. Extra recommendation, bring toilet paper (!papel higenico¡)
Natalie Sweryda
DWC Participant
Lima, Peru October 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Jaen, Peru: Digging in
Time slows a little here, and the volunteers' internal clocks are now beginning to sync with the pace of life in Peru. It's hot and dry; the streets are dusty, partly from a great deal of water main upgrading, and the general nature of the climate at this time of year as we're heading into summer south of the equator. We even had a whirlwind that was strong enough to tear some corrugated iron roof sections off a nearby house. The wind was welcomed by the volunteers because it becomes very warm when clouds open to bright sun in a blue sky. We are now careful to refill our bottles with water from our 25L water container, and rest when our bodies tell us we need to rest and seek shade.
The kitchen will take several weeks of labour to build, so our accomplishments are measured in metres of trench dug and the vision of setting up the first concrete forms and bending rebar. We marked the outline of the kitchen with lime. There will be six 4' deep holes dug for pillars, all joined by 3' deep trenches, dug into soil that is like soft sandstone shale. It's very hard and slow work.
Reporters from two newspapers, one named La Prensa, and one TV station "Hora 20" and a Radio Unico, showed up at the site. We have no idea how they discovered what we are doing, but we are elated that CEPRONAM and Developing World Connections are able to show the Peruvian world what community partners can accomplish.
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
The kitchen will take several weeks of labour to build, so our accomplishments are measured in metres of trench dug and the vision of setting up the first concrete forms and bending rebar. We marked the outline of the kitchen with lime. There will be six 4' deep holes dug for pillars, all joined by 3' deep trenches, dug into soil that is like soft sandstone shale. It's very hard and slow work.
Reporters from two newspapers, one named La Prensa, and one TV station "Hora 20" and a Radio Unico, showed up at the site. We have no idea how they discovered what we are doing, but we are elated that CEPRONAM and Developing World Connections are able to show the Peruvian world what community partners can accomplish.
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Jaen, Peru: Getting to Jaen
The DWC volunteers took a 1.5 hour flight from Lima to Chiclayo. Chiclayo city has a dry landscape, with the majority of buildings constructed of brick, giving the city a sandy-brown colour. In the distance, there are agricultural crops. We arrived in Jaen after a 6-hour double-decker bus ride from Chiclayo. There, we were met by CEPRONAM's Sylvia, Yolanda and Mario, plus a number of family members. We were very warmly welcomed and whisked away to our hotel using several mototaxis, a very common means of inexpensive transportation.
The tired volunteers had a late dinner with our hosts, then turned into bed just before midnight. The air in Jaen is warm and humid, evidence of it's being closer to the equator than Lima. Tomorrow, we will get an orientation and discuss building plans for the new kitchen.
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
The tired volunteers had a late dinner with our hosts, then turned into bed just before midnight. The air in Jaen is warm and humid, evidence of it's being closer to the equator than Lima. Tomorrow, we will get an orientation and discuss building plans for the new kitchen.
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Jaen, Peru: Arriving in Lima
The Kamloops volunteers' alarms rang around 4am, and we collectively jumped out of bed to greet this new adventure! Well, maybe that's not quite the case, because I was still doing last minute packing a little after midnight. All eleven volunteers are taking various routes to our destination: the Bayview hotel in the Miraflores area of Lima, which is close to la playa ( the beach), various parks and walkways. Lima is only two hours ahead of Canada's west coast, but culturally distant in that Peru is a predominantly Spanish speaking country and steeped in history as old as the Pyramids.
After flying to Toronto, it was a very relaxing flight to Lima. Arriving late, we were met by the Bayview van- it is always a good feeling to see a sign that says "Developing World Connections", an instant connection to the country which we will all come to know better over the course of two weeks. We arrived mysteriously short two volunteers, despite phone calls to our accommodation. Their whereabouts were unknown until we found out later that evening when we arrived at our hotel that they were unavoidably delayed in Huston, Texas and will join us later. Michele, our emergency contact at DWC in Kamloops, relayed a message via email that the two were safe and looking forward to joining us as soon as possible.
October 1st, we spent a relaxing day wandering the streets of Lima. We saw the changing of the guard at the royal palace, marvelled at the Baroque and classical architecture, stopped to gawk at massive 18th century doors, and wandered in underground catacombs, complete with the mortal remains of centuries of monks and saints. Lima is a vibrant city with very clean streets and parks. Many couples arm-in-arm, and people scurrying to and fro along the numerous pedestrians only streets, a feature many would be envious of in cities like Vancouver and Toronto.
The weather is perfect, not too warm, or too hot. We quickly decompressed down to the unhurried pace of the Peruvian. English is rare in this part of the world, but we walked, discussed, laughed, and walked some more, then we ate. We had to ask some of the patrons what they would recommend, then with taste buds watering, we enjoyed ethnic diversity. In the evening, we walked the warm night streets, bustling with families and the rest of the smiling populace, feeling safe and serene, and then walked up a flight of stairs to mouth-watering fare at the Bircher Benner Fina Cocina.
We are up early, packed and away to Chiclayo tomorrow.
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
After flying to Toronto, it was a very relaxing flight to Lima. Arriving late, we were met by the Bayview van- it is always a good feeling to see a sign that says "Developing World Connections", an instant connection to the country which we will all come to know better over the course of two weeks. We arrived mysteriously short two volunteers, despite phone calls to our accommodation. Their whereabouts were unknown until we found out later that evening when we arrived at our hotel that they were unavoidably delayed in Huston, Texas and will join us later. Michele, our emergency contact at DWC in Kamloops, relayed a message via email that the two were safe and looking forward to joining us as soon as possible.
October 1st, we spent a relaxing day wandering the streets of Lima. We saw the changing of the guard at the royal palace, marvelled at the Baroque and classical architecture, stopped to gawk at massive 18th century doors, and wandered in underground catacombs, complete with the mortal remains of centuries of monks and saints. Lima is a vibrant city with very clean streets and parks. Many couples arm-in-arm, and people scurrying to and fro along the numerous pedestrians only streets, a feature many would be envious of in cities like Vancouver and Toronto.
The weather is perfect, not too warm, or too hot. We quickly decompressed down to the unhurried pace of the Peruvian. English is rare in this part of the world, but we walked, discussed, laughed, and walked some more, then we ate. We had to ask some of the patrons what they would recommend, then with taste buds watering, we enjoyed ethnic diversity. In the evening, we walked the warm night streets, bustling with families and the rest of the smiling populace, feeling safe and serene, and then walked up a flight of stairs to mouth-watering fare at the Bircher Benner Fina Cocina.
We are up early, packed and away to Chiclayo tomorrow.
Cam Grant
DWC Team Leader
Jaen, Peru: October 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Lima, Peru: From the Team Leader.
Volunteering in Lima for the past four weeks with my team has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have yet to encounter.
On Friday June 3rd we went to school for a fair well ceremony and to enjoy “fun day” with the kids. Our day started with a ceremony hosted by the Mayor of Villa Maria and the Director of the school, Edwin. The municipality has donated a stove with gas to the school as a result of the new facility that the DWC team has been working on this past month. At a previous meeting with IFEJANT Edwin informed the team that 70 percent of the children in the community are malnourished and 40 percent of those are chronically malnourished. Knowing that the community now has a better kitchen with new equipment makes me feel hopeful that soon these percentages will shrink. Edwin said their goal is to feed breakfast and lunch to 150 children each day, and I can’t help but to feel proud that my team has helped to create this change.
Taking a step back to look at the big picture, I’ve come to realize that this project is bigger than just a team of students helping out. When the municipality of Villa Maria sees a Canadian group working on a project to better the productivity of a school, they are forced to think about what contribution they are giving to better the lives of their people. This consideration led to the donation of supplies to the school’s kitchen.
The construction project we have been working on has been challenging for many reasons, be it language barrier, frustration with construction, a misunderstanding on what needs to be done and why, or just plain exhaustion. However, working through these challenges not only makes the experience memorable, but it helps a person develop and grow in ways that cannot be replicated through textbooks and lectures. This is a concept that San Jose Obrero strives to teach its students, and it is something that we can all take and apply to our lives.
The past four weeks have been nothing short of amazing I am so fortunate to have been able to volunteer with, and get to know, such an amazing group of people.
On Friday June 3rd we went to school for a fair well ceremony and to enjoy “fun day” with the kids. Our day started with a ceremony hosted by the Mayor of Villa Maria and the Director of the school, Edwin. The municipality has donated a stove with gas to the school as a result of the new facility that the DWC team has been working on this past month. At a previous meeting with IFEJANT Edwin informed the team that 70 percent of the children in the community are malnourished and 40 percent of those are chronically malnourished. Knowing that the community now has a better kitchen with new equipment makes me feel hopeful that soon these percentages will shrink. Edwin said their goal is to feed breakfast and lunch to 150 children each day, and I can’t help but to feel proud that my team has helped to create this change.
Taking a step back to look at the big picture, I’ve come to realize that this project is bigger than just a team of students helping out. When the municipality of Villa Maria sees a Canadian group working on a project to better the productivity of a school, they are forced to think about what contribution they are giving to better the lives of their people. This consideration led to the donation of supplies to the school’s kitchen.
The construction project we have been working on has been challenging for many reasons, be it language barrier, frustration with construction, a misunderstanding on what needs to be done and why, or just plain exhaustion. However, working through these challenges not only makes the experience memorable, but it helps a person develop and grow in ways that cannot be replicated through textbooks and lectures. This is a concept that San Jose Obrero strives to teach its students, and it is something that we can all take and apply to our lives.
The past four weeks have been nothing short of amazing I am so fortunate to have been able to volunteer with, and get to know, such an amazing group of people.
Leah Donatiello
DWC Team Leader
Lima, Peru May 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Lima, Peru: Lessons learned
With only 2 more days left in our volunteer project, we had another busy workday. The kitchen is now complete and yesterday a new eco-friendly gas stove was brought to the school, courtesy of the local municipality. The exterior and interior has been painted and 3 out of 4 doors have been installed. In 4 short weeks, our team has constructed a building, which in my opinion looked impossible at first given the environment we were in. San Jose Obereo is located in the poverty struck mountain region of Villa Maria and our building has been constructed on a cliff overlooking the school.
We have all worked to the best of our abilities on this project and along with the construction we have bonded with the children and created relationships that will never be forgotten. The children make us feel very welcome and their presence has made this experience unforgettable. To witness first hand the extreme poverty that these children and their families live in has really impacted me and made me become much more appreciative of life. Before coming to Villa Maria I had no idea what to expect. The children are full of so much happiness and joy yet they work ever so hard inside and outside of school to live the life they live. My passion for soccer was a huge reason for my interaction with the children. Everyday at least once I would make my way to the school basketball/soccer court and play with the Niño’s and Niñas even if it was only for 20 minutes. They love soccer and for me to play with them, teach them tricks, and share my love for the game was amazing. I remember telling my team leader, Leah, that this was exactly what I wanted to do when I arrived in Peru. Play with children, make them smile and realize that even though it may seem like the 9 of us are strangers from an unknown world, we at one point in our lives were kids just like them.
Mahatma Gandhi once wrote “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” In my 4 weeks at Villa Maria, not only have I learned many life lessons, but have found myself in a way that I never could have imagined. To be able to help the members of this community has been an experience, lesson and a pleasure. The relationships and memories that have been created will remain in my heart forever.
Ryan Aujla
DWC Student Volunteer
We have all worked to the best of our abilities on this project and along with the construction we have bonded with the children and created relationships that will never be forgotten. The children make us feel very welcome and their presence has made this experience unforgettable. To witness first hand the extreme poverty that these children and their families live in has really impacted me and made me become much more appreciative of life. Before coming to Villa Maria I had no idea what to expect. The children are full of so much happiness and joy yet they work ever so hard inside and outside of school to live the life they live. My passion for soccer was a huge reason for my interaction with the children. Everyday at least once I would make my way to the school basketball/soccer court and play with the Niño’s and Niñas even if it was only for 20 minutes. They love soccer and for me to play with them, teach them tricks, and share my love for the game was amazing. I remember telling my team leader, Leah, that this was exactly what I wanted to do when I arrived in Peru. Play with children, make them smile and realize that even though it may seem like the 9 of us are strangers from an unknown world, we at one point in our lives were kids just like them.
Mahatma Gandhi once wrote “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” In my 4 weeks at Villa Maria, not only have I learned many life lessons, but have found myself in a way that I never could have imagined. To be able to help the members of this community has been an experience, lesson and a pleasure. The relationships and memories that have been created will remain in my heart forever.
Ryan Aujla
DWC Student Volunteer
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Lima, Peru: May 2011 Student Team
Lima, Peru: May 2011 Student Team
Wow, only one week left of our four week adventure here in Lima, Peru. On May 26th we were picked up in the morning and taken to a working school for children and adolescents called MANTOC. Children take part in all areas of this school, they have a kitchen in which the children learn how to bake in a safe and sanitary way, and they can also learn the essentials of math when pricing these goods for sale. Its a very different perspective to comprehend, but it allows children who would normally not be able to afford public or private school, to still get an education.
At work we are busier than ever!! The experience and awareness that we have gained from working over the last 3 weeks will be beneficial for the rest of our lives. With only one week left the last final push has come to try and get everything done. The roof is finally finished, also interior and exterior painting is coming along nicely. Its a gratifying feeling to know that when we are gone, there will be three new usable rooms that were not there when we got here. This will allow the mothers to have a clean and safe working environment when preparing the meals for the kids. Everyone's Spanish is improving immensely, except they definitely seem to understand mine better when I make bold hand gestures, sometimes I wonder if it just sounds like Spanish in my mind. No that can't be it. But seriously we are all able to communicate fairly effectively with the children and parents at the school.
This has been an amazing experience, I was somewhat anxious when starting out because I had never personally met any of the other participants who are on this trip. But when working and living together the bonds that have been established, if even for a short period of time, will be an everlasting memory. I believe that when we finish off this week and take a step back to see what we have all accomplished together as a team, we will have our heads held high, but firmly planted in reality.
Rory Callaghan
DWC Student Volunteer
Wow, only one week left of our four week adventure here in Lima, Peru. On May 26th we were picked up in the morning and taken to a working school for children and adolescents called MANTOC. Children take part in all areas of this school, they have a kitchen in which the children learn how to bake in a safe and sanitary way, and they can also learn the essentials of math when pricing these goods for sale. Its a very different perspective to comprehend, but it allows children who would normally not be able to afford public or private school, to still get an education.
At work we are busier than ever!! The experience and awareness that we have gained from working over the last 3 weeks will be beneficial for the rest of our lives. With only one week left the last final push has come to try and get everything done. The roof is finally finished, also interior and exterior painting is coming along nicely. Its a gratifying feeling to know that when we are gone, there will be three new usable rooms that were not there when we got here. This will allow the mothers to have a clean and safe working environment when preparing the meals for the kids. Everyone's Spanish is improving immensely, except they definitely seem to understand mine better when I make bold hand gestures, sometimes I wonder if it just sounds like Spanish in my mind. No that can't be it. But seriously we are all able to communicate fairly effectively with the children and parents at the school.
This has been an amazing experience, I was somewhat anxious when starting out because I had never personally met any of the other participants who are on this trip. But when working and living together the bonds that have been established, if even for a short period of time, will be an everlasting memory. I believe that when we finish off this week and take a step back to see what we have all accomplished together as a team, we will have our heads held high, but firmly planted in reality.
Rory Callaghan
DWC Student Volunteer
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Lima, Peru: The richness of the Experience.
We now have nearly three weeks of volunteer work under our belts on this trip. The nine of us have undoubtedly gained insights and experiences that would not have been attainable any other way. San Jose Obrero, the school we are working at, has a strong community and culture that has been humbling to witness, even in the most poverty stricken areas I have ever seen.
While the residents of Villa Maria seem comfortable with their modest lives, from a Canadian perspective it is amazing to think that so many of the world's 7 billion live in similar conditions. Their hospitable and collectivist nature means that we are never short of helping hands, even from mothers with babies on their backs and the keen primary school kids.
Our structure is coming along very nicely. Now in the second half of the project, we are short on supplies so some of the lumber and roofing materials are being reused from old buildings. Today everyone was very busy all day, filling, sanding, priming, roofing and interacting. We have all been challenged in a number of ways, be it our patience, interpretation skills, or dealing with adverse situations such as stepping on nails (that was me).
The language barrier has made it tough to talk to the people about anything beyond the basics. We would all agree that our IFEJANT meetings have provided massive insights about the local slums, because we have had a translator who has provided great relief and knowledge. We have learned that children who work can provide nearly as much income as their parents, and are vital to family wellbeing. Kids may be as young as seven when they start to work, and schooling is just a single important part of one's education. The vast majority of youngsters above that age in Villa Maria probably work.
Even the craziest challenges on the trip have only added to the richness of the experience. We've found motivation through the sunny afternoons we've been blessed with, the smiling faces of the locals, and through each other. I cannot wait to complete our project and share what I've learned about a diverse country, community and people.
Matt Melville
DWC Student Volunteer
While the residents of Villa Maria seem comfortable with their modest lives, from a Canadian perspective it is amazing to think that so many of the world's 7 billion live in similar conditions. Their hospitable and collectivist nature means that we are never short of helping hands, even from mothers with babies on their backs and the keen primary school kids.
Our structure is coming along very nicely. Now in the second half of the project, we are short on supplies so some of the lumber and roofing materials are being reused from old buildings. Today everyone was very busy all day, filling, sanding, priming, roofing and interacting. We have all been challenged in a number of ways, be it our patience, interpretation skills, or dealing with adverse situations such as stepping on nails (that was me).
The language barrier has made it tough to talk to the people about anything beyond the basics. We would all agree that our IFEJANT meetings have provided massive insights about the local slums, because we have had a translator who has provided great relief and knowledge. We have learned that children who work can provide nearly as much income as their parents, and are vital to family wellbeing. Kids may be as young as seven when they start to work, and schooling is just a single important part of one's education. The vast majority of youngsters above that age in Villa Maria probably work.
Even the craziest challenges on the trip have only added to the richness of the experience. We've found motivation through the sunny afternoons we've been blessed with, the smiling faces of the locals, and through each other. I cannot wait to complete our project and share what I've learned about a diverse country, community and people.
Matt Melville
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Lima, Peru: May 2011 Student Team
Our day started with our journey to villa maria which is around 50 minutes away from Casa Rodas Hostel in the area know as Miraflores, Lima. As slightly cloudy and gloomy as it was we were all filled with energy to start interacting with the locals and the children.
Our construction consisted of building three rooms, which were to be used for school and maintenance purposes. Today we finished the construction of the walls around all the three rooms. After all the barriers we have come across, especially the frustration with the language barrier, it’s amazing to see our hard work for the past week and a half start taking shape.
Today a number of the children’s mothers came by to help and we got to interact more with the locals. Our Spanish has improved a lot since our arrival and we can almost say all the construction equipment’s in Spanish, which is a progress from hand gesturing and signs. We know we are not changing the world with our small acts however we know that we are making a difference in these peoples’ lives and not to mention their influence on our lives.
Witnessing this first hand is nothing short of worthwhile.
Our construction consisted of building three rooms, which were to be used for school and maintenance purposes. Today we finished the construction of the walls around all the three rooms. After all the barriers we have come across, especially the frustration with the language barrier, it’s amazing to see our hard work for the past week and a half start taking shape.
Today a number of the children’s mothers came by to help and we got to interact more with the locals. Our Spanish has improved a lot since our arrival and we can almost say all the construction equipment’s in Spanish, which is a progress from hand gesturing and signs. We know we are not changing the world with our small acts however we know that we are making a difference in these peoples’ lives and not to mention their influence on our lives.
Witnessing this first hand is nothing short of worthwhile.
Suud Nahdi,
DWC Peru Volunteer Participant
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Student Team in Lima for 4 weeks working with IFEJANT
In a blur of the first few exciting and positively challenging days in Peru, many things stand out to me personally. I have adjusted to life here at Hostel Casa Rodas with my new small family, enjoying playing cards, making meals, swapping stories, sharing laughs, trying new foods and fruits, as well as getting some dirt under my fingernails at the school. At times, the nine of us seem to have become as close as the Peruvian cars.
Our work at the school in Villa Maria is extremely eye opening, especially for those of us who have never witnessed this type of poverty. The most interesting part of my experience thus far has been interacting with the children who are so happy with the smallest of pleasures, even stacking bottle caps together to create a pyramid structure can bring such joy. I am constantly learning new things about myself and about the world around me.
The language barrier between our group and the locals has been challenging, but at the same time it pushes us to learn and expand our vocabulary. So far this has been an incredible and enjoyable experience, I look forward to working at the school, playing with the kids, learning a new language, growing closer to my teammates, and to teaching them all euchre! I send my love to family and friends Canada!
Carley Hoja
DWC Participant
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Huancayo, Peru: Visiting with the school children was Wednesday's Highlight.
We can see clearly now, the first thing we did was to clean the windows on the ground floor of the administration building. What a difference it made to have clean windows and have that extra bit of sparkle. As the windows were being cleaned Jesse showed up with a surprise for the team. She had brought supplies for Pachemanca, an amazing Peruvian dinner baked traditionally in the ground. Instead of painting the team was set to digging a hole, and washing rocks and then potatoes in preparation of building the oven and supplies still in transit. All the team knew was that they were in for a real treat.
Pachemanca is a traditional Inca dinner, the first step after building the oven is to build a fire and let it burn until the rocks lining the ground oven are white hot. All the rocks are then taken out of the oven and potatoes are lined along the bottom they are then covered with hot rocks. The next layer was a shocking amount of meat, a rack of pork chops, a side of sheep and four chickens, all had been marinated the day before in herbs and spices. Next Lima beans were added and corn husks. Large sacs, plastic and finally dirt was used to create a seal and keep the heat in. We left it for an hour, uncovered it to discover a veritable feast. What a great way to create a lasting bond between the Groupe de Huancayco and the Canadian/ German team!
The highlight of the day was to visit a school of grade one and twos. The kids were shy at first but soon had lots of questions for us about Canada - questions about “squares” (playgrounds), Canadian children and animals; particularly the type of fish. We brought handmade wooden toys, chocolate, and hair pretties for the girls. Every child said gracias for their gift as their eyes lit up with excitement. Seeing the joy on the faces of some of these kids brought tears to our eyes. One of the teachers thanked the team for coming and for sharing with the school and welcomed us to future visits. As a bonus, the teachers brought out the rest of the students, and as luck would have it, we had enough toys and chocolate to give them all a gift, too. In total the school has 32 students. Just before the team left some of the children gave the team members giant hugs before rushing back to class. It was a moving experience and one the team will never forget.
DWC Participant
Dan
Pachemanca is a traditional Inca dinner, the first step after building the oven is to build a fire and let it burn until the rocks lining the ground oven are white hot. All the rocks are then taken out of the oven and potatoes are lined along the bottom they are then covered with hot rocks. The next layer was a shocking amount of meat, a rack of pork chops, a side of sheep and four chickens, all had been marinated the day before in herbs and spices. Next Lima beans were added and corn husks. Large sacs, plastic and finally dirt was used to create a seal and keep the heat in. We left it for an hour, uncovered it to discover a veritable feast. What a great way to create a lasting bond between the Groupe de Huancayco and the Canadian/ German team!
The highlight of the day was to visit a school of grade one and twos. The kids were shy at first but soon had lots of questions for us about Canada - questions about “squares” (playgrounds), Canadian children and animals; particularly the type of fish. We brought handmade wooden toys, chocolate, and hair pretties for the girls. Every child said gracias for their gift as their eyes lit up with excitement. Seeing the joy on the faces of some of these kids brought tears to our eyes. One of the teachers thanked the team for coming and for sharing with the school and welcomed us to future visits. As a bonus, the teachers brought out the rest of the students, and as luck would have it, we had enough toys and chocolate to give them all a gift, too. In total the school has 32 students. Just before the team left some of the children gave the team members giant hugs before rushing back to class. It was a moving experience and one the team will never forget.
DWC Participant
Dan
Huancayo, Peru: Tuesday's activities.
After days of scraping concrete, filling holes and cracks, base coats again and again, Maestro Jorge worked his baton and had the team working to finish the project with the final coats of color. Dan was up to his elbows in paint, literally mixing the paint with his hands so that the crew could once again put another coat of paint on the ceiling. It is absolutely amazing how great the final product looks and will brighten up the school and the neighborhood.
Once back at the hotel ,cleaned and refreshed, the team split into two groups one to go shopping for Alpaca blankets and the other to work on their natural beauty (manicures, pedicures and even one hair cut). We will let you guess who was on each team.
Charlotte the Tortuga is always on our minds. Throughout the trip little turtles have been appearing in the weirdest and oddest places. We think it is Charlotte’s spirit reminding us to work hard, have fun and that slow and steady wins the day.
Even though we had worked hard during the day, we were up to learning more Peruvian culture hosted by Jesse and the office staff. Callientitos, Pisco Sours, and new dance moves at a local establishment made for a very fun evening. Connie and Judy were especially good students, quickly picking up the groove.
DWC Participant
Dan
Once back at the hotel ,cleaned and refreshed, the team split into two groups one to go shopping for Alpaca blankets and the other to work on their natural beauty (manicures, pedicures and even one hair cut). We will let you guess who was on each team.
Charlotte the Tortuga is always on our minds. Throughout the trip little turtles have been appearing in the weirdest and oddest places. We think it is Charlotte’s spirit reminding us to work hard, have fun and that slow and steady wins the day.
Even though we had worked hard during the day, we were up to learning more Peruvian culture hosted by Jesse and the office staff. Callientitos, Pisco Sours, and new dance moves at a local establishment made for a very fun evening. Connie and Judy were especially good students, quickly picking up the groove.
DWC Participant
Dan
Huancayo, Peru: Monday of Holy Week.
The week started off in a good and productive manner. We arrived at the work site well rested from the weekend and ready to paint. It wasn’t long before Jorge (the painting maestro) had the spatula’s out, and pointing “Aqui, Aqui” It is so hard to believe that we missed so many spots. This is going to be the best finished ceiling in Huancayo. It is amazing to see the workmanship that is possible with limited resources and tools.
It is really cool to see all the pomp and ceremony of Holy Week . Each evening the Church square comes alive with elaborate processions around the square each celebrating a significant event in Christs’ life leading up to Easter Sunday. The streets are lined with families creating and selling elaborate woven palm leaves, sheath’s of wheat and breads to sell to the faithful. It has become a nightly ritual for us to watch the festivities as they occur.
Funny after seven days in Huancayo, we noticed that there are no franchise fast food restaurants in town, or at least none that we have seen. The streets are crowded with vendors selling incredibly smelling treats and tasty food, and little independent restaurants in every nook and cranny but no Americanized “McDonalds”. It seems like a little pocket that North America has not really found yet.
DWC Participant
Dan
It is really cool to see all the pomp and ceremony of Holy Week . Each evening the Church square comes alive with elaborate processions around the square each celebrating a significant event in Christs’ life leading up to Easter Sunday. The streets are lined with families creating and selling elaborate woven palm leaves, sheath’s of wheat and breads to sell to the faithful. It has become a nightly ritual for us to watch the festivities as they occur.
Funny after seven days in Huancayo, we noticed that there are no franchise fast food restaurants in town, or at least none that we have seen. The streets are crowded with vendors selling incredibly smelling treats and tasty food, and little independent restaurants in every nook and cranny but no Americanized “McDonalds”. It seems like a little pocket that North America has not really found yet.
DWC Participant
Dan
Monday, April 18, 2011
Huancayo, Peru: Updates from the first week.
We all arrived in Lima at different times, odd times, early or perhaps late times. Our team leader Tom Fair had everything organized so it was trouble-free travel upon arrival. There was a driver with name cards to identify us at the airport. In no time, he drove us to the Bayview Hotel in Miraflores. Dan and Tom arrived about 1:30 am on the 7th, just in time to have a celebratory beer. Paul arrived about 5:30 am, knocking on Dan's door to get a couple hours shut-eye before starting the Lima adventure. Conny flew in from Germany on the Apr 7th at about 10:00 pm. Finally Judy arrived on the 9th at 1:30 am, bursting through her roommate Conny's door and waking the whole hotel up. Judy's energy continues to carry on through this Peruvian adventure.
Tom arranged accommodation at the Bayview Hotel in Miraflores. It is quaint and very central to the action in the neighbourhood. Miraflores is an upscale part of Lima close to the coast. Staff at the hotel are friendly and helpful. One of the highlights of the hotel is a big turtle in the back patio. The team has named the turtle Charlotte. Dan is deathly afraid of Charlotte and has nightmares of her biting his toes off. However, Dan and Charlotte grown to live in a state of happy co-dependency, as Charlotte is fed fruit daily and in turn acts as a wine caddy by night.
It is unusual to have few days of free time before starting on the project in Huancayo. Some planned for a day or two to get adjusted. However we were set back a day because of the Presidential election, which wasn't hard to miss as every street was nearly covered in campaign posters or graffiti of various parties and their candidates. Everything shuts down for the day including buses to Huancayo and the sale of wine and beer. Given extra time for team building, the first order of business appeared to be to create names for team members.
Some how, it is a long story that no one quite remembers (or perhaps chooses to forget) but Dan was given the name red chicken. He didn't like that so much so we changed the name to 'Pollo Rojo' (red chicken). He still doesn't like it but consensus ruled. Since then he has become Senor Atlas. Another long story is how Tom got his name but everyone remembers this one. While eating at a restaurant the first evening in town Tom adventurously ordered a dish he was not familiar with. When the dish arrived, there was a large pile of what looked like chicken livers. Dan and Paul tried a piece each and agreed that one piece was just fine. Tom dug in and eat about half. Turns out that they were chicken hearts, thus the name Muchos Corazones, or Many hearts. Tio Thomas (Uncle Thomas) is Tom's other name. Conny quickly received the name Pequeno Diablo (Little Devil) because of the sparkle in her eyes. She brings really great energy to the team and adds a more international flavour to the group. When she speaks Spanish it is her third language. Judy has few names. Lima is hot and with her fair skin and red hair she was soon known as Frito Camarones (fried shrimp). And day or so later with some attention from local boys Roberto and Alberto she also became known as Abja Reina (Queen Bee). At times she shares the same name given to Paul, which is Momma Sito but hers is the feminine form of Momma Sita, for at they times parent the group. Possibly from missing their children at home. Paul is also known as San Pablo (Saint Paul) he acts as body guard to Conny and Judy when out on the streets seeing as he stands a good foot or two above the locals and keeps an eye out for possible danger. A better name would be Grande Pablo.
On a more serious note, we discovered that Lima has excellent cuisine (aside from chicken hearts), good shopping and many interesting districts to visit. Dan and Paul had a go at surfing. The ocean off Lima has a consistent 5 foot breakers and it was tough even getting out to try to catch a wave. The instructors would yell 'paddle! paddle! paddle!' for encouragement and one time Paul (or maybe Dan) turned back to their instructor and yelled 'But I am!'. Dan successfully got up after a few tries, whilst Paul only managed to get to his knees on the board then toppled over. However they got back to the shore they were both happy with the experience. Dan and Paul weren't the only ones to catch a wave though. Conny, Tom and Judy had stayed on shore to watch the boys surf. Before heading out Paul had prophetically mentioned never to turn your back to the ocean. Well, apparently the ocean doesn't like to be ignored either! During a conversation between Judy and Tom a rogue waved completely doused the two from head to toe. Conny being more mindful of her surroundings managed to jump out of the way and was spared wet clothing.
We took the bus to Huancayo on the 12th and started our project at the school on the 13th. The bus ride was long but comfortable as the bus taken was a double decker tour type. We were able to watch three movies in big reclining chairs and was served a dinner too. The road was twisty and seemed to climb endlessly into the heart of the Andes. At times the bus slowed to a crawl and we were able to watch the Andes 500 as other vehicles would dangerously pass us on the narrow roads; one side at times being a cliff and the other the mountain wall. So there was little room for error. The best way to deal with this was to just go to sleep and hope you woke up still alive.
Our bus driver safely brought us into Huancayo late in the night and the team was greeted at the bus terminal by a large contingent of locals involved with the project. We immediately felt very welcomed and watched our luggage be whisked away by truck to the hotel, Los Balcones. After being on the bus for 8 plus hours a walk to the hotel with Violetta (the project co-ordinator) sounded perfect. We all felt the altitude (Huancayo being 10,500 feet) by the time we arrived. Even after being here a for nearly a week climbing the two flights of stairs to our rooms leaves us out of breath at times and it is not that we are in bad shape or so we hope anyways.
Work started on the 13th and so far the team have put in three full days. The day starts with breakfast at the corner cafe and the van picking the team up at 8:15. The same route to the work site is rarely taken more than once so there has been a great opportunity for the team to see Huancayo. There are many Volkswagen Bugs used as transportation in Peru and naturally the game Punch Bug was started to pass the time during the drive to the worksite. It has now become a death match game between Dan and Judy with Conny and Tom being helpful at pointing out the upcoming Bugs for the two of them.
The plan for the group originally was building desks, unbeknown to group leader Tom the plan had changed. The team was now to paint the upper level of the administration building. Day One had the team scraping and sanding the walls and ceiling smooth for the paint. We are all fast workers and in a couple hours had that done. We felt good about our accomplishment and looked forward to the next day's schedule of painting. Days two and three were spent filling holes and cracks with putty and then scraping and sanding the areas smooth in preparation of painting. The afternoon of day three the team was able to put up the first coat of paint. Day four saw the second coat and then a third coat of paint go up. Week two has been scheduled for working on garden plots which are incorporated into the walkway design in the courtyard area. The walkway was made by a previous DWC team and their team members names can be found written in cement tiles, sometimes accompanied with Canadian pins or Canadian money for embellishment.
Each day the group is greeted at the work site by their interpretor, Jesse. Jesse spends the day with us and helps with communication between the painter and the team members. We tend to make a mess of the Spanish language but no one can say we don't try. Jesse is very patient with our attempts at it. At lunch time the Huancayo home team, consisting of Nancy, Christian and Huan Carlos, arrive with lunch. The meal is always delicious with a lot of variety to choose from. The home team has been very accommodating and helpful.
Jesse has also worked as a tour guide for the team. She has taken the team to see many sites in and out of Huanycayo and helped to explain some of Huancayo's history. One night she arranged for the group to go see traditional Huancayo musicians complete with dancers who performed two dances specific to the city of Huancayo. At one point the dancers picked Conny and Dan to join in on the second dance. The team has also seen how alpaca wool is made into yarn and weaved for blankets.
Come back and read up on the team members various adventures and illnesses!
Collaborative effort by DWC Participants,
Judy, Paul and Dan
Tom arranged accommodation at the Bayview Hotel in Miraflores. It is quaint and very central to the action in the neighbourhood. Miraflores is an upscale part of Lima close to the coast. Staff at the hotel are friendly and helpful. One of the highlights of the hotel is a big turtle in the back patio. The team has named the turtle Charlotte. Dan is deathly afraid of Charlotte and has nightmares of her biting his toes off. However, Dan and Charlotte grown to live in a state of happy co-dependency, as Charlotte is fed fruit daily and in turn acts as a wine caddy by night.
It is unusual to have few days of free time before starting on the project in Huancayo. Some planned for a day or two to get adjusted. However we were set back a day because of the Presidential election, which wasn't hard to miss as every street was nearly covered in campaign posters or graffiti of various parties and their candidates. Everything shuts down for the day including buses to Huancayo and the sale of wine and beer. Given extra time for team building, the first order of business appeared to be to create names for team members.
Some how, it is a long story that no one quite remembers (or perhaps chooses to forget) but Dan was given the name red chicken. He didn't like that so much so we changed the name to 'Pollo Rojo' (red chicken). He still doesn't like it but consensus ruled. Since then he has become Senor Atlas. Another long story is how Tom got his name but everyone remembers this one. While eating at a restaurant the first evening in town Tom adventurously ordered a dish he was not familiar with. When the dish arrived, there was a large pile of what looked like chicken livers. Dan and Paul tried a piece each and agreed that one piece was just fine. Tom dug in and eat about half. Turns out that they were chicken hearts, thus the name Muchos Corazones, or Many hearts. Tio Thomas (Uncle Thomas) is Tom's other name. Conny quickly received the name Pequeno Diablo (Little Devil) because of the sparkle in her eyes. She brings really great energy to the team and adds a more international flavour to the group. When she speaks Spanish it is her third language. Judy has few names. Lima is hot and with her fair skin and red hair she was soon known as Frito Camarones (fried shrimp). And day or so later with some attention from local boys Roberto and Alberto she also became known as Abja Reina (Queen Bee). At times she shares the same name given to Paul, which is Momma Sito but hers is the feminine form of Momma Sita, for at they times parent the group. Possibly from missing their children at home. Paul is also known as San Pablo (Saint Paul) he acts as body guard to Conny and Judy when out on the streets seeing as he stands a good foot or two above the locals and keeps an eye out for possible danger. A better name would be Grande Pablo.
On a more serious note, we discovered that Lima has excellent cuisine (aside from chicken hearts), good shopping and many interesting districts to visit. Dan and Paul had a go at surfing. The ocean off Lima has a consistent 5 foot breakers and it was tough even getting out to try to catch a wave. The instructors would yell 'paddle! paddle! paddle!' for encouragement and one time Paul (or maybe Dan) turned back to their instructor and yelled 'But I am!'. Dan successfully got up after a few tries, whilst Paul only managed to get to his knees on the board then toppled over. However they got back to the shore they were both happy with the experience. Dan and Paul weren't the only ones to catch a wave though. Conny, Tom and Judy had stayed on shore to watch the boys surf. Before heading out Paul had prophetically mentioned never to turn your back to the ocean. Well, apparently the ocean doesn't like to be ignored either! During a conversation between Judy and Tom a rogue waved completely doused the two from head to toe. Conny being more mindful of her surroundings managed to jump out of the way and was spared wet clothing.
We took the bus to Huancayo on the 12th and started our project at the school on the 13th. The bus ride was long but comfortable as the bus taken was a double decker tour type. We were able to watch three movies in big reclining chairs and was served a dinner too. The road was twisty and seemed to climb endlessly into the heart of the Andes. At times the bus slowed to a crawl and we were able to watch the Andes 500 as other vehicles would dangerously pass us on the narrow roads; one side at times being a cliff and the other the mountain wall. So there was little room for error. The best way to deal with this was to just go to sleep and hope you woke up still alive.
Our bus driver safely brought us into Huancayo late in the night and the team was greeted at the bus terminal by a large contingent of locals involved with the project. We immediately felt very welcomed and watched our luggage be whisked away by truck to the hotel, Los Balcones. After being on the bus for 8 plus hours a walk to the hotel with Violetta (the project co-ordinator) sounded perfect. We all felt the altitude (Huancayo being 10,500 feet) by the time we arrived. Even after being here a for nearly a week climbing the two flights of stairs to our rooms leaves us out of breath at times and it is not that we are in bad shape or so we hope anyways.
Work started on the 13th and so far the team have put in three full days. The day starts with breakfast at the corner cafe and the van picking the team up at 8:15. The same route to the work site is rarely taken more than once so there has been a great opportunity for the team to see Huancayo. There are many Volkswagen Bugs used as transportation in Peru and naturally the game Punch Bug was started to pass the time during the drive to the worksite. It has now become a death match game between Dan and Judy with Conny and Tom being helpful at pointing out the upcoming Bugs for the two of them.
The plan for the group originally was building desks, unbeknown to group leader Tom the plan had changed. The team was now to paint the upper level of the administration building. Day One had the team scraping and sanding the walls and ceiling smooth for the paint. We are all fast workers and in a couple hours had that done. We felt good about our accomplishment and looked forward to the next day's schedule of painting. Days two and three were spent filling holes and cracks with putty and then scraping and sanding the areas smooth in preparation of painting. The afternoon of day three the team was able to put up the first coat of paint. Day four saw the second coat and then a third coat of paint go up. Week two has been scheduled for working on garden plots which are incorporated into the walkway design in the courtyard area. The walkway was made by a previous DWC team and their team members names can be found written in cement tiles, sometimes accompanied with Canadian pins or Canadian money for embellishment.
Each day the group is greeted at the work site by their interpretor, Jesse. Jesse spends the day with us and helps with communication between the painter and the team members. We tend to make a mess of the Spanish language but no one can say we don't try. Jesse is very patient with our attempts at it. At lunch time the Huancayo home team, consisting of Nancy, Christian and Huan Carlos, arrive with lunch. The meal is always delicious with a lot of variety to choose from. The home team has been very accommodating and helpful.
Jesse has also worked as a tour guide for the team. She has taken the team to see many sites in and out of Huanycayo and helped to explain some of Huancayo's history. One night she arranged for the group to go see traditional Huancayo musicians complete with dancers who performed two dances specific to the city of Huancayo. At one point the dancers picked Conny and Dan to join in on the second dance. The team has also seen how alpaca wool is made into yarn and weaved for blankets.
Come back and read up on the team members various adventures and illnesses!
Collaborative effort by DWC Participants,
Judy, Paul and Dan
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