The final week was bittersweet. And cold. We got a taste of what fall feels and looks like in Peru. The heavy mist and temperature would be associated with the same weather on Vancouver Island. But we kept working through it and the mud. Throughout the period of four days we were able to finish off a cement path leading into a building that will be finished soon. On Friday we were treated to a special ceremony for the principal and for us. After dancing and celebrating, it was time for us to go home.
There aren’t enough words that can explain this experience. Peru is one of those places you have to go to witness the culture first hand. We've learned to live by their rules for the past month and doing something different feels almost foreign. Peru is filled with the most amazing and beautiful people, a few we became lifelong friends with and hope to see them again in the near future. Their rich history and landscape is breathtaking and just magnificent. Volunteering in this country was a life changing experience and we couldn’t have chosen a better country to go to.
It was a short week coming into the third week we were here. It started to get colder coming into the season of fall. Cloud covered our worksite most of the day, but we never stopped being positive and working through it. The parents started to help us out by moving big rocks, raking the dirt to make it level, and clearing a path to make it easier. Even though the rain (which is more like heavy mist), they kept going. The amount of effort and perseverance these people put into is incredible. And they work with a baby on their backs! At the end of the week we were able to finish the steps. We were even given one step to put each of our names in.
The weekend cultural excursion was to Machu Picchu.
We started week two through the dusty wind, working hard on the wall. It was nothing what we’ve expected before and we were all sweating buckets at the end of the day. We hauled so much dirt that I never wanted to see it again. But though all the mixing and rock digging, we slowly saw the wall come to life. It’s amazing what team work and positivity can do!
During the week we also got to spend a lot of time with the children. We did as much as we could with them, and seeing their bright smiling faces put more happiness into our day. They were very competitive with soccer and even volleyball. Some would have a great future if they kept playing it. But these are the happiest kids I’ve ever seen.
