We're back in San Salvador, airport number 3 of 4 today. Our flight takes off in a little 4 hours and we find ourselves at the same cafe that we were in on day 1 of our travels. Our hour and a half layover in Lima was anything but, as we were one of the last ones to board the plane once we got done with security and other lines. It was a pretty bumpy ride from Lima to here, with turbulence going on the entire second half of the flight, but we're here. Only our flight from here to SFO and we're back home. What an adventure. Maysa's battling stomach issues again, but it seems as if she's getting a little better. The airline rep lady in Cusco was nice enough to make it so we didn't have to pick up and recheck luggage along the way, so we'll just pick it up when we get home. I'm really craving America right now, so I just ordered a slice of apple pie. It's very American. That prompts me to get to the point of this; we had an idea that hatched the first week of the trip, but it wasn't fitting to write about until now. Just a simple list of things we will miss about Cusco, things we won't miss about Cusco:
Will miss:
- Mama
- The beautiful mountains
- The children
- Los Perros
* Cheap food and drinks
* Being able to go out in whatever the hell it is you happen to be wearing at any given moment
* Not having to drive anywhere
* Picturesque views just about everywhere you look
* Having conversations in English and no one knows what the hell you're talking about
* Pisco sours
* All the walking
* Paying for the majority of things in coin
* Being able to barter on the price of just about everything
* Being the tallest person in 100 miles
* The cool people we met along the way, and the experiences we shared
Won't miss:
- Waking up in the middle of the night with your mouth so dry you can't rub your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
- Paying One Sole to use "public" restrooms.
- Pooping everything you ate an hour ago.
- Cramps in your stomach, cold, sweaty palms, and no restroom in sight. If there is a bathroom, there's no toilet paper... and no soap.
- Getting zapped in the shower.
- Being charged triple the price of anything and everything.
- Nosebleeds.
- Not knowing whether or not you're going to make it alive to where the cab driver is taking you
- People trying to hustle you every 5 steps (like internet pop-ups)
- Thick black clouds of smoke from the tailpipe of every other vehicle
- Thick black clouds of smoke from your lungs when you cough
- NO WATER PRESSURE
- Not being able to drink tap water
- Potatoes and rice at every lunch, bread and butter at every breakfast
- Dirty everything...
- All the walking
- Buses with no headroom, legroom, shoulderroom, etc etc etc...
- Having to barter on the price of just about everything.
- Comfortable beds
- Carpeted floors
- Having to keep your hand in your pocket where your money is when walking around in public
- "No, gracias."
- "Amigo, llevase."
- Hitting my head on anything and everything...seriously, I think I need a CAT scan
- Driving, processed food (I know it sounds weird), being able to order a soda or beer and know it's going to be cold when it gets to you, good service in restaurants, not waking up congested in the morning, sports on TV other than soccer
That's it for now....thanks for reading, following, commenting, and supporting us. We've got a lot more to do when we get back to keep helping out, but I think we'll take a few days off. See you back in the States!
- M&Z
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Last day of projects and current happenings
Buenas!
Yesterday morning we went with Rocsana, the head of the orphanage and a few of the children to go purchase uniforms so they would be allowed to attend school. As is the theme for this trip, nothing went quite as we planned it. After arriving at the orphanage and saying goodbyes to the kids who go to school in the afternoons, we walked about a mile and a half to the first school, where we were to buy 5 ties and 5 jackets for the children.
When we got inside the school, these two women who should have nothing to do with children, verbally assaulted Mario and Christian, Rocsana, and ourselves. They said the children weren't disallowed because of uniforms, and it was because they didn't have transfer papers from a previous school. They called the children liars, said they didn't do homework, and said they were talking to a bunch of ignorants. With all of the commotion of recess, I didn't really follow the conversation completely, and I'm thankful that I didn't. I would've slapped a bitch. Maysa, however, didn't hold her tongue and tore into the teachers. They were more concerned with following a protocol than with providing a child, five children, with an education. They just see the children as paperwork and didn't show any empathy for the situation. It takes a lot of nerve and no love to attack a mother of 18 children, only 3 of whom are actually hers, who works sun up to past sun down trying to love and nurture as best she can. But, of course, it's her fault that she can't track down the kids' parents halfway across the country to get their past school records. Maybe she should just do it in her free time....suffice to say it was frustrating. We finally talked to a woman interested in helping get the kids back to school. We purchased the ties, but had to go somewhere else to get the vests made for them. The last woman we talked to let us know that the teachers had said the kids couldn't attend school without uniforms and said she'd write a note excusing them from wearing uniforms for a week while we got theirs made. We then walked to the school that Cliber and Carlitos attend to get ties for them and a vest for Cliber. He was so excited to complete his uniform.
It was truly a great feeling, and the kids were so appreciative. We then went to Jhonatan's school to buy his 'buzz', like a tracksuit. The director there was another man who has no business working with children or in education. He quite obviously neither possesses compassion nor intelligence. Christian used to go to the same school, and the director wanted to charge 70 soles to send his papers to the new school. It only costs ten soles, so he's trying to fatten his wallet, and his stomach, off of an orphan's necessity for an education. Maysa had had it at this point, and frankly, we all had. He was walking away from us and she said, vociferously, "Tu eres un puerco!" And meant it.
- Z
I have never called someone a pig and actually meant it. The guy was disgusting in every way. He doesn't believe in poverty, he believes the children should work for their uniforms. He wasn't happy that we were buying it for them. As he started walking away from us, I called him back and said, "Give me Christian's papers so he can go to school!" He said, "70 soles." I asked Zach to pay it, but the mama of the orphanage told us not to, she is going to take the defense of the people there, she was not going to give him a penny over ten soles. That's when he started walking away. What I actually said was, "He's a pig, that's what he is!" I meant it too. He is a disgusting pig. Anyone who takes advantage of orphan children is a dirty pig. At the school, the teachers were telling us what bad kids the children were, what a bad mother Rocsana was, how the children didn't pay the eight soles for the party they had on mother's day, etc... I tried reasoning with them. I told them that Rocsana had 18 children, that sometimes they had no food to eat or gas to cook their food. I told them that there was no way Rocsana could be on top of everything, and she definitely didn't have money to pay for parties. I told them they should allow the ids in school. They called us ignorant. They said, "Are we talking to a bunch of ignorants here? There are mothers who have ten children and they have their uniforms and documents." That's when I responded, "You say you're talking to a bunch of ignorants, but I am the one talking to ignorants. You're ignorant. There is no comparison between these children who have no parents, nobody to stand up for them, and children with parents. These are orphans. You should be trying to help them instead of attacking them. Instead of running your mouth and criticizing, why don't you go to their house and volunteer? Help them do their homework. I see you're good at talking, how about some action?" They were pissed! Jerks, aholes! My heart hurts for the children. I'm glad they got to see someone standing up for them. I'm sorry I called the guy a pig in front of them, but hey... it came so naturally. Back to Zach!
-M
After all of this, we did manage to get all of the kids their ties, we're getting the jackets made for the kids, we got the vest we needed, one of the buzos we needed, and we're getting the other one made. They're such good kids, and some of them are very intelligent for their ages as well, I just hope they get the opportunities they deserve in school. We also gave Rocsana some money to buy something nice for herself. She works so hard with the children all of the time, she deserves to be able to treat herself every once in a while.
After stopping for lunch and picking up more donations at home, we headed out for Maysa's project to say our last goodbyes. We took the baby wipes and children's vitamins, and along the way picked up 5 boxes of gloves, and some snacks for the children. We went to San Juan de Dios, dropped off the things, Maysa said he goodbyes, then we walked home and let out a collective sigh of relief. We were done.
After showering up and loafing around for a bit, we grabbed Sam and went to this pizza and chicken place right around the corner. "Best pizza in the world." - Maysa. We ordered the vegetarian...with every kind of meat they had. And pineapple. It was pretty awesome pizza. Maysa also ordered a liter of beer, and she didn't want any help drinking it! Well, she got a little help, but put up an admirable fight. It was the perfect end to the day.
Well, we're done with our smoothies now, so we'll sign off and go galavant until dinner, when our mama is going to get us some pollos a la milanesa 'muy ricos' and we'll have a family dinner tonight. Until next time.
Yesterday morning we went with Rocsana, the head of the orphanage and a few of the children to go purchase uniforms so they would be allowed to attend school. As is the theme for this trip, nothing went quite as we planned it. After arriving at the orphanage and saying goodbyes to the kids who go to school in the afternoons, we walked about a mile and a half to the first school, where we were to buy 5 ties and 5 jackets for the children.
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| Luciano and Maysa |
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| Saying goodbye to Gino and Ronal |
When we got inside the school, these two women who should have nothing to do with children, verbally assaulted Mario and Christian, Rocsana, and ourselves. They said the children weren't disallowed because of uniforms, and it was because they didn't have transfer papers from a previous school. They called the children liars, said they didn't do homework, and said they were talking to a bunch of ignorants. With all of the commotion of recess, I didn't really follow the conversation completely, and I'm thankful that I didn't. I would've slapped a bitch. Maysa, however, didn't hold her tongue and tore into the teachers. They were more concerned with following a protocol than with providing a child, five children, with an education. They just see the children as paperwork and didn't show any empathy for the situation. It takes a lot of nerve and no love to attack a mother of 18 children, only 3 of whom are actually hers, who works sun up to past sun down trying to love and nurture as best she can. But, of course, it's her fault that she can't track down the kids' parents halfway across the country to get their past school records. Maybe she should just do it in her free time....suffice to say it was frustrating. We finally talked to a woman interested in helping get the kids back to school. We purchased the ties, but had to go somewhere else to get the vests made for them. The last woman we talked to let us know that the teachers had said the kids couldn't attend school without uniforms and said she'd write a note excusing them from wearing uniforms for a week while we got theirs made. We then walked to the school that Cliber and Carlitos attend to get ties for them and a vest for Cliber. He was so excited to complete his uniform.
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| Cliber with his new vest...he was so excited! |
- Z
I have never called someone a pig and actually meant it. The guy was disgusting in every way. He doesn't believe in poverty, he believes the children should work for their uniforms. He wasn't happy that we were buying it for them. As he started walking away from us, I called him back and said, "Give me Christian's papers so he can go to school!" He said, "70 soles." I asked Zach to pay it, but the mama of the orphanage told us not to, she is going to take the defense of the people there, she was not going to give him a penny over ten soles. That's when he started walking away. What I actually said was, "He's a pig, that's what he is!" I meant it too. He is a disgusting pig. Anyone who takes advantage of orphan children is a dirty pig. At the school, the teachers were telling us what bad kids the children were, what a bad mother Rocsana was, how the children didn't pay the eight soles for the party they had on mother's day, etc... I tried reasoning with them. I told them that Rocsana had 18 children, that sometimes they had no food to eat or gas to cook their food. I told them that there was no way Rocsana could be on top of everything, and she definitely didn't have money to pay for parties. I told them they should allow the ids in school. They called us ignorant. They said, "Are we talking to a bunch of ignorants here? There are mothers who have ten children and they have their uniforms and documents." That's when I responded, "You say you're talking to a bunch of ignorants, but I am the one talking to ignorants. You're ignorant. There is no comparison between these children who have no parents, nobody to stand up for them, and children with parents. These are orphans. You should be trying to help them instead of attacking them. Instead of running your mouth and criticizing, why don't you go to their house and volunteer? Help them do their homework. I see you're good at talking, how about some action?" They were pissed! Jerks, aholes! My heart hurts for the children. I'm glad they got to see someone standing up for them. I'm sorry I called the guy a pig in front of them, but hey... it came so naturally. Back to Zach!
-M
After all of this, we did manage to get all of the kids their ties, we're getting the jackets made for the kids, we got the vest we needed, one of the buzos we needed, and we're getting the other one made. They're such good kids, and some of them are very intelligent for their ages as well, I just hope they get the opportunities they deserve in school. We also gave Rocsana some money to buy something nice for herself. She works so hard with the children all of the time, she deserves to be able to treat herself every once in a while.
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| Jhonathan trying on his new buza |
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| Donations for San Juan de Dios |
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| Our 'al gusto' pizza |
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Zach's last day at the orphanage.
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| They made us a going away present. How sweet! |
10 Kilos of sugar
60 eggs
9 liters of milk
15 bars of soap
12 tubes of toothpaste
40 rolls of bread
10 Kilos of oatmeal
3 2L containers of strawberry yougurt
6 kilos of hot dogs
2 kilos of butter
Treats for the kids
Fruits and vegetables
1 whole cake
The cab driver charged us seven soles to take us to the orphanage, the usual price is three soles. We decided to take the cab anyways because we had waaay too much to carry. We were greeted at the orphanage by a storm of children screaming, "Hermanito, hermanito!" Two of them jumped on Zach while the others started helping with the groceries. There was a little girl, I'm guessing she is three, carrying milk inside. My heart felt so content to see the children so happy with food, and to see their excitement as they received our gift. There are many children at the orphanage, they are all extremely loving. I noticed that all their clothes are dirty and they are starved for attention. At every moment of our visit there was someone hanging on our necks. Since it was Zach's last day we decided to bring the children treats. We brought them chocolate wafers, caramelos, and cake. When we noticed the sugar kicking in, we decided to take them outside to play. Zach played with them for a some time while I stayed inside and talked to the lady who runs the orphanage. Brace yourself, this is very sad. Most of the kids who are at the orphanage have been raped. David, the autistic boy, was found beaten and raped on a street. He was taken to the orphanage by one of the workers and has lived there since. Cezar has also been raped, and Felipe... The list goes on. I had to swallow to hold back the tears. What type of monster would hurt innocent children? My heart breaks when I think of everything these children have been through, and what they're going through now. Last week, Zach had to buy gas for them to cook their food because they had no money. Seven of the little boys haven't been to school in a week because they have incomplete uniforms. The mom of the orphanage was telling me that the most difficult times for the children are Christmas and Mother's Day. She said that during Christmas time the bigger children will just stay in their rooms. She tries to get them out but they want to stay in bed... and they cry a lot.
I cried all the way home. I couldn't help it. It's too much suffering for innocent creatures, they're so little. Zach and I decided that we want to send them Christmas gifts, even if we buy them toys at Thrift Town. We want to do anything we possibly can to make their lives a little happier. Tomorrow we're going to meet the mama at 10:00 AM to buy the children their school uniforms. It is so interesting that the uniforms are going to cost $302.00 soles, and we have exactly $300.00 soles left of our donation money. I guess that's all I have to say for now. Check out our pictures. Good night to you all.
-M
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| Some of the food delivery to the orphanage. |
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| Ever, 13, son of the mama of the orphanage coming to greet us and help bring in groceries. |
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| All the hermanitos helping bring stuff inside. |
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| The spread laid out on the table. |
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| Cesar and Christiano were pretty stoked |
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| Flabia and Zach enjoying dulces |
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| Sharing dried apricots with David, 17. |
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| Cesar is enjoying some treats, while I'm checking out a hot camerawoman! |
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| Luciano, 5, enjoying his wafers |
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| GROUP HUG! |
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| Soccer outside with Christian, Felipe, Cliber, Ronal, and Mario |
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| Group pictures for last day. |
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| Adios, hermanitos! |
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Back from Machu Picchu
So, this time I decided I wanted to have fun, to see everything Peru has to offer. Last time I was here I took on two projects, and did my own work on the side. I didn't go to Machu Piccho, Lake Titicaca or Puno. Actually, last time I didn't do much of anything. I'm wondering if that is why I didn't see all the ugliness I'm seeing this time. To say the truth, I am really disappointed. I wouldn't recommend people coming to Cusco for travel. Today alone, we were lied to and taken advantage of about three times. I don't remember these things happening here before. As a foreigner, you walk around with a big dollar sign stamped on your forehead. You are nothing but an opportunity for a quick buck. If someone smiles or calls you "amigo," watch out, they're trying to sell you something for double its worth.
We booked our trip through a travel agency downtown. We were told to wait for the bus in front of a major supermarket here in Cusco. We were there on time, they were late. We decided to go into a coffee shop to buy some coffee while we waited. While we were inside, the bus arrived. The lady came inside rushing us, "Vamonos señorita, por favor. Deja el cafe!" We had to leave our coffee only to be rushed into the bus like cattle. I do not have words to describe the road that we took to get there. I was afraid for my life. If was a dirt road, with no side rails, and no curb. Something straight out of a horror movie. We were at about 10,000 feet above see level, circling mountains to get to Machu Picchu, and the damn driver was speeding. Mr. Fr. I don't know what gives these people the right to risk our lives. Tourists are treated as if they are stupid, people try to fool you left and right. They take advantage of the fact that you don't know, or they assume you don't know how things work, and how much things are really supposed to cost. It's ugly. It's shameful. We went to eat at a restaurant and had 25% of the value of our meal added to our tab for a "service charge," when I asked the guy about it he said everybody charges it. Liar. We went to two neighboring restaurants, people here charge 10%. We went back and he wouldn't give us our money back. It's ok, we're going to cancel the transaction on the credit card. There are people who see things happening and they come and apologize to us, but nothing makes it better. There is no worst feeling than that of being taken advantage of, of trusting someone's word, only to realize they were trying to make a quick buck. What a shame. I hope people realize that this attitude and behavior is not helping them, this is going to drive tourists away. As for us, our suggestion is, if you have the opportunity to travel, go somewhere you'll be respected, don't come here. I feel sad for Cusco and extremely disappointed. We are not sure we want to come back here again, we are that pissed off. We have talked about it, helping people was the only thing that made our stay here worthwhile, the rest of the time we were too pissed off to enjoy ourselves.
We're going to focus on our projects for the remainder of the time here, we have to make a difference in innocent children's lives. We understand that it is not their fault people are treating us the way they are. I know that the number of volunteers in Cusco is going to decline if things continue this way, it makes me sad for the children. Oh well, what can we do? I hate to see all this ugliness, can't wait to be back home.
-M
We booked our trip through a travel agency downtown. We were told to wait for the bus in front of a major supermarket here in Cusco. We were there on time, they were late. We decided to go into a coffee shop to buy some coffee while we waited. While we were inside, the bus arrived. The lady came inside rushing us, "Vamonos señorita, por favor. Deja el cafe!" We had to leave our coffee only to be rushed into the bus like cattle. I do not have words to describe the road that we took to get there. I was afraid for my life. If was a dirt road, with no side rails, and no curb. Something straight out of a horror movie. We were at about 10,000 feet above see level, circling mountains to get to Machu Picchu, and the damn driver was speeding. Mr. Fr. I don't know what gives these people the right to risk our lives. Tourists are treated as if they are stupid, people try to fool you left and right. They take advantage of the fact that you don't know, or they assume you don't know how things work, and how much things are really supposed to cost. It's ugly. It's shameful. We went to eat at a restaurant and had 25% of the value of our meal added to our tab for a "service charge," when I asked the guy about it he said everybody charges it. Liar. We went to two neighboring restaurants, people here charge 10%. We went back and he wouldn't give us our money back. It's ok, we're going to cancel the transaction on the credit card. There are people who see things happening and they come and apologize to us, but nothing makes it better. There is no worst feeling than that of being taken advantage of, of trusting someone's word, only to realize they were trying to make a quick buck. What a shame. I hope people realize that this attitude and behavior is not helping them, this is going to drive tourists away. As for us, our suggestion is, if you have the opportunity to travel, go somewhere you'll be respected, don't come here. I feel sad for Cusco and extremely disappointed. We are not sure we want to come back here again, we are that pissed off. We have talked about it, helping people was the only thing that made our stay here worthwhile, the rest of the time we were too pissed off to enjoy ourselves.
We're going to focus on our projects for the remainder of the time here, we have to make a difference in innocent children's lives. We understand that it is not their fault people are treating us the way they are. I know that the number of volunteers in Cusco is going to decline if things continue this way, it makes me sad for the children. Oh well, what can we do? I hate to see all this ugliness, can't wait to be back home.
-M
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Another big day tomorrow
Well, we're both feeling better. I woke up with both nostrils clear and Maysa's still semi-sleeping. Yesterday we added to Tuesday's purchases to the tune of 288kg rice, 100kg sugar, 50kg oatmeal, and 192 liters worth of evaporated milk. We hired Rafael, the same taxi driver that took us home from the plastics store, and make two trips to a place that sells in bulk. It was tricky, as we had to find the best prices, buy and transport all of the food to our host house in a limited time frame, as Rafael had to pick up two of his daughters from the hospital and take one to school. We managed to get all of this in two trips in his cab that's about the size of a Hyundai Accent, but a little smaller. Can you say spacious?
The lady who sold us the goods was a bit of a pushy businessperson, but Maysa found out why while I was taking the first car load to our house with Rafael. The lady said that it isn't uncommon for volunteers to buy a few bags of rice, then ask for a receipt saying that they bought much more, so they can get more money. Okay lady, that's great, but that's not us, so don't be a jerk. An additional obstacle was that the street is being repaved in front of the store, so Rafael had to park his cab about a block away. A boy from the store loaded bags on a dolly, while I hustled sacks of food to the cab and Rafael loaded them up. Maysa wanted to get pictures of this, but we didn't want to keep Rafael from his daughters, so we rushed and got it all finished just in him for him to pick up the girls.
Once we had all of the stuff unloaded in our living room, we started making bags to distribute to the families in the pueblo. Using measuring cups, we tried to get about 5kg of rice, 2kg of sugar, and a kilo of oatmeal in each. After finishing about half of the rice with Maysa, I had to go to my project at the orphanage, and our housemate Sam, a volunteer from Brussels, Belgium, helped Maysa for 3 hours. They got all of the bags of rice, sugar and oatmeal made, and put them into larger bags that we can hand out to individual families. Maysa and Sam assembled 56 "care packages" yesterday. Awesome work. We still need to get some more oatmeal, and might grab some pasta to give to the families as well. We also are saving some of the stuff in bulk to donate to the school and leave in their pantry.
Today, we're going to take the remaining money and buy an electric hair clipper and hair scissors so the teachers can cut the kids' hair at the school, instead of having to take them into Cusco. We're also going to buy a blender for the orphanage, so they can blend up fruit and make juice so the kids get more nutrients. We're also going to try and find a good deal on a photocopier to take to the school, so the teachers don't have to make the trek into Cusco to make copies of the schoolwork to give to the children. After we get done with purchases today, we're going to finish the 10 remaining bags that don't have oatmeal, and get the clothing we're taking ready as well. Then, we should be ready to be picked up by the Alcalde tomorrow morning at 7 to go and make our drop. We're very excited to see all of the work coming together, and will let you know how it goes. Ciao!
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| Just your typical Cusco cab ride |
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| Our friend Sr. Rafael |
Once we had all of the stuff unloaded in our living room, we started making bags to distribute to the families in the pueblo. Using measuring cups, we tried to get about 5kg of rice, 2kg of sugar, and a kilo of oatmeal in each. After finishing about half of the rice with Maysa, I had to go to my project at the orphanage, and our housemate Sam, a volunteer from Brussels, Belgium, helped Maysa for 3 hours. They got all of the bags of rice, sugar and oatmeal made, and put them into larger bags that we can hand out to individual families. Maysa and Sam assembled 56 "care packages" yesterday. Awesome work. We still need to get some more oatmeal, and might grab some pasta to give to the families as well. We also are saving some of the stuff in bulk to donate to the school and leave in their pantry.
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| Food we bought on Wednesday |
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| Crunching the numbers to see how much money we have left. Some for our projects, none to spend on us! |
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| The first bags of rice |
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| Getting some bags knocked out |
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| Sam helping us get ready |
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| "That's a lot of food!" |
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| Sam and Maysa putting everything together in the big bags |
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| All in an afternoon's work |
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Productive sick day
It's 10:30pm and neither one of us is feeling too hot, so this'll be a quick one, with more to follow once we're closer to 100%. Still reeling from the weekend trip to Puno and Lake Titicaca, we went downtown and found some good deals on things to take to our projects. A household necessity type store and a store specializing in plastics are right next to one another, and when we told them the type of work we were doing and the quantities that we wanted to purchase, they were able to discount the prices a bit for us. For the hospital that Maysa and Jasmine work at, we purchased 3 massive containers of baby wipes, which the hospital doesn't have. They don't even have toilet paper at the hospital, and since the children they work with have special needs, they all wear diapers, and the nurses are cleaning them with moist pieces of cloth. For our rural community project, we began our purchasing. We will be putting together care packages for individual families, as well as taking one big delivery to the school we visited. At the general store, we bought 100 bars of bath soap, 100 bars of dish/laundry soap, and a dozen more tubes of sunscreen for the schoolchildren that we got at a very reasonable price for being in Peru. At the plastics store, we bought the bags for the care packages, 150 notebooks for the school, and tons of pencils and colored pencils. That's all I can remember for the time being. We left the plastics store out of a side door just as most of the downtown kids were getting out of school, so finding a cab was very trying. However, Maysa flagged one down, and with the promise of a few extra soles (about US$1.35), lured him into helping us load the stuff as well, as it was pretty heavy. Even better, on the way home, Maysa recruited him to drive us around to buy the rice, oatmeal, quinoa, powdered milk and other supplies we're buying tomorrow morning, and at a very reasonable cab cost. Tomorrow, in addition to the rest of our bulk purchasing, we need to get in touch with El Alcalde de Yaurisque to arrange when we can go out and make our delivery later this week. Well, we need some recuperative sleep, but we'll have pictures coming and a more detailed update soon.
Much love,
M&Z
Much love,
M&Z
Friday, May 18, 2012
Maysa got sick
I am laying in bed while Jasmine and Zach are out at their projects. We visited a community on Tuesday. Here is Cusco, people always like to offer their visitors something to eat. If you don't eat, they get offended. While on our visit we were offered food twice. The first family offered us steamed white rice with a fried egg, and an onion salad. The egg yolk wasn't cooked all the way. When the food was placed in front of us, Zach and I just looked at each other with an expression of "Oh shit!" on our faces. We ate it and guess what? I got sick, Zach didn't. It seems like everything I eat goes right through me. I felt very weak today, I guess my body hasn't been absorbing any nutrients from what I eat. We were walking around the museum and I could barely stand up. We went to the pharmacy and bought some ciprofloxacin. Here, antibiotics can be purchased over the counter. In addition to that, I was given no instructions on how to take it. Good thing I have my resources, I looked the antibiotic up on my drug guide and I'll be on it for five days. Hopefully I'll start feeling better soon.
We've been researching agencies who will take us to Machu Pichu and Lake Titicaca, hopefully we'll have pictures of those places up soon. As far as our side project, we are waiting for Alcade WIlbur to contact us with a list of donations the community was going to make for us. Hopefully, we'll begin distributing donations next week, that's what I'm really excited for. I'll keep this one short, I'm going back to sleep until Zach and Jasmine get back. Hugs and kisses for everyone.
-M
We've been researching agencies who will take us to Machu Pichu and Lake Titicaca, hopefully we'll have pictures of those places up soon. As far as our side project, we are waiting for Alcade WIlbur to contact us with a list of donations the community was going to make for us. Hopefully, we'll begin distributing donations next week, that's what I'm really excited for. I'll keep this one short, I'm going back to sleep until Zach and Jasmine get back. Hugs and kisses for everyone.
-M
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Projects in full swing
Hi everyone, sorry it's been so long between updates, we've been quite busy working on projects, side projects and getting accustomed to the way things are done here in Peru.
Tuesday morning, we began a side project in the morning. Maysa and myself went while Jasmine worked in the hospital project in the morning. We got picked up at 7am by a man our papa calls "El Alcalde", Wilbur. Alcalde means mayor, and he's not the mayor of Cusco, but all we can tell is that he has a huge heart, desire to help those with the greatest need, and some sort of connection to Cusco's regional government. Our drive was over an hour out of Cusco along a newly opened road, through a mountainous countryside to a land where it looks like time has left behind. The people work on hillsides, cultivating potatoes and anything else that will grow. In a meeting we had on Monday morning with Wilbur and our papa, Wilbur said he seeks out the poorest of the poor, those who have nothing, as his primary emphasis in helping the local and regional communities. We visited a few of these families. The first house we went to was that of a man and his son. His son is 9 years old, and so malnourished that he looks to be about 5 or 6, and is so lacking in nourishment that he can hardly speak. The boy did have a small radio and was very proud to show us that he knew how get music on it. The man and his son very some of the most humble people we've ever met, and we're going to bring supplies to them this coming Monday, when we return with Wilbur.
The next woman we met has a husband in the hospital recovering after a surgery, but has no money to pay for his medications. We're hoping to get a list of the ones he needs tomorrow, so we can purchase them for her and bring them to him in the hospital.
Then, we sat down for a meeting with the community leaders of the campesino, and some engineers from the regional government while they discussed projects to put bathrooms in every household, and make their water system more efficient, as there are households in the community without water. Wilbur said if the locals can find a way to make sand for the adobe to build the bathrooms, that the government would buy it from them as part of the material cost. The proposed project cost is 413,000 soles, or about US$153,000.
The next family we visited was a few minutes walk off of the dirt road that runs through the campesino. They don't have ready access to water, and have to travel up into the hills and bring water back in buckets. The inside of their home had a small fire pit going, sooty walls, and almost no visibility. The man we took photos with was both physically and mentally disabled. He has some sort of neurological condition that prevents him from speaking well, he is physically unable to walk, very thin, most likely malnourished, and suffers from severe mental retardation. I'm getting shaky just revisiting the scene in this post. What I feel for this poor man I've never felt before and can't describe with words. When we go back on Monday, he'll have the clothes off of my back if that's what he wants. Thinking about it overwhelms me with grief.
Our final stop was the primary school in the community that our papa, Cirilo, designed as the lead engineer. The children and teachers were very happy to see us, all of the preschool and kindergarten kids came up to us and shook our hands in greeting. We spoke with the teachers to get some idea of their needs, and they said the most pressing need is a photocopier. To make copies of the children's schoolwork, they have to travel over an hour to Cusco. Also, one of the teachers said they need hair clippers and scissors to cut the children's hair at school, so they don't have to go to Cusco for haircuts. They are compiling a list of other needs that we should get either today or tomorrow, so we can purchase supplies for them over the weekend.
Check out the Peru album on Maysa's Facebook for more pictures of the school and the rural community we went to.
The name of the hospital that Jasmine and Maysa are working at is called Hospital San Juan de Dios, and the orphanage I work at is called Remar. The orphanage is one of four run by the same people. There's a rehabilitation program for men with drug and alcohol issues, one for young school girls, one for teenage girls, and the one I work at is predominately orphaned schoolboys from 5-14 years old, but there are a few autistic kids, one child with downs, three girls, the mother of three of the kids and two other women that help. Yesterday I brought them 4.5 kilos of laundry detergent, which Roxanna, the mother and head of the house, told me will last approximately three weeks. I also gave them each a children's vitamin, which I plan on doing every day I volunteer there. Today I need to bring some food though, as they might not have had enough food for dinner. There are two girls at the orphanage volunteering with me, but from different programs. One is from Toronto, the other I think is from Germany. They don't speak hardly any Spanish. Oh well. The kids seem to like me, but there is so much need.
Off to the market to pick up some food for my project today. Take care everybody!
- Z
Tuesday morning, we began a side project in the morning. Maysa and myself went while Jasmine worked in the hospital project in the morning. We got picked up at 7am by a man our papa calls "El Alcalde", Wilbur. Alcalde means mayor, and he's not the mayor of Cusco, but all we can tell is that he has a huge heart, desire to help those with the greatest need, and some sort of connection to Cusco's regional government. Our drive was over an hour out of Cusco along a newly opened road, through a mountainous countryside to a land where it looks like time has left behind. The people work on hillsides, cultivating potatoes and anything else that will grow. In a meeting we had on Monday morning with Wilbur and our papa, Wilbur said he seeks out the poorest of the poor, those who have nothing, as his primary emphasis in helping the local and regional communities. We visited a few of these families. The first house we went to was that of a man and his son. His son is 9 years old, and so malnourished that he looks to be about 5 or 6, and is so lacking in nourishment that he can hardly speak. The boy did have a small radio and was very proud to show us that he knew how get music on it. The man and his son very some of the most humble people we've ever met, and we're going to bring supplies to them this coming Monday, when we return with Wilbur.
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| Us with the man and little boy in front of their house |
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| We were posing for a picture and the pigs got up, startling the little boy |
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| Their water supply |
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| The man and boy with one of their dogs |
The next woman we met has a husband in the hospital recovering after a surgery, but has no money to pay for his medications. We're hoping to get a list of the ones he needs tomorrow, so we can purchase them for her and bring them to him in the hospital.
Then, we sat down for a meeting with the community leaders of the campesino, and some engineers from the regional government while they discussed projects to put bathrooms in every household, and make their water system more efficient, as there are households in the community without water. Wilbur said if the locals can find a way to make sand for the adobe to build the bathrooms, that the government would buy it from them as part of the material cost. The proposed project cost is 413,000 soles, or about US$153,000.
The next family we visited was a few minutes walk off of the dirt road that runs through the campesino. They don't have ready access to water, and have to travel up into the hills and bring water back in buckets. The inside of their home had a small fire pit going, sooty walls, and almost no visibility. The man we took photos with was both physically and mentally disabled. He has some sort of neurological condition that prevents him from speaking well, he is physically unable to walk, very thin, most likely malnourished, and suffers from severe mental retardation. I'm getting shaky just revisiting the scene in this post. What I feel for this poor man I've never felt before and can't describe with words. When we go back on Monday, he'll have the clothes off of my back if that's what he wants. Thinking about it overwhelms me with grief.
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| Their home |
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| Inside of their house |
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| Their supplies for cooking |
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| You can only see this stuff because of the flash. It was so dark inside the household. The walls are black from the soot, there is a constant fire going to keep the house warm because it gets so cold up here. |
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| This man lives in the house and is very ill. He was scared, and wanted Zach's clothes. We'll come back next week and bring them warm clothes, food, and supplies. |
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| The rest of the family. The woman to Maysa's left was crying when we left. She was very sad, but appreciative that we are going to help them out. |
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| The outside of their home. |
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| With the kindergarten kids and one of the teachers |
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| The slides in the playground were donated by other volunteers |
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| First and second graders with Wilbur "El Alcalde" |
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| Third and fourth grade class |
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| The 6th grade class. Next year they'll be at another school. |
Check out the Peru album on Maysa's Facebook for more pictures of the school and the rural community we went to.
The name of the hospital that Jasmine and Maysa are working at is called Hospital San Juan de Dios, and the orphanage I work at is called Remar. The orphanage is one of four run by the same people. There's a rehabilitation program for men with drug and alcohol issues, one for young school girls, one for teenage girls, and the one I work at is predominately orphaned schoolboys from 5-14 years old, but there are a few autistic kids, one child with downs, three girls, the mother of three of the kids and two other women that help. Yesterday I brought them 4.5 kilos of laundry detergent, which Roxanna, the mother and head of the house, told me will last approximately three weeks. I also gave them each a children's vitamin, which I plan on doing every day I volunteer there. Today I need to bring some food though, as they might not have had enough food for dinner. There are two girls at the orphanage volunteering with me, but from different programs. One is from Toronto, the other I think is from Germany. They don't speak hardly any Spanish. Oh well. The kids seem to like me, but there is so much need.
Off to the market to pick up some food for my project today. Take care everybody!
- Z
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