Hola,
Lots has happened since I last posted! I have started at Azul Wasi, or Blue House (Azul= blue in spanish, wasi= house in Quechua) and am enjoying it a lot. I've talked to my director some and gotten a basic idea about the formation and idea of this house. My director, Alcedes Jordan is a police man as well as devoting the rest of his life to this project. About three years ago when he was working with the police in Cuzco and dealing with a project that worked with boys living on the streets, he got a picture in his head of a giant blue house where these boys could come and live. The house is completely volunteer run and sponsored by an organization (maybe church?) in England and America. It has been slowly built up by volunteers and will hopefully continue to grow. There are two buildings where hte boys live- one with a cafeteria/place to do homework and 2 bedrooms, and another with more bedrooms, a kitchen, and behind it a pen for the guinea pigs that they eat or sell or something. There are 2 bulls, lots of chickens and roosters, geese, and several dogs and a cat that live on the property. There is also a field for the boys to play soccer and other sports in. 12 boys 6-16, and one 20 year old who has a mental disability and can't go anywhere else, live there. Most of the boys have lost there parents or were just living on the street and had nowhere else to go. One little boy's home was destroyed in the floods in November. My director, Senor Jordan, has devoted his entire life to this project, and told me that the two things he wants to do in his life are keep this project going and serve the Lord in any ways he can.
When the boys have school, we come in the afternoons to help out with homework and then plan whatever we want to. It is a very fun, chill atmosphere since this is just the boy's home and they have already had a full day of school. A lot of days we play soccer, frisbee, or random games. I have brought my violin two days, and hope to bring my host brother's guitar next week. The first day I took the boys that wanted to come out near the soccer field and just played some violin and sang some songs with them. Last week we went early a few days to repaint parts of the house (blue of course). The other project they are working on right now is building a wooden structure to hang those camp shower bags from so the boys can have warm showers (black bags with a shower faucet thing, you let sit out in the sun during the day). It is kind of a strange project and I hope the showers last and work.
Every day when the boys get home from school they eat a giant lunch of soup and then rice and some strange sort of meat. Every day during lunch we have been watching World Cup! The boys are absolutely obsessed with soccer. Today, I was with Valerio (8 or 9 years old?) and we were about to go play some frisbee. He went into his bedroom with his bowl and leftover potatoe from lunch, opened his top dresser drawer, and put the bowl with his leftover lunch in the top drawer, closed it and seriously said to me "Voy a comer despues" (I'll eat it later). While dying from laughter, I made him finish it or give the rest to the hungry dogs waiting outside.
Starting tomorrow, I am going to help out at the school where the boys attend. I'm not sure exactly what it will involve, but I will be there every morning from 9-1, then come home with the boys from school and stay till about 5. After all day in Oropesa with the boys, I have an hour cram packed bus ride home. I reallized today how odd it is that I'm getting used to having people smashed up against me, or leaning against me the whole bus ride home- no sense of personal space here!!
Here is a link to my facebook album- it has some from the orphanage, and some other random pictures from the past few weeks.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=184469&id=501570024&saved#!/album.php?id=501570024&aid=184469&s=0&hash=271eeb848a977dcecea1bd799a9ef307
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
No puedo creerlo!!!
"No puedo creerlo!!" "Que una experiencia!" I say that about 10 times every day while laughing about all the ridiculous things that happen to me just when I walk out my door or get on a bus somewhere. This has definitely been quite the week! I will try to make sense of it, but I apologize if I ramble or anything.
Tuesday, I went to school alone since Alex was sick. On the way walking up to the school, I saw about 20 men walking towards the main road where they started putting rocks in the road to block cars. Then 3 dogs almost attacked me and I yelled at them and my four year old companion picked up a rock and threw it, so they ran away. (If you are ever about to be attacked by dogs, just pick up a rock- I now walk with a handful of rocks each day). When I got to school, my director told me that there was a protest/ strike that day and all the transportation was down and that I would have to find my way walking home (probably a 2 hour walk and I don't know the way). God was gracious though, because two new volunteers arrived and by the time I left with them, the transportation was up and running again.
Rachel, the other volunteer I live with, commutes two hours every day to volunteer in a really poor area outside of Cuzco. One day last week, she met her 18 year old motor car driver who offered to pick her up every day and take her back at the time she needs. Then he asked if she would give him English lessons. This week, he came to our house with his cousin for English lessons (no worries, our host brother and sister are normally there too). Rachel and I are both teaching them 3 days a week for about 2 hours each day! They don't speak any English but are really eager to learn. Each lesson they come with a front and back paper full of words they want to know, apart from the actual lesson we give them. We also found out last time that they are both Christians. This was such a huge blessing for me since I have been wanting more volunteer work, practice with Spanish, and to get to know more Peruvians my age!
Yesterday morning, as Alex and I were riding the bus to school, the gigantic window right in front of us suddenly shattered into a million pieces from a car that ran into the back of the bus. Again, God was so gracious to us! A minute before, we had almost moved up to the open seats in front of us, right next to that window, to get off the bus quicker, but decided not to for some reason. Neither of us were hurt, although I was covered in tiny pieces of glass and Alex had a little piece in her eye. She had to go to the clinic, but was fine, and I just went home and showered to get all the glass off of me. This is our second crazy experience on the buses, since one other time there was a huge fight over a soccer ball our bus had run over. Transportation is insane here! I have been in a car at least 3 times going the opposite way of the traffic heading towards us!
Today was definitely my craziest day yet. Alex and I went to school this morning and were greeted by our director with a list of things we need to do differently, as well as things to buy for the kids to do sports outside and more pressure to give money to the school. We both have a really hard time with her since she is very demanding and materialistic. Then she actually told us that our money that we give the school is way more important then our time. This week I had already been thinking about looking into different work since the school keeps getting more volunteers and I feel unappreciated and not needed.
After talking to our ISA director, we decided to go with her to check out a new site that needs volunteers. A half hour car ride turned into an hour and a half. For some reason, parts of Corpus Christi are still going on since they are SLOWLY taking the saints back to their original churches. It is so funny to me how life stops daily because of these constant parades! I see at least 3 each day, blocking off main streets and making traffic go even more insane then it always is. So, unfortunately, a parade with a giant saint was blocking our path, and we had to turn off onto a random dirt road. That road turned into the bumpiest, dustiest, and craziest road I have ever been on, driving through really poor countryside, cows, ducks, horses, people. . . After the long ride, we arrived at "Casa Hogar" an orphanage or home for boys ages 6-17. The director, a very sweet, older man who is also a very strong and open Christian, showed us around the place. It is a gated in large grassy area, with three different rooms for the twelve boys to sleep in. There is also a kitchen with a giant oldfashioned stove, a greenhouse where the boys are learning to plant, a soccer field (with ducks, and bulls!) and a large cafeteria/ room for the boys to do homework in. I never ever would have chosen this site as a possibility, but now that I have been there, met some of the boys and volunteers (who are leaving this weekend) and know I will work with Alex, I think I am going to start there on Monday. We will help the boys in the afternoons with homework, then teach basically whatever we want to teach- music, english, cooking. . . I know this sounds crazy, and I'm still trying to take it all in, but I'm super excited to see what the Lord has in store!
Tonight after I got back, I went to the church to practice with the worship band- full of electric guitar, drums, keyboard, singers. Another thing that kind of cracks me up because it is super loud and crazy and I don't even know why I'm trying to be heard above them all.
Thanks for all your prayers. God has truly been gracious to me, daily protecting me and surrounding me by so much encouragement! I'm super excited for what the next 8 weeks may hold!
Tuesday, I went to school alone since Alex was sick. On the way walking up to the school, I saw about 20 men walking towards the main road where they started putting rocks in the road to block cars. Then 3 dogs almost attacked me and I yelled at them and my four year old companion picked up a rock and threw it, so they ran away. (If you are ever about to be attacked by dogs, just pick up a rock- I now walk with a handful of rocks each day). When I got to school, my director told me that there was a protest/ strike that day and all the transportation was down and that I would have to find my way walking home (probably a 2 hour walk and I don't know the way). God was gracious though, because two new volunteers arrived and by the time I left with them, the transportation was up and running again.
Rachel, the other volunteer I live with, commutes two hours every day to volunteer in a really poor area outside of Cuzco. One day last week, she met her 18 year old motor car driver who offered to pick her up every day and take her back at the time she needs. Then he asked if she would give him English lessons. This week, he came to our house with his cousin for English lessons (no worries, our host brother and sister are normally there too). Rachel and I are both teaching them 3 days a week for about 2 hours each day! They don't speak any English but are really eager to learn. Each lesson they come with a front and back paper full of words they want to know, apart from the actual lesson we give them. We also found out last time that they are both Christians. This was such a huge blessing for me since I have been wanting more volunteer work, practice with Spanish, and to get to know more Peruvians my age!
Yesterday morning, as Alex and I were riding the bus to school, the gigantic window right in front of us suddenly shattered into a million pieces from a car that ran into the back of the bus. Again, God was so gracious to us! A minute before, we had almost moved up to the open seats in front of us, right next to that window, to get off the bus quicker, but decided not to for some reason. Neither of us were hurt, although I was covered in tiny pieces of glass and Alex had a little piece in her eye. She had to go to the clinic, but was fine, and I just went home and showered to get all the glass off of me. This is our second crazy experience on the buses, since one other time there was a huge fight over a soccer ball our bus had run over. Transportation is insane here! I have been in a car at least 3 times going the opposite way of the traffic heading towards us!
Today was definitely my craziest day yet. Alex and I went to school this morning and were greeted by our director with a list of things we need to do differently, as well as things to buy for the kids to do sports outside and more pressure to give money to the school. We both have a really hard time with her since she is very demanding and materialistic. Then she actually told us that our money that we give the school is way more important then our time. This week I had already been thinking about looking into different work since the school keeps getting more volunteers and I feel unappreciated and not needed.
After talking to our ISA director, we decided to go with her to check out a new site that needs volunteers. A half hour car ride turned into an hour and a half. For some reason, parts of Corpus Christi are still going on since they are SLOWLY taking the saints back to their original churches. It is so funny to me how life stops daily because of these constant parades! I see at least 3 each day, blocking off main streets and making traffic go even more insane then it always is. So, unfortunately, a parade with a giant saint was blocking our path, and we had to turn off onto a random dirt road. That road turned into the bumpiest, dustiest, and craziest road I have ever been on, driving through really poor countryside, cows, ducks, horses, people. . . After the long ride, we arrived at "Casa Hogar" an orphanage or home for boys ages 6-17. The director, a very sweet, older man who is also a very strong and open Christian, showed us around the place. It is a gated in large grassy area, with three different rooms for the twelve boys to sleep in. There is also a kitchen with a giant oldfashioned stove, a greenhouse where the boys are learning to plant, a soccer field (with ducks, and bulls!) and a large cafeteria/ room for the boys to do homework in. I never ever would have chosen this site as a possibility, but now that I have been there, met some of the boys and volunteers (who are leaving this weekend) and know I will work with Alex, I think I am going to start there on Monday. We will help the boys in the afternoons with homework, then teach basically whatever we want to teach- music, english, cooking. . . I know this sounds crazy, and I'm still trying to take it all in, but I'm super excited to see what the Lord has in store!
Tonight after I got back, I went to the church to practice with the worship band- full of electric guitar, drums, keyboard, singers. Another thing that kind of cracks me up because it is super loud and crazy and I don't even know why I'm trying to be heard above them all.
Thanks for all your prayers. God has truly been gracious to me, daily protecting me and surrounding me by so much encouragement! I'm super excited for what the next 8 weeks may hold!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Caballos, Desfiles, Musica- mi vida en Peru
Hola!
Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful messages, encouragement, and prayers I have been receiving! I have a three day break from working at the school because of the huge Corpus Christi festival that was Thursday in downtown Cusco. We went to the main square and watched from the balcony of some super rich relative's house, which felt more like a museum to me with the huge chandaliers, hot pink cushioned high back couches, and inner courtyard :) The parade lasted all day, with 14 gigantic statues of different saints of the Catholic church SLOWLY moving around the square carried by at least 30 or 40 men. Even though it was interesting to see and something I have learned a lot about in Spanish classes, I thought it was kind of boring since I've been seeing so many parades and each figure took so long to pass. The famous dish that everyone sells for the day of Corpus Christi is guinea pig, hen, fish eggs, sea weed, and corn bread- served cold on a plate! I tried some of my Grandma's guinea pig and it was absolutely disgusting and CHEWY. She still doesn't quite believe me or understand that we have them as pets in the U.S. (sorry I know every post so far I have talked about guinea pig, but they really do eat or talk about it all the time, served whole on a plate so you can see the face, hands, claws and all)
Thursday night after the parade, Rachel and I spent the night with our host siblings, playing games (Uno is the current favorite), and getting history lessons from our very fun, intelligent, and wonderful 14 year old brother, Alejandro. I really love my host mother who is constantly seeking to show love to others. She comes home every day from a hard day at the airport and immediately starts making and serving lunch (which we eat at 3:00), and doesn't stop and rest till night. All the women work nonstop through the meal only eating when most people are almost finished.
I had a very full, fun, and interesting day yesterday. In the afternoon, 8 of the ISA students rode horses in the mountains for a few hours. It was absolutely amazing! I love getting away from the city sometimes to feel the fresh air and really experience the breathtaking beauty of these mountains! In the evening, our host Grandma begged us to come with her to her friend's house where they sing and play music late into the night every Saturday night (she is kind of obsessed with the fact that I play violin, and wanted me to come and play for her friends). The house we went to was in a really fancy neighborhood and huge compared to anything else I've seen here. About 25 people came- all rich, prestigious, doctors and such. They played keyboards, marracas, guitars, and sang all types of Latin American music, especially sappy romantic music. No one is every allowed to say I'm too romantic or emotional-- I am surrounded by sappy romantic people and definitely can't relate! All the while, the host walked around with fancy plates of orderves (sorry I have no clue how to spell that), wine, beer. . . The room was also filled with cigarrette smoke. It was my Grandma's birthday so lots of people dedicated her songs or said special things for her. Grandma really wanted me to dedicate a song to her for her birthday, but unfortunately my violin was locked in the church, and I only had her friend Juan Carlos' violin to play on. Although it was super out of place, I played a bit of Saint Saens, because it's what she asked for- on a pretty bad, small violin. I also always play some random fiddle or folk songs and am learning to improvise a lot more. We stayed till 2 in the morning and I know most people stayed till 4 or 5! It was truly a funny experience, and I am getting my wish to learn more about the music here (although I can't really always take it in such large quantities like last night). My Grandma tells us almost every day that music is her life- and I'm pretty sure she's telling the truth.
Today I had church in the morning and evening since I am now playing violin with the pretty much rock band (don't be too shocked). I like the preaching here, at least what I can understand, and the Bible Study during the week is pretty good too. I'm trying to get involved in the church here,both to keep my focus on Christ and since I really want to get to know more Peruvians my age. If people could pray for me in that respect it would be great. I really would love to make more friends my age and speak Spanish all the time!
I would also appreciate prayers for my work at the school. It is a lot less time every morning then I expected, and I'm struggling getting along with my director who seems to be more interested in havng us buy things for the school, decorate her classroom, or just give money rather than spend time loving and teaching the kids. She doesn't interfere with my lessons, but it is difficult to explain to her why we don't need to buy and make the expensive crafts for the kids who would rather just paint or make awesome marracas out of paper plates and noodles :) (more craft ideas are always appreciated since we plan to do a cheap craft each week) By the way, the Hokey Pokie idea was a huge hit. We sang and danced the Hokey Pokey in Spanish and then played duck duck goose (Pato, Pato, Ganso), and I have probably never had so much fun or been so crazy with kids in my life. Tooth brushing is still always an adventure and I end up going home with kid spit all over me.
The other day, walking home from school, my friend Alex and I almost got attacked by too ferocious wild dogs who came out barking and snarling within inches of us. I think our regular route must be by their house, so she now carries an alarm with her every day in case they attack again, and we found a new route to take. What is the best thing to do when being attacked by wild dogs? No worries though, we normally try to walk near locals and stay away from any houses where the dogs look threatening.
Spanish skills are coming slowly but surely. I understand a lot more then I can say, but I can pretty much get my point across no matter what I need to say. It does make for some strange conversations and misunderstandings though. And if anyone was wondering, I do feel like a foreigner all the time. I can't help but stand out by my light skin, American accent, and everything else. The worst part is all the poor people that come up constantly trying to sell things in the main square just because they know I am a "tourist."
Time for bed! I'll probably visit some ruins tomorrow on my day off, then Rachel and I are giving English lessons to her taxi (actually motor car- look it up) driver who drives her to work every day.
Again thanks for the thoughts, prayers and encouragement- although I can't always respond to all of them, I love email updates too!
Hasta luego amigos.
- Jaidi (my host sister's spelling, and the way it is pronounced in Spanish HAYDI)
Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful messages, encouragement, and prayers I have been receiving! I have a three day break from working at the school because of the huge Corpus Christi festival that was Thursday in downtown Cusco. We went to the main square and watched from the balcony of some super rich relative's house, which felt more like a museum to me with the huge chandaliers, hot pink cushioned high back couches, and inner courtyard :) The parade lasted all day, with 14 gigantic statues of different saints of the Catholic church SLOWLY moving around the square carried by at least 30 or 40 men. Even though it was interesting to see and something I have learned a lot about in Spanish classes, I thought it was kind of boring since I've been seeing so many parades and each figure took so long to pass. The famous dish that everyone sells for the day of Corpus Christi is guinea pig, hen, fish eggs, sea weed, and corn bread- served cold on a plate! I tried some of my Grandma's guinea pig and it was absolutely disgusting and CHEWY. She still doesn't quite believe me or understand that we have them as pets in the U.S. (sorry I know every post so far I have talked about guinea pig, but they really do eat or talk about it all the time, served whole on a plate so you can see the face, hands, claws and all)
Thursday night after the parade, Rachel and I spent the night with our host siblings, playing games (Uno is the current favorite), and getting history lessons from our very fun, intelligent, and wonderful 14 year old brother, Alejandro. I really love my host mother who is constantly seeking to show love to others. She comes home every day from a hard day at the airport and immediately starts making and serving lunch (which we eat at 3:00), and doesn't stop and rest till night. All the women work nonstop through the meal only eating when most people are almost finished.
I had a very full, fun, and interesting day yesterday. In the afternoon, 8 of the ISA students rode horses in the mountains for a few hours. It was absolutely amazing! I love getting away from the city sometimes to feel the fresh air and really experience the breathtaking beauty of these mountains! In the evening, our host Grandma begged us to come with her to her friend's house where they sing and play music late into the night every Saturday night (she is kind of obsessed with the fact that I play violin, and wanted me to come and play for her friends). The house we went to was in a really fancy neighborhood and huge compared to anything else I've seen here. About 25 people came- all rich, prestigious, doctors and such. They played keyboards, marracas, guitars, and sang all types of Latin American music, especially sappy romantic music. No one is every allowed to say I'm too romantic or emotional-- I am surrounded by sappy romantic people and definitely can't relate! All the while, the host walked around with fancy plates of orderves (sorry I have no clue how to spell that), wine, beer. . . The room was also filled with cigarrette smoke. It was my Grandma's birthday so lots of people dedicated her songs or said special things for her. Grandma really wanted me to dedicate a song to her for her birthday, but unfortunately my violin was locked in the church, and I only had her friend Juan Carlos' violin to play on. Although it was super out of place, I played a bit of Saint Saens, because it's what she asked for- on a pretty bad, small violin. I also always play some random fiddle or folk songs and am learning to improvise a lot more. We stayed till 2 in the morning and I know most people stayed till 4 or 5! It was truly a funny experience, and I am getting my wish to learn more about the music here (although I can't really always take it in such large quantities like last night). My Grandma tells us almost every day that music is her life- and I'm pretty sure she's telling the truth.
Today I had church in the morning and evening since I am now playing violin with the pretty much rock band (don't be too shocked). I like the preaching here, at least what I can understand, and the Bible Study during the week is pretty good too. I'm trying to get involved in the church here,both to keep my focus on Christ and since I really want to get to know more Peruvians my age. If people could pray for me in that respect it would be great. I really would love to make more friends my age and speak Spanish all the time!
I would also appreciate prayers for my work at the school. It is a lot less time every morning then I expected, and I'm struggling getting along with my director who seems to be more interested in havng us buy things for the school, decorate her classroom, or just give money rather than spend time loving and teaching the kids. She doesn't interfere with my lessons, but it is difficult to explain to her why we don't need to buy and make the expensive crafts for the kids who would rather just paint or make awesome marracas out of paper plates and noodles :) (more craft ideas are always appreciated since we plan to do a cheap craft each week) By the way, the Hokey Pokie idea was a huge hit. We sang and danced the Hokey Pokey in Spanish and then played duck duck goose (Pato, Pato, Ganso), and I have probably never had so much fun or been so crazy with kids in my life. Tooth brushing is still always an adventure and I end up going home with kid spit all over me.
The other day, walking home from school, my friend Alex and I almost got attacked by too ferocious wild dogs who came out barking and snarling within inches of us. I think our regular route must be by their house, so she now carries an alarm with her every day in case they attack again, and we found a new route to take. What is the best thing to do when being attacked by wild dogs? No worries though, we normally try to walk near locals and stay away from any houses where the dogs look threatening.
Spanish skills are coming slowly but surely. I understand a lot more then I can say, but I can pretty much get my point across no matter what I need to say. It does make for some strange conversations and misunderstandings though. And if anyone was wondering, I do feel like a foreigner all the time. I can't help but stand out by my light skin, American accent, and everything else. The worst part is all the poor people that come up constantly trying to sell things in the main square just because they know I am a "tourist."
Time for bed! I'll probably visit some ruins tomorrow on my day off, then Rachel and I are giving English lessons to her taxi (actually motor car- look it up) driver who drives her to work every day.
Again thanks for the thoughts, prayers and encouragement- although I can't always respond to all of them, I love email updates too!
Hasta luego amigos.
- Jaidi (my host sister's spelling, and the way it is pronounced in Spanish HAYDI)
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