HOME

Well, we made it home. I wanted to post this. It is so odd to think that I was in Peru only 17 or so hours ago and now I am sitting on my own bed in pajamas, typing on my own laptop.

My parents came and picked me up in Detroit and I am so happy they did; even if mom had to come in a wheelchair. I am happy to be back; I loved Peru, but it feels so good to be back in the US. It did feel weird to flush toilet paper at the airport and even at home and to have warm water for washing hands. I am loving the clean air and look forward to seeing how green everything is tomorrow. I also got to eat a cheeseburger and french fries on the way home, the Fanta however, was not as good as the pop in Peru. I also got caught up on everything happening in everyone's lives here while I was gone.

I had a great welcoming party at home too. Emily (my dog) was so excited to see me. I think she rolled over 4 or 5 times for a belly rub before I finally just sat on the floor to she could get as close to me as possible. she kept walking around wagging her tail as fast as possible and pawing at me for attention. If she could, I am sure she would come down and sleep in my room.

Well, it's 2:35 AM and I should get some sleep, although that Mt. Dew I had in Florida will probably keep me up since I am not used to that much caffeine anymore, but I will post more tomorrow.

Quick message before the bus leaves

Yeah internet access! I need to make this short since other people are waiting to use the internet at the hotel, and we are leaving

This weekend we went to Macchu Picchu. It was amazing. I loved the train ride there and although the hotel wasn´t the best, that isn´t what we went for. I did not go on the 3 am hike up Wayna Picchu. The ruins were still amazing. We got to see them doing some filming stuff, and we spent 3 hours hiking all over the place. Our guide Victor was something else! The train ride back was also the bumpiest ricketiest train ride I have ever been on.

One girl, Amy was really sick this weekend, and had to get an IV. She actually didn´t come with us to Puno, originally, but is back with us now.

Monday we left out host family and got on a bus and drove to Puno.It took all day, but we had a pretty sweet bus. It was a double decker giant thing witha  flight attendant.

We have been to many places including the floating islands which ar really neat. We spent the night on an island in Lake Titikaka. I had altitude sickness and slept all day. It was miserable.

Today we are leaving for the Colca Caynon and other things. It should be fun and beautiful. I have taken so many pictures!

I am not going to lie, I am kind of ready to be back in the states.

 I will be sad when the trip is done, and it has been a lot of fun. See you all soon!

Free Day!!!

Today was a great day!
I went horeseback riding this morning with Heong and Linlin so we joked that we were the most culturally diverse group, and would almost have to be on a billboard for Alma. It was about 2 and a half hours and the horses just kind of walked and knew the trail. My horse headbutted me at one point, but it was fun and kind of intense at times. Going down hill, especially in the ruts, was crazy and my horse got stuck on the mountain and the guide had to turn her around and guide her down a different path. It was a lot of fun and I am glad I finally got to ride a horse for the first time. I also got pretty sunburnt, sunscreen and all.

When we got back, Heong wanted to go to a Korean Restaurant. It was pretty nice; I had never eaten Korean food. Heong talked in Korean to the owner and ordered for me. There was so much food!!! A lot of rice which was really good with an egg and ketchup on it and then three sides and soup and green tea to drink. I couldn't finish it, and I was bested by these 2 little Asians. They were so excited to have food from home. It made me really want a fried egg sandwich like we have on Saturday mornings-yet another craving.

Then I went and finished my shopping. I really hope my suitcase isn't too heavy! It will be really close.

Later I went back to the school and waited for people, then I went and exchanged money. We went out for ice cream as well which was delicious.

Tomorrow we leave very early for Macchu Picchu which I am excited for. I am not sure what I will have for internet access next week, so this may be my last blog posting, but I will be keeping my journal and can add to it later. So thanks to everyone and I hope to keep you posted but if not, I hope to see you soon!

So...I finally updated my blog...

Yes I realize it has been a week since I last posted. I have been so busy! By about 6pm I am tired and I am usually asleep by about 9:30. I am turning into an old person.


Tomorrow is our last day of service learning. I am really going to miss the little ninos and ninas. Our classroom is a tiny little shack in a rougher or at least less wealthy part of town. The program the schools are in is called Pronoei. Our teacher speaks no English which means we do a lot of charades and use the little bit of Spanish we know to figure out what needs done. We are in a Kindergarten classroom with kids from 3-5 years old.The schools here are so different than in the US. I knew they would be, but is is still surprising. There is very little discipline and structure. It feels like more of a daycare than a school to me. They have been doing body parts for the past 2 days.

There are a few little girls I want to take home with me, especially Ruth Karen who hardly ever speaks. She is so quiet and adorable with her little pigtails and was so upset yesterday when she had an accisdent in the bathroom. The other little girl I will miss is Alejandra who is a.little packrat and has so much stuff in her backpack. Yesterday she had a little toy chick that she was opplaying with. She "cut" the head off with her knife and made soup. The boy next to her did the same with his toy dog... There are 12 boys and 6 girls in the class plus the teacher's 2 year old.

It really has made me think about what education is and the purpose of education. What is the purpose of school was a question Dr. Findley asked us the first day of class, and I have really thought about it a lot this semester and since then. The y do a lot of drawing and playing with modeling clay which for me as an art teacher is great. The first day, I spent most of my time making animals and people and objects out of modeling clay for them to play with. They do a lot of puzzles too. I have spent a lot of time doing puzzles with kids. I am saddenned that they don't have space to run and burn off energy. There is a small courtyrad with the bathrooms and front gate that is smaller thna a dorm room.

The kids are so adorable. When we leave, we can hear them from 3 blocks away. Ther eis a language barrier to some extennt, but they are really good about it and seem to slow down and use words we can understand.

It is about a 20 minute bus ride plus  4 minute walk to get to the school. The busses here are crazy; and traffic is insane. Traffic rules are more of a guideline than law. I didn't notie my first stoplight until Monday...
I feel pretty good about getting around and crossing the street safely, but at least once a day you still have to run so you don't get hit. Chelsea on the other hand has not quite figured this out. At least once a day I have to grab her and pull her back or pull her along. I swear I need a leash for her. You know-those backpack leashthings that parents use...yeah, I need one for her.

we have Spanish lessons in the afternoon. I am tired by then and our new teacher isn't as fun. We spent a lot of time on grammar. I hte grammar in English and don't know what is what, so trying to do it in only Spanish is very difficult. I an definitely the worst in out class of five. At least I can stck Jenga blocks well even if I can't conjuhgate verbs correctly-that was a fun game.

we have gone out to eat a few times at a pizzeria, where I had one of the best pizzas I have ever had. It was 4 cheese and didn't have tomatoe sauce.

Tomorrow, I want to actually call home, since I haven't done that yet. It is hard since we are an hour behind.

Last night, out host dad Rafael took a group of us to a local workshop where they make jewelry from Peruvian silver. It is .950 so it has more silver than sterling silver. I splurged and bought myself a necklace and a pair of earrings for Mrs. Nowotny-I hope she has pierced ears! It was really neat.

We went to a few neat places this weekend too. Sunday we went to Pisac and I got a lot of my shoping done for people, but I am almost out of money and I still have things I want to get for people. I got more things for myslef than I originally thought I would. also we have been eating out and buying more food than I thought, but I want to try as many different things as I can while I am here.

 I still haven't had cuy, but we have seen guinea pigs at several places we have stopped at. They are so cute, and I want one!

I am mostly adjusted to the altitude, but I still get out of breath if I go too fast.Victor, our tour guide, told us that when we climb the mountains and we are out of breath it is not because we are experiencing altitude sickness. It is because our hearts are jumping for joy because we are getting closer and closer to our Creator. Maybe he's right.We have been to a lot of historical places and I have taken about 600 pictures so far. we went to Ollantaytambo which was really neat and even though I didn't think I could, I made it all the way to the top. I have climbed so many step since coming here. Not normal steps either. A lot of them are at knee level. I have a new appreciation for civil engineers and the ADA and how easy it is to get around in America.

We joke at how toned everyone's legs are, but it is true. I have lost weight, my pants are really baggy and I need to wear a belt (down a notch) just to not feel so frumpy. Some of my pants have about 6 inches of gic=ve in the waist or legs. I am kind of happy I lost weight.

I ahve been eating so many vegetables here too. A lot of rice which my family will tell you isn't really my favorite. It is kind of rude to not eat everything on your plate. There has only been one meal that I didn't really like, and it was mainly because of the cheese. Here dairy products aren't always pastuerized and cheeses can be kind of sketchy. One in particular smeels slightly spoiled and makes me nauseaous. 

Wednesday I had my first real craving. Kraft Mac and Cheese. Yup-the blue blox blues. I don't even really like box mac and cheese, but I have kind of been wanting it for the past week. Chinese food from the Dragon Palace too. And Mountain Dew. I found some but it was about $1.50 for a can.

Another thing I really want is a long, hot shower. Hot water is more of a theory here than a fact. I have been showering every other or every 3 days since we have been having problems with the water. Even after a shower, I still don't feel super clean.  A lot of the girls on the trip have said they feel the same. So I want to sleep in my own bed in clean pajamas after a hot shower and have a more steady body temperature.

Chelsea and I have been fortunate in the fact that we haven't gotten sick. Most people have, but our host family is great and we have been careful when we went out. I am pretty sure I am the only one who hasn't had alcohol on this trip. People have been taking advantage of the drinking age being 18 her and one night when we went out, some people were pretty gone. It was kind of uncomfortable for me to be honest. 

Today there was a futbol game. I didn't go. I was the only one. I spent some time online, then went exploring Cusco on my own. It was fun. Then I came back to the apartment and took a 3 hour nap. Tonight we watched The Tourist. Now, I need to go get into my pajamas and snuggle up under the 4 blankets on my bed and get some sleep. 7am comes early. 

Thanks for reading this, I am sorry it is so long!

Looking out over Cusco

Yesterday, we started Spanish classes at the Academia. I was placed in a class that is pretty close to my Spanish level but is still very challenging. Today we started working on Preterites (past tense) which was something I had never learned before.  Yeah. It was bad. Plus, the teachers here only speak in Spanish to the students so that we're immersed in the language, so it can be dificult to catch what is going on. I felt really bad because I felt I was holding the rest of the class back. We did some singing today and we have tarea para manana and para Thursday. Our host family is using a lot more Spanish and encouraging us to use it more.

 

 
We were given a tour around the city of Cusco, which was entirely in Spanish. Even though I was only able to catch about half of what was said, it was so interesting to see the vast history that is here. On Avenue del Sol, there was a giant mural of the history of the Incans, which is absolutely beautiful. We were also able to see the walls built by the Incans. The rocks were shaped differently and in different sizes and slanted to protect against earthquakes. They used bronze nails to hold and grasp the rocks and there is no mortar between the stones. It is really intersting how they have small, medium and large rocks interspersed and patterned for stability. And we think we know so much about construction!

 

Many of the streets here are made of slate orriverstones or cobblestones, and they wind every which way and are narrow, especially going uphill. The sidewalks are also very narrow and not smooth. No ADA here. I think it would be a nightmare for a civil engineer like Stephen.

 

We were able to see the Plaza de Armas and the Plaza de Blais. The Plaza de Armas was once the center of Cusco and full of religious ceremony, but when the Spanish took over they built their own cathedrals. Each different order built a church. The best understanding we got was it's similar to how for protestants there are methodist, presbyteriean, etc, churches everywhere.

While here, we were able to see the national Peruvian flower, the Cantu,which comes in many colors. The Plaza de Blais is a center of the arts and also has an old Catholic cathedral. Pedestrians do not have the right of way here, so it is an adventure crossing the street. I like to think of it as playing Frogger everytime you cross the street.

Today, we are going to the market. If you have any souvenirs you would like, please leave a comment so I know what to get you! Tonight we are going to learn how to salsa. I t should be interesting since I am not good at swing dancing or keeping a beat.

I am writing this from an apartment in Cusco! It's absolutely beautiful here . . . We're on the top floor and surrounded by glass so I can see everything from all around. In our room, you can look out the window and see 'El Peru' outlined and some familiar Peruvian symbols outlined. The houses are many different colors and scattered all over the mountain and you can see for miles and miles. It's about 55 degrees and cloudy right now. I can hear so much too; the traffic in the streets and I hear someone singing and playing Spanish music in the streets. Spanish really is a beautiful language.

In Lima, we stayed in a very nice hotel and ate at Norky's, a place that is famous for their chicken.We drove around Lima but didn't actually tour the city due to lack of time. It was very big and busy, though! The next morning, we boarded the plane from Lima to Cusco where I was whisked away by Monica. She and her husband work in the tourist industry. She hosts students from all over the world year round. As soon as we got here, she made us koka tea so we could adjust to the high altitude. She made us a delicious meal of spaghetti with soy meat today--she's actually a vegetarian, which is great for chelsea. In Peru, they eat a light breakfast and a heavy lunch. She says that she generally does not prepare dinner. She has also lent me the use of her computer, which will be very helpful.

  Right now, Peru is going through presidential elections which is really interesting. Once you turn 18 here, you have to vote or you get fined. There are five candidates right now but they go through a series of run-offs. The actual election is June 1. It's exciting to be here when Peru is going through a change in history. One thing that surprised me was how American advertisements are. There  are some neat Coke ads.Last night I saw a commercial for ramen noddles.

Last night we went out for pizza. It was muy delicioso! I didn't have any cerveza, but many people did. I had some amazing frozen lemonade. i was happy to finally be able to drink something cold and with ice. It is so odd to have to buy all your water. Normally, we see water as this cleansing healing element, but for the next few weeks, it is kind of a love hate relationship. I need to have the water to survive, but the water here will make me sick. It is so different and has kind of made me think. Also, hot water is a luxury. Electricity is expensive and things are conserved differently here.

There are so many different sights and smells. Not all good or bad. Yesterday we went to the Cusco market. We really take for granted going to the grocery store and buying meat or produce. But...dried salted meat or cow heads on the ground or in the wheelbarrow was almost too much for me. Or the dogs eating the piles of meat on the floor. There are many thousands of different types of papas or potatoes here too. And lots of different fruits.

Well, I think this has been long enough. I am going to go find Chelsea and see if she is ready to head off to the market.

Peace and grace,
Elisabeth

I made it!

AHHHHH!!!!!
I made it! We got into Cusco and went home with our host families yesterday.
All my luggage made it too. I love it here in Peru. It is so different than the USA though..

I am still adjusting to the altitude. I knew I would have some difficulty. I am not in shape, and I had some problems last year at Ghost Ranch with CRL. We are at about 11,300 feet, so it is significantly different than home. I only really got out of breath once today though, so that is pretty good. Last night my lips were a little blue. I had a headache again today, but excedrin migraine works wonders. :) We also had some Koka tea, which helped even if it didn't tast the best. I just can't get addicted, because it is illegal in the US.

Our host family is really nice. So far we have just met the host mom Monica and tonight we met the other student they are hosting, his name is Shane. The apartment is on the 8th floor of the building right in the heart of the city. The view is amazing! We can see mountains on either side and at night the lights are so neat. I need to take more pictures.

Today we took an exam in both written and oral Spanish so we can be placed in our classes at the Academia. I find myself wanting to mix in more Spanish. Our host mother is fluent in English which is nice.
Today we also went on a walking tour of Cusco; the tour was given entirely in Sapnish, and surprisingly, I caught a lot and could understand the basics and jist of what Efrain was saying. We saw so many things like La Plaza de Armas, fountains and so many other places and people. Monica took us to La Plaza last night, but it is different in day.

Peru is different than America in so many ways. I miss the clean air. Cusco is big and it is great, but I know I would not want to live in such a big city, it is too crazy and busy. I miss being able to flush toilet paper. I just had to include that one-sorry. I miss going to the tap and getting a glass of water. They are getting ready for presidential elections, and they are down to 2 candidates which is so different than our system of elections.

As far as water goes, at least bottled water is cheap. A 2.25 liter bottle costs about a dollar. I am trying to drink as much as I can so I don't get dehydrated. There are so many different types of beverages here too. All the sodas are made with real sugar, so they taste better. No Mtn. Dew though. But I do like the local beverage,  Inca Cola. It kind of tastes and smells like bubble gum and it's yellow.

Tomorrow we are going to have our first Spanish lessons in the morning, then come home for luch which is the big meal. We weren't served dinner tonight. Also, Monica and my roommate Chelsea are both vegetarians, so those spam slices are going to come in handy. Thanks, Mom. In the afternoon, we are going to a traditional market. I am excited to be able to actually get some gifts to take back for people.

Well, I should probably go to bed. I can't stop looking out the windows at el Christo Blanco and the lighted up crosses on the mountainside. I should get some sleep, since we have to be at the Academia at 8:30am. it takes about 8 minutes to walk there ans we will have a light breakfast before we go. Yesterday was a holiday and today kind of is too, so people are shooting off fireworks. OK, time to go change into my warm pajamas and snuggle under three laters of blankets. Hopefully I sleep better than last night and can breathe normally.

I will try to have out my journal next time I post so I can include a few other points.Our host family is letting us use their computer, so I will try to post as much as I can. Hasta Luego!

One Day!

One Day!

In one day, I will be in Peru with the STC 002 spring term class of Alma College. From April 30 until May 22, my classmates and I will be staying with host families in Cusco and studying Spanish at the Academia Latinoamericana de Espanol and also volunteering in the area. Some students will be working in zoos, orphanages, or businesses, but the majority of us will be working in school systems. As an elementary education major, I'm very excited to work with the students of Pronoei--Programa Escolarizado de Educacion Inicial! I believe the experience will be very beneficial to my future by teaching me how to work with students from different backgrounds.

Our class will also get to experience the rich culture and history of Peru through weekend trips. We'll be visiting many prominent sites, including Chincheros, Machuu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon, Arequipa, and the Plaza de Armas. I can't wait to learn more about the Incan empire!

This blog is part of an extended project for the Center of Responsible Leadership (CRL) of Alma College. Last summer, I went through the life-changing Ghost Ranch experience in New Mexico. Over the period of one week, I bonded with about twenty-five other students and learned more about who I am and what I can do as a leader. While there, I met and became instant friends with Chelsea who will be my roommate on this trip. I'm so excited to be her roommate and be working in the same classroom with her! Through CRL, I also met Andria, a hardworking elementary education major who is always willing to take the lead in any organization that she's in, and Alexa, a fun-loving elementary education major who shows compassion to all around her and plans to serve in an orphanage. All of us are hoping to learn more about who we are as leaders through our experiences in Peru, and hope to keep helping the community of Cusco even after we return to Alma College. I am excited to go through this adventure with these amazing women as well as the other students on our trip and our fearless leader, Dr. Seals.

I titled this blog 'The Peruvian Classroom' because this will be the main focus of my trip. Not only will I be serving in a Peruvian classroom, but Peru will also be serving as my classroom. I hope to learn something new every day.


I hope to update this blog 2-3 times a week and keep in touch as much as possible! Please keep checking in. :) Until then, adios!