The Guinea Pig Eating, Stove-Builders Return to LA

Last night we received word from the Project Peru Winterim group as they arrived in Cusco after having spent the past five days in a rural Peruvian town:

We are back in Cuzco after an incredible 5 days in the tiny rural community of Patabamba. We spent most of our days building mud stoves for the members of the community - 11 total - and totally immersed ourselves into the Peruvian culture, including eating a feast of guinea pig, which garnered a new appreciation for making something "from scratch." We will have plenty of stories to tell and experiences to recount but for the time being I've attached a few photos that should hold you over until our return home on Friday. We start our long journey from Cuzco tomorrow -- it's bittersweet to be leaving as we are sad to depart Peru but excited to see you all back home!

The Peru group will be traveling from Cusco to Lima this afternoon and will depart from Lima later tonight. The group will be arriving back in Boston on Friday morning.

TRIPLE RAINBOW ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE SKY!

After the long first five days of Winterim, Ms. Cronin sent the following update about how the Project Peru Winterim's trip has gone so far:

We have had an awesome first part of our Winterim! After arriving in Ollantaytambo, we visited an orphanage and split into groups to do games and crafts with the kids there. We definitely gave our Spanish a workout and the kids at the orphanage gave us a workout! Running at 11,000ft was not easy! After lunch we took some of the kids to a local pottery studio. We learned about the process they use and got to make our own tiles. While we were glazing our masterpieces, a triple rainbow appeared over the town of Urubamba!

Yesterday (Thursday) we explored the town of Ollantaytambo and the ruins located in the town. They we explored the local shops and markets before our train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. The train ride was gorgeous! Snow-capped peaks and beautiful scenery everywhere you looked.

Today (Friday) we visited Machu Picchu and climed up Huayanu Picchu (the tallest mountain overlooking the ruins). Although it was rainy and foggy, the kids never lost their enthusiasm and we played hide and seek with the vistas a bit.

We are spending tonight in Cusco before heading out to the rural community where we will be volunteering. We will have no access to technology while we are there, and we will be able to experience how rural Peruvians live. Everyone is looking forward to this.

Every night our group shares their "high" and "low" for the day, and also a word that describes their day or an experience. Here is tonight's list:

Cailey - awe
Takuto - climbing
Tim - open height
Cornelius - ancient
Jason - discovery
Nick - trains
Chase - mystical
Ms. Cronin - past
Mr. Igoe - panoramic
Charlotte - conquering fears
Marcus - glaciers
Peter - engulfed
Julia - new heights
Kalyn - spectacular
Meghan - selfie
Jaly - satisfied
Keiya - appreciation

From Saturday through Wednesday, the Peru Winterim group will be staying in Patabamba, a rural Peruvian community, to help with tasks such as cleaning stoves and teaching children English.

A Message from Cusco, Peru

   

After landing safely in Lima, Peru on Monday and then traveling to Cusco on Tuesday for even more adventure, Ms. Cronin and Mr. Igoe sent this update on their trip:

We have arrived safe and sound in Peru! Late last night we arrived in Lima and after a few hours of sleep we set off to the airport again for our morning flight to Cusco. We have had an awesome day exploring the Inca ruins at Pisac ruins and we spent time learning the art of bartering (in Spanish!) in the Pisac marketplace. Tomorrow we start working in the elementary school, teaching English to local orphans and foster children, and completing jobs around the school.

As mentioned in the update, today (Wednesday) the group will be heading to an elementary school in Ollantaytambo, in order to help lead lessons, teach English, and participate in other activities. Later into the day, the group will help in taking the elementary students on a field trip to a ceramics gallery. On this field trip, the group will work with a ceramics artist in order to teach the elementary students about Peruvian pottery.

On Thursday and Friday, the group will continue to help at the elementary school and will eventually travel to Machu Picchu in order to hike up Huyana Picchu. The group will be returning to Cusco friday afternoon for dinner before preparing to travel again the following day.