Ruth, the director of the Casa came and picked me up mid-morning, after the kids had their snack, and we went with she and her husband to meet up with my future roommate Abby, who I have been emailing with all winter, but hadn't actually met. She is moving from an apartment in one district to another apartment, and so I got to meet her, see the place I'll be living in less than a couple of months, and helped move a few things.
Until then, I am staying downtown where I have lodging and language lessons for 2 months, and can get American food from the Cafe at a discount, if I'd like. It's really cool because this place is totally run by volunteers and all of the proceeds go to a few different organizations, one of which is the Casa, another orphange, and a project called CORAZON, which works with street kids doing various activities. I am kind of leaning towards putting in some time here at the Cafe in the future, as they are also a bit short on volunteers, especially knowing that it helps support the orphange financially. After my Spanish improves, I'd also like to get involved with Project CORAZON.
Ruth asked me how my first week went at the Casa, and I am excited to be thinking of more structured activities to do with some of the kids maybe one-on-one, or in groups of two, as some of them could use that personal attention for growth in small & large-motor skills, etc.
Ruth is also excited about me helping out with various administration tasks that she is behind in, and I will be training next Tuesday to learn how to maintain the Casa website, and keep records, photos, and mailings up-to-date in the future.
This weekend, this cold I have picked up is keeping things pretty low-key, but I am happy for time to relax and to catch up on sleep.
Saturday 27 August 2011
Thursday 25 August 2011
Today I was able to get a cab all the way to the Casa on my own, using my limited Spanish (I usually get dropped off at the Plaza and then walk the 30 minutes to the House). Today it cost me 20 Soles to get that distance, though I probably could have waited for a cabbie that would give me a better price, or tried negotiating a bit.
On the way back, it was the first time I had to walk the distance from the Casa to the closest main plaza and then to the main street to catch a cab home. It was nice getting to see the countryside, and see the farmwork going on along the way.
When I arrived at the Casa this morning, 7 of the kids were up on the rooftop reading books with two of the Cusco staff. We let them stand on chairs or held them to look over the wall to the street and countryside below. For a long time we were entertained by the neighbours accross the way ploughing a field with two oxen. There was also a flock of sheep up on the hillside, and chickens in the neighbors backyard. There's some sort of construction project going on further down the road, and the kids love watching the trucks driving up and down the road. I doubt that they get out past the orphanage area too often, so it was a treat for them to observe the 'outside' world. It was a treat for me to observe typical country living outside of Cusco!
The kids all have runny noses, and I seem to have picked that up as well. Arriving "home", it was difficult concentrating on my Spanish, but I am learning lots, and enjoying the language, and eager to become fluent!
The electric box to provide hot water for the shower hasn't been working the past couple of days, so it was not very enjoyable showering in cold water. I miss clean bathrooms with hot water, soap and toilet paper! Even at the orphange, the water is turned off quite often, so the cleanliness I am used to is not nearly the same. They do bathe the children daily, though, and heat up water on the stove for their baths.
Today at the orphanage we had a delicious meal of lentils and rice, and a tomato & cucumber salad with a dressing very similar to my mom's. :)
Every Thursday night at the place I am currently boarding, they have a Bible-based Discussion group on various topics. I am looking forward to meeting some of the other English-speaking people who live in this area!
On the way back, it was the first time I had to walk the distance from the Casa to the closest main plaza and then to the main street to catch a cab home. It was nice getting to see the countryside, and see the farmwork going on along the way.
When I arrived at the Casa this morning, 7 of the kids were up on the rooftop reading books with two of the Cusco staff. We let them stand on chairs or held them to look over the wall to the street and countryside below. For a long time we were entertained by the neighbours accross the way ploughing a field with two oxen. There was also a flock of sheep up on the hillside, and chickens in the neighbors backyard. There's some sort of construction project going on further down the road, and the kids love watching the trucks driving up and down the road. I doubt that they get out past the orphanage area too often, so it was a treat for them to observe the 'outside' world. It was a treat for me to observe typical country living outside of Cusco!
The kids all have runny noses, and I seem to have picked that up as well. Arriving "home", it was difficult concentrating on my Spanish, but I am learning lots, and enjoying the language, and eager to become fluent!
The electric box to provide hot water for the shower hasn't been working the past couple of days, so it was not very enjoyable showering in cold water. I miss clean bathrooms with hot water, soap and toilet paper! Even at the orphange, the water is turned off quite often, so the cleanliness I am used to is not nearly the same. They do bathe the children daily, though, and heat up water on the stove for their baths.
Today at the orphanage we had a delicious meal of lentils and rice, and a tomato & cucumber salad with a dressing very similar to my mom's. :)
Every Thursday night at the place I am currently boarding, they have a Bible-based Discussion group on various topics. I am looking forward to meeting some of the other English-speaking people who live in this area!
Monday 22 August 2011
The Little Ones
Today was my first day hailing a cab and getting to spend some time at the orphanage, which from now on I will refer to as the Casa. At this time my schedule looks like: M-F 9-2 at the Casa, and 4-6 doing Spanish language training. You apparently can't always get a taxi all of the way because the Casa is in the country a ways, so I might be getting alot of walking in. This I don't mind for now, although I'm not sure what that will look like when the rainy season hits.
The children are beautiful and hard not to love! I was met with children wanting to be held and played with right away. There are about 10 children at the Casa right now, with 3 away for medical reasons. There are a couple of Downs Syndrome children. One little boy wears a bicycle helmet all of the time because he gets seizures, and they have no idea of his history or even his age because he was found on the street and doesn't speak well. When I walked through the door he immediately gave me a big hug! 3 of the children attend school in the morning, and I believe they are all under the age of 5. Because of premature births, or malnutrition in the early months, some of the kids are so little, and look much less than their years. Since the beginning of the year, 3 of the children at the Casa have been adopted out. One boy with spina bifida, nearly blind, and at age 8 the size of a 2 year old is currently in the US, where a loving family are trying to get legalities taken care of to adopt him.
I will be sharing more about the kids as I get to know them better! If you would like more information about the Casa email me, and I will send you the orphange's website link.
It was the first time since arriving, that I have felt somewhat at a loss because of not knowing fluent Spanish. The director is the only one who speaks English, and I was alone with the kids and staff for the majority of the day. I can play and interact with the kids okay, but when it comes to understanding the staff and their schedule and what exactly was going on, I felt really out of the loop. It was good to get started on my Spanish classes this afternoon!
Reflecting on my first day setting foot in an orphange after years of dreaming of serving in one, I am reminded of where my passion is ignited from. Over and over in the Bible, God upholds His standard for Justice, and His great Mercy on a fallen world...
Deuteronomy 10:8 "He defends the cause of the fatherless & the widow..."
God is "A Father to the fatherless..." (Psalm 68:5) and He tells us to "Defend the weak and the fatherless, uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." (Psalm 82:3).
Psalm 10:14 "But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it and take it in hand... You are the helper of the fatherless."
The children are beautiful and hard not to love! I was met with children wanting to be held and played with right away. There are about 10 children at the Casa right now, with 3 away for medical reasons. There are a couple of Downs Syndrome children. One little boy wears a bicycle helmet all of the time because he gets seizures, and they have no idea of his history or even his age because he was found on the street and doesn't speak well. When I walked through the door he immediately gave me a big hug! 3 of the children attend school in the morning, and I believe they are all under the age of 5. Because of premature births, or malnutrition in the early months, some of the kids are so little, and look much less than their years. Since the beginning of the year, 3 of the children at the Casa have been adopted out. One boy with spina bifida, nearly blind, and at age 8 the size of a 2 year old is currently in the US, where a loving family are trying to get legalities taken care of to adopt him.
I will be sharing more about the kids as I get to know them better! If you would like more information about the Casa email me, and I will send you the orphange's website link.
It was the first time since arriving, that I have felt somewhat at a loss because of not knowing fluent Spanish. The director is the only one who speaks English, and I was alone with the kids and staff for the majority of the day. I can play and interact with the kids okay, but when it comes to understanding the staff and their schedule and what exactly was going on, I felt really out of the loop. It was good to get started on my Spanish classes this afternoon!
Deuteronomy 10:8 "He defends the cause of the fatherless & the widow..."
God is "A Father to the fatherless..." (Psalm 68:5) and He tells us to "Defend the weak and the fatherless, uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." (Psalm 82:3).
Psalm 10:14 "But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it and take it in hand... You are the helper of the fatherless."
Friday 19 August 2011
Suiza
Yesterday I was invited to visit the community of Suiza. Suiza means Swiss or Switzerland in Spanish. I really don't know much of the history, but it is a progressive Christian Quechua community and a really beautiful place, with wonderful people.
I had no idea how important this visit was before I got there. It was actually a business meeting with my friend's travel company and the leaders of Suiza. They are looking to start a new travel venture partnership where they can offer an authentic Quechua stay in their community for extranjeros (foreign visiters). I felt so honoured to be there, and to offer my opinion on various topics.
It was an all day thing including displays of their art work, meeting in the church (where I had the opportunity to pray a blessing over their plans), a tour of the different accomodations, a wonderful lunch, and then a demonstration of their craftsmanship.
I was so overwhelmed by the lunch they prepared for us, I was really fighting back tears as one after another of the women brought in these elaborate dishes of different Peruvian food. Everything was so good! Well... almost everything. I've been a vegetarian for 15 years, but I did want to try Cuy- in Quechua meaning Guinea Pig, which is a delicacy here. And, I also tried a little piece of lamb. ...Can say I've done that now : )
I had no idea how important this visit was before I got there. It was actually a business meeting with my friend's travel company and the leaders of Suiza. They are looking to start a new travel venture partnership where they can offer an authentic Quechua stay in their community for extranjeros (foreign visiters). I felt so honoured to be there, and to offer my opinion on various topics.
It was an all day thing including displays of their art work, meeting in the church (where I had the opportunity to pray a blessing over their plans), a tour of the different accomodations, a wonderful lunch, and then a demonstration of their craftsmanship.
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 BELOW: Demo of weaving |
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| Welcome to the community of Suiza |
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| Here's a fridge: a dish with water at the bottom keeps the air above cooler |
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| Traditional Quechua ensemble of this area |
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| A home that would be used for visitor accomodations |
I was so overwhelmed by the lunch they prepared for us, I was really fighting back tears as one after another of the women brought in these elaborate dishes of different Peruvian food. Everything was so good! Well... almost everything. I've been a vegetarian for 15 years, but I did want to try Cuy- in Quechua meaning Guinea Pig, which is a delicacy here. And, I also tried a little piece of lamb. ...Can say I've done that now : )
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 BELOW: Various dishes presented for lunch |
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| A delicious meal prepared for us by the group |
Settling In
Yesterday I saw the team off at the airport before noon, and am excited to have this week to settle in and get more aquainted with Cusco. My schedule this week consists of some sort of tour each day, arranged by a friend of mine from Cusco. This afternoon I am going horseback riding somewhere outside of the city. Tomorrow will be a morning excursion of the South Valley.
It´s interesting how different so many things here are. For instance, I was trying to find some good moisturizing skin cream, but it has been alot more complicated than I´d imagined! The local stores don´t seem to sell creams on the shelf in general, and there aren´t rows and rows of different products and choices like back home. In Aguas Caliente, I finally thought I´d found a Nivea moisturizing cream... but discovered an hour later when I was going to moisturize my hands, that it was actually a moisturizing shower cream!
Trying to buy bandaids and gravol for our team was also not simple. Again, these items are not found in regular tiendas, but in little farmacias. It was somewhat amusing trying to explain what I needed, and was then surprised when I was given one bandaid and one gravol pill. I think the pharmacist was suprised that I wanted the whole box for each. And, oh my goodness, trying to figure out how to use a cell phone all in Spanish and call Internationally- that took alot of tries. Bastante cosas to figure out!
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