OK, so here is what has been happening since last time. I have started waking up in the mornings (before 8!) and helping Santiago cut alfalfa for the cows everyday. It is a lot of fun and takes about an hour and a half between the both of us (He is much faster than I am!). Then, we have also started teaching at the local middle school in the town over (about a twenty minute walk that seems like forever in the height of the day when we go and come back because we teach from 12-2). Then we come back to El Gusano, and I have started a soccer team-type thing with the boys. We had practice and a few games between the kids there and some kids in the town over. We gave them jerseys that we found in the community center, and they LOVED THEM! They se emocionaron (got really excited, but the verb is so much better in Spanish). I explained to them that this is their jersey, and their responsibility to take care of it, their responsibility to wash it, etc. It is so funny-cute-interesting-encouraging to see them wearing these jerseys EVERYDAY!!! It gets dark around 9:15ish, so around 8-8:30 we go to the community center to watch a movie.
In the schools, we are teaching English, math, and motivation. The motivation class is with middle schoolers, and we ask them questions about where they see themselves in five years and how they are going to get there. It is really awkward when they stare back at you and you force them to answer, but it is totally worth it when you can see their minds working and them really contemplating their futures! Math is fun because I am not some old woman, and I tell them that the purpose of math is to apply it, so their assignment for this week was to find a real life example of how to use circumference (animals tied to a tree, fence around a mountain, curtains on a table, etc!) I am pumped to see what they come up with next week!
Few lessons/things I have to say:
-communication is really important! When there are certain expectations for 9 American college students to come and work with a Mexican foundation for six weeks. There has to be complete communication. We cannot know exactly their vision for what they want us to do, when they do not give us the exacts. We also cannot sit down and plan what we are doing all summer in 30 minutes. We thought they were going to have more planned for us to do, they thought we were going to come down with our own plans -- communication gap. Also, communication is just different in Mexico. Instead of calling someone right then when you have a question, it is OK to put it off until the next destination or until you see them the next time. It is also, OK to change your plans last minute and not give people a heads up. It is just really different and really outside of my schedule-loving, planned American framework.
-undocumented migration: I cannot stand IGNORANT Americans in general, but especially when it comes to undocumented migration. America has been using Mexican migration since the mid-1800s for OUR benefit. We have created the system and institution of migration. I was talking with Santiago, whose brothers and sisters and who he himself all have traveled to the States multiple times sin papeles (without papers), told me that in Mexico he can earn $1000 pesos a week ($80ish), and in the States he can make $700 per week and send back $500. We cannot complain that people are coming to our country and "burdening it" when they are only trying to make money, (and not to mention the fact that Mexican migrant workers are in the States keeps our prices LOW!) Our $45,000 GDP compared to that of Mexico being $12,500ish, is really fortunate on our end, but the fact is our development and industrialization happened at the right time, in the right place, and by taking advantage of the right marginalized people, so where do we ever get off thinking that this is OUR doing? Where do we get off thinking that it is OK to spend $11 billion on bottled water per year when $20 billion would provide all of Africa with clean, drinking water? America: it is time to wake up and realize that our good fortunes and vast wealth is not meant to be used to invest in ourselves, but to invest in the freeing of the captives from poverty, hunger, forced migration, workplace injustice, thirst, AIDS, and food sovereignty. One person cannot change the tide of this war, but some 300 million educated, fortunate, compassionate people can (and we happen to be that people). After traveling a lot of places around the world, I have come to realize that Americans are some of the most passionate, generous, kind, and loving people, but we are also some of the most ignorant and mal-informed. Let us break the bubble where we find our security, let us encounter these "stranger aliens" with the same generosity and kindness we would someone who is white, speaks English, and is Protestant. We have the most information in the world at our fingertips (Raleigh is the #1 wired city in America), so let us read, let us inform ourselves, let us be open to the idea that we are wrong, let us be open to the idea that we are right, let us be open to the idea that we can change the world, let us be open to the idea that changing the world is not going to be easy but that it is worth it. Talk to a Mexican migrant today about why they are here, how they came, what they have in their home country, the education and nutrition of their children, the well-being of their aging parents who have been farmers all their lives and now have no system of Mexican social security. Migration has happened since the beginning of human history, and it in the end ALWAYS benefits the host-country. IT IS AN INVESTMENT, but a worth-while one.
Shine On,
Jacob
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
SHINE ON!
Ok, so the theme for the summer is SHINE, not shrink. This is based off a medley of things:
-Matthew 5: 14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
-"Shine On" by Needtobreathe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqPGbGUlcjY
-Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
-quote by Marianne Williamson:
I was a bit uncomfortable in El Gusano for a few days because I felt ambiguous, nebulous, and hazy (the opposite of light, which illuminates and provides clarity). I am really trying to break into the group of muchachos (or boys my age) here and become friends with them. They are very solemn and proud to desconocidos (people they do not know). But this is where I am weakest, how can I be expressive, on-fire Jacob without being able to have easy conversation? Then I remembered, fire does not choose where it goes ... it blazes through wherever without asking questions or second-guessing itself. Light does not wait to feel completely comfortable to invade the darkness, it simply does at the fastest speed we can fathom!
Shine On!
Jacob
-Matthew 5: 14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
-"Shine On" by Needtobreathe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqPGbGUlcjY
-Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
-quote by Marianne Williamson:
Now is the time to shine! What if we really embraced the fact that we are created to shine, what then would be our excuse for not?! Exactly, there is none. Instead of shrinking in to familiarity, complacency, and comfort let us blaze through our families, friends, communities, and even nations to catch others on fire as well. As bugs are attracted to a simple lightbulb, we are attracted my more to the Ultimate Source of Light and the One Who Shines the Brightest. In Revelation 21 or 22, it John receives a revolutionary vision that we will no longer have the need for lights other than God because He will shine brightly enough (not just enough, but more than we could ever need or desire). Also, Jesus teaches us how to pray by saying "on earth as it is in heaven" ... so connect the dots! We can be that by letting our lights shine! How are you changing your city or people you come into contact with? This is not rhetorical: I want to know! When I come back from Mexico, what if I came back to a North Carolina, a Chapel Hill, a Raleigh different than I ever had known?“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
I was a bit uncomfortable in El Gusano for a few days because I felt ambiguous, nebulous, and hazy (the opposite of light, which illuminates and provides clarity). I am really trying to break into the group of muchachos (or boys my age) here and become friends with them. They are very solemn and proud to desconocidos (people they do not know). But this is where I am weakest, how can I be expressive, on-fire Jacob without being able to have easy conversation? Then I remembered, fire does not choose where it goes ... it blazes through wherever without asking questions or second-guessing itself. Light does not wait to feel completely comfortable to invade the darkness, it simply does at the fastest speed we can fathom!
Shine On!
Jacob
Saturday, May 22, 2010
We are now in El Gusano! But I am actually in Dolores Hidalgo for the day to buy some stuff for the center. Dolores Hidalgo is the city of Mexican Independence from Spain. The priest, Miguel Hildalgo, shouted from the cathedral VIVA MEXICO! (long live Mexico) and called his laity to fight for independence.
Since the last time we talked much fun stuff has happened!
-played soccer at Ibero University with Kike! so much fun, but I was definitely not used to the altitude, so it was really hard to keep running without subs
-went to a concert in opposition to the Arizona law ... lots of funny roqueros (rocker kids). I had no idea that the law was getting international responses.
-it is day 3 in the communities, last night we got invited to Doña Cata s house for a catholic ceremony. they rocked a baby doll in a blanket, who was supposed to represent baby Jesus. It was to remind us why the Jesus came and the story of his coming. It was really cool experiencing the ceremony and Christianity in a different manner. Im hoping this will open the doors to talk about spiritual things with them. We at tomales (corn, meat, milk all ground up and then cooked in corn ears. we also had atole (ground up corn, sugar, chocolate, and cinnamon). This just reminded me of how important corn is to the rural Mexican communities, so it got me frustrated again that the US inadvertantly destroyed the corn market in Mexico by subsidizing American corn.
-Im staying with Don Jesus Garcia and Doña Matilde Alvarez. They have 11 children, some of whom have their own grandchildren). 11 is sort of large, but not outrageous for a number of kids. They have their own plot of land that they share with a few sons who live on the land with their families. I am staying in the house of one of their sons that is in the United States, Javier. Don Jesus loves to talk! Whenever I am on my way out of their plot of land with all their houses, he always asks me to stop and platicar (chat). Sometimes I do, and I love it. We talk about life and how he likes to live. He has been to the State of Mexico (yes, there is also a state in Mexico called Mexico) and he has been to Tamaulipas (where I used to go with Grace and where God developed my heart for Mexico and its issues and novelties). He said that he did not like living there and much preferred to live with his whole family where "podemos compartir todo entre nosotros" (we can share everything among eachother). I really want to live like this ... with family in friends all in the same place where the collective matters more than the individual. It reminded me a lot of days out in Knightdale where we could run up to Grandma and Papas really easily. And a lot of people in the town are related, so as Lupe (an amazing woman) told us, you never have to worry when you step outside because everyone is either you "hermano, primo, tio, sobrino, nuero, o quien sea" (brother, cousin, uncle, nephew, son-in-law, or whoever). I am going to have to write later specifically about Lupe ... so get ready!
-yesterday: complete 180
I wanted to come home because I had no idea what we were doing here and I didnt feel like I am in any place to offer assistance to the residents of El Gusano, but then I realized that they are offering me so much as well. I have to remember to SHINE, not shrink! I am going to learn about their lives here, about tending to animals (hopefully), about rural Mexican living (maybe a possible magazine title like "Southern Living"), practice my Spanish, and basically be part of their community. In return I am bringing some capital into the community in the form of paying to stay with my awesome hosts and also by teaching them some computer skills and doing some handicrafts with the younger students. For computer skills, which they already have computers, we are going to show them how to use excel, word, and powerpoint, so that one day when they get internet, theyll be able to go to highschool and even university online!!! how awesome is that! To the younger kids, they already have fun, so we are just going to try and do fun activities with them: arts and crafts, movie nights, Kaylee and I are going to try and do some mini-gymnastics classes because self-confidence really develops in ALL kids when they learn how to do something new! We are going to paint some of the grey walls to add some color to the town and also clear out this ditch that would allow for better water flow instead of in clogging up! I just have to remind myself that it is Day 3 of 40-something, so we have lots of time to get to know everyone and accomplish our tasks.
theme for the summer: SHINE, not shrink! I am going to write a separate blog about this one too!
love
Since the last time we talked much fun stuff has happened!
-played soccer at Ibero University with Kike! so much fun, but I was definitely not used to the altitude, so it was really hard to keep running without subs
-went to a concert in opposition to the Arizona law ... lots of funny roqueros (rocker kids). I had no idea that the law was getting international responses.
-it is day 3 in the communities, last night we got invited to Doña Cata s house for a catholic ceremony. they rocked a baby doll in a blanket, who was supposed to represent baby Jesus. It was to remind us why the Jesus came and the story of his coming. It was really cool experiencing the ceremony and Christianity in a different manner. Im hoping this will open the doors to talk about spiritual things with them. We at tomales (corn, meat, milk all ground up and then cooked in corn ears. we also had atole (ground up corn, sugar, chocolate, and cinnamon). This just reminded me of how important corn is to the rural Mexican communities, so it got me frustrated again that the US inadvertantly destroyed the corn market in Mexico by subsidizing American corn.
-Im staying with Don Jesus Garcia and Doña Matilde Alvarez. They have 11 children, some of whom have their own grandchildren). 11 is sort of large, but not outrageous for a number of kids. They have their own plot of land that they share with a few sons who live on the land with their families. I am staying in the house of one of their sons that is in the United States, Javier. Don Jesus loves to talk! Whenever I am on my way out of their plot of land with all their houses, he always asks me to stop and platicar (chat). Sometimes I do, and I love it. We talk about life and how he likes to live. He has been to the State of Mexico (yes, there is also a state in Mexico called Mexico) and he has been to Tamaulipas (where I used to go with Grace and where God developed my heart for Mexico and its issues and novelties). He said that he did not like living there and much preferred to live with his whole family where "podemos compartir todo entre nosotros" (we can share everything among eachother). I really want to live like this ... with family in friends all in the same place where the collective matters more than the individual. It reminded me a lot of days out in Knightdale where we could run up to Grandma and Papas really easily. And a lot of people in the town are related, so as Lupe (an amazing woman) told us, you never have to worry when you step outside because everyone is either you "hermano, primo, tio, sobrino, nuero, o quien sea" (brother, cousin, uncle, nephew, son-in-law, or whoever). I am going to have to write later specifically about Lupe ... so get ready!
-yesterday: complete 180
I wanted to come home because I had no idea what we were doing here and I didnt feel like I am in any place to offer assistance to the residents of El Gusano, but then I realized that they are offering me so much as well. I have to remember to SHINE, not shrink! I am going to learn about their lives here, about tending to animals (hopefully), about rural Mexican living (maybe a possible magazine title like "Southern Living"), practice my Spanish, and basically be part of their community. In return I am bringing some capital into the community in the form of paying to stay with my awesome hosts and also by teaching them some computer skills and doing some handicrafts with the younger students. For computer skills, which they already have computers, we are going to show them how to use excel, word, and powerpoint, so that one day when they get internet, theyll be able to go to highschool and even university online!!! how awesome is that! To the younger kids, they already have fun, so we are just going to try and do fun activities with them: arts and crafts, movie nights, Kaylee and I are going to try and do some mini-gymnastics classes because self-confidence really develops in ALL kids when they learn how to do something new! We are going to paint some of the grey walls to add some color to the town and also clear out this ditch that would allow for better water flow instead of in clogging up! I just have to remind myself that it is Day 3 of 40-something, so we have lots of time to get to know everyone and accomplish our tasks.
theme for the summer: SHINE, not shrink! I am going to write a separate blog about this one too!
love
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Mexico thus far!
Hello everyone! This is the first of hopefully many blogs for the summer :) We arrived safely in Mexico City and went straight to Puebla (a city about an hour away from D.F.) and we went to eat dinner at a tacos arabes (arab tacos). They are like normal tacos except you put strained cheese, a bacon type of meat, and onions. SOO Good! We are eating a lot of good food here. Then we went out to a cantina and a mariachi band came by ... it was so much fun. Our hostal isnt anything to write home about, so ill skip it.
The next day we wake up, and I went for a run around the city. I only went for about 15 minutes, but it was still fun to go. Then we went on a tour of the city of Puebla on a touristy bus ... that was OK, but I just listened to my iPod and looked over the side (because it was a double decker). Then we went and ate chilaquiles verdes at a nice restaurant, which is like fried tortilla, salsa verde (green sauce), shreaded chicken and cheese ... my favorite Mexican dish! We went to go for pasitas which are like gourmet shots that you sip slowly. I got a lime flavored one and it was really suave (smoothe). Then we saw IRON MAN DOS! It was a great movie and we also got Krispy Kreme donas (doughnuts). I asked Colleen (newest member of Project Guanajuato) if she forgot that she was in Mexico and she said yes! haha I did too.
Yesterday, we checked out of the hostal and headed for Cholula, a small town outside of Puebla, where one of Miguels friends lives. We visited some churches and visited the huge pyramid that is the base of the whole town. Once the Spanish came, they built a cathedral on the top of the pyramid and the rest of the town started to develop on top of the pyramid. Last night we went to a house party with some other Americans from Boston, French, Mexicans, and others. We had a lot of fun because there were so many languages all over the place!
Now we are up to date! We just woke up today and chilled at a friends house and now we are heading to Mexico City to meet up with the rest of our crew!
The next day we wake up, and I went for a run around the city. I only went for about 15 minutes, but it was still fun to go. Then we went on a tour of the city of Puebla on a touristy bus ... that was OK, but I just listened to my iPod and looked over the side (because it was a double decker). Then we went and ate chilaquiles verdes at a nice restaurant, which is like fried tortilla, salsa verde (green sauce), shreaded chicken and cheese ... my favorite Mexican dish! We went to go for pasitas which are like gourmet shots that you sip slowly. I got a lime flavored one and it was really suave (smoothe). Then we saw IRON MAN DOS! It was a great movie and we also got Krispy Kreme donas (doughnuts). I asked Colleen (newest member of Project Guanajuato) if she forgot that she was in Mexico and she said yes! haha I did too.
Yesterday, we checked out of the hostal and headed for Cholula, a small town outside of Puebla, where one of Miguels friends lives. We visited some churches and visited the huge pyramid that is the base of the whole town. Once the Spanish came, they built a cathedral on the top of the pyramid and the rest of the town started to develop on top of the pyramid. Last night we went to a house party with some other Americans from Boston, French, Mexicans, and others. We had a lot of fun because there were so many languages all over the place!
Now we are up to date! We just woke up today and chilled at a friends house and now we are heading to Mexico City to meet up with the rest of our crew!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Hallo! I'm back and gonna try and update what's going on in life/Guanajuato! I have around 3 weeks until Mexico, but before then, I have to write like 50 pages :( I cannot wait for the summer!
The first week we're going to Mexico City and Puebla. We're gonna go to the Mexico City vs. Chile soccer game and just go out in the big city with some friends who stayed with me in March (Miguel, Karina, y Kike!)
hasta luego
The first week we're going to Mexico City and Puebla. We're gonna go to the Mexico City vs. Chile soccer game and just go out in the big city with some friends who stayed with me in March (Miguel, Karina, y Kike!)
hasta luego
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
the gym
The gym is where many people try to cover up their insecurities, but by doing so they emphasize them even more! We I got into the gym, I become a much calmer person, I don't like to really talk with anyone, and I just want to workout and leave. Everyone is so quiet and serious like their muscles are the most important issue in their lives. It's funny that people are less serious when it comes to classes and academia than in the gym. I think it is hilarious when you see really timid guys who obviously don't work out very much, so they aren't as directed and don't know what to do or even what they want to do (sometimes that's me), but good for them going at it. Then there are the guys whose whole sense of worth comes from how much they can lift ... they are the guys you see everyday in the gym that check themselves out, where cut-off shirts, and bring their protein powder to the gym because, let's face it, it is too much of a hassle to drink it before or after your workout! duh! Then once a week or so, I run into that guy who wants everyone to know that he is a doctor, so without fail he wears his scrubs. It's not the same guy every time, but it's the same role - almost the same identity. It is really interesting to see who wins the right of way and who yields. The bigger guys are used to the rest of us to ceding the way to them, but sometimes I am not paying attention or I just don't want to yield the way, and it throws a wrench in their whole workout caste system ... shakes them up a bit.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
august!
So August:
Got back to the States and I haven't had any culture shock! At least when I went to Mexico, I would come back with some sort of transitioning time, but I was so prepared to be home, so I haven't had any weird emotional swings or anything from being gone! I really have just been catching up with friends and family since I have been back. We had our family birthday parties and then I've just been chilling at home and around Raleigh. We had cheerleading camp this past week and it was awesome being back! It was so tough because my skills have digressed a lot, so I just have to bust my tail over the next few weeks to get back to where I was. On the second day of camp though, I could tell that I got better than the first day of camp, so that's a plus! I have had the best time over the past few weeks catching up with all my friends at home (Jordan, Jordan, Kristy, Brandy, Matt, Matt, Joel, Anna, Amy, Ben, and Funder)! I'm not trying to name drop ... I just want to remember later in life :) I've been working out really hard this past week since camp and today was the worst! I went running with my friend Justice and I had to really push myself to keep up with him.
What is on my mind is that I am growing up (ish). I am officially moved into my HOUSE! I went grocery shopping tonight and I can decide everything I am doing ... when did this happen? Kristy Herrmann said that, "You know you're grown up when you have to pay for your own toilet paper." And that is the truth! I have my car here, I have a kitchen and living room! ahh it's so oddd being grown up, but it's so fun. All of my friends are getting legit places to stay instead of dorms like Matt and Kristy (theirs are the only I have seen), but it's so much fun going to someone's house instead of going to someone's dorm! I am going to try and keep this blog going during the year, so whoever wants to read about my life can!
Got back to the States and I haven't had any culture shock! At least when I went to Mexico, I would come back with some sort of transitioning time, but I was so prepared to be home, so I haven't had any weird emotional swings or anything from being gone! I really have just been catching up with friends and family since I have been back. We had our family birthday parties and then I've just been chilling at home and around Raleigh. We had cheerleading camp this past week and it was awesome being back! It was so tough because my skills have digressed a lot, so I just have to bust my tail over the next few weeks to get back to where I was. On the second day of camp though, I could tell that I got better than the first day of camp, so that's a plus! I have had the best time over the past few weeks catching up with all my friends at home (Jordan, Jordan, Kristy, Brandy, Matt, Matt, Joel, Anna, Amy, Ben, and Funder)! I'm not trying to name drop ... I just want to remember later in life :) I've been working out really hard this past week since camp and today was the worst! I went running with my friend Justice and I had to really push myself to keep up with him.
What is on my mind is that I am growing up (ish). I am officially moved into my HOUSE! I went grocery shopping tonight and I can decide everything I am doing ... when did this happen? Kristy Herrmann said that, "You know you're grown up when you have to pay for your own toilet paper." And that is the truth! I have my car here, I have a kitchen and living room! ahh it's so oddd being grown up, but it's so fun. All of my friends are getting legit places to stay instead of dorms like Matt and Kristy (theirs are the only I have seen), but it's so much fun going to someone's house instead of going to someone's dorm! I am going to try and keep this blog going during the year, so whoever wants to read about my life can!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Uruguay and Iguazú
So after Buenos Aires, we traveled to Colonia, Uruguay with a friend we met from Scotland! We were exhausted from going out the night before so we slept our whole day in Colonia and walked around a bit at night! We had a pretty good dinner at a local restaurant where many local women come play bridge every night. Then we went down to the shore of the Río de la Plata. A random group of uruguayos were hanging out nearby and playing music, and then came over for a bit and offered us pot! Ahh! We also had a great talk with Bob, a Englishman that hasn´t lived in England for over 20 years! We talked about religion and politics and all the stuff you aren´t supposed to. He was an atheist and he posed a question that I didn´t know how to answer: Why do you need God, or religion, or someone else telling you how to live your life?
I didn´t know how to answer this for a long time, but I just started praying about it and then I realized that I need God! I need him to tell me that my life isn´t just about living for myself but for pouring myself out and experiencing everything! I need him to tell me that I am free from my fears and insecurities. The whole concept that a relationship with God offers us freedom and a relationship with religion offers us rules and regulations has really sunk in this summer. That is why I got a tattoo last Thursday of the word libertad which means freedom or liberty in Spanish. Then, the pastor at the children´s home that we are at in Arequipa asked me to give my testimony in front of the whole church. I had no idea where to start or how to summarize my relationship with God over the past 8ish years. Then God led me to think about this question posed by the atheist in Uruguay. I posed the same question to the congregation: Why do you need God? Not why does the world need God, or this church, but why do YOU? What has He done for you in your life? The answer won´t be the same as anyone else because we are all different and have different relationships with God, ya?
Anyways, Colonia was beautiful and only had about 20,000 residents, so it was one of the most tranquil times of the trip! I want to go back someday ... maybe on my honeymoon? ¿quién sabe? So we headed to Montevideo for a bit and found out that there is not all that much to do there. We walked around the first day and bought some stuff from markets, but it was also a really chill place to be. We hung out mostly in the hostal, where we met a group of believers from Memphis. We went with them on Monday to do some service work! We started off by sorting cards for games for kids and then went to another site to paint a room in a community center. It was really cool meeting some good southern people all the way in Montevideo and getting to talk in English about God!
We left then for Iguazú, which took sooo long to get to. We had to take a 6-7 hour busride to Salto, where we had to sleep in the terminal that night. We then took a 1-2 hour busride to Corrientes, then to Posadas where we took a bus at 1:30 in the morning and it was late (5-6 hours), then to Puerto Iguazú! On our journey to Iguazú we met a girl named Dana who was from California! She traveled through Canada, went to London, and now is going to teach English in Antofogasta, Chile until November or December. It took her 5 or 6 years to do college, but she has 3 or 4 minors. This is amazing to me because it´s another example of how everyone´s path is different!
We dropped our bags off at the hostal and then headed for the falls. Andrew read in the travel book that there were swimming areas, so we all wore our bathing suits. Everyone else was wearing warm clothing, so we were like oh shoot! The falls were absolutely amazing and I can only describe them through the pictures and videos I took while we were there. There is an island that the falls created called La isla de San Martín. We went over to it and climbed off the pathway because we were determined to swim! We climbed up some little falls and found awesome swimming holes. It was by far the best part of the day! There were so many condors that petrified me, but thankfully Andrew went first and shooed them away! I got shivers everytime I saw them!
We were also trying to meet up with our Colombian friends who were following a similar route as us, and towards the end of the day it looked like we weren´t going to be able to find them at Iguazú! But after seeing the last and most amazing fall who should come along? Carolina and Johanna! It was awesome being able to see them one last time on our trip because now we know colombianas and have some people to know when I make my way to Colombia!
I would go on to talk about Salta and Arequipa again, but I want to write good posts, so I´ll write them once I get back to the States on FRIDAY! ahh locura
I didn´t know how to answer this for a long time, but I just started praying about it and then I realized that I need God! I need him to tell me that my life isn´t just about living for myself but for pouring myself out and experiencing everything! I need him to tell me that I am free from my fears and insecurities. The whole concept that a relationship with God offers us freedom and a relationship with religion offers us rules and regulations has really sunk in this summer. That is why I got a tattoo last Thursday of the word libertad which means freedom or liberty in Spanish. Then, the pastor at the children´s home that we are at in Arequipa asked me to give my testimony in front of the whole church. I had no idea where to start or how to summarize my relationship with God over the past 8ish years. Then God led me to think about this question posed by the atheist in Uruguay. I posed the same question to the congregation: Why do you need God? Not why does the world need God, or this church, but why do YOU? What has He done for you in your life? The answer won´t be the same as anyone else because we are all different and have different relationships with God, ya?
Anyways, Colonia was beautiful and only had about 20,000 residents, so it was one of the most tranquil times of the trip! I want to go back someday ... maybe on my honeymoon? ¿quién sabe? So we headed to Montevideo for a bit and found out that there is not all that much to do there. We walked around the first day and bought some stuff from markets, but it was also a really chill place to be. We hung out mostly in the hostal, where we met a group of believers from Memphis. We went with them on Monday to do some service work! We started off by sorting cards for games for kids and then went to another site to paint a room in a community center. It was really cool meeting some good southern people all the way in Montevideo and getting to talk in English about God!
We left then for Iguazú, which took sooo long to get to. We had to take a 6-7 hour busride to Salto, where we had to sleep in the terminal that night. We then took a 1-2 hour busride to Corrientes, then to Posadas where we took a bus at 1:30 in the morning and it was late (5-6 hours), then to Puerto Iguazú! On our journey to Iguazú we met a girl named Dana who was from California! She traveled through Canada, went to London, and now is going to teach English in Antofogasta, Chile until November or December. It took her 5 or 6 years to do college, but she has 3 or 4 minors. This is amazing to me because it´s another example of how everyone´s path is different!
We dropped our bags off at the hostal and then headed for the falls. Andrew read in the travel book that there were swimming areas, so we all wore our bathing suits. Everyone else was wearing warm clothing, so we were like oh shoot! The falls were absolutely amazing and I can only describe them through the pictures and videos I took while we were there. There is an island that the falls created called La isla de San Martín. We went over to it and climbed off the pathway because we were determined to swim! We climbed up some little falls and found awesome swimming holes. It was by far the best part of the day! There were so many condors that petrified me, but thankfully Andrew went first and shooed them away! I got shivers everytime I saw them!
We were also trying to meet up with our Colombian friends who were following a similar route as us, and towards the end of the day it looked like we weren´t going to be able to find them at Iguazú! But after seeing the last and most amazing fall who should come along? Carolina and Johanna! It was awesome being able to see them one last time on our trip because now we know colombianas and have some people to know when I make my way to Colombia!
I would go on to talk about Salta and Arequipa again, but I want to write good posts, so I´ll write them once I get back to the States on FRIDAY! ahh locura
Friday, July 17, 2009
WOW! It has been entirely too long, but I have been traveling so much it is hard to stop and write.
The last time I wrote was about Santiago, so I am going to start with Mendoza!
MENDOZA:
We finally got to Mendoza, Argentina and met up with Sarita! She is researching the gay and lesbian culture in Argentina, so a few nights we went to gay clubs with her! I had the best time because the gay community seems to me to love to dance, so I just got to dance and have a great time! We went to some straight clubs too where there were more Americans. The schedule in Mendoza is so relaxed. Everyday they take siesta, so all of the stores are closed from about 12 to 5 or 6! Andrew and I could not get on this schedule to save our lives, so a lot of things took longer to do because we would not be able to do anything until places opened back up around 6! We went to the park a lot and went on a lot of awesome jogs around the city, which was really odd because NO ONE runs in the city. They drive to the park and run there, so needless to say we got a lot of weird looks! We stayed with this man named Mario. He was about 60 and he was an actor when he was younger, but now focuses more on his art projects around his house! He lived in Chile during the Pinochet times, so that was interesting to hear about. We also got to meet some of Sarita´s friends from the south of Chile - where they speak more clearly and they are nicer! Carla and her brother, Arturo, who was visiting for Carla´s birthday hung out with us all week! The last day was by far the greatest because we all went to a winery or a bodega and tasted wine! It was so much fun to be tipsy in the afternoon. Sara´s friend worked there, so he completely comped everything and we had an amazing meal in the wine cellar. That night, they all came over and we cooked dinner and Mario ate with us! Andrew was drinking scotch, so he was saying ridiculous things about the ballenas, which is pronounced so much like vaginas! So everytime Mario talked about the Patagonia and the ballenas flapping through the water, Andrew was cracking me and Sara up! The hispanohablantes or Spanish-speakers didn´t get the joke. Andrew then asked Sarita how many ballenas she had seen when she visited the Patagonia, which she answered something like all of them! Such good times! We also met Sarita´s other friends Matias and Martin, who were really good at speaking English, so between all of us we had some good laughs. We hung out at Sarita´s house with her madre Mariana, who was really cool. She is really used to have Americans because she hosts students when they study abroad, so it was really great talking with her because she was really patient and spoke clearly. She was also pretty hilarious! Mendoza is definitely one of my favorite cities in South America!
BUENOS AIRES:
We took an overnight bus from Mendoza to BA, and found the coolest hostal called LimeHouse! We were right on the Avenida 9 de junio - June 9th Avenue. The first day we went to the grocery store and got some amazing food. For five quality steaks here, it cost about 10 pesos, which is about $3.30! We went to this tour called the Pub Crawl that night. It turned out to be a rip because it was so expensive and then we had to buy drinks, which we were told we´d get enough free drinks, but anyways we met some cool folks from Scotland, England, and Chapel Hill! It was so much fun because at the last boliche or club, we got up on the tables and our whole group was dancing! We went to various barrios or neighborhoods around where we stayed. The first one was called Recoleta and the other was called La Boca. Recoleta was the fancy, posh side of town and everything was expensive. It is also where the cemetery is! This cemetery was like nothing we had ever seen. It was like a little village, but instead of houses, they had little shrines or cottages that fit a whole extended family after death! It was so bizarre! La Boca was the coolest because it was like a mixture of Charleston and New Orleans. Everything was colorful and there was so much tango and music! It was great and I wish I spent more time there. I bought a huge blue poncho there that is so cool! I cannot wait to bust it out in the States!
That´s about it for now: I still have to write about Uruguay, Iguazú, Salta, and then back in Arequipa!
chau chau
The last time I wrote was about Santiago, so I am going to start with Mendoza!
MENDOZA:
We finally got to Mendoza, Argentina and met up with Sarita! She is researching the gay and lesbian culture in Argentina, so a few nights we went to gay clubs with her! I had the best time because the gay community seems to me to love to dance, so I just got to dance and have a great time! We went to some straight clubs too where there were more Americans. The schedule in Mendoza is so relaxed. Everyday they take siesta, so all of the stores are closed from about 12 to 5 or 6! Andrew and I could not get on this schedule to save our lives, so a lot of things took longer to do because we would not be able to do anything until places opened back up around 6! We went to the park a lot and went on a lot of awesome jogs around the city, which was really odd because NO ONE runs in the city. They drive to the park and run there, so needless to say we got a lot of weird looks! We stayed with this man named Mario. He was about 60 and he was an actor when he was younger, but now focuses more on his art projects around his house! He lived in Chile during the Pinochet times, so that was interesting to hear about. We also got to meet some of Sarita´s friends from the south of Chile - where they speak more clearly and they are nicer! Carla and her brother, Arturo, who was visiting for Carla´s birthday hung out with us all week! The last day was by far the greatest because we all went to a winery or a bodega and tasted wine! It was so much fun to be tipsy in the afternoon. Sara´s friend worked there, so he completely comped everything and we had an amazing meal in the wine cellar. That night, they all came over and we cooked dinner and Mario ate with us! Andrew was drinking scotch, so he was saying ridiculous things about the ballenas, which is pronounced so much like vaginas! So everytime Mario talked about the Patagonia and the ballenas flapping through the water, Andrew was cracking me and Sara up! The hispanohablantes or Spanish-speakers didn´t get the joke. Andrew then asked Sarita how many ballenas she had seen when she visited the Patagonia, which she answered something like all of them! Such good times! We also met Sarita´s other friends Matias and Martin, who were really good at speaking English, so between all of us we had some good laughs. We hung out at Sarita´s house with her madre Mariana, who was really cool. She is really used to have Americans because she hosts students when they study abroad, so it was really great talking with her because she was really patient and spoke clearly. She was also pretty hilarious! Mendoza is definitely one of my favorite cities in South America!
BUENOS AIRES:
We took an overnight bus from Mendoza to BA, and found the coolest hostal called LimeHouse! We were right on the Avenida 9 de junio - June 9th Avenue. The first day we went to the grocery store and got some amazing food. For five quality steaks here, it cost about 10 pesos, which is about $3.30! We went to this tour called the Pub Crawl that night. It turned out to be a rip because it was so expensive and then we had to buy drinks, which we were told we´d get enough free drinks, but anyways we met some cool folks from Scotland, England, and Chapel Hill! It was so much fun because at the last boliche or club, we got up on the tables and our whole group was dancing! We went to various barrios or neighborhoods around where we stayed. The first one was called Recoleta and the other was called La Boca. Recoleta was the fancy, posh side of town and everything was expensive. It is also where the cemetery is! This cemetery was like nothing we had ever seen. It was like a little village, but instead of houses, they had little shrines or cottages that fit a whole extended family after death! It was so bizarre! La Boca was the coolest because it was like a mixture of Charleston and New Orleans. Everything was colorful and there was so much tango and music! It was great and I wish I spent more time there. I bought a huge blue poncho there that is so cool! I cannot wait to bust it out in the States!
That´s about it for now: I still have to write about Uruguay, Iguazú, Salta, and then back in Arequipa!
chau chau
Saturday, July 4, 2009
last two weeks ... ish
the last time that i wrote, we were in chile ... now we are about 60 hours away in Montevideo, Uruguay!!! I am going to try and write through the past few weeks as I remember!
Santiago: if you want to go here, see if you like NYC first and then learn spanish and come! this city seems so NYC to me because it was cold and the people were a bit NYC acting. a bit busy a bit unfriendly and a bit expensive, but it was a great learning experience. we only spent the weekend here because the pass to mendoza, argentina was blocked because of snow. we stayed in this amazing hostal (that had many rules :( ). it was in a colonial red house called la casa roja (the red house). there were about a 100 travelers passing through there. this place had a pool and bar in the hostal, so it was pretty fun! we went running everyday in santiago, which was great to explore this overcast city. as a side note, we met some awesome chilenos from the south of chile in argentina and they were super friendly! the currency was really crazy because it was 540 chilean pesos to the dollar! so if something was 5400 pesos, it was about $10. it was really weird doing these conversions in our heads, so we spent more :(
im going to finish this later because the space bar isnt working well, so it´s a PITA!
Santiago: if you want to go here, see if you like NYC first and then learn spanish and come! this city seems so NYC to me because it was cold and the people were a bit NYC acting. a bit busy a bit unfriendly and a bit expensive, but it was a great learning experience. we only spent the weekend here because the pass to mendoza, argentina was blocked because of snow. we stayed in this amazing hostal (that had many rules :( ). it was in a colonial red house called la casa roja (the red house). there were about a 100 travelers passing through there. this place had a pool and bar in the hostal, so it was pretty fun! we went running everyday in santiago, which was great to explore this overcast city. as a side note, we met some awesome chilenos from the south of chile in argentina and they were super friendly! the currency was really crazy because it was 540 chilean pesos to the dollar! so if something was 5400 pesos, it was about $10. it was really weird doing these conversions in our heads, so we spent more :(
im going to finish this later because the space bar isnt working well, so it´s a PITA!
Friday, June 19, 2009
4 days of travelling
This all started out on Tuesday when Jason went back to NC. We went back to el Terminal Terrestre (Ground Terminal) to catch a bus to Tacna, Perú. There were no buses there because of a huge farmers´ strike that began on Sunday, but we found a bus to Arequipa that took a different route and supposedly avoided the strike. A few hours into the trip we realized that the farmers had mobilized to our route as well. We were about 4 hours into the trip, which was only supposed to be 12 hours, when we ran into the farmers. They threw a few rocks at the windows, but all we had to do was turn around. We had to drive all the way back to about an hour outside of Cuzco and take a rickety bridge. We then drove through the desert on some paved and some not paved roads, so the trip took about 16 hours instead of 12. We were in Arequipa for only 45 minutes, so we didn´t have time to stop and see our friends nor eat our beloved Mixtos!
Next was Tacna, about 7 hours away from Arequipa, which was a nice ride through the southern desert of Perú. Not very many people were on the bus so we got two whole seats to ourselves. We watched the whole Beverly Hills Cop series in Spanish, and it was still awful!!! We finally got to Tacna, and stayed for no more than 20 minutes because we took a colectivo to Arica. A colectivo is basically a cab, but it holds five people. The whole journey from Tacna to Arica took about an hour, and the taxista (cabbie) told us that he made about three trips a night. The trip only cost 10 soles or 2000 chilean pesos or $3.30, so we got a really good deal. We went through customs and could barely understand the chilenos. They speak so fast and do not even attempt to speak slower to us when we ask questions or are confused ... so frustrating. That has been our general impression of Chile ... a bit like Americans who don´t like foreigners.
From Arica to Santiago, took about 32 hours including the stops. We met to colombianas (Colombian girls) who were really nice and translated from Chilean Spanish to normal paced Spanish for us. Their Spanish was so clear and easy to understand. I think it´s a general rule that the closer you are to Colombia, the clearer the Spanish is. They have been travelling like us for four days and they are going to Buenos Aires, so we may meet up with them there. The attendant on the bus was a jerk! I can speak good enough Spanish to know that I can understand if someone is speaking clearly. So that was a bust trying to get any help from him.
So we arrived this morning into a huge terminal that was also connected to a mall and a metro station. So we took the metro and missed our stop to the next bus station that was connected to a mall and also a hotel. It is crazy hear because the people look so white and European. Not white like in the States but white like from Spain and Italy.
Now, we´re off to Mendoza, Argentina to meet up with our amiga Sarita Wilkins!!! We´ll be there in about 7 hours, so we´ll be finally staying somewhere for about a week! We´re going out tonight finally!!!!
chau chau
Next was Tacna, about 7 hours away from Arequipa, which was a nice ride through the southern desert of Perú. Not very many people were on the bus so we got two whole seats to ourselves. We watched the whole Beverly Hills Cop series in Spanish, and it was still awful!!! We finally got to Tacna, and stayed for no more than 20 minutes because we took a colectivo to Arica. A colectivo is basically a cab, but it holds five people. The whole journey from Tacna to Arica took about an hour, and the taxista (cabbie) told us that he made about three trips a night. The trip only cost 10 soles or 2000 chilean pesos or $3.30, so we got a really good deal. We went through customs and could barely understand the chilenos. They speak so fast and do not even attempt to speak slower to us when we ask questions or are confused ... so frustrating. That has been our general impression of Chile ... a bit like Americans who don´t like foreigners.
From Arica to Santiago, took about 32 hours including the stops. We met to colombianas (Colombian girls) who were really nice and translated from Chilean Spanish to normal paced Spanish for us. Their Spanish was so clear and easy to understand. I think it´s a general rule that the closer you are to Colombia, the clearer the Spanish is. They have been travelling like us for four days and they are going to Buenos Aires, so we may meet up with them there. The attendant on the bus was a jerk! I can speak good enough Spanish to know that I can understand if someone is speaking clearly. So that was a bust trying to get any help from him.
So we arrived this morning into a huge terminal that was also connected to a mall and a metro station. So we took the metro and missed our stop to the next bus station that was connected to a mall and also a hotel. It is crazy hear because the people look so white and European. Not white like in the States but white like from Spain and Italy.
Now, we´re off to Mendoza, Argentina to meet up with our amiga Sarita Wilkins!!! We´ll be there in about 7 hours, so we´ll be finally staying somewhere for about a week! We´re going out tonight finally!!!!
chau chau
Monday, June 15, 2009
bacterial ulcer
i have a bacterial ulcer in my eye!! i cannot wear contacts for two weeks or drink for a few days to keep my immune system up, but my eye is already feeling tons better after getting some perscriptions. Tonight is our last night in peru because tomorrow were taking an overnight bus to arica, chile. im so pumped to see some different money and some different culture. in chile were going to santiago and maybe a few stops along the way, but were not really sure yet. so by wednesday night were going to be in santiago!!! well stay there for about three days and then were gonig to mendoza, argentina (wine country). we have a friend that is conducting research over there so well get to hang out with her and go out some! the bus ride to chile is going to be in total about 60 hours!!! its gonna be insane, so maybe ill finish reading a book or whatnot! now were going to play some poker and go out for jasons birthday!!!
love love love
love love love
Sunday, June 14, 2009
MACHU PICCHU!
yesterday we visited Machu Picchu! It was out of this world. We left the hostal at 3:30 in the morning and started hiking the trail around 4. we finally got there around 5 in the morning and were the first ones there!! We didn´t have our tickets bought, so we didn´t actually get to enter the park first. But it was amazing anyways. The tour guide said that this was sort of the spiritual capital of the Incan empire. Only about 500 people lived there and they were probably doctors, priests, virgins, and healers. The mountain is in a strategic location because you can see the whole valley from the city. Pachacutec was the emperor who united all of the groups by force, so he had to have several strongholds. There were no bodies or gold found in Machu Picchu except one woman´s body a little ways from the main part of the city. This leaves archaeologists to believe that the city was abandoned as the Spanish were conquering the heart of the Incan empire. The ruins were not found by the Spaniards, therefore they remain entact. The city was not as much as a beautiful city but a normal Incan city. This is the only example of a city that remains in the world ... that we know of.
We climbed everywhere and climbed places where if we fell, we´d die, but it was SOOO worth it. It´s hard to explain without pictures, so I´ll have to show y´all when we get home!
We climbed everywhere and climbed places where if we fell, we´d die, but it was SOOO worth it. It´s hard to explain without pictures, so I´ll have to show y´all when we get home!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It is just past noon here, and yesterday was awesome! We bought our tickets for Machu Picchu, which is the most expensive part of the excursion, and it was only $ 62! After that we went to the market to get gifts and treasures. I found some great stuff for some people, but I still have a lot more stuff to get! Everything here is so cheap, so it´s hard to resist getting people presents! Then we went on a tour of the local convent that used to be the main temple of the Incan empire. The Andeans built this amazingly geometrically-sound structure that the conquistadores built a church and convent over. But in the early 1950s there was an earthquake in Cuzco and everything that the catholics built crumbled and all that was left was the structurally sound indigenous building. It makes me wonder to what extent we should travel and impose our culture on others. Around the temple they had tons and tons of gold. 20% went to Queen Isabel of Spain - because she worked so hard for it - and the other 80% went to the catholic priests that took over the temple, so now most of that 80% is in the Vatican ... great job catholicism because that was not was Jesus said to do: take over the world and exploit them and FORCE them to be Christians. Christianity is about liberating people from their problems, not forcing onto them Christianity by creating problems for them. What I don´t get is why it isn´t returned to the people of Perú?? Anyways, I know tons of great Catholics, but Catholicism still eats me up sometimes, but then again the modern Church has become a lot more progressive, so I guess we can only look forward?
Then we went on a 4 hour tour of the ruins around Cuzco: Saqsaywamán, Q´enqo, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay. These ruins were OUTSTANDING! Many times I wondered why he was repeating the same information, and then I realized that he was speaking in both Spanish and English and I was thinking in both!! This is a huge step in becoming fluent!!! We got a little bored of listening to the tour, so we went off and explored a little bit. One time we almost got left! But we caught the bus and everything was great! We also did backflips at the different sites and took some cool pictures, but I still cannot find a way to upload the pics on facebook or anywhere :(
Today we are just hanging in Cuzco and going out tonight! Tomorrow we´re heading onto Pisac and Ollantaytambo, and then to Aguas Calientes for the night (the town closest to Machu Picchu!) We got a tour guide to MP, the Sacred Valley (Pisac & Ollantaytambo), and the tour yesterday all for s/.65.00!!! That´s only $21.66ish!!!
Then we went on a 4 hour tour of the ruins around Cuzco: Saqsaywamán, Q´enqo, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay. These ruins were OUTSTANDING! Many times I wondered why he was repeating the same information, and then I realized that he was speaking in both Spanish and English and I was thinking in both!! This is a huge step in becoming fluent!!! We got a little bored of listening to the tour, so we went off and explored a little bit. One time we almost got left! But we caught the bus and everything was great! We also did backflips at the different sites and took some cool pictures, but I still cannot find a way to upload the pics on facebook or anywhere :(
Today we are just hanging in Cuzco and going out tonight! Tomorrow we´re heading onto Pisac and Ollantaytambo, and then to Aguas Calientes for the night (the town closest to Machu Picchu!) We got a tour guide to MP, the Sacred Valley (Pisac & Ollantaytambo), and the tour yesterday all for s/.65.00!!! That´s only $21.66ish!!!
Monday, June 8, 2009
This is going to be a short blog because not much has happened since yesterday. Andrew and I left Arequipa and are now in Cuzco, the capital of the Incan empire. Tomorrow we are going to do a tour of the city including awesome churches and museums. We´re getting our international student cards so that we can get about 1/2 off on just about everything. then the day after we´re visiting saqsaywamán (pronounced like Sexy Woman) and Q´enqo, which are some local cities that have awesome ruins. Then after that we´re visiting Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo, which have increasingly better ruins as you get closer to Machu Picchu. Then it´s MACHU PICCHU!! This is going to be one of the highlights of my trip this summer, so i´ll take some great pics. We´re going to leave the town closest to MP at around 3:00 a.m. so that we can be the absolute first people there! We´ll spend the day there with a tour guide showing us the cool facts about MP that aren´t well known. Then we´re back to Cuzco on Sunday for Corpus Christi, a huge Catholic festival that happens once a year on the ninth Sunday after Easter.
love
love
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Today is our last day in Arequipa :( This is the city that we will probably know the most out of all the places we will visit and where we know the most people! We met two girls from England/Australia who took a gap year to go travel before starting university. Then there are two sisters from California that we met as well. Some others from Brittain and Australia. We had the best time goingout with them and going on random adventures in Arequipa.
The past two weeks at the school have been great! We studied fruits in Spanish and in English because I was the teacher for the younger class, so they don´t even speak Spanish proficiently. This week our theme was nature, so the first two days we talked about animals and where they live. We also talked about cleaning our trash because in the community there is not a big hooplah about pollution because of the lack of education about littering. So we got them to clean up the school yard one day. I really wanted to instill in them that this is their school, not ours (the teachers). So on Wednesday and Thursday we talked about plants and the parts of the plants. We made an irrigation out of our conserved water bottles that will provide the deep roots with water. We cut holes in the bottles and then stuck them in the trenches around the plant because the community Flora Tristan is basically in the desert. I tried to ingrain upon them that this is their plant and their responsibility because the way that this school will have a profound effect on the community is by the kids believing that this is their school and their responsibility to take owenership of their community, school, and education. On Fun Friday we painted the big rock outside of the school and painted the little rocks that provided a perimeter around the plant. After that it got out of control and paint got everywhere! On the kids clothes, on their hands, and everywhere. It was fun to see them having the time of their lives, but some of the kids only have one pair of clothing, so we´re going to have to leave some money for them to get some new clothes.
On the contruction side of the school, we completely finished the back wall that separates the school yard from a neighbor´s yard. I got here about two and half weeks ago and the wall was barely started and now it is about 6 feet tall and about 15 yards long. Next they will lay the foundation for the bathroom that will one day have two flush toilets (the only flush toilets in the community) and a sink. Right now there is not running water in the community, so the way they collect water is to wake up from 5-7 a.m. and collect water in huge buckets. We averaged needing about three five gallon buckets of water a day, but we didn´t arrive until around 10 a.m., so Señora Victoria, a mother of one of the students, Estefany, was so kind to fill our buckets up every morning. Parents like this are a huge asset to this community because they can see outside of their individual situations and decide to go the extra mile for the community as a whole. There is always something to be discouraged about, but after just two-and-a-half weeks of working in the community and with this organization, I am filled with encouragement and hope for the people of Flora Tristan because there is such a desire to learn from the older students who realize this opportunity they have. I have older kids who come to my class because I can speak pretty good Spanish compared to the other volunteers, so they understood me. They also said my class was more fun, but I let them stay because there was such a sense of community in the classroom because they would help me with the activities and keeping the littler ones on track. I also got to talk to them individually about what we were learning and take it to the next level of learning. After the lessons, they would come to the board and write down all of the English words we learned for the day.
In the older classes there were also some students who were older than I am. They were they coolest guys ever, all with their own stories. David was 15 years old and had no father ... I don´t know if he passed away or just wasn´t in the picture, but he provided for his mother his sister Carmen, who was the best basketball player for her age that I have ever met, and his other younger sisters. He was a pretty short guy being that he is Peruvian, but he was always around to help out with construction when we were doing something wrong, and always was up for a broken conversation. Then there is Tony who is 20 years old, and who has already spent two years in the army in the jungle fighting "terroristas y narcotraficantes" terrorists and drug traffickers. He learned how to parachute with the army as well! He served from 2007-2008 in the "selva" or jungle. Then there is Richard who is 24 and is a security guard in the walking street Calle Mercaides. He is a bit bashful and always smiles nervously around the girls. We took all of these guys out to dinner one night this week because we wanted to just hang out with them outside of the school setting. We then came back to the house to watch a movie. There is a possibility as the organization grows that they are going to hire tour guides from the school for local trips. This is great incentive to learn English for the kids/young adults so that they have a tangible goal to reach.
Andrew and I ate Mixtos everyday, which an awesome burger! It has lettuce, tomato, a fried egg, french fries, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and ahí. Ahí is a type of hot thousand island dressing, which made the burger. We ate here everyday and got to know the workers really well!!! Whilton made the best burgers and worked the morning shift. He is studying biomechanical engineering in the afternoon at the local university.
That´s all I can think of now. We´re leaving for Cuzco tonight at 8 p.m. and going to arrive tomorrow morning at 5 a.m.
The past two weeks at the school have been great! We studied fruits in Spanish and in English because I was the teacher for the younger class, so they don´t even speak Spanish proficiently. This week our theme was nature, so the first two days we talked about animals and where they live. We also talked about cleaning our trash because in the community there is not a big hooplah about pollution because of the lack of education about littering. So we got them to clean up the school yard one day. I really wanted to instill in them that this is their school, not ours (the teachers). So on Wednesday and Thursday we talked about plants and the parts of the plants. We made an irrigation out of our conserved water bottles that will provide the deep roots with water. We cut holes in the bottles and then stuck them in the trenches around the plant because the community Flora Tristan is basically in the desert. I tried to ingrain upon them that this is their plant and their responsibility because the way that this school will have a profound effect on the community is by the kids believing that this is their school and their responsibility to take owenership of their community, school, and education. On Fun Friday we painted the big rock outside of the school and painted the little rocks that provided a perimeter around the plant. After that it got out of control and paint got everywhere! On the kids clothes, on their hands, and everywhere. It was fun to see them having the time of their lives, but some of the kids only have one pair of clothing, so we´re going to have to leave some money for them to get some new clothes.
On the contruction side of the school, we completely finished the back wall that separates the school yard from a neighbor´s yard. I got here about two and half weeks ago and the wall was barely started and now it is about 6 feet tall and about 15 yards long. Next they will lay the foundation for the bathroom that will one day have two flush toilets (the only flush toilets in the community) and a sink. Right now there is not running water in the community, so the way they collect water is to wake up from 5-7 a.m. and collect water in huge buckets. We averaged needing about three five gallon buckets of water a day, but we didn´t arrive until around 10 a.m., so Señora Victoria, a mother of one of the students, Estefany, was so kind to fill our buckets up every morning. Parents like this are a huge asset to this community because they can see outside of their individual situations and decide to go the extra mile for the community as a whole. There is always something to be discouraged about, but after just two-and-a-half weeks of working in the community and with this organization, I am filled with encouragement and hope for the people of Flora Tristan because there is such a desire to learn from the older students who realize this opportunity they have. I have older kids who come to my class because I can speak pretty good Spanish compared to the other volunteers, so they understood me. They also said my class was more fun, but I let them stay because there was such a sense of community in the classroom because they would help me with the activities and keeping the littler ones on track. I also got to talk to them individually about what we were learning and take it to the next level of learning. After the lessons, they would come to the board and write down all of the English words we learned for the day.
In the older classes there were also some students who were older than I am. They were they coolest guys ever, all with their own stories. David was 15 years old and had no father ... I don´t know if he passed away or just wasn´t in the picture, but he provided for his mother his sister Carmen, who was the best basketball player for her age that I have ever met, and his other younger sisters. He was a pretty short guy being that he is Peruvian, but he was always around to help out with construction when we were doing something wrong, and always was up for a broken conversation. Then there is Tony who is 20 years old, and who has already spent two years in the army in the jungle fighting "terroristas y narcotraficantes" terrorists and drug traffickers. He learned how to parachute with the army as well! He served from 2007-2008 in the "selva" or jungle. Then there is Richard who is 24 and is a security guard in the walking street Calle Mercaides. He is a bit bashful and always smiles nervously around the girls. We took all of these guys out to dinner one night this week because we wanted to just hang out with them outside of the school setting. We then came back to the house to watch a movie. There is a possibility as the organization grows that they are going to hire tour guides from the school for local trips. This is great incentive to learn English for the kids/young adults so that they have a tangible goal to reach.
Andrew and I ate Mixtos everyday, which an awesome burger! It has lettuce, tomato, a fried egg, french fries, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and ahí. Ahí is a type of hot thousand island dressing, which made the burger. We ate here everyday and got to know the workers really well!!! Whilton made the best burgers and worked the morning shift. He is studying biomechanical engineering in the afternoon at the local university.
That´s all I can think of now. We´re leaving for Cuzco tonight at 8 p.m. and going to arrive tomorrow morning at 5 a.m.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
It is Sunday night here at 9:30 ... it is 10:30 there because as I found out tonight while skyping with the parents is that they don´t observe daylight savings time down here. So I am an hour behind here in Perú, will be on the same time in Chile, and will be an hour ahead in Argentina and Uruguay.
I have been exploring Arequipa a little bit and doing so through shopping with Andrew. We have found so much stuff down here that is SOSOOOOSOO cheap, but one thing that is weird is that all of the pharmaceutical products are very expensive ... we spent $15 on sunblock and contact solution, but I suppose everything evens out.
Last night we took a group of niños out to the mall where all of the rich people hang out. We ate dinner with them and then we saw Star Trek! It was so much fun and the kids loved it ... niño can mean around 3-12 and chico is more 13-19ish. The kids we took out were from 4 to 7 years old. They couldn´t read the subtitles fast enough, but they just liked all the action.
Today we went with two chicos (14 & 16) to the local church and then went out to eat some lunch. Andrew and I had $6 meals and a 2 1/2 L coke that only cost $4. So again... everything is so cheap!
Later on today I tried to start working out, but I could only run about 2 miles because we are 7,800 feet above sea level! That is much higher than Denver. Because of the high altitude I have been getting really short breathed doing simple things like walking 5 blocks! I keep getting nose bleeds as well, but I guess that is the whole point of adjusting right? haha
Well I just spke with Mom, Jason, Carleigh, Mom, Dad, Whitt, and Chelsea all on Skype! We talked about an hour after we figured out how to use skype and that i was running an hour late because of the time discrepancy! It was SOSSOSOSOSOSOOSO good to hear from all of them! If anyone who is reading this wants to get skype and talk to me that´s great ... just send me an e-mail (jnewb@email.unc.edu) and we´ll set it up!
Now, I think that I am going to chill with the other volunteers and watch a movie, and maybe go to bed early tonight because me and Andrew are getting up early to do yoga/workout a bit/ and maybe i´ll run!
I am going to set up a flickr account to post pictures on because it is easier to view them that way, but i´ll send out more info about that later!
love yall and happy memorial day!
I have been exploring Arequipa a little bit and doing so through shopping with Andrew. We have found so much stuff down here that is SOSOOOOSOO cheap, but one thing that is weird is that all of the pharmaceutical products are very expensive ... we spent $15 on sunblock and contact solution, but I suppose everything evens out.
Last night we took a group of niños out to the mall where all of the rich people hang out. We ate dinner with them and then we saw Star Trek! It was so much fun and the kids loved it ... niño can mean around 3-12 and chico is more 13-19ish. The kids we took out were from 4 to 7 years old. They couldn´t read the subtitles fast enough, but they just liked all the action.
Today we went with two chicos (14 & 16) to the local church and then went out to eat some lunch. Andrew and I had $6 meals and a 2 1/2 L coke that only cost $4. So again... everything is so cheap!
Later on today I tried to start working out, but I could only run about 2 miles because we are 7,800 feet above sea level! That is much higher than Denver. Because of the high altitude I have been getting really short breathed doing simple things like walking 5 blocks! I keep getting nose bleeds as well, but I guess that is the whole point of adjusting right? haha
Well I just spke with Mom, Jason, Carleigh, Mom, Dad, Whitt, and Chelsea all on Skype! We talked about an hour after we figured out how to use skype and that i was running an hour late because of the time discrepancy! It was SOSSOSOSOSOSOOSO good to hear from all of them! If anyone who is reading this wants to get skype and talk to me that´s great ... just send me an e-mail (jnewb@email.unc.edu) and we´ll set it up!
Now, I think that I am going to chill with the other volunteers and watch a movie, and maybe go to bed early tonight because me and Andrew are getting up early to do yoga/workout a bit/ and maybe i´ll run!
I am going to set up a flickr account to post pictures on because it is easier to view them that way, but i´ll send out more info about that later!
love yall and happy memorial day!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
thus far!!!
i have been here two days and i love peru!!! i arrived at my friend arturo´s house yesterday at 1:30 en the morning and the accames were awesome! arturo y yo went on a tour of lima and visited cathedrals y catacumbas. after the tour we went out to a late lunch for my american appetite but i didnt eat dinner because i was so full! we had ceviche, conchas de parmasean (scallops with parmasean cheese), y i ate the parihuela -- a type of soup with calamari, shrimps, y mas marisco (seafood)... sorry that i keep switching back and forth from english a español pero estoy un poquito contento ( a little tipsy ) so i just write cualquiera word is coming to my mind! pa right now im in the volunteer house and just got back from la escuelita (the little school). me encantan los ninos y i am going to return tomorrow to hang out with the kids more! im going to help in the contruccion de la escuelita and teaching the kids english. tonight were going to a fancy dinner (ten dollars) becaause it is one of the voluntario´s last night here in arequipa! what me surprised me was that most of the volunteers no hablan español very well ... i am one of the better speakers in the house!!! entonces i have to go prepararme to go out to dinner and the go out to clubs!!!
gracias por leer lo que estoy haciendo (thanks for reading what i am doing)
chau a todos y te quiero (bye everyone and i love yall!!!)
gracias por leer lo que estoy haciendo (thanks for reading what i am doing)
chau a todos y te quiero (bye everyone and i love yall!!!)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
It is Sunday, May 17, and I am about 36 hours from leaving RDU!!! I am flying to Miami and having a two hour layover and then flying to Lima. This link has a great map of South America (you can click on the picture to zoom in). Since I don't have anything to report, I am going to walk y'all through the first part of my viaje (trip).
I am going to arrive in Lima at 9:20. I am going to stay with my friend, Arturo, from UNC. He lives in Lima, so I got in touch with him, and he was awesome enough to arrange for a taxi to come pick me up and to offer me to stay at his house! The first day, I am going to hang around Lima and hopefully visit the coast. At 4:30 on the 20th, I am getting on a 17 hour bus ride to Arequipa to start working with Traveller Not Tourist until June 10th.
Traveller Not Tourist is a great organization that coordinates for people visiting Peru to contribute back to the local community. They provide responsible tourism that doesn't exploit the local population. I am really excited about working with them for 20 days. Hopefully, I'll get to get to know the kids at the orphanage really well and get to help them improve their opportunities in life!
Hasta luego
I am going to arrive in Lima at 9:20. I am going to stay with my friend, Arturo, from UNC. He lives in Lima, so I got in touch with him, and he was awesome enough to arrange for a taxi to come pick me up and to offer me to stay at his house! The first day, I am going to hang around Lima and hopefully visit the coast. At 4:30 on the 20th, I am getting on a 17 hour bus ride to Arequipa to start working with Traveller Not Tourist until June 10th.
Traveller Not Tourist is a great organization that coordinates for people visiting Peru to contribute back to the local community. They provide responsible tourism that doesn't exploit the local population. I am really excited about working with them for 20 days. Hopefully, I'll get to get to know the kids at the orphanage really well and get to help them improve their opportunities in life!
Hasta luego
Thursday, December 4, 2008
DECEMBER 4, 2008
Hey everyone,
It has been a long time since the last post, but I'm taking a study break during all of my exams. My exams are all pretty spread out ... I have two tomorrow ECON and the my RA class, then Statistics on Monday and Spanish on Tuesday, and then the last one on Friday which is Sociology. I am not too worried because I've been doing well in the classes and I have already scheduled in all of my study times over the next week.
BIG NEWS! I finally did a tuck, which is where I stand and jump and tuck over. This is the skill that I needed for Varisty, and now I have it, so I don't really know what is going to happen over the next few weeks, but I'm just so pumped that I have finally done a tuck after a year and a half! Maybe one of the biggest accomplishments of my life.
I am also going to be in a parade for a cheerleading gym and I'm getting paid $20 or 25 per hour, and I'm working for about four hours, so that'll be some nice extra cheddar for the holidays. I am excited about that.
I am participating in dance marathon this year. Dance marathon raises money to support families of sick children and the children themselves at UNC hospitals. This is a huge event at UNC where students register to dance for 24 hours straight and also collect $100 in contributions. So I was wondering if yall could pass this info along to friends and family who may be interested in supported the patients at UNC hospitals and their fams! Here is my firstgiving site where people can donate online (http://www.firstgiving.com/jacobnewbauer).
LATER!
It has been a long time since the last post, but I'm taking a study break during all of my exams. My exams are all pretty spread out ... I have two tomorrow ECON and the my RA class, then Statistics on Monday and Spanish on Tuesday, and then the last one on Friday which is Sociology. I am not too worried because I've been doing well in the classes and I have already scheduled in all of my study times over the next week.
BIG NEWS! I finally did a tuck, which is where I stand and jump and tuck over. This is the skill that I needed for Varisty, and now I have it, so I don't really know what is going to happen over the next few weeks, but I'm just so pumped that I have finally done a tuck after a year and a half! Maybe one of the biggest accomplishments of my life.
I am also going to be in a parade for a cheerleading gym and I'm getting paid $20 or 25 per hour, and I'm working for about four hours, so that'll be some nice extra cheddar for the holidays. I am excited about that.
I am participating in dance marathon this year. Dance marathon raises money to support families of sick children and the children themselves at UNC hospitals. This is a huge event at UNC where students register to dance for 24 hours straight and also collect $100 in contributions. So I was wondering if yall could pass this info along to friends and family who may be interested in supported the patients at UNC hospitals and their fams! Here is my firstgiving site where people can donate online (http://www.firstgiving.com/jacobnewbauer).
LATER!
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