Hi everyone, we have had an amazing past 36 hours, following our arrival here in Cuzco. A rest day on Sunday meeting the other volunteers, then at 9.30am on Monday we headed off uo into the Ande mountains to the village. The road was no more than a dirt track. twisting and turning. From a distance the village looked neat, clay brick walls with red tile rooves. Up closer thid change and tha poverty was a reality. Houses is disarray, animals wandering everywhere, little kids playing in the dirt. Then onto Perus Challenge school, just beyond the village. We all go out of the mini bus and filed through a gate wondering what to expect. We took nearly 20 mins to get into the schools grounds as the we were greeted with hugs and - yes kisses from the children. Buenos dias, buenos dias. Sorry cannot find the exclamation key on this Swedish laptop. Jane, PC co-founder, then gave us an outline of the progect here at Pumamarca. They, Jane and Selvie, have enormous vision. In just 2 and half years they have built a school, the first classroom was built in a month, they now have 7 classrooms and 140 children attending, that includes akindergarten. We were given a list of projects to chose, from teaching to construction, working with mothers in craft workshops called talleres. The greeting from each class room was truly wonderful. We were individually introduced, followed by cheering and clapping. They are all appreciative of what the volunteers do and give. Then with out wasting time we were set to work. I spent time with the men helping to build the new kindergarten room. The walls and roof are on. They workmen - local men are employed by PC to do the bulk and more technical side of things, however we were given the task of nailing split bamboo to the lintels so that plaster can be added to finish off the walls and eaves. The workmen were plastering the ceilings, again bamboo, from the Amazon jungle nailed to the rafters. As you can expect, these people are very resourceful . I commented that cement sprayer would do the job quicker. Of culture is time means money, here there is no money, they plenty of time. andrea discovered she was truly in her element. The kindergarten teachers want to develop their curriulum and resources so she spent time talking to them, through an interpreter about setting up the new kindergarten. She nows want to to see it fully established by the time we leave. I will let her tell you more.
Following this we returned to our home base had some lunch, then at 3.30 I, along with half the volunteers, returned to the village for the afternoon talleres session. Jane has set up an amazing programme wherby the women are taught skills to make a range of things which they can sell to earn money. Some of their craft work in brilliant. Here , we were introduced to the mothers and children, some teenagers and the mums had tiny babies tied to their backs. Those of us staying 2, 3 months were greeted with much glee, not so those staying one month. The single men were greeted with much cheer.
In the meantime Andrea had her first Spanish lesson - 2 hours, not impressed, but part of the deal - she can describe more late - at present Ange is still in bed.
We returned to the house then went out for the welcome dinner in a very up market restaurant in Cuzco. Food very special, and the entertainment spectacular featuring local musicians and dancers in colorful costumes. I hope to down load a some photos of this as well as others of the village. Doing that will take a lesson or from Claus, our Swedish IT man. We finally got home at 10.30pm. Dog tired. Today is a planning day. Torrow back to Pumamarca, Thursday - horse riding - yes you read correctly. The weather has been brilliant. Cleear skies, BRIGHT sunshine about 22 degrees. Until then. Trevor and Andrea.
Love Norma